Uniloc AirDrop Patent Suit

Case 1:18-cv-00838-LY Document 1 Filed 10/03/18 Page 1 of 8
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS
AUSTIN DIVISION
UNILOC 2017 LLC and ) Case No.: 1:18-cv-838

UNILOC LICENSING USA, LLC, )
)
Plaintiffs, )
) PATENT CASE
v. )
)
APPLE INC., )
) DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Defendant. )
COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT
Plaintiffs, Uniloc 2017 LLC and Uniloc Licensing USA, LLC (together, “Uniloc”), for
their complaint against defendant, Apple Inc. (“Apple”), allege:
THE PARTIES
1. Uniloc 2017 LLC is a Delaware limited liability company, having places of
business at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, 620 Newport Center Drive,
Newport Beach, California 92660, and 102 N. College Avenue, Suite 303, Tyler, Texas 75702.
2. Uniloc Licensing USA, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company, having places
of business at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, 620 Newport Center Drive,
Newport Beach, California 92660, and 102 N. College Avenue, Suite 303, Tyler, Texas 75702.
3. Uniloc holds all substantial rights, title, and interest in and to U.S. Patent No.
7,136,999.
4. Apple is a California corporation having regular and established places of business
at 12535 Riata Vista Circle and 5501 West Parmer Lane, Austin, Texas. Apple uses, offers for
sale, sells and imports the products accused of infringement herein for sale to customers in this
judicial district and elsewhere in the United States. Apple may be served with process through
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its registered agent for service in Texas: CT Corporation System, 1999 Bryant Street, Suite 900,
Dallas, Texas 75201.
JURISDICTION
5. Uniloc brings this action for patent infringement under the patent laws of the United
States, 35 U.S.C. § 271, et seq. This Court has subject matter jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1331
and 1338(a).
COUNT I
(INFRINGEMENT OF U.S. PATENT NO. 7,136,999)
6. Uniloc incorporates paragraphs 1-5 above by reference.
7. Uniloc 2017 LLC is the owner by assignment of U.S. Patent No. 7,136,999 entitled
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE AUTHENTICATION, which issued
on November 14, 2006 (“the ’999 Patent”). A copy of the ’999 Patent is attached as Exhibit A.
8. Uniloc Licensing USA, LLC is the exclusive licensee of the ’999 Patent, with
ownership of all substantial rights, including the right to grant sublicenses, to exclude others, and
to enforce the patent to recover damages for past infringement.
9. The ’999 Patent describes in detail and claims in various ways inventions in
providing authentication of devices in mobile, wireless communication.
10. The ’999 Patent describes problems and shortcomings in the then-existing field of
providing security in communications between devices using Bluetooth. See, e.g., Ex. A at 1:54-
59. The ’999 Patent describes and claims novel and inventive technological improvements and
solutions to such problems and shortcomings.
11. As evidenced by the allowance thereof, the technological improvements and
solutions described and claimed in the ’999 Patent were not conventional or generic at the time of
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their respective inventions but involved novel and non-obvious approaches to the problems and
shortcomings prevalent in the art at the time.
12. The inventions claimed in the ’999 Patent involve and cover more than just the
performance of well-understood, routine, and conventional activities known to the industry prior
to the invention of such novel and non-obvious methods, systems, and devices.
13. The inventions claimed in the ’999 Patent represent technological solutions to
technological problems. The written description of the ’999 Patent describes in technical detail
each of the limitations of the claims, allowing a person of ordinary skill in the art to understand
what the limitations cover and how the non-conventional and non-generic combination of claim
elements differ markedly from and improved upon what may have been considered conventional
or generic.
14. Apple uses, offers for sale, sells and imports electronic devices that use Apple’s
AirDrop feature to share between such devices photos, videos, contacts, voice memos and location,
including the following: iPhone5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone
6s Plus, iPhone SE, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone XR,
iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max; iPad (4th, 5th gen.), iPad Mini, iPad Mini 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini
4, iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad Air 2, MacBook, MacBook Air (11 inches, 13 inches), MacBook Pro
(13 and 15 inches), iMac (21.5 and 27 inches), Mac Mini, Mac Pro; iPod (5th gen.) and iPod touch
(4th, 5th, 6th gen.) (together, “Accused Infringing Device(s)”).
15. The Accused Infringing Devices include Bluetooth and WiFi functionality and use
Apple’s AirDrop feature to exchange data, such as photos, videos, contacts, voice memos, and
location information, between such devices.
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16. When in range of WiFi or Bluetooth, users enable AirDrop by tapping on the
AirDrop button on a first Accused Infringing Device (e.g., an iPhone). When AirDrop is enabled,
a 2048-bit RSA identity is stored on the user’s first Accused Infringing Device (e.g., an iPhone,
iPad, or a MacBook) and an AirDrop identity hash is created based on the email address and phone
