Mobiles reviews - patent

Apple, Palm, RIM under fire in GSM patent lawsuit

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:28:05 +0000

It’s been some time since we’ve heard of any major lawsuits stemming from questionable patent holdings in the mobile space. We’ve almost lost faith in shady patent holding companies looking to make a quick buck from whatever vague patents they may or may not have. The latest patent lawsuit involves none other than the famous smartphone [...]

Apple named in touchscreen device patent lawsuit over iPhone's touchscreen

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:46:39 +0000

We've already seen iPhone related lawsuits cropping up from legitimate patent holders as well as frivolous settlement-hunters. And, with the iPhone 3G set to go live on July 11, we're seeing another round of iPhone lawsuits start to surface. Typhoon Touch Technologies has just named Apple, in their multi-defendant lawsuit, for violating two patents regarding a [...]

Apple patent application details light-weight laser-based head mounted display

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 20:46:33 +0000

Head-mounted displays are nothing new, and neither is the prospect of displaying content from a mobile phone or other mobile device at nose-distance. But, Apple's newest patent application to go public details plans for a laser-based head mounted display that lightens the load by separating the "laser engine" from the goggle-like head mounted display. "A user [...]

HTC patent application shows off unique dual-slider

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:00:33 +0000

Dual-sliders are great and all, but the price we pay for the convenience of having both a numeric keypad and QWERTY keyboard is usually a considerable amount of bulk. Even HTC is guilty of adding a bit of heft in the name of convenience. But, that could all change if our favorite Taiwanese WinMo manufacturer [...]

Nokia is holding its ground - $1 billion in licensing fees to Qualcomm is enough

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:26:09 +0000

Again and again with this legal back and forth between Qualcomm and Nokia. The latest bit to come out of Espoo basically calls into question Qualcomm's entire argument. Nokia states that they've dumped something like $1 billion in licensing fees to Qualcomm in order to use Qualcomm's early mobile technologies. The licensing deals from 1992 [...]

Apple faces increased lawsuit pressure over Visual Voicemail system

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:07:28 +0000

Remember that technology firm that came out of the woodwork and sued Apple over the iPhone’s Visual Voicemail feature ? Well, unlike other patent-squatters in the business, Klausner Technologies actually had a pretty solid case. The firm sued Apple, AT&T, SimulScribe, and others over patents 5,572,576 and 5,283,818 , claiming that Visual Voicemail infringed on Klausner’s IP rights. The firm is seeking $360m in damages from Apple. Well, it looks like SimulScribe has just settled with Klausner Technologies, leaving co-defendant Apple in a weaker position to defend itself against Klausner’s claims. SimulScribe has agreed to a licensing deal with Klausner Technologies. Apple might want to just go ahead and settle with Klausner. There’s nothing like a little licensing-love to make things run a bit more smoothly. Then again, with the way Apple’s stock is headed, we can see why Steve might want to fight this battle to the bitter end. Let’s see how this one plays out. [Via: MacWorld UK ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Vodafone Germany gets jiggy with Visual Voicemail too - kind ofApple and AT&T sued over iPhone's Visual Voicemail technology - another patent infringement caseAlltel to offer Voice-to-Text voicemail service - SpinVoxiPhone Visual Voicemail is 2007's best featureGet iPhone-like visual voicemail on your BlackBerry, Windows Mobile phone

Apple patent application for wobbly iPhone homescreen icons; throwable icons

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 23:41:20 +0000

The world of tech-rumors is a “wobbly” one indeed (you see what we did there?). The juicier and longer the lead-time of a rumor, the more skepticism and doubt enshroud said rumor. But enough with the flowery rhetoric – the “leaked” iPhone v1.1.3 firmware from Gear Live has been the topic of hot debate as to whether or not the video is legit. We’re all hoping that the firmware-video is the real deal and not some fancy video editing, but we have to leave open the door for the possibility that the firmware “leak” is a hoax. So, here’s a bit of patent-application-goodness to help legitimize the v1.1.3 firmware video. It looks like Apple filed for a patent back in August of last year that details the now famous “wobbly” iPhone homescreen icon effect. The patent outlines a method by which a mobile device’s homescreen icons would vibrate/wiggle/wobble, whatever you want to call it, to indicate that the icons’ positions can be altered. The animated GIF below (put together from the patent application diagrams - props to Hrmpf !) matches up perfectly with what Gear Live showed us recently. However, the patent application also mentions a feature that Gear Live’s video did not demonstrate – the ability for the homescreen icons to be “thrown” across the screen. In moving the icons, the speed and direction of the icon-movement could be interpreted to move the icon to a position different from the point of release. The faster, or “harder,” the icon is thrown, the further it moves. Upon breaking contact with the touch-sensitive display, the respective icon may resume varying its position. In some embodiments, the respective icon can be “thrown,” so that the final position of the respective icon is different from the point at which the icon is released. In this embodiment, the final position can depend on a variety of factors, such as the speed of the “throw,” the parameters used in a simulated equation of motion for the “throw” (e.g., coefficient of friction), and/or the presence of a lay out grid with simulated attractive forces. Now, just because Gear Live didn’t’ demonstrate the “throwable” icon feature doesn’t invalidate their “leak.” Technologies mentioned in patent applications are by no means guaranteed to make it into production. Furthermore, it can be argued that since the patent application was published prior to Gear Live’s video, the legitimacy of the video should be held in question. Whatever the case, we’ll likely know more in a couple weeks. For the meantime, we’re looking forward to “wobbly” homescreen icons and “My Location” features on our iPhone. [Via: MacRumors ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Apple iPhone Commerical hints at unannounced iPhone Application - Mystery ApplicationApple iPhone announcement coming soon? Offline support for third-party web-apps?Customize your iPhone's background image!Apple has been quietly updating the iPhone's interface!Japanese man fabricates his own Apple iPhone dummy from scratch!

