Assignment history

Inventors

• Timothy J. Speight (Employer not specified, but assigned interest to IPWIRELESS, INC. on 2007-05-25)

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Wireless Technology Solutions LLC. It is unclear from the provided information whether Wireless Technology Solutions LLC shipped a product embodying the claims or their primary line of business. The current status of Wireless Technology Solutions LLC is not determinable from the provided patent text.

Assignment timeline

The following is a chronological list of recorded assignments for US Patent 8,031,654, based on a search of the USPTO Assignment Center:

• 2007-05-25 (executed) / recorded 2007-07-16 — Reel 019560/0965
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: SPEIGHT, TIMOTHY J. (Inventor)
  • Assignee: IPWIRELESS, INC.
  • Correspondent: MICHAEL T BARRETT, BARRETT & ALEKSANDROW, P.L.L.C., 111 Congress Avenue, Suite 400, Austin, TX 78701. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer from inventor to an initial assignee.
• 2008-12-24 (executed) / recorded 2009-01-14 — Reel 022102/0891
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: IPWIRELESS, INC.
  • Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.
  • Correspondent: CHERRIE N HASTINGS, NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, 1840 Century Park East, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90067. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer from IPWireless to Northrop Grumman.
• 2009-11-03 (executed) / recorded 2010-03-01 — Reel 024006/0144
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.
  • Assignee: IPWIRELESS, INC.
  • Correspondent: ROBERT A. HOBBS, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, TX 78765-4087. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Reassignment back to IPWireless.
• 2009-11-03 (executed) / recorded 2010-04-14 — Reel 024233/0065
  • Conveyance: AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
  • Assignor: IPWIRELESS, INC., IPWIRELESS U.K. LIMITED, IPW HOLDINGS, INC.
  • Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. NOW KNOWN AS NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION BY REASON OF MERGER
  • Correspondent: CHERRIE N HASTINGS, NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, 1840 Century Park East, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90067. This is the same correspondent as the 2009-01-14 assignment.
  • Context: Establishment of a security interest by Northrop Grumman related to multiple IPWireless entities.
• 2010-04-23 (executed) / recorded 2010-04-29 — Reel 024305/0231
  • Conveyance: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY
  • Assignor: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION (SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.)
  • Assignee: IPWIRELESS, INC.
  • Correspondent: CHERRIE N HASTINGS, NORTHROP GRUMMAN CORPORATION, 1840 Century Park East, Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90067. This is the same correspondent as prior Northrop Grumman related entries.
  • Context: Release of the security interest by Northrop Grumman.
• 2010-04-23 (executed) / recorded 2010-04-29 — Reel 024305/0492
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: IP WIRELESS, INC.
  • Assignee: WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LLC
  • Correspondent: ROBERT A. HOBBS, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, TX 78765-4087. This is the same correspondent as the 2010-03-01 assignment.
  • Context: Transfer back to Wireless Technology Solutions LLC (the original assignee for the issued patent).
• 2012-03-01 (executed) / recorded 2012-03-22 — Reel 027910/0649
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LLC
  • Assignee: IPWIRELESS, INC.
  • Correspondent: ROBERT A. HOBBS, P.O. Box 4087, Austin, TX 78765-4087. This is the same correspondent as prior Wireless Technology Solutions LLC related entries.
  • Context: Transfer from Wireless Technology Solutions LLC to IPWireless, Inc.
• 2012-04-27 (executed) / recorded 2012-05-08 — Reel 028175/0237
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: IPWIRELESS, INC.
  • Assignee: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 81 LLC
  • Correspondent: STERNE KESSLER GOLDSTEIN & FOX, P.L.L.C., 1100 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005. This correspondent firm, Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox, P.L.L.C., is frequently seen on Intellectual Ventures patent filings.
  • Context: Transfer to a known patent assertion entity, Intellectual Ventures.
• 2013-10-04 (executed) / recorded 2013-10-23 — Reel 031464/0799
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES HOLDING 81 LLC
  • Assignee: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES II LLC
  • Correspondent: STERNE KESSLER GOLDSTEIN & FOX, P.L.L.C., 1100 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005. This is the same correspondent firm as the previous Intellectual Ventures assignment.
  • Context: Internal reorganization/transfer within Intellectual Ventures' entities.
• 2024-10-10 (executed) / recorded 2024-10-10 — Reel 068868/0146
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES II LLC
  • Assignee: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 194 LLC
  • Correspondent: STERNE KESSLER GOLDSTEIN & FOX, P.L.L.C., 1100 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005. This is the same correspondent firm as previous Intellectual Ventures assignments.
  • Context: Internal reorganization/transfer within Intellectual Ventures' entities.
• 2024-10-15 (executed) / recorded 2024-10-16 — Reel 068920/0014
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 194 LLC
  • Assignee: INTEGRAL WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES LLC
  • Correspondent: STERNE KESSLER GOLDSTEIN & FOX, P.L.L.C., 1100 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005. This is the same correspondent firm as previous Intellectual Ventures assignments.
  • Context: Transfer from an Intellectual Ventures entity to Integral Wireless Technologies LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 8031654
    2007 : Inventor to IPWireless Inc
    2009 : IPWireless to Northrop Grumman
    2010 : Northrop Grumman to IPWireless
         : IPWireless to Wireless Tech Solutions
    2011 : Patent issued
    2012 : Wireless Tech Solutions to IPWireless
         : IPWireless to Intellectual Ventures
    2013 : IV Holding 81 to IV II LLC
    2024 : IV II LLC to IV Assets 194 LLC
         : IV Assets 194 to Integral Wireless Tech

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present.

   • Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC, Intellectual Ventures II LLC, and Intellectual Ventures Assets 194 LLC are known shell entities of Intellectual Ventures, a prominent NPE. The assignment to Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC on 2012-05-08 (Reel 028175/0237) and subsequent transfers within IV entities are evidence.
   • Integral Wireless Technologies LLC appears to be a licensing-focused entity. While the name itself doesn't explicitly state "IP/Patents", its business as described in search results is varied, including selling and installing two-way radios and wireless broadband data and camera products, but also offering "Carrier Grade Broadband, Wi-Fi, Wi-Max and MMW wireless technologies". The entity address (101-1 Colin Drive, Holbrook, NY) does not appear to be a common registered agent service, but rather an operational business location. However, the immediate transfer from an Intellectual Ventures asset vehicle suggests a shell-like purpose for the patent within the chain.

2. Known asserter in the chain — present.

   • Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC, Intellectual Ventures II LLC, and Intellectual Ventures Assets 194 LLC are all entities associated with Intellectual Ventures, which is widely recognized as a major Non-Practicing Entity (NPE) and patent aggregator. The assignments to these entities occurred on 2012-05-08 (Reel 028175/0237), 2013-10-23 (Reel 031464/0799), and 2024-10-10 (Reel 068868/0146).

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present.

   • The firm STERNE KESSLER GOLDSTEIN & FOX, P.L.L.C. (address: 1100 New York Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20005) is the correspondent of record for multiple assignments involving Intellectual Ventures entities. They appear on the assignments to Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC (2012-05-08, Reel 028175/0237), Intellectual Ventures II LLC (2013-10-23, Reel 031464/0799), Intellectual Ventures Assets 194 LLC (2024-10-10, Reel 068868/0146), and Integral Wireless Technologies LLC (2024-10-16, Reel 068920/0014). This firm is known for representing Intellectual Ventures.

4. Cascading transfers — present.

   • There is a clear pattern of cascading transfers within a short period, particularly involving the Intellectual Ventures entities:
     • 2012-05-08: IPWireless, INC. to Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC (Reel 028175/0237)
     • 2013-10-23: Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC to Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Reel 031464/0799) - 17 months apart
     • 2024-10-10: Intellectual Ventures II LLC to Intellectual Ventures Assets 194 LLC (Reel 068868/0146)
     • 2024-10-16: Intellectual Ventures Assets 194 LLC to Integral Wireless Technologies LLC (Reel 068920/0014) - 6 days apart
   • The repeated use of Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox, P.L.L.C. as correspondent for these transfers indicates a coordinated strategy.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — present.

   • The patent family (ID=37081047) has litigation records according to Google Patents. The "First worldwide family litigation filed" date is listed as "https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=37081047&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=[US8031654](/patent/US8031654)(B2)". Following this link (or reviewing the Google Patents legal events section) shows cases filed in the Texas Eastern District Court (e.g., 2:26-cv-00028, 2:25-cv-00388) and Florida Southern District Court (e.g., 0:25-cv-62665) in 2025 and 2026. The latest assignment of US8031654 to Integral Wireless Technologies LLC was recorded on 2024-10-16 (Reel 068920/0014). This transfer occurred within 6 months before the first recorded litigation in 2025, specifically 2:25-cv-00388 and 0:25-cv-62665.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present.

   • No evidence of any assignor filing for bankruptcy and selling patents in proceedings.

7. Privateering — unclear.

   • While Intellectual Ventures has been involved in privateering, there is no explicit information in the provided patent text or assignment records to confirm this specific pattern for US8031654.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present.

   • The chain does not terminate at a known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is based on multiple strong signals. The presence of Intellectual Ventures Holding 81 LLC, Intellectual Ventures II LLC, and Intellectual Ventures Assets 194 LLC in the assignment chain clearly indicates involvement of a known Non-Practicing Entity. The pattern of cascading transfers between these IV entities and finally to Integral Wireless Technologies LLC, all handled by the repeat correspondent Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox, P.L.L.C., further strengthens this conclusion. Furthermore, the final transfer to Integral Wireless Technologies LLC on 2024-10-16 (Reel 068920/0014) occurred within six months of the earliest listed litigation cases in 2025, indicating a pre-litigation transfer pattern.

For verification, refer to the USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/8031654