2014年4月11日 星期五

Apple對Samsung求償22億美金的關鍵專利

Apple對Samsung求償22億美金的關鍵專利

求償自然是因為有損失,看著Samsung在全世界熱賣,Apple企圖透過專利侵權證明Samsung利用了Apple開發的技術才會熱賣...,新聞稿顯示Samsung在2011年8月到2013年底共賣了3千7百萬支行動裝置,這些就是Apple求償的依據。

...Apple is demanding the money for lost sales and royalties it says it suffered as a result of Samsung’s sale of more than 37 million smartphones and tablets between August 2011 and the end of 2013, the company told the court. ...

日前開始審理Apple v. Samsung的第二波訴訟,這件訴訟感覺上會讓使用開放原始碼的廠商有點擔心,因為開放原始碼的架構下,可以允許任何人改寫、補充、貢獻自己的程式,如果沒有查明來源,可能某個片段的程式產生侵權的疑慮時,就讓對手有切入的機會,甚至是專利侵權的議題。
此案例就是三星改寫來自Google或是開放原始碼源的Android程式中可能含有侵權的片段,使得上法庭時要公開自己的程式碼,或是讓對手的專家介入瀏覽。此案例透過專家判斷,認為Samsung有10款裝置侵害Apple的5件專利。

除了曾經討論過的滑動解鎖專利(US8,046,721家族),還有通用搜尋(用過Apple裝置的人可以感受到裝置內搜尋很厲害,比如mac電腦右上角...)、背景同步、自動更正用字(US8,074,172)與自動判斷與跳轉專利。以下列舉幾件。


US5,946,647
http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2014/04/steve-jobs.html
http://enpan.blogspot.tw/2012/06/us-5946647htc.html

這件專利關於一種可以根據電腦資料結構執行對應程式的技術,比如收到一封還有email資訊的訊息,程式將分析其中文字,找到有應用程式支援的格式的片段,並能自動提供連結而執行該對應的程式,這方便使用者操作裝置時不用額外鍵入訊息。

如此圖,訊息中含有電話號碼的內容,下方就跳出可以執行後續動作的視窗,此例表示可以儲存到聯絡人。

不過此專利經過Ex Parte Reexamination後,部份權利範圍已經被駁回,即便Apple極力答辯,至少Claims 13, 15-31被認為沒有新穎性或是進步性。此案進入訴願程序。


此案其餘被提出re-examination的範圍Claims 1-12, 14, 32-34因為設有「analyzer server」,可以維持專利權。

目前Claim 1:
1. A computer-based system for detecting structures in data and performing actions on detected structures, comprising:
an input device for receiving data;
an output device for presenting the data;
a memory storing information including program routines including
an analyzer server for detecting structures in the data, and for linking actions to the detected structures;
a user interface enabling the selection of a detected structure and a linked action; and
an action processor for performing the selected action linked to the selected structure; and
a processing unit coupled to the input device, the output device, and the memory for controlling the execution of the program routines.


US6,847,959
此案揭露一種電腦系統可以方便取得各種使用者輸入資訊的通用型介面,也就是這樣的介面可以支援各種格式技術,判斷出各種資訊內容,也提供搜尋。這似乎是將一個如USB通用型的介面發揮到可以識別各種進來的數據,包括網路,其中方法從權利範圍可以瞭解。

1. A method for locating information in a computer system, comprising the steps of:
inputting an information identifier;
providing said information identifier to a plurality of plug-in modules each using a different heuristic to locate information which matches said identifier;
providing at least one candidate item of information from said modules; and
displaying a representation of said candidate item of information
相關模組與架構可以參考下圖,相關的軟體程式將設有多種模組,技術上就是輸入各種資訊,這些模組將判斷資料中是否符合特定格式,藉此取得其中關鍵用語,以供搜尋。


US7,761,414
此案揭示一種在多個裝置間同步資料的技術,權利範圍包括執行一些非同步資料的處理程序,提供使用者可以編輯(第一資料庫),接著是執行同步處理程序,藉由相關同步軟體執行與第二資料庫的資料同步。

1. A machine implemented method comprising:
executing at least one user-level non-synchronization processing thread, wherein the at least one user-level non-synchronization processing thread is provided by a user application which provides a user interface to allow a user to access and edit structured data in a first store associated with a first database; and
executing at least one synchronization processing thread concurrently with the executing of the at least one user-level non-synchronization processing thread, wherein the at least one synchronization processing thread is provided by a synchronization software component which is configured to synchronize the structured data from the first database with the structured data from a second database.

US8,074,172
此件專利關於在圖形使用者介面上輸出字時,系統會提供更正與建議的用字,這在很多裝至上已經常見,結果這見於蘋果的專利中,但是僅限於具有觸控螢幕的裝置上,而且限制到提示的方式,這樣應該是容易迴避的專利。

1. A method, comprising:
at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display:
in a first area of the touch screen display, displaying a current character string being input by a user with the keyboard;
in a second area of the touch screen display that is between the first area and the keyboard, displaying the current character string or a portion thereof and a suggested replacement character string for the current character string on opposite sides of the second area;
replacing the current character string in the first area with the suggested replacement character string if the user activates a space bar key on the keyboard;
replacing the current character string in the first area with the suggested replacement character string if the user performs a first gesture on the suggested replacement character string displayed in the second area; and
keeping the current character string in the first area and adding a space if the user performs a second gesture in the second area on the current character string or the portion thereof displayed in the second area.


很棒的參考:Apple v. Samsung的訴訟整理
http://cdnet.stpi.narl.org.tw/techroom/pclass/2011/pclass_11_A116.htm

新聞參考:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/2141520/apple-details-22b-damages-claim-against-samsung.html

Ron

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