I believe the appropriate term in reference to this patent is "prior art" - not only has similar and more advanced technology been described by science fiction authors for decades, but there are the wireless devices used in a number of museums which provide information about the exhibit you are near to. Then again, conceptually, it is clearly a minor variant on points of interests on maps and therefore covers all mobile GPS devices. I think people in Apple are being targeted to submit patent applications.
If this one doesn't fail in the US patent system I will personally fight it to the death before it gets accepted in Europe... Chris ----- "Landon Blake" <lbl...@ksninc.com> wrote: > My favorite line from the patent application: > > "The many features and advantages of the present invention are > apparent > from the written description. Further, since numerous modifications > and > changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, the invention > should not be limited to the exact construction and operation as > illustrated and described. Hence, all suitable modifications and > equivalents may be resorted to as falling within the scope of the > invention." > > It sounds like there are talking about some pretty fundamental ideas > in > the patent. Still, this is a rather cutting edge area of technology, > so > maybe this hasn't been done before? > > Still, it sounds like trying to patent the first drive-through > restaurant. Don't know that there is a huge amount of innovation > going > on here. > > I'd think other companies interested in mobile applications (like > Google > and Microsoft) would be all over this patent application. > > Landon > Office Phone Number: (209) 946-0268 > Cell Phone Number: (209) 992-0658 > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: geowanking-boun...@geowanking.org > [mailto:geowanking-boun...@geowanking.org] On Behalf Of Mike Liebhold > Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 2:43 PM > To: geowank...@geowanking.org > Subject: [Geowanking] Apple patents "dynamic presention of > location-specific information " > > Hmmm - this demands closer inspection. > > > "United States Patent Application 20090063293, entitled Dynamic > Presentation of Location-Specific Information, seeks to patent > "improved > > approaches to allow a portable electronic device to dynamically > present > location-specific information while the portable electronic device is > at > > a predetermined location... In one embodiment, the portable electronic > > device has a display that can display the location-specific > information > and has wireless capabilities for use in receiving the > location-specific > > information from the server. The location-specific information can, > for > example, augment other information that is to be presented on the > display. In one embodiment, the location-specific information can be > information pertaining to a media item being played in an > establishment, > > such as a store, where the portable electronic device is located." > > [ full patent text here: http://bit.ly/wYHme ] > > comments? > > _______________________________________________ > Geowanking mailing list > geowank...@geowanking.org > http://geowanking.org/mailman/listinfo/geowanking_geowanking.org > > > Warning: > Information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed against > defects including translation and transmission errors. If the reader > is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any > dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is > strictly prohibited. If you have received this information in error, > please notify the sender immediately. > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > Discuss@lists.osgeo.org > http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss ------ Files attached to this email may be in ISO 26300 format (OASIS Open Document Format). If you have difficulty opening them, please visit http://iso26300.info for more information. _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list Discuss@lists.osgeo.org http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss