It seems like we're hitting a patent a week from RIM as of late, and the newest to hit the wire does not disappoint. Simply titled Pressure Password for a Touchscreen Device, the patent is a pretty sweet one. According to the description, the technology would allow for a pressure-sensitive password of sorts. The device -- equipped with force sensors -- would recognize patterns based on pressure and be able to unlock based on a chose pattern. So think a simple pattern unlock feature but instead of sliding or drawing you would apply pressure to certain areas of the screen. A pretty sweet idea although there's no knowing if it will show up in BlackBerry 10 devices at all.

What do you think? Is this something you'd like to see come to BlackBerry? Let us know in the comments!

Source: USPTO  Via: Engadget

Kodak has announced today that it they have received the initial determination in their infringement case that has been going on since early 2010. If you recall, Kodak made claims that both Apple and RIM infringed on various Kodak-owned image patents. The Administrative Law Judge has concluded that both iPhone 3G and certain BlackBerry devices infringe Kodak's patents however those patents have been found (again) to be invalid. There is still some way to go for this all to be over, so we'll see what happens from here. Keep reading for the full press release.

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RIM seems to be on a bit of a patent kick lately (more than normal at least) and this time around has landed one for a phone-charging holster. The device is pretty much a standard phone holster that has a second battery for charging your phone. When your phone is in the holster, it would be charged from a second battery so you would always have some extra juice on the go  -- of course that means charging two devices instead of one before you head out. We've seen some third party options that are very similar, but this could be something cool in the RIM arsenal.

Source: USPTO Via: Engadget

A few weeks back RIM received a patent for a fuel cell on a mobile device. It looks like their pursuit carries on as they have applied for more patents regarding fuel cells. The new patents are for the frame of the device and the "tank" itself, showing off a different design than we've seen before. Some pretty cool stuff here should it ever find its wat to market devices. We're not expecting these to show up in BlackBerry 10, but it is definitely something RIM looks interested in for the future.

Source: USPTO Via: Engadget

RIM has been granted another patent that shows off an inovative BlackBerry keyboard. The patent, filed in 2009, is for an Angular keyboard for a handheld mobile communication device. The hardware keys in the design are angled toward the right and left from the center line in order to increase typing accuracy. It's hard to say if this would be helpful since most BlackBerry owners are darn good typists as it is, but it's still a cool idea. It's not the first time we've seen some funky patents come out of RIM, and as we know they are not abandoning the physical keyboard, we may see some more interesting designs like this down the road.

Source: USPTO Via: Engadget

RIM is no stranger to lawsuits, they come and go. The latest lawsuit is aimed at not only RIM, but also Apple. It comes from a Texas shell company that is creatively named Touchscreen Patents. RIM has apparently infringed on this patent in the way that the BlackBerry PlayBook handles gestures like dragging across the screen, as well as single and double taps. These patents were originally issued in 2007 and 2008 to a Taiwanese company, and since have been transfered to Touchscreen Patents. Details on the infringement as well as the transfer of the patents is limited at this point.

Source: PaidContent; via: PhoneScoop

Seems like RIM has been getting a lot of patents granted lately along with getting sued for various others. Their most recent one, applied for in 2007 has just now been given the thumbs up from the USPTO and it highights a system wherein your handset can detect when your ear is further away from it and as such, increase of decrease the volume based on proximity. The technical portion:

A degree of seal of an ear about a speaker port may be estimated by detecting touch contact between the ear and at least one touch sensor in fixed relation to the speaker port. The degree of seal is estimated based on the detected touch contact. Based upon the estimated degree of seal, the acoustic output of the speaker may be adjusted. The adjustment may compensate for perceived changes to the quality of the acoustic output resulting from the degree of seal. The at least one touch sensor may be a plurality of touch sensors spaced around the speaker port. Each sensor may have a truncated wedge shape, with a narrow end closest to the speaker port. Upon receipt of user input indicative of a high degree of ear seal, a sample of the sensor(s) may be taken and stored for using during future estimation of the degree of seal. 

Sounds much like how the proximity sensor works on touchscreen device only this is for volume of the handset. Makes you wonder how many other patents RIM has in store and why some really old ones are only now just getting approved.

