Blogger near tears over incandescent beauty of patent number 20080122796
posted at 7:50 pm on June 5, 2008 by Allahpundit
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
The device supports a variety of applications, such as one or more of the following: a telephone application, a video conferencing application, an e-mail application, an instant messaging application, a blogging application, a photo management application, a digital camera application, a digital video camera application, a web browsing application, a digital music player application, and/or a digital video player application.
Lots more here, and here’s the actual patent application. Any patent lawyers in the audience willing and able to take a quickie look and see if anything jumps out? The application was published a few days ago but it was filed all the way back on September 5, 2007, which seems odd to my totally novice eye given that the original iPhone debuted only eight weeks earlier. Would they really have had in the plans in place for v2.0 so quickly? Or was this just their way of staking their claim to some basic schematics for what they wanted to do with 2.0, with the actual device possibly bearing no relation to what we’re seeing here?
We’ll know soon. Soon!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Too bad it takes 20 minutes to dial a phone number.
lorien1973 on June 5, 2008 at 7:53 PM
apple is teh sux.
Chakra Hammer on June 5, 2008 at 7:54 PM
?
Dude, the iPhone is the best gadget I’ve ever owned. Evah.
Allahpundit on June 5, 2008 at 7:55 PM
It’s just a phone. I really don’t get peoples’ fascination with cameras, internet, conferencing etal on their phones. I have a cell phone, just cuz my wife demands I have one; but I can’t stand the thing.
Yeah; but doesn’t it suck that it’s out of date 6 months after you just got it? Now you have to pine away for the newest one.
lorien1973 on June 5, 2008 at 7:58 PM
Jitter Bug. ‘Nuff said.
VolMagic on June 5, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Well welcome to 2006 Iphone and Allahpundit.
muyoso on June 5, 2008 at 8:03 PM
@ Allahpundit on June 5, 2008 at 7:55 PM
I feel for you. The phone which cannot copy paste, browse the internet with speed, or send picture mail, is the best gadget you have ever owned. Sad.
muyoso on June 5, 2008 at 8:05 PM
The iPhone is WAAAAAY overrated. I’ll take my Blackberry with a full tactile-response keyboard over it any day of the week. That said, I own a bunch of Apple products and have for years.
Personally, I think their Time Capsule base-station/backup-solution device is the best hardware they have released in years. I’m a big, big fan.
HebrewToYou on June 5, 2008 at 8:06 PM
It’s not the features, it’s the experience.
You too shall be assimilated, oh yes.
Allahpundit on June 5, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Oh, the banhammer’s coming out, baby. BEHOLD ITS MIGHT.
Allahpundit on June 5, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Can you even wield the banhammer with blunted fingertips from tapping on a touch-screen all day? :)
HebrewToYou on June 5, 2008 at 8:09 PM
@ Allahpundit on June 5, 2008 at 8:06 PM
Finger scrolling can only take you so far. Its a status symbol, but sadly an inferior phone. Believe me, i WANT to believe, but AT&T being the worst cell company on earth, and the Iphone being unfinished, MEH.
muyoso on June 5, 2008 at 8:10 PM
Yeah, blogging is impossible on the phone unless you don’t want to copy-paste anything.
So, Allah. Let’s say they unveil a new baby and it supports blogging. Are ya gonna trade up?
amerpundit on June 5, 2008 at 8:11 PM
My coworker has a blackberry and I have an iPhone.
We both use the internet on our phones quite a bit.
She is getting squinty-eyed from dealing with the tiny blackberry screen. I’ve still got my 20/20 vision.
Behold the power of the large display screen and the zoom in function!
JadeNYU on June 5, 2008 at 8:11 PM
I hear it will make your coffee and be your girlfriend.
Blacklake on June 5, 2008 at 8:11 PM
I’m glad this isn’t a patent for a Windows Mobile Smartphone… villagers would have their torches and pitchforks to storm the gates of e-e-e-e-e-evil Micro$oft HQ to stop the Redmond giant’s obvious predatory patent.
Remember, monopolistic practices are perfectly acceptable if Google and Apple do it because they have good billionaires running them. Microsoft is where all the bad billionaires are.
