Your Source for the Latest Patent Information
Add to My Yahoo!
marker  User Functions
marker  Categories
marker  Archives
marker  Search




marker  Syndication
What is RSS? RSS 0.92: RSS 1.0: RSS 2.0: Atom:










marker  Credits
       
Start Stop
START or STOP receiving GEN-ERIC Patent News
  *Home*     Links  
GEN-ERIC Patent News
Your Source for the Latest Patent Information
The URL Grouping Patent of the Day goes to America Online, Inc. of Virginia for Grouping multimedia and streaming media search results
01/25/05

6,847,977 Grouping multimedia and streaming media search results
  Issued: January 25, 2005
  Filed: June 11, 2001
  U.S. Class: 707/102
Abstract:  A method and system for grouping metadata search results associated with media on a computer network, such as multimedia and streaming media include binning and iterative masking. The media metadata has an associated media file, which has an associated uniform resource locator (URL). Each URL has at least one field, and each field has at least one character. Binning includes selecting, sorting, and putting URLs having a common attribute into the same bin. Masking includes creating a mask of masking characters. Each field in each URL in each bin is compare with the mask. If a masking character matches a character in a field, the character in the field is removed from the field. This produces at least one resultant URL, i.e., URL that has been compared with a mask. Identical resultant URLs are collapsing into one URL. Thus, redundant and variant URLs are collapsed into a single URL, which may be provided to a search system (e.g., search engine) and/or to a user.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 09:08:40 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

The Water Game Patent of the Day goes to Impaxx, Inc. of California for Liquid reactive materials and method for using same in games and other applications
01/25/05

6,845,982 Liquid reactive materials and method for using same in games and other applications

  Issued: January 25, 2005
  Filed: February 25, 2003
  U.S. Class: 273/349
Abstract:  A method for temporarily adhering an image to a surface is shown utilizing liquid soluble substrates that have printed images of liquid insoluble ink. The liquid soluble substrate is positioned on a surface, such as a billboard, sidewalk, parking lot, telephone pole, skin, clothing, etc., and a liquid, typically water, is applied to the liquid soluble substrate and/or to the surface in such a quantity, and at such a temperature, and at such a pressure and velocity so as to be absorbed by the liquid soluble substrate in a sponge-like fashion. As the substrate dries, it takes on the shape of the surface, conforming and adhering to the surface through a mechanical interlock therewith. Various coatings may be applied to extend the longevity of the substrate. The liquid soluble substrate may be removed from the surface by applying a sufficient quantity of liquid at a sufficient temperature, pressure and velocity.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 09:07:53 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

The Sticky Pick Patent of the Day goes to an Independent Inventor from Illinois for Guitar pick stickers which impart a magnetic attraction to synthetic guitar picks
01/25/05

6,846,977 Guitar pick stickers which impart a magnetic attraction to synthetic guitar picks
  Issued: January 25, 2005
  Filed: April 7, 2003
  U.S. Class: 84/322
Abstract:  Magnetically receptive guitar pick stickers are disclosed. These stickers can be adhered to synthetic guitar picks so that the picks can be magnetically held against an object, such as a thin magnet. Each sticker is sized to fit within a perimeter of a guitar pick and is relatively thin so as to be mostly unnoticeable when the guitar pick is gripped. A sticker sheet includes an adhesive backing sheet on which the stickers may be initially carried. Each sticker has a magnetically receptive layer (such as metal) and an adhering layer formed between the magnetically receptive layer and the adhesive backing sheet. Advantageously, a guitar player's preferred guitar picks may be magnetically carried by the thin magnet which is attached to a guitar or a guitar case.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 09:07:02 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

The Sub-Network Generation IC Chip Patent of the Day goes to Cadence Design Systems, Inc. of San Jose for a Method and apparatus for performing technology mapping
01/25/05