Source: USPTO via: Engadget

A patent here, a lawsuit there. RIM's latest patent issues fall to their use of Emoticons on devices. Varia Holdings LLC is suing Research In Motion for infringing on a patent for Emoticon Input Method and Apparatus -- or simply put, using emoticons -- which is obviously a big part of BlackBerry devices. The original patent states in part that:

A mobile communication device having an input key that, when pressed by the user while in text mode, results in the display of a list of emoticons for selection by the user. By displaying a list of emoticons, a more user friendly environment is created through which users may employ emoticons in their communications.

Varia Holdings has held this patent since January of 2007 and is seeking to remedy both the infringement and "the harm caused" by RIM. They are asking that sales of devices containing emoticons by RIM be stopped and that they are compensated for the infringment. The documents were filed on March 15 but no judge has been assigned at this time.

Source: N4BB

When it comes to patents, many companies often attempt to patent some strange things that will never see the light of day. But often times, those elborate patents cover some basic things that do manage to be put into use and such is the case with one of RIM recently awarded patents. In 2006, RIM applied for patent #8,125,312:

System and method for locking and unlocking access to an electronic device:

The invention relates to a system and method for unlocking and unlocking access to a device. In the system, an access management system for an electronic device is provided. The system comprises: a sensor providing a tap signal; a monitoring circuit connected to the sensor to process aspects of the tap signal; and an access management module operating on the device receiving the tap signal from the monitoring circuit to evaluate the tap signal against a preset tap pattern and to change an access state of the device if the tap signal completes a match for the tap pattern. 

A few days ago, they were awarded that patent. Meaning, they can go ahead and make use of it any time they want and start putting it to work on any of their devices they do so wish. Seems RIM hasn't wasted any time though, as new information suggests they are already actively testing this out on BlackBerry 7.1 devices internally and presumably, upcoming BlackBerry 10 devices as well. Maybe something to look for in the next set of leaked BlackBerry 7.1 builds?

PS: Since some seem to think the image is what RIM will be offering, it is not -- it's an app.

Source: USPTO Via: Engadget

If you've been following along with the Nortel patent auction news then you'll no doubt know that the over 6,000 patents and applications attracted a high level of interest across the technology world and as such, were placed on hold for a while. Having resumed on June 27, RIM has issued the following press release regarding their involvement in that high profile auction which also included the likes of Apple, EMC, Ericsson, Microsoft, and Sony.

Press Release

WATERLOO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 1, 2011) - As announced separately today by Nortel Networks Corporation, a consortium of certain technology companies, of which Research In Motion Limited ("RIM") (NASDAQ:RIMM)(TSX:RIM) is a part, emerged as the winning bidder for all of Nortel's remaining patents and patent applications for a cash purchase price of USD$4.5 billion. RIM's portion of the purchase consideration is approximately USD$770 million. The sale is subject to applicable Canadian and United States court approvals. Nortel plans to work diligently with the consortium to close the sale in the third quarter of 2011.

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When it comes to patents, finding new ones is sometimes fun. Some turn out to be actual products down the road while others sit in the registry never used. The latest one, “Handheld Electronic Device with Rotatable Member” filed by Research In Motion looks rather odd but, the given description helps better understand it.

“In a first aspect, a handheld electronic device, such as a smartphone, has a first device member and a second device member that are connected via a connector. The second device member is rotatable about a rotation axis that is canted relative to an axis of the second device member. As a result, when the second device member is rotated between a first position and a second position, its orientation changes. This may facilitate, for example, switching the handheld electronic device between a text entry mode and a telephone mode."

Research In Motion has always been known for their BlackBerry keyboard design. Some folks choose BlackBerry over other devices strictly based on the keyboard alone. With the exception of SurePress, Research In Motion has never strayed far from their original keyboard design and one has to wonder if this patent here will be the start of that. Of course, it could just be something thats been filed and will never see the light of day but at the same time, it could be something they are already currently working on for an upcoming device.