number associated with the user’s Apple ID.
17. Once AirDrop has been enabled, the first Accused Infringing Device emits an
AirDrop advertisement signal over Bluetooth, and a second Accused Infringing Device (e.g., an
iPhone, iPad, or MacBook) with AirDrop-enabled that is located within range of the signal
responds by sending over Bluetooth a shortened version of its own identity hash.
18. If the second Accused Infringing Device’s shortened identity hash is recognized as
a contact by the first Accused Infringing Device, the first Accused Infringing Device creates a
peer-to-peer WiFi network (e.g., WiFi Direct) over which the second Accused Infringing Device
sends its full identity hash to the first Accused Infringing Device. If the second Accused Infringing
Device’s full identity hash is recognized by the first Accused Infringing Device, the second
Accused Infringing Device user’s identity is displayed on the first Accused Infringing Device share
sheet.
19. To send, for example, a photo to the second Accused Infringing Device, the user
taps on the selected photo, the share button, and then the AirDrop button on the first Accused
Infringing Device. The first Accused Infringing Device displays any AirDrop enabled devices
within range that are recognized by the first Accused Infringing Device as a contact (or each such
detected device if the contact default is disabled).
20. Once the second Accused Infringing Device’s identity has been confirmed as
described above, by tapping on the displayed intended recipient’s button on the first Accused
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Infringing Device the photo is sent over the direct WiFi channel (enabled by Bonjour) to the second
Accused Infringing Device.
21. Apple has infringed and continues to infringe the ’999 Patent in the United States,
including claims 13 and 17, by using, offering for sale, selling and importing the Accused
Infringing Devices in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).
22. Apple has also infringed and continues to infringe numerous claims of the ’999
Patent, including claims 13 and 17, by actively inducing others to import, use, offer for sale and
sell the Accused Infringing Devices. Apple’s customers who use the AirDrop feature of the
Accused Infringing Devices, as described above, in accordance with Apple’s instructions infringe
claims 13 and 17 of the ’999 Patent, in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(a). Apple intentionally,
directly and/or indirectly instructs its customers to use the Accused Infringing Devices in an
infringing manner through training videos, demonstrations, brochures, installation, and user
guides, such as those located at one or more of the following:
• www.apple.com
• www.apple.com/ipad-pro/
• www.apple.com/ipad-mini-4/ios//
• www.apple.com/safari/
• www.apple.com/imovie/
• www.apple.com/macos/photos/
• https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203106
• https://support.apple.com/kb/PH14580
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• https://help.apple.com/iphone/12/#/iphb658714b9
• https://help.apple.com/iphone/9/#/iphf28f17237
• https://help.apple.com/ipad/12/#/iPadf84aaf63
• https://help.apple.com/macbook/late-2018/#/apd8dc9cb47a
• https://help.apple.com/macbook/early2018/#/apd8dc9cb47a
• https://help.apple.com/ipod-touch/12/#/iphb658714b9
• https://help.apple.com/ipod-touch/11/#/iphb658714b9
• https://support.apple.com/business/site/docs/iOS_Security_Guide.pdf
• www.youtube.com
• www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVLdVmUiqqU
Apple also induces infringement by failing to remove or distinguish the infringing features of the
Accused Infringing Devices. Apple is thereby liable for infringement of the ’999 Patent under 35
U.S.C. § 271(b).
23. Apple has also infringed, and continues to infringe, claims 13 and 17 of the ’999
Patent by selling, offering for sale and importing the Accused Infringing Devices, which devices
are used in practicing the processes, or using the systems, of the ’999 Patent and constitute a
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material part of the invention. Apple knows that portions of the software contained in the Accused
Infringing Devices are especially made, or especially adapted, for use in infringement of the ’999
Patent and are not a staple article or commodity of commerce suitable for substantial noninfringing
use. Apple is thereby liable for infringement of the ’999 Patent under 35 U.S.C. § 271(c).
24. Apple will have been on notice of the ’999 Patent since, at the latest, the service of
this complaint upon it. By the time of trial, Apple will have known and intended (since receiving
such notice) that its continued actions would actively induce and contribute to the infringement of
claim 1 of the ’999 Patent.
25. Apple may have infringed the ’999 Patent through other software and devices
utilizing the same or reasonably similar functionality, including other versions of the Accused
Infringing Products.
26. Uniloc has been damaged by Apple’s infringement of the ’999 Patent.
PRAYER FOR RELIEF
Uniloc requests that the Court enter judgment against Apple:
(A) declaring that Apple has infringed the ’999 Patent;
(B) awarding Uniloc its damages suffered as a result of Apple’s infringement of the
’999 Patent;
(C) awarding Uniloc its costs, attorneys’ fees, expenses, and interest, and
(D) granting Uniloc such further relief as the Court finds appropriate.
DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
Uniloc demands trial by jury, under Fed. R. Civ. P. 38.
Date: October 3, 2018 Respectfully submitted,
/s/ Edward R. Nelson III

