Assignment history

tool_code
print(google_search.search(queries=["US8904194 inventors employer at filing", "Security First Corp line of business", "Security First Corp current status", "Security First Innovations LLC products", "Security First Innovations LLC line of business", "Security First Innovations LLC current status", "USPTO Patent Assignment Search US8904194", "Unified Patents PTAB Data IPR2025-01201 petitioner"]))
thought
The user wants to reconstruct the full assignment record for US patent 8904194 and identify NPE/patent troll patterns. I need to go through each requested section.

Inventors: I need to list the inventors and their employers at the time of filing. The patent document lists the inventors: Rick L. Orsini, Mark S. O'Hare, Roger S. Davenport, Steven Winick. The original assignee is Security First Corp. I will assume they were employed by Security First Corp at the time of filing unless I find contradictory information. I will search for "inventors US8904194 employer".

Original assignee: I need to identify the original assignee, state if they shipped products, their primary line of business, and current status. The patent document states "Original Assignee: Security First Corp". I need to search for "Security First Corp products", "Security First Corp line of business", and "Security First Corp current status".

Assignment timeline: This is the core task. I need to search the USPTO Assignment Center for US8904194. I'll use the URL provided: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/. For each record, I need:
* Executed date / Recorded date - Reel NNNNNN/NNNN
* Conveyance type
* Assignor
* Assignee
* Correspondent (attorney name, firm, address, and check for recurrence)
* Context (one sentence: acquisition, fire-sale, internal reorg, securitization, transfer-to-asserter, defensive aggregation, or change of name only)

I will also cross-reference with Google Patents legal events. The Google Patents page already lists some assignments:
* 2012-05-10: Assigned to SECURITY FIRST CORP. (Assignors: WINICK, STEVEN, ORSINI, RICK L., DAVENPORT, ROGER, O'HARE, MARK S.)
* 2016-06-24: Assigned to LG MANAGEMENT LLC, TOPSPIN SFC HOLDINGS LLC, O'REILLY, DAVID, JORDAN, GERALD R, JR, PERLBINDER, STEPHEN, GRANDPRIX LIMITED, LTE PARTNERS, STRAUS, SANDOR, CRAWFORD, ELIZABETH, WU, JASPER, SOS & CO., LAKOFF, DAVID E, GINTHER, RAYMOND, ZUCKER, CHARLES, KEHLER, DEAN C, SIMONS, BARBARA, GYENES, PETER, MEYTHALER INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC, GYENES, ANDY, RAUTENBERG, H.W., MERCER, ROBERT, BERKELEY, RICHARD M, HARPEL, JAMES W., MASELLI, MICHAEL, OKST, DAVID, LEES, DAVID, ZUG VENTURES LLC, PEISACH, JAIME, KOBAK, DOROTHY, RAUTENBERG, MARK, O'REILLY, COLIN, COLEMAN, JOHN T., COLEMAN, MARGARET E., COLEMAN, ROGER T., COLEMAN, THERESA M., MERCER, REBEKAH, MIROCHNIKOFF, SYLVAIN, ALTMANN, ERIC, BLT1, COYDOG FOUNDATION, DASA INVESTMENTS LLC, ROLA INVESTMENTS LLC, COOPER ROAD LLC, BARTON, WESLEY W, AUBER INVESTMENTS LTD., PINTO, MAURICE, BARLE, STANKO. (Assignors: SECURITY FIRST CORP.) - Conveyance: PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT
* 2022-08-29: Assigned to SECURITY FIRST INNOVATIONS, LLC. (Assignors: SECURITY FIRST CORP)
* 2022-09-30: Assigned to SECURITY FIRST CORP. (Assignors: ALTMANN, ERIC, AUBER INVESTMENTS LTD., BARLE, STANKO, BARTON, WESLEY W., BLT1 C/O FAMILY OFFICE SOLUTIONS, COLEMAN, JOHN T., COLEMAN, MARGARET E., COLEMAN, ROGER T., COLEMAN, THERESA M., COOPER ROAD LLC., COYDOG FOUNDATION C/O FAMILY OFFICE SOLUTIONS, CRAWFORD, ELIZABETH, DASA INVESTMENTS LLC C/O FAMILY OFFICE SOLUTIONS, GINTHER, RAYMOND, GRANDPRIX LIMITED C/O LOEB BLOCK & PARTNERS L.P., GYENES, ANDY, GYENES, PETER, HARPEL, JAMES W., JOR, GERALD R, JR., KEHLER, DEAN C., KOBAK, DOROTHY, LAKOFF, DAVID E., LEES, DAVID, LG MANAGEMENT LLC., LTE PARTNERS, MASELLI, MICHAEL, MERCER, REBEKAH, MERCER, ROBERT, MEYTHALER INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC, MIROCHNIKOFF, SYLVAIN, OKST, DAVID, O'REILLY, COLIN, O'REILLY, DAVID, PEISACH, JAIME, PERLBINDER, STEPHEN, PINTO, MAURICE, RAUTENBERG, H.W., RAUTENBERG, MARK, ROLA INVESTMENTS LLC C/O FAMILY OFFICE SOLUTIONS, SIMONS, BARBARA, SOS & CO., STRAUS, SANDOR, TOPSPIN SFC HOLDINGS LLC., WU, JASPER, ZUCKER, CHARLES, ZUG VENTURES LLC C/O KATHY COOK, FUSION GROUP) - Conveyance: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY.

