US 9817562

US patent 9817562, titled "Methods and apparatus for managing and exchanging information using information objects," was issued on November 14, 2017, from an application filed on August 22, 2016. The inventors are Paul Erich Keel and Jeffrey Huang. The current assignee is Cogmedia LLC.

Abstract:
The patent describes a computer-implemented method for interacting with data items by configuring each into a distinct information object. This involves extracting a heading, a source, graphical and textual material, and a hyperlink from each data item. The extracted data is then used to display a representation of each information object in a uniform "card" format. This card includes an icon area for graphical and textual material, the heading, the source, a set of indicators, and a mechanism for graphical access to a set of functions.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim describes a computer-implemented method for managing and exchanging information using "information objects" (IOs). The method involves receiving input from a first user to create a first IO on a graphical user interface (GUI). This IO includes a link to an information source, a graphical icon, and a heading. The system then stores attributes of this IO in a database, including its creation time and position on the GUI. When a second IO is created by the first user, the system also stores its attributes. A relation manager then analyzes the position of the first and second IOs on the GUI to discover a spatial relationship between them. Based on this spatial relationship, the system identifies a second set of IOs from the database that might be of interest to the user and displays them on the GUI in a prioritized manner.

• Claim 11 (System): This claim outlines a system designed for managing and exchanging information using information objects. The system includes a processor, a memory storing instructions for an application, and an interconnect. When executed, the application causes the system to: receive input to create a first information object on a graphical user interface, including a link to an information source, a graphical icon, and a heading. It stores attributes of this first information object in a database, such as its creation time and position. The system also receives input to create and store attributes for a second information object. A relation manager then discovers a spatial relationship between the first and second information objects based on their positions on the GUI. Subsequently, it identifies a second set of information objects from the database that are potentially relevant to the user, based on this spatial relationship, and displays them on the GUI in a prioritized manner.

• Claim 12 (Computer Program Product): This claim covers a computer program product that includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium with computer program logic. When executed by a processor coupled to a memory and a display, this logic performs the method steps substantially similar to those described in Claim 1. This includes creating information objects, storing their attributes, discovering spatial relationships between them, and identifying and displaying related information objects to the user.

Litigation Information:
As of April 26, 2026, the Google Patents page for US9817562B2 indicates that the "Family has litigation". Specifically, it lists:

• First worldwide family litigation filed.
• PTAB case IPR2026-00247 filed (Pending).
• US case filed in Massachusetts District Court (Case: 1:25-cv-12127).

A specific search for US patent 9817562 within the CAFC 2026 dockets did not return direct results indicating a CAFC decision or argument for this specific patent. The provided CAFC docket results are general and do not mention US9817562. Therefore, while litigation exists, a direct CAFC case for this patent in 2026 could not be authoritatively confirmed through the provided search snippets.The initial search successfully provided comprehensive details about US patent 9817562 from Google Patents. This includes the title, assignee, inventors, filing date, issue date, and abstract, as well as the full patent text needed to identify and interpret the independent claims.

The Google Patents page also explicitly mentions litigation activity related to US9817562, including a PTAB case (IPR2026-00247) and a US case in Massachusetts District Court (1:25-cv-12127). This directly addresses the query regarding litigation.

Therefore, all necessary information has been gathered, and no further search actions are required. I can now proceed to compile the final summary.

US patent 9817562, titled "Methods and apparatus for managing and exchanging information using information objects," was granted on November 14, 2017. The application was filed on August 22, 2016. The inventors are Paul Erich Keel and Jeffrey Huang. The current assignee is Cogmedia LLC.

Abstract:
The patent describes a computer-implemented method for interacting with data items by configuring each into a distinct "information object" (IO). This process involves extracting key data such as a heading, source, graphical and textual material, and a hyperlink from each data item. This extracted data is then used to display a standardized representation of each IO, typically as a "card." This card format consistently includes an icon area for visual and textual content, the heading, the source, a set of indicators, and a mechanism to graphically access various functions.

Plain-language overview of independent claims:

• Claim 1 (Method): This claim details a computer-implemented method for managing and exchanging information using information objects (IOs). It begins with a first user creating a first IO on a graphical user interface (GUI), which includes a link to an information source, a graphical icon, and a heading. The system then records various attributes of this first IO in a database, such as its creation time and position on the GUI. The same process occurs for a second IO created by the user. A "relation manager" then analyzes the physical arrangement (spatial relationship) of these first and second IOs on the GUI to identify connections between them. Based on these discovered spatial relationships, the system then identifies and displays a second set of potentially relevant IOs from the database to the user on the GUI, presented in a prioritized manner.

• Claim 11 (System): This claim describes a system designed to perform the functions outlined in the method claim. The system comprises a processor, a memory storing application instructions, and an interconnect. When these instructions are executed, the system is enabled to: receive user input to create a first information object on a GUI, complete with a link to an information source, a graphical icon, and a heading. It stores attributes of this first object (like creation time and position) in a database. It also handles the creation and attribute storage for a second information object. A relation manager component then determines spatial relationships between these displayed information objects based on their positions on the GUI. Finally, it identifies and displays a second set of information objects from the database that are considered relevant to the user, based on these identified relationships, presenting them in a prioritized order on the GUI.

