more photos available, email marcjoseph@marcjoseph.com
www.marcjoseph.com

If you’re on the search for a scrummy ‘it’ bag to complete your Foho look, why not try the Chloé Cyndi patent tote for size. It’s a bag of contrasts, from the liquid and matte leather to the silver and gold hardware, this fabulous oversized Chloé tote will hold all you need. £948. Purchase here.

If you’re looking to save more cash, take a look at the wonderful Lil Riz shoulder bag from Marc by Marc Jacobs. I love the colour! As seen on the runway and for instant ‘wow’ appeal, wear for the day with a block coloured outfit. It can be carried or worn snugly on the shoulder. £290. Purchase here.

Now, if it's vintage you're looking for, look no further than Catwalk Creative. Here's details of a couple of vintage clutch bags that are available right now. Purchase these for a tiny fraction of the designer price tag. The Borelli red leather clutch bag (shown below) is made from beautiful quality leather. It features: Top zip fastening. Handy exterior pocket at the front. Detachable shoulder strap. One interior pocket with zip. Red lining. Gold-tone hardware. This wonderful vintage clutch is perfect for carrying all your girly essentials. It's also in the most beautiful shade of red. Every girl should have one!

The other cool alternative is a vintage 80s black leather clutch bag which has been embossed to look like croc skin. It has a thin, gold-tone chain strap (non-detachable) which can be stored neatly inside, making it possible to use as shoulder or clutch bag. Front flap closure with sturdy magnetic, press-stud fastener. There is a metal gold-tone crocodile at the front which really finishes off the whole look. Lined in black. No interior pockets. This really is the most elegant vintage clutch bag. It's divine! Follow the link to view this bag and make sure you purchase it before someone else does!

On April 25, 2008, after having its original complaint dismissed, Star filed an amended complaint against AMA for infringement of US7113852. In the amended complaint, Star added its CEO Mr. Kapadia as a co-plaintiff, and unilaterally named Mr. Vieira an "involuntary plaintiff." Messrs. Kapadia and Vieira are the co-owners of the '852 Patent. AMA moved to dismiss this amended complaint because Mr. Vieira did not qualify as an "involuntary plaintiff."

The U.S. District Court has given Star until September 5, 2008 to amend its complaint to name Mr. Vieira as a defendant. If Star elects to amend its complaint, Mr. Vieira will have the opportunity to fully participate in the suit. But, Star and Mr. Vieira are currently embroiled in a dispute in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice involving, among other things, the ownership of US7113852.

AMA is the technology leader in aircraft health performance monitoring systems, and holds patents recognizing its innovation in this industry. AMA takes intellectual property matters very seriously.

Patent # -  US7113852

Title - System and method for transportation vehicle monitoring, feedback and control

Filed - July 20, 2001

Abstract - A system provides monitoring/feedback to a transportation vehicle regarding the state of that vehicle based on, at least, information provided by sensors located on or in the transportation vehicle. Monitoring the transportation vehicle provides information about the status of the transportation vehicle and equipment on or in the vehicle. Feedback information is provided to the transportation vehicle based on the information received during monitoring. Additionally, feedback information may be formulated based on additional criteria received from equipment other than the sensors located on or in the vehicle, for example, meteorological systems, geographic location systems, e.g., a radar system, a global positioning system, etc. The information provided by the sensors and the formulated feedback information may be stored in memory on the transportation vehicle as well as at a stable location for archiving and subsequent analysis.

• Alpine Electronics
• Denso Corporation
• Pioneer Corporation
• Kenwood Corporation

The four companies all have U.S. subsidiaries that are also named in Honeywell's request for an investigation.

The commission has been a popular venue for patent infringement suits because, unlike other courts, it can bar products made with infringed technology from importation.

According to Honeywell Aerospace spokeswoman Cathy Gedvilas, "Honeywell continues to invest substantial resources in the design, development and manufacture of navigation systems and equipment . This action will protect against the unauthorized use of our patented technologies".

Barack Obama's Technology Position

In his Technology position, U.S. Presidential candidate Barack Obama comments on need to ensure an open Internet and on the importance of creating a transparent and connected democracy. This includes:

Making goverment data available online in universally accessible formats to allow citizens to make use of that data to comment, derive value, and take action in their own communities. Greater access to environmental data, for example, will help citizens learn about pollution in their communities, provide information about local conditions back to government and empower people to protect themselves.

Establishing pilot programs to open up government ecision-making and involve the public in the work of agencies, not simply by soliciting opinions, but by tapping into the vast and distributed expertise of American citizenry to help goverment make more informated decisions.

Interactive, dynamic web-mapping anyone? Looks like a great opportunity for those in the field of participatory mapping and public participation GIS (PPGIS)!