6,848,086 Method and apparatus for performing technology mapping

  Issued: January 25, 2005
  Filed: June 31, 2002
  U.S. Class: 716/3
Abstract:  Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for pre-tabulating sub-networks. This method (1) generates a sub-network that performs a function, (2) generates a parameter based on this function, and (3) stores the sub-network in a storage structure based on the generated parameter. In some embodiments, the generated sub-network has several circuit elements. Also, in some embodiments, the generated sub-network performs a set of two or more functions. Some embodiments store each generated sub-network in an encoded manner. Some embodiments provide a method for producing a circuit description of a design. This method (1) selects a candidate sub-network from the design, (2) identifies an output function performed by the sub-network, (3) based on the identified output function, identifies a replacement sub-network from a storage structure that stores replacement sub-networks, and (4) replaces the selected candidate sub-network with the identified replacement sub-network in certain conditions. In some embodiments, this method is performed to map a design to a particular technology library. Some embodiments provide a data storage structure that stores a plurality of sub-networks based on parameters derived from the output functions of the sub-networks.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 09:05:41 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

Requests for Ex Parte Reexamination Filed - 1/25/2005
01/25/05
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 08:25:54 am into the following categories: OG Notice Links

Reissue Applications Filed - 1/25/2005
01/25/05
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 08:24:20 am into the following categories: OG Notice Links

Genzyme Files Suit Against TKT for Glucocerebrosidase Patent Infringement
01/25/05

Genzyme Corp. announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in the District Court of Tel Aviv alleging that Transkaryotic Therapies Inc. has infringed Genzyme's Israeli patent No. 100,715, which covers certain cell culture processes involved in the manufacture of glucocerebrosidase. TKT is conducting a clinical trial in Israel of its investigational gene-activated glucocerebrosidase [GA-GCB]) for the treatment of Gaucher disease. Genzyme believes that TKT infringes Genzyme's patent by importing into Israel and using in Israel the GA-GCB product manufactured by the processes protected by Genzyme's patent. A legal action of this type, which seeks standard remedies, is customary in the protection of intellectual property. Genzyme does not expect this action to adversely affect patients enrolled in TKT's ongoing clinical trial. Genzyme's patent covers novel culture processes that have been critical in enabling the company to produce Cerezyme(R) (imiglucerase for injection) on a large scale, which has ensured that the therapy is available to patients in need throughout the world.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:16:35 am into the following categories: In The News

BioPay(R) Files Biometrics Patent Suit Against Pay By Touch(TM) in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware
01/25/05

Biometric payments leader BioPay®, LLC today announced that it has filed suit against Solidus Networks, Inc. d/b/a Pay By Touch, and Indivos Corporation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. BioPay's lawsuit, filed January 18, 2005, involves patents on the use of biometric technology in point-of-sale transactions. BioPay asks the court to declare patents held by Pay By Touch to be invalid and also asks the court to declare that BioPay has not infringed on Pay By Touch's patents. BioPay took this legal action in response to unfair business practices intended to mislead the industry regarding ownership of biometric technology. "I have serious concerns that Pay By Touch is telling prospective customers that they own a monopoly on biometric financial transactions," said Tim Robinson, president of BioPay.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:14:17 am into the following categories: In The News

Acuity patent infringement suit settled
01/25/05

Acuity Brands Inc. has reported a favorable settlement in the patent infringement lawsuit it filed against B-K Lighting Inc. in July 2004. The suit involved infringement claims on patents for in-grade lighting products developed by Hydrel, an Acuity Brands company. B-K Lighting manufactured and distributed the products under the name Tenaya. As a resolution to this suit, B-K Lighting agreed to discontinue manufacturing, using, distributing, delivering, selling, and offering to sell this version of its Tenaya products.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:12:12 am into the following categories: In The News

Pfizer Wins Zoloft® Patent Dispute: Orange Book Listing Does Not Create Reasonable Apprehension of Lawsuit
01/25/05

Pfizer holds two patents relating to Zoloft®. Teva is a manufacturer of generic drugs and filed an Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA), seeking approval from the FDA to market a generic version of sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft®). Under the provisions of the Hatch-Waxman Act, Pfizer had 45-days to sue Teva for patent infringement based on Teva's ANDA filings. However, Pfizer did not sue. Teva then brought a declaratory judgment action against Pfizer, seeking a determination that its generic drug did not infringe Pfizer's patent. The district court (D.Mass.) dismissed Teva's suit for lack of jurisdiction for failing to establish an actual controversy under the Declaratory Judgment Act.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:10:58 am into the following categories: In The News

