US 8447696

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 8,447,696:

Patent Number: US8447696B2

Title: System and method for handling peripheral connections to mobile devices

Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Ltd
Original Assignee: Research in Motion Ltd

Inventors: Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Christopher E. S. Pattenden, Michael K. Brown, Michael G. Kirkup

Filing Date: October 9, 2009

Issue Date: May 21, 2013

Abstract:
The patent describes systems and methods for establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a peripheral. The mobile device is designed to determine whether it should handle the user's approval for this data connection. It provides an input mechanism through the mobile device for the user to provide input, which is then used to decide whether to approve the data connection.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (Method Claim): This claim describes a method where a mobile device receives a request from a connected peripheral to manage the approval process for a data connection. The mobile device then presents an input mechanism (like a prompt for a password) to the user and uses the user's input to decide whether to approve the data connection with the peripheral.

• Claim 18 (Computer Readable Medium Claim): This claim covers a computer-readable medium (e.g., a storage device) that contains instructions. When a processor executes these instructions, they perform the method described in Claim 1: receiving a request for connection approval from a peripheral, providing an input mechanism on the mobile device for user input, and then determining whether to approve the connection based on that input.

• Claim 19 (Apparatus Claim): This claim details an apparatus (a mobile device) that includes a processing unit and specific instructions (connection handler instructions and output instructions). The connection handler instructions enable the processing unit to receive a request from a peripheral to handle the data connection approval on the mobile device. The output instructions enable the processing unit to display a prompt on the mobile device for the user to provide input. The processing unit then uses the connection handler instructions to determine whether to approve the data connection based on this user input.

Uncertainty Regarding Litigation:
The patent information available indicates "Family has litigation". However, a search of the CAFC 2026 dockets for US8447696 specifically did not return any direct case filings or specific litigation details for this patent number in the current year. Therefore, while the patent family has seen litigation, specific details for US8447696 in CAFC dockets for 2026 are not readily available through general search.

As a patent analyst, my search for litigation involving US patent 8447696 on sites like Unified Patents, CAFC, and PACER has not yielded any direct case filings specifically listing US8447696 as being actively litigated in 2026. While the patent information indicates "Family has litigation," no specific litigation details for this particular patent number were found through the conducted searches.

Therefore, no specific litigation cases with plaintiff(s), defendant(s), jurisdiction, case number, filing date, and outcome or current status can be listed for US patent 8447696 at this time based on the available search results.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file with the USPTO for US patent 8447696, based on the most recent ingest from the USPTO ODP API and supplementary web searches. This means the patent has not been subjected to IPR, PGR, or CBM trials to date.

Strategic summary

As of July 22, 2026, US patent 8447696 has not been challenged in any AIA trial proceedings (Inter Partes Review, Post-Grant Review, or Covered Business Method review) at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The claims of US8447696 remain untested by the PTAB, meaning no claims have been canceled, sustained, or otherwise affected by these administrative validity challenges. This indicates a pristine defensive posture from a PTAB perspective, as the patent has not been subjected to the scrutiny of an IPR, PGR, or CBM.

While the current assignee, Malikie Innovations Ltd., is an active patent licensing firm that has been involved in litigation and has faced IPR petitions on other patents in its portfolio (e.g., from Nintendo on different patents), US8447696 itself has not been a target of such proceedings. Therefore, there is no estoppel landscape from PTAB proceedings concerning this specific patent.

Recommended next steps

Since no PTAB activity exists for US8447696, a defendant facing assertion of this patent would find that all claims are currently sustained as granted by the USPTO. The absence of PTAB activity suggests that the patent has not yet been subject to inter partes challenges.

For a potential defendant, recommended next steps would include:

• Prior Art Search: Conduct a thorough prior art search to identify potential grounds for invalidity under 35 U.S.C. §§ 102 and 103, particularly focusing on the priority date of April 30, 2004.
• Claim Construction Analysis: Perform a detailed claim construction analysis to understand the scope of the claims and identify potential non-infringement arguments.
• Evaluate IPR/PGR Feasibility: If strong prior art is found, evaluate the feasibility and strategic advantages of filing an Inter Partes Review (IPR) petition against the patent. Since the patent was granted on May 21, 2013, a Post-Grant Review (PGR) would be unavailable due to the 9-month window after grant, and a Covered Business Method (CBM) review would only be applicable if the patent claims a "covered business method" as defined by statute. An IPR remains a viable option for challenging patentability based on patents or printed publications.

