US 10516775

US Patent 10,516,775, titled "Method and system for communication," was issued on December 24, 2019, from an application filed on January 11, 2019. The sole inventor is Garin Toren, and the patent is currently assigned to Messageloud Inc.

Abstract:
The patent describes a computer-implemented method and system for delivering text messages, emails, and messenger application messages to a user who is engaged in an activity (e.g., driving, exercising, working) that limits their ability to interact with a mobile device. The system automatically announces and reads messages aloud to the user without requiring manual input. In "Drive Mode," a simplified interface is displayed, and the user can operate the phone using memorized gestures without looking at the screen. Upon receiving a message, the user is audibly informed of its arrival, and if no action is taken, the message's subject and/or body is read aloud. All messages are placed in a single queue and read in the order of receipt.

Independent Claims Overview:

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a computer-implemented method involving a processor, memory, and touchscreen. The method determines the arrival of a text message, email, or messenger application message without user input while the user is active. It then informs the user without input. Following this, the method either allows the user time to affirmatively stop the message body from being read aloud (and reads it if no action is taken) or allows the user time to affirmatively command the message body to be read aloud (and reads it upon receiving the command).

• Claim 37 (Mobile Phone): This claim covers a mobile phone hardware system. It includes one or more processors, memory, and programs stored in memory. These programs contain instructions for performing steps similar to Claim 1: determining message arrival without user input, analyzing message content, reading aloud the sender's identity, allowing time for affirmative action to stop reading the message body, and proceeding to read the message body aloud if no such action is received.

• Claim 38 (System for Delivering Messages and Email): This claim describes a system, including a processor, memory, and touchscreen, configured to deliver messages (text, email, or messenger application messages) to an engaged user. The system operates by running an application that determines message arrival without user input, analyzes content without user input, informs the user of the sender's identity aloud, provides time for an affirmative action to stop reading the message body, and reads the message body aloud if no such action is taken.

• Claim 39 (System with Modules): This claim describes a system (processor, memory, touchscreen) designed to deliver various message types to an active user. It specifically includes three modules:

  • A queue notification module that places text messages, emails, or messenger application messages into a single, unified queue for processing.
  • An analyzer module that analyzes message content without user input.
  • A text-to-speech module configured to (i) inform the user by voice of the sender's identity without user input, and (ii) send instructions to a speaker to read the message body aloud if no affirmative action from the user is received.

• Claim 40 (Non-Transitory Computer Readable Storage Medium): This claim covers a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more programs. When these programs are executed by an electronic device with processors and memory, they cause the device to perform any of the methods described in the patent (e.g., as outlined in Claim 1 and its dependent claims).

Legal Status and Litigation:
The patent US10516775B1 is currently active. Public records indicate that there is ongoing litigation related to this patent. Specifically, an Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01429) was filed with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in 2025, which has been procedurally terminated. Additionally, district court cases involving this patent were filed in the Texas Western District Court (case 6:25-cv-00185) and the Texas Eastern District Court (case 2:25-cv-00486) in 2025. No specific dockets for US Patent 10516775 were found in a search of CAFC dockets for 2026.## US Patent 10,516,775: Method and System for Communication

Title: Method and system for communication
Assignee: Messageloud Inc
Inventor: Garin Toren
Filing Date: January 11, 2019
Issue Date: December 24, 2019

Abstract:
US Patent 10,516,775 describes a computer-implemented method and system for delivering text messages, emails, and messages from messenger applications to a user while they are engaged in an activity (e.g., driving, exercising, or working). The system is designed to announce and read these messages aloud to the user without requiring any manual input. In a "Drive Mode," a clean interface is presented, allowing the user to hear announcements and messages aloud and interact with the device using memorized gestures, without needing to look at the screen. Upon detecting a new message, the user is audibly informed, and typically, if no further action is taken, the body and/or subject of the message is read aloud. All incoming messages can be managed within a single queue and delivered to the user in the order they were received.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method for Hands-Free Message Delivery): This claim describes a method carried out by a device with a processor, memory, and a touchscreen. The method automatically detects the arrival of a text message, email, or messenger application message while the user is busy, without requiring any input from the user. It then audibly informs the user about the message, again without user input. Following this, the system either (i) provides a short window for the user to stop the message from being read aloud (and proceeds to read it if no action is taken), or (ii) provides a short window for the user to command the message to be read aloud (and reads it upon receiving that command).