Obama also commented on the need to protect our privacy in an age of increased computing power, decreased storage costs, and huge flows of information. Obama supports updating surveillance laws, and notably remarks on the need to protect our location privacy.

Obama will also work to provide robust protection against misuses of particularly sensitive kinds of information, such as e-health records and location data that do not fit comfortably within sector-specific privacy laws.

John McCain's Technology Position

U.S. Presidential candidate John McCain's Technology Position emphasizes the need to encourage investment in technological innovation, to improve high-speed Internet access for under-served communities, to ensure an educated workforce in science and technology - in which we're lagging behind China and India, and to keep the Internet free from unnecessary goverment regulation.

McCain's Personal Security and Privacy Position comments on the role of government and industry in protecting citizens' personal security and privacy:

Government -- Government must promote a culture of personal security through consumer education initiatives, incentives for the development of secure technologies, and stronger enforcement of laws to protect our citizens, particularly children.

Industry -- American industry must continue to lead the world in the development of more secure technologies and responses to new threats. Among other things, industry must exert appropriate efforts to protect sensitive personal information and prevent unintentional loss or theft. Industry also must pursue effective self-regulation and continue informing and educating consumers about the collection and use of personal information.

Report on Presidential Science Advice

Also worth looking at is a new report on Presidential Science Advice, published by the Center for the Study of the Presidency, Study Group on Presidential Science and Technology Personnel and Advisory Assets.

The Center for the Study of the Presidency has completed its report Presidential Leadership to Ensure Science and Technology in the Service of National Needs: A Report to the 2008 Candidates. The report contains a number of recommendations intended to be seriously considered by the presidential candidates’ staffs before and during transition planning, in order to strengthen the S&T advice provided to the President and federal agencies.

Source: AAAS Policy Alert, August 20, 2008

 

The targeted Google's services are AdWords, Blogger, Sites and YouTube as GraphOn claims that they violate its patents number 6,324,538; 6,850,940; 7,028,034; and 7,269,591.

GraphOn already used the courts to protect its patents in several cases; the first major lawsuit was against AutoTrader.com Inc. in November 2005 for two of the patents cited in the Google lawsuit, then against Juniper Networks Inc. in August 2007 on patents that protect network security and firewall technologies, and in March against Classified Ventures, IAC/InterActiveCorp, Match.com, Yahoo, eHarmony.com and CareerBuilder for the same patents cited in its lawsuit outlined Google.

GraphOn Corp. filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Texas and it seeks permanent injunctive relief and unspecified damages.

Links
GraphOn: http://www.graphon.com/;

Google: http://www.google.com/.

The term patent usually refers to a right granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof.

A patent for an invention is the grant of a property right to the inventor, issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Generally, the term of a new patent is 20 years from the date on which the application for the patent was filed in the United States or, in special cases, from the date an earlier related application was filed, subject to the payment of maintenance fees. U.S. patent grants are effective only within the United States, U.S. territories, and U.S. possessions. Under certain circumstances, patent term extensions or adjustments may be available.

The right conferred by the patent grant is, in the language of the statute and of the grant itself, “the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling” the invention in the United States or “importing” the invention into the United States. What is granted is not the right to make, use, offer for sale, sell or import, but the right to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, selling or importing the invention. Once a patent is issued, the patentee must enforce the patent without aid of the USPTO.

There are three types of patents:

1. Utility patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof;
2. Design patents may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original, and ornamental design for an article of manufacture; and
3. Plant patents may be granted to anyone who invents or discovers and asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.

(Information taken from the USPTO)

The company appears to do two things - own patents, and sue telecommunications companies to leverage settlement agreements and licenses. Some cynics might call them patent trolls. The more astute of us, however, realize that anyone - including AT&T and Sprint - can go bargain shopping for patents. One need merely to take advantage of the PTO's 100% free search function. The job's already half done since they are searching the prior art diligently when they pursue their own intellectual property anyway.

In a culture where we reward those who are able to recognize hidden value in things that would otherwise go unnoticed, it seems odd that some would malign those with keen aptitude despite limited resources. Sore losers.

C2 is a 92% subsidiary of Counsel Corporation. Counsel Corporation invests in small companies with potential for high return on investment, preferably with patent portfolios. Read into that what you will.

내일은 이 건에 대해서 써보려고 한다.

(계속) <-- 이거 너무 많이 쓰니까 좀 미안하지만...