ScottMcC on June 5, 2008 at 8:11 PM
Better than your ‘puter?
wccawa on June 5, 2008 at 8:12 PM
@ JadeNYU on June 5, 2008 at 8:11 PM
She is getting squinty eyed because her phone has loaded more than 1 webpage since she bought it. Still waiting for google to load, i highly doubt your eyesight will be affected.
muyoso on June 5, 2008 at 8:12 PM
Great video conferencing and blogging!
As if the (&(&^%^*ing moron in the car in front of me wasn’t distracted enough already!!!
highhopes on June 5, 2008 at 8:13 PM
@ ScottMcC on June 5, 2008 at 8:11 PM
Nah, windows smartphones have had this technology for years. I should know, my 1 year old phone has ALL of these features and more.
muyoso on June 5, 2008 at 8:13 PM
The borg are here…
JetBoy on June 5, 2008 at 8:15 PM
This is silly. Unless your co-worker has a Blackberry Pearl, the screen is perfectly large for mobile web browsing. Why would you waste time trying to load an entire webpage designed for a large computer screen instead of using the mobile site designed for small-form devices?
ESPN.com, for instance, is perfectly usable on my blackberry. No squinting needed. Same with Facebook.com, Google.com, Comedy.com, and so on and so forth. Most every large web organization has a mobile version of their site — the large screen of an iPhone is certainly not necessary to enjoy it.
HebrewToYou on June 5, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Wow. That’s a lot of stuff for one little gadget.
SoulGlo on June 5, 2008 at 8:16 PM
@ HebrewToYou on June 5, 2008 at 8:16 PM
Or you could just get a Windows mobile. LArge screen and full web broswing.
muyoso on June 5, 2008 at 8:17 PM
Ha. That was funny.
I like Blackberry myself, but to each their own.
Spirit of 1776 on June 5, 2008 at 8:18 PM
Where’s the port-a-potty? The food processor?
Where’s the…oh, never mind. That’s what’s making her squinty-eyed.
MrScribbler on June 5, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Why don’t they put something that people could actually use in their phones, like something to measure BMI?
Ars Moriendi on June 5, 2008 at 8:19 PM
Yyyyawn… z.
leftnomore on June 5, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Speaking from personal experience, Windows Mobile devices are highly annoying. I love the Blackberry interface and all the awesome apps designed exclusively for it. Not only that, Blackberry Messenger is one of the best perks. Free text/picture messaging between Blackberry users that show you when your message has been delivered and when it has been read.
Blackberry messenger is just plain awesome.
HebrewToYou on June 5, 2008 at 8:20 PM
Just don’t become a “Dude” story by becoming fused to your sheets or growing around your pillow or something.
aero on June 5, 2008 at 8:20 PM
AP—
Let those who are willingly ignorant remain ignorant. The rest of can bask in the glow of mobile safari.
mattshu on June 5, 2008 at 8:20 PM
I want this. I need this. I have to have this.
Michelle on June 5, 2008 at 8:21 PM
If what you were saying is true then an Apple patent such as the one described would be designed to keep a creative entrepreneur from developing useful add-ons for the iPhone without having to directly involve Apple. That would be closed-minded and completely against the principles of competing in a free market.
But that can’t be true because only Microsoft does bad things like that.
ScottMcC on June 5, 2008 at 8:21 PM
Obviously, Allahpundit knows the Peace of Landreu
SPQR on June 5, 2008 at 8:23 PM
I’m pretty happy with my Windows Mobile smartphone. It does most of that stuff already, plus, there are tons of apps written just for Windows Mobile.
I’m pretty sure I could launch missiles with this thing. Plus, I can CALL people!!!
wccawa on June 5, 2008 at 8:24 PM
*Stewie Griffin voice*
Oh, you are just the worst kind of person.
amerpundit on June 5, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Dude, I’m printing the schematics out and taking them to bed with me tonight. Under the pillow, while I dream.
