The proceedings and the patents

The proceedings are Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. v. SureCell Transactions LLC, IPR2026-00506 (U.S. Patent 7,924,156), IPR2026-00507 (U.S. Patent 11,347,949), IPR2026-00508 (U.S. Patent 11,599,734), IPR2026-00509 (U.S. Patent 11,687,741), IPR2026-00510 (U.S. Patent 11,989,612), and IPR2026-00511 (U.S. Patent 12,039,396). The '156 patent, titled Electronically Switchable RFID Tags, issued April 12, 2011. The '949 patent, titled Cellular Device Including Inductive Antenna, issued May 31, 2022. The '734 patent, titled Methods of Inductive Communication in a Cellular Telephone, issued March 7, 2023. The '741 patent, titled Methods of Using a Cellular Telephone, issued June 27, 2023. The '612 patent, titled Cellular Telephone Including Biometric Sensor, issued May 21, 2024. The '396 patent, titled Cellular Telephone Including Biometric Control of Transactions, issued July 16, 2024.

Each petition names Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. as the real parties in interest. In mandatory notices filed October 19, 2026 in each proceeding, SureCell states that it is the sole owner of the challenged patent and the sole real party in interest.

What the claims cover

Claim 1 of the '156 patent covers an RFID tag with an antenna that receives data and energy in a first RF signal and transmits data in a second RF signal powered by that energy, and integrated circuitry that includes a state memory storing an ON/OFF state, including two or more ON states, a key memory storing a key for changing that state, and switch logic that compares received data with the key, changes the stored state in response, and decides whether to transmit the second RF signal based on the stored state.

Claim 1 of the '949 patent covers an electronic communication system with a cellular telephone that communicates wirelessly through an inductive coupling that is part of a circuit including an electronic switch that changes between states of the circuit, the telephone communicating through the coupling responsive to those states.

Claim 1 of the '734 patent covers a method of performing a financial transaction by placing a cellular telephone within reading range of a wireless point of sale device, where the telephone communicates wirelessly through an inductive coupling responsive to a circuit with an electronic switch that changes the circuit's state, activating the switch to change that state, and communicating financial account information to the point of sale device over the inductive coupling responsive to the state of the circuit.

Claim 1 of the '741 patent covers a method of performing a financial transaction by placing a cellular telephone, configured to communicate through an inductive coupling and an RF antenna, within reading range of a wireless communication device, activating an electronic switch in the telephone in response to a biometric sensor in the telephone to change the state of a circuit, and communicating financial account information to the device over the inductive coupling or the RF antenna responsive to that state.

Claim 1 of the '612 patent covers a method of performing a financial transaction by placing a cellular telephone that communicates through an inductive coupling within reading range of a wireless point of sale device, activating an electronic switch in the telephone in response to a biometric sensor to change the state of a circuit, and communicating financial account information to the point of sale device responsive to that state.

Claim 1 of the '396 patent covers a cellular telephone that uses two or more wireless communication modes, with circuits that operate in a first mode for cellular operation and a second mode for short range communication over different radio frequency ranges and that perform financial transactions, a biometric sensor in response to which the circuits approve those transactions, and an inductive antenna for signals in the second mode.

The grounds

The petitions rely on two primary references, Dua (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2006/0165060) and Waters (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2009/0215385). IPR2026-00506 asserts six obviousness grounds against the '156 patent: Waters alone and Waters with Pont (a 2002 text titled Embedded C) against claims 1 to 33 and 51 to 60, Dua alone and Dua with Pont against claims 1 to 10, 14 to 38, and 44 to 59, and Waters with Selker (U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0132301) and Dua with Selker against claims 39 to 43.

The other five petitions each assert that Dua anticipates or renders obvious a set of claims and that Waters combined with Dua renders claims obvious. IPR2026-00507 asserts Dua against claims 1 to 23 and 26 to 30 of the '949 patent, Dua with Woike (International Patent Publication WO 2001/054079) against claims 24 and 25, and Waters with Dua against claims 1 to 30. IPR2026-00508 asserts Dua against claims 1 to 10, 13 to 21, 23 to 28, and 30 of the '734 patent, Dua with Woike against claims 11, 12, 22, and 29, and Waters with Dua against claims 1 to 30. IPR2026-00509 asserts Dua against claims 1 to 13, 15 to 28, and 30 of the '741 patent, Dua with Woike against claims 9, 14, 29, and 30, and Waters with Dua against claims 1 to 30. IPR2026-00510 asserts Dua, and Waters with Dua, against claims 1 to 5 of the '612 patent. IPR2026-00511 asserts Dua against claims 1 to 10 and 12 to 20 of the '396 patent, Dua with Woike against claim 11, and Waters with Dua against claims 1 to 4 and 6 to 20. Samsung supports each petition with a technical expert's declaration.

The district court case

SureCell sued Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. on February 12, 2026, in SureCell Transactions LLC v. Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., No. 2:26-cv-00106 (E.D. Tex.), asserting all six patents, one per count. The complaint alleges that SureCell is the sole and exclusive owner of the patents by assignment and names Dr. Steven M. Colby as the sole inventor of each. It alleges, on information and belief, that Samsung smartphones and wearables supporting mobile transactions, such as Galaxy Z Fold7 and Z Flip7 phones, infringe, and it seeks enhanced damages for willful infringement. Amended complaints were filed on February 26, 2026 (Dkt. 9) and September 2, 2026 (Dkt. 30); neither is available. Each petition, and each of SureCell's mandatory notices, identifies that case as the related matter.

What to watch next

Under the Board's September 28, 2026 notices, SureCell may file a brief requesting discretionary denial within two months of the notice in each proceeding under the USPTO's interim Director discretionary process, Samsung may file a brief opposing that request within three months of the notice, and SureCell may file a preliminary response no later than three months from the notice, the period 37 CFR 42.107(b) sets. Watch for those filings and the institution decisions across the six proceedings.