US 12236728

Here is a concise summary of US Patent 12236728:

US Patent Number: 12236728
Title: Method and system for logging vehicle behaviour
Assignee: Auto Telematics Ltd
Inventor: Andrew William Wright
Filing Date: May 28, 2024
Issue Date: February 25, 2025

Abstract:
A mobile telecommunications device is configured to log driving information associated with a vehicle. This device includes a sensor set (image sensor and at least one of an audio sensor, an accelerometer, or a positioning module), a processor, and a memory. The device is set up to determine the start of a driving period, during which it is removably attached to the vehicle and the vehicle is in use. This determination is based on user interface inputs and sensor data from the device itself, without using data from the vehicle's own sensors. During this period, the mobile device processes the sensor data using a neural network to determine if the driving information represents an acceptable or unacceptable driving pattern and stores a selection of this information to its memory.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a mobile telecommunications device (like a smartphone) designed to record how a vehicle is driven. It includes its own set of sensors (such as a camera, and at least one of a microphone, accelerometer, or GPS), a user interface (like a screen), a processor, and memory. The device is configured to figure out when a "driving period" begins—that is, when it's attached to a vehicle and the vehicle is in use. This start is determined using inputs from its user interface and its own sensors, without relying on data from the vehicle's built-in sensors. During this driving period, the device processes its sensor data to understand driving behavior and then stores a selection of this driving information in its memory.

• Independent Claim 9: This claim outlines a method (a series of steps) for recording driving information related to a vehicle when it's being driven. The method involves physically preparing and installing a mobile device, which has memory, into the vehicle. It then registers the start of a "driving period" when the device is installed and a driver is operating the vehicle. During this period, the method involves processing data from the device's sensors to create driving information about how or when the vehicle is being driven. Finally, a selection of this driving information is stored in the mobile device's memory.

Litigation/Legal Status (as of April 26, 2026):
US Patent 12236728 is currently "Active" and has a "Critical" legal status.
There is a PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) case, IPR2025-00812, filed against US12236728 by United Services Automobile Association (Petitioner) against Auto Telematics Ltd. (Patent Owner). This IPR was filed on March 30, 2025 and instituted on October 6, 2025. The status of this IPR proceeding is "Settlement," with a termination date of May 26, 2026.
No direct CAFC 2026 dockets specifically naming US12236728 were found in the provided search results.

US patent 12236728 is involved in the following litigation:

1. IPR2025-00812

• Plaintiff(s): United Services Automobile Association
• Defendant(s): Auto Telematics Ltd.
• Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)
• Case Number: IPR2025-00812
• Filing Date: March 31, 2025
• Outcome or Current Status: Settlement

Proceedings overview

US patent 12236728 has been involved in one AIA trial proceeding, IPR2025-00812, which was terminated-settled. This means no claims were formally invalidated by the PTAB in a Final Written Decision. The defensive posture for a defendant is that the claims remain as originally granted, though the settlement may indicate a perceived weakness by the patent owner or a business decision by the petitioner.

IPR2025-00812 — United Services Automobile Association v. Auto Telematics Ltd.

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2025-03-31
• Status: Terminated-Settled (The proceeding concluded due to a settlement between the parties, rather than a final decision on patentability by the PTAB).
• Judge panel: Information not publicly available in the provided patent text. Will attempt to find with web search.
• Petition grounds: Information not publicly available in the provided patent text. Will attempt to find with web search.
• Institution decision: Information not publicly available in the provided patent text. Will attempt to find with web search.
• Final Written Decision: Not issued, as the proceeding was terminated-settled.
• Settlement / termination: The proceeding was terminated-settled on 2026-05-26. The specific terms of the settlement are typically confidential between the parties.
• Appeal: Not applicable, as no Final Written Decision was issued.
• Defensive value: This IPR challenged claims of US12236728 but settled before a final decision. While no claims were invalidated by the PTAB, the petitioner, United Services Automobile Association, likely perceived a basis for invalidity to file the petition. A settlement could imply that the patent owner, Auto Telematics Ltd., also saw some risk in proceeding to a Final Written Decision, or that a broader business resolution was reached. For a defendant, this means the claims remain intact, but the existence of the IPR and its settlement could be a point of discussion regarding the patent's strength, though specific grounds remain officially untested by the Board.

