US 9008055

Analysis of U.S. Patent 9,008,055

As a senior U.S. patent analyst, this report provides a concise summary of United States Patent 9,008,055, including its key details and an overview of its independent claims. The information is based on the patent document itself and a search of publicly available data as of the current date.

Patent Details:

• Title: Automatic remote services provided by a home relationship between a device and a server
• Assignee: The most recent assignee listed in the patent's legal events is Iot Innovations LLC. The original assignee was KDL Scan Designs LLC.
• Inventor: Eric C. Anderson
• Filing Date: July 29, 2004
• Issue Date: April 14, 2015
• Abstract: The patent describes a method for a mobile device to automatically receive remote services from a "home" network server. After an initial "home" relationship is established, if the device connects to a separate, remote network (like a public Wi-Fi hotspot), it automatically establishes an internet connection back to its home server. By transmitting stored information that identifies it, the mobile device is recognized by the server. The server then automatically activates services, such as uploading images or other data, as if the device were connected locally.

Litigation Status:

A search of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) dockets for 2026 did not reveal any specific litigation involving US Patent 9,008,055.

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Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims

This patent contains three independent claims (1, 15, and 29), which define the core scope of the invention. The other claims (dependent claims) are variations of these.

Independent Claim 1: The Server's Method

This claim focuses on the actions performed by the home server. In simple terms, the method involves:

• Receiving Information: The server receives identifying information from a mobile device. This information was originally stored on the device when a "home relationship" was first set up. This happens after the mobile device connects to the internet through a remote network (e.g., a coffee shop's Wi-Fi).
• Allowing User Preferences: A key part of establishing the "home relationship" is allowing the user to pre-set preferences for services that should run automatically when a connection is made.
• Automatic Activation: If the server recognizes the mobile device from the information it sent, the server automatically kicks off at least one of its own functions to start a data transfer with the device over that remote network.

In essence, claim 1 protects the server-side process of recognizing a "homed" device that is connecting from a remote location and automatically starting a pre-configured service for it.

Independent Claim 15: The System

This claim describes the overall system that accomplishes the method of claim 1. It is defined by its "means for" performing specific functions, which correspond to the steps in claim 1:

• Means for Receiving: This refers to the hardware and software components on the server (like a network card and running software) that are capable of receiving the identifying information from the mobile device over the internet.
• Means Responsive to Recognition: This refers to the server's processor and software that, upon successfully recognizing the device, automatically activate a function to initiate a data transfer.
• Inclusion of User Preferences: The system is set up such that the establishment of the relationship includes a way for the user to define the automatic services.

Claim 15 protects the physical and logical system (the server and its software) that is configured to perform the actions described in claim 1.

Independent Claim 29: The Non-Transitory Computer-Readable Medium

This claim covers the software itself, stored on a physical medium (like a hard drive, server memory, or other storage). The claim specifies a "non-transitory computer-readable medium" that contains program instructions for:

• Receiving Information: The instructions, when executed by the server, will cause it to receive the identifying information from the mobile device connecting remotely.
• Automatic Activation on Recognition: The instructions will also cause the server to automatically activate a function for data transfer once the device is recognized.
• Allowing User Preferences: The software includes the functionality for a user to set the preferences for these automatic services during the initial setup.

This claim protects the software product that enables a server to perform the patented method. It's a way of protecting the invention as a product that can be sold or distributed, rather than just as a method or a complete system.

Based on my review as of April 26, 2026, and prioritizing information from litigation databases and court records, I can confirm at least one legal case involving U.S. Patent No. 9,008,055.

This finding updates the information in the previously generated "Patent Summary," which noted that a search of 2026 CAFC dockets did not show litigation. The case detailed below was filed in 2023 in a U.S. District Court.

Known Litigation

1. Iot Innovations LLC v. SimpliSafe, Inc. et al.

• Plaintiff: Iot Innovations LLC
• Defendant(s): SimpliSafe, Inc. (lead defendant), and other related cases appear to have been consolidated, including one against Wyze Labs, Inc.
• Jurisdiction: U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• Case Number: 1:23-cv-10352
• Filing Date: The case number indicates a filing year of 2023. Court documents confirm activity beginning early in that year.
• Outcome or Current Status: As of the latest available information, the case is active. A memorandum and order was issued on June 28, 2023, denying the defendant's (SimpliSafe, Inc.) motion to dismiss the claims of direct, indirect, and willful infringement. The court found that the plaintiff's complaint contained sufficient factual matter to state a plausible claim for relief. The litigation remains ongoing, proceeding through the pre-trial phases.

This case was identified directly from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office data for US 9,008,055 and confirmed via court records (Source: https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Massachusetts%20District%20Court/case/1%3A23-cv-10352, as cited on the patent's Google Patents page, and related court documents).

The USPTO ODP API returns no AIA trial proceedings for this patent. However, a web search indicates that US9008055 is part of a portfolio of patents currently being asserted in district court litigation by Iot Innovations LLC against multiple defendants, including SimpliSafe, Inc. and Wyze Labs, Inc.. The active nature of this district court litigation suggests the potential for future PTAB filings. Without specific PTAB proceeding numbers, a detailed analysis of claim-level outcomes, judge panels, or procedural events is not possible.

Proceedings overview

As of June 1, 2026, there are no PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) proceedings on file for U.S. Patent 9,008,055 (US9008055). This means that none of the claims have been challenged or invalidated through Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), or Covered Business Method (CBM) proceedings. The patent remains unexamined by the PTAB.

Strategic summary

Currently, all claims of US9008055 are UNTESTED by the PTAB. This means that for any defendant facing assertion of this patent, all prior art grounds are theoretically still available for a PTAB challenge, subject to statutory bars (e.g., one-year bar for IPR filing after service of a complaint for infringement, or time limitations for PGR/CBM). The absence of PTAB activity suggests that the patent has not yet been subjected to the scrutiny of an AIA trial. The patent owner, Iot Innovations LLC, is actively asserting this patent (among others) in district court litigation. This active assertion could lead to future PTAB petitions from defendants seeking to invalidate the patent claims.

Recommended next steps

If you are a defendant facing assertion of US9008055, the absence of PTAB activity indicates that all claims remain presumptively valid from a PTAB perspective. Your next steps could include:

• Prior Art Search: Conduct a thorough prior art search to identify potential grounds for an IPR or PGR petition against the asserted claims.
• Monitor Litigation: Closely monitor the ongoing district court litigation involving Iot Innovations LLC, as any developments there (e.g., claim constructions, rulings on motions to dismiss) could inform a PTAB strategy.
• Consider PTAB Petition: Evaluate the viability of filing an IPR or PGR petition. The absence of previous PTAB challenges means there's no estoppel against specific prior art grounds, potentially offering a broad range of options. However, be mindful of the statutory deadlines for filing such petitions, particularly the one-year bar for IPRs after being served with a complaint for infringement (35 U.S.C. § 315(b)).
• Engage with PTAB Counsel: Consult with experienced PTAB counsel to assess the strength of potential invalidity arguments and to navigate the procedural complexities of AIA trial proceedings.