Brief: Motorola settles patent disputes wiht Metrologic Instruments

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 16:46:45 +0000

Motorola’s had enough troubles last year - it’s time that they turn over a new leaf and get back to the business of making profits from mobile phone sales. Moto has just settled their outstanding patent disputes with Metrologic Instruments, giving them a clean slate to launch those 20-30 new handsets in 2008. Metrologic and Motorola have been in a patent dispute since 2002 over barcode scanning and mobile computing technologies. The feuding companies have settled on a cross-licensing deal that should give either side the legal peace of mind to concentrate on making money again. Bring on the new hotness, Moto. We can’t wait to see what you’re bringing to CES 2008! [Via: AP ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Motorola: See you later, Qualcomm, we're going with Texas InstrumentsNokia: ITC starts Qualcomm investigationNokia, Sprint, and Nextel scheduled a press release for next Wednesday: What can it be about?Motorola's Smell-O-Phone - Stinky PatentNokia files Patent Exhaustion Case against Qualcomm in Europe

Apple files patent application to use iPhone to purchase "to-go" items - no more waiting in line

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:41:03 +0000

It seems Steve Jobs may be just as tired of waiting in long-lines at the local Starbucks as we are. Wouldn’t it be great if we could use our media player or cellphone to wirelessly order a cup of coffee ahead of time and simply stroll into the brick-and-mortor shop to pick up our cup of joe. Well, good, ole’ Stevie is on it. Apple just filed a patent application on December 20 for a method whereby a media player, PDA, or cellphone could be used to place a wireless-order at a particular store - doing away with the dreaded “queue.” iPhone users are already able to wirelessly download music from iTunes’ catalogue at all Starbucks locations, and this technolofy would take the Apple-Starbucks relationship to the next step. USPTO patent application #20070291710 outlines a system that is capable of logging orders and notifying the customer when the order is ready for pick-up. The system would also track customers’ shopping habits and purchases. Customers might tap a button to order their favorite drink, say a double-shot mocha, as they stroll up to the nearest coffee shop. When the drink is ready go to, the device–such as an iPhone–would chime or blink to let the thirsty one know it’s time to scoop up the order at the counter. The iPhone may be set to take on a new role - transitioning from a cellphone/media player phenom into a life-assistant for your daily activities. We’ll have to wait and see just what Apple does with this new technology. A patent application doesn’t necessarily mean that Apple will be putting the new tech into their future lineup, but if it does pan out, we couldn’t be happier. There’s nothing worse than waiting in line (trust us, we know a thing or two about lines ). [Via: Forbes ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Into iPhone arrives at the 3rd Street Promenade Apple Store - waiting in line for the iPhone launchApple patent application hints at Apple iPhone Nano!Apple iPhone nano coming in this year: JP MorganApple files for second pressure-sensitive touch display patentApple patent application reveals iPod and iPhone as wireless remote controls with metadata [...]

