Most of the patent news in the past week has revolved around pharmaceuticals, but we caught a few gems. First, we’ll revisit one of our news pieces from last week, and then we’ll move on to some movement from Microsoft.
Nintendo Loses Wii Patent Suit
If you remember, we reported two weeks ago that Nintendo was facing an infringement suit over their Wii console handheld remote controllers. The company claiming to own the technology in question is iLife, based in Texas. The technology was developed to detect falls by the elderly.
We’ve learned this week that Nintendo has lost the case, with a judge ordering the company to pay $10 million in damages and royalties. Of course, that’s not the last we’ll hear from Nintendo. They intend to appeal the verdict. They also have another infringement case still in the works, so we’ll keep an eye on that one, too.
Microsoft Smart Watch Includes a Smart Band
Tech giants won’t stop trying to make wearable tech a thing. Microsoft is the latest to enter the arena, and they’re not stopping with the smart watch. They’re adding technology to the watchband, too.
According to the patent images, functionality will be added to the strap that holds the watch, with options for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, spoken commands, an antenna, a biometric sensor, the music player, and various other possibilities.
The face of the watch seems to mimic the operating system of the Surface, with apps laid out in a grid system for ease of use. The patent in question dates back to 2014, so the finished product may end up being something else entirely.
Microsoft’s Opinion Search Engine
In an unusual turn of events, Microsoft has patented an Opinion Search Engine that aims to help brands understand how their customers feel. The technology aims to process and collect opinions from data on specific internet users. The information could come from blogs, news articles, forums, and various other types of content.
The search engine could possibly include the ability to compare products based on opinions, compare opinion trends, query products based on the positive or negative percentage, recommend competitor products, and various other options.
It’s a bit of a twist on the big data concept, since the ability to gather data isn’t anything new. What Microsoft suggests with this new patent is the ability to determine how buyers feel about the products and brands they encounter—not just the fact that they do encounter them.
How Patent News Drives Your Innovation
It’s important to keep up with and understand the latest patent news because it's gives us an idea of what’s happening within various industries. Understanding what technology already exists helps you avoid surprises that could lead to infringement litigation. It's just one of the points we focus on throughout the innovation consulting process.
Contact us if you’d like to explore our innovative approach to innovation. Our methods benefit companies at all points of the innovation process, from examining your core competencies, to discovering the opportunities for product development, to solving the pains of the customer, to getting your new product on the shelf. Want to know how that works? Give us a call.