Inventors

The sole named inventor is Eric C. Anderson. The initial assignment on the patent's filing date (July 29, 2004) was from Eric C. Anderson to IPAC ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY 1, LLC. KDL Scan Designs LLC is listed as the applicant and original assignee. It is common for inventors to assign their rights to their employer or a related entity upon filing. It is not determinable from the patent record alone whether Eric C. Anderson was an employee of KDL Scan Designs LLC or IPAC ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY 1, LLC at the time of filing. There is no clear pattern of inventors departing the original assignee within 12 months.

Original assignee

The entity named as the original assignee (applicant) on the issued patent is KDL Scan Designs LLC. While the name "Scan Designs" could suggest a business related to imaging, it is difficult to determine definitively whether KDL Scan Designs LLC shipped products embodying the claims of US 9008055 without extensive historical product research.

Based on the assignment history, KDL Scan Designs LLC was the initial applicant, but rights were immediately transferred to IPAC ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY 1, LLC. KDL Scan Designs LLC later reappeared in the chain as an assignee in 2012. Its subsequent transfer to Chemtron Research LLC, a known patent asserting entity, suggests that KDL Scan Designs LLC functioned primarily as an intellectual property holding or development entity rather than a product-shipping company in relation to this patent. As of its last appearance in the assignment chain, KDL Scan Designs LLC transferred the patent via a merger to Chemtron Research LLC in 2015. Its current operational status is not definitively known from the patent records, but it appears to have divested its interest in this patent.

Assignment timeline

• 2004-07-29 (executed) / recorded 2004-07-29 — Reel 015649/0185
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: ANDERSON, ERIC C.
  • Assignee: IPAC ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY 1, LLC
  • Correspondent: C/O PATIENT GROUP; 15201 N. 75TH STREET; SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260.
  • Context: Inventor's assignment of rights to an initial holding entity.
• 2006-11-02 (executed) / recorded 2006-11-07 — Reel 018489/0421
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: IPAC ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY I, LLC
  • Assignee: SCENERA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Correspondent: CONLEY ROSE, P.C.; P.O. BOX 3267; HOUSTON, TX 77253-3267. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of patent rights to another entity.
• 2011-08-01 (executed) / recorded 2011-10-24 — Reel 027108/0010
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: IPAC ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY I, LLC
  • Assignee: SCENERA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Correspondent: CONLEY ROSE, P.C.; P.O. BOX 3267; HOUSTON, TX 77253-3267. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Re-assignment or confirmatory assignment between the same entities.
• 2011-08-03 (executed) / recorded 2011-10-24 — Reel 027108/0024
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: SCENERA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Assignee: FOTOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Correspondent: CONLEY ROSE, P.C.; P.O. BOX 3267; HOUSTON, TX 77253-3267. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of patent rights to another entity.
• 2011-11-28 (executed) / recorded 2011-11-29 — Reel 027294/0463
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: SCENERA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Assignee: FOTOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Correspondent: CONLEY ROSE, P.C.; P.O. BOX 3267; HOUSTON, TX 77253-3267. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Another assignment or confirmatory assignment between the same entities.
• 2011-12-12 (executed) / recorded 2012-01-10 — Reel 027512/0307
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: FOTOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
  • Assignee: KDL SCAN DESIGNS LLC
  • Correspondent: CONLEY ROSE, P.C.; P.O. BOX 3267; HOUSTON, TX 77253-3267. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of patent rights back to the original applicant.
• 2015-08-26 (executed) / recorded 2015-10-09 — Reel 036828/0702
  • Conveyance: Merger
  • Assignor: KDL SCAN DESIGNS LLC
  • Assignee: CHEMTRON RESEARCH LLC
  • Correspondent: BRIAN M. CUNNINGHAM; CONLEY ROSE, P.C.; PO BOX 3267; HOUSTON, TX 77253-3267. This correspondent recurs frequently in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer of patent rights via merger.
• 2022-07-21 (executed) / recorded 2022-07-21 — Reel 060585/0163
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: CHEMTRON RESEARCH LLC
  • Assignee: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 184 LLC
  • Correspondent: SAMUEL H. WANG; O'BANION & OLIVIERI; 12150 EAST BRIARWOOD AVENUE; SUITE 200; CENTENNIAL, CO 80112.
  • Context: Transfer to an Intellectual Ventures entity.
• 2022-07-28 (executed) / recorded 2022-08-02 — Reel 060698/0604
  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 184 LLC
  • Assignee: IOT INNOVATIONS LLC
  • Correspondent: DAVID PRIDHAM; PRIDHAM LAW OFFICE, LLC; 12725 MUR-LEN ROAD SUITE 200; OLATHE, KS 66062.
  • Context: Transfer from Intellectual Ventures to the current asserting entity.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9008055
    2004 : Inventor to IPAC Acquisition Subsidiary
    2006 : IPAC to Scenera Technologies LLC
    2011 : IPAC to Scenera (re-recorded)
         : Scenera to Fotomedia Technologies
         : Scenera to Fotomedia (re-recorded)
    2012 : Fotomedia to KDL Scan Designs LLC
    2015 : KDL Scan Designs to Chemtron Research LLC (Merger)
    2022 : Chemtron to Intellectual Ventures Assets 184
         : IV Assets 184 to Iot Innovations LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present.
   • IPAC ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY 1, LLC (Reel 015649/0185) has "Acquisition Subsidiary" in its name, typical for holding entities.
   • SCENERA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, FOTOMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, and CHEMTRON RESEARCH LLC are entities widely recognized in the patent assertion space.
   • INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 184 LLC (Reel 060585/0163) is an obvious shell entity associated with the well-known NPE Intellectual Ventures.
   • IOT INNOVATIONS LLC (Reel 060698/0604), the current owner, is actively asserting the patent.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Present.
   • INTELLECTUAL VENTURES ASSETS 184 LLC (Reel 060585/0163) is a direct entity of Intellectual Ventures, a prominent NPE.
   • IOT INNOVATIONS LLC (Reel 060698/0604) is the current assignee and plaintiff in ongoing litigation concerning this patent.
   • SCENERA TECHNOLOGIES, LLC and CHEMTRON RESEARCH LLC (Reel 018489/0421, Reel 036828/0702) have been associated with patent assertion activities.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present.
   • CONLEY ROSE, P.C. appears as the correspondent for multiple assignments from 2006 through 2015 (Reel 018489/0421, Reel 027108/0010, Reel 027108/0024, Reel 027294/0463, Reel 027512/0307, Reel 036828/0702). This consistent use of a single firm across multiple entity transfers is a strong indicator of a coordinated patent management strategy often seen with NPEs.
4. Cascading transfers — Present.
   • From 2011-08-01 to 2012-01-10, the patent was transferred multiple times between IPAC, Scenera, and Fotomedia, and then back to KDL Scan Designs, with all these transfers occurring within a 6-month period and handled by the same correspondent, Conley Rose, P.C. (Reels 027108/0010, 027108/0024, 027294/0463, 027512/0307).
   • A more recent cascading transfer occurred from 2022-07-21 to 2022-07-28, moving from Chemtron Research LLC to Intellectual Ventures Assets 184 LLC and then to Iot Innovations LLC within a week (Reels 060585/0163, 060698/0604).
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. The assignment to IOT INNOVATIONS LLC was executed on 2022-07-28 and recorded on 2022-08-02 (Reel 060698/0604). The known litigation (1:23-cv-10352) was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts in early 2023, placing the final transfer within 6 months prior to the first infringement suit, which is a strong signal for patent assertion intent.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. The assignment records do not indicate any bankruptcy proceedings involving the assignors.
7. Privateering — Unclear. While the chain involves known NPEs that engage in privateering, direct evidence in the form of public company SEC filings or specific reporting is not available from the patent assignment records alone.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain terminates with Iot Innovations LLC, which is actively asserting the patent, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The extensive presence of known patent asserting entities (Intellectual Ventures, Iot Innovations LLC, Chemtron Research LLC, Scenera Technologies LLC), coupled with multiple cascading transfers (eels 027108/0010, 027108/0024, 027294/0463, 027512/0307, and Reels 060585/0163, 060698/0604), a recurring correspondent attorney (Conley Rose, P.C.), and a clear pre-litigation transfer to the current asserting entity (Reel 060698/0604, dated 2022-07-28, preceding litigation in early 2023), all strongly indicate an NPE assertion pattern.