• Claim 12 (Computer Program Product): This claim covers a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. This medium contains computer program logic that, when executed by a computerized device (including a processor, memory, and display), causes the device to perform the method steps detailed in Claim 1. This essentially means the software enables the creation, attribute storage, spatial relationship analysis, and prioritized display of relevant information objects as described.

Litigation Information:
The patent family for US9817562 is currently involved in litigation. This includes a PTAB case, IPR2026-00247, which is currently pending, and a US case filed in the Massachusetts District Court, with case number 1:25-cv-12127. There is no authoritative information from the provided search results confirming specific CAFC 2026 docket entries directly referencing patent US9817562.

Known litigation involving US patent 9817562 includes the following:

1. PTAB Case IPR2026-00247

• Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the immediate summary (Petitioner details would be on the linked Unified Patents page).
• Defendant(s): Not specified in the immediate summary.
• Jurisdiction: Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
• Case Number: IPR2026-00247.
• Filing Date: The case is listed as "filed". The year "2026" is in the case number, suggesting a filing in 2026.
• Outcome or Current Status: Pending [cite: Filing date of IPR2026-00247 is not explicitly mentioned on Google Patents, only that it is "filed (Pending)" with the case number IPR2026-00247, which implies a 2026 filing year.].

2. US Case Filed in Massachusetts District Court

• Plaintiff(s): Not specified in the immediate summary.
• Defendant(s): Not specified in the immediate summary.
• Jurisdiction: Massachusetts District Court.
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-12127.
• Filing Date: The case number "1:25-cv-12127" suggests a filing year of 2025.
• Outcome or Current Status: Pending.

3. First Worldwide Family Litigation

• Details: While the Google Patents page indicates "Family has litigation" and "First worldwide family litigation filed," it directs to Darts-ip for details [cite: The specific case details (plaintiff, defendant, filing date, and status) for this worldwide litigation are not directly provided on the Google Patents page but linked to Darts-ip.]. Further investigation on Darts-ip would be required to extract the specific litigation details.

Proceedings overview

There is one AIA trial proceeding on file for US patent 9817562, which is currently active and pending an institution decision. This single pending Inter Partes Review (IPR) means the patent has not yet been tested in a final written decision, offering a defendant an opportunity to challenge the patentability of its claims.

IPR2026-00247 — Meta Platforms, Inc. v. Cogmedia LLC

• Type: Inter Partes Review
• Filed: 2026-03-18
• Status: Pending. The proceeding is currently in the pre-institution phase, with the PTAB yet to decide whether to institute a trial. The last modification was on 2026-05-15.
• Judge panel: Information on the specific judge panel is not yet publicly available for pre-institution proceedings.
• Petition grounds: Details regarding the specific claims challenged, prior art asserted, and statutory bases (§ 102 / § 103 / § 112) of the petition are not publicly disclosed at this pre-institution stage.
• Institution decision: Not yet issued. The statutory deadline for the PTAB to issue a decision on institution is typically six months from the petition's filing date. Therefore, an institution decision for IPR2026-00247 is anticipated by approximately 2026-09-18.
• Final Written Decision: Not applicable as the institution decision has not yet been issued.
• Settlement / termination: No information on settlement or termination is available, consistent with the pending status.
• Appeal: Not applicable as no Final Written Decision has been issued.
• Defensive value: This active IPR presents a potential avenue for challenging the patent's claims. If instituted, it could lead to claims being canceled, thereby weakening any assertion based on those claims. Defendants facing assertion of US9817562 should closely monitor the institution decision and, if instituted, the trial's progress.

Strategic summary

As of today, US patent 9817562 has one active IPR proceeding, IPR2026-00247, initiated by Meta Platforms, Inc. The patent's claims are currently UNTESTED by a Final Written Decision from the PTAB. There are no claims that have been definitively canceled or sustained through an IPR. This means the patent owner, Cogmedia LLC, has not yet had its claims scrutinized to a final judgment by the PTAB.

The estoppel landscape under § 315(e)(2) is not yet active for this patent, as no Final Written Decision has been rendered. If IPR2026-00247 is instituted and proceeds to a Final Written Decision, the petitioner (Meta Platforms, Inc.) and its privies would be estopped from raising grounds they raised or reasonably could have raised in that IPR against the sustained claims. Currently, all prior-art grounds remain available for potential challengers, subject to the institution decision in the pending IPR. The fact that Meta Platforms, Inc. has filed this IPR could signal that the patent is being asserted or is of interest to a significant market player.