Hewlett-Packard said Friday it will pay Intergraph $141 million to settle a patent infringement dispute.
01/25/05

The agreement is just the latest in a string of settlements that Intergraph has made with various manufacturers in disputes over its Clipper chip technology. As part of the deal, HP entered into a cross-licensing agreement that will allow it to use all Intergraph patents. In turn, Intergraph will be able to use all HP patents, but in specific areas based on Intergraph's current product line. The multimillion-dollar settlement is expected to reduce HP's earnings by 3 cents a share in the first quarter. HP noted that the settlement will resolve all litigation the two parties had against each other in U.S. and European courts. Intergraph filed suit against HP and other PC giants in 2002. The lawsuit had alleged that the PC companies, which included Dell and Gateway, had violated its patents by incorporating Pentium-family processors--which Intergraph said violated its Clipper patents--into their computers.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:09:06 am into the following categories: In The News

Rambus shares jump on ruling in patent suit
01/25/05

The stock of Rambus Inc. rose sharply Thursday after the company received a positive ruling in its patent-infringement lawsuit against South Korean memory-chip maker Hynix Semiconductor Inc. Rambus, which makes technology that speeds up memory chips, said a federal judge in California issued a summary judgment which ruled Hynix infringed on four of Rambus' patents. Rambus said District Court Judge Ronald Whyte of San Jose, Calif., recommended issues of fact be tried beginning in March on the 11 remaining claims Rambus had raised for summary judgment.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:06:53 am into the following categories: In The News

The Luggage Check Patent of the Day goes to an Independent Inventor from California for a Method and apparatus for transporting passenger baggage
01/18/05

6,845,293 Method and apparatus for transporting passenger baggage
  Issued: January 18, 2005
  Filed: June 26, 2002
  U.S. Class: 700/226
Abstract:  This invention comprises a baggage transport system for handling passenger baggage for transport. In accordance with one or more embodiments of this invention, when a passenger makes a reservation to travel, a passenger identifier number, which may be a ticket or reservation number, is issued and placed in a data collection together with the passenger's transport number, date of travel, time of travel and method of carrier compensation. When the passenger obtains a ticket to a destination, the ticket identifies the passenger identifier, the transport number and date of departure. Rather than check baggage for carriage at the transport check-in counter, under one embodiment of this invention, baggage is checked for carriage to a destination before departure at a baggage collection facility that is separate from the departure and arrival facility. In the proposed system, passengers will obtain their ticket or passenger identifier at any time in advance of travel and leave off their baggage at a convenient baggage collection center, which may feature drive-in service. The baggage collection center will then accept the baggage for transport to the passengers' ultimate destinations, not merely to the destination transport arrival facilities, which may be airports. Passengers will be able to have their baggage delivered directly to their homes, hotels, offices or other location, rather than having to struggle with baggage at transport arrival facility baggage pickup carousels. Thus, passengers will be able to enter and leave transport arrival facilities quickly and conveniently.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 12:27:29 pm into the following categories: Patents of the Day

The Nanomagnetic Patent of the Day goes to Nanoset, LLC of East Rochester for a Magnetically shielded conductor
01/18/05

6,844,492 Magnetically shielded conductor
  Issued: January 18, 2005
  Filed: September 13, 2002
  U.S. Class: 174/36
Abstract:  A magnetically shielded conductor assembly with a conductor device and a film of nanomagnetic material located above the conductor device. The conductor device has a resistivity of from about 1 to about 2,000 micro ohm-centimeters. The film of nanomagnetic material has a thickness of from about 100 nanometers to about 10 micrometers and a magnetic shielding factor of at least about 0.5. The nanomagnetic material has a mass density of at least about 0.01 grams per cubic centimeter, a saturation magnetization of from about 1 to about 36,000 Gauss, a coercive force of from about 0.01 to about 5,000 Oersteds, a relative magnetic permeability of from about 1 to about 500,000, and an average particle size of less than about 100 nanometers.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:41:36 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

The Land Mine Locator Patent of the Day goes to two Independent Inventors from Los Angeles for a Method and apparatus for detecting target objects
01/18/05

