On Thu, 10 Jun 1999, Pete Hardie wrote: > Ben Houston wrote: > > > > > Does anyone know more about the specific patents in question? The > > > article just says "U.S. Patents 5,844,824 and 5,305,244". > > > > "US5844824: Hands-free, portable computer and system" > > http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?pn=US05844824__ > > > > ABSTRACT: The invention involves a body-worn, hands-free computer system. > > The system does not rely upon a keyboard input or activation apparatus but > > rather has various activation means all of which are hands-free. The system > > can be used with other systems, other system components and communication > > apparatus. Also, various components of the present system can be body worn > > or placed in a disconnected location if desired. > > Invalid due to prior art - a laptop with DragonDictate (tm) in a backpack > fulfills this description. No. Actually if you are filing for a process patent each of the components of the system can exsist it is just the method in which they are used that needs to be novel. Also if people are using this novel process but it is deamed not to be within widely within the public domain, such as the laptop in backpack using DragonDictate (tm) then it is a still pattentable and solidly so. > > "US5305244: Hands-free, user-supported portable computer" > > http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?pn=US05305244__ > > > > ABSTRACT: A compact, self-contained portable computing apparatus is provided > > which is completely supported by a user for hands-free retrieval and display > > of information for the user. The computing apparatus includes a > > voice-recognition module, in communication with a processor, for receiving > > audio commands from the user, for converting the received audio commands > > into electrical signals, for recognizing the converted electrical signals > > and for sending the recognized electrical signals to the processor for > > processing, the voice-recognition module being supported by the user. The > > computing apparatus further includes a display in communication with the > > processor for receiving information from the processor and for displaying > > the received information for the user, the display being supported by the > > user whereby the user may operate the computing apparatus to display > > information in a hands-free manner utilizing only audio commands. > > Ditto. > > Hell, the only features these describe that don't apply to laptops in > general is the 'body-worn' part. Well in this case you can have a systems patent that has only one new and unique feature that the whole system is patentable. Here that unique part is the 'body-worn', and / or 'hands-free'. Basicly betweene these two patents pretty much everyone who puts out a wearables patent in the next several years is probiably going to be sighting these patents as prior art. -- Subcription/unsubscription/info requests: send e-mail with subject of "subscribe", "unsubscribe", or "info" toWear-Hard Mailing List Archive (searchable): http://wearables.blu.org
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