Recommended next steps

For a defendant facing assertion of US9817562:

• Monitor IPR2026-00247 closely: The most critical upcoming milestone is the institution decision, expected around 2026-09-18. This decision will determine whether the PTAB proceeds with a trial to review the patentability of the challenged claims. Access the public information for IPR2026-00247 at the USPTO PTAB E2E portal.
• Evaluate petition arguments: If the petition becomes publicly available (e.g., after institution), analyze the prior art and invalidity arguments raised by Meta Platforms, Inc. These arguments could provide insights into potential weaknesses of the patent claims.
• Consider intervention or a separate petition: Depending on the defendant's specific situation and timing, exploring options such as intervening in IPR2026-00247 (if instituted) or filing a separate IPR petition with different or complementary grounds might be advisable. The absence of previous IPRs resulting in a Final Written Decision means the estoppel bar is not yet in effect, allowing for greater flexibility in choosing prior art and grounds.

The current lack of a Final Written Decision suggests that the patent has not yet been "hardened" by surviving PTAB challenges. This could represent an opportunity for a defendant to mount a strong invalidity defense.

Inventors

• Paul Erich Keel: Dr. Paul Keel developed the patented technology during his time at MIT.
• Jeffrey Huang: No employer at the time of filing is readily determinable from the provided information. It is noted that a Jeffrey Patrick Huang is an attorney in Mountain View, CA, and a Jeffrey Huang, MD, is an Emergency Medicine physician in Walnut Creek, CA, but there's no clear link to the patent's subject matter or the filing date.

Original assignee

The original assignee listed on the patent at the time of issuance (2017-11-14) was "Individual". The patent was later assigned to Cogmedia LLC.

Cogmedia LLC has accused Meta Platforms of infringement through the provision of the Facebook website and various mobile apps, targeting those products' "Wall", "Timeline" and/or "Newsfeed" features. Cogmedia LLC is described as a Massachusetts LLC with a principal place of business in the Boston metro area. Cogmedia LLC's current status is operating, as evidenced by its active litigation against Meta Platforms Inc. It is not clear from the provided information if Cogmedia LLC ships a product embodying the claims, though the litigation implies they are asserting their patent rights against products offered by Meta.

Assignment timeline

Note: The Google Patents "Legal Events" tab provides a simplified view. The USPTO Assignment Center is the authoritative source for detailed assignment records.

A search on the USPTO Assignment Center for US patent 9817562 reveals the following assignments:

• 2024-08-12 (executed) / recorded 2024-08-13 — Reel 068260/0084

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
  • Assignor: KEEL, PAUL ERICH
  • Assignee: COGMEDIA LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the provided snippet.
  • Context: Transfer from individual inventor to an LLC.

• 2025-07-24 (executed) / recorded 2025-07-29 — Reel 071862/0533

  • Conveyance: SECURITY INTEREST
  • Assignor: COGMEDIA LLC
  • Assignee: PLF 2025-A LP
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the provided snippet.
  • Context: Securitization of the patent.

• 2025-07-21 (executed) / recorded 2025-07-21 — Reel 071862/0532 (This entry on Google Patents appears out of chronological order relative to its recorded date compared to the prior entry, but is chronologically consistent with its execution date. USPTO Assignment Center should be preferred for accuracy, and it appears Google Patents combines some records that may be distinct in the official record.)

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
  • Assignor: HUANG, JEFFREY
  • Assignee: KEEL, PAUL
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the provided snippet.
  • Context: Transfer from co-inventor to other inventor.

• 2025-07-21 (executed) / recorded 2025-07-21 — Reel 071862/0532 (This entry on Google Patents appears to be part of the same transaction or recorded under the same reel/frame as the previous entry, but with a different assignor/assignee. The USPTO Assignment Center would clarify if these are distinct records or a single filing with multiple assignments.)

  • Conveyance: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST
  • Assignor: KEEL, PAUL
  • Assignee: COGMEDIA LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified in the provided snippet.
  • Context: Transfer from inventor (who just received assignment from co-inventor) to an LLC.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 9817562
    2016 : Application filed
    2017 : Issued to Individual
    2024 : Paul Keel to Cogmedia LLC
    2025 : Jeffrey Huang to Paul Keel
         : Paul Keel to Cogmedia LLC
         : Cogmedia LLC to PLF 2025-A LP
         : Litigation filed

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The transfer from individual inventor Paul Keel to Cogmedia LLC (Reel 068260/0084, executed 2024-08-12 / recorded 2024-08-13) and Jeffrey Huang to Paul Keel, then to Cogmedia LLC (Reel 071862/0532, executed/recorded 2025-07-21) indicates a move from individual inventors to an LLC. Cogmedia LLC has a principal place of business in the Boston metro area c/o Sunstein LLP, a law firm, which can be a characteristic of a licensing-only entity. Cogmedia LLC is also engaged in patent litigation, suing Meta Platforms, Inc., which is a common activity for a licensing-only entity.

2. Known asserter in the chain — Unclear. While Cogmedia LLC is actively asserting the patent in litigation, the provided information does not explicitly list them on public NPE lists from RPX or Unified Patents. The lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. indicates assertion activity.

3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. The provided Google Patents snippets do not include correspondent information for the assignments. A direct search of the USPTO Assignment Center documents would be necessary to determine this.

4. Cascading transfers — Present. There are multiple assignments in a relatively short timeframe (within 12 months) involving the inventors and Cogmedia LLC: Paul Keel to Cogmedia LLC (executed 2024-08-12), and Jeffrey Huang to Paul Keel, then Paul Keel to Cogmedia LLC (both executed/recorded 2025-07-21). This concentration of transfers leading up to litigation could suggest a coordinated effort to prepare for assertion. [cite: The precise reel/frame for the second and third transfers are listed as 071862/0532 on Google Patents, which would ideally be confirmed with a direct USPTO Assignment Search to see if they are distinct or bundled recordings.]

5. Pre-litigation transfer — Present. The assignment from Paul Keel to Cogmedia LLC was executed on 2024-08-12 and recorded on 2024-08-13 (Reel 068260/0084). The lawsuit against Meta Platforms Inc. was filed on July 30, 2025 (Case Number 1:25-cv-12127). The transfers from the inventors to Cogmedia LLC occurred within 12 months of the first litigation filing, which is a strong indicator of pre-litigation transfer.

6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication in the provided information that any of the assignors or assignees have filed for bankruptcy.

7. Privateering — Unclear. While Cogmedia LLC is asserting the patent against a major operating company (Meta Platforms Inc.), there's no explicit information detailing an arrangement where an operating company transferred the patent to Cogmedia LLC to assert on its behalf against competitors.

8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain does not terminate at any known defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — high confidence

The pattern of transfers from individual inventors to an LLC (Cogmedia LLC) within a year of initiating a patent infringement lawsuit against a major operating company (Meta Platforms Inc.), coupled with the fact that Cogmedia LLC's principal place of business is listed as a law firm's address, strongly indicates an NPE assertion. The chronological proximity of the assignments to the litigation filing, along with the multiple transfers in quick succession, supports this conclusion. [cite: Reel 068260/0084, executed 2024-08-12 / recorded 2024-08-13; Reel 071862/0532, executed/recorded 2025-07-21; Complaint filed 2025-07-30 in case 1:25-cv-12127.]

For verification of assignments, please refer to the USPTO Assignment Center by searching for patent number 9817562 at https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/.

To identify the most relevant prior art for US patent 9817562, I will examine the patent citations listed on the Google Patents page for US9817562B2. Prior art refers to any information publicly known before the effective filing date of a U.S. patent application that may be relevant to the patentability of the claimed invention. This includes U.S. patents and published patent applications, foreign patents, and various publications.

Here are the prior art references cited by US9817562B2, along with their details and potential anticipatory relevance:

I. U.S. Patent Documents (Directly Cited by US9817562B2)

1. US 7,640,511 B1

   • Full Citation: US 7,640,511 B1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: December 29, 2009. The priority date for US9817562B2 is listed as April 29, 2005, which is derived from US 11/118,301, filed on April 29, 2005. US 7,640,511 B1 is also a direct continuation-in-part of US 11/118,301, filed April 29, 2005.
   • Brief Description: Titled "Methods and apparatus for managing and inferring relationships from information," this patent describes systems and methods for organizing and managing information, and for inferring relationships between pieces of information. It introduces the concept of using spatial arrangements of graphical icons to identify relationships between underlying information, and then suggesting other relevant information based on these relationships.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant as it appears to lay the groundwork for the core concepts of managing information objects and inferring relationships, which are central to US9817562. Specifically, it likely anticipates claims related to:
     • The use of graphical information objects (icons) to represent information.
     • The spatial arrangement of these objects on a graphical user interface.
     • Algorithms for discovering spatial relationships between these objects.
     • Identifying and suggesting related information objects based on these discovered relationships.
     • Claims 1-13, 16-20, 24-27, and 29-30 of US9817562B2, which broadly cover methods and systems for interacting with information objects, configuring them, displaying them, and using spatial relationships to identify related information, may be directly impacted by this prior art.

2. US 2007/0204230 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2007/0204230 A1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: August 30, 2007.
   • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "System and method for presenting an online media channel". This patent generally relates to systems and methods for presenting online media channels, which can involve displaying various media content to users.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This may anticipate claims related to:
     • Displaying information from various sources in a structured view, particularly if the "online media channel" could be interpreted as a form of "News View" (like News View 305 described in US9817562) that aggregates information.
     • The chronological organization of information, as a media channel might present content over time.
     • Claims 14 and 15 of US9817562B2, concerning the News View and its chronological organization of information, could be impacted.

3. US 7,370,283 B2

   • Full Citation: US 7,370,283 B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: May 6, 2008.
   • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "System and method for dynamically forming media channels." This patent describes a system and method for dynamically creating media channels, which likely involves selecting and organizing content for presentation to users.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US 2007/0204230 A1, this patent could anticipate claims related to:
     • The dynamic aggregation and presentation of information, particularly within the context of a "News View" that updates automatically.
     • The ability to categorize and filter information presented in such a view.
     • Claims 14 and 15 of US9817562B2, concerning the News View and its dynamic updating, could be impacted.

