The proceedings and the patents

The proceedings are Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. v. Mobility IP Holdings, Inc., IPR2026-00499 (U.S. Patent 8,933,807), IPR2026-00500 (U.S. Patent 8,151,345), IPR2026-00501 (U.S. Patent 10,706,412), IPR2026-00502 (U.S. Patent 8,548,924), IPR2026-00503 (U.S. Patent 10,235,513), IPR2026-00504 (U.S. Patent 10,762,187), and IPR2026-00505 (U.S. Patent 8,766,772).

The '807 patent, titled System and Method for Providing Secure Transactional Solutions, issued January 13, 2015. The '345 patent, titled Self-Authorizing Devices, issued April 3, 2012. The '412 patent, titled System and Methods for Providing Secure Transactional Solutions, issued July 7, 2020. The '924 patent, titled Self-Authorizing Token, issued October 1, 2013. The '513 patent, titled System and Method for Providing Secure Identification Solutions, issued March 19, 2019. The '187 patent, titled System and Method for Providing Secure Transactional Solutions, issued September 1, 2020. The '772 patent, also titled System and Method for Providing Secure Transactional Solutions, issued July 1, 2014.

The petitions and the grounds

The petitions are dated September 18, 2026, and the Board's notices, mailed September 24, 2026, accorded each a filing date of September 19, 2026. Each petition names Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. as the real parties in interest, lists the Western District of Texas and Eastern District of Texas suits as related matters, and says the petitioners are not aware of any other petition for inter partes review of the same patent. Every ground is obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103.

IPR2026-00499 challenges claims 1 through 23 of the '807 patent over Maes (U.S. Patent 6,016,476) alone or with Dorf (U.S. Patent 6,000,608) or Shults (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2002/0011519), and over Walker (U.S. Patent 6,163,771) in view of Maes, alone or with Dorf or Shults.

IPR2026-00500 challenges claims 1 through 25 of the '345 patent. It applies Huomo (U.S. Patent 8,538,332), Kisliakov (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0212896), and Linehan (U.S. Patent 7,103,575), with Peart (U.S. Patent 8,001,054) for claims 24 and 25, against claims 23 through 25; Ryan (U.S. Patent 7,213,766), Kisliakov, and Peart against claims 23 through 25; and Ryan and Hulbert (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0187687) against claims 11 and 12, with Peart for claims 13 through 22, and with Peart and Kisliakov for claims 1 through 10.

IPR2026-00501 challenges claims 1 through 7 of the '412 patent over Maes alone or in view of Niwa (U.S. Patent 6,453,301) or Bjorn (U.S. Patent 6,035,398) for claims 1 through 3, over Maes in view of Walker for claims 1 through 7, and over Maes in view of Niwa or Bjorn together with Walker for claims 4 through 7.

IPR2026-00502 challenges claims 1 through 87 of the '924 patent. It applies Huomo and Smets (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0022033), with or without Kisliakov, against claims 1 through 71 and 76 through 87, and Ryan and Abbott (International Publication WO 2001/096990), alone or combined with one or more of Peart, Smets, and Kisliakov, against subsets of the claims.

IPR2026-00503 challenges claims 1 through 26 of the '513 patent over Wang (International Publication WO 00/52866) in view of Barnes (U.S. Patent 8,611,919) or Srey (U.S. Patent 6,141,436), with Bashan (U.S. Patent 6,045,043) for claims 10, 18, and 26, and over Mardikar (U.S. Patent 8,108,318) in view of Cooke (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2014/0025513), with Lee (U.S. Patent 8,761,665) for claims 10, 18, and 26. The petition argues that the '513 patent is not entitled to its claimed July 9, 2002 provisional priority date.

IPR2026-00504 challenges claims 1 through 21 of the '187 patent over Maes in view of Niwa or Bjorn, with Shults for claims 7 and 14, and over Maes in view of Walker for claims 1 through 6 and 15 through 21, with Shults for claim 7.

IPR2026-00505 challenges claims 9 through 18 of the '772 patent over Wang in view of Barnes, Wang in view of Srey, and, for claims 9 through 11, 13 through 15, 17, and 18, Mardikar in view of Cooke. The petition argues that the '772 patent is not entitled to its claimed July 9, 2002 provisional priority date.