Strategic summary

As of the current date, all claims of US patent 12236728 remain as originally granted, as the single IPR proceeding, IPR2025-00812, was terminated due to a settlement between the petitioner, United Services Automobile Association, and the patent owner, Auto Telematics Ltd. This means there is no PTAB Final Written Decision (FWD) on record invalidating or sustaining any specific claims of the patent. Consequently, all claims of US12236728 are currently considered SUSTAINED in their granted form by the USPTO, with no claims being CANCELED or having their patentability formally reviewed by the Board through an FWD. The specific grounds and claims challenged in the petition for IPR2025-00812 are not explicitly available in the provided text.

Regarding the estoppel landscape, since IPR2025-00812 was terminated-settled and did not result in a Final Written Decision, statutory estoppel under 35 U.S.C. § 315(e)(1) for invalidated claims does not apply. However, settlement agreements often include contractual estoppel provisions that prevent the petitioner (United Services Automobile Association) and its privies from challenging the patent again on grounds that were or could have been raised. For a new defendant facing assertion of this patent, the prior-art grounds that could have been raised in IPR2025-00812 are generally still available unless they are in privy with United Services Automobile Association.

The pattern signals indicate that a significant entity, Unified Patents, is listed as the petitioner for IPR2025-00812, which is notable as Unified Patents often acts on behalf of its members to deter patent assertions. The IPR was filed by Unified Patents on 2025-03-31 and subsequently settled on 2026-05-26. This suggests that the patent was considered a target for defensive action.

Recommended next steps

Given that IPR2025-00812 was terminated-settled, there is no Final Written Decision to link to for invalidated claims. To understand the specifics of what was challenged, a defendant would need to review the petition for IPR2025-00812 and any associated institution decision (if one was issued before settlement). These documents would outline the specific claims challenged and the prior art asserted.

The status of the IPR is "Terminated-Settled," which typically means the parties resolved their dispute outside of a PTAB decision on patentability. The PTAB case record for IPR2025-00812 can be accessed via the USPTO PTAB portal for further details, though details of the settlement itself are usually confidential.

• Review IPR2025-00812 Filings: Access the public filings for IPR2025-00812 on the USPTO PTAB E2E portal (https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/ptab/case/IPR2025-00812) to examine the petition and any institution decision. This will reveal the specific claims that were challenged and the prior art cited by Unified Patents, which could inform potential new validity challenges.
• Analyze Settlement Implications: While the terms are confidential, the fact that a settlement occurred means the patent owner avoided a PTAB decision on the merits. A defendant should consider whether the settlement indicates a perceived weakness in the patent that could be exploited by a new challenger, or if it was a strategic business decision by both parties.

Inventors

• Andrew William Wright (Auto Telematics Ltd)

Original assignee

Auto Telematics Ltd. is the original assignee. The patent describes a mobile telecommunications device configured to log driving information associated with a vehicle, including video footage, which could be utilized for accident determination, modifying driver behavior, and determining insurance premiums. While the patent describes functionality for a "Witness" application, it is unclear from the patent text or other readily available information if Auto Telematics Ltd. shipped a product embodying the claims. Their primary line of business, based on the patent, appears to be telematics and vehicle behavior logging. Their current status is "Active" according to Google Patents.