USPTO Assignment Center Search for US9008055

As a technical patent analyst, I will now identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 9,008,055 by examining its cited references. Prior art includes any publicly available information that predates the effective filing date of an invention, such as other patents and publications, and is used to determine if an invention is novel and non-obvious (35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103). I will focus on the patent citations listed within US patent 9,008,055 itself.

I have performed a search within the USPTO database for US patent 9,008,055 to identify its specific citations. The following patents are listed as "Patent Citations" on the Google Patents page for US9008055B2.

Most Relevant Prior Art for US Patent 9,008,055

Here is an analysis of the patent citations listed for US9008055B2, focusing on their potential to anticipate the claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

1. US6119001A

• Full Citation: US6119001A - Roamer service auto-activation and deactivation in a home location register
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1997-04-28, Published: 2000-09-12
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for automatically activating and deactivating roamer services for a mobile subscriber in a home location register (HLR) in a telecommunications network. It focuses on managing subscriber profiles and services when a mobile device moves between different networks.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6119001A may potentially anticipate elements of claims related to automatic service activation based on a "home" relationship, particularly if "roamer service auto-activation" can be broadly interpreted to include the automatic initiation of data transfer services as described in claim 1. The concept of a "home location register" identifying a subscriber and providing services is analogous to the home server recognizing a mobile device and providing services. However, it specifically deals with telecommunication network services rather than general data transfer and user-defined preferences, which could be a differentiating factor.

2. US6091956A

• Full Citation: US6091956A - Situation information system
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1997-06-12, Published: 2000-07-18
• Brief Description: This patent describes a situation information system that provides users with information relevant to their current situation (e.g., location, time, preferences). It involves tailoring information delivery based on context.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While US6091956A broadly relates to providing relevant information based on context, its focus on "situation information" might not directly anticipate the core elements of automatic remote services and data transfer initiated by a home server upon recognition of a mobile device connecting through a separate and remote network, as outlined in claim 1 of US9008055B2. The automatic transfer of data (like images) or software updates based on pre-set preferences seems more specific than general "situation information."

3. US5966705A

• Full Citation: US5966705A - Tracking a user across both secure and non-secure areas on the Internet, wherein the users is initially tracked using a globally unique identifier
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1997-06-30, Published: 1999-10-12
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for tracking a user across secure and non-secure areas of the internet using a globally unique identifier. It addresses user identification and persistent tracking.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US5966705A's use of a "globally unique identifier" for tracking users across different internet areas could be considered relevant to the "information that uniquely identifies the mobile device" mentioned in US9008055B2. However, US5966705A primarily focuses on user tracking for purposes like advertising or personalization, rather than the automatic provision of remote services and data transfers by a specific "home server" based on pre-set preferences when the device connects through a remote network. The "automatic activation of at least one service to initiate a transfer of data" (Claim 1) might not be fully anticipated.

4. US6449473B1

• Full Citation: US6449473B1 - Security method for transmissions in telecommunication networks
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1997-09-15, Published: 2002-09-10
• Brief Description: This patent details a security method for transmissions in telecommunication networks, focusing on authenticating users and ensuring secure communication.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US9008055B2 mentions establishing a secure connection (e.g., using VPN or encryption keys, as discussed in the detailed description and referenced in Claim 14). US6449473B1's emphasis on security methods in telecommunication networks could be considered relevant to the secure connection aspect. However, US9008055B2's claims go beyond just security to include the entire process of establishing a "home relationship," setting user preferences for automatic services, and initiating data transfers from a remote location. The mere presence of a security method would likely not fully anticipate the broader method or system claims of US9008055B2.

5. US6930709B1

• Full Citation: US6930709B1 - Integrated internet/intranet camera
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1997-12-04, Published: 2005-08-16
• Brief Description: This patent describes an integrated internet/intranet camera that can directly connect to networks to upload images.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant given US9008055B2's specific examples of uploading images from a camera phone or digital camera as an automatic service. US6930709B1 describes a camera that can connect to networks and upload images. This could potentially anticipate aspects of claims related to "uploading images" (Claim 9). However, US9008055B2 specifies the context of a "home relationship" with a "home server" and the automatic activation of services (including image uploads) when connected through a separate and remote local network based on user-set preferences. The concept of a pre-established "home relationship" and automatic services from a remote network after detection might differentiate US9008055B2.

6. US6332579B1

• Full Citation: US6332579B1 - Identification card billing method using an identification card
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1997-12-17, Published: 2001-12-25
• Brief Description: This patent describes a billing method that uses an identification card for various services, focusing on user identification for transaction purposes.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US6332579B1 focuses on billing and identification for transactions, which is distinct from the automatic remote services and data transfer aspects of US9008055B2. While both involve identification, the purpose and outcome are different. It is unlikely to directly anticipate the claims of US9008055B2.

7. US6502192B1

• Full Citation: US6502192B1 - Security between client and server in a computer network
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1998-09-03, Published: 2002-12-31
• Brief Description: This patent describes methods for establishing and maintaining security between a client and a server in a computer network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6449473B1, this patent focuses on the security mechanisms between client and server. While relevant to the "secure connection" aspect of US9008055B2, it does not appear to teach the broader inventive concept of a "home relationship" enabling automatic, preference-driven remote services and data transfers when connecting from a geographically separate network.

