Samsung Electronics Co Ltd v. Hermes IP Management LLC

Prosecution History analysis

Examiner Search analysis

Invalidity Framework analysis

Petition

Petition Analysis

## 1. Case Identification
- Case Number: [IPR2025-00872](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872)
- Patent #: [8,855,720](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/patent/8855720)
- Filed: April 22, 2025
- Petitioner(s): Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and [Samsung Electronics America, Inc.](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/samsung-electronics-america-inc)
- Patent Owner(s): [Hermes IP Management LLC](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/party/hermes-ip-management-llc)
- Challenged Claims: 1-16

## 2. Patent Overview
- Title: Method and Mobile Terminal for Setting Idle Screen
- Brief Description: The [’720](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/patent/8855720) patent discloses a method and mobile terminal for managing multiple customizable screens in an idle state. The system uses a "spin-home program" that allows a user to select applications to appear as shortcuts on a plurality of screens and to navigate between these screens when the device is idle.

## 3. Grounds for Unpatentability

#### Ground 1: Obviousness over Hawkins and Majava - Claims 1-16 are obvious over Patent 7,231,229 (Hawkins) in view of Application # 2006/0236266 (Majava).
  - **Prior Art Relied Upon:** *[Hawkins](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* (’[229](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005) patent), *[Majava](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)* (’[266](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006) application).
  - **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** Petitioner argued that *[Hawkins](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* teaches a mobile device interface with multiple customizable pages (called "banks" or "pages") of "favorites buttons." These buttons function as shortcuts to launch applications, and the interface includes indicators (icons numbered 1-5) to show the current page and allow navigation between pages. Petitioner contended that *[Majava](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)* teaches a mobile interface with multiple "active idle" screens, including a "default page" that the device can be configured to automatically revert to after a period of inactivity. The combination of *[Hawkins](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* and *[Majava](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)* allegedly teaches all limitations of independent claims 1, 8, and 13. For example, *[Hawkins](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* teaches selecting applications for shortcut buttons (claim 1[a]), displaying one of the pages with shortcuts (claim 1[b]), switching between pages in order (claim 1[c]), and displaying indicators for the pages (claim 1[e]), including a distinguishable indicator for the current page (claim 1[f]). The combination with *[Majava](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)* provides the final element of setting a currently displayed screen as the idle screen (claim 1[d]) by teaching the concept of a default idle page that is displayed after a period of idle time.
    - **Motivation to Combine:** A person of ordinary skill in the art (POSITA) would combine *[Hawkins](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* and *[Majava](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)* to incorporate *[Majava's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)* feature of reverting to a default page after idle time into *[Hawkins's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* multi-page interface. The primary motivation asserted was to solve a known problem: reducing the risk of accidentally exposing a user's personal or sensitive information (e.g., in an email or banking app) that might otherwise remain on-screen if the device is left unattended.
    - **Expectation of Success:** A POSITA would have a reasonable expectation of success because the combination involves applying a known technique (*[Majava's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)* auto-revert to a default page) to a similar, known device (*[Hawkins's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* multi-page UI) to achieve a predictable result. Both references operate in the same field of mobile user interfaces, and implementing the functionality would be a straightforward modification.

#### Ground 2: Obviousness over Hawkins, Majava, and Nielsen - Claims 7, 12, and 16 are obvious over Hawkins in view of Majava and Application # 2007/0094596 (Nielsen).
  - **Prior Art Relied Upon:** *[Hawkins](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* (’[229](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005) patent), *[Majava](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)* (’[266](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006) application), *[Nielsen](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1007)* (’[596](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1007) application).
  - **Core Argument for this Ground:**
    - **Prior Art Mapping:** This ground was presented as an alternative to Ground 1 for claims requiring that the "order of the screens is usable in a circular manner." Petitioner argued that while the *Hawkins-Majava* combination already teaches this, *[Nielsen](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1007)* provides explicit disclosure. *[Nielsen](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1007)* teaches a mobile interface with a series of "glance module" screens that are "serially accessible" and "serially cycle" in a loop. This means navigating forward from the last screen returns the user to the first screen.
    - **Motivation to Combine:** A POSITA would be motivated to add *[Nielsen's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1007)* explicit circular navigation to the *Hawkins-Majava* combination to improve user experience. This modification would further *[Hawkins's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)* stated goal of providing easy access to features by allowing a user to navigate between screens faster and more efficiently, without having to reverse direction through all intermediate screens.
    - **Expectation of Success:** A POSITA would expect success in this combination because the *Hawkins-Majava* system already includes multi-directional screen navigation. Implementing *[Nielsen's](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1007)* well-understood "looping" or "serial cycle" functionality would be an incremental and predictable addition to the existing interface.

## 4. Key Claim Construction Positions
- Petitioner argued that no express claim constructions are necessary, and terms should be given their plain and ordinary meaning.
- However, Petitioner dedicated substantial analysis to the terms "idle screen" and "idle state." It argued that, based on the patent's specification, prosecution history, and extrinsic evidence, a POSITA would understand "idle screen" to mean a starting point screen for using various applications (e.g., a home screen with icons) and "idle state" to mean a condition where the device is powered on but not actively being used to display a specific application program. This interpretation was asserted to be consistent with the Patent Owner's infringement contentions in parallel litigation.

## 6. Arguments Regarding Discretionary Denial
- Petitioner argued that the Board should not exercise its discretion to deny institution under 35 U.S.C. §325(d). The core reason provided was that none of the prior art references presented in the grounds (*[Hawkins](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1005)*, *[Majava](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1006)*, or *[Nielsen](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/case/ptab/IPR2025-00872/doc/1007)*) were previously considered by the USPTO during the original prosecution of the [’720](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/patent/8855720) patent.
- Regarding potential denial under §314(a) (e.g., *Fintiv* factors), Petitioner reserved the right to substantively address the issue in response to any brief filed by the Patent Owner.

## 7. Relief Requested
- Petitioner requested institution of an inter partes review and cancellation of claims 1-16 of Patent [8,855,720](https://ai-lab.exparte.com/patent/8855720) as unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. §103.

Samsung targets a mobile idle screen patent: Hawkins & Majava cited for all 16 claims as obvious over combining multi-page UIs & circular navigation.