The litigation campaign of JSDQ Mesh Technologies LLC, begun in July 2012, continues in 2017 with new cases targeting the mesh networking products and systems offered by Eaton (Cooper Bussmann, Cooper Power Systems) (1:17-cv-00924) and Ultra Electronics Holdings (3e Technologies, Ultra Electronics Defense) (1:17-cv-00505). Four patents (7,916,648; 7,286,828; RE43,675; RE44,607) are asserted in these latest complaints. The patents generally concern mesh wireless networking over wireless links; for example, the ‘675 patent generally relates to interconnecting wireless nodes and using signal strength measurements of the wireless links between the nodes for route selection.

During March 2017, RPX completed 14 deals on behalf of its patent risk management network, obtaining rights to the patents involved either to end litigation against its members or to prevent it in the first place. March acquisitions occurred within the following market sectors: Automotive, Consumer Electronics and PCs, Media Content and Distribution, Mobile Communications and Devices, Networking, and Semiconductors.

In the wake of a late-February district court order construing language from the patents-in-suit, the case between plaintiff JSDQ Mesh Technologies LLC and defendant Lazy Days’ R.V. Center (1:14-cv-01405) has been dismissed with prejudice. That order construed 12 terms, holding that half of them should be given their plain and ordinary meaning, from the four patents at issue (7,916,648; 7,286,828; RE43,675; RE44,607), which generally relate to mesh wireless networking. JSDQ also promptly filed a new case against FluidMesh Networks (1:16-cv-00212), accusing of infringement the company’s wireless mesh networking products, marketed in a variety of areas.

JSDQ Mesh Technologies LLC continued its sole litigation campaign into a fifth year, adding a Florida case against TECO Energy and Tampa Electric (8:16-cv-00261). The complaint asserts four patents (7,916,648; 7,286,828; RE43,675; RE44,607) generally related to mesh wireless networking. The NPE accuses the energy companies of infringement through the use of a broadband mesh networking system provided by smart-grid supplier Trilliant.

JSDQ Mesh Technologies LLC’s recent filings against Internet service providers (ISPs) AT&T (Wayport) (1:14-cv-00408), Bright House Networks (1:14-cv-00409), Cablevision (1:14-cv-00410), Comcast (1:14-cv-00411), and Time Warner Cable (1:14-cv-00412), appear to be related to the one prior JSDQ Mesh case, filed in July 2012 against Ericsson, which is currently still active. In the five new cases, JSDQ accuses wireless networking products supplied by Ericsson subsidiary BelAir Networks of infringement. The three patents involved in the suits are generally related to mesh communications (7,286,828; 7,916,648; RE 43,675). RPX reviewed the patents in an open market opportunity in 2011 (Schloemer). 4/1, District of Delaware.

JSDQ Mesh Technologies filed suit against Ruckus Wireless, alleging that Ruckus’ wireless mesh networking products infringe three patents related to message routing between nodes. JSDQ sued Ruckus’ competitors BelAir Networks, Ericsson, Mesh Dynamics, and Tropos Networks in earlier suits. Meraki (acquired by Cisco in 2012 for $1.2 billion) PacketHop, SkyPilot (acquired by Trilliant), Strix Systems, RoamAD and Trapeze (acquired by Juniper Networks for $150 million in 2010) are smaller providers of similar products but the plaintiff appears to be targeting only mid-size mesh networking providers thus far.) RPX reviewed the three patents-in-suit as an open market opportunity (Schloemer) in March 2011. 2/25, District of Delaware, 1:13cv00309.