Inventors

All named inventors—Neil P. Adams, Herbert A. Little, Christopher E. S. Pattenden, Michael K. Brown, and Michael G. Kirkup—were employees of Research in Motion Ltd at the time the patent application (US12/576,737) was filed on October 9, 2009. There is no evidence suggesting any unusual pattern of inventors departing the original assignee within 12 months of the filing date.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent US8447696B2 is Research in Motion Ltd. This company, widely known for its BlackBerry line of mobile devices, actively shipped products embodying the claims, specifically mobile wireless communication devices. Its primary line of business was mobile communications, including the development of smartphones, software, and services. Research in Motion Ltd underwent a corporate name change to BlackBerry Limited in 2013 and is currently an operating company, though its strategic focus has shifted significantly from device manufacturing to enterprise software and security services.

Assignment timeline

Here is a chronological list of every recorded assignment for US Patent 8447696:

• 2012-08-01 (executed) / recorded 2012-08-21 — Reel 028564/0055

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST
  • Assignor: ADAMS, NEIL P.; BROWN, MICHAEL K.; LITTLE, HERBERT A.; PATTENDEN, CHRISTOPHER E.S.; KIRKUP, MICHAEL G.
  • Assignee: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
  • Correspondent: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED, C/O PATENT DEPT., 295 PHILIP ST., WATERLOO, ON, CANADA, N2L 3W8
  • Context: Assignment from the inventors to their employer, the original assignee, prior to patent issuance.

• 2014-06-12 (executed) / recorded 2014-06-20 — Reel 032488/0609

  • Conveyance: CHANGE OF NAME
  • Assignor: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
  • Assignee: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
  • Correspondent: BLACKBERRY LIMITED, ATTN: PATENT DEPT., 295 PHILIP STREET, WATERLOO, ONTARIO, CANADA N2L 3W8
  • Context: Corporate name change of the original assignee from Research In Motion Limited to BlackBerry Limited.

• 2023-04-27 (executed) / recorded 2023-04-27 — Reel 063471/0474

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
  • Assignor: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
  • Assignee: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
  • Correspondent: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC, ATTN: ANIL RAMNANI, 2035 SUNSET LAKE ROAD, SUITE B-2, NEWARK, DE 19702
  • Context: Transfer of patent ownership to an escrow entity, typically a precursor to a larger transaction.

• 2023-06-16 (executed) / recorded 2023-06-16 — Reel 064015/0001

  • Conveyance: NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
  • Assignee: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
  • Correspondent: NICHOLAS F. O'DONNELL, DENTONS US LLP, P.O. BOX 1302, CHICAGO, IL 60690-1302. This correspondent recurs in subsequent entries in this chain.
  • Context: Transfer from the escrow entity to Malikie Innovations Limited, retroactively effective.

• 2023-06-19 (executed) / recorded 2023-06-19 — Reel 064015/0004

  • Conveyance: NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
  • Assignee: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
  • Correspondent: NICHOLAS F. O'DONNELL, DENTONS US LLP, P.O. BOX 1302, CHICAGO, IL 60690-1302. This correspondent recurs in subsequent entries in this chain.
  • Context: Direct transfer from BlackBerry Limited to Malikie Innovations Limited, retroactively effective, likely to solidify the chain of title.

• 2023-09-05 (executed) / recorded 2023-09-05 — Reel 064015/0500

  • Conveyance: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
  • Assignee: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
  • Correspondent: NICHOLAS F. O'DONNELL, DENTONS US LLP, P.O. BOX 1302, CHICAGO, IL 60690-1302. This correspondent recurs in subsequent entries in this chain.
  • Context: Corrective assignment to address a previous recording, indicating efforts to ensure accurate record-keeping.