• 1960년: 만성골수성백혈병의 유전자 변이를 발견 (Peter Nowell, MD, of the U Penn Med School and David Hungerford, MD, of the Institute for Cancer Research) - 22번 염색체 결함을 발견했고 이는 나중에 (그 유명한) 필라델피아 염색체로 명명된다.
• 1973년: 9번 염색체와 22번 염색체의 치환(translocation) 과정을 밝힘 (Janet Rowley, MD, at the U of Chicago) - 다른 종류의 암에서 생기는 치환을 밝혀내는 데 선구적 업적이 된다.
• 1980년대: 필라델피아 염색체가 백혈병 세포의 비정상적인 성장 및 분화에 결정적 역할을 하는 효소(enzyme, BCR-ABL)를 만들어내며 이 효소가 세포의 정상적인 유전 명령을 바꾼다는 것을 밝혀냄 (David Baltimore, Ph.D와 Owen N. Witte, MD)
• 1990년대: 이 BCR-ABL을 억제하는 약품의 개발이 진전되었고, Novartis (당시 Ciba-Geigy)의 수석연구원 Nicholas Lydon, Ph.D.와 Alex Matter, MD가 글리벡의 후보 물질 개발
• 4명의 연구원 팀이 글리벡의 초기 물질을 완성
• 1994년: (백혈병 치료에서 유명한) Dr. Brian Drucker와 Dr. Elizabeth Buchdunger, Dr. Helmut Mett, Dr. Thomas Meyer가 방대한 실험을 통해 글리벡을 발견 (혹은 완성).
• 1993년과 1995년에 특허 출원

글리벡 음모론

인터넷에서 읽은 글 중에는 글리벡 개발사가 백혈병 완치제를 개발할 능력이 있음에도 불구하고 완치제가 아닌 억제제만을 개발하였다고 주장하기도 했다. 완치제를 개발하지 않고 억제제만을 개발한 이유는 억제제가 훨씬 돈이 많이 되기 때문이라는 것이 결합 논리였다. 그런 주장을 한 사람이 의학이나 생물학 전공자가 아니기 때문에 의약품 개발에 대해 잘 모를 것은 확실하다. 나 역시 의학이나 생물학 전공을 하지 않았기 때문에 같은 처지이다.

하지만, 노바티스가 백혈병 완치제를 개발할 능력이 있었음에도 개발하지 않았다는 음모론에는 쉽게 동의할 수 없다.

글리벡이라는 약 자체만 해도 당시에는 엄청난 기술적 진보였다. 백혈병이라는 암을 선택적으로 억제할 수 있다는 것만 해도 엄청난 성과이다. 이 과정에 가장 중요한 실마리를 제공한 Nowell과 Rowley는 미국의 노벨상이라고 불리는 Albert Lasker Medical Research Award를 받는다. 이 발견이 얼마나 대단한 성과인지를 알려주는 간접적 증거이다. Nowell과 Rowely의 발견 후에 글리벡이 개발되기까지는 30년 안팎의 시간이 걸렸다. 그 동안에 완치제를 개발할 기술을 성취하면서 동시에 억제제를 개발하기도 하면서 억제제의 시장성이 사라지기 전까지는 완치제를 세상에 내놓지 않을 정도로 노바티스사가 엄청난 회사일까? 여러 가지 이유로 이런 시나리오는 가능하지 않다는 게 내 생각이다.

글리벡 관련 특허 정보

글리벡 관련 특허를 찾는 것은 쉽지 않다. 특히나 1993년과 1995년에 미국 특허상표청에 출원된 특허를 찾는 것은 쉽지 않다. 의약품 산업에 지식이 많은 사람들은 금방 찾을 수 있겠지만 그냥 일반적인 특허 지식을 갖고 있고 의약품에 많은 지식이 없는 사람들에게는 시간이 좀 걸릴 수 있다. 나도 찾는 데 시간이 좀 걸렸다. 여기에는 아래 포스트가 도움을 주었다.

Generic Pharmaceuticals and IP: US: Novartis’ Imatinib patent challenged

• 1단계: 미국 FDA의 Orange Book을 먼저 검색한다.

대부분의 의약품은 미국 혹은 유럽에서 먼저 절차를 밟는다. 글리벡은 미국에서 제일 먼저 출원되었고 의약품 판매 허가도 미국에서 제일 먼저 받았다. 미국 FDA는 의약품에 대한 FDA 허가 사항 뿐만 아니라 관련 특허 정보도 제공한다. Orange Book 주소는 Electronic Orange Book Home Page이다. 여기서 Glivec 혹은 Gleevec을 넣고 검색해 보면 Proprietary Name Search
이 나오고, 여기서 application number를 선택해서 클릭하면 Orange Book Detail Record Search이 나오고, 여기서 'Patent and Exclusivity Info for this product: View"를 클릭하면 마침내 원하는 결과가 나온다. Patent and Exclusivity Search Results

이 결과 페이지에서 Glivec에 관련된 특허 정보를 모두 뽑아볼 수 있다. 3개의 특허가 있다. 5,521,184, 6,894,051, 6,958,335이다.

