[Freegis-list] GIS Patents at USPTO

[Roger Longhorn]

Dear list(s),

Has anyone actually done a full search of GI/GIS related patents (software 
and methods) on USPTO and reported it to the GI/GIS community(ies)?

I just typed in the words "geographic information" to be searched in the 
Abstract field and found 75 hits, such as the one below - which I am *sure* 
many software developers here in Europe are or may be infringing, given the 
scope of the claim!

Kind regards

Roger
ral at alum.mit.edu

=======================================

United States Patent 6,772,142
Kelling ,   et al. August 3, 2004

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Method and apparatus for collecting and expressing 
geographically-referenced data

Abstract

A web-based implemented system in which observers may pinpoint locations on 
a scalable map in order to fix data by latitude and longitude and to 
collect data describing that location. Also permitted within the system is 
the selection of non-contiguous groups of geographic data points for 
analysis. Although not limited thereto, the system may be used to track 
bird sightings and migration patterns as well as other bird related 
information and data. The mapping is scalable and can be integrated with a 
Geographic Information System (GIS), e.g. elevation, vegetation or city 
maps. Variations over time can be analyzed for a specific point, and 
pattern movements across points can be tracked.

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Inventors: Kelling; Steven T. (Berkshire, NY); Beloin; Ronald M. (Ithaca, 
NY); Fitzpatrick; John W. (Ithaca, NY); Gill; Frank B. (Rushland, PA); 
Slothower; Roger L. (Ithaca, NY); Fredericks; Thomas A. (Van Etten, NY)
Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc. (Ithaca, NY); National Audubon 
Society, Inc. (New York, NY)
Appl. No.: 702407
Filed: October 31, 2000

Current U.S. Class: 707/3; 701/206; 707/10; 709/217
Intern'l Class: G06F 017/30
Field of Search: 707/3-5,100-104.1 709/217,218,200,206,208,220,229 
701/200,206,208

 >>>>>>

Unfortunately for the GI/GIS open source community (referring to previous 
announcement that IBM was "making 500 of its software patents freely 
available to anyone working on open source projects such as Linux operating 
system." for that community), only two hits result from "geograhpic 
information" and "IBM" or "International Business Machines" - although one 
of these is quite valuable, one would have thought, given the predicted 
size of the location based services market (see below)!

 >>>>>

United States Patent 6,526,284
Sharp ,   et al. February 25, 2003

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Transmission of geographic information to mobile devices

Abstract

Provided is a data transmission method, a communications network, a mobile 
receiving device and data processing methods for use in broadcast of 
geographic information to mobile devices. The invention overcomes the 
problem of lack of currency of static information distribution via CD-ROM, 
and the problem of the cost of lengthy connections to the Internet which is 
a requirement of some dynamic solutions. The geographic data which is 
relevant to a transmitter in the network is broadcast by the transmitter as 
a plurality of separate data elements which each relate to and include an 
identification of a specific map segment of a segmented map, such that the 
data elements can be transmitted independently of each other and the map 
segment identifier can be used by the receiving device to position the 
geographic information of each data element within the appropriate map 
segment. Each data element is retransmitted periodically such that gaps can 
be filled in and the map can be built up over time even if transmission 
failures occur during a transmission.

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Inventors: Sharp; Christopher Edward (Winchester, GB); Stanford-Clark; 
Andrew James (Chale, GB)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation (Armonk, NY)
Appl. No.: 510623
Filed: February 22, 2000
Foreign Application Priority Data

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Nov 10, 1999[GB]9926492

Current U.S. Class: 455/456.6; 340/995.1; 342/450; 342/457; 455/457; 701/208
Intern'l Class: H04Q 007/20
Field of Search: 455/456,457 342/450,457 701/208,209,211,212 340/990,995,998

 >>>>>

to find out more, have a go at www.uspto.gov

Kind regards

Roger
ral at alum.mit.edu

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Roger A. Longhorn
Director, Info-Dynamics Research Associates Ltd
EC Projects Office
1A Potters Cross, Wootton
Bedfordshire MK43 9JG, U.K.
Computer voicemail & Fax +44 (0)870 134 6492
E-mail: ral at alum.mit.edu
Mobile +44 (0)7879 875288 
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