Allahpundit on June 5, 2008 at 8:24 PM
Would you believe some lefties don’t like it ’cause Rove has one:
The iPhone is no longer cool
Marc01 on June 5, 2008 at 8:25 PM
I haven’t had trouble with pages loading slow. I use the web feature on the phone regularly. I watch TV shows via YouTube on the bus ride to work without any loading issues.
My load times have always seemed comparable to hers.
Is there a cellphone based internet service that’s vastly superior where the difference would be noticeable?
She does have a blackberry pearl. She considered switching to the iPhone but decided not to because she prefers the email functionality on the blackberry which is superior as she doesn’t have to manually sync up when she wants her mail, it just comes in as it’s sent.
JadeNYU on June 5, 2008 at 8:26 PM
Scott, I’m no apple zealot, but you’re being a tad disingenuous. Apple restricts independent iPhone development because it would be terribly difficult to offer great support for it. This is the same reason Apple restricts the installation of OS X to hardware they manufacture. If you can control the environment in which your user experience lives you’ll have a much easier time appealing to your customer.
Ultimately I see the iPhone as a well-marketed multimedia device. That said, it simply cannot compete with Blackberry in terms of simplicity and effectiveness. I like Apple products and have bought them for years and years, but I have and will continue to refrain from purchasing the iPhone. Just my two cents.
HebrewToYou on June 5, 2008 at 8:26 PM
That explains it.
A lot of folks love the Microsoft Exchange support that blackberry provides. I’m the complete opposite. I refuse to use the exchange functionality with my blackberry. I do desktop syncing for contacts and calendar entries and rely on the stand-alone google apps for everything else. The stand-alone GMail app is fantastic IMHO.
HebrewToYou on June 5, 2008 at 8:28 PM
AP, I suspect you won’t be using the video conferencing feature until after you take a shower in the
morningafternoon.Looks like the race will be on to see whether Michelle or AP gets one first. I’m always entertained by these threads. ;)
clancy_wiggum on June 5, 2008 at 8:29 PM
Hey Allah, aren’t you long overdue for a review of your iPhone? I’m curious to see what you’d say about it given more than a paragraph to work with. Sure, all the “real” reviews came out last year, but none had the benefit of months of experience.
calbear on June 5, 2008 at 8:31 PM
I have a phone. I can send and receive texts! WOOHOO! Sometimes it actually RINGS! It plays the Magnum p.i. theme song. Sometimes I forget where it’s at and believe it or not, it doesn’t seem to mind.
Instead of an iPhone, I bought a PS3 and a 47inch Sharp Aquos (1080p). That’s the best gadget I’ve ever had. EVAH!
robblefarian on June 5, 2008 at 8:32 PM
Goot one. Well that thing will be coming out just as I am due for a new phone. Maybe I’ll give it a try.
Zorro on June 5, 2008 at 8:33 PM
BlackBerry firmware some of the most stable on the planet. I will never use a phone Windows Mobile platform. The iPhone is a vastly hyped, and equally overrated, flashy phone. I can browse faster, typer faster (and more accurately), and make a call with the touch of one button.
*getting squinty eyed as I type this on my BlackBerry*
fourstringfuror on June 5, 2008 at 8:34 PM
Much ado about nothing.
The special sauce appears to be “applying heuristics…for translating imprecise user gestures into precise, intended commands.”
misterpeasea on June 5, 2008 at 8:39 PM
Er, even BlackBerry can’t save my sausage fingers from the frigid Seattle summer. But you get my drift.
fourstringfuror on June 5, 2008 at 8:40 PM
She gets her email through gmail instead of Exchange too. In fact, we both get our work email on our phones by forwarding to gmail as gmail has much better spam filters than Exchange.
However, her email comes to her phone in real time and I have to touch a ‘button’ and get mine to sync. I can have it auto sync every 15 minutes too, but that isn’t quite the same as the real time on the Blackberry. I was under the impression that it was just something that the blackberry did that the iphone didn’t do. Is that not the case?
JadeNYU on June 5, 2008 at 8:41 PM
Meh….not even a hint of an upgraded tip calculator.