Paul J. Hayes (Lead Attorney)
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Massachusetts State Bar No. 227000

Kevin Gannon
Michael Ercolini
New York State Bar No. 5029905
Aaron Jacobs
PRINCE LOBEL TYE LLP
One International Place, Suite 3700
Boston, MA 02110
Tel: (617) 456-8000
Fax: (617) 456-8100
Email: phayes@princelobel.com
Email: kgannon@princelobel.com
Email: ajacobs@princelobel.com
Email: mercolini@princelobel.com
Edward R. Nelson III

ed@nbafirm.com
Texas State Bar No. 00797142
Shawn A. Latchford
shawn@nbafirm.com
Texas State Bar No. 24066603
NELSON BUMGARDNER ALBRITTON P.C.
3131 West 7th Street, Suite 300
Fort Worth, TX 76107
Tel: (817) 377-9111
Fax: (817) 377-3485
ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS
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JS 44 (Rev. 12/12)
Case 1:18-cv-00838-LY Document 1-1 Filed 10/03/18 Page 1 of 3
CIVIL COVER SHEET
The JS 44 civil cover sheet and the information contained herein neither replace nor supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other papers as required by law, except as
provided by local rules of court. This form, approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States in September 1974, is required for the use of the Clerk of Court for the
purpose of initiating the civil docket sheet. (SEE INSTRUCTIONS ON NEXT PAGE OF THIS FORM.)
I. (a) PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS

UNILOC 2017 LLC and UNILOC LICENSING USA, LLC APPLE INC.
(b) County of Residence of First Listed Plaintiff County of Residence of First Listed Defendant
(EXCEPT IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES) (IN U.S. PLAINTIFF CASES ONLY)
NOTE: IN LAND CONDEMNATION CASES, USE THE LOCATION OF
THE TRACT OF LAND INVOLVED.
(c) Attorneys (Firm Name, Address, and Telephone Number) Attorneys (If Known)
Edward R. Nelson III, Nelson Bumgardner Albritton P.C.
3131 West 7th Street, Suite 300, Fort Worth, TX 76107
Phone: 817-377-9111
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(For Diversity Cases Only) and One Box for Defendant)
’ 1 U.S. Government ’ 3 Federal Question PTF DEF PTF DEF
Plaintiff (U.S. Government Not a Party) Citizen of This State ’ 1 ’ 1 Incorporated or Principal Place ’ 4 ’ 4
of Business In This State
’ 2 U.S. Government ’ 4 Diversity Citizen of Another State ’ 2 ’ 2 Incorporated and Principal Place ’ 5 ’ 5
Defendant (Indicate Citizenship of Parties in Item III) of Business In Another State
Citizen or Subject of a ’ 3 ’ 3 Foreign Nation ’ 6 ’ 6