8. US20020022474A1 (and US6816722B2)

• Full Citation: US20020022474A1 - Detecting and preventing fraudulent use in a telecommunications network (also granted as US6816722B2)
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1998-12-23, Published: 2002-02-21 (US20020022474A1), Granted: 2004-11-09 (US6816722B2)
• Brief Description: This patent describes methods for detecting and preventing fraudulent use within telecommunications networks, often relying on subscriber identification and activity monitoring.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): The focus here is on fraud prevention in telecommunication networks. While it involves recognizing devices/subscribers, its primary goal is different from automatically providing user-selected remote services and data transfers from a home server. It is unlikely to directly anticipate the core claims of US9008055B2.

9. US6639975B1

• Full Citation: US6639975B1 - Interactive billing control system
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-01-29, Published: 2003-10-28
• Brief Description: This patent describes an interactive billing control system, focusing on user interaction with billing services.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6332579B1, this patent primarily addresses billing and user interaction for billing, which does not directly anticipate the automatic remote services and data transfer of US9008055B2.

10. EP1058450A1

• Full Citation: EP1058450A1 - Customizing a digital camera
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-06-02, Published: 2000-12-06
• Brief Description: This European patent application describes methods for customizing settings and functions of a digital camera.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While relating to digital cameras, the focus is on customization of the camera's settings. US9008055B2, on the other hand, deals with a "home relationship" and the automatic provision of remote services (like image uploads) from a server based on user-set preferences for those services, not necessarily customizing the camera's internal operation. Thus, it's unlikely to be a direct anticipation of the broader claims.

11. US6967675B1

• Full Citation: US6967675B1 - Digital camera with image file transmission
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-10-28, Published: 2005-11-22
• Brief Description: This patent describes a digital camera with the capability to transmit image files.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6930709B1, this patent discloses a digital camera with image transmission capabilities. This could anticipate aspects of image uploading (Claim 9). However, the specific context of a "home relationship" with a "home server" enabling automatic, preference-driven services from a remote network as described in US9008055B2's independent claims (1, 15, 29) might still be novel. The distinction lies in the automated remote service activation by the server based on a pre-established "home relationship" and user preferences, rather than merely the camera's ability to transmit images.

12. US20010003191A1

• Full Citation: US20010003191A1 - Communication device and software for operating multimedia applications
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-12-03, Published: 2001-06-07
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a communication device and associated software for operating multimedia applications.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This broad description of a communication device and multimedia software may touch upon aspects of mobile devices and data, but it does not appear to specifically teach the "home relationship," automatic remote service activation by a server, or user-set preferences for data transfer from a remote network, as claimed in US9008055B2.

13. US20010054101A1

• Full Citation: US20010054101A1 - Server and method to provide access to a network by a computer configured for a different network
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 1999-12-23, Published: 2001-12-20
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a server and method that allow a computer configured for one network to access another different network. This involves adapting network configurations.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent deals with network access and configuration for different networks, which has some overlap with a mobile device connecting to a remote network. However, US9008055B2 focuses on the home server's automatic activation of services based on a pre-established home relationship and user preferences once internet access is gained through the remote network, rather than merely enabling network access for a differently configured computer. The specific "home relationship" and automated service aspects might distinguish US9008055B2.

14. US20030207685A1

• Full Citation: US20030207685A1 - User profiling communications system
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2000-04-15, Published: 2003-11-06
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a communication system that uses user profiling to tailor communications.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): User profiling, while related to preferences, is distinct from the explicit user-set preferences for automatic data transfer services initiated by a home server when a mobile device connects remotely, as described in US9008055B2 (e.g., in Claim 1). This patent would likely not anticipate the specific mechanism of the "home relationship" and automatic service activation.

15. US20040132449A1

• Full Citation: US20040132449A1 - Method and apparatus for permitting a mobile station to operate in a visited network
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2000-06-09, Published: 2004-07-08
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a method and apparatus for allowing a mobile station to operate in a visited network, potentially involving roaming and network access.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is concerned with a mobile station operating in a visited network, which aligns with the scenario of US9008055B2 (mobile device connecting to a "local network that is separate and remote from the home network"). However, the key differentiating factors in US9008055B2 are the established "home" relationship with a specific home server and the automatic activation of user-preferred services (like data transfer) from that home server once the remote internet connection is made. If US20040132449A1 does not explicitly teach these elements, especially the preference-driven automatic service initiation by the home server, it may not fully anticipate US9008055B2.

16. US6937850B2

• Full Citation: US6937850B2 - Method and apparatus for charging of communications services
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2000-06-29, Published: 2005-08-30
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method and apparatus for charging for communication services.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent deals with billing for communication services, which is outside the scope of the core inventive concept of US9008055B2 regarding automatic remote services and data transfer based on a home relationship.

17. US20040046868A1

• Full Citation: US20040046868A1 - Automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera to access the Internet
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2000-07-26, Published: 2004-03-11
• Brief Description: This patent application describes automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera to access the Internet.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant as it deals with automatic configuration for internet access for a digital camera. This could anticipate the initial steps of a mobile imaging device gaining internet access. However, US9008055B2 goes further by defining a "home relationship" with a server and the server automatically activating pre-set services (like image upload) upon recognizing the device connecting remotely. The focus on the server's automated service activation based on the home relationship might be a distinguishing feature.

18. US20040098515A1

• Full Citation: US20040098515A1 - Systems and methods for the automatic registration of devices
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2000-09-06, Published: 2004-05-20
• Brief Description: This patent application describes systems and methods for the automatic registration of devices. US9008055B2 explicitly references this concept as one of its automatic services (product registration).
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is very relevant, as "automated product registration" is listed as an example of an automatic service in US9008055B2 (Summary and Detailed Description). If US20040098515A1 discloses a method where a device automatically registers with a "home" server (or a designated server) upon connecting to a network, it could potentially anticipate the "automatic product registration" aspect of the services in US9008055B2. However, the claims of US9008055B2 encompass a broader method of automatically activating at least one service (which could include registration) to initiate data transfer based on user-set preferences and a home relationship when connecting from a remote network. The broader scope and specific combination of elements in US9008055B2's independent claims would need careful comparison.

19. US6542740B1

• Full Citation: US6542740B1 - System, method and article of manufacture for utilizing a wireless link in an interface roaming network framework
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2000-10-24, Published: 2003-04-01
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for utilizing a wireless link in an interface roaming network framework, addressing how devices move between wireless networks.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's focus on "roaming network framework" is relevant to a mobile device moving between networks. However, similar to US20040132449A1, the key distinction for US9008055B2 lies in the home server's automatic, preference-driven initiation of data transfer services through that roaming network, enabled by a pre-established home relationship. Roaming itself does not necessarily imply the specific automatic service activation described in US9008055B2.

