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Posts Tagged ‘Patent’

Microsoft patent application details use of human bodies for inhuman data transmissions

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While we know the human body is capable of generating electricity, we never quite thought of it as a data transmission channel like this Microsoft patent application suggests. According to the document, the folks up in Redmond would like to be able to transfer information from one electronic device to another with a simple touch, as seen in the image above. It all sounds a little ~~freaky~~ gimmicky, but the filing goes on to suggest a few practical uses. Instead of swiping a credit card or showing ID, you could use your own flesh to authenticate the purchase of goods or services. Another example is the ability to share contact information with someone just by shaking his or her hand, so long as he or she was also wearing a similar electronic device. While we hesitate to endorse such a technology, at least it’s less invasive than embedding circuitry in our wrists. If you feel like plumbing the depths of this patent further, click on the source for more on what the software giant has in mind for the future.

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Source: USPTO

U.S. ITC Finds Apple Violates Samsung Patent, Issues Limited Import Ban On AT&T iPhone 4, 3GS And Some iPads

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Author: JohnnyBells

Apple has been found to be in violation of a Samsung patent, which has resulted in a limited import ban on certain products, including the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, original iPad 3G and iPad 2 3G, all only for AT&T-specific models. More details are emerging about the ruling, but it’s likely this affects only older devices on AT&T because it relates to a specific component used before wider release of the iPhone with multi-band support.

The import ban could theoretically result in Apple being unable to sell the devices in question in the U.S., should all appeals fail and the decision be upheld, since Apple wouldn’t be able to bring the devices into the country from its overseas suppliers and manufacturing facilities. As this is an ITC ruling, it would have to be appealed to the White House or Federal Circuit to be overturned, notes Nilay Patel of The Verge on Twitter.

@panzer Not a preliminary ruling, like other ITC rulings. This is final, appealable only to WH (won't touch it) and Fed Circuit.—
nilay patel (@reckless) June 04, 2013

Even if it does result in an effective ban, these devices are likely nearing the end of their sales cycle, with updates looming in the fall or perhaps as soon as next week at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference. Still, it would be a considerable blow given that there are still a number of months between now and then, depending on when it takes effect. In the interim, small carriers and education still rely heavily on older models.

Apple announced today that it was, of course, disappointed with the outcome and will appeal today’s ruling telling AllThingsD, “Today’s decision has no impact on the availability of Apple products in the United States. Samsung is using a strategy which has been rejected by courts and regulators around the world. They’ve admitted that it’s against the interests of consumers in Europe and elsewhere, yet here in the United States Samsung continues to try to block the sale of Apple products by using patents they agreed to license to anyone for a reasonable fee.”

The full decision is embedded below, and the patent at issue in this particular decision is described in detail here. It’s related to cellular transmission of signals, to dramatically simplify things.

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President Obama to take aim at patent trolls with executive actions tomorrow

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Author: Angela Chin

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President Obama is planning to take executive action against patent trolls announcing a series of legal moves tomorrow to rein in some of the patent system’s current abuses, reports The Wall Street Journal. The president will reportedly instruct the Patent and Trademark Office to start work on a rule-making process that would require disclosure of the owner of a patent in addition to its inventor. The move is reportedly designed to give people more information in the case that they’re charged with patent infringement, like whether the company that’s suing them owns other related patents. Citing unnamed officials, The WSJ writes that the president will announce five executive actions and seven proposed legislative changes, including…

Samsung opens US-based patent beachhead focused on display tech

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Author: Jon Daniels

Smartphone patent disputes may get all the glory, but display battles can be no less pitched. To that end, Samsung launched a US IP company in March sans fanfare called Intellectual Keystone Technology (IKP) to “trade and develop” OLED and LCD patents, according to The Korea Times. A spokesman said the company opened the office as a way to smooth innovation, but also warned that it intends to use it “to protect our intellectual property by strengthening our patent-related business.” So far, it’s already shored up Samsung’s portfolio by purchasing display tech from Seiko Epson — after all, it never hurts to have as many cards up your sleeve as you can when things get ugly.

Filed under: Displays, Samsung

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Via: Techmeme

Source: The Korea Times

ZTE joins more than 20 other Microsoft Android patent licensees

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Author: Mark Jeffries

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ZTE has agreed to license patents that Microsoft holds relating to Android and Chrome OS. The agreement comes just a week after a similar deal with Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn was revealed. Microsoft says the fresh deal with ZTE means 80 percent of Android smartphones sold in the US and a majority worldwide are covered under its agreements.

Microsoft holds a large number of deals with OEMs including HTC, Acer, Samsung, and LG, with the latest ZTE agreement bringing the number above 20. While Microsoft has convinced many, Google-owned Motorola remains defiant against any patent deals with the software maker. The pair remain locked in legal battles over patents related to the Xbox 360. Microsoft makes a subtle dig at Motorola in its…

LG’s head-mounted display patent ensures you’re always watching

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Author: Natalie Wood

While head-mounted displays are nothing new, LG has patented a novel method for utilizing them that might grab your attention. The patent states that when you’re staring at content on a device like a tablet, the HMD is inactive. But turn your head or the device away and that same content will automatically fade into view right in front of your bespectacled eyes. According to the filing, the noggin-strapped contraption is set to buzz as it switches displays and there’ll be a slight transitional pause when viewing video. While we’re betting virtual reality goggles and Google-branded headgear might prove to be a touch more popular, this is at least a lot cooler than passive 3D clip-ons.