Foreign Country
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(specify)
Cite the U.S. Civil Statute under which you are filing (Do not cite jurisdictional statutes unless diversity):
35 U.S.C. § 271, et seq.
VI. CAUSE OF ACTION Brief description of cause:
Infringement of U.S. Patent No. 7,136,999
VII. REQUESTED IN ’ CHECK IF THIS IS A CLASS ACTION DEMAND $ CHECK YES only if demanded in complaint:
COMPLAINT: UNDER RULE 23, F.R.Cv.P. JURY DEMAND: ’ Yes ’ No
VIII. RELATED CASE(S)
(See instructions):
IF ANY JUDGE SEE ATTACHED CONTINUATION PG. DOCKET NUMBER
DATE SIGNATURE OF ATTORNEY OF RECORD
10/03/2018 /s/ Edward R. Nelson III
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
RECEIPT # AMOUNT APPLYING IFP JUDGE MAG. JUDGE

JS 44 Reverse (Rev. 12/12) Case 1:18-cv-00838-LY Document 1-1 Filed 10/03/18 Page 2 of 3
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JS 44 (rev. 12/12)- CONTINUED FROM JS 44
PLAINTIFF DEFENDANT
UNILOC 2017 LLC and APPLE INC.

UNILOC LICENSING USA, LLC
RELATED CASES
COURT JUDGE DOCKET NUMBER
Western District of Texas LEE YEAKEL 1:18-cv-00158
Eastern District of Texas JAMES RODNEY GILSTRAP 2:16-cv-00638
Eastern District of Texas JAMES RODNEY GILSTRAP 2:17-cv-00708
Northern District of WILLIAM ALSUP 3:18-cv-00359
California
California
California
California
California
Northern District of PHYLLIS J. HAMILTON 4:18-cv-00361
California
California
California
Northern District of LUCY H. KOH 5:18-cv-00357
California
EXHIBIT A
US007136999B1
(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 7,136,999 B1

Griffiths (45) Date of Patent: Nov. 14, 2006
(54) METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC 6,772,331 B1* 8/2004 Hind et al. ................. T13/151
DEVICE AUTHENTCATION
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
(75) Inventor: Jonathan C. Griffiths, Fremont, CA EP O883318 A1 12/1998
(US) OTHER PUBLICATIONS
(73) Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., “Specification of Bluetooth System—Core” v. 1. OA, Jul. 26, 1999,
Eindhoven (NL) pp. 18-19,95, 149-154, 169-170, 194-200, 226, 319, 537, 1029 and
1031.
(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
patent is extended or adjusted under 35 * cited by examiner
U.S.C. 154(b) by 917 days. Primary Examiner Kambiz Zand
(21) Appl. No.: 09/597,198 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Larry Liberchuk
(57) ABSTRACT
(22) Filed: Jun. 20, 2000
(51) Int. C. Electronic devices are authenticated to each other initially
H04L 9/00 (2006.01) over a short-range wireless link. In particular, a user first
H04LK LM00 (2006.01) enters a given authentication information in each device.
(52) U.S. Cl. ....................... 713/168; 713/169; 380/270 Later, when the devices are out-of-range of the wireless link,
they may be authenticated to each other without Subsequent
(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 713/168, user input when one of the devices invites the other to
713/169; 380/270 exchange authentication information over an alternative
See application file for complete search history. communications link. If the authentication is Successful, the
(56) References Cited devices may then communicate over the alternative com
munications link as if they were within range of the original
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS wireless link.
5,367,558 A * 1 1/1994 Gillig et al. ............. 455,426.1
6,600,902 B1* 7/2003 Bell .......................... 455,412 17 Claims, 1 Drawing Sheet
ELECTRONIC
DEVICE
102
ELECTRONIC
y
DEVICE
U.S. Patent Nov. 14, 2006 US 7,136,999 B1
ELECTRONIC
DEVICE
----------- 1
115- 107
113 /
1.
115
O' | | - l--192 ELECTRONIC 102
N 11 DEVICE
NON-VOLATILE
-102 MEMORY
AERIAL INPUT DEVICE