• 2023-09-05 (executed) / recorded 2023-09-05 — Reel 064015/0504

  • Conveyance: CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT
  • Assignor: OT PATENT ESCROW, LLC
  • Assignee: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
  • Correspondent: NICHOLAS F. O'DONNELL, DENTONS US LLP, P.O. BOX 1302, CHICAGO, IL 60690-1302. This correspondent recurs in subsequent entries in this chain.
  • Context: Corrective assignment further confirming the transfer to Malikie Innovations Limited.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 8447696
    2009 : Application filed
    2012 : Inventors to Research in Motion
    2013 : Patent issued
    2014 : Name change to BlackBerry Limited
    2023 : Assigned to OT Patent Escrow LLC
         : Assigned to Malikie Innovations Ltd
         : BlackBerry to Malikie Innovations Ltd
         : Corrective to OT Patent Escrow LLC
         : Corrective to Malikie Innovations Ltd

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. OT Patent Escrow, LLC, with an address at a registered-agent service (2035 SUNSET LAKE ROAD, SUITE B-2, NEWARK, DE 19702), is a shell entity commonly used in patent transactions. Malikie Innovations Limited is described in public reports as a financing entity for Catapult IP Innovations Inc., a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed to acquire and monetize BlackBerry's patent portfolio, indicating it operates as a licensing-only entity rather than a product-shipping company.

   • Cite: Reel 063471/0474 (OT Patent Escrow, LLC), Reel 064015/0001 (Malikie Innovations Limited)

2. Known asserter in the chain — Present. Malikie Innovations Limited is linked to Catapult IP Innovations Inc., an entity specifically established to acquire and assert BlackBerry's "legacy" patents. Catapult IP Innovations Inc. has been identified as a patent assertion entity that has filed multiple infringement lawsuits.

   • Cite: Assignee Malikie Innovations Limited (Reel 064015/0001, 064015/0004, 064015/0504)

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Present. Nicholas F. O'Donnell of Dentons US LLP is listed as the correspondent of record for four consecutive transfers involving OT Patent Escrow, LLC and Malikie Innovations Limited in 2023 (Reel 064015/0001, 064015/0004, 064015/0500, 064015/0504). This consistent legal representation across multiple assignments is a strong indicator of a coordinated patent transfer strategy.

   • Cite: Nicholas F. O'Donnell, Dentons US LLP (Reel 064015/0001, 064015/0004, 064015/0500, 064015/0504)

4. Cascading transfers — Present. Multiple transfers occurred within a short timeframe in 2023: BlackBerry Limited to OT Patent Escrow, LLC (April 27), then OT Patent Escrow, LLC to Malikie Innovations Limited (June 16), followed by BlackBerry Limited to Malikie Innovations Limited (June 19), and two corrective assignments involving both entities on the same day (September 5). These five assignments over approximately five months, all handled by the same correspondent, strongly indicate a structured transaction to transfer and clarify patent ownership.

   • Cite: Reel 063471/0474, 064015/0001, 064015/0004, 064015/0500, 064015/0504

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. While the patent family has seen litigation, and Catapult IP Innovations (the entity for which Malikie Innovations Limited provides financing) is known to assert patents, a specific litigation filing date for US8447696 itself in close proximity to the 2023 assignments to Malikie Innovations Limited is not readily available through general searches. Therefore, it cannot be confirmed if this patent was asserted within six months of its transfer to Malikie.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. Research in Motion/BlackBerry Limited did not file for bankruptcy. The transfer was part of a strategic sale of "legacy" patent assets.

7. Privateering — Present. BlackBerry Limited, an operating company, strategically divested its "non-core" patent assets to Catapult IP Innovations Inc., financed by Malikie Innovations Limited, for the purpose of monetization through licensing and assertion. This arrangement, where an operating company transfers patents to an NPE for assertion, falls under the definition of privateering.

   • Cite: Assignor BlackBerry Limited (Reel 063471/0474, 064015/0004, 064015/0500) to Assignee Malikie Innovations Limited (Reel 064015/0001, 064015/0004, 064015/0504)

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The current assignee, Malikie Innovations Limited, is a patent licensing entity, not a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

This verdict is based on multiple strong signals: the transfer to known shell entities (OT Patent Escrow, LLC, Reel 063471/0474), the ultimate assignment to Malikie Innovations Limited which funds known patent asserter Catapult IP Innovations Inc., the consistent use of a repeat correspondent across several cascading transfers in 2023 (Nicholas F. O'Donnell, Dentons US LLP, on Reels 064015/0001, 064015/0004, 064015/0500, 064015/0504), and the clear privateering context of BlackBerry's strategic patent sale for monetization. These factors collectively indicate a patent assertion strategy.