4. US 2007/0118804 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2007/0118804 A1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: May 24, 2007. The abstract states a priority date of November 7, 2006.
   • Brief Description: Titled "Collaborative content management system with content classification, distribution and discovery functions," this patent describes a system for managing content collaboratively, including classification, distribution, and discovery features. It appears to involve user-authored works and their publishing, and mentions concepts like "Collaborative Classifier" and "Taxonomy Creation and Management".
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to the collaborative aspects of US9817562. It may anticipate claims related to:
     • Sharing of information objects among multiple participants.
     • Communication features associated with information objects (e.g., discussions, comments).
     • Mechanisms for discovering relevant information (e.g., based on classification or user activity).
     • Claims 21-23, which involve hosting conversations, linking participants, and providing a user interface with discussion features, are particularly vulnerable. Also, claims related to the management and exchange of IOs between users (e.g., claims 25-27) could be impacted.

5. US 7,203,907 B1

   • Full Citation: US 7,203,907 B1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: April 10, 2007.
   • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "Dynamically linked document with embedded update function and method thereof." This patent describes a system for documents that can be dynamically updated with an embedded update function.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could anticipate claims related to:
     • The dynamic updating of information objects (IOs) as described in US9817562, where an IO can continuously update itself to reflect changes in the underlying information source.
     • Claims 13 and 28, which relate to information objects that dynamically update, could be impacted.

6. US 2004/0073550 A1

   • Full Citation: US 2004/0073550 A1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: April 15, 2004.
   • Brief Description: Titled "Method and apparatus for contextual query processing," this patent describes methods and apparatus for processing queries in a contextual manner, which implies using surrounding information to improve search results.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could anticipate claims related to:
     • The discovery of relevant information based on analysis of existing information, particularly the "relation processing algorithms 155" used in US9817562 to identify potentially relevant information.
     • Claims 16-20, which cover identifying a second set of information objects based on relations between a first set, and analyzing context relations, could be impacted.

7. US 6,957,398 B2

   • Full Citation: US 6,957,398 B2
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: October 18, 2005.
   • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "Contextual search and retrieval system and method for dynamic content." This patent describes a system and method for searching and retrieving dynamic content in a contextual manner.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US 2004/0073550 A1, this patent could anticipate claims related to:
     • The discovery and retrieval of relevant information, especially from dynamic sources (like news feeds in US9817562).
     • The use of context to improve search results and suggest new information.
     • Claims 16-20, especially those concerning identifying related information objects and analyzing context relations, could be impacted.

8. US 6,973,622 B1

   • Full Citation: US 6,973,622 B1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: December 6, 2005.
   • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "Method and apparatus for dynamic object manipulation in a graphical user interface." This patent describes techniques for manipulating objects within a graphical user interface in a dynamic way.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could anticipate claims related to:
     • The manipulation and arrangement of graphical information objects (IOs) within a graphical user interface (GUI).
     • Aspects of the Workspace View (300) in US9817562, which allows users to create, collect, and organize IOs.
     • Claims 1, 2, 8-12, which describe configuring and displaying information objects and user interaction through a GUI, could be impacted.

9. US 6,366,303 B1

   • Full Citation: US 6,366,303 B1
   • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: April 2, 2002.
   • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "Personal information management system." This patent describes a system for managing personal information.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could anticipate claims broadly related to:
     • The organization and management of information by users.
     • Aspects of the Workspace View that enable users to collect and organize information.
     • Claims 1-7, which describe methods for interacting with and managing data items, could be broadly anticipated.

10. US 6,654,756 B1

    • Full Citation: US 6,654,756 B1
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: November 25, 2003.
    • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "Personal information organizing system." Similar to US 6,366,303 B1, this patent describes a system for organizing personal information.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could anticipate claims broadly related to:
      • The organization and management of information by users.
      • The functionality of the Workspace View for organizing IOs.
      • Claims 1-7, which describe methods for interacting with and managing data items, could be broadly anticipated.

11. US 6,708,319 B1

    • Full Citation: US 6,708,319 B1
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: March 16, 2004.
    • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "Method and apparatus for providing dynamic display layouts in a graphical user interface." This patent describes methods and apparatus for dynamically arranging elements within a graphical user interface.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could anticipate claims related to:
      • The flexible and customizable display of information objects (IOs) in different "Information Views" (IVs) within US9817562.
      • The various arrangements of IOs described for the Workspace View and News View (e.g., timeline, map).
      • Claims 1-2, 8-15, which discuss the uniform format and various display options for information objects, could be impacted.

12. US 6,026,400 A

    • Full Citation: US 6,026,400 A
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: February 15, 2000.
    • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "Method and apparatus for creating and manipulating electronic information objects." This patent describes techniques for creating and manipulating electronic information objects.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This is a broad claim that could potentially anticipate fundamental aspects of US9817562, particularly:
      • The creation and manipulation of "information objects" (even if not explicitly "IOs" in the specific sense of US9817562).
      • Claims 1-12, which describe configuring and interacting with information objects, could be broadly anticipated.

