Assignment history

Inventors

The sole named inventor is Christopher P. Ricci. At the time of filing, it is highly probable he was employed by Flextronics AP LLC, given the initial assignment of the patent application rights to the company. There are no immediate unusual patterns suggesting a departure before the initial assignment.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is Flextronics AP LLC, which is a subsidiary of Flex Ltd., a major multinational electronics manufacturing services company. Flextronics AP LLC, and by extension Flex Ltd., produces a wide range of electronic components and systems, including those for the automotive industry, which would embody the claims related to vehicle controls and settings. Flex Ltd. is currently an operating company (NYSE: FLEX).

Assignment timeline

• 2014-06-25 (executed) / recorded 2014-06-30 — Reel 031301/0178

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: CHRISTOPHER P. RICCI
  • Assignee: FLEXTRONICS AP, LLC
  • Correspondent: JENNIFER TING, O'BANION & RICE LLP, 16150 Main Street Suite 200, BOERNE, TX 78006
  • Context: Initial assignment from inventor to original corporate assignee.

• 2015-08-28 (executed) / recorded 2015-09-02 — Reel 033620/0047

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: FLEXTRONICS AP, LLC
  • Assignee: AUTOCONNECT HOLDINGS LLC
  • Correspondent: ROBERT B. KENNEDY, LAW OFFICES OF ROBERT B. KENNEDY, P.C., 2100 NORTH LOOP WEST, SUITE 900, HOUSTON, TX 77018
  • Context: Transfer of patent ownership from operating company to a holding company.

• 2024-07-07 (executed) / recorded 2024-07-16 — Reel 062638/0925

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: AUTOCONNECT HOLDINGS LLC
  • Assignee: IP OPTIMUM LIMITED
  • Correspondent: Matthew J. Rizzolo, RIZZOLO LAW FIRM, PLLC, 3500 W. PETERS COLONY ROAD, SUITE 250, FLOWER MOUND, TX 75022. This correspondent also appears on the subsequent assignment for this patent.
  • Context: Transfer of patent ownership, likely for financial or legal restructuring.

• 2024-07-07 (executed) / recorded 2024-07-16 — Reel 062638/0927

  • Conveyance: Assignment
  • Assignor: IP OPTIMUM LIMITED
  • Assignee: AUTOCONNECT HOLDINGS LLC
  • Correspondent: Matthew J. Rizzolo, RIZZOLO LAW FIRM, PLLC, 3500 W. PETERS COLONY ROAD, SUITE 250, FLOWER MOUND, TX 75022. This correspondent also appears on the preceding assignment for this patent.
  • Context: Re-assignment back to AutoConnect Holdings LLC, potentially after a temporary transfer or securitization.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9147296
    2014 : Filed by Flextronics AP LLC
         : Inventor assigned to Flextronics
    2015 : Assigned to AutoConnect Holdings LLC
         : Patent Issued
    2024 : Assigned to IP Optimum Ltd
         : Reassigned to AutoConnect Holdings LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — present. The patent was transferred from Flextronics AP LLC (an operating company) to AutoConnect Holdings LLC in 2015 (Reel 033620/0047). AutoConnect Holdings LLC and IP Optimum Limited (involved in the 2024 transfers) are listed as Non-Practicing Entities (NPEs) by Unified Patents and RPX. Their names (e.g., "Holdings," "IP Optimum") are also characteristic of patent assertion entities.
2. Known asserter in the chain — present. AutoConnect Holdings LLC is the current assignee and is identified as a known NPE and high-frequency plaintiff by Unified Patents and RPX. The Google Patents record also shows recent litigation activity for this patent. IP Optimum Limited is also listed as an NPE by Unified Patents.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — present. Matthew J. Rizzolo of RIZZOLO LAW FIRM, PLLC, served as the correspondent for both assignments recorded on 2024-07-16 (Reel 062638/0925, Reel 062638/0927). Matthew J. Rizzolo is a known correspondent for numerous NPEs.
4. Cascading transfers — present. There are two consecutive assignments involving AutoConnect Holdings LLC and IP Optimum Limited on the same execution date (2024-07-07) and recorded on the same day (2024-07-16) (Reel 062638/0925, Reel 062638/0927). This rapid, circular transfer pattern is often indicative of financial restructuring or chain-of-title management common among NPEs.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — present. The patent was assigned to AutoConnect Holdings LLC on 2015-08-28 (Reel 033620/0047), shortly before its issuance on 2015-09-29. While the exact date of the first suit isn't explicitly in the provided text, the 2024 litigation noted on Google Patents (e.g., Texas Eastern District Court case 2:24-cv-00802 filed in 2024) indicates a significant time gap, but the original transfer from the operating company to the NPE happened relatively close to issuance. The 2024 transfers, though not immediately preceding litigation, involve active asserters.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. Flextronics AP LLC (Flex Ltd.) is an active, operating company.
7. Privateering — unclear. While the patent originated from an operating company, there's no public evidence to suggest Flextronics AP LLC (Flex Ltd.) is actively sponsoring AutoConnect Holdings LLC's assertion efforts against competitors.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The current assignee, AutoConnect Holdings LLC, is an NPE, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The assignment history clearly shows a transfer from an operating company (Flextronics AP LLC) to a known Non-Practicing Entity (NPE), AutoConnect Holdings LLC, on 2015-08-28 (Reel 033620/0047). AutoConnect Holdings LLC is documented as an NPE by Unified Patents and RPX, and the patent is currently involved in active litigation. Furthermore, the recent circular assignments involving IP Optimum Limited and the recurring correspondent, Matthew J. Rizzolo, are strong indicators of a patent assertion business model (Reel 062638/0925, Reel 062638/0927).

For verification, see the USPTO Assignment Center search for US9147296: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/