Patent 8478245

Assignment history

Inventors, original assignee, and the chain of ownership recorded with the USPTO — including the correspondent attorney who recorded each assignment, since shell-LLC chains often share one repeat-player attorney even when the entity names look unrelated. Surfaces NPE / patent-troll patterns: shell-entity transfers, known asserters in the chain, repeat correspondent fingerprints, pre-litigation assignments, and bankruptcy fire-sales.

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Ownership chain (9)

Asserters network →

Structured records extracted from the assignment-history narrative below. Each entity links to its full ownership-network profile.

  1. 2007-08-01 · reel 019779/0550 · Assignment

    Pierre Carion and Kevin SmithHANDS-ON MOBILE, INC.

    Correspondent: Jeffrey E. Drake · HANDS-ON MOBILE, INC.

    Transfer from inventors to initial assignee

  2. 2010-04-29 · recorded 2010-05-18 · reel 024628/0507 · Assignment

    HANDS-ON MOBILE, INC.GOTV NETWORKS, INC.

    Correspondent: David S. N. Chung · One

    Corporate acquisition or asset transfer

  3. 2013-11-15 · recorded 2013-11-20 · reel 031383/0312 · Security Agreement

    Phunware, Inc.BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

    Correspondent: David S. N. Chung · ONE

    Securitization of assets

  4. 2016-04-05 · recorded 2016-04-12 · reel 036573/0659 · Security Interest

    Phunware, Inc.WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK

    Correspondent: David S. N. Chung · ONE

    Securitization of assets

  5. 2021-03-31 · recorded 2021-04-26 · reel 051052/0155 · Release By Secured Party

    WESTERN ALLIANCE BANKPhunware, Inc.

    Correspondent: David S. N. Chung · ONE

    Release of security interest

  6. 2021-03-31 · recorded 2021-04-26 · reel 051052/0157 · Release By Secured Party

    BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONPhunware, Inc.

    Correspondent: David S. N. Chung · ONE

    Release of security interest

  7. 2021-07-22 · recorded 2021-08-16 · reel 051786/0971 · Merger

    GOTV NETWORKS, INC.Phunware, Inc.

    Correspondent: Mark A. Goldstein

    Merger of GOTV Networks into Phunware, Inc.

  8. 2022-10-14 · recorded 2022-10-18 · reel 053744/0481 · Release By Secured Party

    WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONPhunware, Inc.

    Correspondent: David S. N. Chung · ONE

    Release of security interest

  9. 2022-10-14 · recorded 2022-10-18 · reel 053744/0483 · Assignment

    GOTV NETWORKS, INC. and Phunware, Inc.GOTV STREAMING, LLC

    Correspondent: Christopher L. Evans · CARSTENS & CAHOON

    Transfer to new entity, likely for assertion or licensing

Assignment history

Inventors, original assignee, and the chain of ownership recorded with the USPTO — including the correspondent attorney who recorded each assignment, since shell-LLC chains often share one repeat-player attorney even when the entity names look unrelated. Surfaces NPE / patent-troll patterns: shell-entity transfers, known asserters in the chain, repeat correspondent fingerprints, pre-litigation assignments, and bankruptcy fire-sales.

✓ Generated

Inventors

  • Pierre Carion (Phunware Inc.)
  • Kevin Smith (Phunware Inc.)

No unusual patterns observed regarding inventor departures.

Original assignee

Phunware Inc. was the original assignee. Phunware is a mobile software company that provides a Multiscreen-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform for mobile application development and management. It is unclear whether Phunware Inc. shipped a product specifically embodying the claims of US8478245 at the time of filing. Phunware Inc. is currently operating.

Assignment timeline

  • 2007-08-01 (executed) / recorded 2007-08-01 — Reel 019779/0550

    • Conveyance: Assignment
    • Assignor: Pierre Carion and Kevin Smith
    • Assignee: HANDS-ON MOBILE, INC.
    • Correspondent: Jeffrey E. Drake, HANDS-ON MOBILE, INC., 1500 Bridge Parkway, Suite 200, Redwood City, CA 94065
    • Context: Transfer from inventors to initial assignee

  • 2010-04-29 (executed) / recorded 2010-05-18 — Reel 024628/0507

    • Conveyance: Assignment
    • Assignor: HANDS-ON MOBILE, INC.
    • Assignee: GOTV NETWORKS, INC.
    • Correspondent: David S. N. Chung, One LLP, 4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660
    • Context: Corporate acquisition or asset transfer

  • 2013-11-15 (executed) / recorded 2013-11-20 — Reel 031383/0312

    • Conveyance: Security Agreement
    • Assignor: Phunware, Inc.
    • Assignee: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    • Correspondent: David S. N. Chung, ONE LLP, 4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs.
    • Context: Securitization of assets

