US 9462440

Here is a concise summary of US Patent 9462440:

Title: Community interaction using mobile communication devices

Assignee: WECHAT INTERNATIONAL Pte Ltd

Inventors: Kumar K. Vishwanathan, Prakash R. Iyer, Rangamani Sundar, Kumar Raman, Girish Hariharasubramani

Filing Date: May 11, 2015 (for application number US14/709,473, a continuation of prior applications)

Issue Date: October 4, 2016

Abstract: The patent describes techniques for delivering content to mobile communication devices, focusing on interactions within a user community. It outlines a method where a central computing entity detects a mobile communication session, determines associated context parameters, and then delivers relevant content. This entity also stores data about user community memberships, detects actions taken by a community member related to the community, and sends notifications to other members based on these actions. The goal is to facilitate continuous interaction with user communities via mobile devices.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

Independent Claim 1:
This claim describes a method for sending content to mobile communication devices, particularly in the context of social communities. The method involves:

1. Detecting a Communication Session: Identifying when a mobile device user is engaged in a communication, specifically when this session is with a social community website.
2. Determining Context Parameters: Figuring out the details of this communication session. This includes detecting when the mobile device user has added or edited content on the social community website.
3. Retrieving Content: Based on these determined context parameters, the social community website automatically creates a "content trigger." This trigger is set to activate specific applications (called "concurrent applications") on mobile devices belonging to other members of the same social community. These activated applications then retrieve information related to the content that the initial user added or edited.
4. Delivering Content: The retrieved content, which is relevant to the context parameters (e.g., the newly added or edited community content), is then sent to one or more of these mobile communication devices.

Legal Status and CAFC Docket Search:
As of April 26, 2026, US Patent 9462440 is active, with an anticipated expiration date of January 8, 2028. My search of the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return any specific cases or mentions directly referencing patent number 9462440. Therefore, I do not have authoritative information regarding any ongoing litigation for this specific patent in the CAFC for 2026.

As of April 26, 2026, a search for known litigation involving US patent 9462440 has not yielded any specific cases.

While platforms like Unified Patents and PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) are primary sources for identifying patent litigation, direct searching for specific case details related to US patent 9462440 within these systems was not feasible through the available search interfaces. Unified Patents offers a "Litigation Case List" where one can search for patents involved in cases, and PACER serves as a national index for federal court cases across district, bankruptcy, and appellate courts. However, without direct interactive access to these databases, specific litigation records for this patent number could not be retrieved.

Proceedings overview

There are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US patent 9462440.

Strategic summary

As there are no AIA trial proceedings on file, all claims of US9462440 remain untested in the PTAB. This means there is no estoppel landscape established by previous PTAB decisions, and a defendant facing assertion of this patent would have the full range of prior-art grounds available for an IPR petition. The absence of PTAB activity could suggest several things: the patent has not yet been asserted widely enough to attract IPRs, the asserted claims are perceived as strong, or potential petitioners have not yet identified compelling prior art.

Recommended next steps

As there is no PTAB activity on file for US9462440, a defendant should consider a thorough prior art search to evaluate the patentability of the asserted claims. If strong prior art is found, filing an Inter Partes Review petition could be a viable defense strategy.

Inventors

• Kumar K. Vishwanathan: Employer at the time of filing not determinable from the patent document.
• Prakash R. Iyer: Employer at the time of filing not determinable from the patent document.
• Rangamani Sundar: Employer at the time of filing not determinable from the patent document.
• Kumar Raman: Employer at the time of filing not determinable from the patent document.
• Girish Hariharasubramani: Employer at the time of filing not determinable from the patent document.

Original assignee

The original assignee named on the issued patent US9462440 is WECHAT INTERNATIONAL Pte Ltd. WeChat is a widely used multi-purpose messaging, social media, and mobile payment application developed by Tencent in China. Therefore, it is highly probable that WECHAT INTERNATIONAL Pte Ltd shipped a product embodying the claims, specifically the WeChat application itself, which facilitates community interaction using mobile communication devices. Their primary line of business is telecommunications, social networking, and mobile services. Based on publicly available information, WeChat International Pte Ltd is an operating subsidiary of Tencent and is currently operating.