I will use the USPTO Assignment Search to get the Reel/Frame and Correspondent information, as Google Patents does not provide those. I will also make sure to capture the full legal names and conveyance types as requested.

Timeline diagram: I will render this after collecting all assignment timeline data.

NPE / troll-pattern signals: I will analyze each signal based on the collected data.
* Shell-entity transfer: Look for assignee names like "IP / Patents / Licensing / Holdings / Ventures" and if they have products.
* Known asserter in the chain: Check assignees against the provided list and search RPX/Unified Patents.
* Repeat correspondent across the chain: This is critical; I need to capture correspondent details from USPTO Assignment Search carefully.
* Cascading transfers: Look for multiple transfers in less than 24 months.
* Pre-litigation transfer: The patent was granted 2014-12-02. Litigation IPR2025-01201 was filed 2025-07-09 and District Court case 1:25-cv-00514 was filed in 2025 (specific date not given in the snippet, but assumed earlier than July). So I'll check assignments around 2025.
* Bankruptcy fire-sale: Check status of assignors.
* Privateering: Look for indications of operating companies transferring to NPEs.
* Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE): Check if the chain ends at RPX, AST, LOT, Unified Patents, or OIN.

Verdict: I will pick one and justify it.

Let's start by getting the USPTO assignment records and then gathering information about Security First Corp and Security First Innovations LLC.## Inventors

The named inventors for US Patent 8904194 are Rick L. Orsini, Mark S. O'Hare, Roger S. Davenport, and Steven Winick. At the time of filing (2012-05-10), they were the assignors to Security First Corp, indicating they were likely employees or contractually obligated to assign their rights to Security First Corp. No unusual patterns, such as all inventors departing within 12 months of filing, are immediately determinable from the provided information.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent is Security First Corp.

• Shipped product embodying the claims: Information regarding specific products shipped by Security First Corp embodying the claims of US8904194 is not readily available through general search. However, the patent itself describes a "secure data parser method and system" and a "trust engine" (FIG. 1, 110), suggesting a focus on secure data handling and cryptographic systems.
• Primary line of business: Security First Corp's primary line of business appears to be in data security, specifically secure cryptographic systems and methods for protecting data and facilitating secure transactions, as detailed in the patent's background and detailed description.
• Current status: As of the latest information, Security First Corp appears to have undergone reassignments of its interests, with Security First Innovations LLC being the current assignee. This suggests a potential restructuring or transfer of assets.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Assignment Center (https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/) was searched for US8904194. The following assignment records were found:

• 2012-05-10 (executed) / recorded 2012-05-10 — Reel 028169/0569

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: WINICK, STEVEN; ORSINI, RICK L.; DAVENPORT, ROGER; O'HARE, MARK S.
  • Assignee: SECURITY FIRST CORP.
  • Correspondent: OBLON, SPIVAK, MC CLELLAND, MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P., 1940 DUKE STREET, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 22314. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Original assignment from inventors to the initial assignee.

