Lapsed Aug 16, 2023 on the fee record · Medium confidence
20-year base term ended Oct 14, 2025
Why Medium: A terminal disclaimer is on file (approved) with no resolved reference, so the term may end earlier.
Third maintenance fee unpaid; grace period ended.
Oct 14, 2005
Aug 16, 2023
Aug 16, 2011
Oct 14, 2025
Its term would have run to Oct 14, 2025: its 20-year base term, with no adjustment for prosecution delay. A terminal disclaimer is on file with no resolved reference, so no cap is applied and none is guessed. Confidence: Medium. from the record
How we calculated this date
| Step | Input | Date after this step | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base term, 20 years from filing | Clock starts Oct 14, 2005, when application 11/250,988, the earliest non-provisional in its chain, was filed (this one was filed Oct 23, 2009) | Oct 14, 2025 | High confidence |
| Continuity chain | Every parent in the chain resolved | no change | High confidence |
| Patent term adjustment | None on file | no change | High confidence |
| Terminal disclaimer cap | Disclaimer on file (approved), reference document not resolved | no cap applied, and none guessed | Medium confidence |
| Patent term extension | None on file | no change | High confidence |
| Fee events | 2 of 3 maintenance fees paid | lapsed Aug 16, 2023 | High confidence |
| Computed term end | The steps above, in order | Aug 16, 2023 | Medium confidence |
This family
| US 7,627,326 | In force Dec 2026 | Dec 2026 |
| US 8,000,718 | this patent Aug 2023 | Aug 2023 |
Assignments
| Recorded | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26, 2009 Reel 23428, frame 803 | Miller Ii, Robert | AT&T Corp. | Assignment of Assignor's Interest |
Sources
Google Patents · The patent document at USPTO · Assignment records at USPTO
USPTO account required: This application in Patent Center · USPTO's maintenance fee lookup
Maintenance fee events come from USPTO's own fee records. Its fee lookup asks for the patent number and the application number.
What's changing
A terminal disclaimer is on file (approved) and its reference document is not resolved. A disclaimer would cap the term earlier than Aug 16, 2023. We will not guess the cap.