Assignment timeline

No assignment records were found for US Patent 9462440 on the USPTO Patent Assignment Search database. This indicates that the patent likely remains assigned to the original assignee, WECHAT INTERNATIONAL Pte Ltd.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9462440
    2015 : Filed by WECHAT INTERNATIONAL Pte Ltd
    2016 : Issued to WECHAT INTERNATIONAL Pte Ltd

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — not present. The patent remains with the original operating company, WeChat International Pte Ltd.
2. Known asserter in the chain — not present. The current assignee, WeChat International Pte Ltd, is not identified as a known NPE.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — not present. No assignment chain exists to observe repeat correspondents.
4. Cascading transfers — not present. No assignments are recorded.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — not present. No assignments are recorded.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — not present. There is no indication of the original assignee undergoing bankruptcy proceedings related to this patent.
7. Privateering — not present. No evidence of privateering has been found.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — not present. The patent is not currently assigned to a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

Insufficient data (no records, or only the original assignment). The USPTO assignment records for US9462440 indicate no transfers beyond the original assignment to WECHAT INTERNATIONAL Pte Ltd. Therefore, there is no evidence to suggest NPE activity.

USPTO Assignment Center Search for US9462440

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art for US patent 9462440, based on the citations listed within the patent document itself. I will provide a description of each cited patent and assess its potential to anticipate claims under 35 U.S.C. § 102, with a particular focus on Independent Claim 1 of US9462440.

Cited Prior Art for US9462440:

1. US6052122A

• Full Citation: US6052122A, Tele-Publishing, Inc.
• Publication Date: April 18, 2000
• Brief Description: This patent describes a method and apparatus for matching registered profiles. It focuses on collecting and comparing user profiles, including interests and preferences, to identify matches for various purposes, such as dating, employment, or purchasing. While it involves user data and matching, it is generally related to profile matching and doesn't explicitly detail the context-driven content delivery to mobile devices within a social community as described in US9462440.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Less likely to directly anticipate Independent Claim 1 of US9462440. Independent Claim 1 of US9462440 specifically concerns detecting a communication session with a social community web site, determining context parameters (like adding/editing content on the site), and then automatically generating content triggers to deliver related information to other community members' mobile devices. US6052122A's focus on general profile matching, while relevant to identifying common interests, does not appear to encompass the specific interactive social community features and context-driven triggers for mobile content delivery outlined in claim 1.

2. US20010041561A1

• Full Citation: US20010041561A1, Thomas Ventulett
• Publication Date: November 15, 2001
• Brief Description: This application describes a system and method for location-based stimuli motivated information delivery. It involves delivering information to users based on their physical location and other contextual stimuli. This concept of context-based delivery is relevant to US9462440, which also discusses location as a context parameter.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference could potentially anticipate parts of Independent Claim 1 that relate to "determining one or more context parameters associated with the communication session" and "delivering content related to the context parameters to one or more mobile communication devices." Specifically, if "location" is considered a context parameter that influences content delivery, then US20010041561A1 might overlap with this aspect. However, Independent Claim 1 of US9462440 is more specific, requiring the communication session to be with a social community web site and the determination of context to involve detecting that the mobile communication device user added or edited content on the social community web site, which then triggers concurrent applications. US20010041561A1 does not appear to explicitly teach this specific social community interaction and concurrent application triggering for content added/edited by a user on a social community site.

3. US6807529B2

• Full Citation: US6807529B2, Motorola, Inc.
• Publication Date: October 19, 2004
• Brief Description: This patent details a system and method for concurrent multimodal communication. It allows for multiple communication modes (e.g., voice, data) to occur simultaneously or concurrently on a single device, or for a user to switch between modes. This is relevant to US9462440's concept of "concurrent applications."
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent may anticipate the general concept of "concurrent applications" mentioned in US9462440's description and some of the broader aspects of allowing multiple communication activities. However, Independent Claim 1 of US9462440 focuses on social community interactions where a user adds or edits content on a social community web site, leading to a content trigger that starts concurrent applications to retrieve and deliver information to other members of the same community. US6807529B2 does not appear to teach this specific social community-driven, content-editing-triggered, and community-wide notification aspect via concurrent applications.

4. US6912581B2

• Full Citation: US6912581B2, Motorola, Inc.
• Publication Date: June 28, 2005
• Brief Description: This patent, also by Motorola, describes a system and method for concurrent multimodal communication session persistence. It builds upon the idea of concurrent multimodal communication by ensuring the persistence of these sessions, even if a user switches devices or communication modes.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6807529B2, this patent might anticipate the general concept of concurrent communication and its persistence. However, like its predecessor, it does not explicitly address the specific elements of Independent Claim 1 of US9462440, such as the social community context, the act of a user adding/editing content on a social community website as a trigger, and the subsequent delivery of related content to other community members' mobile devices via concurrent applications.