For verification, refer to the USPTO Patent Assignment Search for US8447696.

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US Patent 8,447,696, based on the citations provided within the patent itself and evaluated against the independent claims (Claims 1, 18, and 19) of US8447696. The priority date for US8447696 is April 30, 2004. Any cited patent with a priority date before this is considered potential prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

US8447696 Independent Claims Summary:

• Claim 1 (Method): A method where a mobile device (1) receives a request from a peripheral that the mobile device handle the data connection approval process, (2) provides an input mechanism on the mobile device for user input, and (3) determines approval based on that input.
• Claim 18 (Computer Readable Medium): A computer-readable medium storing instructions for performing the method of Claim 1.
• Claim 19 (Apparatus): A mobile device apparatus with a processing unit and instructions to (1) receive a peripheral's request for mobile device-handled approval, (2) provide a prompt for user input on the mobile device, and (3) determine approval based on that input.

Prior Art Analysis

1. US7664707B2 - System and method for handling peripheral connections to mobile devices

• Full Citation: US7664707B2, "System and method for handling peripheral connections to mobile devices," filed February 25, 2005, and issued February 16, 2010, to Research In Motion Limited.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: April 30, 2004; Publication Date: February 16, 2010.
• Brief Description: This patent is explicitly identified in US8447696 as a parent application, specifically a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/067,239, which itself claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/566,774, filed on the same date as US8447696's priority date (April 30, 2004). This means it covers substantially the same inventive subject matter and shares the same effective filing date.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US7664707B2 is not prior art to US8447696 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 because it shares the same priority date and is part of the same patent family (a continuation application). It describes the same invention and therefore cannot anticipate itself.

2. GB2370383A - Access to personal computer using password stored in mobile phone

• Full Citation: GB2370383A, "Access to personal computer using password stored in mobile phone," published June 26, 2002, to Hewlett Packard Co.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: December 22, 2000; Publication Date: June 26, 2002.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system where a mobile phone stores a password for accessing a personal computer. The mobile phone transmits this password to the PC to grant access. This allows the mobile phone to act as a security token for PC access.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent discloses a mobile device (phone) interacting with a peripheral (PC) for access control using a password. However, the core difference with US8447696 is that GB2370383A describes the mobile device transmitting the password to the PC, effectively acting as a dongle or a stored credential provider. It does not teach the peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle the approval process itself by providing an input mechanism on the mobile device for user input for that connection, which is central to US8447696 claims. Therefore, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

3. US20020062385A1 - Negotiated wireless peripheral systems

• Full Citation: US20020062385A1, "Negotiated wireless peripheral systems," published May 23, 2002, to Dowling Eric Morgan.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: October 27, 2000; Publication Date: May 23, 2002.
• Brief Description: This application generally discusses negotiating communication parameters between wireless devices, including peripheral devices. It describes a host device discovering and communicating with peripheral devices, potentially involving authentication and security measures for establishing connections.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent discusses communication and authentication between host and peripheral, it does not specifically detail a scenario where a peripheral requests the host (mobile device in US8447696's context) to handle the approval process by presenting an input mechanism on the host device for user input to approve the connection. The focus is more on negotiation of communication parameters and general security rather than the specific user-centric, mobile device-driven approval mechanism of US8447696. Thus, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

4. US20030095521A1 - Device, system, method and computer readable medium for pairing of devices in a short distance wireless network

• Full Citation: US20030095521A1, "Device, system, method and computer readable medium for pairing of devices in a short distance wireless network," published May 22, 2003, to Amit Haller.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: November 21, 2001; Publication Date: May 22, 2003.
• Brief Description: This patent application describes methods for pairing wireless devices, particularly in a short-distance network like Bluetooth, using a security code. It focuses on facilitating the initial pairing and subsequent connection, including methods for entering authentication information.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant to establishing secure connections and authentication between devices. It discusses user input for security codes during pairing. However, it doesn't explicitly describe a scenario where a peripheral initiates a request for the mobile device to take over the entire approval process (including providing the input mechanism) for an existing data connection (not just initial pairing), as claimed in US8447696. The distinguishing feature of the peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle user approval for the data connection (and not just provide a password) is not clearly taught. Therefore, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

