US 8958853

Summary of U.S. Patent 8,958,853 and Recent Legal Status

Washington, D.C. - A concise summary of United States Patent 8,958,853, titled "Mobile device inactive mode and inactive mode verification," reveals a technology aimed at reducing distracted driving by managing mobile device notifications. This patent has recently been the subject of a federal court ruling that impacts its validity.

Patent Overview:

• Title: Mobile device inactive mode and inactive mode verification
• Assignee: The current assignee is listed as Tjtm Technology LLC. The original assignee was "Individual".
• Inventor: Nick Bovis
• Filing Date: October 15, 2014
• Issue Date: February 17, 2015
• Abstract: The patent describes a mobile device with a processor and memory containing instructions to perform several steps. These include receiving a user's choice to have an "inactive mode" automatically start when an action indicates the device is in a moving vehicle. When a communication is received while in this mode, the device sends an "away message" instead of notifying the user. If not in inactive mode, it provides a standard notification.

Independent Claims in Plain Language:

U.S. Patent 8,958,853 has one independent claim.

• Claim 1: This claim describes a mobile device equipped with a wireless communication module, a processor, and memory. The core of the invention is a process where the device:
  1. Shows a user interface that allows the user to customize how the "inactive mode" works.
  2. Receives the user's instruction to automatically turn on this inactive mode when the phone pairs with a vehicle.
  3. Lets the user choose a specific "away message" to be sent during inactive mode.
  4. Automatically activates the inactive mode once it pairs with the vehicle.
  5. When a call, text, or other communication comes in during inactive mode, it automatically sends the pre-selected away message and blocks the usual sound, screen, or vibration alerts that the user would normally receive.

Recent CAFC Docket Information:

Recent legal activity indicates that this patent was the subject of an appeal at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC). In the case of TJTM Technologies, LLC v. Google LLC, docket number 25-1218, the court reviewed the patent's validity. On May 5, 2026, the CAFC affirmed a lower court's decision to dismiss a patent infringement lawsuit brought by TJTM Technologies against Google. The court found the patent claims to be directed towards the abstract idea of "screening notifications" and therefore not eligible for patent protection under 35 U.S.C. § 101. The court noted that the patent described a sequence of conventional steps on a generic mobile device without offering a specific technological improvement. Arguments for the case were heard in April 2026.