Reissued patent could give Apple control of location-based services
Apple has been granted a location services patent that is so basic it could possibly cover any existing location-based system, giving the iPhone maker a powerful weapon in its already formidable intellectual property arsenal.
It was revealed that the US Patent and Trademark Office issued Apple a patent on Tuesday that pre-dates current location services technology, is broad enough to cover almost any location-based system and could possibly be leveraged against industry rivals, reports CBS News.
The granted claim is actually a reissue of a location services patent Xerox filed for ing 1998 and was subsequently granted in 2000. According to the USPTO, the Apple took ownership of the claim on Dec. 17, 2009.
"In other words, this patent is old enough to predate much of what is now happening in both mobile and social media," reports Erik Sherman. "Even worse -- for Apple's competitors -- it's broad."
The claim covers a system in which a device displays information specific to its location, with no restriction as to what type of data is displayed. This means that any location sensitive service like location-based ads, which Apple implements in iAds, or local restaurant ratings can be protected by the patent.
The first independent claim of the patent helps to partially summarize what the patent possibly covers:
A location information system that displays location specific information, the location information system, comprising: a receiver that receives location identification information from at least one site specific object identifying a location.Iadd., where the at least one site specific object is a beacon.Iaddend.; and a transceiver that transmits the location identification information to a distributed network and that receives the location specific information about the specified location from the distributed network based on the location identification information, wherein the location specific information provides information corresponding to the location.
Technical specifications as to how the system works is broadly worded, saying that a device must receive data that identifies its location from at least one site specific object. The data is then transmitted via a transceiver to a distributed network that sends back information about the device's location or surroundings.
This effectively covers a wide range of means to obtaining location-specific information including GPS, which Apple specifically included in the reissue of the patent by broadening the claim's language.
For example, a GPS satellite sends a signal to a mobile phone with GPS capabilities that then relays the information to the Internet through a data network and receives location-specific information in return. Upon receiving the location data, a device can implement the information into ads, apps, or in any way the manufacturer sees fit.
Input to distributed network | Source: USPTO
The wording is so broad that even QR codes or images from a mobile device's camera can be considered as input information.
QR code input | Source: USPTO
Because many smartphones have GPS capabilities and a vast majority have cameras, Apple could possibly leverage the patent against mobile phone manufacturers that use input information for location-based services.
Software such as Facebook and Foursquare could also fall under the claim's purview as some of the services offered can be considered location-specific.
"Given that location-based service is one key to the mobile ambitions of virtually everyone else in the industry, the patent could give Apple control over some hot parts of mobile technology, including location-based innovation in advertising, social networks, mapping, flash deals, and augmented reality," Sherman writes.
Apple has yet to leverage the patent in any way, and it remains unclear what exactly would constitute infringement, however it seems that the company now owns a very powerful piece of intellectual property.
It was revealed that the US Patent and Trademark Office issued Apple a patent on Tuesday that pre-dates current location services technology, is broad enough to cover almost any location-based system and could possibly be leveraged against industry rivals, reports CBS News.
The granted claim is actually a reissue of a location services patent Xerox filed for ing 1998 and was subsequently granted in 2000. According to the USPTO, the Apple took ownership of the claim on Dec. 17, 2009.
"In other words, this patent is old enough to predate much of what is now happening in both mobile and social media," reports Erik Sherman. "Even worse -- for Apple's competitors -- it's broad."
The claim covers a system in which a device displays information specific to its location, with no restriction as to what type of data is displayed. This means that any location sensitive service like location-based ads, which Apple implements in iAds, or local restaurant ratings can be protected by the patent.
The first independent claim of the patent helps to partially summarize what the patent possibly covers:
A location information system that displays location specific information, the location information system, comprising: a receiver that receives location identification information from at least one site specific object identifying a location.Iadd., where the at least one site specific object is a beacon.Iaddend.; and a transceiver that transmits the location identification information to a distributed network and that receives the location specific information about the specified location from the distributed network based on the location identification information, wherein the location specific information provides information corresponding to the location.