5,521,184는 2015년 1월 4일에 만료된다. 6,894,051은 2019년 5월 23일에 만료, 6,958,335는 2021년 12월 19일에 만료된다. 글리벡으로 돈 벌 수 있는 시간은 짧으면 7년 남았다. 그리고 신약들이 계속 개발될 수 있으므로 돈 벌 수 있는 기간은 그보다 더 짧아질 수도 있다.

• 2단계: 미국 특허상표청에서 특허를 검색한다.

미국 특허상표청에서의 검색은 Patent Full-Text and Full-Page Image Databases에서 한다. 이거는 아주 어려운 것은 아니지만 특허 제도에 대한 지식이 조금은 있어야 한다. 위의 세 번호를 Patent Number에 집어넣으면 원하는 결과가 나온다.

• 3단계: 한국 특허정보원에서 해당 특허를 검색한다.

미국에 특허출원된 것 중에서 중요한 것은 한국에도 출원된다. 글리벡은 아주 중요한 특허이기 때문에 당연히 한국에도 출원되었다. 한국에서 글리벡 특허를 찾을 수 있으면 일본 특허청, 유럽특허청(EPO)에서도 찾을 수 있다. 한국 특허는 특허정보원(http://www.kipris.or.kr/)에서 검색 가능하다.

여기서도 역시 어떤 정보를 넣어야 할지 모를 수 있을 것이다. 미국 특허청에 등록된 정보중에서 만국 공용의 정보는 PCT 출원 정보이다. 미국 특허 5,521,184를 열람해보면 그 특허에 대한 PCT 출원 번호와 PCT 공개번호(Pub. No.)가 나온다. 이는 각각 PCT/EP1998/004427와 WO99/03854이다. 이 두 번호 중 하나를 한국 특허정보원의 검색 시스템에 집어넣으면 이에 해당하는 한국 특허가 나온다.

원칙은 간단하다. pivot data가 PCT 출원 번호 혹은 PCT 공개 번호 둘 중 하나이고 이것만 알아내면 한국 뿐만 아니라 일본과 EPO에서도 찾아낼 수 있다. 그걸 따라가는 것이 특허 정보에 지식이 없는 사람들에게는 다소 어려울 수 있다는 것 정도. 그리고 그보다 먼저 어려운 것은 원천 특허를 찾아내는 것이다. 글리벡의 원천 특허에는 글리벡이란 이름이 없다는 것. 게다가 일반 명사인 imatinib도 원천 특허에는 들어 있지 않다. 그래서 글리벡이나 imatinib이란 이름으로 아무리 찾아봐야 원천 특허는 안 나온다. 그래서 FDA 데이터베이스까지 찾아야 한다.

또 다른 허들이 있을 수 있는 경우가 있다. PCT 출원 정보가 없는 경우이다. PCT 출원을 이용하는 것이 요즘에는 보편화되었지만 아직도 PCT 출원이 없이 Paris Convention Priority를 이용하는 출원이 있다. Paris 조약 우선권은 여기선 스킵하고...

글리벡의 한국, EPO에서 특허 정보

이런 방식으로 글리벡의 특허 정보를 한국, 일본, EPO에서 찾아보자. 미국 특허 5,521,184에 대해서만 해보면.

• 한국 특허정보원

한국 특허정보원의 검색 시스템은 PCT 출원번호나 PCT 공개번호 둘 중 어느 것이나 이용할 수 있다. 검색해본 결과는 출원번호 10-2000-7000515 (출원일 2000. 1. 17)이고 공개번호는 10-2001-0021950 (2001.3.15)이다.

• EPO

EPO 정보는 http://www.espacenet.com/에서 검색가능하다. 그런데 여기서는 PCT 공개번호로만 가능하다. 'Publication number'에 WO9903854를 입력하면 결과를 찾을 수 있다. EPO 공개번호는 EP0998473이다.

출원서 해독

출원서는 전공자가 아니면 이해할 수 없는 문서라고 보면 된다. 특허 심사관들은 담당 IPC로 분류된 특허출원을 심사하는데 IPC가 조금만 달라져도 심사하는 데 아주 많은 시간이 걸린다. 하물며 그 분야에 전공자가 아니면 출원서를 이해하는 것도 아주 어렵다. 그래서 나는 글리벡 특허 출원서 이해하는 거는 포기했다.

What is Explore?

Explore is a Flickr feature with the intent of showing you "some of the most awesome photos on Flickr." Photos are automatically selected by computer according to a secret algorithm called Interestingness (see below for more about that).

Is Explore a showcase for the top Flickr photographers?