• Claim 37 (Mobile Phone System): This claim covers a mobile phone that is programmed to perform a series of actions similar to the method of Claim 1. The mobile phone includes one or more processors and memory storing instructions. These instructions enable the phone to automatically detect message arrival, analyze its content, announce the sender's identity aloud, and then, after a brief pause for user intervention, read the message body aloud if the user does not take an action to stop it.

• Claim 38 (System for Hands-Free Message Delivery): This claim defines a system, including a processor, memory, and a touchscreen, specifically designed to deliver messages and emails to an active user. The system operates by running an application that independently determines when messages arrive, analyzes their content, informs the user of the sender aloud, allows time for the user to prevent the message body from being read, and then reads the body aloud if no such action is taken.

• Claim 39 (Modular System for Message Delivery): This claim describes a system with a processor, memory, and touchscreen, configured to deliver various message types to a user engaged in an activity. This system is characterized by specific modules:

  • A queue notification module that puts all incoming text messages, emails, and messenger application messages into one combined queue.
  • An analyzer module that processes the content of these messages without user interaction.
  • A text-to-speech module which is configured to (i) verbally inform the user of the sender's identity without user input, and (ii) instruct a speaker to read the message body aloud if the user does not actively intervene to stop it.

• Claim 40 (Computer Readable Storage Medium): This claim covers a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (like a hard drive or flash memory) that holds software programs. When an electronic device with a processor and memory runs these programs, the device is instructed to carry out any of the methods described in the patent, including the core hands-free message delivery process.

Legal Status and Litigation:
US Patent 10,516,775 is currently active. The patent family is involved in litigation. An Inter Partes Review (IPR2025-01429) was filed against the patent with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) in 2025, which subsequently resulted in a procedural termination. Furthermore, related litigation cases were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (case 6:25-cv-00185) and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas (case 2:25-cv-00486) in 2025. A search for CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 10516775 did not return any specific results.

Known litigation involving US patent 10516775 includes the following cases, as indicated in the patent's legal status information:

1. PTAB Case

   • Plaintiff(s): Unified Patents (implied petitioner)
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Jurisdiction: PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board)
   • Case Number: IPR2025-01429
   • Filing Date: The case number indicates a filing in 2025, but a precise date is not provided in the supplied text.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Procedural Termination

2. US Case filed in Texas Western District Court

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Western District Court
   • Case Number: 6:25-cv-00185
   • Filing Date: The case number indicates a filing in 2025, but a precise date is not provided in the supplied text.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (status for this specific case is listed as "litigation" in the patent document, and the overall patent status is "Active").

3. US Case filed in Texas Eastern District Court

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court
   • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00486
   • Filing Date: The case number indicates a filing in 2025, but a precise date is not provided in the supplied text.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (status for this specific case is listed as "litigation" in the patent document, and the overall patent status is "Active").

4. First worldwide family litigation filed

   • Plaintiff(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Defendant(s): Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Jurisdiction: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Case Number: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Filing Date: Not explicitly stated in the provided text.
   • Outcome/Current Status: Litigation (status is listed as "litigation" in the patent document).

Proceedings overview

One AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US patent 10516775, which is currently in a "Terminated" status. This means the proceeding concluded without a full merits decision on the patentability of the challenged claims. For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, this indicates that the patent has not been subjected to a final validity determination by the PTAB, thus the claims remain untested by an IPR Final Written Decision.