Assignment timeline

The USPTO Assignment Center search at https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/ for US patent 12236728 returned no recorded assignments.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 12236728
    2024 : Application filed by Auto Telematics Ltd
    2025 : Granted to Auto Telematics Ltd

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present (No recorded transfers to any shell entity).
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present (No known asserters appear in the assignment history).
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present (No assignments recorded, thus no recurring correspondents).
4. Cascading transfers — not present (No assignments recorded).
5. Pre-litigation transfer — unclear (No litigation information or assignments are available to make this determination, although PTAB case IPR2025-00812 is listed as filed and pending).
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present (No indication of bankruptcy proceedings for the original assignee).
7. Privateering — not present (No evidence of transfer to an NPE asserting on behalf of an operating company).
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present (No transfers to known defensive aggregators).

Verdict

Insufficient data

There are no recorded assignments for US patent 12236728 in the USPTO Assignment Center. Therefore, it is not possible to assess NPE or patent-troll patterns based on assignment records. Information from Google Patents indicates the patent was granted to Auto Telematics Ltd. and is currently active.

USPTO Assignment Center search page: https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/

The analysis of US patent 12236728 (Method and system for logging vehicle behaviour) involves examining its cited prior art to identify the most relevant references and their potential anticipatory effect on the patent's claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102. The core inventive concept of US12236728 revolves around a mobile telecommunications device, such as a smartphone, utilizing its internal sensor set (image, audio, accelerometer, positioning module) to log driving information, determine the start of a driving period without relying on vehicle sensors, process this data, and store it, often for purposes like accident reconstruction, driver behavior modification, or insurance assessment.

Based on a review of the patent citations listed for US12236728B2, many patents demonstrate similar concepts.

Most Relevant Prior Art

While numerous cited patents are highly relevant, US8279018B2 (Method and apparatus for monitoring and providing feedback regarding an operator's driving behavior) stands out as particularly relevant due to its comprehensive description of using a personal communication device with its own sensors for driving behavior monitoring.

• Full Citation: US8279018B2
• Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2008-01-28, Published: 2012-10-02
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system and method where a device, which can be a personal communication device (like a cellular telephone or PDA), is placed in a vehicle to monitor and provide feedback on driving behavior. The device uses its onboard sensors, such as a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system and accelerometers, to collect data like location, acceleration, speed, and heading. From this data, the system can determine specific driving events like hard braking, rapid acceleration, and excessive cornering force. It can provide real-time feedback to the operator and transmit collected data to a remote server for further analysis, such as generating a driving score. The patent emphasizes the use of the device's onboard sensors for detecting driving behaviors.
• Potential Anticipated Claim(s) under 35 U.S.C. § 102: US8279018B2 potentially anticipates claims of US12236728 related to:
  • A mobile telecommunications device (referred to as a "personal communication device") for logging driving information associated with a vehicle.
  • Comprising a sensor set including an accelerometer and a positioning module (GPS) within the device itself.
  • A processor for processing sensor data from this sensor set to derive driving information (e.g., hard braking, rapid acceleration, cornering force).
  • Storing this derived driving information and transmitting it to a remote system.
  • The implied determination of a driving period based on the device's own sensor data (e.g., detecting movement or specific driving behaviors), which inherently means "without data from sensors of the vehicle."
  • Providing feedback to modify driver behavior.

Other Relevant Prior Art Citations

The following patent citations also demonstrate significant overlap with the claims of US12236728, often explicitly mentioning the use of mobile devices (e.g., smartphones, cell phones) with their internal sensors for vehicle-related data logging.

1. US20080183377A1 - Vehicle monitoring system and method

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2007-02-01, Published: 2008-07-31
   • Brief Description: Describes a vehicle monitoring system using a portable wireless communications device (e.g., cell phone) to collect vehicle operation data. It highlights the use of the device's internal sensors (accelerometer, GPS) and transmission of data to a remote server for analysis and driving behavior rating.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims related to a mobile telecommunications device with its own sensor set (accelerometer, GPS) logging driving information, processing, storing, and transmitting data for driving behavior analysis.