6,843,158 Method and apparatus for detecting target objects
  Issued: January 18, 2005
  Filed: May 2, 2002
  U.S. Class: 89/1.13
Abstract:  The present invention relates generally to a method and devices for the detection of target objects, such as landmines, using the odor characteristics which may be associated with the target objects as a way of detecting their presence. The invention includes devices used to carry out a method of training live animals, such as rats, to seek out the target objects in the field, or to localize, unearth, and mark the location thereof.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:38:39 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

The Pixel Color Patent of the Day goes to Adobe Systems Incorporated of San Jose for a Variable dithering for GIF
01/18/05

6,844,882 Variable dithering for GIF
  Issued: January 18, 2005
  Filed: December 13, 2000
  U.S. Class: 345/596
Abstract:  A method for generating a palette-based output image from a source image by variably dithering regions of the source image using an associated regional dithering mask. The palletized output image can be a GIF image or a PNG8 image. The dithering mask contains a plurality of dithering levels specifying the degree to which colors in corresponding regions of the source image can be dithered to paint the output image. The dithering mask stores dithering levels for the source image on a per pixel basis. The dithering mask is stored as an alpha channel of the source image. The palletized output file is generated from the source image on a per pixel basis. For each pixel, a target color is calculated by adding an accumulated error from neighboring pixels to the true color of a corresponding pixel in the source image. The output pixel is painted with the closest color to the target color that is available in the output file's color table. A color error is calculated by subtracting the output pixel's paint color from it's target color, and multiplying the difference by a dithering level obtained from a corresponding pixel in a dithering mask. The color error is diffused to neighboring pixels according to a dithering algorithm, such as the Floyd-Steinberg dithering algorithm.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:37:34 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

Requests for Ex Parte Reexamination Filed
01/18/05
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:35:42 am into the following categories: OG Notice Links

Adverse Decisions in Interference
01/18/05
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:34:45 am into the following categories: OG Notice Links

Edwards Lifesciences and St. Jude Settle Heart Valve Patent Infringement Lawsuit
01/18/05

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation (NYSE: EW - News), the world leader in heart valve technologies, announced today that the company has entered into an agreement with St. Jude Medical, Inc., resolving patent infringement litigation initiated by Edwards in June 2000 related to certain Edwards patents in the areas of heart valve repair and replacement. The litigation, filed in the U.S. District Court in California and the Federal Court of Canada in Ontario, has been dismissed. Under terms of the settlement, Edwards will receive a one-time cash payment of $5.5 million and St. Jude will receive paid-up licenses for certain of its heart valve therapy products. Further details of the settlement were not disclosed. The settlement will not have a material financial impact to Edwards.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:12:33 am into the following categories: In The News

Napster targeted by infringement suit
01/18/05

Napster is once again the target of an intellectual-property lawsuit, this time on the receiving end of a patent infringement claim from a small company called SightSound Technologies. SightSound, which holds several patents related to selling and downloading music and video online, on Monday asked a court to block Napster from selling music online while the trial unfolds. Licensing discussions had broken down, leading to the suit, SightSound executives said. "This lawsuit is the regrettable outcome of a long process that could have been resolved amicably," Scott Sander, chief executive officer of SightSound, said in a statement. "It is surprising that Napster has taken this road given that it seems to have been working to restore its brand value."

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:10:50 am into the following categories: In The News

Canada Challenges Federal Circuit's Patent Decision in BlackBerry Case
01/18/05

BlackBerry maker RIMM has requested a rehearing en banc at the Federal Circuit in an attempt to escape from the $53 million damage award and the expected injunction against its BlackBerry system for patent infringement. In a strong power play, the Government of Canada has filed an amicus brief, supporting the rehearing. As have the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and the Information Technology Association of Canada. These Canadian Briefs essentially ask the court for comity -- arguing that the holding in RIMM upsets the business and legal climate in Canada. (Other amicus briefs are expected to be filed within the next few days).