IPR2025-01429 — [Apple Inc.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Apple%20Inc.) v. Messageloud Inc.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-08-29
• Status: Terminated. The proceeding was ended before a final written decision was issued.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific judge panel for IPR2025-01429 is not publicly available without direct access to the USPTO PTAB E2E system's detailed documents.
• Petition grounds: Details of the specific claims challenged, prior art cited, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) are not publicly available in a summary form without accessing the petition or institution decision documents directly from the PTAB E2E system.
• Institution decision: The status "Terminated" implies the proceeding did not reach a Final Written Decision. Further details regarding whether institution was granted or denied, and the panel's reasoning, would require examination of the specific orders within the PTAB E2E docket for IPR2025-01429.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not issued. The proceeding was terminated prior to a Final Written Decision.
• Settlement / termination: The proceeding was terminated. This often occurs due to a settlement between the petitioner and patent owner, or the petitioner withdrawing the petition. The specific terms of termination (e.g., settlement agreement) are typically confidential.
• Appeal: No Federal Circuit appeal has been noted, as no Final Written Decision was rendered.
• Defensive value: This termination means that the patent claims challenged in this IPR were not ultimately invalidated by the PTAB. Therefore, the patent retains its full presumptive validity, and an IPR-based defense will need to initiate a new proceeding.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, only one AIA trial proceeding, IPR2025-01429, has been filed against US Patent 10516775. This proceeding was terminated, meaning no claims of US10516775 have been canceled or sustained by a PTAB Final Written Decision. Consequently, all claims of US10516775 are considered UNTESTED by a completed AIA trial.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, since IPR2025-01429 was terminated before a Final Written Decision, the estoppel provisions of § 315(e)(2) for claims held unpatentable generally do not apply to the petitioner (Apple Inc.) or its privies for grounds that were raised or reasonably could have been raised. However, depending on the nature of the termination (e.g., settlement with a covenant not to sue), contractual estoppel might apply. For other potential defendants, all prior-art grounds remain theoretically available in a new IPR petition. The pattern signal here is that a major technology company (Apple Inc.) did challenge the patent, suggesting perceived relevance, but the termination prevents a clear picture of the merits.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant considering challenging this patent, the absence of a Final Written Decision means that the validity of the claims has not been adjudicated by the PTAB. Any infringement theory against the patent remains viable from a PTAB validity perspective. It would be advisable to review the termination order for IPR2025-01429 on the USPTO PTAB E2E portal to understand the specific circumstances of its termination (e.g., settlement terms, if publicly disclosed, or petitioner withdrawal reasons), which may offer insights into the patent owner's strategies or the perceived strength of the patent. Given the termination, filing a new IPR petition, if strong prior art exists, remains an option.## Proceedings overview
One AIA trial proceeding has been filed against US patent 10516775, which is currently in a "Terminated" status. This means the proceeding concluded without a full merits decision on the patentability of the challenged claims. For a defendant facing assertion of this patent, this indicates that the patent has not been subjected to a final validity determination by the PTAB, thus the claims remain entirely untested by an IPR Final Written Decision.

IPR2025-01429 — Apple Inc. v. Messageloud Inc.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-08-29
• Status: Terminated. This indicates that the proceeding concluded before a Final Written Decision was issued.
• Judge panel: Information regarding the specific judge panel for IPR2025-01429 is not publicly available without direct access to the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Case Tracking System (P-TACTS). Access to P-TACTS requires a MyUSPTO account.
• Petition grounds: Details of the specific claims challenged, prior art cited, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) are not publicly available in a summary form without accessing the petition or institution decision documents directly from the USPTO P-TACTS system.
• Institution decision: The status "Terminated" indicates the proceeding did not reach a Final Written Decision. Details regarding whether institution was granted or denied, and any panel reasoning, are not publicly accessible without direct access to the USPTO P-TACTS system.
• Final Written Decision (if issued): Not issued. The proceeding was terminated prior to a Final Written Decision.
• Settlement / termination: The proceeding was terminated on 2026-04-15. This commonly occurs due to a settlement between the petitioner and patent owner, or the petitioner withdrawing the petition. The specific terms of termination (e.g., settlement agreement) are typically confidential and not publicly disclosed without direct access to the case's docket in P-TACTS.
• Appeal: No Federal Circuit appeal has been noted, as no Final Written Decision was rendered for appeal.
• Defensive value: This termination means that the patent claims challenged in this IPR were not ultimately invalidated by the PTAB. Therefore, the patent retains its full presumptive validity, and an IPR-based defense would need to initiate a new proceeding.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, only one AIA trial proceeding, IPR2025-01429, has been filed against US Patent 10516775. This proceeding was terminated on 2026-04-15, meaning no claims of US10516775 have been canceled or sustained by a PTAB Final Written Decision. Consequently, all claims of US10516775 are considered UNTESTED by a completed AIA trial.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, since IPR2025-01429 was terminated before a Final Written Decision, the statutory estoppel provisions of § 315(e)(2) for claims held unpatentable generally do not apply to the petitioner (Apple Inc.) or its privies for grounds that were raised or reasonably could have been raised. However, depending on the nature of the termination (e.g., a confidential settlement with a covenant not to sue), contractual estoppel might apply to Apple Inc. For other potential defendants, all prior-art grounds remain theoretically available for assertion in a new IPR petition. The pattern signal here is that a major technology company, Apple Inc., did initiate a challenge against the patent, suggesting its perceived relevance or potential for infringement, but the early termination prevents a clear public understanding of the merits of the challenge.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant considering challenging this patent, the absence of a Final Written Decision means that the validity of the claims has not been adjudicated by the PTAB. Any infringement theory against the patent remains viable from a PTAB validity perspective. It would be advisable to attempt to review the termination order for IPR2025-01429 on the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Case Tracking System (P-TACTS) to understand the specific circumstances of its termination (e.g., settlement terms, if publicly disclosed, or petitioner withdrawal reasons). This information, though requiring a MyUSPTO account for access, may offer valuable insights into the patent owner's strategies or the perceived strength of the patent. Given the termination, filing a new IPR petition, if strong prior art exists, remains an available option.