Broadcom takes Qualcomm to court again - claims continued patent infringement

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:51:59 +0000

That federal judge may have saved Qualcomm from having to pony-up almost $40 million to Broadcom - you know, that patent infringement case that was made so famous by the ITC’s ban of Qualcomm’s mobile chipsets - but Broadcom’s not going to take it lying down. Broadcom is claiming that Qualcomm’s “workaround” is still infringing on Broadcom patents. The “workaround” was intended to allow Qualcomm to circumvent Broadcom’s technology and continue to offer mobile chipsets in the US. Alas, Broadcom has taken its case to the ITC again and is crying foul. They claim that Qualcomm’s alleged “workaround” doesn’t do anything to work-around Broadcom’s technology. The case has been handed to an administrative law judge, so we’ll be seeing more of the same Qualcomm v. Broadcom battling that we’ve all grown soo damned tired of. [Via: RCRNews ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Broadcom Wants Qualcomm Chips BannedDutch court dismisses Nokia patent case against QualcommQualcomm kicks off patent infringement case against Nokia in the UKBroadcom wins appeal for 2005 anti-trust lawsuit against QualcommPresident Bush upholds ITC ruling to ban Qualcomm 3G chipsets

Apple files patent application for multi-tasking multi-touch gaming interface

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:31:49 +0000

We let this one slip through the cracks, but here it is - better late than never. Playing a mobile game usually means that you’ll have to put all other applications on hold (if not closed-out altogether for the sake of memory usage). The mobile game usually takes priority on most touch-based commands (and directional commands on phones without touchscreens), rendering the cellphone all but useless for anything but playing the game itself. Incoming calls interrupt game-play, and the game must be stopped in order to load a webpage. Well, Apple wants to change all that. Apple has filed a patent application for a multi-touch gaming interface that allows iPhone and iPod Touch owners to play mobile-games while simultaneously being able to control a secondary application. The application, titled “Techniques for interactive input to portable electronic devices,” outlines a method whereby the user would be able to input touch-based commands on any touch-based device. Depending on where the touch-input is registered, the underlying technology would determine which application the input was intended for. The “Input is directed to the appropriate application based on one or more locations (e.g., points, positions, regions, portions) of the input area effectively identified when input is received (e.g., when input is entered by a person by touching a particular position on a touch screen).” Furthermore, the inputs’ intentions can be derived from more intuitive motions, like “positional, directional, rotational, pressing and/or pushing type inputs (or movement),” in order to determine which application should process a particular input. News of the application filing comes just prior to Apple’s expected release of an iPhone SDK. The release of the official SDK should foster a flurry of mobile gaming development on the iPhone, and as such, Apple will want to give mobile gamers more control over their devices’ features. [Via: Apple Insider ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Apple files for second pressure-sensitive touch display patentApple considering multi-touch for Mac computer lineupApple files patent application for pressure-sensitive touchscreen technologyApple patent filed for tactile touchscreen - raised, indented keysMicrosoft Zune Phone - New Patent Application Hints At Zune Phone Tiled Interface

Sony Ericsson files patent application to bring gesture control to cameraphones

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 21:11:37 +0000

Now this is one interesting patent application. Sony Ericsson may be planning to up the ante on cameraphones if their newest patent application comes to fruition. High-end cameraphone offerings from the likes of Nokia and Sony Ericsson already boast impressive performance as far as point-and-shoot digi-cams are concerned, and Sony Ericsson seems to be brewing a unique feature for its cameraphone lineup. The USPTO has revealed a method by which simple hand-gestures could be used to control the cameraphone’s features - taking pictures, answering phone calls, and even controlling music playback with a not-so-proverbial flick of a finger. The patent involves the use of some clever software that would endow image-recognition powers to a Sony Ericsson cameraphone. The software would be used to recognize hand-gestures as a control-method for various phone features. As long as the phone is powered on and has a line-of-sight to your hand (from a table or a tripod), the user can issue a command to take a picture or start playing an MP3 track from afar. Furthermore, the phone can be connected to your DLNA home-network to control your TV, PC, audio system, etc. Imagine that - controlling your home-theater system by waving your hand through the air. As patent applications go, this one may or may not see the light of day, but we’re all crossing our fingers in hopes that it will make it into Sony Ericsson’s production line. [Via: Unwired View ] The ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Sony Ericsson files for patent on programmable touchscreen keypadSony Ericsson to route phone calls through TV; Aims to rule your homeSony Ericsson's patent application for dual-sliding QWERTY-keyboard and numeric keypadSony Ericsson patents universal remoteApple files for second pressure-sensitive touch display patent