No. It's for photo viewers, not the photographers. It exists so that, at any moment, anyone who wants to view interesting photos can go to Explore and have a reasonable chance of seeing something interesting. Does that imply that photographs not in Explore are uninteresting? Of course not. There are many, many wonderful photos uploaded to Flickr each day that aren't selected for Explore. But to serve its purpose, Explore only has to include a small sampling of all of the photos on Flickr (currently at 500 per day or about 0.005% of the daily upload volume). And Explore tries to show photos from as many different people as possible to create a diverse selection.

Explore is for the viewers. It's a way for Flickr to show the world a sampling of what is being shared there. It's there for those who are new to Flickr, who are lost in the vastness of it all and don't know where to begin. It is not a "best of" listing of photographers. It is not a popularity contest.

What is Interestingness?

Interestingness is what Flickr calls the criteria used for selecting which photos are shown in Explore. All photos are given an Interestingness "score" that can also be used to sort any image search on Flickr. The top 500 photos ranked by Interestingness are shown in Explore. Interestingness rankings are calculated automatically by a secret computer algorithm. The algorithm is often referred to by name as the Interestingness algorithm. Although the algorithm is secret, Flickr has stated that many factors go into calculating Interestingness including: a photo's tags, how many groups the photo is in, views, favorites, where click-throughs are coming from, who comments on a photo and when, and more. The velocity of any of those components is a key factor. For example, getting 20 comments in an hour counts much higher than getting 20 comments in a week.

(continued via Frequently Asked Questions / Scout)

more photos available, email marcjoseph@marcjoseph.com

Majority of the new analysts that work under me are very happy when they get one good/relevant result in an invalidation search. Thereafter they work in peace and doesn't stress much for more results as they are happy that they have invalidated the subject patent.

No!!

That is not what i'm looking for, or what the client wants. What I am interested in is identifying all the relevant patents that exist in the art. All the patents that can invalidate a patent.

This is what makes a case strong.
This is what that makes you win or loose a case.

So if you are doing an invalidation search, make sure you have all the BANG-ONs!!

In this Reimagining the Wheels article, I will talk about the ParkPlus System, a Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) created state-of-the-art parking system. ParkPlus is much more advanced than the good old parking meters, the newer pay and display system, or even this type of hybrid meter. Regular readers may remember I have previously promised to blog more about ParkPlus here. Well, I've finally kept my promise. (big smile)

To provide a deeper insight into ParkPlus, I've also taken time to interview CPA's general manager Mr. Dale Fraser and Calgary Alderman Mr. Dale Hodges, two of the participants in the creation of the ParkPlus system.

The Business of Parking

You may not realize this but Calgary Parking Authority is a completely self-funded operation. In 2007, after expenses, CPA actually *paid* a total of $17.9 million to the City of Calgary (an $1.9 million increase from $16 million in 2006).

Now, observant readers will notice that old style parking meters sometimes got vandalized or money stolen. To give you a rough idea of the monetary impact, CPA's meter repairs, parts, and overtime costs have totaled more than several hundred thousand dollars since 2006. I will mention how ParkPlus addresses these challenges in "The Technologies" section.

The ParkPlus system can also reduce parking enforcement cost ($6.3 million in 2007) by making parking enforcement more efficient. And ParkPlus has the potential to increase revenue from parking operations and enforcement by increasing tickets purchased (because it is more convenient for people to pay by credit cards or cell phones) and issuing more parking tickets to violators (with photos as proofs). (note: As a driver that doesn't enjoy being ticketed, I am torn to call "issuing more parking tickets" a "benefit"!)

For the financial and business types, you can download a copy of CPA's Financial Statements here.

And by eliminating the painted lines defining curbside parking spaces, CPA has also managed to allow more cars to be parked on the streets of downtown Calgary. And I've been reassured by CPA that they have even collected statistics to confirm that 20% more cars are able to park than before. By the way, more parking spaces also means happier Calgarians (less time wasted to hunt for a parking spot) and increased revenue for CPA.

The System

The ParkPlus System consists of three components:

1) Tannery Creek Systems' autoChalk (license plate recognition system: software, GPS, cameras and infrared measurement laser, in the following enforcement vehicle (a hybrid)),

2) Cale Systems' pay machines specially designed for Calgary with full keyboard for license plate input (see picture below and company press release), and

3) Cellphone and Web-based user account system designed and implemented by MTS Allstream.

