Certain Smart Thermostat Hubs, Systems Containing the Same, and Components of the Same; Institution of Investigation, 64247-64248 [2022-22998]

Agencies

• INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64247-64248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22998]


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INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION

[Inv. No. 337-TA-1339]


Certain Smart Thermostat Hubs, Systems Containing the Same, and 
Components of the Same; Institution of Investigation

AGENCY: International Trade Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the 
U.S. International Trade Commission on September 16, 2022, under the 
Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of EDST, LLC of Lubbock, 
Texas and Quext IoT, LLC of Lubbock, Texas. The complaint was 
supplemented on September 22, and October 5, 2022. The complaint, as 
supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 based upon the 
importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the 
sale within the United States after importation of certain smart 
thermostat hubs, systems containing the same, and components of the 
same by reason of the infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 
10,825,273 (``the '273 patent''); U.S. Patent No. 10,803,685 (``the 
'685 patent''); and U.S. Patent No. 11,189,118 (``the '118 patent''). 
The complaint, as supplemented, further alleges that an industry in the 
United States exists, or is in the process of being established, as 
required by the applicable Federal Statute. The complainant requests 
that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the 
investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist 
order.

ADDRESSES: The complaint, except for any confidential information 
contained therein, may be viewed on the Commission's electronic docket 
(EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email 
[email protected]. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that 
information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the 
Commission's TDD terminal on (202) 205-1810. Persons with mobility 
impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the 
Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 205-
2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be 
obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Mullan, Office of Docket 
Services, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone (202) 205-
1802.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Authority: The authority for institution of this investigation is 
contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 
U.S.C. 1337, and in section 210.10 of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2022).
    Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. 
International Trade Commission, on October 18, 2022, ordered that--
    (1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 
1930, as

[[Page 64248]]

amended, an investigation be instituted to determine whether there is a 
violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337 in the importation 
into the United States, the sale for importation, or the sale within 
the United States after importation of certain products identified in 
paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one or more of claims 1, 2, 
5-11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31, and 33 of the 
'273 patent and claims 1, 2, 5-11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 22, and 23 of 
the '685 patent; claims 1-6, 8-10, and 11-19 of the '118 patent, and 
whether an industry in the United States exists or is in the process of 
being established as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337;
    (2) Pursuant to section 210.10(b)(1) of the Commission's Rules of 
Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10(b)(1), the plain language 
description of the accused products or category of accused products, 
which defines the scope of the investigation, is ``(1) certain smart 
thermostat devices that serve as in-unit hubs for the remote control of 
smart door locks, (2) systems including those smart thermostat devices, 
and (3) internal circuity, printed circuit boards, and communication 
components for those smart thermostat devices.'';
    (3) For the purpose of the investigation so instituted, the 
following are hereby named as parties upon which this notice of 
investigation shall be served:

    (a) The complainants are:
EDST, LLC, 5214 68th Street, Suite 402, Lubbock, TX 79424
Quext IoT, LLC, 5214 68th Street, Suite 201, Lubbock, TX 79424

    (b) The respondents are the following entities alleged to be in 
violation of section 337, and are the parties upon which the complaint 
is to be served:

iApartments, Inc.,201 E Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1925, Tampa, FL 33602
Hsun Wealth Technology Co., Ltd., 11th Floor, No. 47, Qingpu, Qingpu 
Village, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City, 32056, Taiwan
Huarifu Technology Co., Ltd., 11th Floor, No. 49, Section 1, Qingfeng 
Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan City, 32056, Taiwan

    (4) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative 
Law Judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the 
presiding Administrative Law Judge. The Office of Unfair Import 
Investigations will not be participating as a party in this 
investigation.
    Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be 
submitted by the named respondents in accordance with section 210.13 of 
the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.13. 
Pursuant to 19 CFR 201.16(e) and 210.13(a), as amended in 85 FR 15798 
(March 19, 2020), such responses will be considered by the Commission 
if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the 
complainants of the complaint and the notice of investigation. 
Extensions of time for submitting responses to the complaint and the 
notice of investigation will not be granted unless good cause therefor 
is shown.
    Failure of a respondent to file a timely response to each 
allegation in the complaint and in this notice may be deemed to 
constitute a waiver of the right to appear and contest the allegations 
of the complaint and this notice, and to authorize the administrative 
law judge and the Commission, without further notice to the respondent, 
to find the facts to be as alleged in the complaint and this notice and 
to enter an initial determination and a final determination containing 
such findings, and may result in the issuance of an exclusion order or 
a cease and desist order or both directed against the respondent.

    By order of the Commission.

    Issued: October 18, 2022.
Jessica Mullan,
Attorney Advisor.
[FR Doc. 2022-22998 Filed 10-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7020-02-P