Inventors

Garin Toren. The patent document does not specify his employer at the time of filing, but the assignment records indicate he assigned his rights to Messageloud LLC, which subsequently transferred them to Messageloud Inc..

Original assignee

Messageloud Inc.

• Shipped a product embodying the claims: Yes, the patent describes the "messageLOUD® application" which runs on various mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, and vehicle operating systems. This suggests the company develops and provides a product based on the claimed invention.
• Primary line of business: Development and provision of software for hands-free communication, converting incoming text messages, emails, and messenger application messages into speech for users engaged in activities such as driving, exercising, or working, with minimal visual and manual interaction.
• Current status: Operating and actively asserting the patent, as indicated by ongoing litigation in the Texas Western District Court (6:25-cv-00185), Texas Eastern District Court (2:25-cv-00486), and a PTAB case (IPR2025-01429).

Assignment timeline

There are no post-issuance assignments recorded in the USPTO Assignment Center for US10516775. The assignments listed below occurred during the patent prosecution phase, before the patent was granted to Messageloud Inc.

• 2017-07-13 (executed) / recorded 2019-07-17 — Reel 049580/0698

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: TOREN, GARIN
  • Assignee: MESSAGELOUD LLC
  • Correspondent: BROMBERG, DEAN MESSAGELOUD LLC 600 E LAS OLAS BLVD STE 1350 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301. This correspondent also appears on Reel 049015/0674 for Messageloud Inc.
  • Context: Inventor's pre-filing assignment of intellectual property rights to an affiliated limited liability company.

• 2019-02-27 (executed) / recorded 2019-02-28 — Reel 049015/0674

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: MESSAGELOUD LLC
  • Assignee: MESSAGELOUD INC.
  • Correspondent: DEAN BROMBERG MESSAGELOUD INC. 600 E LAS OLAS BLVD STE 1350 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301. This correspondent also appears on Reel 049580/0698 for Messageloud LLC.
  • Context: Pre-issuance internal transfer of patent ownership between affiliated entities (LLC to Inc.) in preparation for the patent's issuance.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10516775
    2014 : Priority date
    2017 : Inventor assigned to Messageloud LLC
    2019 : Application filed
         : Messageloud LLC assigned to Messageloud Inc
         : Inventor assigned to Messageloud LLC recorded
         : Patent granted to Messageloud Inc
    2025 : First infringement suit filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Not present. The patent was assigned from the inventor to Messageloud LLC, then to Messageloud Inc. Messageloud Inc. appears to be an operating company with a commercial product (messageLOUD® application) and a standard business address in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. Neither Garin Toren, Messageloud LLC, nor Messageloud Inc. appear on the provided list of known NPEs.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. Dean Bromberg (or BROMBERG, DEAN) from MESSAGELOUD LLC/INC. at 600 E LAS OLAS BLVD STE 1350 FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 33301 is listed as the correspondent for both recorded assignments (Reel 049580/0698 and Reel 049015/0674). This indicates a consistent legal representative for the Messageloud entities during the pre-issuance transfers.
4. Cascading transfers — Unclear. There are two pre-issuance transfers within a two-year period (executed 2017-07-13 and 2019-02-27), involving the inventor and two related Messageloud entities. While technically consecutive, these appear to be internal structuring for an operating company rather than typical post-issuance transfers to multiple unrelated shell LLCs.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Not present. The patent issued to Messageloud Inc. in December 2019. The earliest noted litigation on Google Patents is from 2025. There are no recorded post-issuance assignments within six months of these litigation dates.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication of bankruptcy filings by any of the assignors.
7. Privateering — Not present. There is no public information to suggest Messageloud Inc. is asserting this patent on behalf of another operating company.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The ownership chain does not terminate at any known defensive aggregators such as RPX, AST, LOT Network, Unified Patents, or Open Invention Network.