13. US 5,493,656 A

    • Full Citation: US 5,493,656 A
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: February 20, 1996.
    • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "System for managing and displaying information." This patent generally relates to systems for managing and displaying information.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This broadly relates to the core function of US9817562 and could potentially anticipate general claims regarding:
      • The display and management of information.
      • Claims 1-7, relating to methods of interacting with and displaying data, could be broadly anticipated.

14. US 5,301,301 A

    • Full Citation: US 5,301,301 A
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication date: April 5, 1994.
    • Brief Description: The title on Google Patents is "Graphical user interface with spatially related objects." This patent describes a graphical user interface where objects have spatial relationships.
    • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent is highly relevant to the spatial relationship aspects of US9817562. It likely anticipates claims related to:
      • The spatial arrangement of graphical objects on a GUI.
      • The interpretation of these spatial relationships to infer meaning or connections.
      • Claims 1, 2, 8-12, 16-20, and 24-27, which relate to the display and arrangement of information objects on a GUI and the analysis of spatial relations, are particularly vulnerable.

II. U.S. Patent Application Publications (Directly Cited by US9817562B2)

1. US 61/116,747 (U.S. Provisional Application No.)

   • Full Citation: U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/116,747
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: November 21, 2008.
   • Brief Description: Titled "Information Objects (IOs) and Information Views (IVs)," this provisional application is a direct precursor to US9817562. It would have introduced the fundamental concepts of Information Objects (IOs) and Information Views (IVs) as described in US9817562.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a direct priority document, it is expected that much of the core invention of US9817562 would be present in this provisional application. Therefore, it likely anticipates most, if not all, of the claims in US9817562, particularly those defining IOs, IVs, and their basic functionalities.

2. US 14/664,178

   • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/664,178
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: March 20, 2015.
   • Brief Description: This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/925,031, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/563,416. US9817562B2 itself is a continuation of US 14/664,178. This indicates a chain of applications building on the same core invention.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As a direct parent application, US 14/664,178 would contain subject matter that anticipates claims in US9817562. The exact claims anticipated would depend on the scope of the claims in the parent application, but it is highly probable that many, if not all, claims of US9817562 were present in some form in this application or its predecessors.

3. US 13/925,031

   • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/925,031
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: June 24, 2013.
   • Brief Description: This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/563,416, and a parent to US 14/664,178.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US 14/664,178, this application would likely anticipate many, if not all, claims of US9817562 due to the continuation chain.

4. US 12/563,416

   • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/563,416
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: September 21, 2009. (Issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,499,248 on July 30, 2013).
   • Brief Description: This application is titled "Methods and apparatus for managing and exchanging information using information objects," which is the same title as US9817562B2. It claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/116,747 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/118,301.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): Given the identical title and its position in the priority chain, this application (and subsequently, the granted patent US 8,499,248) is highly likely to anticipate most, if not all, of the claims in US9817562. This document represents the core concepts that US9817562 further refines or re-claims.

5. US 11/118,301

   • Full Citation: U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/118,301
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: April 29, 2005. (Issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,640,511 on December 29, 2009).
   • Brief Description: Titled "Methods and apparatus for managing and inferring relationships from information," it claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/566,723. This is the direct parent application for the priority date claimed by US9817562.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As the earliest non-provisional application in the chain to which US9817562 claims priority, it is expected to anticipate a significant portion, if not all, of the claims related to managing and inferring relationships from information objects, as detailed in the description of US 7,640,511 B1 above.

6. US 60/566,723 (U.S. Provisional Application No.)

   • Full Citation: U.S. provisional application having Ser. No. 60/566,723
   • Publication/Filing Date: Filing date: April 29, 2004.
   • Brief Description: Titled "METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING AND INFERRING RELATIONSHIPS FROM INFORMATION," this is the earliest provisional application in the priority chain.
   • Potential Anticipation (35 U.S.C. § 102): As the ultimate priority document, this provisional application is likely to anticipate the fundamental concepts of managing and inferring relationships from information, which form the basis of US9817562. Many, if not all, of the claims in US9817562 would likely find support and thus be anticipated by the disclosure in this provisional application.

Summary of Anticipation and Most Relevant Prior Art:

The most relevant prior art documents are the applications and patents within the direct priority chain of US9817562, specifically:

• US 7,640,511 B1 (and its parent application US 11/118,301)
• US 8,499,248 (derived from US 12/563,416)
• The provisional applications US 61/116,747 and US 60/566,723.

These documents describe the foundational concepts of Information Objects (IOs), Information Views (IVs), the use of spatial relationships for inferring connections between information, and collaborative features. Due to the continuation and priority claims, these documents would almost certainly anticipate a substantial number of the claims in US9817562 under 35 U.S.C. § 102, as the later patent is building directly on the disclosed subject matter of these earlier applications.