Technical specifications as to how the system works is broadly worded, saying that a device must receive data that identifies its location from at least one site specific object. The data is then transmitted via a transceiver to a distributed network that sends back information about the device's location or surroundings.
This effectively covers a wide range of means to obtaining location-specific information including GPS, which Apple specifically included in the reissue of the patent by broadening the claim's language.
For example, a GPS satellite sends a signal to a mobile phone with GPS capabilities that then relays the information to the Internet through a data network and receives location-specific information in return. Upon receiving the location data, a device can implement the information into ads, apps, or in any way the manufacturer sees fit.
Input to distributed network | Source: USPTO
The wording is so broad that even QR codes or images from a mobile device's camera can be considered as input information.
QR code input | Source: USPTO
Because many smartphones have GPS capabilities and a vast majority have cameras, Apple could possibly leverage the patent against mobile phone manufacturers that use input information for location-based services.
Software such as Facebook and Foursquare could also fall under the claim's purview as some of the services offered can be considered location-specific.
"Given that location-based service is one key to the mobile ambitions of virtually everyone else in the industry, the patent could give Apple control over some hot parts of mobile technology, including location-based innovation in advertising, social networks, mapping, flash deals, and augmented reality," Sherman writes.
Apple has yet to leverage the patent in any way, and it remains unclear what exactly would constitute infringement, however it seems that the company now owns a very powerful piece of intellectual property.
Comments
This could be big.
Unbelievably big. Seems Steve Jobs may have had this in mind when saying "I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this.?
EVERY mobile device out there potentially falls under this patent... Even more important is that every mobile device made from now on (until the patent expires) falls under this patent... Location services is what MOBILE is ALL about!!!!!!!
Hold on to your AAPL stock because OMFG this is big!!!
Unbelievably big. Seems Steve Jobs may have had this in mind when saying "I'm willing to go thermonuclear war on this.?
Each time I read that quote I can't help but be reminded of the movie War Games...
Apple: Shall we play a game?
Google: How about a nice game of chess?
Apple: Later. Right now lets play Global Thermonuclear War.
Its the kind of patent apple cant actually sue with because it would likely get invalidated.
I'm surprised that Garmin, or some other GPS device company, hasn't already done so, because these devices were using mobile technology in the 90's, or maybe even before. Must be more to this story for sure.
How does the CIA, FBI or NSA already not pwn this patent?
How does the CIA, FBI or NSA already not pwn this patent?
Can they? Own patents, that is.
Can they? Own patents, that is.
Oh yes! Here's one that applies to Mary-Jane.
Edit: it can be easily argued that H&HS is easily more powerful than Justice Dept or Homeland.
I am sure there has to be more to this patent. Its so general that there is definitaely prior art on this.
Its the kind of patent apple cant actually sue with because it would likely get invalidated.
???
And? Why have a patent if it does nothing for you?
If they are getting nothing now, then why wouldn't they sue to possibly get something?
And if they don't vigorously defend it, then they will lose it
I'm surprised that Garmin, or some other GPS device company, hasn't already done so, because these devices were using mobile technology in the 90's, or maybe even before. Must be more to this story for sure.
Most GPS units only receive the location based signal. The patent is for one that receives it then transmits the location over a distributed network. It was not until traffic became available on GPS's that the second part was utilized.
I am sure there has to be more to this patent. Its so general that there is definitaely prior art on this.
Its the kind of patent apple cant actually sue with because it would likely get invalidated.
This is not a FRAN or feature that is required to make smart phones work, it's simply a very popular feature that Apple now has control of the patent for.
How does the CIA, FBI or NSA already not pwn this patent?
Military, aka us gov't, would own it, not a specific agency.
I am sure there has to be more to this patent. Its so general that there is definitaely prior art on this.
Its the kind of patent apple cant actually sue with because it would likely get invalidated.
Prior art to 2000 when it was first granted (which means it was submitted in the 90s)?
Military, aka us gov't, would own it, not a specific agency.
Why? I'm moving to Misouri to throw out a " show me!" Agencies, Beaurus, Commissions et al live under the Executive.