5. US20040162027A1 - Bluetooth wireless communication apparatus and method of notifying users of devices connectable to ad-hoc networks to establish effective connections based on a user's selection

• Full Citation: US20040162027A1, "Bluetooth wireless communication apparatus and method of notifying users of devices connectable to ad-hoc networks to establish effective connections based on a user's selection," published August 19, 2004, to [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.)
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: February 17, 2003; Publication Date: August 19, 2004.
• Brief Description: This patent application concerns improving Bluetooth connections by notifying users of available devices and allowing them to select a device for connection. It involves a user interface for selection and connection establishment.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent addresses user interaction for establishing wireless connections (e.g., selection for connection), it does not detail the specific mechanism of a peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle the approval process using an input mechanism provided by the mobile device for user input, as claimed by US8447696. It's more about active selection of devices rather than a redirected approval workflow. Therefore, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

6. WO2000072506A1 - Method and apparatus for initializing secure communications among, and for exclusively pairing wireless devices

• Full Citation: WO2000072506A1, "Method and apparatus for initializing secure communications among, and for exclusively pairing wireless devices," published November 30, 2000, to International Business Machines Corporation.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: May 21, 1999; Publication Date: November 30, 2000.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for establishing secure communications and pairing between wireless devices. It focuses on exchanging encryption keys and authentication data to create a secure link. While it involves authentication for secure communication, it doesn't specifically address the delegation of the approval process itself from a peripheral to a mobile device with user input on the mobile device.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent teaches secure communication initialization and device pairing, which inherently includes some form of authentication. However, it does not explicitly disclose a peripheral making a request to the mobile device for the mobile device to take over the approval process for a data connection and provide the user input mechanism for that approval. The inventive step of US8447696 lies in this specific delegation and on-device user interaction for approval. Therefore, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

7. WO2001088677A2 - Apparatus and method for secure object access

• Full Citation: WO2001088677A2, "Apparatus and method for secure object access," published November 22, 2001, to Stefaan De Schrijver.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: May 18, 2000; Publication Date: November 22, 2001.
• Brief Description: This patent generally describes a system for secure access to objects, potentially involving different devices and authentication means. The focus is broad and covers secure access in a distributed environment.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent covers secure access, but it lacks the specific elements of US8447696's claims, particularly the peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle user approval and the mobile device subsequently providing an input mechanism for that approval. Without these specific elements, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

Summary of Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the titles and brief descriptions, and considering the unique aspects of US8447696's independent claims (peripheral requesting mobile device to handle approval, and mobile device providing input mechanism for user input for approval), the cited patents generally fall short of directly anticipating these features. Many patents cover general aspects of device connection, authentication, and security, but not the specific delegated approval mechanism with on-device user input as claimed.

• US7664707B2 is not prior art; it's a related patent within the same family.
• GB2370383A describes a mobile phone storing a password for PC access, but the phone acts as a credential provider, not as the primary approval handler based on a peripheral's request with on-device user input for connection approval.
• US20020062385A1 discusses general negotiation and security but lacks the specific delegation of the approval process to the mobile device.
• US20030095521A1 focuses on device pairing and authentication during setup but doesn't explicitly describe the peripheral-initiated redirection of the approval process to the mobile device.
• US20040162027A1 deals with user selection for connection in Bluetooth, but not the specific approval workflow where the peripheral requests the mobile device to handle the user input for approval.
• The other cited patents (WO2000072506A1, WO2001088677A2, US20030150756A1, US20040061792A1, US20040092231A1, US20040133525A1, US20040249994A1, US20040259539A1, US20050044479A1, US20070226805A1, US7296149B2, US7333946B1, US7337229B2, US7528867B2) also cover general aspects of communication, security, or device interaction but do not appear to explicitly teach the specific combination of "receiving a request from the peripheral device that an approval process for the data connection be handled by the mobile device" and "providing through the mobile device an input mechanism to provide input for use in determining whether to approve the data connection between the mobile device and the peripheral" as central to the independent claims of US8447696.