5. US6996394B2

• Full Citation: US6996394B2, Qualcomm Incorporated
• Publication Date: February 7, 2006
• Brief Description: This patent describes server processing in providing messages for a wireless device connecting to a server. It involves a server managing and delivering messages to wireless devices, potentially based on certain conditions or events.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent broadly covers message delivery from a server to wireless devices. While this is a foundational element, Independent Claim 1 of US9462440 is much more specific. It requires the communication session to be with a social community web site, the detection of a user adding/editing content on that site, the automatic generation of a content trigger for concurrent applications, and the retrieval and delivery of information related to the edited content to other members of the same community. US6996394B2 does not appear to disclose these specific contextual triggers, social community interactions, or the use of concurrent applications in this manner.

6. US20060190616A1

• Full Citation: US20060190616A1, John Mayerhofer
• Publication Date: August 24, 2006
• Brief Description: This application describes a system and method for aggregating, delivering, and sharing audio content. It focuses on managing and distributing audio content, likely within a network, potentially allowing users to share such content.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This prior art deals with sharing content, specifically audio content. If the "content" in US9462440's claim 1 refers to audio content and the "social community web site" is a platform for sharing such content, there might be some overlap in the broad concept of content sharing. However, Independent Claim 1 specifically outlines detecting a communication session with a social community web site, determining that a user added or edited content on that site, and then generating a content trigger to start concurrent applications to retrieve information corresponding to the content added or edited and deliver it to other community members. US20060190616A1 does not explicitly teach this precise sequence of events involving a social community website, user-initiated content editing as a trigger, and community-wide notification via concurrent applications for that specific edited content.

7. US20060218234A1

• Full Citation: US20060218234A1, Li Deng
• Publication Date: September 28, 2006
• Brief Description: This application describes a scheme for sending email to mobile devices. It focuses on the technical aspects of delivering email messages to mobile communication devices.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent application focuses specifically on email delivery to mobile devices. While notifications in US9462440 could potentially be delivered via email, Independent Claim 1 is broader and more specific regarding the triggering mechanism (user adding/editing content on a social community website) and the delivery mechanism (concurrent applications for information corresponding to the edited content) to other members of the community. US20060218234A1 does not appear to teach these specific social networking aspects of US9462440.

8. US20060242291A1

• Full Citation: US20060242291A1, Mikko Nevalainen
• Publication Date: October 26, 2006
• Brief Description: This application describes a method and device for determining and notifying users having matching preference profiles. Similar to US6052122A, it deals with matching user interests and preferences to provide notifications.
• Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is similar to US6052122A in its focus on profile matching and notifications based on matching interests. While US9462440 also deals with user communities and shared interests, Independent Claim 1's novelty lies in the specific interaction with a social community web site, the act of a user adding or editing content on that site as the trigger, and the subsequent use of concurrent applications to retrieve and deliver information about that specific added/edited content to other community members. This precise combination of elements in Independent Claim 1 does not appear to be fully disclosed in US20060242291A1.

Summary of Anticipation for Independent Claim 1:

None of the identified prior art references appear to explicitly anticipate all the elements of Independent Claim 1 of US9462440. While some references address aspects like context-based content delivery (US20010041561A1), concurrent applications (US6807529B2, US6912581B2), or user profile matching/sharing (US6052122A, US20060190616A1, US20060242291A1), none fully combine the specific requirement of:

• a communication session between the mobile communication device user and a social community web site;
• determining context by detecting that the mobile communication device user added or edited content on the social community web site;
• the social community web site automatically generating a content trigger configured to start one or more concurrent applications associated with a same community; and
• retrieving information corresponding to the content added or edited by the mobile communication device user using said concurrent applications, for subsequent delivery to one or more mobile communication devices.

The combination of the social community context, the user-initiated content editing as a specific trigger, and the subsequent community-wide notification via concurrent applications of that specific edited content seems to be a distinguishing feature of Independent Claim 1.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103 for US Patent 9462440

This analysis considers US Patent 9462440 (hereinafter "the '440 patent") under 35 U.S.C. § 103, which concerns whether the claimed invention would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) at the time of the invention (priority date January 8, 2007). The analysis identifies combinations of prior art references that would render the claims obvious and explains the motivation for a POSITA to combine them.

The independent claim 1 of the '440 patent describes a method for delivering content to a mobile communication device. Key elements include:

• Detecting a communication session involving a mobile communication device user with a social community web site.
• Determining context parameters by detecting that the user added or edited content on the social community web site.
• The social community web site automatically generating a content trigger to start concurrent applications on mobile devices of other community members.
• Retrieving information corresponding to the added/edited content using these concurrent applications.
• Delivering this content to one or more mobile communication devices.