Nokia files patent application for handset with fingerprint-scanning display

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:47:01 +0000

Here’s yet another novel patent application from Espoo. Finnish handset manufacturer, Nokia, has filed a patent application for a handset that uses a fingerprint scanner as a means of determining which user profile to display or verify security. But, this isn’t your run-of-the-mill fingerprint scanner. No, this patent application outlines a method to leverage a touch-sensitive display to pull double-duty as a fingerprint scanner. Nokia seems to be seting the stage to include more and more interesting features in its upcoming touch-based handsets . Nokia envisions a handset that would change its user interface depending on which user’s fingerprint was identified by the scanner - basically morphing the handset to a particular user’s preferences. Of course, the scanner could also be used to verify the user’s identity for security purposes. And, Nokia even makes provisions for the use of a “visual display cursor” to launch applications or features that are linked to a particular finger. Web browser? No problem, just scan your right middle-finger. Text messages? Simply scan your left ring-finger. Sounds pretty cool to us, we just hope Nokia has plans to implement this technology in future handsets. Oh, and sooner would be better than later. USPTO source [Via: CellPassion ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Apple files for second pressure-sensitive touch display patentSony Ericsson files for patent on programmable touchscreen keypadNokia appeals German courts dismissal of Qualcomm lawsuitKDDI to offer Hitachi phone with fingerprint sensorNokia files patent for side-sliding mobile phone with QWERTY keyboard

Apple and AT&T sued over iPhone's Visual Voicemail technology - another patent infringement case

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:35:00 +0000

Well, this isn’t just another patent infringement case against the iPhone. Whereas all previous lawsuits basically rested on the shakiest of ground , the latest lawsuit brought against Apple and AT&T by Klausner Technologies has some merit. The firm has alleged that the iPhone’s Visual Voicemail feature infringes on Klausner’s U.S. Patents 5,572,576 and 5,283,818 . The lawsuit was filed against Apple and AT&T for offering the patented technology to iPhone customers and is seeking damage and future royalties that could amount to $360 million. Outlined in the lawsuit is Klauser’s claim that AT&T and Apple have infringed their intellectual property by giving iPhone users a method to selectively listen to messages in the voicemail system - Visual Voicemail. And, it seems that the lawsuit has some firm ground to stand upon. Klausner Technologies has already successfully established their intellectual property rights in previous litigation against Time Warner AOL for the AOL Voicemail system. The firm was able to show that their patents were valid and landed a licensing agreement with Time Warner AOL. “We have litigated this patent successfully on two prior occasions,” said Greg Dovel of Dovel & Luner, counsel for Klausner. “With the signing of each new licensee, we continue to receive further confirmation of the strength of our visual voicemail patents.” And, to add more legitimacy to the lawsuit, the firm has filed similar lawsuits against Comcast Corporation, Cablevision Systems Corp., and Skype for infringing on Klausner patents by allowing users to selectively listen to voicemail messages. Good luck, Apple and AT&T (not to mention all those other firms currently under fire). We’re usually quick to dismiss frivolous lawsuits, but this one sounds like it’s of the valid-variety. A settlement might just be your best bet. We should note that Klausner Technologies granted an OEM license to Apple to cover the Apple Newton PDA when it was launched all those years ago. Interesting. [Via: MacWorld ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Apple sued for patent infringement - SP Technologies claims patent over iPhone's virtual keyboardWoman sues iPhone trio over price cuts - Steve Jobs, Apple, AT&T all named in latest lawsuitVodafone Germany gets jiggy with Visual Voicemail too - kind ofCalifornia man files class action lawsuit against Apple over bricking of unlocked iPhonesAlltel [...]

Nokia patent application hints at N-series slider with 8 megapixel camera

Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:52:36 +0000

Patent applications, be they from Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Microsoft, etc., all have one thing in common - they employ hand-sketched, incredibly vague images that outline their ideas. Well, Nokia’s breaking rank with their newest patent application filing. The image you see below isn’t some poor-quality spy-shot of an N-series slider in Nokia’s pipeline, rather, it’s the image that was included in the patent application wherein Nokia outlines plans to incorporate a swiveling/rotating camera module - much like we saw used in the Nokia 5700 . The idea is that a swiveling camera-module will give users more control over the camera’s “imaging axis.” Right, that makes sense, but the swiveling camera isn’t what piques our interest here. A close look at the patent application’s included images shows what looks like a lower-resolution, grainy spy-shot of a real-life Nokia N-series slider that’s already in the works in Espoo. Even closer inspection reveals what looks like an “8 Megapixel” or “6 Megapixel” branding emblazoned on the camera module. Did someone take the time and effort to sketch a fairly-detailed, if grainy, image of a handset for the sole purpose of including an image in the patent application? We’d put our money on “no.” We’ll likely have to wait until next year, but we won’t be too surprised if Nokia drops an N-series slider with a rotating/swiveling camera module on us. FCC source [Via: Unwired View ] ---Related Articles at IntoMobile:Apple patent application hints at theft-detecting, security-enabled power adaptors for iPhoneApple patent application hints at Apple iPhone Nano!Samsung E950 - 3 megapixel sliderSony Ericsson's patent application for dual-sliding QWERTY-keyboard and numeric keypadSamsung to launch G600 - handset with 5 MP camera