PROGRAMS
FIG.2
US 7,136,999 B1
1. 2
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
DEVICE AUTHENTCATION
It is an object of the invention to authenticate a device first
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION authenticated on a physically restrained network through
another network.
1. Field of the Invention It is a further object of the invention to simplify authen
tication of a device in a network by re-using a given
The present invention relates generally to electronic authentication process in another network.
device authentication. In accordance with the invention, a method of authenti
2. Description of the Related Art 10 cating first and second electronic devices is provided, the
In the Bluetooth Specification, “Specification of the Blue method comprising:
tooth System Core, V.1.0A, Jul. 26th 1999, pp. 18–19, 95, upon link set-up over a short-range wireless link, execut
149-154, 169-170, 194-200, 226, 319, 537, 1029, and ing an authentication protocol by exchanging authentication
information between the first and second electronic devices
1031, the so-called Bluetooth short range radio link between 15 to initially authenticate communication between the first and
Bluetooth enabled devices is described, particularly, the second devices;
Bluetooth frequency bands, the concept of master and slave later, when the first and second electronic devices are
devices, and security using authentication of devices. Blue beyond the short-range wireless link, executing the authen
tooth (BT) is a specification for small form factor, low-cost, tication protocol by exchanging the authentication informa
short-range radio links between mobile PCs, mobile phones, tion between the first and second electronic devices over an
and other such devices. Bluetooth radio arose out of an
initiative among leaders in the telecommunication and com alternate communications link, then only allowing commu
nication between the first and second devices if the first and
puter industries to make a global standard for wireless second devices had initially been Successfully authenticated.
connectivity. The standard relies on a low power radio link
operating at 2.4 Gigahertz. Bluetooth-provisioned devices The invention is based upon the insight that once devices
normally must be physically close to each other (i.e., within 25 are authenticated on a restricted network, it is very simple to
100 meters) to communicate. Bluetooth includes a robust re-connect the devices through another, unrestricted net
authentication mechanism that ensures that a Bluetooth work. In this respect, restriction can be determined by the
device only communicates with other devices for which it is way a system works, such as authentication in accordance
authenticated, and not with any random device that comes with said Bluetooth Specification, or can be restricted physi
into its range. Bluetooth radio uses a fast acknowledgement 30 cal access to premises such as an office.
and frequency hopping scheme to make the link robust. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second electronic
Devices avoid interference from other signals by hopping to devices each have the capability of communicating with
a new frequency after transmitting or receiving a packet. each other over at least a primary and a secondary commu
Compared with other systems operating in the same fre nications link. The primary communications link is a given
quency band, the Bluetooth radio typically hops faster and 35 short-range wireless link. Preferably, the short-range wire
uses shorter packets. This makes Bluetooth radio more less link conforms to a given protocol, namely, Bluetooth.
robust than other systems. The secondary communications link may be any alternative
The Bluetooth authentication scheme works generally as link such as a wide area network (WAN), a local area
follows. A user enters a numerical code (a personal identi network (LAN), or the like. The devices are first authenti
40 cated over the primary link, with the user entering the same,
fication number or PIN) in the two devices to establish a given PIN code in both devices. After the devices verify that
Bluetooth link for the first time. The PIN can be any number, they share the same PIN code, they exchange key informa
but it must be the same on both devices. Once this is done, tion. Later, when the devices are no longer within range to
the devices communicate with each other using Bluetooth authenticate over the primary communications link using
transceivers to verify that the PIN numbers match. If so, one 45 Bluetooth, one of the devices invites the exchange of key
device generates unique key information based on a device information automatically using the secondary communica
address, which is unique for each device. This unique key tions link. If the other device can provide the key informa
(generated by one of the devices) is stored in both devices tion requested, the devices are then authenticated to each
and used to authenticate the two devices for any Subsequent other over the secondary communications link. In addition
Bluetooth link between them. In particular, the key 50 thereto a user may be requested to enter login data, Such as
exchanged upon link initialization identifies a unique link a user name or a password. The foregoing has outlined some
and can be used reliably for Subsequent authentication when of the more pertinent objects and features of the present
the link is re-established.
invention. These objects and features should be construed to
The feature that ensures security in a Bluetooth system is be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent fea
the need for physical proximity to establish a link, i.e., the 55 tures and applications of the invention. Many other benefi
user must enter the numerical code on both devices when the cial results can be attained by applying the disclosed inven
devices are in close proximity. If the devices are more than tion in a different manner or by modifying the invention as
100 meters apart, the initial Bluetooth link cannot be estab will be described. Accordingly, a fuller understanding of the
lished. invention may be had by referring to the following Detailed
Wide area networks also use basic authentication to 60 Description of the Preferred Embodiment.
enable electronic devices to communicate with each other.
The most common and popular wide area network is the BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Internet. Internet service providers typically restrict access
on their servers to given users. Normally, this is achieved by For a more complete understanding of the present inven
