USPTO Grants Patent to InsideSales.com

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has granted InsideSales.com a notice of approval on a recent patent application.  InsideSales.com is a provider of web-based phone dialer technologies, and as stated in a press release, the new patent includes unique and innovative telephony functions that can occur from a web page.

Most of the InsideSales.com technologies are designed for business-to-business companies.  They are best known for the PowerDialer which embeds phone dialer software into its technology.  The CEO of InsideSales.com, David Elkington, said:

This patent is the first approved and one of the most important of the many patents-pending in our portfolio. It allows us to assertively protect the core component of our PowerDialer technology which has become the leading dialer solution for companies trying to increase productivity in their inside sales and lead generation departments. The inside sales or remote selling space is an industry that is particularly relevant in light of our current economy. Buyers often prefer the time-savings of remote sales over face-to-face.

Inside Sales was recently ranked as the 2nd most effective method of lead generation in 2008 by BtoB Magazine.  Much of their web-based technology was developed at Northwestern University and MIT.

Patents to Make Internet Safer for Children

Parents have long worried what type of content their children may be accessing on the internet.  But, thanks to three provisional patent applications filed by The Children’s Internet, Inc., parents can start to ease their worry.  A press release on Financial News USA states that although the patents were technically filed by The Children’s Internet Holding Company, they will soon officially be held by The Children’s Internet after a merger of the two.

The filed patents reportedly surround the filtering technology utilized by The Children’s Internet.  The company currently offers a service of pre-selected, pre-approved educational and entertaining web pages that can be accessed through a kid-friendly search engine.  Moreover, the company believes that this service is needed since a market research firm In-Stat, recently reported that the education and entertainment segments of electronic media are flourishing among children.

As stated by Richard J. Lewis III, the CEO of The Children’s Internet:

The internet can be a dangerous place and the proliferation of inappropriate content on the internet is problematic as many websites are simply not appropriate for children.  With the technology advancements we have recently filed provisional patents on, our security systems now uniquely and in a user friendly, real time way secure against inappropriate content and classify web sites according to appropriateness of content for age; in addition, we can now safely and uniquely use and retrieve intelligent email messages.

Hopefully, these new patents and technology will prevent inappropriate content from reaching children, but it all relies on parents actually using The Children’s Internet.

Apple Files Two More Patents for iPhone

Two recent patent filings from Apple have the possibility of being incorporated into the next version of the iPhone. 

As reported by iPhone FAQ, the first patent is an audio jack cleaning adaptor for portable electronic devices.  The patent basically describes a method of cleaning that would force compressed air through a conduit and hollow channels in the plug, to displace lint and other debris.  “A consumer could place the adaptor plug in the jack, couple the conduit to the plug, and then apply compressed air through the conduit to clean the jack.”

Apple has also filed a patent that proposes an audio sensor which would adjust sound output based on ambient noise.  Some have speculated that this patent would be similar to the automatic brightness sensor on the current iPhone.  As Apple states, “For instance, a user who adjusts the volume of a mobile phone ring tone for a loud environment may later move to a quieter environment, where the loud ring will be disruptive.  Alternatively, a volume level which is optimized for a quiet environment may not be detectable if the associated device is moved to a louder environment.”

Although this patent sounds good in theory, it seems as if iPhones may soon be more aware of our surroundings than we are.

Teen Goalie Applies for Design Patent to Shutout Opposition

Athletes are always looking for a competitive edge.  Only a few, however, have the motivation and know how to create an edge all by themselves.

One such athlete is high school senior Trevor Leahy, who is a hockey goaltender for Pingree School in Massachusetts.  As reported on Boston.com, Leahy recently used computer skills he learned in a graphic design class to sketch new leg pads that blend into the goal netting behind him.  He wanted pads, a trapper, and blockers that are white with a raised double-stitched design, just like the goal.  As Leahy said, “When the shooter comes down and only has a split second to shoot the puck, they’re looking for net.  If you put the net on the pad, they’ll shoot at the pad instead of the goal.”

Darren Stomp, a custom pad maker from Ontario, designed Leahy’s equipment but it wasn’t the first time goaltenders asked him to make other cosmetic designs.  However, as Stomp said, “It might be the most clever idea.  I don’t think there’s any question it will work, although to what degree depends on the shooter and the situation.”

Leahy applied for a design patent last February, and it is pending.  He received the pads on November 29, and began using them in practice and then in games.  Since then, he has registered two shutouts and has a goals-against average under 2.00.

Pingree coach Buddy Taft said, “It all makes sense.  I’m not sure if there’s any effective way to test their success, but he’s played pretty well.”

One of Pingree’s top scorers, Matt MacDonald, said that the illusion is effective when there’s a scramble in front of the net and they need to shoot quickly.   “When you’re in close and you don’t have a lot of time to think, it does catch your eye, and you do shoot toward it sometimes.” 

As to what will happen to the pads after this season is unclear.  Leahy said he would like to play hockey in college, and wants to market the idea.

Nintendo Patents No-Player Game System

Tired of never getting past a certain level on a video game?  Wish the game could show you what to do?  Well your prayers have been answered.  Nintendo recently patented a game that can play itself.  While critics have claimed this patent would be nothing more than a movie, the patent describes a system aimed at assisting casual gamers through complex games.

According to Kotaku, the patent would turn a gamre into a full-length cut scene, allowing players to jump in and out of action when they wished.  However, gamers would not be able to save their progress, which maintains the challenge of completing a game without skipping or cheating.  Also, players would be able to bring up in-game hint videos and skip directly to particular scenes in games.