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:07:53 am into the following categories: In The News

USPTO RELEASES ANNUAL LIST OF TOP 10 ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVING MOST U.S. PATENTS
01/11/05
Top 10 Private Sector Patent Recipients for 2004
Preliminary Rank in 2004 *  Preliminary Number of Patents in 2004 *
Organization *  (Final Rank in 2003) (Final Number of Patents in 2003)
  
1 3,248  International Business Machines Corporation  (1)  (3,415)
2 1,934  Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.   (4) (1,774 )  
3 1,805  Canon Kabushiki Kaisha  (2) (1,992) 
4 1,775  Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. *  (5) (1,759) * 
5 1,760  Micron Technology, Inc.  (6) (1,707) 
6 1,604  Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.  (9) (1,313) 
7 1,601  Intel Corporation  (7) (1,592) 
8 1,514  Hitachi, Ltd  (3) (1,893) 
9 1,310  Toshiba Corporation  (13) (1,184) 
10 1,305  Sony Corporation  (10)
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 01:31:38 pm into the following categories: Announcements

The No Fetus Left Behind Act Patent of the Day goes to Dahlman Industries, Inc. of Nashville for a Fetal educator strap
01/11/05

6,840,775 Fetal educator strap
  Issued: January 11, 2005
  Filed: March 14, 2003
  U.S. Class: 434/236
Abstract:  A fetal educator strap includes an elongated belt defining an interior surface and an exterior surface. A pouch is slidably mounted upon the exterior surface of the belt. A sound generator, including a speaker, is contained within the pouch. The speaker is directed toward the interior surface of the belt. In this manner the pouch containing the sound generator is slidable around the circumference of the belt to the optimum position as determined by the user.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 12:39:17 pm into the following categories: Patents of the Day

IBM offers 500 patents for open-source use
01/11/05

IBM has decided to let open-source developers use 500 software patents without fear of an infringement lawsuit, a new step in its encouragement of the collaborative programming philosophy. It is a small but significant measure for a company with major efforts to patent its research, then license those patents. However, the vast majority of IBM's 10,000 software patents in the United States aren't being shared so freely. The move follows that of Linux seller Red Hat, a comparatively small company that objects to software patents but allows unfettered use of its own smaller portfolio in open-source software. And Novell, the second-largest Linux seller, has vowed to use its own patent portfolio to deter and counter legal attacks against open-source software. IBM is a vocal champion of Linux and has hundreds of programmers contributing to the development of the operating system. In August, the company pledged not to use its patent portfolio to attack Linux, and in October, the company named former microprocessor chief John Kelly to lead a new intellectual property division.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:52:30 am into the following categories: In The News

The MetaData Patent of the Day goes to America Online, Inc. from Virginia for Full-text relevancy ranking
01/11/05

6,842,761 Full-text relevancy ranking
  Issued: January 11, 2005
  Filed: June 8, 2001
  U.S. Class: 707/104.11
Abstract:  A method and system for ranking relevancy of metadata associated with media on a computer network, such as multimedia and streaming media, include categorizing the metadata into sets of metadata. The categories are broad categories relating to areas such as who, what, when, and where, such as artist, media type, and creation date, creation location. Weights are assigned to each set of metadata. Weights are related to technical information such as bit rate, duration, sampling rate, frequency of occurrence of a specific term, etc. A score is calculated for ranking the relevancy of each set of metadata. The score is calculated in accordance with the assigned weight and category. This score is available for search systems (e.g., search engines) and/or users to determine the relative ranking of search results.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:52:02 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

Reissue Applications Filed - 1/11/2005
01/11/05
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:51:01 am into the following categories: OG Notice Links

Requests for Ex Parte Reexamination - 1/11/2005
01/11/05
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:49:37 am into the following categories: OG Notice Links

The HyperDial Patent of the Day goes to Niragongo Inc. of Israel for a Method of connecting network URL addresses through cellular network
01/11/05

6,842,612 Method of connecting network URL addresses through cellular network
  Issued: January 11, 2005
  Filed: December 20, 2000
  U.S. Class: 455/414.2
Abstract:  A method and system for accessing a hyper text language based page using wireless phone apparatus dialup faculties in which the users provided with an URL dialun utility which enables the use of shortcut codes as substitutes for URL addresses. The dialup utility translates the shortcut codes according to pre-defined rules. The pre-defined rules can be implemented by using any translator program or based upon a database of URL addresses, wherein each URL has a unique code. The dialup utility can be programmed within a wireless phone apparatus or alternatively processed at remote network locations using an exchange phone system or Internet servers.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:44:06 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