20. WO2002057869A2

• Full Citation: WO2002057869A2 - Cooperative network for mobile internet access
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2000-11-03, Published: 2002-07-25
• Brief Description: This international patent application describes a cooperative network system for providing mobile internet access.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly relates to mobile internet access. However, it is unlikely to specifically teach the "home relationship" between a device and a home server, the user setting preferences for automatic services, and the server's automatic activation of data transfer upon remote connection, as claimed in US9008055B2.

21. US20030054810A1

• Full Citation: US20030054810A1 - Enterprise mobile server platform
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2000-11-15, Published: 2003-03-20
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an enterprise mobile server platform, likely focusing on managing mobile devices within a business context.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent involves a "mobile server platform," its focus on an "enterprise" context might differ from the "home network" concept of US9008055B2. More importantly, the explicit elements of a "home relationship," user-set preferences for automatic data transfer services, and the server's automatic initiation of these services upon remote connection are not immediately apparent from the title alone and would require deeper analysis of the full text to determine anticipation.

22. US20020114469A1

• Full Citation: US20020114469A1 - Method and system for delegation of security procedures to a visited domain
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-02-21, Published: 2002-08-22
• Brief Description: This patent application describes delegating security procedures to a visited domain in a network environment.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on security delegation in visited domains. While security is a component of US9008055B2 (e.g., VPN tunnel, encryption keys), the primary inventive concept of US9008055B2 revolves around the automatic remote services triggered by a home server based on a pre-established home relationship and user preferences for data transfer, rather than merely security procedures.

23. US20020137544A1

• Full Citation: US20020137544A1 - Radio communication apparatus
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-03-21, Published: 2002-09-26
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a radio communication apparatus.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a very broad patent on a radio communication apparatus. It is highly unlikely to anticipate the specific method or system of providing automatic remote services with a home relationship, user preferences, and data transfer described in US9008055B2.

24. US20040185826A1

• Full Citation: US20040185826A1 - Charging in communication networks
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-05-18, Published: 2004-09-23
• Brief Description: This patent application describes methods for charging in communication networks.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent addresses charging, which is not the core inventive concept of US9008055B2.

25. US20030025796A1

• Full Citation: US20030025796A1 - Image sensing apparatus, information processing apparatus, control method for these apparatuses, image processing apparatus and method, and image processing system
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-07-31, Published: 2003-02-06
• Brief Description: This patent application describes various aspects of image sensing, processing, and control, as well as an overall image processing system.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly covers image processing and sensing. While US9008055B2 mentions imaging devices and image uploads, this patent does not appear to specifically teach the "home relationship," server-side automatic service activation, user preferences for remote services, or the data transfer initiation from a remote network in the specific manner claimed by US9008055B2.

26. US20030030839A1

• Full Citation: US20030030839A1 - Process of operations with an interchangeable transmission device and apparatus for use therein for a common interface for use with digital cameras
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-08-08, Published: 2003-02-13
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an interchangeable transmission device and a common interface for digital cameras, likely focusing on connectivity and data transfer mechanisms for cameras.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on interfaces and transmission for digital cameras. While relevant to how cameras might transfer data, it is not explicitly about a "home relationship" with a server that automatically initiates remote services based on user preferences when connecting from a separate network.

27. US20050146621A1 (and WO2003024094A1)

• Full Citation: US20050146621A1 - Digital camera system, image storage apparatus, and digital camera (also WO2003024094A1)
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-09-10, Published: 2005-07-07 (US20050146621A1), Published: 2003-03-20 (WO2003024094A1)
• Brief Description: These patents describe digital camera systems and image storage apparatuses.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): These patents, similar to other camera-related prior art, describe image storage and camera systems. The crucial differentiating factor for US9008055B2 is the automatic remote service activation by a home server based on a pre-established home relationship and user preferences for data transfer when the device connects from a remote network. These patents would need to explicitly teach this specific combination to fully anticipate the claims.

28. US20030065824A1

• Full Citation: US20030065824A1 - Network apparatus, a network controller, and a method of controlling the network apparatus
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-09-11, Published: 2003-04-03
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a network apparatus, controller, and control method.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a generic patent about network apparatus and control. It is unlikely to contain the specific elements of a "home relationship," user preferences for automatic remote services, and server-initiated data transfer as defined in US9008055B2.

29. US20030054833A1

• Full Citation: US20030054833A1 - Application execution method and apparatus
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-09-18, Published: 2003-03-20
• Brief Description: This patent application describes methods and apparatus for executing applications.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is broadly about application execution. It does not appear to teach the specific context of a "home relationship" for automatic remote services and data transfer in the manner claimed by US9008055B2.

30. US20030058343A1

• Full Citation: US20030058343A1 - Image data transfer method, digital camera, and program
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-09-26, Published: 2003-03-27
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an image data transfer method, a digital camera, and a program for it.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent describes image data transfer for digital cameras, which is relevant to US9008055B2's examples. However, it needs to be examined if it teaches the full scope of claim 1, particularly the "home relationship," "server automatically activating at least one service to initiate a transfer of data" from a remote network based on "user preferences" set during the establishment of the relationship. The novelty might reside in this combination of automated, preference-driven remote services initiated by the home server.

31. US20040248547A1

• Full Citation: US20040248547A1 - Integration of billing between cellular and wlan networks
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-10-08, Published: 2004-12-09
• Brief Description: This patent application describes the integration of billing systems between cellular and WLAN networks.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on billing integration, which is not the primary subject matter of US9008055B2's independent claims.

32. US20030078959A1

• Full Citation: US20030078959A1 - Deployment of business logic software and data content onto network servers
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-10-18, Published: 2003-04-24
• Brief Description: This patent application describes the deployment of business logic software and data content onto network servers.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is concerned with software and data deployment on servers. While servers are central to US9008055B2, this patent does not appear to teach the specific "home relationship" with a mobile device, user preferences for automatic remote services, and server-initiated data transfer from a remote network that defines the invention.

33. US20040201702A1

• Full Citation: US20040201702A1 - Automatic location identification and categorization of digital photographs
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2001-10-23, Published: 2004-10-14
• Brief Description: This patent application describes automatic location identification and categorization of digital photographs.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on processing and organizing digital photographs with location data. While US9008055B2 deals with image uploads, the core claims of US9008055B2 are about the automatic remote services initiated by a home server based on a home relationship and user preferences, which goes beyond just photo categorization.

34. US6670982B2

• Full Citation: US6670982B2 - Wireless digital camera media
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-01-04, Published: 2003-12-30
• Brief Description: This patent describes wireless digital camera media.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on wireless media for digital cameras. It's too generic to anticipate the specific method and system of US9008055B2 concerning the home relationship and automatic remote services.

35. US20030157960A1

• Full Citation: US20030157960A1 - Remote storage for electronics
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-02-20, Published: 2003-08-21
• Brief Description: This patent application describes remote storage solutions for electronic devices.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent relates to remote storage, which aligns with the concept of uploading data to a server. However, it needs to be determined if it explicitly teaches the automatic initiation of data transfer to remote storage by a home server based on a pre-established home relationship and user preferences when the device connects through a remote network, as detailed in US9008055B2's claims. The automation and the specific "home relationship" context are key.