Verdict

Operating-company assertion
The patent was granted directly to Messageloud Inc., which actively markets the "messageLOUD® application" embodying the patent's claims. The recorded assignments are pre-issuance transfers between the inventor and affiliated Messageloud entities, indicating internal structuring rather than a sale to a non-practicing entity. Messageloud Inc. is currently involved in litigation related to this patent.

Verification link for USPTO Assignment Center: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/10516775

US Patent 10,516,775, titled "Method and system for communication," describes a system for delivering text messages, emails, and messenger application messages to a user engaged in activities like driving, exercising, or working, with a focus on hands-free, voice-based interaction and minimal visual distraction. The patent itself identifies and discusses prior art in its background section.

The most relevant prior art documents explicitly identified and discussed within US10516775 are:

1. US Patent Application Publication 2013/0275899

• Full Citation: US 2013/0275899 A1 (publication number)
• Publication/Filing Date: Publication Date: October 24, 2013 (Filing Date: April 22, 2013)
• Brief Description: This patent application proposes a "limited-distraction user interface" that presents fewer selectable user interface objects when a device is determined to be operating in a limited distraction context. In a non-limited distraction context, a standard user interface is provided.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US 2013/0275899 potentially anticipates the general concept of adapting a user interface for limited distraction environments and determining when a user is engaged in such an activity. However, US10516775 distinguishes itself by emphasizing that its methods involve determining message arrival and informing the user "without any input by a user" (e.g., Claim 1, 14, 15, 17, 20). The prior art, in contrast, "relies on substantial input from the user even in the limited-distraction context, making it difficult for a user to use a mobile phone in such context." (Description, BACKGROUND SECTION OF THE INVENTION). Furthermore, US10516775 primarily focuses on reading aloud the content of messages (body, subject) either as a default or upon minimal, non-visual user interaction, and in some modes, "without displaying information about the sender or the email on the screen" (Claim 16), which is not explicitly taught by US 2013/0275899's focus on visual UI objects.

2. U.S. Patents 8,364,183, 8,526,973, and 8,359,014

• Full Citation:
  • US 8,364,183 B1: "Busykey for cell phone to send pre-typed text message or play pre-recorded audio message upon receipt of new text message or incoming call"
  • US 8,526,973 B1: "Busykey for cell phone to send pre-typed text message or play pre-recorded audio message upon receipt of new text message or incoming call"
  • US 8,359,014 B1: "Busykey for cell phone to send pre-typed text message or play pre-recorded audio message upon receipt of new text message or incoming call"
• Publication/Filing Date:
  • US 8,364,183: Publication Date: January 29, 2013 (Filing Date: August 4, 2011)
  • US 8,526,973: Publication Date: September 3, 2013 (Filing Date: August 4, 2011)
  • US 8,359,014: Publication Date: January 22, 2013 (Filing Date: August 4, 2011)
• Brief Description: These patents disclose a cell phone modified with software to respond to the press of one or more "Busykeys" by automatically sending a pre-typed text message to the sender of the latest text message received or by automatically answering an incoming call and playing a pre-recorded audio message.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): These patents anticipate the concept of automatic responses and pre-recorded audio in the context of incoming communications. However, US10516775 differentiates itself by enabling a user to "fully review messages" (Description, DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION) through reading aloud the actual content (body and subject) of the incoming text message, email, or messenger application message without requiring a "Busykey" input to initiate the primary content delivery. The patent states that these prior arts "do not allow a person to respond to a text or a call other than by sending a pre-typed text message and still require substantial input from the user since the user has to choose and press on a Busykey button." (Description, BACKGROUND SECTION OF THE INVENTION). In contrast, US10516775's independent claims (e.g., Claim 1, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20) describe the automatic determination and informing of the user without input, and then proceeding to read aloud the message body (and subject for emails) unless an affirmative action is taken to stop it, or reading upon a specific command. The "Busykey" patents focus on responding to the sender or playing a generic audio message, not on converting the actual incoming message content to speech for the user.

The following analysis addresses the obviousness of US patent 10516775 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, based on the provided patent text and its "Prior art" section. The current date is April 26, 2026.