  • 2016-04-05 (executed) / recorded 2016-04-12 — Reel 036573/0659

    • Conveyance: Security Interest
    • Assignor: Phunware, Inc.
    • Assignee: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK
    • Correspondent: David S. N. Chung, ONE LLP, 4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs.
    • Context: Securitization of assets

  • 2021-03-31 (executed) / recorded 2021-04-26 — Reel 051052/0155

    • Conveyance: Release By Secured Party
    • Assignor: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK
    • Assignee: Phunware, Inc.
    • Correspondent: David S. N. Chung, ONE LLP, 4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs.
    • Context: Release of security interest

  • 2021-03-31 (executed) / recorded 2021-04-26 — Reel 051052/0157

    • Conveyance: Release By Secured Party
    • Assignor: BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    • Assignee: Phunware, Inc.
    • Correspondent: David S. N. Chung, ONE LLP, 4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs.
    • Context: Release of security interest

  • 2021-07-22 (executed) / recorded 2021-08-16 — Reel 051786/0971

    • Conveyance: Merger
    • Assignor: GOTV NETWORKS, INC.
    • Assignee: Phunware, Inc.
    • Correspondent: Mark A. Goldstein, Phunware, Inc., 7800 Shoal Creek Blvd., Suite 240S, Austin, TX 78757
    • Context: Merger of GOTV Networks into Phunware, Inc.

  • 2022-10-14 (executed) / recorded 2022-10-18 — Reel 053744/0481

    • Conveyance: Release By Secured Party
    • Assignor: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK, AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO BRIDGE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
    • Assignee: Phunware, Inc.
    • Correspondent: David S. N. Chung, ONE LLP, 4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 200, Newport Beach, CA 92660. This correspondent recurs.
    • Context: Release of security interest

  • 2022-10-14 (executed) / recorded 2022-10-18 — Reel 053744/0483

    • Conveyance: Assignment
    • Assignor: GOTV NETWORKS, INC. and Phunware, Inc.
    • Assignee: GOTV STREAMING, LLC
    • Correspondent: Christopher L. Evans, CARSTENS & CAHOON, LLP, P.O. BOX 802333, DALLAS, TX 75380
    • Context: Transfer to new entity, likely for assertion or licensing

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 8478245
    2007 : Inventors to Hands-On Mobile Inc
    2010 : Hands-On Mobile to GoTV Networks Inc
    2013 : Phunware to Bridge Bank (security)
    2016 : Phunware to Western Alliance (security)
    2021 : Western Alliance releases security
         : Bridge Bank releases security
         : GoTV Networks merges into Phunware
    2022 : Western Alliance releases security
         : Phunware to GoTV Streaming LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

  1. Shell-entity transfer — present. The transfer from Phunware, Inc. to GOTV STREAMING, LLC (Reel 053744/0483, executed 2022-10-14 / recorded 2022-10-18) is a strong indicator. GOTV Streaming LLC's name, combined with the context of litigation information (not directly provided in the assignment record but generally associated with this patent family as per Google Patents), suggests a licensing-focused entity.
  2. Known asserter in the chain — present. GOTV Streaming LLC is identified as the current assignee by Google Patents. Unified Patents, in the context of IPR2023-00758, lists GOTV Streaming LLC as the patent owner for this patent, indicating its role in assertion.
  3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. David S. N. Chung of ONE LLP appears as the correspondent on multiple security agreements and releases (Reel 031383/0312, Reel 036573/0659, Reel 051052/0155, Reel 051052/0157, Reel 053744/0481). While ONE LLP may handle diverse patent work, this recurrence across several transactions for Phunware, Inc. is noteworthy.
  4. Cascading transfers — not present. The transfers are spaced out over several years, not within a rapid 24-month window.
  5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear. While Google Patents shows litigation for this patent family, the exact date of the first infringement suit needs to be cross-referenced to definitively link it to the 2022-10-14 transfer to GOTV Streaming LLC.
  6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. The assignment records do not indicate any bankruptcy proceedings for the assignors.
  7. Privateering — unclear. While Phunware, Inc. transferred the patent to GOTV Streaming LLC, without SEC filings or specific reporting, it is difficult to determine if this is a privateering arrangement where Phunware maintains an interest in the assertion.
  8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The chain ends with GOTV Streaming LLC, which is identified as an asserting entity, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The transfer to GOTV STREAMING, LLC (Reel 053744/0483, executed 2022-10-14) combined with its identification as a patent owner in Unified Patents' PTAB data for IPR2023-00758, strongly indicates an NPE pattern. The name "Streaming LLC" and the context of subsequent litigation further support this conclusion.

USPTO Assignment Center search: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

Generated 6/30/2026, 12:46:11 AM