36. US20030225701A1

• Full Citation: US20030225701A1 - System for protecting and managing digital contents
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-02-28, Published: 2003-12-04
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system for protecting and managing digital content.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on content protection and management. While data transfer might involve digital content, the core inventive concept of US9008055B2 lies in the automatic remote services driven by a home server and user preferences when connecting from a remote network, which is distinct from mere content protection.

37. US20040203848A1

• Full Citation: US20040203848A1 - Wireless communication device and method for automatic time updates in personal information management applications
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-03-28, Published: 2004-10-14
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a wireless communication device and method for automatic time updates in personal information management applications.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent deals with automatic time updates for personal information management. While it involves an automatic service for a mobile device, the specific nature of the service (time updates) and the context (PIM applications) are different from the broad "transfer of data" services (e.g., images, software updates) initiated by a home server based on user preferences in US9008055B2.

38. US7085360B1

• Full Citation: US7085360B1 - System and method for auditing billing records in a telecommunications system
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-04-22, Published: 2006-08-01
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method for auditing billing records in a telecommunications system.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on billing audits, which is not the subject matter of US9008055B2's independent claims.

39. US20030200297A1

• Full Citation: US20030200297A1 - Method for configuring a system management station
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-04-23, Published: 2003-10-23
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a method for configuring a system management station.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is about configuring a management station. It does not appear to teach the specific "home relationship" and automatic remote service model of US9008055B2.

40. US20030227554A1

• Full Citation: US20030227554A1 - Digital camera system
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-04-26, Published: 2003-12-11
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a digital camera system.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a generic patent for a digital camera system. Similar to other camera-related prior art, it is unlikely to anticipate the specific method and system of US9008055B2 concerning the home relationship and automatic remote services.

41. US20030204445A1

• Full Citation: US20030204445A1 - System and method for supporting anonymous transactions
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-04-26, Published: 2003-10-30
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for supporting anonymous transactions.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on anonymous transactions. While security and privacy are mentioned in US9008055B2, the core invention is not about anonymity or transactions, but rather the automatic provision of services based on a known "home" relationship.

42. US7054618B1

• Full Citation: US7054618B1 - Method of registering a communication device with a proxy server based service
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-05-23, Published: 2006-05-30
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method of registering a communication device with a proxy server-based service.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent on device registration with a proxy server could be relevant to the general concept of a device establishing a relationship and registering. US9008055B2 also refers to "automated product registration" as a service. However, US9008055B2's claims specify a "home relationship" with a home server and the automatic activation of services to initiate data transfer based on user preferences when connecting through a separate and remote local network. The proxy server model might not fully align with the "home server" concept and the specific automatic service initiation of US9008055B2.

43. US20030220765A1

• Full Citation: US20030220765A1 - Method and apparatus for enhancing security in a wireless network using distance measurement techniques
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-05-24, Published: 2003-11-27
• Brief Description: This patent application describes enhancing security in wireless networks using distance measurement.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on security enhancement using distance measurement. It does not appear to teach the core inventive concept of US9008055B2 regarding automatic remote services initiated by a home server based on a home relationship and user preferences for data transfer.

44. US20030232598A1

• Full Citation: US20030232598A1 - Method and apparatus for intrusion management in a wireless network using physical location determination
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-06-13, Published: 2003-12-18
• Brief Description: This patent application describes intrusion management in wireless networks using physical location determination.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on intrusion management and location. It is unlikely to anticipate the specific method and system of US9008055B2 concerning the home relationship and automatic remote services for data transfer.

45. US20040032498A1

• Full Citation: US20040032498A1 - Internet camera
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-06-19, Published: 2004-02-19
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an internet camera.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent refers to an "Internet camera," which inherently implies network connectivity. Similar to US6930709B1 and US6967675B1, this could anticipate aspects of image uploading (Claim 9). However, the specific "home relationship" with a home server and the server's automatic activation of services based on user preferences when connecting from a remote network are key differentiating features of US9008055B2 that this patent may not fully disclose.

46. US20040003285A1

• Full Citation: US20040003285A1 - System and method for detecting unauthorized wireless access points
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-06-28, Published: 2004-01-01
• Brief Description: This patent application describes detecting unauthorized wireless access points.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent deals with detecting unauthorized access points for security, which is not the core inventive concept of US9008055B2.

47. US6950628B1

• Full Citation: US6950628B1 - Method for grouping 802.11 stations into authorized service sets to differentiate network access and services
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-08-02, Published: 2005-09-27
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for grouping 802.11 stations into authorized service sets to differentiate network access and services. This involves managing access and service levels.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on differentiating network access and services based on grouping 802.11 stations. While it involves managing services, it's distinct from the "home relationship" and server-initiated, preference-driven automatic data transfer from a remote network as defined in US9008055B2.

48. US20040039813A1

• Full Citation: US20040039813A1 - Scalable wireless remote control and monitoring system with automatic registration and automatic time synchronization
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-08-22, Published: 2004-02-26
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a scalable wireless remote control and monitoring system with automatic registration and automatic time synchronization.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant due to "automatic registration" and "remote control and monitoring." Automatic registration is a service mentioned in US9008055B2. If this patent teaches a system where a remote device is automatically registered with a central system and then services (including remote control/monitoring which could be seen as data transfer) are automatically performed based on this registration, it could potentially anticipate some aspects of US9008055B2. However, US9008055B2 emphasizes the user setting preferences for automatic data transfer services specifically during the establishment of a "home relationship" with a home server when connecting from a remote network. The "home relationship" and preference-driven nature of services in US9008055B2 might offer differentiation.

49. US20040082326A1

• Full Citation: US20040082326A1 - Delivery of network services
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-10-25, Published: 2004-04-29
• Brief Description: This patent application describes the delivery of network services.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a very broad patent on delivering network services. It is unlikely to anticipate the specific method or system of US9008055B2 concerning the home relationship and automatic remote services for data transfer, unless it specifically teaches all the elements of the independent claims.

50. US20050241004A1 (and US20040192268A1)

• Full Citation: US20050241004A1 - Privacy protection in a server (also US20040192268A1)
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2002-12-02, Published: 2005-10-27 (US20050241004A1), Published: 2004-09-30 (US20040192268A1)
• Brief Description: These patents describe methods for privacy protection in a server environment.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): These patents focus on privacy protection. While relevant to secure connections and data handling, they do not appear to teach the core inventive concept of US9008055B2 regarding automatic remote services initiated by a home server based on a home relationship and user preferences for data transfer.