The patented game is broken down into three playing options:

1. Game - Players would be able to play the game the normal way, but they can bring up video hints when they wish.

2. Digest – This option would allow people to watch a video of developers playing through the game, laying out the storyline.  At any time the player would be able to jump into action.

3. Scene Menu – This would allow gamers to skip directly to a specific scene.

If the game is successful, it could help gamers play a game without having to take a large chunk out of their life to do so.  The worst case scenario for this game is that it turns into a glorified demo.

Now, all we need is a TV that can watch itself!

New Apple Patent Application Moves iSight Camera

Have you ever looked at your iSight camera on your Apple notebook and wondered if the camera could actually be mounted in the center of the display?  Thanks to a recently published patent application, it may actually become a reality.

As reported on Ars Technica, Apple filed for this patent in July of 2007.  But in order for the camera to take pictures from behind the screen, the portion of the display in front of the camera would have an “inactive state.”  This portion of the screen would need to be somewhat transparent, and the camera and display would be synchronized so any change in the image being displayed could be minimized.  The application also suggests that there could be more than one camera used to generate a composite image.

The patent also suggests that this feature could be used in devices other than a laptop.  The proposed patent is said to have a real possibility for use with the iPhone, iPod touch and other devices. 

While this patent may still be a ways away from the market, it could ease some of the problems with using today’s mounted cameras.  As the patent states, “Constantly looking back and forth between the display screen and the camera … can be distracting and make the conversation seem awkward and unnatural.”

Mylan Inc. Issued Patents for COPD

Mylan Inc. announced this morning that they have been issued several U.S. patents which cover the administration of a ready-to-use inhaler.  Mylan stated in a press release that the patents were directly granted to its subsidiary, Dey L.P., and that the company received a “Notice of Allowance” on another patent which they expect to be granted in the near future.

The issued patents protect Dey’s Perforomist Inhalation Solution, which is a treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  Two of the patents are directed towards the compositions of “R-formoterol,” a specific form of the formoterol molecule, and its use.  Another patent covers the administration of formoterol in a storage stable composition.  These patents extend to the year 2021.

Once the patent is granted that received a “Notice of Allowance,” Dey will possess seven patents directed towards the composition and use of formoterol.  Dey also has additional patents pending directed to formoterol-containing compositions and their use in the treatment of respiratory conditions.

Guardian Media Files Suit Against 32 Companies

Guardian Media Technologies recently filed a lawsuit in a California district court against a number of well known companies.  Guardian alleges that these companies have infringed on two of their patents, and they are seeking damages, reports the IT Examiner.

The first patent in question involves a selective video playing system, which is connected to parental control features in DVD players that the defendants are offering, or have offered for sale.  The other patent was issued in May 1990 for “automatic censorship of video programs,” and covers parental control on televisions.

The following is the full list of companies Guardian has named in the lawsuit: Coby Electronics, Acer, Amazon, Apple, Bang and Olufsen, Best Buy, Bose, Cisco, Costco, Dell, Direct TV, Echostar Fujitsu, Imation, Lenovo, Lite on, Memorex, Microsoft, Motorola, Nintendo, Onkyo, Overstock.com, Radio Shack, Robert Bosch, Scientific-Atlanta, Sears Roebuck, Sherwood America, Sound Around, Target Corp, Tivo, TTE Technology, Walmart, Viewsonic and Yamaha.

It doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to sue companies that merely sell the products that infringe on the patents.  Are stores supposed to research the patent history of every product they sell, or patents they may infringe?  It would make more sense for Guardian to name only the makers of the products that allegedly infringe on the patents.

Nokia Files Application for Four Way Folding Communicator

Among the many patents the were filed on Christmas Day, one of particular interest is called the Four Way Folding Communicator.  Submitted by Nokia, the application reveals that the device will have four hinges and four attached pieces.  It is presumed that two of the pieces will make up the keypad, and two will form the LCD screen, reports NokNok.

The device would be a great way to save pocket space, if it turns out to be durable.  There are plenty of ways a device like this could come apart, and this origami-like device would need to be able to have strong hinges to withstand everyday use.

Plenty of questions are surrounding this newest patent, such as what special features will the Communicator contain?  Nokia has stated that the device would include media, games, and communication, but specifics have not been revealed.  Furthermore, how do you fold the Communicator properly?  We’ll see if this idea comes to fruition, or if Nokia simply submitted the application to prevent rival companies from making a similar device.

Patents Pending on Travel Assistance Device

Researchers at the University of South Florida have developed an invention that utilizes cell phone technology, with the hopes that it will give the disabled more independence.  The “Travel Assistance Device,” could also shift some disabled from paratransit service to regular buses, Tampa Bay Online reports.

The device utilizes Global Positioning Satellite technology inside cell phones to track disabled riders.  When the rider’s bus stop is approaching, their cell phone vibrates and a prerecorded message tells them to pull the cord to tell the driver to pull over at the next corner.  The device currently has two patents pending.

“I think it has its uses, especially for people who have trouble remembering their destination and have to try and look out the window to see where they are,” said Gloria Mills, and advocate for disabled transit riders.

Riders can download the TAD software from a password-protected Web site and load it onto their phones.  The software is free to users, and doesn’t require anything other than a cell phone and a computer.

The idea was developed two years ago, and was successfully tested this past summer on six college-aged, cognitively impaired people.

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