requiring a prospective user (e.g., a user of a client machine 65 tion and the advantages thereof, reference should be made to
running a web browser) to enter a userid and password the following Detailed Description taken in connection with
combination. the accompanying drawings in which:
US 7,136,999 B1
3 4
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of work 113, with the device 102 within network boundary
the invention; and 115, the user 115 needs to initially set-up the link 107 while
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electronic device accord the devices 102 and 111 are authenticated. Later, the device
ing to the present invention. 102" moves to another location outside the constrained
network, indicated with the device 102 and a dashed arrow
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE 117. The device 102 may have an aerial 116 when the link
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 107 is a radio link. Instead of an aerial, an infrared trans
mitter/receiver may be used, when the link 107 is an infrared
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of link.
the invention. As used herein, an “electronic device' should 10 In terms of Bluetooth, the devices 102/102 and 111 may
be broadly construed to mean a computer (or a set of be so-called Bluetooth enabled devices, the device 102'/102
computers) of any type including, without limitation, a being a slave device and the device 111 being a master
desktop computer, a workstation or server platform, a note device. The concept of master and slave is defined on page
book computer, a diskless computer, a handheld computing 95 of said Bluetooth Specification. Authentication of Blue
device (e.g., personal digital assistant, business organizer, or 15 tooth enabled devices is described on pages 149–154 of said
the like), a communications device (e.g., cellular phone, Bluetooth Specification. When the master and slave are
Smartphone, or the like) provisioned to include computing out-of-range of the wireless or “primary” data link 107.
power, in-vehicle computing devices, or the like. Thus, as is however, they may still communicate with each other fol
well known, a given electronic device 102, as shown in more lowing authentication according to the present invention. In
detail in FIG. 2, typically includes a processor 104, a particular, slave device 102 first establishes a link to the
memory 106 (e.g., RAM and ROM) for storing programs master device 111 over the alternate or “secondary” link 109,
110 executable by the processor 104, at least one input which, as noted above, may be any convenient communi
device 112 Such as a keyboard or mouse, at least one output cations link Such as the Internet, an intranet, a local area
device 114 Such as a monitor or display. Typically, each of network, or the like. To establish this connection, as noted
the electronic devices includes hardware and software 25 above, each of the devices 102 and 111 must include
resources (not shown) to enable the devices to communicate appropriate hardware and Software resources (e.g., a
with each other over a network 120 such as the Internet, an modem, a TCP/IP stack, and the like) that are used for this
intranet, a local area network, a mobile radio network, or the purpose, as is well known. Once this connection is estab
like. The electronic device 102 can be a mobile phone, a lished, the master device 111 offers to use the authentication
personal digital assistent (PDA), a laptop computer, or any 30 protocol of the primary data link 107 to facilitate device
other suitable device. In FIG. 1, another electronic device authentication. The primary data link authentication proto
111 is shown. The electronic device 111 can be a web-server, col may be one of several protocols offered during the
an e-mail server, or some other database-like device. attempt to establish a connection between the two devices
When the device 102, e.g., a laptop, connects to the 102/102 and 111. The offer issued from the master device
network 120, e.g. the Internet, its internet protocol address 35 111 invites the exchange of key information according to the
is determined and services such as a printer service and a authentication protocol of the primary data link, in the
calendar service are set up automatically. But before such example given a Bluetooth protocol. If upon exchange the
services are set up the device 102 needs to be authenticated. keys match, the devices 102/102 are authenticated to com
Upon device authentication, the user may login to a service municate with each other.
by providing a user name and password, for instance. The 40 In Summary, an initial Bluetooth link setup and authen
invention is mainly concerned with device authentication tication procedure is carried out between a pair of electronic
whereby authentication information is exchanged between devices. Thus, for example, the BT-devices can be a home/
devices. office Internet server and a mobile phone, or any other
According to the invention, each of the devices also suitable pair of devices. When the user of the mobile phone,
includes a transceiver 105 to enable the devices to commu 45 for example, later wants to make a remote connection to the
nicate over a communications link 107. Preferably, the other device of the BT-enabled link, e.g., through another
communications link 107 is a short-range wireless link that network such as the Internet, the same BT authentication
conforms to a given radio protocol, e.g., Bluetooth. This is protocol is used as with the initial BT-link setup so that
not a limitation of the present invention, however, as the communication by unauthenticated devices may be pre
alternative communications link 107 may be an infrared 50 vented. Thus, once the remote connection is secured by the
link, an acoustic link, or the like. In the preferred embodi initial BT-link setup procedure, i.e., devices other than
ment, the alternative communications link 107 is a “pri legitimate authenticated devices can never use the mobile
mary” link in the sense that the devices initially authenticate phone network to connect to the home server or network for
to each other over the link 107 link and then, later, authen remote re-connection of the BT-link if the user of the device
ticate to each other over a secondary link 109 such as the 55 had not first initiated the BT-link locally.
Internet, an intranet, or Some other link. Thus, according to Security is enhanced with the invention by exchanging
