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GEN-ERIC Patent News
Tuesday, July 22, 2003

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HEADLINES (patents issued a few hours ago..)
The Life Saver Patent of the Day goes to Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. of Netherlands
for a Defibrillator with wireless communications

The Smooth Operator Patent of the Day goes to Lucent Technologies Inc. of New Jersey
for a System and method for multiple language access in a telephone network
    Index
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NEWS
Microsoft loses key patent ruling
http://famulus.msnbc.com/famulusgen/cnet07-16-203501a.asp?t=CNTEK
In a crucial preliminary hearing aimed essentially at setting the ground rules for the trial itself, Judge Saundra Brown Armstrong ruled strongly in favor of InterTrust Technologies. The company is suing Microsoft on 144 counts of patent infringement, contending that Microsoft products ranging from the Windows operating system to the Xbox game system violate its digital rights management patents. No decision has been made on whether Microsoft actually has infringed on InterTrust's patents. But the so-called Markman hearing was a critical stage, at which definitions of terms and the scope of the patents were decided. Patent attorneys say a decision in favor of a patent holder greatly improves a lawsuit's ultimate chance of success. Armstrong's ruling was issued on July 3. "A Markman hearing can be one of the most if not the most important rulings by the court in a patent case," said Richard Redano, a patent attorney with Duane Morris. "Once the court rules as matter of law as to how claims are to be interpreted...a case can be ripe for summary judgment."
    Index
Overture to a patent war?
http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1104_2-1027084.html
At least, Yahoo Chief Executive Terry Semel seems to think so. With the Web portal's proposed $1.63 billion buyout of commercial search specialist Overture Services on Monday, Yahoo would acquire 60-plus patents related to technology and processes for indexing the Web, as well as for pay-per-click and bidding systems to grant sites higher placement in search results. In his brief comments to investors Monday, Semel highlighted the role intellectual property (IP) played in his decision to buy Overture instead of building a rival system to replace its two-year partner. "We'll add...to our technology assets Overture's impressive intellectual property portfolio of both algorithmic and sponsored search patents," he said. "These are some of the key reasons we have opted to acquire Overture. We believe that the advertising industry is in its earliest days of a great future."
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Amazon Sued for Patent Infringement over Personalization
http://www.internetnews.com/IAR/article.php/2237531
Pinpoint Inc. reportedly sued Amazon and six other major national retailers for allegedly violating its patents on software that assists online shoppers with their purchasing decisions. In addition to Amazon, the lawsuit also named certain retail parters including Borders Group, Toys R Us, Virgin Group and Target. The Fort Worth, Texas-based company filed the suit Thursday in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois. In it, Pinpoint claims Amazon and the other companies have violated several of its patents, which cover software that recommends specific content to Internet users, based on their past behavior. Amazon uses personalization technology to recommend products to shoppers on its site, based upon their previous purchases. "Amazon's personalization technology meets each and every limitation of at least one claim of each of the patents-in-suit, either literally or with only insubstantial differences," the suit reads.
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PATENTS OF THE DAY

6,597,948

Defibrillator with wireless communications

Abstract: A defibrillator having infrared communication capability is provided. The wireless communications capability is implemented using infrared light or RF communications and standardized communications protocols such as the IRDA protocol to allow for ready communication between defibrillators such as during handoffs of patient along the Chain of Survival. The wireless communications network also allows for communications between a defibrillator and a host computer such as a palmtop for incident report generation after each handoff. Another embodiment of the present invention provides for a defibrillator having an infrared mode switch to allow for restricted access to advanced cardiac life support (ACLS) features of the defibrillator. A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a defibrillator having a remote training mode that is implemented via wireless communications. Another embodiment of the present invention provides for a defibrillator test system that is implemented via wireless communications. A further embodiment of the present invention provides for a live ECG telemetry data link using the wireless communications system.

Index

6,597,765

System and method for multiple language access in a telephone network

Abstract: A telecommunications system including a public telephonic switching network interconnected with a telephonic network switch for routing calls from an initial telephonic unit to a destination telephonic unit. Telephonic calls are sent via the public telephonic switching network for receipt at the computer controlled telephonic network switch. The telephonic network switch has a central processing unit and an associated memory with an improved programmed operator services position system for assigning a language to the telephonic call such that the assigned language is an associated attribute for the telephonic call. Throughout the duration of the telephonic call, the call is identified to receive telephone operator services in the particular language assigned for the telephonic call.