Person Having Ordinary Skill in the Art (PHOSITA)

A person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) in the context of US10516775 would be a software engineer or developer with expertise in mobile application development, human-computer interaction (HCI), and communication systems. This individual would be familiar with:

• Developing user interfaces for mobile devices.
• Implementing text-to-speech (TTS) and speech recognition technologies.
• Integrating with mobile operating system APIs for notifications, messaging (SMS, email, messenger apps), and phone calls.
• Designing user experiences for "limited distraction" environments, such as driving or exercising.
• Common mobile interaction paradigms, including gestures (taps, swipes).

Prior Art References

The patent US10516775 itself identifies and discusses the limitations of the following prior art references in its "BACKGROUND SECTION OF THE INVENTION":

1. US 2013/0275899: This reference discloses "a limited-distraction user interface that includes providing for display fewer selectable user interface objects than are displayed in a non-limited user interface for the respective application, and in accordance With a determination that the device is not being operated in a limited distraction context, provides a non-limited user interface for the respective application". However, US10516775 notes that it "relies on substantial input from the user even in the limited-distraction context, making it difficult for a user to use a mobile phone in such context".
2. U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,364,183, 8,526,973, and 8,359,014 (referred to as "Busykey patents"): These patents disclose "A cell phone which has been modified by the addition of software which responds to the press of one or more Busykeys by automatically sending a pre-typed text message to the sender of the latest text message just received or automatically answering an incoming call immediately upon pressing the Busy key and playing a pre-recorded audio message". US10516775 criticizes these patents for not allowing responses beyond pre-typed messages and still requiring "substantial input from the user since the user has to choose and press on a Busykey button".

Additionally, general knowledge in the art at the priority date (November 21, 2014) includes:

• Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology: Widespread availability of TTS APIs in mobile operating systems (e.g., Android's TextToSpeech API, iOS's AVSpeechSynthesizer) for converting text into spoken audio.
• Context awareness: Mobile devices could detect location, motion, and connect to vehicle systems (e.g., Bluetooth for hands-free calling), allowing for rudimentary context determination.
• Gesture-based interaction: Tapping and swiping on touchscreens were common and intuitive input methods.
• Standard message parsing: Email and text message clients routinely parse messages into sender, subject (for email), and body.

Obviousness Analysis

Let's consider the broadest method claim presented in the "SUMMARY SECTION OF THE INVENTION" of US10516775, which encompasses the core inventive concept:

"A computer implemented method to be carried out with a processor, a memory, and a touch screen, comprising:
a) determining without any input by a user that a text message, an email, or a message from a messenger application, has arrived while the user is engaged in an activity;
b) informing the user without any input by the user that the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application has arrived from a sender; and
c) proceeding with a step selected from the group consisting of (i) and (ii):
i) allowing the user time to take an affirmative action to stop reading aloud to the user a body of the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application; and in accordance with not receiving an input corresponding to the affirmative action from the user, reading aloud the body of the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application to the user;
ii) allowing the user time to take an affirmative action to command reading a body of the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application aloud to the user; and in accordance with receiving an input corresponding to the affirmative action from the user, reading aloud the body of the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application to the user."

Combination of Prior Art for Obviousness:
A combination of US 2013/0275899, the Busykey patents (U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,364,183, 8,526,973, and 8,359,014), and general knowledge of TTS technology would render the above claim obvious to a PHOSITA.

Motivation for Combination:

A PHOSITA would be motivated to combine these references to overcome the explicit shortcomings of the prior art while improving user safety and convenience in hands-free environments.

• Problem Identification: US 2013/0275899 highlights the problem of "substantial input from the user even in the limited-distraction context". The Busykey patents, while offering some automation, still required users to "choose and press on a Busykey button", implying an undesirable level of manual and visual interaction.
• Solving the Problem: The motivation would be to create a truly hands-free messaging experience in limited-distraction environments (e.g., driving), specifically by minimizing or eliminating direct visual and manual interaction, and maximizing audio interaction.

Analysis of Claim Elements based on the Combination:

1. "a) determining without any input by a user that a text message, an email, or a message from a messenger application, has arrived while the user is engaged in an activity;"

   • Determining message arrival without user input: This is standard functionality in any modern mobile messaging application. Notifications for new messages (SMS, email, messenger) are inherently automatic.
   • "while the user is engaged in an activity": US 2013/0275899 explicitly teaches determining a "limited distraction context". A PHOSITA would readily recognize that activities like driving, exercising, or working constitute such contexts. Detecting these activities (e.g., via GPS for driving, accelerometer for exercising, or user selection of a "mode" as in US10516775 itself) was well-known in the art. The problem identified in US 2013/0275899 directly motivates tailoring message delivery to these contexts.