Therefore, while these references show a general trend in secure device connections and authentication, none of them directly anticipate the specific claimed mechanism of the peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle the user approval process, where the mobile device then provides the input mechanism for that approval. The closest might be those dealing with security and authentication, but the precise delegation of the approval process and the on-device user input for that delegated approval appear to be the distinguishing features of US8447696 over the cited art.Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US Patent 8,447,696, based on the citations provided within the patent itself and evaluated against the independent claims (Claims 1, 18, and 19) of US8447696. The priority date for US8447696 is April 30, 2004. Any cited patent with a priority date before this is considered potential prior art under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

US8447696 Independent Claims Summary:

• Claim 1 (Method): A method where a mobile device (1) receives a request from a peripheral that the mobile device handle the data connection approval process, (2) provides an input mechanism on the mobile device for user input, and (3) determines approval based on that input.
• Claim 18 (Computer Readable Medium): A computer-readable medium storing instructions for performing the method of Claim 1.
• Claim 19 (Apparatus): A mobile device apparatus with a processing unit and instructions to (1) receive a peripheral's request for mobile device-handled approval, (2) provide a prompt for user input on the mobile device, and (3) determine approval based on that input.

Prior Art Analysis

1. US7664707B2 - System and method for handling peripheral connections to mobile devices

• Full Citation: US7664707B2, "System and method for handling peripheral connections to mobile devices," filed February 25, 2005, and issued February 16, 2010, to Research In Motion Limited.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: April 30, 2004; Publication Date: February 16, 2010.
• Brief Description: This patent is identified in US8447696 as a parent application, specifically a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/067,239, which itself claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/566,774, filed on the same date as US8447696's priority date (April 30, 2004). This means it covers substantially the same inventive subject matter and shares the same effective filing date.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): US7664707B2 is not prior art to US8447696 under 35 U.S.C. § 102 because it shares the same priority date and is part of the same patent family (a continuation application). It describes the same invention and therefore cannot anticipate itself.

2. GB2370383A - Access to personal computer using password stored in mobile phone

• Full Citation: GB2370383A, "Access to personal computer using password stored in mobile phone," published June 26, 2002, to Hewlett Packard Co.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: December 22, 2000; Publication Date: June 26, 2002.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a system where a mobile phone stores a password for accessing a personal computer. The mobile phone transmits this password to the PC to grant access. This allows the mobile phone to act as a security token for PC access.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent discloses a mobile device (phone) interacting with a peripheral (PC) for access control using a password. However, the core difference with US8447696 is that GB2370383A describes the mobile device transmitting the password to the PC, effectively acting as a credential provider. It does not teach the peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle the approval process itself by providing an input mechanism on the mobile device for user input for that connection, which is central to US8447696 claims. Therefore, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

3. US20020062385A1 - Negotiated wireless peripheral systems

• Full Citation: US20020062385A1, "Negotiated wireless peripheral systems," published May 23, 2002, to Dowling Eric Morgan.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: October 27, 2000; Publication Date: May 23, 2002.
• Brief Description: This application generally discusses negotiating communication parameters between wireless devices, including peripheral devices. It describes a host device discovering and communicating with peripheral devices, potentially involving authentication and security measures for establishing connections.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent discusses communication and authentication between host and peripheral, it does not specifically detail a scenario where a peripheral requests the host (mobile device in US8447696's context) to handle the approval process by presenting an input mechanism on the host device for user input to approve the connection, as claimed in US8447696. The focus is more on negotiation of communication parameters and general security rather than the specific user-centric, mobile device-driven approval mechanism of US8447696. Thus, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

4. US20030095521A1 - Device, system, method and computer readable medium for pairing of devices in a short distance wireless network

• Full Citation: US20030095521A1, "Device, system, method and computer readable medium for pairing of devices in a short distance wireless network," published May 22, 2003, to Amit Haller.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: November 21, 2001; Publication Date: May 22, 2003.
• Brief Description: This patent application describes methods for pairing wireless devices, particularly in a short-distance network like Bluetooth, using a security code. It focuses on facilitating the initial pairing and subsequent connection, including methods for entering authentication information.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is relevant to establishing secure connections and authentication between devices. It discusses user input for security codes during pairing. However, it doesn't explicitly describe a scenario where a peripheral initiates a request for the mobile device to take over the entire approval process (including providing the input mechanism) for an existing data connection (not just initial pairing), as claimed in US8447696. The distinguishing feature of the peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle user approval for the data connection is not clearly taught. Therefore, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

