DISH Technologies L.L.C. and Sling TV L.L.C. filed DISH Technologies L.L.C. et al. v. Echelon Fitness Multimedia, LLC et al., No. 1:26-cv-01161 (D. Del.), on September 15, 2026. Defendants include Echelon Fitness Multimedia, LLC, Echelon Fitness, LLC, and Viatek Consumer Products Group, Inc.

Patents and accused products

The complaint asserts five adaptive-bitrate (ABR) streaming patents in five counts: U.S. Patents 11,991,234 (at least claim 12), 8,868,772 (at least claim 1), 11,677,798 (at least claim 22), 11,470,138 (at least claims 1 and 8), and 10,469,554 (at least claim 7). The accused instrumentalities are Echelon's online video streaming platform and related connected-fitness offerings (including bikes, treadmills, and related services described in the complaint). U.S. Patent 10,757,156 appears in pre-suit notice correspondence discussed in the complaint but is not the subject of a separate infringement count.

What the patents cover

The complaint quotes a mix of method and system claims concerning adaptive-bitrate streaming. The following summaries describe the asserted examples in that pleading; the infringement allegations remain unproven.

U.S. Patent 11,991,234, claim 12. The complaint quotes a method performed by a client device. The device requests individually stored portions of content over TCP and uses network-performance thresholds to request higher- or lower-bitrate copies.

U.S. Patent 8,868,772, claim 1. The complaint quotes a method performed by a media player. Servers store multiple bitrate copies as time-indexed files, and the player requests portions over TCP based on network conditions.

U.S. Patent 11,677,798, claim 22. The complaint quotes a server-side method that stores content as groups of streamlets in multiple bitrate streams, including one encoded at at least 600 kbps, and sends requested streamlets to end-user stations.

U.S. Patent 11,470,138, claims 1 and 8; U.S. Patent 10,469,554, claim 7. These asserted examples are system claims in the streaming portfolio. Claim 7 of the '554 patent depends on claim 1 and adds a live-event limitation to a system using multiple bitrate streams.

What the lawsuit is about

DISH and Sling say Echelon's fitness streaming stack uses ABR techniques covered by this Sling/DISH portfolio. The Delaware suit seeks damages for the connected-fitness streaming use case.

What it means

This is a streaming-patent enforcement case against a fitness hardware and software platform. Expect early disputes over which method versus system claims apply and over how Echelon's player selects bitrates.

What to watch next

Watch for answers and early Rule 12 motions. Also watch whether related DISH ABR cases or appeals affect claim scope for the overlapping portfolio.