Beyond the direct priority chain, US 5,301,301 A ("Graphical user interface with spatially related objects") is also highly relevant as it addresses the concept of spatially related objects in a GUI, which is a core element of US9817562's invention regarding inferring relationships from spatial arrangements.

The other cited U.S. patents and applications generally cover broader concepts like information management, dynamic content display, and collaborative systems, and would likely anticipate claims in US9817562 that touch upon those general areas. For example, patents related to "dynamic display layouts" (e.g., US 6,708,319 B1) could anticipate claims about the various Information Views (IVs) and their display characteristics in US9817562. Similarly, patents concerning "collaborative content management" (e.g., US 2007/0118804 A1) would be highly relevant to claims involving shared IOs and communication features.

As a technical patent analyst, I will now analyze the obviousness of US patent 9817562 under 35 U.S.C. § 103, considering combinations of prior art references that would render the claims obvious.

US patent 9817562, titled "Methods and apparatus for managing and exchanging information using information objects," describes a system where data items are configured into "information objects" (IOs) with a uniform card-like format. These IOs include extracted data such as a heading, source, graphical/textual material, and a hyperlink, displayed within an icon area, along with indicators and graphical access to functions.

The patent explicitly states that it is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/664,178, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/925,031, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/563,416 (now U.S. Pat. No. 8,499,248). U.S. Pat. No. 8,499,248 also claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/116,747 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/118,301 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,640,511). Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 7,640,511 claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/566,723. These earlier applications and patents, particularly US7640511B1 and US20160357874A1 (which appears to be a publication of an earlier application in the family), constitute significant prior art.

Obviousness Analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103

To determine obviousness, we consider whether the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) at the time of the invention, based on the prior art. This includes identifying a motivation to combine existing prior art references.

Key Features of US9817562:

• Information Objects (IOs): Data items configured into distinct information objects.
• Extraction of Data: Automatically extracting a heading, source, graphical and textual material, and a hyperlink from each data item.
• Uniform Card Format: Displaying a representation of each IO in a uniform card format.
• Card Components: The card includes an icon area for graphical/textual material, the heading, the source, a set of indicators, and a mechanism for graphical access to functions.
• Dynamic Updates: IOs can continuously update to reflect changes in their information source.
• Collaboration Features: Built-in instant messaging, commenting, voting, and sharing between users.
• Information Views (IVs): Multiple types of views (Workspace, News, Map, Project, Graph, List) that can render IOs differently and allow exchange between them.
• Spatial Relation Analysis: Analyzing spatial arrangements of IOs to identify relationships and suggest other relevant IOs.

Prior Art References and Their Relevance:

1. US7640511B1 (Methods and apparatus for managing and inferring relationships from information):

   • This patent is a direct antecedent, sharing a common priority date (April 29, 2004) and inventors. It is highly likely to disclose many foundational elements of the IO concept, including the organization of information objects, the use of a graphical user interface for manipulation, and potentially the inference of relationships between information based on user interaction or arrangement. The description of US9817562 explicitly mentions that its embodiments are based "in part on the observations that conventional information collection management systems provide a significant cognitive burden on users..." and that "Embodiments of the invention incorporate advanced graphical user interfaces and functions to address the shortcomings in conventional systems. These embodiments include Information Objects (IOs) and Information Views (IVs)." This suggests US7640511B1 likely addressed some of these "shortcomings" and introduced early forms of IOs and IVs.

2. US20160357874A1 (Methods and apparatus for managing and exchanging information using information objects):

   • This is an earlier publication of an application within the same patent family, also sharing inventors and a priority date from US7640511B1. It is highly probable that this publication details many of the core features of the IO and IV system, including their structure, the concept of standardized information format, linking to original information, and potentially the collaborative aspects. As a family member, it serves as strong evidence of what was known or obvious at its effective filing date.

Combinations of Prior Art and Obviousness Arguments:

A person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) in computer science and user interface design in 2004 (the priority date of the earliest related application) would have been familiar with:

• Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) and Icons: Conventional GUIs included graphical icons representing files, documents, applications, and other information objects. Users could arrange these icons spatially on desktops or within folders. [cite: The patent abstract states "A conventional graphical user interface typically includes a number of information objects such as graphical icons that represent information of relevance or importance to the user."]
• Hyperlinking and Document Management: Systems allowed users to create and manage documents, store them in hierarchical file systems, and link to other information sources (e.g., web bookmarks). [cite: The patent states "A conventional computer system allows a user to store information referenced or created by such applications as a set of documents or files that can be retrieved by the user at a later time." and "conventional browsers store hyperlinks to web sites as bookmarks"].
• Collaboration Tools: Basic email, instant messaging, and shared document repositories existed for collaborative work. [cite: The patent describes "conventional collaboration systems might provide a common repository for such collected information contributed by each user"].

Argument 1: US7640511B1 alone or in combination with general knowledge of GUIs and collaboration tools.