5. US20040162027A1 - Bluetooth wireless communication apparatus and method of notifying users of devices connectable to ad-hoc networks to establish effective connections based on a user's selection

• Full Citation: US20040162027A1, "Bluetooth wireless communication apparatus and method of notifying users of devices connectable to ad-hoc networks to establish effective connections based on a user's selection," published August 19, 2004, to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: February 17, 2003; Publication Date: August 19, 2004.
• Brief Description: This patent application concerns improving Bluetooth connections by notifying users of available devices and allowing them to select a device for connection. It involves a user interface for selection and connection establishment.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent addresses user interaction for establishing wireless connections (e.g., selection for connection), it does not detail the specific mechanism of a peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle the approval process using an input mechanism provided by the mobile device for user input, as claimed by US8447696. It's more about active selection of devices rather than a redirected approval workflow. Therefore, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

6. WO2000072506A1 - Method and apparatus for initializing secure communications among, and for exclusively pairing wireless devices

• Full Citation: WO2000072506A1, "Method and apparatus for initializing secure communications among, and for exclusively pairing wireless devices," published November 30, 2000, to International Business Machines Corporation.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: May 21, 1999; Publication Date: November 30, 2000.
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method for establishing secure communications and pairing between wireless devices. It focuses on exchanging encryption keys and authentication data to create a secure link. While it involves authentication for secure communication, it doesn't specifically address the delegation of the approval process itself from a peripheral to a mobile device with user input on the mobile device.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent teaches secure communication initialization and device pairing, which inherently includes some form of authentication. However, it does not explicitly disclose a peripheral making a request to the mobile device for the mobile device to take over the approval process for a data connection and provide the user input mechanism for that approval. The inventive step of US8447696 lies in this specific delegation and on-device user interaction for approval. Therefore, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

7. WO2001088677A2 - Apparatus and method for secure object access

• Full Citation: WO2001088677A2, "Apparatus and method for secure object access," published November 22, 2001, to Stefaan De Schrijver.
• Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: May 18, 2000; Publication Date: November 22, 2001.
• Brief Description: This patent generally describes a system for secure access to objects, potentially involving different devices and authentication means. The focus is broad and covers secure access in a distributed environment.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent covers secure access, but it lacks the specific elements of US8447696's claims, particularly the peripheral requesting the mobile device to handle user approval and the mobile device subsequently providing an input mechanism for that approval. Without these specific elements, it does not anticipate Claims 1, 18, or 19.

Summary of Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the analysis, while many of the cited patents address general concepts of device connection, authentication, and security, none of them directly anticipate the specific combination of features central to US8447696's independent claims. The key distinguishing elements in US8447696 are:

• The peripheral receiving a request from a peripheral that the approval process for the data connection be handled by the mobile device.
• The mobile device providing an input mechanism to the user on the mobile device for this approval.
• The mobile device determining whether to approve the data connection based on this user input.

Many references discuss security and user input for authentication (e.g., pairing codes), but they typically do not describe the dynamic delegation of the entire approval workflow from the peripheral to the mobile device, triggered by a request from the peripheral, with the mobile device then becoming responsible for presenting the input mechanism to the user for explicit approval of the data connection. Therefore, based on this review of the most relevant cited prior art, the independent claims of US8447696 appear to possess novelty over these specific references.

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 8,447,696 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the independent claims of US Patent 8,447,696 (the '696 patent) obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date: April 30, 2004).

The independent claims of the '696 patent focus on a method (Claim 1), a computer-readable medium (Claim 18), and an apparatus (Claim 19) for establishing a data connection between a mobile device and a peripheral. The core inventive concept involves the mobile device handling the approval process when requested by the peripheral, particularly when the peripheral cannot obtain user input for approval.

The key elements of independent Claim 1 are:

1. Receiving a request from the peripheral device that an approval process for the data connection be handled by the mobile device.
2. Providing through the mobile device an input mechanism to provide input for use in determining whether to approve the data connection.
3. Determining whether to approve the data connection based upon the input.

Claims 18 and 19 essentially recite the same method in the context of a computer-readable medium and an apparatus, respectively.

