REGISTER LOGIN

Posts Tagged ‘patent’

Apple, Microsoft, iriver & more face Tsera touchpad patent lawsuit

By Chris Davies on Monday, Jul 20th 2009 No Comments

ipod nano touchpadApple, Microsoft, Bang & Olufsen and iriver are among the defendants named by Tsera LLC, a company claiming to own a touchpad patent which has been vigorously infringed.  The lawsuit concerns Tsera’s patent “Methods and apparatus for controlling a portable electronic device using a touchpad”, and basically describes recognizing different touchpad swipes without requiring visual feedback.

Continued »

Apple patent app adds gives headphones memory for settings transfer

By Chris Davies on Thursday, Jul 16th 2009 No Comments

Apple have applied for a patent whereby your headphones would act as a settings transfer system to bridge your new and old devices.  Named “Data store and enhanced features for headset of portable media device”, the application describes a set of headphones that would include an amount of flash memory; that would be used to backup speed-dials, equalizer settings, playlists, network connections and other preferences from your existing PMP or cellphone.

apple headset memory patent 540x352

Continued »

Michael Jackson “Smooth Criminal” Patent [Video]

By Chris Davies on Thursday, Jul 2nd 2009 No Comments

We’ve kept quiet about Michael Jackson here at SlashGear, but all that has to change: we’ve been reminded about the King of Pop’s one and only patent.  Jackson is a named inventor on patent 5,255,452: “Method and means for creating anti-gravity illusion.”  The document describes a set of special dance shoes and stage apparatus, which allowed Jackson and his dancers to perform the distinctive Smooth Criminal anti-gravity lean in live performances.

michael jackson smooth criminal patent 480x293

Continued »

Sony planning PS3 Emotion Engine emulation for retro gaming?

By Chris Davies on Tuesday, Jun 30th 2009 No Comments

Sony have filed a patent for a system whereby the PS3’s Cell Processor could emulate the hardware of a PS2, opening up the older console’s back-catalog.  The patent describes how the Cell Processor would emulate the Emotion Engine chipset that was included in the first-generation of PS3 hardware but then removed midway through 2007.

sony ps3 emotion engine emulation patent 480x472

Continued »

Sharp LCD panels face US import ban over Samsung IP violation

By Chris Davies on Thursday, Jun 25th 2009 No Comments

Samsung may have managed to get several models from Sharp’s TV and monitor ranges banned from import into the US, after convincing the U.S. International Trade Commission that the products infringe one of its patents.  The IP refers to LCD display technology, with sets from Sharp’s Aquos range of HDTVs named as potentially in violation.

sharp aquos 480x471 

Continued »

Apple patent for in-call iPhone media sharing system

By Chris Davies on Thursday, Jun 4th 2009 1 Comment

apple in call music patent 1Apple have filed a patent for a system for inserting media into an ongoing phonecall, which if implemented would mean that iPhone owners could share music, video, image, voicemail, podcasts or other files with each other.  The application, titled “Methods and systems for mixing media with communications”, suggests that today’s mobile devices fall short of offering straightforward real-time sharing of media files, pointing out that users would likely have to end their conversation and email an audio file (or other media file) as an attachment.

Once shared, the media file could be controlled – ideal for those “listen to this bit, you’ll love it” moments – and the conversation could be continued while the media plays.  Alternatively Apple tips future video calling capabilities for the iPhone, with the system allowing for two concurrent video streams: one for the conversation, and one for shared video footage.

Continued »

Remote-controlled GPS cyanide implant patent rejected

By Chris Davies on Friday, May 22nd 2009 No Comments

poison bottleThe German patent office have rejected an application for a “killer chip” for political undesirables.  The chip, which the Saudi inventor suggested would be useful for tracking terrorists, criminals, fugitives, illegal immigrants, political dissidents, domestic servants and foreigners overstaying their visas, consisted of not only a GPS transceiver but an optional capsule of cyanide that could be remotely administered.

Continued »

Nokia open up unused patents to Finnish companies

By Chris Davies on Friday, May 22nd 2009 No Comments

Nokia have announced that they will be opening up thousands of their currently unused patents so that any Finnish company can use them.  Intended to stimulate activity in their home economy, the Nokia Technopolis Innovation Mill will also include packages of funding for promising schemes; €8m in venture funding has been secured already.

nokia technopolis innovation mill 480x237

Continued »

Sony Ericsson patent reads your face, builds a playlist

By Chris Davies on Thursday, May 21st 2009 No Comments

sony ericsson facial expression pmp cellphone patentSony Ericsson have patented a system whereby a cellphone could be controlled by facial expressions, shuffling between music tracks according to visual mood analysis.  The patent, titled “Generating music playlist based on facial expression”, describes capturing an image of a user and using facial recognition to build a custom playlist depending on the listener’s mood.

The system could either recognize moods by spotting particular facial characteristics or by comparing the whole face against presets; alternatively, a hybrid of the two might be applied. 

Continued »

Apple “willfully” infringed patent, fined $19m in damages

By Chris Davies on Monday, Apr 27th 2009 No Comments

Apple has been ordered to pay $19m in damages, having been found guilty of “willfully” infringing a patent concerning efficient data transfer.  The patent, “Predictive snooping of cache memory for master-initiated accesses”, was issued to Opti Inc. in June 2002; they filed a suit against Apple in January 2007 for alleged infringement.

apple patent infringement 480x171

Continued »

Pages: Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Next