In patent owner's mandatory notices filed October 9, 2026 in each proceeding, Mobility IP identifies itself as the owner of the entire interest in the patent and as a real party in interest, and lists the Eastern District of Texas and Western District of Texas suits as related matters.

What the claims cover

Claim 1 of the '807 patent covers a mobile device with RF cellular circuitry, short range RF circuitry, memory storing biometric authentication information previously associated with transaction information, a biometric reading device, an authentication module that authenticates read biometric information against the stored information, and a transaction module that provides the transaction information over the short range RF circuitry for a transaction when authentication succeeds.

Claim 1 of the '345 patent covers a token with a mounting structure carrying a USB communication connector for a computer terminal, a secure element holding a data file, a secure element reader that interrogates it, including a command to select a payment card application according to ISO 7816-4, and a communications controller, configured as a USB Human Interface Device, that converts the file information into transaction information and sends it to the terminal in a format that auto-populates a form field of an application running there.

Claim 1 of the '412 patent covers a mobile device with short range RF circuitry, memory storing biometric authentication information and payment information for a user, a biometric reading device, and processors that connect to a point of sale device over the short range circuitry for a secure transaction, prompt the user for biometric information, authenticate it against the stored information, and in response generate a key, secure the payment information, and transmit the key and secured payment information to the point of sale device.

Claim 1 of the '924 patent covers a token with a mounting structure carrying a connector for a computer terminal, a secure element holding a data file, a secure element interrogator that acquires transaction information from the file through transaction data communications exchanged only between the secure element and the interrogator, and a communications controller that sends the transaction information to the terminal as a single data communication.

Claim 1 of the '513 patent covers a mobile device with a biometric input device, a short range radio frequency circuit, memory storing biometric information for identifying an individual associated with transaction information, and a processor that receives a point of sale terminal's request over the short range circuit, compares received biometric data with the stored information, and transmits the transaction information to the terminal when they match, all housed in a mobile device body.

Claim 1 of the '187 patent covers a mobile device with short range RF circuitry, memory storing biometric authentication information and payment information, a biometric module, an authentication module that checks read biometric information against the stored information, and a secure module that, on a match, generates a key, encrypts the key and the payment information, and provides them over the short range circuitry for use in a transaction.

Claim 9 of the '772 patent, the first claim the petition challenges, covers a mobile device with a biometric input device and a radio frequency antenna and chip, where the chip's memory stores transaction information and biometric information identifying an individual associated with the transaction, and its processor receives a request over the antenna to access the memory and retrieve the transaction information, compares biometric information received from the input device with the stored information, and provides the transaction information when they match.

The district court cases

Mobility IP sued Apple on March 4, 2026, in Mobility IP Holdings, Inc. v. Apple Inc., No. 7:26-cv-00075 (W.D. Tex.), asserting all seven patents, one per count. The complaint says Mobility IP holds all right, title, and interest in the patents, and it pleads its allegations about others' conduct on information and belief. It accuses iPhone models from the iPhone XR through the iPhone 17 line and iPhone Air, Apple Watch 5 and later, and iPad models, pointing to Apple Pay and the devices' secure element, and it alleges willful infringement of the '345 and '924 patents from the date Apple received notice of the suit. The docket shows an amended complaint filed June 5, 2026, which is not available. The docket shows claim construction briefs filed September 23, October 14, and October 28, 2026.

Mobility IP sued Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. on February 27, 2026, in Mobility IP Holdings, Inc. v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., No. 2:26-cv-157 (E.D. Tex.), on the same seven patents. That complaint also pleads its allegations about others' conduct on information and belief, and it accuses the Samsung Galaxy A, Note, S, Xcover, Z Fold, Z Flip, Watch, and Tab lines, pointing to Samsung Wallet and Samsung Pay. The docket shows a motion to stay filed October 12, 2026, a response filed October 27, and a reply filed November 3.

What to watch next

The Board's September 24, 2026 notices state that Mobility IP may file a brief requesting discretionary denial within two months from the date of the notice, that the petitioners may file a brief opposing that request within three months from the date of the notice, and that Mobility IP may file a preliminary response no later than three months from the date of the notice. Watch for those filings, the ruling on the motion to stay in the Eastern District of Texas, and the institution decisions across the seven proceedings.