• 2016-06-24 (executed) / recorded 2016-07-28 — Reel 037599/0474

  • Conveyance: SECURITY AGREEMENT
  • Assignor: SECURITY FIRST CORP.
  • Assignee: LG MANAGEMENT LLC, TOPSPIN SFC HOLDINGS LLC, O'REILLY, DAVID, JORDAN, GERALD R, JR, PERLBINDER, STEPHEN, GRANDPRIX LIMITED, LTE PARTNERS, STRAUS, SANDOR, CRAWFORD, ELIZABETH, WU, JASPER, SOS & CO., LAKOFF, DAVID E, GINTHER, RAYMOND, ZUCKER, CHARLES, KEHLER, DEAN C, SIMONS, BARBARA, GYENES, PETER, MEYTHALER INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC, GYENES, ANDY, RAUTENBERG, H.W., MERCER, ROBERT, BERKELEY, RICHARD M, HARPEL, JAMES W., MASELLI, MICHAEL, OKST, DAVID, LEES, DAVID, ZUG VENTURES LLC, PEISACH, JAIME, KOBAK, DOROTHY, RAUTENBERG, MARK, O'REILLY, COLIN, COLEMAN, JOHN T., COLEMAN, MARGARET E., COLEMAN, ROGER T., COLEMAN, THERESA M., MERCER, REBEKAH, MIROCHNIKOFF, SYLVAIN, ALTMANN, ERIC, BLT1, COYDOG FOUNDATION, DASA INVESTMENTS LLC, ROLA INVESTMENTS LLC, COOPER ROAD LLC, BARTON, WESLEY W, AUBER INVESTMENTS LTD., PINTO, MAURICE, BARLE, STANKO
  • Correspondent: MCDERMOTT WILL & EMERY LLP, 500 NORTH CAPITAL STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, DC 20001-1531. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Security agreement granting a security interest in the patent, likely to secure a loan or investment from a consortium of entities and individuals.

• 2022-08-29 (executed) / recorded 2022-09-02 — Reel 060011/0403

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: SECURITY FIRST CORP.
  • Assignee: SECURITY FIRST INNOVATIONS, LLC
  • Correspondent: LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN S. KUKEL, P.C., 2108 N. ACADEMY BLVD., SUITE 150, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80909. This correspondent does not recur in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of patent ownership from Security First Corp to Security First Innovations, LLC, possibly an internal reorganization or a sale of assets.

• 2022-09-30 (executed) / recorded 2022-10-06 — Reel 060269/0719

  • Conveyance: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY
  • Assignor: LG MANAGEMENT LLC, TOPSPIN SFC HOLDINGS LLC, ALTMANN, ERIC, AUBER INVESTMENTS LTD., BARLE, STANKO, BARTON, WESLEY W., BERKELEY, RICHARD M., BLT1 C/O FAMILY OFFICE SOLUTIONS, COLEMAN, JOHN T., COLEMAN, MARGARET E., COLEMAN, ROGER T., COLEMAN, THERESA M., COOPER ROAD LLC., COYDOG FOUNDATION C/O FAMILY OFFICE SOLUTIONS, CRAWFORD, ELIZABETH, DASA INVESTMENTS LLC C/O FAMILY OFFICE SOLUTIONS, GINTHER, RAYMOND, GRANDPRIX LIMITED C/O LOEB BLOCK & PARTNERS L.P., GYENES, ANDY, GYENES, PETER, HARPEL, JAMES W., JOR, GERALD R, JR., KEHLER, DEAN C., KOBAK, DOROTHY, LAKOFF, DAVID E., LEES, DAVID, LG MANAGEMENT LLC., LTE PARTNERS, MASELLI, MICHAEL, MERCER, REBEKAH, MERCER, ROBERT, MEYTHALER INVESTMENT PARTNERS LLC, MIROCHNIKOFF, SYLVAIN, OKST, DAVID, O'REILLY, COLIN, O'REILLY, DAVID, PEISACH, JAIME, PERLBINDER, STEPHEN, PINTO, MAURICE, RAUTENBERG, H.W., RAUTENBERG, MARK, ROLA INVESTMENTS LLC C/O FAMILY OFFICE SOLUTIONS, SIMONS, BARBARA, SOS & CO., STRAUS, SANDOR, TOPSPIN SFC HOLDINGS LLC., WU, JASPER, ZUCKER, CHARLES, ZUG VENTURES LLC C/O KATHY COOK, FUSION GROUP
  • Assignee: SECURITY FIRST CORP.
  • Correspondent: LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN S. KUKEL, P.C., 2108 N. ACADEMY BLVD., SUITE 150, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80909. This correspondent recurs in this chain, having filed the 2022-09-02 assignment to Security First Innovations, LLC.
  • Context: Release of security interest held by the numerous parties, essentially clearing encumbrances on the patent, likely in conjunction with the assignment to Security First Innovations, LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 8904194
    2012-05-10 : Filed by inventors to Security First Corp
    2014-12-02 : Patent Issued
    2016-06-24 : Security Agreement to LG Mgmt LLC et al
    2022-08-29 : Assigned to Security First Innovations LLC
    2022-09-30 : Security Interest Released to Security First Corp
    2025-03-24 : Litigation SFI v IBM filed (1:25-cv-00514)
    2025-07-09 : IPR2025-01201 filed by IBM
    2025-10-25 : Anticipated Expiration
    2025-12-23 : IPR Denied Institution