the preferred embodiment of the invention, the pair of link key information because the link key information is
electronic devices first authenticate using Bluetooth over a established in a secure system. In the described example,
first link, the link 107 and then later authenticate (e.g., when security is assured by the requirement that the two devices
the devices are out-of-range of the original wireless con 60 be in physical proximity when establishing the link key.
nection) over some alternative link, the link 109. In FIG. 1, Userids or passwords need not be exchanged on Subsequent
Such a Successive device authentication at different locations logins, depending on the level of additional security
is indicated by the electronic device 102 having been moved required. An additional PIN may be used to access some
from a network 113 to which the device 102 has restrained services, possibly in a corporate environment.
access, to the unconstrained network 120. The network 113 65 Although specific embodiments of the present invention
is a so-called Bluetooth network, for instance, to which a are described herein, they are not to be construed as limiting
user 115 has constrained access. When accessing the net the scope of the invention. Many embodiments of the
US 7,136,999 B1
5 6
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in 13. A method of authenticating first and second electronic
light of the teachings of this specification. For example, devices, comprising:
although the described embodiments use a wireless link to upon link set-up over a first link, executing an authenti
establish the link key, other similarly secure connection cation protocol by exchanging authentication informa
means such as infrared links or closed networks may be 5 tion between the first and second electronic devices to
advantageously used. Also, although the described embodi initially authenticate communication between the first
ments show authentication between two devices on two and second devices;
networks, authentication can be achieved on any number of later, when the first and second electronic devices are
networks between the two devices. The scope of the inven connected using a second link, exchanging the authen
tion is only limited by the claims appended hereto. 10 tication information between the first and second elec
The word “comprising does not exclude the presence of tronic devices over the second link, then only allowing
other elements or steps than those listed in a claim. communication between the first and second devices if
Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new the first and second devices had initially been success
and desire to secure by Letters Patent is set forth in the fully authenticated.
following claims. 15 14. An electronic device, comprising:
What is claimed is: a processor;
1. A method of authenticating first and second electronic and
devices, comprising: a memory loaded with a software routine executed by the
upon link set-up over a short-range wireless link, execut processor (a) for generating authentication information
ing an authentication protocol by exchanging authen useful in initially authenticating the electronic device to
tication information between the first and second elec a another electronic device over a short-range wireless
tronic devices to initially authenticate communication link, and (b) for later Supplying the authentication
between the first and second devices; information for later authentication of the electronic
later, when the first and second electronic devices are device to the other electronic device over an alternate
beyond the short-range wireless link, executing the 25 communications link when the devices are beyond the
authentication protocol by exchanging the authentica short-range wireless link, then only allowing commu
tion information between the first and second electronic nication between the devices if the devices had initially
devices over an alternate communications link, then been Successfully authenticated.
only allowing communication between the first and 15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the link
second devices if the first and second devices had 30 set-up step includes entry of a given personal identification
initially been successfully authenticated. number into each of the first and second electronic devices.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication 16. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein the elec
information is an authentication key. tronic device is a client and the second electronic device is
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication a SWC.
information a password. 35 17. A communications system, comprising:
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a a first electronic device;
master device and the second device is a slave device. a second electronic device;
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the short-range wire a first communications link over which the first and
less link is a radio link. second electronic devices authenticate each other using
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the short-range wire 40 a given protocol that includes a link set-up and the
less link is an infra-red link. exchange of authentication information following the
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the link set-up occurs link set-up, the authentication information being used
when the first and second devices are in physical proximity. to initially authenticate communication between the
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the short-range wire first and second electronic devices; and
less link conforms to a given RF protocol. 45 a second communications link over which the first and
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the given RF protocol second electronic devices later authenticate each other
is Bluetooth. using the exchange of the authentication information,
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the link set-up step then only allowing communication between the first
includes entry of a given personal identification number into and second devices if the first and second devices had
each of the first and second electronic devices. 50 initially been successfully authenticated, wherein said
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the alternate com first communications link and said second communi
munications link is a computer network. cations link are different types of links.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic
device is a client and the second electronic device is a server. k k k k k