BL@KBIRD on June 5, 2008 at 8:44 PM
Hey! There is room for all gadgets in the life of a gadget lover. My 360, ps3, Wii, HDTV and iphone all live in peace and harmony with each other….what can I say, gadgets (especially video games) are my vice.
JadeNYU on June 5, 2008 at 8:45 PM
Blah blah blah.
The optical sensor 164: “The optical sensor 164 receives light from the environment, projected through one or more lens, and converts the light to data representing an image. In conjunction with an imaging module 143 (also called a camera module), the optical sensor 164 may capture still images or video.”
It’s a camera.
The accelerometer 168: “The accelerometer 168 may perform as described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050190059, “Acceleration-based Theft Detection System for Portable Electronic Devices,” and U.S. Patent Publication No. 20060017692, “Methods And Apparatuses For Operating A Portable Device Based On An Accelerometer,” both of which are which are incorporated herein by reference.”
Not familiar with it, but it isn’t new.
The special sauce is a piece of software:
40. A computing device, comprising:a touch screen display;one or more processors;memory; and a program, wherein the program is stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the program including:instructions for detecting one or more finger contacts with the touch screen display;instructions for applying one or more heuristics to the one or more finger contacts to determine a command for the device; andinstructions for processing the command;wherein the one or more heuristics comprise:a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a one-dimensional vertical screen scrolling command;a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a two-dimensional screen translation command; and a heuristic for determining that the one or more finger contacts correspond to a command to transition from displaying a respective item in a set of items to displaying a next item in the set of items.
I thought the “interpreting/translating imprecise gestures” might be interesting, but I’m starting to doubt it. It’s too specific. A 1-D vertical screen scrolling command and a 2-D screen translation command: “In some embodiments, in response to a multi-touch 3941 and 3943 rotation gesture by the user (FIG. 39C), the web page may be rotated exactly 90.degree.”
Color me unimpressed.
misterpeasea on June 5, 2008 at 8:53 PM
Sounds kind of like a phone.
Kevin M on June 5, 2008 at 8:54 PM
I have a feeling that a certain blogger probably won’t put this application to much use :p
Hollowpoint on June 5, 2008 at 8:56 PM
Lemme put it this way:
I’m sure you see how violently upset the entire WORLD would be if this was the case.
Personally I don’t care because I have no money on either hen in this chickenfight. My Motorola Razr v3 was free with my mobile phone contract.
ScottMcC on June 5, 2008 at 9:00 PM
Michelle:
I guess you know what AP wants for his birthday and/or Christmas.
Like my nephews, he gives “Good Hint”…
Let the reminders begin!!!
FloridaBill on June 5, 2008 at 9:01 PM
How many rounds of .45 ACP does it hold?
TexasDan on June 5, 2008 at 9:04 PM
My perpetual motion machine patent is in the works.
After that I get moose and squirrel, then I will have PWN3D TEH WORLD!
Tinian on June 5, 2008 at 9:04 PM
My son got his iPhone a few months ago and sent me a SMS: It will change your life.
Mebbe so, but until someone other than AT&T services it I won’t get one because I don’t want to change providers. And I’d wait a couple of generations down the road, too. Until then I’ll stick with my razr.
But computers, well…a different story. I’m working summer school so I can afford a new one, and I guarantee it’ll be an Apple. It’s just a matter of desktop vs laptop and how much $$ I want to spend.
Bob's Kid on June 5, 2008 at 9:05 PM
Why am I picturing Woody Allen coming out of the Orgasmatron for the first time right now?
TheBigOldDog on June 5, 2008 at 9:07 PM
*poster near tears over incandescent, unadorned beauty of an “its” used properly in a sentence on the Internet*
See? Chacun à son goût.
inviolet on June 5, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Whatever. It’s still overpriced Apple crapola in a glitzy package. You want to buy hype? Have fun. Some of us aren’t dolts.
Centerfire on June 5, 2008 at 9:11 PM
You’ve never owned an Etch-A-Sketch?
Oldnuke on June 5, 2008 at 9:13 PM
Once they get the “stimulate pleasure center response in limbic cortex” SKINNR module added, you won’t have to ever doubt again.