Business Objects Wins Patent Appeal
01/11/05

Business Objects SA said Friday that a federal court has ordered that its patent-infringement suit against rival MicroStrategy Inc. go to trial. Business Objects filed suit in October 2001, alleging MicroStrategy infringed a patent for its business intelligence software. In August 2003, a lower court granted MicroStrategy's motion for summary judgment and dismissed Business Objects' claims. The company said the appeals court found the lower court ruling was incorrect, and that Business Objects could claim infringement on MicroStrategy's part. A trial is expected to take place in U.S. District Court in Northern California later this year, Business Objects said.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 05:10:39 am into the following categories: In The News

Creo Responds to Patent Lawsuit
01/11/05

Creo Inc. responded to Forgent Networks, Inc.'s announcement that it has added the company to its patent infringement actions. Creo and 43 other defendants are being sued by Forgent Networks in the U.S. District Court for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 4,698,672, a patent on parts of the JPEG graphic file format. Creo officials do not believe it infringed the patent in question, and contend that the patent is invalid and unenforceable. Richard Snyder, CEO of Forgent Networks, says his company acquired the patents when it merged in '97 with Compression Labs, and spent $1 million to ascertain their viability.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 04:51:48 am into the following categories: In The News

PalmOne scores patent victory
01/11/05

PalmOne's ongoing patent-infringement case with NCR seems to have drawn to a close, with a federal appeals court deciding in PalmOne's favor. The handheld maker said Thursday that a federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that its products do not infringe on two NCR patents. In March 2001, NCR sued Palm and Handspring, alleging that the companies infringed patents for a type of "portable personal terminal." NCR had appealed a district court ruling that sided with PalmOne, the company formed in the merger of Palm and Handspring.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 04:45:48 am into the following categories: In The News

Welcome to GEN-ERIC Patent News
01/04/05

As you can tell, GEN-ERIC Patent News now has a new look and feel. Thank you for your continued readership.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 09:30:54 am into the following categories: Announcements

The Can't Believe they Got a Patent on This One Patent of the Day goes to Google Inc. of Mountain View for Systems and methods for highlighting search results
01/04/05

6,839,702 Systems and methods for highlighting search results
  Issued: January 4, 2005
  Filed: December 13, 2000
  U.S. Class: 707/3
Abstract:  A system highlights search terms in documents distributed over a network. The system generates a search query that includes a search term and, in response to the search query, receives a list of one or more references to documents in the network. The system receives selection of one of the references and retrieves a document that corresponds to the selected reference. The system then highlights the search term in the retrieved document.

Main Claim:  A method performed by a client device for highlighting search terms in web documents distributed over a network, comprising:
  generating a search query including a search term;
  receiving a list of one or more links to web documents distributed over the network in response to the search query;
  receiving selection of one of the links;
  retrieving a web document corresponding to the selected link from the network;
  intercepting the web document; and
  highlighting one or more occurrences of the search term in the intercepted web document.
,

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 09:11:02 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

The Autographic Proof Patent of the Day goes to The Upper Deck Company, LLC of California for a Method and apparatus for authenticating unique items such as sports memorabilia
01/04/05

6,839,453 Method and apparatus for authenticating unique items such as sports memorabilia
  Issued: January 4, 2005
  Filed: May 16, 2000
  U.S. Class: 382/119
Abstract:  A method and system for providing owners, potential buyers and other users of autographed items such as sports and other entertainment memorabilia visual evidence for verifying the authenticity of the autograph are described. A method of the present invention involves capturing an image of the signature as it is being placed on the item. The image so captured is then stored on a computer readable medium. In addition to the item itself, the owner of the item may be provided with a computer readable medium containing computer readable instructions for accessing the image and other information about the item, the signing process, the autographer, etc. The image may be captured by a camera mounted on a pen or other writing instrument.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 08:56:35 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

