With Samsung and Apple still fighting in California, Motorola Mobility (a.k.a. Google) has finally moved into the “theater” and decided that it will begin blasting its patent cannons at Apple. This time, Motorola Mobility is asking the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) to invalidate and block sales of iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Macs in the United States. To date, Google has remained on the edge of the Android patent fray, thought I’m sure they’re very much involved in providing assistance to their manufacturers. This is the first time a Google, albeit Motorola Mobility, is actively pursuing and unleashing payback on Apple.
Here’s a summary of the alleged infringements:
U.S. Patent No. 5,883,580: geographic-temporal significant messaging
The ’580 Patent generally relates to messaging devices that process messages logically for a user in the context of space and time. The patent discloses, inter alia, a method and apparatus for receiving messages having a relevancy status (e.g., a location identifier) and processing the messages when the relevancy status changes.Relates to: iPhone 4 and 4S.
U.S. Patent No. 5,922,047: an apparatus, method and system for multimedia control and communication
The ’047 Patent generally relates to communications and control systems for multimedia. In particular, the ’047 Patent discloses, inter alia, an apparatus and method for providing control functions over multiple and diverse media applications, preferably operating at more than one designated node or location. Relates to: iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S; iPad 2 and 3.
U.S. Patent No. 6,425,002: an apparatus and method for handling dispatching messages for various applications of a communication device
The ’002 Patent generally relates to communications devices that ensure applications installed therein only receive messages that are of interest. The patent discloses, inter alia, a message manager program for accepting and dispatching messages, application program(s) for handling and presenting messages, and message client program(s) that receive messages from the message manager program and provides them to the application program. Relates to: iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S; iPad 2 and 3.
U.S. Patent No, 6,493,673: a markup language for interactive services and methods thereof
The ’673 Patent generally relates to communications devices that are capable of providing interactive services. The patent discloses, inter alia, providing [a] prompt element including an announcement to be read to a user, and an input element that allows an audible user in put to be converted into a text string. Relates to: iPhone 4S.
U.S. Patent No. 6,983,370: a system for providing continuity between messaging clients and method therefor
The ’370 Patent generally relates to communications systems incorporating capabilities to provide continuity between messaging clients. More specifically, the ’370 Patent relates to the ability to sync the messaging capabilities of multiple devices. Relates to: iPhone 4 and 4S; iPad 2 and 3; Mac Pro, iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air.
U.S. Patent No. 7,007,064: a method and apparatus for obtaining and managing wirelessly communicated content
The ’064 Patent generally relates to wireless communications systems for providing content to wireless communication devices. In particular, the ’064 Patent discloses, inter alia, an apparatus and method for obtaining and managing wirelessly communicated content. Relates to: iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S; iPad 2 and 3.
U.S. Patent No. 7,383,983: a system and method for managing content between devices in various domains
The ’983 Patent generally relates to managing content between devices in various domains and, more particularly, to a system and method for pausing content in one device and resuming playback of the content in another device that may be in a different domain. Relates to: iPod touch; iPhone 3GS, 4, 4S; iPad, iPad 2, iPad 3.
While some of these infringements are insignificant to Apple (iPhone 3GS), others alleged violations could find Apple scrambling for a quick fix. As The Droid Guy points out, there’s an opportunity for HTC and HP to join in the fray and perhaps do some serious damage to Apple’s sales.
If you’re interested, take a quick look at Google’s position on these software patents.