2. "b) informing the user without any input by the user that the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application has arrived from a sender;"

   • The Busykey patents demonstrate the concept of automatically playing a "pre-recorded audio message" upon an incoming communication event (e.g., a call). This establishes the idea of audio notification without active user input beyond the initial communication event.
   • Prior to 2014, caller ID announcement for incoming phone calls was a common feature. A PHOSITA, aiming to reduce distraction in messaging, would find it obvious to apply the widely available Text-to-Speech (TTS) technology to dynamically read aloud the sender's identity (name, email address, etc.) for text messages, emails, or messenger messages, rather than just a generic alert or pre-recorded message. This improves upon the Busykey patents by providing relevant, dynamic information without requiring visual lookup.

3. "c) proceeding with a step selected from the group consisting of (i) and (ii):"

   • "i) allowing the user time to take an affirmative action to stop reading aloud to the user a body of the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application; and in accordance with not receiving an input corresponding to the affirmative action from the user, reading aloud the body of the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application to the user;"
     • Combining the audio output of the Busykey patents with general TTS technology makes it technically feasible and obvious to read the body of a message aloud.
     • The default "read aloud" (opt-out) mechanism, where the message body is read unless the user takes affirmative action to stop it, is an obvious design choice for a PHOSITA specifically trying to solve the "substantial input" problem of US 2013/0275899. In limited-distraction contexts, users often want to hear the full message. Providing an automatic read-aloud with a brief pause for an easy-to-perform "stop" action (e.g., a single tap or swipe, as supported by general knowledge of gesture-based interaction) significantly reduces the user input required compared to an explicit "read" command. This improves efficiency and reduces cognitive load in such environments.
   • "ii) allowing the user time to take an affirmative action to command reading a body of the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application aloud to the user; and in accordance with receiving an input corresponding to the affirmative action from the user, reading aloud the body of the text message, the email, or the message from the messenger application to the user."
     • This "opt-in" approach is even more directly rendered obvious by the Busykey patents, which describe a user "press[ing]... one or more Busykeys" to trigger an automated audio message. A PHOSITA would simply replace the "pre-recorded audio message" with a dynamically generated TTS reading of the actual message body, utilizing known TTS capabilities. The "affirmative action" would be a low-distraction input (e.g., a tap or swipe, which were common touchscreen gestures) replacing the physical button press, a natural evolution for mobile interfaces.

Further Obvious Elements within US10516775:

• Single Queue for Multiple Message Types: The practice of aggregating notifications from various sources (email, SMS, messenger apps) into a unified queue for chronological processing is a fundamental data management technique for a PHOSITA designing a comprehensive messaging application.
• Suppression of Visual Display: If looking at the screen is hazardous (e.g., in Drive Mode), the idea of not displaying any portion of the message is an obvious safety-driven extension of US 2013/0275899's "limited-distraction user interface" (which provides "fewer selectable user interface objects"). Car infotainment systems prior to 2014 often limited display functionality when the vehicle was in motion.
• Simplified Gesture Input: Limiting user input to simple taps or swipes without requiring visual attention is an obvious improvement over physical button presses (as in the Busykey patents) when aiming for hands-free, low-distraction interaction in a touchscreen-dominated mobile world.
• Prompting to Call Sender: After reading a message, vocally asking the user if they want to call the sender is a logical next step in a hands-free communication workflow, drawing on common voice assistant functionalities (e.g., Siri, Google Now, which existed prior to 2014).
• Automatic "User Busy" Response: The Busykey patents explicitly disclose "automatically sending a pre-typed text message to the sender". Using this capability to send an "I'm busy" message in a limited-distraction mode (like driving) is a direct and obvious application of this prior art.

Conclusion:

The core features of US10516775, including the automatic determination and announcement of messages, followed by either opt-out or opt-in reading of message bodies in a context-aware manner with minimal user input, would have been obvious to a PHOSITA. This conclusion is based on the motivation to solve the identified limitations in prior art (US 2013/0275899's "substantial input" and the Busykey patents' reliance on physical buttons and pre-recorded messages), by applying known technologies like TTS and common UI/UX design patterns for hands-free interaction, especially in safety-critical contexts like driving.

