09/05/06
7,100,513 Programmable pyrotechnic projectile and methods for producing firework patterns therewith
Issued: September 5, 2006
Filed: April 16, 2004
U.S. Class: 102/360
Abstract: A pyrotechnic projectile includes a body, projectile GPS means for determining the position of the pyrotechnic projectile, a plurality of pyrotechnic sub-units disposed within the body, and ejection means responsive to the projectile GPS means. The pyrotechnic sub-units include sub-unit GPS means for determining the position of the sub-unit, and ignition means for igniting the sub-unit when the position determined by the sub-unit GPS means corresponds to a pre-selected position. The ejection means eject the plurality of sub-units from the body.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:02:11 am into the following categories:
Patents of the Day
09/05/06
7,101,282 Free long distance calls on slot machines
Issued: September 5, 2006
Filed: December 18, 2002
U.S. Class: 463/25
Abstract: A gaming machine that provides free long distance telephone calls, or audio entertainment, as a reward for the continued playing of the gaming machine. The player may continue the free long distance phone call, or continue receiving the audio entertainment, as long his play meets a predetermined level of usage criteria.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:01:43 am into the following categories:
Patents of the Day
09/05/06
7,103,553 Assistive call center interface
Issued: September 5, 2006
Filed: June 4, 2003
U.S. Class: 704/275
Abstract: Unstructured voice information from an incoming caller is processed by automatic speech recognition and semantic categorization system to convert the information into structured data that may then be used to access one or more databases to retrieve associated supplemental data. The structured data and associated supplemental data are then made available through a presentation system that provides information to the call center agent and, optionally, to the incoming caller. The system thus allows a call center information processing system to handle unstructured voice input for use by the live agent in handling the incoming call and for storage and retrieval at a later time. The semantic analysis system may be implemented by a global parser or by an information retrieval technique, such as latent semantic analysis. Co-occurrence of keywords may be used to associate prior calls with an incoming call to assist in understanding the purpose of the incoming call.

Posted by GEN-ERIC at 11:00:57 am into the following categories:
Patents of the Day
09/05/06
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OG Notice Links
09/05/06
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 10:59:10 am into the following categories:
OG Notice Links
09/05/06
Pfizer Inc said it has won a patent challenge by generic drug manufacturer Synthon Pharmaceuticals over the active ingredient in its hypertension drug Norvasc. The company said a federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina upheld the company's US patent covering amlodipine besylate. The decision, which is subject to appeal, prohibits Synthon from launching a generic version of amlodipine until September 2007.
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 02:25:54 am into the following categories:
In The News
09/05/06
Shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. rose on Friday, a day after a judge halted sales of a generic form of Plavix because of possible patent infringement. Canadian drugmaker Apotex Inc. began selling a cheap, generic version of the blood thinner three weeks ago, but Manhattan U.S. District Judge Sidney Stein blocked sales because of a patent dispute. The ruling was only a partial win for Bristol-Myers and its French partner Sanofi Adventis. Judge Sidney Stein refused to order a recall of any generics that have already been sold to distributors. Plavix is used by 48 million Americans and is Bristol-Meyers’ best-selling product.
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 02:25:01 am into the following categories:
In The News
09/05/06
Offshore drilling contractor Transocean Inc. said late Thursday a federal jury found that rival GlobalSantaFe Corp. infringed upon its dual drilling technology patents. GlobalSantaFe said the jury has ordered it to pay damages of $3.6 million for using the patented structures on two of its offshore rigs. The jury also found that the company willfully infringed the patents, which could mean a higher award for Transocean.
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 02:20:48 am into the following categories:
In The News
09/05/06
U.S. Bank has settled a legal dispute surrounding its right to use ATMs as points of sale. Global Cash Access Inc. originally filed a patent infringement lawsuit against U.S. Bank and Ultron Inc., both subsidiaries of Minneapolis-based U.S. Bancorp. Global Cash also had sued two divisions of Fidelity National Information Services, in Jacksonville, Fla. Both U.S. Bank and Fidelity National filed counterclaims against Global Cash, saying the company had engaged in unfair trade practices. The companies reached a settlement Thursday. The terms of the settlement did not call for any party involved to pay out cash. Other details of the settlement were not disclosed.
Posted by GEN-ERIC at 02:19:43 am into the following categories:
In The News