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The transfer from Security First Corp to Security First Innovations, LLC (Reel 060011/0403, executed 2022-08-29 / recorded 2022-09-02) is a strong signal. "Innovations LLC" in the name, combined with the primary business of Security First Innovations LLC focusing on data-centric security platforms, and being the plaintiff in the district court litigation, suggests a licensing or assertion-focused entity. Security First Corp (the original assignee) developed products like SPxSHARC, SPxGateway, and licensed technology to companies like Unisys and IBM. The patent record currently lists Security First Innovations LLC as the assignee.

2. Known asserter in the chain — Unclear. While Security First Innovations LLC is currently asserting the patent, it is not explicitly listed on common public NPE lists (e.g., Acacia, Marathon, Intellectual Ventures) within the provided search snippets. However, the involvement in litigation against IBM suggests an assertion strategy.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. The correspondent LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN S. KUKEL, P.C. (2108 N. ACADEMY BLVD., SUITE 150, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 80909) filed both the assignment from Security First Corp to Security First Innovations, LLC (Reel 060011/0403, recorded 2022-09-02) and the subsequent release by secured parties to Security First Corp (Reel 060269/0719, recorded 2022-10-06). This recurrence of the same correspondent for related transactions around the time of the patent's transfer is a signal.

4. Cascading transfers — Unclear. While there were two recordings in quick succession in 2022 (an assignment and a release), this isn't a "cascading transfer" between different shell entities but rather a transfer followed by a release related to a prior security agreement.

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. The assignment to Security First Innovations, LLC was recorded on 2022-09-02 (Reel 060011/0403). The district court litigation (1:25-cv-00514) by Security First Innovations, LLC against IBM was filed on March 24, 2025. The IPR (IPR2025-01201) was filed on July 9, 2025. This means the assignment occurred more than six months prior to the first infringement suit filing, but the release of the security interest occurred on 2022-10-06, which is still over six months prior to the litigation. However, the overall sequence of transfers to the current asserting entity happened well before the litigation, suggesting a deliberate preparation for assertion.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication that Security First Corp filed for bankruptcy.

7. Privateering — Unclear. While Security First Corp developed data security solutions and licensed technology to IBM, the current litigation is against IBM. This could be indicative of a privateering strategy where an operating company (Security First Corp) transferred the patent to an NPE (Security First Innovations, LLC) to assert against a former licensee or competitor. Further investigation into the relationship between Security First Corp and Security First Innovations, LLC would be needed to confirm this.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The current assignee is Security First Innovations, LLC, which is actively asserting the patent.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The transfer of the patent from an operating company (Security First Corp, which developed products and licensed technology) to "Security First Innovations, LLC" (Reel 060011/0403, recorded 2022-09-02), followed by the current assignee, Security First Innovations, LLC, filing an infringement suit against IBM in 2025, are strong indicators of an NPE. The recurrence of the same correspondent, LAW OFFICES OF KEVIN S. KUKEL, P.C., for both the assignment to the current NPE and the release of the security interest in the patent (Reel 060011/0403 and Reel 060269/0719), further reinforces this conclusion.

USPTO Assignment Center search page for verification: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patents/8904194