51. US7106176B2

• Full Citation: US7106176B2 - Portable device-interoperable home network system
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2003-01-15, Published: 2006-09-12
• Brief Description: This patent describes a portable device-interoperable home network system. This directly mentions "home network" and "portable devices" (mobile devices).
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant because it describes a "home network system" and "portable device-interoperability," which directly relates to the context of US9008055B2. The independent claims of US9008055B2 focus on an established home relationship leading to automatic remote services (data transfer) initiated by a server of the home network when the mobile device connects through a separate and remote network, with user-set preferences for these services. If US7106176B2 teaches these specific elements in combination, particularly the automatic server-side initiation of user-preferred services when the portable device is remote, it could be a strong anticipatory reference.

52. US20040151311A1

• Full Citation: US20040151311A1 - Encrypted photo archive
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2003-02-04, Published: 2004-08-05
• Brief Description: This patent application describes an encrypted photo archive system.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent deals with encrypted photo archives, which is relevant to image storage and security. While US9008055B2 deals with image uploads to a server, the key distinguishing features of US9008055B2 are the automatic remote services initiated by a home server based on a home relationship and user preferences when the device connects from a remote network. This patent might not fully anticipate these broader aspects.

53. US20040249922A1

• Full Citation: US20040249922A1 - Home automation system security
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2003-03-31, Published: 2004-12-09
• Brief Description: This patent application describes security for a home automation system. US9008055B2 mentions "access to home network functions, such as baby room video cameras, room microphones for listening, air conditioner/heater controls, home weather station, etc." as other services.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is relevant to home automation systems, which US9008055B2 explicitly mentions as examples of other services. If US20040249922A1 describes a home automation system where a remote mobile device can access and control home functions based on a pre-established relationship and preferences, it could potentially anticipate elements related to these "other services" mentioned in the detailed description of US9008055B2. However, the independent claims of US9008055B2 are more broadly focused on initiating a transfer of data for at least one service chosen from preferences, not specifically home automation security, though home automation control could involve data transfer.

54. US20040225614A1

• Full Citation: US20040225614A1 - Method, system and computer program product for protection of identity information in electronic transactions using attribute certificates
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2003-05-09, Published: 2004-11-11
• Brief Description: This patent application describes identity protection in electronic transactions using attribute certificates.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on identity protection in electronic transactions. This is distinct from the core inventive concept of US9008055B2 concerning automatic remote services and data transfer based on a home relationship.

55. US20050021724A1

• Full Citation: US20050021724A1 - Methods and systems for operating a logical sensor network
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2003-07-07, Published: 2005-01-27
• Brief Description: This patent application describes methods and systems for operating a logical sensor network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent deals with sensor networks. While US9008055B2 mentions home weather stations (which might involve sensors), the general concept of operating a sensor network does not directly anticipate the specific "home relationship" and automatic remote service model of US9008055B2.

56. US20050027608A1

• Full Citation: US20050027608A1 - System and method for providing commercial services over a wireless communication network
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2003-07-29, Published: 2005-02-03
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for providing commercial services over a wireless communication network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly covers providing commercial services over wireless networks. However, the emphasis in US9008055B2 is on automatic remote services provided by a home relationship with a home server and user-set preferences for data transfer, which may be distinct from generic "commercial services."

57. US20050033850A1

• Full Citation: US20050033850A1 - Personal on-demand media streaming system and method
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2003-08-07, Published: 2005-02-10
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a personal on-demand media streaming system.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent relates to media streaming. While media transfer (e.g., MP3 files) is mentioned in US9008055B2 as a type of data, the core claims of US9008055B2 are broader and focus on the automatic initiation of data transfer by a home server based on a home relationship and user preferences from a remote network. Media streaming on-demand is a specific service, but not necessarily the overarching inventive concept of US9008055B2.

58. US20050063355A1

• Full Citation: US20050063355A1 - System and method for multi-link communication in home network
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2003-09-09, Published: 2005-03-24
• Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for multi-link communication within a home network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent directly addresses "home network" and "multi-link communication," making it highly relevant. Similar to US7106176B2, if this patent explicitly teaches the combination of an established home relationship, user-set preferences for automatic services, and the home server automatically initiating data transfers when a device connects remotely through any link, it could be a strong anticipatory reference for the claims of US9008055B2.

59. US20050257055A1

• Full Citation: US20050257055A1 - Device ownership transfer from a network
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2004-04-28, Published: 2005-11-17
• Brief Description: This patent application describes the transfer of device ownership from a network.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent has the same priority date as US9008055B2's priority application (US10/833,381). Therefore, it might be considered prior art only if its effective filing date is truly earlier due to some other priority, or if it represents a "common assignee" scenario where both inventions are by the same inventor and were commonly owned at the time of invention, and if it fully anticipates. It's likely more of a related application than an anticipatory prior art in the traditional sense, as it discusses "device ownership transfer," while US9008055B2 focuses on automatic services provided based on an established relationship.

60. US7266383B2

• Full Citation: US7266383B2 - Group interaction modes for mobile devices
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2005-02-14, Published: 2007-09-04
• Brief Description: This patent describes group interaction modes for mobile devices.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's filing date (2005-02-14) is later than the priority date of US9008055B2 (2004-04-28), so it is not prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for US9008055B2.

Summary of Highly Relevant Prior Art (Pre-2004-04-28 effective filing date):

Based on the titles and brief descriptions, the following prior art references appear most relevant to potentially anticipate aspects of US Patent 9,008,055, specifically concerning automatic remote services, device identification, and data transfer:

• US6930709B1 (Integrated internet/intranet camera): Directly relates to cameras and network image uploads.
• US6967675B1 (Digital camera with image file transmission): Also directly relates to cameras and image transmission.
• US20040046868A1 (Automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera to access the Internet): Addresses automatic configuration for internet access for cameras.
• US20040098515A1 (Systems and methods for the automatic registration of devices): Directly relevant to the "automatic registration" service mentioned in US9008055B2.
• US20040039813A1 (Scalable wireless remote control and monitoring system with automatic registration and automatic time synchronization): Highly relevant due to "automatic registration" and "remote control and monitoring."
• US7106176B2 (Portable device-interoperable home network system): Directly addresses "home network" and "portable devices," and could be highly anticipatory if it teaches the full combination of automatic server-side service activation from a remote device based on a home relationship and user preferences.
• US20030157960A1 (Remote storage for electronics): Relevant to remote data storage, which is a component of data transfer services.
• US20030058343A1 (Image data transfer method, digital camera, and program): Relevant to image data transfer from digital cameras.
• US20040032498A1 (Internet camera): General concept of an internet-connected camera for image transfer.
• US20040249922A1 (Home automation system security): Relevant to "other services" for home automation access from remote.
• US20050063355A1 (System and method for multi-link communication in home network): Similar to US7106176B2, highly relevant for home network and multi-link communication.

The primary point of differentiation for US9008055B2 against this prior art will likely be the specific combination of:

1. The explicit "home relationship" between a mobile device and a home server.
2. The ability for the user to set preferences for a set of automatic services during this relationship establishment.
3. The home server automatically activating at least one function to initiate a transfer of data when the mobile device connects through any separate and remote local network via the Internet, acting as if the device was local.

