US 8677398

Analysis of U.S. Patent 8,677,398

Date of Analysis: April 26, 2026

This report provides a summary of U.S. Patent 8,677,398, including its key bibliographic data, a summary of its abstract, and a plain-language explanation of its independent claims.

I. Bibliographic Information

• Title: Systems and methods for taking action with respect to one network-connected device based on activity on another device connected to the same network
• Assignee: The listed assignee is Intent IQ LLC. It is worth noting that a petition for inter partes review filed in 2022 lists both AlmondNet, Inc. and Intent IQ, LLC as patent owners.
• Inventor: Roy Shkedi
• Filing Date: June 23, 2011
• Issue Date: March 18, 2014
• Abstract: The patent describes a method for delivering targeted television advertisements based on a user's online behavior. This is achieved by electronically associating the IP addresses of online access devices (like computers or mobile phones) with the IP addresses of television set-top boxes. When a user's online activity provides user profile information, a relevant television advertisement can be selected and sent to the associated set-top box. The abstract emphasizes that this process can be done without using personally identifiable information (PII).

II. Litigation and Administrative Proceedings

A search of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not reveal any specific cases involving U.S. Patent 8,677,398. However, it is a matter of public record that this patent has been the subject of an inter partes review (IPR) proceeding before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) of the USPTO (Case IPR2022-00773), initiated by Meta Platforms, Inc. The outcome of this and any other potential litigations or administrative challenges could impact the patent's enforceability.

III. Plain-Language Summary of Independent Claims

U.S. Patent 8,677,398 contains several independent claims, which define the core of the invention. Below is a simplified explanation of each.

Independent Claim 1:

This claim describes a method for taking action on a second device based on the activity of a first device. The key steps are:

1. A server receives a notification from a first device (e.g., a smartphone) that includes an identifier for that device and the IP address it's currently using.
2. Later, the server receives another notification, this time from a second device (e.g., a smart TV or set-top box). This notification also contains an identifier for the second device and its current IP address.
3. The server recognizes that both devices are using the same IP address, which suggests they are on the same local network (like a home Wi-Fi network).
4. Based on this shared IP address, the server electronically associates the two devices.
5. After the devices are associated, the server receives information about the user's activity on the first device (for example, browsing a specific product on a shopping website).
6. Using this information about the user's activity, the server then sends a targeted message (like an advertisement for that product) to the second device.

Essentially, this claim covers the process of seeing that two different devices are on the same network and then using what a person does on one device to send them related content on the other.

Independent Claim 9:

This claim is similar to the first, but it focuses on the system or apparatus that carries out the method. It describes a system with a processor and memory that is programmed to:

1. Receive and store identifiers and IP addresses from multiple devices.
2. Identify when different devices are using the same IP address at the same or a similar time.
3. Create an electronic link or association between these devices.
4. Receive information about a user's online activity from one of the associated devices.
5. In response to that activity, automatically send a message to another one of the associated devices.

This claim protects the physical or software-based system that performs the actions described in claim 1.

Independent Claim 15:

This claim is for a non-transitory computer-readable medium (like a hard drive or server memory) that contains instructions for a processor to perform the method. The steps are largely the same as in claim 1:

1. Receive an identifier and IP address from a first device.
2. Receive an identifier and IP address from a second device.
3. Determine that both devices are using the same IP address and are therefore on the same local network.
4. Electronically associate the two devices.
5. Receive user activity data from the first device.
6. Send a targeted message to the second device based on that activity.

This type of claim is intended to protect the software or firmware that enables this targeted advertising system to function.

Disclaimer: This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The interpretation of patent claims can be complex and may vary depending on the specific context and legal arguments.