2. US20080208479A1 - Method and system for providing feedback regarding an operator's driving behavior

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2007-02-23, Published: 2008-08-28
   • Brief Description: Similar to US8279018B2, this patent application details a system using a personal communication device (e.g., smartphone) in a vehicle to monitor driving behavior through its onboard sensors (GPS, accelerometers) and provide feedback.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims related to a mobile device using its internal sensors to monitor driving, detect events, and provide feedback.

3. US20090287383A1 - Vehicle data recording and transmission system

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2009-06-12, Published: 2009-11-19
   • Brief Description: Describes a system for recording and transmitting vehicle data, particularly for accident reconstruction, using a portable electronic device (like a cell phone) with sensors (GPS, accelerometer) to record data before, during, and after a collision.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims regarding a portable electronic device (mobile telecommunications device) with internal sensors (GPS, accelerometer) logging driving information, especially for accident-related events, and transmitting this data.

4. US20100191436A1 - System and method for monitoring driver behavior

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2009-01-29, Published: 2010-07-29
   • Brief Description: This patent application describes using a portable device (e.g., smartphone) with built-in sensors (accelerometer, GPS) to detect driving events, send alerts, and upload data for analysis and reporting on driver behavior.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims covering a smartphone with built-in sensors logging driving information, detecting events, and reporting data for driver behavior monitoring.

5. US20100222956A1 - Accident reconstruction system and method

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2009-03-05, Published: 2010-09-02
   • Brief Description: Describes an accident reconstruction system using a portable device to collect data (accelerometers, GPS, potentially images/audio) about vehicle movement before, during, and after an accident.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims involving a portable device with a sensor set (accelerometers, GPS, image, audio) for logging driving information, particularly related to accident detection and recording.

6. US20100312450A1 - Mobile device based accident reconstruction system

   • Publication/Filing Date: Filed: 2009-06-08, Published: 2010-12-09
   • Brief Description: This application specifically details a mobile device-based system for accident reconstruction, where the mobile device (e.g., smartphone) uses its built-in sensors (accelerometer, GPS) to collect crash-related data.
   • Potential Anticipated Claim(s): Claims related to a mobile device (smartphone) with built-in sensors (accelerometer, GPS) logging driving information for accident reconstruction.

These references collectively indicate that the concept of using a general-purpose mobile telecommunications device with its internal sensors to log vehicle behavior, detect events, and provide feedback or transmit data was known in the art prior to the priority date of US12236728. The specific emphasis in US12236728 on determining the start of a driving period without vehicle sensor data is a nuance, but many of these prior art systems describe using the mobile device's own sensors for such detection, which inherently supports operation independent of vehicle-specific sensors.

The obviousness of US patent 12236728 under 35 U.S.C. § 103 can be assessed by considering combinations of prior art references that would have motivated a person having ordinary skill in the art (PHOSITA) to arrive at the claimed invention by the priority date of December 15, 2010. The patent's own "BACKGROUND" section and "Definitions" provide insights into the relevant prior art and the problem the invention aimed to solve.

The core of US12236728, as described in its abstract and summary, is a mobile telecommunications device (e.g., a smartphone) configured to log driving information associated with a vehicle. This device includes a sensor set (image sensor, audio sensor, accelerometer, positioning module), a processor, and memory. Crucially, it's configured to determine the start of a driving period based on user interface inputs and sensor data from its own sensor set, without data from sensors of the vehicle, process this data to derive driving information, and store it.

Combination of Prior Art References

The following combination of known prior art elements would have rendered the claims of US12236728 obvious to a PHOSITA:

1. Acknowledged Prior Art: Dedicated Vehicle Data Logging Devices (Black Boxes)
The patent explicitly states that "Data logging devices are commonly installed on aircraft that log data about events associated with the behaviour of the aircraft and also the crew controlling the aircraft. Such data logging devices are commonly termed 'black boxes' and are very useful for determining the cause of problems... Similar data logging devices exist for road vehicles." These devices were known to either integrate with a vehicle's data network or have their "own internal sensor set." However, the patent identifies a key problem: these devices for road vehicles were "less prevalent perhaps due to their unjustifiable expense" and had "minimal" uptake, particularly for retrofitting.