Here is a video of ParkPlus enforcement vehicle in action.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=4276677986749088003]

The Technologies

1) Excerpted from Tannery Creek Systems' autoChalk,

"Using our state-of-the-art digital imaging technology, Tannery Creek's autoChalk detects parking time violations while scanning at normal traffic speed (25 mph) up to 8 feet away. Productivity of your staff will quadruple, with more revenue, less costs, reduced injury and improved working conditions." (for more cool details, check out Tannery's web page)

2a) A casual inspection of the ParkPlus' Cale pay machines (CWT 2115) indicates the machine are quite sturdy. CPA was reluctant to discuss security features of these pay machines but further research into CPA's CWT 2115 reveals it does have several desirable security features to reduce theft and vandalism, including "Intelligent seismic vibration detector to prevent break-in installed. An alarm can automatically be sent to a security guard and an audible alarm can be triggered. The detector can differentiate between different real attacks and normal operations." (For more info, see CWT 2115 product highlight)

2b) And there is an efficient solar cells on top of the pay machine. The machine can run for weeks with a fully charged internal battery.

3) The cell phone payment system allows users to create an account online with the user's cellphone number and license plate information and then put some money into his/her account. After creating an account, if the user wants to park at a ParkPlus Zone, he/she can simply call the ParkPlus system's phone number (403-537-PARK (7275)). And then pay by entering the parking zone, and the system will charge for the maximum allowed time. And if the user returns before the parking time expires, the user can simply call the system and the unused portion will be refunded to the user's account. The user can even use the system to set up a reminder and have the system calls the user minutes, say 5 minutes, before the parking time expires!

The Patents

During my interview with Dale, CPA's General Manager, he mentioned that the CPA has applied for worldwide patent protection of the ParkPlus system. As someone interested in intellectual properties like patents, I have always tried to learn more about the key ideas behind interesting patents. So I've tried various US patent searches to try to find the ParkPlus related patent(s) (including this search with 2 results not related to ParkPlus and this search with no results at publication time).

I am speculating here, but one reason that the CPA ParkPlus patent application is not public yet may be due to the allowed 18 months 35 U.S.C. 122 (b) (c) (B) delay. (To me, US patent is one of the most important one to apply for, simply because US is one of the largest market and it has a reasonably strong patent protection regime.)

Now, for some insightful public information, here is Tannery Creek Systems' US patent application 20070029825 "System and method for parking infraction detection". Pay attentions to the "Claims" section. And pay special attention to the "Detailed Description of Invention" section as it is required by 37 CFR 1.71, MPEP § 608.01 to be "in such particularity as to enable any person skilled in the pertinent art or science to make and use the invention without involving extensive experimentation". (ref USPTO MPEP 608.01(g) )

I look froward to reading ParkPlus' patent application when it becomes public. I enjoy reading patents because they teaches us a lot of interesting things. Plus some patents are strong while some other patents may become invalid when under closer scrutiny. Anyway, the ParkPlus patent application should be a good read.

The Economics

Because of the efficiency of ParkPlus enforcement vehicle, my days in committing "rational crime" is probably numbered (or greatly reduced). (big smile) Have a read of the above linked Financial Times interview for more info if you like. It is a fun read.

Quoting from the Crime and Punishment section in this article (emphasis added), "These empirical studies have also shown that the probability of getting caught has a more deterrent effect on criminality than the term of the punishment." Ha ha, it works for parking tickets too. (smile)

The Interviews

Now, saving the best for now, here is a video me interviewing CPA General Manager Dale Fraser and Alderman Dale Hodges. Enjoy.

[googlevideo=http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=8351000015597501819]

Some Privacy Concerns

I am not a lawyer, but I think Calgary Parking Authority still has to abide by the Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). What concerns me here is CPA's systematic storing of license plates information captured by the ParkPlus enforcement vehicle. Dale, CPA's General Manager, suggested that since the license plates information are in clear view on the street already therefore they can be considered "public" information. The example given by Dale was we can go out onto the street today and start writing down all the license plates numbers, precisely where these vehicles are located, and at what time, thus there is nothing new or wrong with the data collected by ParkPlus.

In my humble opinion, the problem with Dale's argument is that it ignores the systematic, complete, and efficient nature of these captures. Now, imagine if I had outfitted my car with cameras and infrared laser like a ParkPlus enforcement vehicle and started driving around downtown capturing license plates information. I will be very surprised if my camera-equipped car roaming downtown does not lead to puzzling looks by Calgarians or even being stopped for questioning by the police.

I don't ever want to see Canada becoming a "surveillance society" like the UK (see reports from BBC, Guardian, and CNet). The information collected by ParkPlus and potentially dangerous precedence set by ParkPlus may be the first step on a slippery slope towards a surveillance society. To better appreciate what a surveillance society is like, I recommend reading this BBC report and scanning the UK Information Commissioner surveillance society report (PDF file) to gain some perspective on surveillance.

If you are concern about the legality and the potential invasion of privacy by the ParkPlus enforcement system, you may wish to contact the office of the Privacy Commissioner of Alberta, Mr. Frank J. Work. And ask the OIPC to investigate and publicly report on the privacy measures CPA needs to institute to ensure the protection of the privacy of Albertans.