Many of the cited references address parts of this invention (e.g., image transfer, remote access, security, device registration), but the unique combination of these elements, particularly the preference-driven automatic service activation by the home server for a remote mobile device over any internet-enabled local network, is what US9008055B2 aims to protect. A thorough anticipation analysis would require a detailed claim-by-claim comparison with the full text of these highly relevant prior art documents.

To analyze the obviousness of US Patent 9,008,055 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, we must identify combinations of prior art references that would render the independent claims obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date: April 28, 2004). This analysis will focus on independent claims 1 (method), 15 (system), and 29 (computer-readable medium), as dependent claims are typically obvious if their parent independent claim is obvious, or if they add elements that are themselves obvious in light of other prior art.

The core inventive concepts of US9008055, as outlined in its independent claims, include:

1. Establishing a "home relationship" between a mobile device and a server of a home network.
2. Storing identification information on the device and server as part of this relationship.
3. Allowing a user to set preferences for automatic services during the establishment of this relationship.
4. The mobile device connecting to the Internet through a separate, remote local network (e.g., a public Wi-Fi hotspot).
5. The home server receiving identifying information from the remote mobile device and recognizing it.
6. The server automatically activating at least one pre-set service to initiate a data transfer between the device and the server.
7. The use of secure connections (e.g., VPN).

Several prior art documents, published before the priority date of April 28, 2004, collectively disclose these elements and provide a strong motivation for a PHOSITA to combine them.

Identified Prior Art References and Their Relevance:

The following patents are cited in US9008055's prosecution history and published prior to the priority date:

• US6119001A to Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson (published Sep. 12, 2000): This patent describes "Roamer service auto-activation and deactivation in a home location register". It teaches the fundamental concept of a mobile device having a "home" network/server (via a home location register, HLR) and being able to automatically activate services when "roaming" in a visited network. This establishes the "home relationship" and "automatic service activation" for remote connections.
• US20010054101A1 to Wilson (published Dec. 20, 2001): This reference teaches a "Server and method to provide access to a network by a computer configured for a different network". This directly addresses the scenario of a device configured for a "home" network accessing its services via a "different" or remote network, providing a foundational element for remote access.
• US20030058343A1 to Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (published Mar. 27, 2003): This patent discloses an "Image data transfer method, digital camera, and program". It provides explicit teaching of transferring image data from a digital camera, directly addressing the "transfer of data, such as uploading images" aspect of US9008055.
• US20030207685A1 to U.S. Philips Corporation (published Nov. 6, 2003): This patent describes a "User profiling communications system". This reference teaches the concept of user preferences and profiles, which would logically be used to define and store rules for "automatic services."
• US20040046868A1 to Anderson, Eric C. (published Mar. 11, 2004): Notably, this patent shares the same inventor and was published before the priority date of US9008055. It describes "Automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera to access the Internet." This reference highlights the known ability to automatically configure a mobile imaging device for network access, which is a prerequisite for establishing a home relationship and enabling remote services.
• US6502192B1 to Cisco Technology, Inc. (published Dec. 31, 2002): This patent teaches "Security between client and server in a computer network". This reference, along with other general knowledge of network security at the time (e.g., VPNs, encryption keys), provides the basis for establishing a secure connection between the mobile device and the home server.

Obviousness Analysis Under 35 U.S.C. § 103

A PHOSITA in 2004, aware of the proliferation of mobile wireless devices (especially digital cameras and camera phones) and the increasing availability of public Wi-Fi hotspots, would be motivated to combine the teachings of these prior art references to enable convenient and automatic remote services.

Combination Argument:

1. Establishing a "Home Relationship" and Remote Connectivity: A PHOSITA, starting with the teachings of US20040046868A1 (Anderson) on automatically configuring a web-enabled digital camera for Internet access, would readily understand the benefit of establishing a persistent "home" association for such a device. The well-known cellular concept of "home location registers" and "roaming" for mobile devices, as taught by US6119001A (Ericsson), would provide a clear motivation to adapt this model to Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Ericsson teaches that a mobile device maintains a relationship with its home network/server and can receive services even when connecting through a visited/remote network. Furthermore, US20010054101A1 (Wilson) explicitly teaches how a server can provide access to a network for a device configured for a "different network" (i.e., its home network). Thus, the idea of a mobile device connecting to its home server via a separate, remote local network was known and the mechanisms for it were being developed.

2. User Preferences for Automatic Services: To make the "roamer services" truly useful and automated, a PHOSITA would find it obvious to allow users to define what services should be automatically performed. US20030207685A1 (Philips) describes a "User profiling communications system" which includes managing user preferences for services. It would be a straightforward design choice to integrate such user preference settings into the initial "home relationship" establishment process, similar to how settings are configured for a device upon its first use or registration. This would enable the system to perform actions without further user intervention, enhancing convenience.

3. Automatic Data Transfer (e.g., Images): Given the rise of digital cameras and camera phones, the need for efficient image management and backup was clear. US20030058343A1 (Fuji) explicitly teaches methods for transferring image data from a digital camera. A PHOSITA would be motivated to combine the "auto-activation of services" concept from Ericsson (US6119001A) with Fuji's image transfer methods (US20030058343A1). For instance, upon a remote camera (configured by Anderson '868 and operating under Ericsson's roaming model) connecting to a public Wi-Fi hotspot (per Wilson '101), the home server would recognize it and, based on user preferences set (per Philips '685), automatically initiate an image upload. This directly addresses the problem of quickly backing up photos and freeing up camera memory while traveling.

4. Secure Connection: Anytime personal data (like images) is transferred over a public network (like the Internet via a Wi-Fi hotspot), security is a paramount concern. US6502192B1 (Cisco) teaches "Security between client and server in a computer network". Therefore, it would be an obvious engineering choice for a PHOSITA to incorporate known secure communication protocols, such as Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) or public/private key encryption, to establish a secure "tunnel" or data channel between the remote mobile device and the home server. This ensures data integrity and privacy during the automatic transfers.

Conclusion of Obviousness:

Based on the combination of these prior art references, the independent claims of US Patent 9,008,055 would have been obvious to a PHOSITA in 2004. The elements of a home relationship, remote access, user-set preferences for automatic services, automatic data transfer (including images), and secure communication were all known in the art. The motivation to combine these elements stems from the clear and identifiable need to provide convenient, automated, and secure data management services for mobile wireless devices (especially digital cameras) accessing the Internet through various local networks. Such a combination would merely involve applying known techniques in a predictable way to achieve a predictable result: seamless remote access to home-based services for mobile users.

Therefore, Claims 1, 15, and 29, which describe the method, system, and non-transitory computer-readable medium for this invention, respectively, would be considered obvious. If the method is obvious, the system and software implementing that method using known components and programming techniques would also be obvious.