(HP will clone a version called the DELGADO TAURUS.)
profitsbeard on June 5, 2008 at 9:27 PM
Oooh. If it does, I want to ride by on my scooter and gawk.
Rhinoboy on June 5, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Does a patent agent count? I can do anything before the USPTO that a patent lawyer can, you mainly need an attorney when you want to sue somebody for infringement.
What jumps out?
- The inventorship – 25 separate inventors. If this becomes a patent and is ever litigated, somebody will challenge its validity on that ground for sure. A patent can be invalidated for incorrect inventorship.
- Some of the claims are very broad. They’re not likely to be that broad if the application is allowed.
- I can’t say much about the technology itself, since it’s more software oriented and I’m a hardware guy.
- Man, the publication is 371 pages long … some examiner is going to be pissed. Not good with the current stance of the PTO (allowance rates are way down). I looked up it’s transaction history, it was docketed to an Examiner on April 12 … he’s probably still reading it.
(.pdf of the publication, with full drawings, available here – Allah, this would be better than a year’s worth of issues of Playboy to you … )
- The good news? Now that this is public knowledge, anyone will be able to use it if it doesn’t mature into a patent. And if it does … I’m sure you’ll see a lot of this stuff in a future Apple product.
Not unusual at all. They probably had design teams working on the 2.0 before the original one made its debut. The firm I work at does a significant amount of work for AMD; we’d literally written dozens and dozens of applications related to various AMD processors well before they hit the market.
Besides, a lot of what’s in applications like this is more high-level conceptual stuff, many of the little implementational details are not included. It wouldn’t be surprising at all if this was filed before they had anything close to a working model (that’s not uncommon either, filing an application before reducing to practice).
It’s also noteworthy that this application claims priority to several other provisional applications, the earliest of which was Sept. 6, 2006 – which basically means they were working on some of this stuff at least a year in advance.
Hope this helps.
thirteen28 on June 5, 2008 at 10:34 PM
What he said. The on-sale bar allows you to file up to one year after putting the patented technology on the market.
So it could have been filed to cover v1.0. It could have nothing to do with v2.0. I didn’t see anything I thought was different from the original iPhone, but then, I’m not intimately familiar with the iPhone.
Eh. When they come up with some new concept, they file a quick and dirty provisional application because it’s cheap ($100), and just about any ol’ sheaf of papers will do. A utility application has stricter rules for format and is more expensive, so they probably aggregated a bunch of tweaks into an omnibus application.
A “mere” patent agent? Why? Fell into it? Maybe go take the California bar, they don’t require you to have a law degree. Patent lawyers do the exact same stuff as patent agents, but for more money.
misterpeasea on June 5, 2008 at 10:57 PM
I was actually working at a company here in Austin doing engineering work when I saw a classified ad that said “Engineering Careers in Patent Law.” My company wasn’t doing too good then (and they don’t even exist now), so I thought it was a good time to make a jump, and it sounded quite interesting. I’ve never looked back since, it’s worked out quite nicely for me for over 9 years now.
I suppose I could try to take the bar in a state like CA that doesn’t require a law degree, but I really don’t have the desire to put in the time studying that would be necessary to pass it. If I had gotten into this field when I was younger (currently a couple weeks shy of 44), I probably would have went to law school.
And I really can’t complain at all about what I’m paid. My firm is generous with salaries and has a kick-ass bonus plan. I’m not rich – but I can Super Size my Happy Meal whenever I feel like it :))
thirteen28 on June 5, 2008 at 11:16 PM
I have a Blackberry 8800 and I love the service, though, my internet can be real slow at times but, it’s the provider not the phone. Anyway the phone itself sucks for my job. I’m in construction and at times the phone can get a bit dirty. I’m on my second one in less than a year. I do my best to keep the phone clean and even used the canned air to clean it but, the end key always ends up being useless. That touch screen on the Iphone is just calling me. So Allah, tell me, will the Iphone stand up to a dirty work environment? If so I may buy one that is unlocked and give it a try.
boomer on June 5, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Not trying to harass, so this’ll be my last pitch:
BarBri courses are scheduled for about 2 months. Double that for no law school and CA bar, just to be safe.