Concluding Thoughts

I think ParkPlus is a truly revolutionary and state-of-the-art parking system that reinvents parking. At the same time, I won't allow my admiration of the cutting-edge technologies and potential monetary benefits to overshadow my desire to see Canadians' rights to privacy be respected and protected.

Notes

1) Here are some more reading materials if you wish to learn more about the ParkPlus System.

a) It's Time for Change - Calgary's New Approach (PDF file, 2 pages)

b) Calgary: The City Steps Out on its Own (PDF file, page 4-6)

2) Without turning this note into a lengthy essay, I have chosen to skip the discussion of whether police should be allowed to use ParkPlus data (those that have no parking violations) without court supervision. You see, even the US FISA has an FISC.

3) Here is a Globe and Mail blog entry about Google Streetview where they take candid snapshots from the street.

4) Here is an earlier version of info sheet about the ParkPlus system.

Für Spieleerfinder sind Patente und Gebrauchsmuster (das Gebrauchsmuster ist der „kleine Bruder“ des Patents) praktisch völlig bedeutungslos, da es regelmäßig bei einem erfundenen Spiel an den Voraussetzungen zur Eintragung mangeln wird. Patente werden erteilt für

Ø Erfindungen

Ø die neu sind

Ø auf einer erfinderischen Tätigkeit beruhen, und

Ø gewerblich anwendbar sind.

Dabei gilt als neu das, was nicht zum bisherigen Stand der Technik gehört und als auf einer erfinderischen Tätigkeit beruhend, was sich für den Fachmann nicht in naheliegender Weise aus dem Stand der Technik ergibt. Damit ist klargestellt, dass mit einem Patent nur tatsächliche technische Erfindungen schützbar sind. Für Gebrauchsmuster gilt das gleiche, wobei hier die Erfindung nur auf einem „erfinderischen Schritt“ beruhen muss.

Beide Schutzrechte sind daher in der Regel für Spiele völlig ungeeignet.

Here's the original post: READ IT>>

Back in the old days when milk only came in bottles it was not homogenized like it is now. The cream would float to the top of the milk and some people would prefer to remove it to use as cream, rather than shake the bottle to mix it in.

click on the pic above to read the whole patent abstract.

“I wanted to bring to your attention the news that the owner of the Enola patent, the PodNers Company (Larry Proctor) filed an appeal on 18 June, of the recent decision that confirmed the rejection of his claims by the USPTO.  (The Board of Patents Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) confirmed the rejection by the USPTO on 30 April, 2008.)  We received the official notice Friday. 

This is the last path that Proctor has to try to keep his patent claims valid.  It is possible that this case will go all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  (This depends upon many factors including, the ruling that is reached by the Court of Appeals for the (US) Federal Circuit (CAFC), the lengths to which the patent owner is ready to take a case forward, and the decision of the Supreme Court to take a case.) 
In the meantime, Proctor's patent is valid in the U.S. and thus he can continue to charge royalties on the use and sale of yellow beans (of the "Enola" type) in the U.S. and importation of them into the U.S. as well.

We will continue to watch this case carefully and I am making inquiries with regard to filing an amicus brief that supports the BPAI decision.  I will let you know about any further events associated with this case.”

From the webpage:

Did you know that some trademarks are embodied in sounds, scents, and other formats that cannot be represented by a drawing?

If you click on a serial number or icon in one of the columns to the right you can listen to a trademark. A icon means that we do not have a copy of the sound file available at this time.

Most of these are registered trademarks, but a few of the newer listings are are still being reviewed and the word "(PENDING)" appears next to them.

Click on the magnifying glass to view the official status record for each trademark in a new window. Scroll down the status screen to learn more about who owns it, what it is used for, who owns it and to read a description of the mark itself.

Check out some of your favourite sounds like the NBC chime, AOL's "You've got mail", The Lone Ranger theme and many more.

I didn't realize how many familiar sounds were trademarked. Find any sounds that suprised you? Let me know in the comments section.

Anderen daarentegen laten de wildste/onnozelste/bizarste/... ideeën patenteren. De 'head placard' lijkt me wel nog handig om te laten weten dat je een ochtendhumeur hebt en dat ze je beter niet aanspreken. Hoewel, de lachsalvo's die er waarschijnlijk op volgen, lijken me niet bevorderlijk voor een ochtendhumeur - ik spreek uit ervaring.

The Computer Patent

A search on "computer" immediately throws up 30 results on the first 4 pages, with Sharp filing the first patent in May 1982, issued in March 1985, Sony were a close second with a patent issued a few months later.  The latest computer of these 30 does come from Sony, which looks like a predecessor to the Sony Ericsson P990i smartphone.

Some other manufacturers haven't quite lasted the distance of Sony (or even Sharp - who account for 12 of the 30 patents).  Even printers like Epson and Kyocera had a go in the late 80s and early 90s, Sharp, Sanyo, Hitachi and Fujitsu had a go as did some lesser known names such as Monorail, Funai and a Mr. Elton Fang.

See the computer patents yourself at Google Patent Search.

Who's snapped up some other patents:

"Personal Computer" - IBM did not make it until 1983 and were beaten by a year by Compaq, courtesy of the inventor: Mr Ted Papajohn.

"Laptop" - mentions of Apple in the early 90's but it was Compaq were early again filing a patent in 1988.  In 1987 though a wild thinking Chang patented the three-layered laptop.

"Desktop Computer" - the first few pages of Google's search enrich Compaq's history of innovation by filing for a patent in 1991, earlier than many other manufacturers such as Dell although in 1989 a patent for a desktop computer terminal having an angularly adjustable electronic display was files

"Notebook" - is there a difference between a laptop and a notebook?  Clearly Samsung think so who filed a patent in 1991.

The Patent Soul of Technology

Do these patents say something about the soul of each of these technology brands?  Electronic giants like Sharp and Sony dominated the early patenting of "Computer" but are more well know for their all-round expertise in electronics.  Possibly seeing the computer more of a means to an end, using the "computer" to power their products from electric ovens to games consoles.

Before IBM left for bigger pastures like "e-solutions", there was the constant argument between them and Compaq about who was the true father of the PC.  With IBM now out of the way HP who bought Compaq return to their roots and show their soul through their recent "The Computer is Personal Again" marketing campaigns.

Looks like no one has patented "Netbook" yet, although there are references to Psion's Netbooks in other patents.  Will Asus get there first?

Full story here.

Sumiko Tan's column about money and frugality was part of yesterday's Sunday Times (Aug 10) splash on "Cheap n Good".

Her grouse abt her mother trying to squeeze every last blob out of a tooth-paste tube echoed my own efforts in a column years ago and which prompted a colleague Irene Hoe to present me with a tooth-paste squeezer which promised to enable me to get out every last blob of paste, but didn't deliver!

Like Irene Hoe's tooth-paste squeezer, Suntimes "good and cheap" effort failed to deliver. It's generally a compilation of middle to upper middle income earners twittering abt getting better value for money for "good to have stuff" like going to a spa but didn't really deal with what one could do if one was really and truly broke and had to stretch $330per month to cover rent, utilities and food.  

So it was another Marie Antoinette moment: no bread? Why not eat a smaller piece of cake to save money? 

Some of the advice given appears sound on the surface, and some suggests that those at the receiving end might be IQ-challenged to need to be given such no-brainer info.

Let me deal with just the bits which appear sound: eating in rather than eating out, healthier and cheaper etc.

I can't comment on the "healthier" claim since one man/woman's home cooking could be another's one-way ticket to a hospital. But cheaper?

Well yes, if you compare ingredient with ingredient, tho I'm not sure whether that's even true when it comes to caviar, foie gras etc. I'm sure when Gunther goes to Indo Guna or wherever to get the high-end stuff, he'll be able to get it more cost effectively than if Auntie here goes to Jasons and tries to buy a smidgeon, enough for the family.

And don't let's talk high-end stuff. Just low to mid end. Those who opt to eat in have to buy or stock up ingredients for meals, besides having to also stock up on condiments, oil, herbs and so on. Then there's the gas or electricity bill as well as the water and washing liquid bills to take care of, because eating at home means cleaning the raw ingredients be4hand and washing up afterwards. 

And if you don't buy the raw stuff for every meal as it is about to be cooked, then there's the cleaning and tidying up to be done be4 putting the goods away in the fridge till cooking time. (I've never known anyone who goes to wet maket or even supermarket and puts what he/she buys straight into the fridge!)

So, those who propose eating at home to save money are simplistic to say the least, as I don't think they have factored in these "hidden" and not so hidden costs. Add to that the time that's required to organise the buying, cooking, storing and cleaning up, and what savings are there to speak of?

Unless one takes the view that with the time taken up fussing over one's daily meals, one won't have too much time left to hanker after the cinema, the pub, shopping, holidays etc and so won't miss not having the money to do those things, or even if there's money, one won't have the spare time and the money that would otherwise have been frittered away is saved!

One last word on that famous Mediacorp actress who advised on saving money by cutting out waste: her method is to instruct her maid to cook meals that are just enough for the family.

She should patent her method because I think she would find many takers. Myself, I've not known of one meal that's cooked at home that's exactly enough: more often than not, there's something left over or someone eats slightly less of this or that dish.

My solution for such inexactness is to store the leftover for another meal or force/coax everyone to eat a little bit more to clear the table. When the food is a little short, we make up with fruit, biscuits or a hot milo or horlick.