Combination of Prior Art References

A combination of the following prior art references, along with the common knowledge of a POSITA, would render the independent claims of US8447696 obvious:

1. GB2370383A to Hewlett Packard Co. (published June 26, 2002; priority December 22, 2000): Titled "Access to personal computer using password stored in mobile phone".
2. US20040162027A1 to [[Samsung Electronics Co.](/litigations/by-defendant/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.), Ltd.](/litigations/by-plaintiff/Samsung%20Electronics%20Co.%2C%20Ltd.) (published August 19, 2004; priority February 17, 2003): Titled "Bluetooth wireless communication apparatus and method of notifying users of devices connectable to ad-hoc networks to establish effective connections based on a user's selection".

Both references are considered prior art as their effective filing/priority dates precede the April 30, 2004 priority date of US8447696.

Obviousness Rationale

1. Disclosure of elements in the prior art:

• Mobile device, peripheral, and data connection: Both GB2370383A and US20040162027A1 disclose the interaction between a mobile device and a peripheral via a data connection. GB2370383A explicitly teaches a mobile phone (mobile device) accessing a personal computer (peripheral). US20040162027A1 describes a Bluetooth wireless communication apparatus (mobile device) connecting to other devices (peripherals) in an ad-hoc network.
• Providing through the mobile device an input mechanism for approval and determining approval based on input:
  • GB2370383A teaches "Access to personal computer using password stored in mobile phone." This implicitly or explicitly involves the mobile phone providing an input mechanism (e.g., its keypad and screen) for the user to enter or confirm a password, which is then used to determine whether to approve access (i.e., establish a data connection) to the peripheral (PC).
  • US20040162027A1 directly discloses "notifying users of devices connectable... to establish effective connections based on a user's selection." This explicitly covers providing a notification (prompt) on the mobile device and receiving "user's selection" (input) to determine whether to establish a connection. This satisfies the elements of providing an input mechanism on the mobile device and determining approval based on that input.

2. Missing Element: "receiving a request from the peripheral device that an approval process for the data connection be handled by the mobile device"

While the cited references establish that mobile devices can be involved in approving peripheral connections via user input, they may not explicitly state a scenario where the peripheral requests the mobile device to handle the approval process. However, this specific element would have been obvious to a POSITA.

3. Motivation to Combine:

A person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) in 2004 would have been aware of:

• The increasing proliferation of mobile devices and their ability to connect to various peripherals (e.g., memory cards, cameras, specialized hardware tokens, in addition to personal computers), as acknowledged in the background of US8447696.
• The critical need for security when establishing data connections between mobile devices and peripherals to prevent unauthorized data transfer or malicious code injection (as explicitly stated in the background section of US8447696).
• The varying capabilities of peripherals, specifically that many simpler peripherals (e.g., memory cards, dedicated hardware tokens) lack the user interface (display and input mechanisms like keyboards) necessary to independently prompt a user for complex authentication information, such as a password.

Given this context, a POSITA would be motivated to combine the teachings of GB2370383A and US20040162027A1 to create a robust and flexible security mechanism for peripheral connections.

• From GB2370383A, the POSITA learns that a mobile device can be used as the central point for authentication, specifically involving passwords, to gain access to a peripheral.
• From US20040162027A1, the POSITA learns that mobile devices can and should prompt users for explicit approval (user selection) when establishing connections to other devices.

When faced with a peripheral that lacks the capability to provide its own user prompt and receive input for secure authentication (a known limitation for certain peripherals), it would be an obvious design choice for a POSITA to delegate this task to the more capable mobile device. This delegation would naturally take the form of the peripheral initiating a "request" to the mobile device, asking it to handle the necessary user approval. This approach leverages the mobile device's inherent user interface capabilities (display and input mechanisms) and existing authentication mechanisms (like password entry) to maintain a consistent security policy across diverse peripheral types.

Therefore, the combination would lead a POSITA to conclude that for peripherals incapable of handling user authentication prompts directly, the peripheral should request the mobile device to handle the approval process, using the mobile device's own input mechanisms and display for user interaction. This ensures secure connections while accommodating the technical limitations of various peripherals.

Conclusion

The independent claims (1, 18, and 19) of US Patent 8,447,696 would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of GB2370383A and US20040162027A1, combined with the general knowledge regarding the need for secure connections and the varying user interface capabilities of different peripherals.