A kid I worked with almost doubled his salary, just for passing the bar.
Coincidentally enough, I went to law school in Austin. Chock full o’ loony liberals. Except Lino Graglia, who has a national reputation because he’s a “conservative Constitutional law professor.”
And as an extra added bonus, the loony liberals were all fired up my first year, because of Hopwood. Which is probably why they let me in.
For example: UT President Robert Berdahl predicted “the virtual resegregation of higher education” following the decision.
Heh.
misterpeasea on June 5, 2008 at 11:50 PM
Well, thanks for the pitch – I know you mean well. I’m not so sure I could double my salary by passing the bar anyway – and that’s not because my bosses are cheap.
I remember that one well – that was the year I moved here. Loved it too – Graglia definitely has a pair, and he had the libs in an absolute tizzy.
Luckily for me, I live in waaay north Austin, in Williamson County – which is most definitely a deep shade of red. Keeps me sane.
thirteen28 on June 6, 2008 at 12:04 AM
This patent seems like so many patent that rather encourage commerce actually acts to discourage commerce, reduce innovation, and hurt the economy. Check out the EFF’s Patent Busting Project for some really idiotic patents that threaten our economy:
http://w2.eff.org/patent/
thuja on June 6, 2008 at 12:48 AM
As if.
silverfox on June 6, 2008 at 1:43 AM
But can it do this?
Rosmerta on June 6, 2008 at 1:44 AM
People that aren’t cutting edge are no better than commies.
- The Cat
MirCat on June 6, 2008 at 4:46 AM
It’s a telephone.
Pretty pictures or not, does it work well as a phone?
No. It’s like holding a credit card up to your ear (in more ways than one).
And AT&T coverage sucks.
Squiggy on June 6, 2008 at 6:49 AM
meh. poopy poop
This is what the truly savvy netizen requires to reach nirvana
LimeyGeek on June 6, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Yes, those patents really threaten our economy … we’re all going to die and be homeless and have to prostitute our bodies to winos so we can get money for crack if those patents hold … run for your lives!!
thirteen28 on June 6, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Wow!
Al in St. Lou on June 6, 2008 at 1:16 PM
Geez, LimeyGeek, all I got was this message: Http/1.1 Service Unavailable
Nuance?
Rosmerta on June 6, 2008 at 1:30 PM
Oath, Assignment, file, repeat.
Two words: Office Action(s)
I take it you don’t do genome sequencing applications.
It goes to the bottom of his pile. It’s probably still sitting on his desk. PTO is always hiring, BTW.
Routine. This was filed on the last day to file a nonprovisional and foreign (the PCT was filed the same day as this) and claim the 09/06/2006 priority date. Since its filing, another nonprovisional was filed in April 2008 (Con? CiP?) cliaming priority to this now published application.
dm60462 on June 6, 2008 at 1:47 PM
State bar is one thing. Patent bar is another. If you want to be a patent lawyer (and practice before the BPAI, TTAB, and Federal Circuit – the Appelate Court that hears patent and trademark cases) you take the patent bar after you take a state bar.
BTW, you can’t have any old (English, Sociology, Communications) undergrad degree to become a patent attorney or agent. You must have a degree in the hard sciences first. But, you could feasibly major in basket weaving and be admitted to practice before a state bar.
dm60462 on June 6, 2008 at 2:14 PM
A Hot-Air-Launch crashed Amazon?
Al in St. Lou on June 6, 2008 at 2:19 PM
Yeah, Amazon has been a bit wonky today…..weird.
Together with the Gizmo service, you can VoIP like it’s going out of style.
n810 rocks….and the newer WiMax model has native cellular support too (Sprint I think) for total linux-fueled uber-geek awesomeness.
iPhone, hand over your lunch NOW
LimeyGeek on June 6, 2008 at 3:22 PM
Well, if it only works where there’s WiFi, then it only works at home or in coffee shops :(.
Al in St. Lou on June 6, 2008 at 5:41 PM
Comment pages: