US 8,471,812 Pointing and identification device

4 defendants · 4 suits · updated October 6, 2026

Also cited as U.S. Patent No. 8,471,812 · US8471812B2 · US 8,471,812 B2 · 8471812 · the '812 patent

Pointwise Ventures LLC has filed 4 patent-infringement suits on US 8,471,812, "Pointing and identification device" since July 16, 2026, 2 of them in the S.D.N.Y., against 4 distinct defendants including PVH Corp., ZARA USA, Inc. and PDD Holdings Inc.. The patent was granted June 25, 2013 on a priority date of September 23, 2005. Its abstract opens: "A pointing and identification device (PID) allows the user to point at objects in the real world, on television or movie screens, or otherwise not on the computer screen." The examiner cited 8 references during prosecution.

Assignee: Pointwise Ventures LLC
Priority date: September 23, 2005
Granted: June 25, 2013
Expires: September 23, 2025
Status: Active
Claims: 12 (1 independent)
Inventors: Jesse C. Bunch
Full text: Google Patents

The suits

4 cases · S.D.N.Y. (2) · E.D. Tex. (1) · D. Del. (1)

Filed	Defendant	Plaintiff	Court	Docket
2026-07-16	PVH Corp.	Pointwise Ventures LLC	S.D.N.Y.	1:26-cv-06021
2026-07-16	ZARA USA, Inc.	Pointwise Ventures LLC	S.D.N.Y.	1:26-cv-06023
2026-08-13	PDD Holdings Inc.	Pointwise Ventures LLC	E.D. Tex.	2:26-cv-00690
2026-08-13	Zilliz Inc.	Pointwise Ventures LLC	D. Del.	1:26-cv-01035

Docket links open the public record on CourtListener. Filing dates are the complaint's.

Independent claims

What is actually asserted, verbatim.

Claim 1

1. A method for identifying an object, the method comprising: (a) providing a pointing and identification device for pointing at the object, the pointing and identification device comprising: at least one actuation means for actuation by the user when the user points the pointing and identification device at the object; a digital camera for forming a digital image of the object or of a portion of the object when the user points the pointing and identification device at the object and actuates the at least one actuation means; and a communication device for communicating the digital image to a different location when the user actuates the at least one actuation means; (b) communicating the digital image to the different location; (c) automatically identifying a list of likely pointed-to objects from the digital image at the different location to return the list of likely pointed-to objects; and (d) returning the list of likely pointed-to objects to the user to select one of the likely pointed-to objects; wherein the object is at least one of a spot on a displayed image on a display, a subarea of a space on the displayed image on the display, one of a plurality of objects in the displayed image on the display, an object in space, or near an object in space, a subarea of a surface in space, or one of a plurality of objects in space.

Art before the examiner

12 references of record, 8 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

US5835078A — Information presentation apparatus and information display apparatus (Hitachi, Ltd.)
US5933531A — Verification and correction method and system for optical character recognition (International Business Machines Corporation)
US20040148277A1 — System and process for identifying objects and/or points nearby a given object or point (Gray James N.)
US20040208372A1 — Image capture and identification system and process (Boncyk Wayne C.)
US20050138674A1 — System and method for integration and synchronization of interactive content with television content (Quadrock Communications, Inc)
US20050138630A1 — Terminal, method and computer program product for interacting with a physical entity (Nokia Corporation)
US20060251339A1 — System and method for enabling the use of captured images through recognition (Gokturk Salih B)
US7634448B1 — Self-service checkout during item purchase via videophone (Diebold Self-Service Systems Division Of Diebold, Incorporated)

Applicant-cited and other (4)

US6430554B1 — Interactive system for investigating products on a network
US6651053B1 — Interactive system for investigating products on a network
US6675165B1 — Method for linking a billboard or signage to information on a global computer network through manual information input or a global positioning system
US6766363B1 — System and method of linking items in audio, visual, and printed media to related information stored on an electronic network using a mobile device

Classification

G06F3/033primary — Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
G06F3/0386primary — Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry for light pen
G06F3/03543 — Mice or pucks
G06F3/042 — Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means by opto-electronic means

Family

US8471812B2 — B2 (2013)
US20090267895A1 — A1 (2009)
US20140139435A1 — A1 (2014)
4 foreign family members: WO2007038193A2, EP1952381A2, EP1952381A4, WO2007038193A3

Abstract

A pointing and identification device (PID) allows the user to point at objects in the real world, on television or movie screens, or otherwise not on the computer screen. The PID includes a digital camera and one or both of a laser and a reticle for aiming the digital camera. An image taken with the digital camera is transmitted to a computer or the like.

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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.