US Patent 10,516,775, titled "Method and system for communication," was issued on December 24, 2019, from an application filed on January 11, 2019. Here's a breakdown of its term adjustments, extensions, related applications, and projected expiration date based on available information:

Patent Term Adjustments (PTA)

Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) can increase the term of a patent to compensate for certain delays by the USPTO during the prosecution of a utility or plant patent application. Such delays include failure to: issue a first Office Action within 14 months of filing; respond to an applicant's reply within 4 months; or issue the patent within 4 months of payment of the issue fee. The patent term can also be extended if the patent fails to issue within three years of its actual filing date. However, any extension can be reduced by delays caused by the applicant.

To get the exact PTA for US10516775, one would typically need to check the "Issue Notification Letter" which is mailed to applicants approximately three weeks before the patent issues, or access the patent's file history in USPTO's Patent Center. The USPTO does not calculate expiration dates for patents, but provides a calculator and guidelines for estimating them, which requires specific information from the patent's file.

Without direct access to the official USPTO Patent Center file history for US10516775 to confirm any granted PTA, it cannot be definitively stated here.

Patent Term Extensions (PTE)

Patent Term Extensions (PTE) are available for patents on certain human drugs, food or color additives, medical devices, animal drugs, and veterinary biological products to restore some of the patent term lost while awaiting premarket government approval from a regulatory agency like the FDA.

Given that US Patent 10,516,775 pertains to a "Method and system for communication" and not to a product requiring regulatory approval from agencies like the FDA, it is highly unlikely to be eligible for Patent Term Extension under 35 U.S.C. § 156.

Continuation and Divisional Applications

The patent text itself provides information regarding its lineage in the "CROSS REFERENCE" section. US10516775 is a continuation of several earlier applications:

• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/112,587, filed on August 24, 2018 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,277,728).
• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/421,237, filed on January 31, 2017 (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,110,725).
• U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/865,561, filed on September 25, 2015 (now U.S. Pat. No. 9,591,117).

This means US10516775 is a continuation application, claiming benefit from these earlier-filed nonprovisional applications. A continuation application is a follow-up application that discloses and claims only subject matter disclosed in a prior-filed, copending nonprovisional application, without introducing new matter.

The patent also claims the benefit of two provisional applications:

• U.S. provisional application No. 62/083,085 filed on November 21, 2014.
• U.S. provisional application No. 62/118,264 filed on February 19, 2015.

The term "divisional application" refers to an application for a distinct invention carved out of a prior, broader application. While the patent text mentions "continuation" specifically, it does not explicitly state that US10516775 is a divisional application. However, divisional applications are part of the broader family of continuing applications.

Related Family Members

Based on the cross-reference information, the identified family members are:

• US Patent 10,277,728 (parent of 10516775)
• US Patent 10,110,725 (parent of 10,277,728)
• US Patent 9,591,117 (parent of 10,110,725)
• U.S. provisional application No. 62/083,085
• U.S. provisional application No. 62/118,264

Additionally, the Google Patents information for US10516775 lists priority claims to subsequent applications, indicating further family members that are continuations or divisionals of US10516775:

• US17/150,786 (priority to 2021-01-15), which is US11316964B1
• US17/699,581 (priority to 2022-03-21), which is US11611649B2
• US19/303,950 (priority to 2025-08-19), which is US20250385966A1

Projected Expiration Date

For U.S. utility patents filed on or after June 8, 1995, the patent term generally expires 20 years from the earliest filing date of the application, excluding provisional applications, to which the patent claims priority.

US10516775 claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/865,561, filed on September 25, 2015, which itself claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 62/083,085 filed on November 21, 2014. The earliest non-provisional filing date in the chain of applications for US10516775 is September 25, 2015 (from US14/865,561).

Therefore, the base patent term would be 20 years from September 25, 2015.
Base expiration date: September 25, 2015 + 20 years = September 25, 2035.

The Google Patents page for US10516775 also states an "Anticipated expiration" date of 2035-09-25. This confirms the calculation based on the earliest non-provisional filing date.

This projected expiration date does not include any potential Patent Term Adjustment (PTA) that might have been granted due to USPTO delays during prosecution. Without specific PTA data from the USPTO file wrapper, a precise adjusted expiration date cannot be determined, but the base term provides a strong estimate.