Identified Prior Art References (published before January 8, 2007):

The following prior art references, cited in the '440 patent, are relevant for this analysis:

1. US20060190616A1 to Mayerhofer ("Mayerhofer"): "System and method for aggregating, delivering and sharing audio content."
2. US6807529B2 to Motorola, Inc. ("Motorola '529"): "System and method for concurrent multimodal communication."
3. US6912581B2 to Motorola, Inc. ("Motorola '581"): "System and method for concurrent multimodal communication session persistence."
4. US6996394B2 to Qualcomm Incorporated ("Qualcomm"): "Server processing in providing messages for a wireless device connecting to a server."
5. US6052122A to Tele-Publishing, Inc. ("Tele-Publishing"): "Method and apparatus for matching registered profiles."
6. US20060242291A1 to Nevalainen ("Nevalainen"): "Method and device for determining and notifying users having matching preference profiles."

Obviousness Combination: Mayerhofer + Motorola ('529 / '581) + Qualcomm

A combination of Mayerhofer, Motorola ('529 / '581), and Qualcomm would render Claim 1 of US9462440 obvious.

Teachings of the References:

• Mayerhofer (US20060190616A1): This reference describes a system for users to capture and share media content with other users, specifically through a "community website for sharing it with other users". It details "community media playlist sharing system, where system users upload media playlists in real-time, which are automatically converted to a standardized format and shared with other users of the community". This directly teaches:

  • Delivering content to mobile communication devices.
  • Detecting user interaction with a community website (e.g., uploading content).
  • Retrieving content from web sites (community website).
  • Delivering content related to shared interests to other community members.
  • The core concept of a communication session between a mobile user and a social community web site, and detecting when a user "added or edited a content" (by capturing and transmitting media clips or uploading playlists).

• Motorola '529 (US6807529B2) and Motorola '581 (US6912581B2): These patents collectively teach systems and methods for "concurrent multimodal communication" and "session persistence" on mobile devices. They describe universal coordinated multi-modal conversational user interfaces (CUIs) that operate across various applications. This directly teaches the concept of "concurrent applications" that can be active and manage different communication modalities on a mobile device.

• Qualcomm (US6996394B2): This patent focuses on server processing for providing messages to wireless devices. It covers server-based communication and notification mechanisms, including systems for "exchanging GPS or other position data between wireless devices for purposes of group activities" using a "Buddy Watch application". It also discusses sending "commercial messages" or "dynamic display advertising" to users based on identification and demographic information. This provides the server-side infrastructure for detecting actions and delivering notifications to mobile devices.

Motivation to Combine:

A POSITA in 2007, observing the increasing popularity of both social networking and advanced mobile device capabilities, would have been motivated to combine the teachings of these references to enhance real-time interaction within mobile social communities. The problem to be solved would be how to make content sharing within a social community more immediate and engaging for mobile device users.

1. Mayerhofer + Motorola: Mayerhofer teaches sharing user-generated content (e.g., media clips, playlists) via a community website. However, it does not explicitly detail how this shared content would automatically trigger interactive applications on other members' mobile devices. Motorola, on the other hand, provides the technical solution for managing and initiating "concurrent applications" on mobile devices for multimodal communication. It would be an obvious design choice for a POSITA to integrate Motorola's concurrent application technology into Mayerhofer's social sharing system. This would allow new content uploaded to a community site (Mayerhofer) to automatically activate relevant concurrent applications (Motorola) on other community members' mobile devices, enabling immediate viewing or interaction with the shared content, thus improving user engagement and immediacy. For example, if a user uploads a new song (Mayerhofer), a concurrent music player application could be automatically started on other users' phones to offer a listen.
2. Adding Qualcomm: Qualcomm provides the robust server processing and messaging infrastructure necessary to mediate between the social community website and the individual mobile devices. The server described by Qualcomm can detect events (such as user activity in "group activities") and deliver messages to wireless devices. A POSITA would find it obvious to use such a server-based system (Qualcomm) as the central computing entity of the '440 patent to:
   • Detect the "added or edited content" action by a user on the social community website (Mayerhofer).
   • Automatically generate a "content trigger" from the social community web site (facilitated by Qualcomm's messaging capabilities).
   • Transmit this trigger to relevant community members' mobile devices to start the "concurrent applications" (Motorola) for retrieving and presenting the newly shared content.

This combination addresses all elements of Claim 1, including the specific constraints. The motivation stems from the desire to create a more dynamic and interactive mobile social experience by seamlessly integrating content sharing, sophisticated mobile application management, and efficient notification delivery.