Filed under: Wearables

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Source: USPTO

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Foxconn becomes Microsoft’s biggest Android patent licensee

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Author: jos

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Foxconn has accepted accredit patents that Microsoft holds relating to Android and Chrome OS. Neither company has revealed details of the offer, but the Taiwanese production giant– which makes over 40 percent of the world’s customer electronics gadgets, lots of in China– will be paying Microsoft royalties on its gadgets that run either Google operating system. According to Ars Technica, the arrangement suggests that Foxconn is now the greatest licensee of Microsoft patents.

While Microsoft currently has similar handle numerous OEMs such as Acer that make use of Foxconn for production, the business will supposedly just gather costs as soon as per device; both licensees will work out who pays the charge as part of their agreement. The 2 companies have …

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Google, BlackBerry, EarthLink and Red Hat ask DoJ and FTC to help starve patent trolls

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Author: jos

Tired of all the patent-related stories? Especially the ones that seem like they are more about financial gain than fairness? We thought so. We’d imagine it’s even more of a frustration if you’re one of the companies regularly involved. No surprise then that some firms — such as Google, BlackBerry, EarthLink and Red Hat — have decided to do something about it, taking the fight directly to the FTC and DoJ. In a recent blog post, Google explains that — along with its collaborators — it has submitted comments to the aforementioned agencies, detailing the impact that “patent trolls” have on the economy.

While the financial cost to the US taxpayer is said to be nearly $ 30 billion, the four companies also point out how such behaviour hurts consumers even further, suggesting that when start-ups and small businesses are strong-armed, innovation and competition suffer. Some specific practices such as “patent priveteering” — when a company sells patents to trolls who don’t manufacture anything and therefore can’t be countersued — also come under direct criticism. The cynical might assume this all comes back to the bottom line, but with the collaborative extending an invitation to other companies to help develop revised, cooperative licensing agreements, they are the very least making it difficult for them to engage in similar behavior in the future. At least until the FTC and DoJ respond.

Filed under: Misc, Google, Blackberry

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Via: TechCrunch

Source: Google Public Policy (blog)

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Microsoft’s new patent tracker promises transparency, but is all about licensing

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Author:

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As Apple and Samsung continue to wage war over patents, other tech companies like Google and Twitter are trying to make the patent landscape look a little bit less like a minefield. Microsoft is landing distinctly in the middle as it attempts to facilitate patent licensing by today launching a tracking tool that showcases its portfolio. The company implies that the new tool’s transparency will promote innovation, but the apparent intent is to make evident what patents the company owns so that individuals and other companies don’t get caught up by trolls alleging ownership over a certain patent.

Microsoft’s Chief Patent Council Bart Eppenauer told The Verge last year that the company monetizes its “currency of innovation” and research…

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Apple Appears In Court In China To Defend Against Siri Patent Infringement Claim

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Author: Jade Kim

Apple is in court once more in China, protecting another of its items from attack based upon pre-existing cases from a Chinese company. This time around it ’ s Siri, Apple ’ s virtual assistant, that has actually landed it in Chinese legal problem, after last year an additional company took concern with the iPad trademark resulting in a $ 60 million settlement offer.

The claim this time is from Zhizhen Modern technology Co., a Shanghai business that holds a patent for voice awareness software for its “ Xiao i Robotic, ” software that was initially patented back in 2004. Siri, Inc. was established in 2007, after being rotated out of SRI International and before being obtained by Apple in 2010. Zhizhen initially filed suit back in July last year, at which time this video allegedly showing a version of Xiao i Robotic in action on a Lenovo device emerged.

Xiao i Robot can be installed on wise Televisions, and is utilized by countries worldwide in consumer service features, according to an guide from Shanghai Daily published back in June 2012. The tech has actually apparently been used by 360buy. com, in addition to the Chinese government and a number of other business clients.

Zhizhen told says it will ask Apple to “ stop making and selling items using its patent rights, as soon as Apple ’ s violation is verified, ” among its lawyers informed the AFP. Must it be effective, it may likewise seek payment down the road for any damages done by Siri to its financials to date. Apple had actually asked for the case to be dropped, and was declined in that effort, the lawyer said. Today ’ s hearing paves the way for a full trial start in July 2013.

Just recently, Apple has fallen under attack by Chinese media for client service and return policy grievances. The business has actually responded on its main website to reply to some of these attacks, however experts recommend this could possibly be part of an effort to urge more consumption of home-grown technician solutions by Chinese consumers. China likewise recently partnered with Ubuntu developer Canonical to establish a China-specific open source operating system that appears in component designed to wean its IT sector off of foreign-developed software tools.

Posts Tagged ‘Patent’

Microsoft patent application details use of human bodies for inhuman data transmissions

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U.S. ITC Finds Apple Violates Samsung Patent, Issues Limited Import Ban On AT&T iPhone 4, 3GS And Some iPads

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President Obama to take aim at patent trolls with executive actions tomorrow

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Samsung opens US-based patent beachhead focused on display tech

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ZTE joins more than 20 other Microsoft Android patent licensees

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LG’s head-mounted display patent ensures you’re always watching

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Foxconn becomes Microsoft’s biggest Android patent licensee

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Google, BlackBerry, EarthLink and Red Hat ask DoJ and FTC to help starve patent trolls

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Microsoft’s new patent tracker promises transparency, but is all about licensing

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Apple Appears In Court In China To Defend Against Siri Patent Infringement Claim

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