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Case 1:18-cv-00838-LY Document 1 Filed 10/03/18 Page 1 of 8

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

UNILOC 2017 LLC and ) Case No.: 1:18-cv-838

COMPLAINT FOR PATENT INFRINGEMENT

their complaint against defendant, Apple Inc. (“Apple”), allege:

1. Uniloc 2017 LLC is a Delaware limited liability company, having places of

4. Apple is a California corporation having regular and established places of business

Dallas, Texas 75201.

6. Uniloc incorporates paragraphs 1-5 above by reference.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE AUTHENTICATION, which issued

to enforce the patent to recover damages for past infringement.

providing authentication of devices in mobile, wireless communication.

solutions to such problems and shortcomings.

11. As evidenced by the allowance thereof, the technological improvements and

shortcomings prevalent in the art at the time.

(4th, 5th, 6th gen.) (together, “Accused Infringing Device(s)”).

location information, between such devices.

number associated with the user’s Apple ID.

detected device if the contact default is disabled).

Accused Infringing Device.

Infringing Devices in violation of 35 U.S.C. § 271(a).

guides, such as those located at one or more of the following:

claim 1 of the ’999 Patent.

PRAYER FOR RELIEF

Uniloc requests that the Court enter judgment against Apple:

(A) declaring that Apple has infringed the ’999 Patent;

DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

Uniloc demands trial by jury, under Fed. R. Civ. P. 38.

Date: October 3, 2018 Respectfully submitted,

/s/ Edward R. Nelson III

Massachusetts State Bar No. 227000

Edward R. Nelson III

ATTORNEYS FOR THE PLAINTIFFS

I. (a) PLAINTIFFS DEFENDANTS

Citizen or Subject of a ’ 3 ’ 3 Foreign Nation ’ 6 ’ 6

RECEIPT # AMOUNT APPLYING IFP JUDGE MAG. JUDGE

V. Origin. Place an "X" in one of the six boxes.

JS 44 (rev. 12/12)- CONTINUED FROM JS 44

UNILOC 2017 LLC and APPLE INC.

(12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 7,136,999 B1

U.S. Patent Nov. 14, 2006 US 7,136,999 B1

AERIAL INPUT DEVICE

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