US 6,959,350 Configurable USB interface with virtual register architecture
27 defendants · 27 suits · updated October 6, 2026
Also cited as U.S. Patent No. 6,959,350 · US6959350B1 · US 6,959,350 B1 · 6959350 · the '350 patent
Near Field Electronics LLC has filed 27 patent-infringement suits on US 6,959,350, "Configurable USB interface with virtual register architecture" since June 12, 2026, all in the E.D. Tex., against 27 distinct defendants including Shake Shack Inc., The Michaels Companies Inc. and Zagg Inc.. The patent was granted October 25, 2005 on a priority date of June 28, 2002. Its abstract opens: "An interface controller includes configuration circuitry generated based on a configuration package associated with endpoint configuration parameters." The examiner cited 6 references during prosecution.
- Assignee
- Near Field Electronics LLC
- Priority date
- June 28, 2002
- Granted
- October 25, 2005
- Expires
- June 28, 2022
- Status
- Expired - Lifetime
- Claims
- 28 (4 independent)
- Inventors
- David Luke, Dave Gilbert
- Full text
- Google Patents
The suits
27 cases · E.D. Tex. (27)
| Filed | Defendant | Plaintiff | Court | Docket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-06-12 | Shake Shack Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00643 |
| 2026-06-12 | The Michaels Companies Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00642 |
| 2026-07-20 | Zagg Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00884 |
| 2026-07-20 | Zara USA, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00885 |
| 2026-07-20 | Zumiez Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00886 |
| 2026-07-23 | Whole Foods Market Services LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00923 |
| 2026-07-23 | Yum! Brands, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-00924 |
| 2026-08-12 | Best Buy Co., Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01062 |
| 2026-08-19 | American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01098 |
| 2026-08-19 | Bridgestone Americas, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01101 |
| 2026-08-19 | Caleres, Inc. dba Allen Edmonds | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01097 |
| 2026-08-19 | Carter's, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01096 |
| 2026-08-19 | Gucci America, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01102 |
| 2026-08-19 | Kirkland's Stores, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01103 |
| 2026-08-19 | Sally Beauty Supply LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01104 |
| 2026-08-19 | The Buckle, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01099 |
| 2026-08-19 | The Finish Line, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01100 |
| 2026-08-19 | TravisMathew, LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01105 |
| 2026-09-08 | Dr. Martens Airwair USA LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01224 |
| 2026-09-08 | Euromarket Designs, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01223 |
| 2026-09-08 | Fitness International, LLC d/b/a LA Fitness | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01227 |
| 2026-09-08 | Hat World, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01229 |
| 2026-09-08 | James Avery Craftsman, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01226 |
| 2026-09-08 | Laderach (USA) Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01228 |
| 2026-09-08 | Potbelly Sandwich Works, LLC | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01230 |
| 2026-09-08 | The Children's Place, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01222 |
| 2026-09-08 | The Yankee Candle Company, Inc. | Near Field Electronics LLC | E.D. Tex. | 4:26-cv-01231 |
Docket links open the public record on CourtListener. Filing dates are the complaint's.
Independent claims
What is actually asserted, verbatim.
1. An interface controller, comprising: configuration circuitry generated from at least one configuration package associated with configuration parameters for different endpoints, the configuration package used for configuring different functional elements in the configuration circuitry during hardware description language (HDL) compiling to operate with different endpoint characteristics or structures, and the configuration circuitry then used for configuring the interface controller for the different endpoint characteristics or structures.
10. A method for configuring an interface controller, comprising: receiving a configuration request from a host requesting particular structure and characteristics of one or more endpoints; forwarding the configuration request to a device processor coupled to the host; receiving configuration values back from the device processor associated with the configuration request; and using the selected configuration parameters to configure the interface controller.
18. A method for generating a configuration circuit, comprising: generating a hardware description language (HDL) configuration package that contains configuration information for a set of endpoints; using hardware description language (HDL) code to generate different configuration package to incorporate different endpoint parameters into the configuration circuit designs and using the HDL code to generate other configuration circuit logic configured for operating with other endpoints by making similar HDL calls to the HDL configuration package and varying the configuration information in the configuration package.
21. A configurable Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface controller, comprising: configuration circuitry generated from at least one configuration package containing configuration parameters for different endpoints, and the configuration circuitry used for configuring the interface controller for the different endpoint characteristics or structures; and wherein substantially a same hardware description language (HDL) version of the interface controller is used for generating different logic and register configuration for the different endpoint characteristics or structures by varying configuration parameters in the configuration package.
Art before the examiner
6 references of record, 6 cited by the examiner.
Everything listed here was before the Office and is what a challenge must go beyond. Art the examiner never saw is where an invalidity search starts.
Examiner-cited
- US6122676A — Apparatus and method for transmitting and receiving data into and out of a universal serial bus device (National Semiconductor Corporation)
- US20020188701A1 — Apparatus and method for managing configuration of computer systems on a computer network (International Business Machines Corporation)
- US6742055B2 — Data transmission system, data transmission terminal, controller and interface method (International Business Machines Corporation)
- US6745264B1 — Method and apparatus for configuring an interface controller wherein ping pong FIFO segments stores isochronous data and a single circular FIFO stores non-isochronous data (Cypress Semiconductor Corp.)
- US6782503B1 — Generating a signature to add to a test packet to achieve a target check value (Nortel Networks Limited)
- US6795872B2 — Maintaining at least partial functionality of a device as defined by a hardware configuration at a USB bus enumeration while the device memory is programmed (Renesas Technology America, Inc.)
Classification
- G06F13/385primary — Information transfer, e.g. on bus using universal interface adapter for adaptation of a particular data processing system to different peripheral devices
- G06F2213/0042 — Universal serial bus [USB]
Family
- US6959350B1 — B1 (2005)
Abstract
An interface controller includes configuration circuitry generated based on a configuration package associated with endpoint configuration parameters. The configuration circuitry is used for configuring logic circuitry in the interface controller for different endpoint configurations.
Also asserted by Near Field Electronics LLC
- US 6,691,201 — Dual mode USB-PS/2 device (27 defendants)
- US 6,742,071 — Real-time I/O processor used to implement bus interface protocols (27 defendants)
- US 6,996,727 — Power supply for universal serial bus interface with programmable bus pullup resistor (27 defendants)
- US 7,373,531 — Signal detection method, frequency detection method, power consumption control method, signal detecting device, frequency detecting device, power consumption control device and electronic apparatus (27 defendants)
Named in one of these suits? A prior-art search is commissioned once and serves every defendant who shares it. The examiner's own search record is free on the tools page, and your first preliminary search is free — one claim, back within 24 hours — so you know whether there is art the Office never saw before anyone pays for more. Flat fees: $2,500$899 for the independent claims, $5,000$1,500 for every asserted claim.
This page is assembled from public records — federal court dockets and the patent's own file — and is updated as the case list changes. It states what the record shows and is not an opinion on the validity or infringement of any claim. Patent data via Google Patents; docket data via CourtListener.