Ex Parte Appeals
01/04/05
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 08:36:47 am into the following categories: OG Notice Links

Reclassification Alert Report
01/04/05
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 08:35:10 am into the following categories: OG Notice Links

The War Games Patent of the Day goes to Two Independent Inventors from Pennsylvania for a Dummy Practice Grenade
01/04/05

6,837,713 Dummy practice grenade
  Issued: January 4, 2005
  Filed: September 9, 2003
  U.S. Class: 434/11
Abstract:  The dummy practice grenade of the present invention is particularly useful as a rifle grenade with a rifle having a fixed grenade launching sight such as a Yugoslavian M59/66 SKS Military rifle using 7.62.times.39 mm grenade launching cartridges, while exhibiting high accuracy during use as well as a rugged, structure which is useful for a large number of launches. The inventive grenade is also useful with other rifles such as the M1 Garand Military Rifle in 30-06 Caliber with a grenade launching attachment, grenade launching sight and grenade launching cartridges. The inventive dummy grenade is made of high density plastic such as polyethylene, and aluminum, and is weighted in the nose cone portion with lead shot so as to provide directional stability to the grenade during flight. The present invention is useful in combat training and in competitive events requiring target acquisition accuracy.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 08:10:57 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

The Kick the Habit Patent of the Day goes to Two Independent Inventors from Illinois for a Habit cessation aide
01/04/05

6,839,305 Habit cessation aide
  Issued: January 4, 2005
  Filed: February 16, 2001
  U.S. Class: 368/109
Abstract:  A habit cessation aide includes a timer to determine the interval between starting a habitual act, a display for displaying messages in operative connection to the timer, and a strap for securing to a user's body. A widely held habit is smoking, for which the illustrated embodiment is directed towards. The habit cessation device also includes an alarm, which may be auditory, vibratory, or a combination. As shown, the device is in the form of a wristwatch and also functions as a standard wristwatch and includes features such as calculating and displaying items including at least time, date, and elapsed time. Depending upon the frequency of cigarette smoking, signaled by the push of a specialized button, different messages are displayed, such as encouraging, statistical or informational, to help the user quit the habit.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 08:01:32 am into the following categories: Patents of the Day

LG Files Another Patent Suit Against Matsushita in S. Korea
01/04/05

LG Electronics Inc., South Korea's second-largest consumer electronics manufacturer, on Monday filed another patent infringement suit against the South Korea unit of Japan's Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. over plasma screen technologies, LG said. The second lawsuit against Panasonic Korea, filed with a Seoul district court, accuses the Japanese company of infringing four plasma display panel (PDP) patents related to the structure of electrodes and panel-operating technologies. "Panasonic Korea should scrap finished and semi-finished PDPs that infringe on LG Electronics' patent rights," the Korean company said in a court statement. The suit is the latest development in an escalating dispute between LG Electronics and Matsushita over PDP technologies.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 12:41:08 am into the following categories: In The News

University of Illinois fails to secure soverign immunity in plasma screen patent dispute
01/04/05

In June 2004, the Federal Circuit dismissed the University of Illinois appeal for sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment. In that opinion, the Court found that the appeal lacked proper jurisdiction because the district court's decision to not allow sovereign immunity was not a "final decision." Now, the Federal Circuit has denied the University's request for a rehearing.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 12:31:00 am into the following categories: In The News

Hitachi Files Patent Infringement Complaint against GS Magicstor Companies
01/04/05

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies today announced that it has sued GS Magicstor Inc. of China, its Chinese parent company, GS Magic, Inc. and Riospring, Inc. of Milpitas, CA., Magicstor's research affiliate, for infringement of multiple Hitachi GST's patents relating to hard disk drives. The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. In the lawsuit, Hitachi GST seeks monetary damages and a permanent injunction that bars the GS Magic entities from making, using, importing, offering to sell, or selling the allegedly infringing products in the United States.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 12:29:39 am into the following categories: In The News
marker  2002-2004
GEN-ERIC Patent News Archive

GEN-ERIC Music News
GEN-ERIC at MySpace
marker  Calendar
January 2005
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
<<  <   >  >>
          1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
marker  Links

Employment

USPTO