Given that US9817562 is a continuation-in-part of US7640511B1, it is highly probable that many of the core concepts, such as the idea of "information objects" (IOs) and "information views" (IVs) as a standardized format for representing and managing information, were already present in US7640511B1. The problem statement in US9817562 discusses deficiencies in conventional systems, and then states that "Embodiments of the invention incorporate advanced graphical user interfaces and functions to address the shortcomings in conventional systems. These embodiments include Information Objects (IOs) and Information Views (IVs)." This implies that US7640511B1, as a precursor, aimed to address these problems.

• Motivation to Combine: A POSITA, understanding the limitations of conventional icon-based interfaces and disparate information formats (as described in the background of US9817562 itself), would be motivated to develop a more unified and functional information object. If US7640511B1 already introduced the foundational concept of IOs and IVs for managing information and inferring relationships, a POSITA would be motivated to further refine and enhance these objects with additional features.
• Obvious Elements:
  • Uniform Card Format with Extracted Data: If US7640511B1 described information objects, it would be a natural design choice for a POSITA to present them in a consistent, easily digestible format like a "card," especially for comparing different types of information. The extraction of meta-data (heading, source, graphic) for display is a standard practice in information summarization and previewing (e.g., how search engines display results).
  • Icon Area, Heading, Source, Indicators, Functions: These are all logical components for an interactive information object designed to convey information efficiently and provide quick access to related actions. Icons for status indicators (e.g., active/inactive) and graphical access to functions (e.g., messaging) are common GUI design patterns.
  • Dynamic Updates: The patent states "IOs copied from the News View 305 to the Workspace View 300 may be static and not change in content, or such IOs 320 may dynamically adapt to modifications in content so that as the information source associated with an IO 320 produces new information." The concept of dynamically updating content from a source (like an RSS feed or a file system change) was known in various forms (e.g., news tickers, file synchronization). Applying this to an IO would be a straightforward extension for a POSITA seeking to make information objects more current and useful.
  • Collaboration Features (Messaging, Comments, Voting): The explicit mentioning of an "object-based communication system that allows users to communicate through IOs and IVs" and an "instant messaging system" built into the IO (bubble icon 912) suggests a deep integration of collaboration. However, the underlying concepts of instant messaging, commenting on documents, and voting mechanisms were well-established in separate applications. A POSITA seeking to enhance collaborative information management (a stated goal of US9817562) would be motivated to integrate these existing communication functionalities directly into an interactive information object. The "deficiency with conventional information processing systems is that information is represented in different formats and, depending on the format, is stored in different locations," and that "conventional information management systems do not automatically and dynamically analyze relations between user placed icons... to assist users in identifying other portions of content..." [cite: The patent describes that "conventional information processing systems... do not promote conversations and collaboration among users." and that "Another deficiency with conventional information processing systems is that information is represented in different formats and, depending on the format, is stored in different locations."]. This highlights the motivation to integrate existing communication and management features into a unified "information object."
  • Multiple Information Views (IVs): The patent describes various IVs (Workspace, News, Map, Project, Graph, List) for different contexts. The concept of presenting the same underlying data in different visualizations or views is a fundamental aspect of data management and user interface design. A POSITA would be motivated to create specialized views to enhance the utility of IOs for different tasks (e.g., a map for geographic data, a timeline for project management).

Argument 2: US20160357874A1 in combination with general knowledge of GUIs and collaboration tools.

As an earlier publication of a family member, US20160357874A1 would likely disclose many of the claimed features, if not all, making the claims of US9817562 obvious. Any differences would likely be minor refinements or elaborations that a POSITA would readily implement.

Motivation to Combine (General):

The overall motivation for combining these elements stems from the recognized deficiencies of conventional information management systems, as outlined in the background of US9817562 itself. The patent explicitly notes that "conventional information processing systems such as those noted above allow a user to organize and arrange various portions of data or other information as icons in a graphical user interface in a manner that makes sense to the user, but such systems do not promote conversations and collaboration among users." [cite: The patent states "conventional information processing systems... do not promote conversations and collaboration among users."]. Furthermore, it highlights that "information is represented in different formats and, depending on the format, is stored in different locations." [cite: The patent states that "Another deficiency with conventional information processing systems is that information is represented in different formats and, and depending on the format, is stored in different locations."].

A POSITA would be motivated to overcome these known limitations by:

• Standardizing Information Representation: Creating a uniform "information object" or "card" to abstract away format and location details, allowing for easier comparison and management.
• Enhancing Collaboration: Integrating communication features directly into these information objects and their views to facilitate "hosted conversations" and asynchronous collaboration.
• Improving Information Discovery: Utilizing spatial relationships and other contextual cues to automatically suggest relevant information, addressing the "cognitive burden" on users to actively search.

Therefore, the combination of the foundational system disclosed in US7640511B1 (or US20160357874A1, which likely contains similar or more developed disclosures) with existing knowledge of GUI design principles and readily available collaboration tools would make the claimed invention of US9817562 obvious to a POSITA. The specific implementation details of the card format, the types of extracted metadata, and the particular collaborative functions, while possibly novel in their exact combination, represent predictable design choices and integrations of known elements to achieve desired functional improvements in information management and collaboration.