Intel patents the softphone
The giants of the technology industry have some pretty fascinating bits of intellectual property lurking in their patent portfolios. For most, patents are a defensive strategy, rather than a business in and of themselves; although in recent years Microsoft, for example, has become much more sophisticated about how they manage those patents. Some of the patents these players are sitting on, though, are potentially very disruptive, should they ever decide to flex their muscle a little.
Take, for instance, this little beauty that was pointed out to me yesterday. The abstract for US Patent 7120140, titled Digital Browser Phone, reads:
A telephone system wherein all the functions of a digital telephone can be accessed and implemented on a personal computer alone, thereby eliminating the need for a telephone set. By means of the computer display and mouse, keyboard or other input/output command devices, a user accesses and implement all digital telephone functions without the physical telephone set, the personal computer also providing the audio function. A graphical representation of a telephone set or other telephone-related form is provided on the computer display and accessed by the mouse, keyboard or other command device, this being accomplished by a computer program providing graphical interface implementation. A significant advantage of the system is computer access to and utilization of digital telephone functions from a remote location with communication via Internet, LAN, WAN, RAS or other mediums.
It covers softphones, generally, and more specifically softphones used in business settings. Filed in 2000 and granted late in 2006, this is Intel property. If you're a softphone vendor this has got to send a shiver down your spine, and then make you wonder what kind of relationship you can and should have with Intel.
May 9th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
[...] holds patents over the softphone and it may be interesting to see how Intel goes after anyone who in their opinion who is in breach [...]
May 9th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
It’s the claims that matter - though the abstract is usually an indication of the breadth of the claims and this seems broad.
And what do you make of the approval cycle - 6 years seems long.
May 11th, 2007 at 11:02 am
[...] we see Intel being awarded a patent for a softphone in 2006! I actually got an email from Larry who related how he was involved in development of a softphone [...]
May 12th, 2007 at 8:11 am
[...] granting process has turned into a travesty. Well this is more of the same bulldoodoo: Intel was awarded a patent in late 2006, filed in 2000, that essentially sounds like dominion over any type of softphone. And [...]
May 13th, 2007 at 2:46 am
[...] an added value to the Intel relationship that we did not see before, since Intel has recently been awarded a patent on a softphone. Jajah now has a weapon against Selex. Both developments worry me. Why was Intel [...]
May 14th, 2007 at 10:41 am
This is nothing short of amazing and a clear indication that the US Patent Office is just, well, broken. There were many softphones around before the year 2000, so there must be a ton of prior art. Genesys Labs had one years before 2000, and so did most of the ACD manufacturers.