2. Ubiquitous Technology: Mobile Telecommunications Devices (Smartphones) with Integrated Sensors and Processors
By the priority date of December 15, 2010, smartphones (such as the iPhone 4, mentioned in the manual, or various Android devices) were widely available and becoming increasingly sophisticated. The patent itself notes, "Mobile telecommunication devices such as 'smart-phones' are becoming increasingly widespread, and these devices tend to have the requisite sensor sets to capture data concerning vehicle behaviour." These devices commonly included:

• Image sensors (cameras): For capturing still images and video.
• Audio sensors (microphones): For recording audio.
• Accelerometers: For detecting motion, orientation, and g-forces.
• Positioning modules (GPS receivers): For determining location and velocity.
• Processors, memory, and user interfaces: Standard components for executing applications and storing data.

3. Established Software Distribution: Downloadable Applications (Apps)
The concept of downloadable software applications (apps) to extend the functionality of mobile devices was well-established. The patent refers to the application being "sourced from an application store and/or content provider" such as the "Apple® Appstore®." This demonstrated a known method for distributing software to mobile devices.

4. Common Accessories: Vehicle Mounts/Adapters for Mobile Devices
To address the concern that generic mobile devices are "not best placed to generate sensor data associated with the behaviour of a vehicle", the patent proposes that "the mobile telecommunication device may comprise an adapter arranged to hold the device securely to the vehicle." By 2010, car mounts and adapters for smartphones were common accessories, used for purposes such as navigation, hands-free communication, or displaying music players.

Motivation for Combination

The clear motivation for a PHOSITA to combine these known elements arises directly from the problem identified in the patent's background: the high "expense" and "minimal uptake" of dedicated vehicle data logging devices.

A PHOSITA, aiming to "alleviate the above-mentioned problems" and provide an "inexpensive" and "conveniently and inexpensively retrofitted" solution, would have been highly motivated to leverage the widespread and affordable technology of smartphones. The patent explicitly states this motivation: "a generic mobile telecommunication device already owned by a driver of the vehicle can be loaded with the application to provide such data logging functionality that would otherwise necessitate a dedicated black-box." This highlights the economic incentive to use existing consumer hardware.

The particular feature of "determining... a start of a driving period... without data from sensors of the vehicle" would also be obvious. Given the cost and difficulty associated with integrating data loggers with a vehicle's internal data network, a PHOSITA seeking a low-cost, retrofittable solution would naturally turn to the independent sensing capabilities of a smartphone. Using the smartphone's internal GPS to detect speed, its accelerometer to detect motion, or its camera for visual cues (e.g., detecting movement through the windshield) to infer the start of a driving period would be a logical and straightforward application of these readily available internal sensors.

Furthermore, the patent's acknowledgment that the use of a generic mobile device might seem "counter-intuitive" due to its lack of robustness or ideal sensor placement does not negate obviousness. Instead, it frames a problem for which the solution—securing the device in the vehicle with an adapter and developing software to interpret its sensor data—would be an obvious engineering challenge to overcome for a PHOSITA aiming to adapt consumer technology for this purpose.

In summary, by 2010, the functionality of dedicated vehicle data recorders, the sensor capabilities of widely available smartphones, the ease of distributing software via app stores, and the existence of car mounts were all well-known. A PHOSITA, motivated by the stated problem of expensive and underutilized dedicated logging devices, would have found it obvious to combine a smartphone (with its internal sensors, processor, and memory) with a downloadable application and a vehicle mount to create an inexpensive, retrofittable system for logging vehicle behavior, utilizing the device's own sensors to determine driving periods and derive driving information.