Source: Slashgear

Via: USPTO

In the latest patent application from RIM, it looks like they may be heading towards some sort of advertising in emails. Their submission to the patent office, "system and method for incorporating multimedia content into a message handeld by a mobile device", essentially allows for the device to match keywords and phrases in messages to bring you ads. As the application states:

This (advertising) may be done by examining content in the message handled by a mobile device and matching portions of the message with predetermined criteria such as keywords or phrases. Upon finding matches, corresponding multimedia content is associated with a respective portion of the message content and access to the multimedia content is enabled through selection of a linking mechanism that is visually identifiable with the respective portion of the message. The message is modified to include such linking mechanisms such that upon viewing the modified message, a user may reveal the multimedia content by selecting the linking mechanism. It has also been recognized that multiple layers of multimedia content can be provided such that different types of user interaction can reveal different forms of multimedia content. 

RIM has also filed for a patent that will allow them to see if any devs are trying to circumvent the new email ads. Now don't go crazy - there is no word of if/when any of this will be implemented. RIM applies for hundreds of patents whose applications never see the light of day, so we really don't need to worry (just yet anyway). If you're up to it, give it a read and sound off in the comments with your thoughts. 

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Some of you all may remember back to CES when Kodak was showing off their new BlackBerry offerings. Shortly after playing friendly at CES, Kodak then decided to bring forth some patent issues with Research In Motion and Apple at the same time, claiming both companies were infringing upon Kodaks image and image processing patents. Kodak then took the big leap and went to the ITC and asked them to investigate the issues at hand and most recently the ITC has stated they will certainly be investigating.

Now most times patent issues arise they tend to make big waves. Not always because of the possible impacts but, mainly because the companies that are claiming infringement are oft labelled "patent trolls". This doesn't seem to be the case with Kodak vs, RIM and Apple as Kodak claims they have been fighting this for many years now and having previously won settlement deals over the issues with Samsung. With the ITC now investigating the claims, as the Canadian Press points out these types of cases are beginning to pretty much seem like "the cost of doing business" in the technological age. Ride out as much use as you can before you have to pay up for licensing fees.

Its become common, so much so that the issues no longer have an affect on stock prices or investor relations. Either way, it seems as though Kodak will have their day to see if they were indeed right in their claims. In the meantime though, what do you all think? Has patent issues become a part of doing business or should something be done with the patent system improve upon it? The amount of time wasted in court could be better used, I think anyways.

In what seems to be a never ending battle between Research In Motion and Motorola, Motorola has once again filed patent complaints against Research In Motion. This time however, things are little different. Motorola has stepped up to the ITC (International Trade Commission) to ask them to investigate RIM and their continued use of Motorola patents as well as impose and Exclusion Order to stop RIM from importing, selling and marketing said infringing products. The five patents listed in the complaint pertain to WiFi, power saving methods, application management and user interface. For lack of better word, Motorola is pissed off at RIM.

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Since the introduction of Wi-Fi on the BlackBerry, and the Bold 9000, RIM's first 3G BlackBerry, surfing the web on our handsets has been faster than ever. Still, BlackBerry users will be getting an extra kick in speed according to a recent patent application by RIM entitled, "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCING NETWORK BROWSING SPEED BY SETTING A PROXY SERVER ON A HANDHELD DEVICE." Who doesn't want faster browsing speeds?

The patent sheds a little light on how data is transferred now, and the solution RIM plans to offer to make that process more efficient. RIM states, "One reason is that the data is sent across the air uncompressed. This increases traffic and lowers browsing speed." Ever the innovative engineers, the folks at RIM have come up with a clever way of enhancing current technologies by creating a proxy server on the handset in order to compress and transcode HTTP requests before it hits the air. A quick glance at the patent summary reveals:

"A system for enhancing network-browsing speed by setting a proxy server on a handheld device comprises a browser for sending a request for requesting a message from a website and receiving a response in response to the request, a proxy server for transcoding and compressing the request, and transcoding and decompressing the response including the requested message in response to the request, a wireless network communicably linked to the proxy server, Mobile Data Service (MDS) gateway for transcoding and decompressing the request, and transcoding and compressing the response including the requested message from the website."

So, instead of having to send data back and forth several times just to get information to load on your browser, a proxy server should be able to handle compressing, transcoding and decompressing much faster. Now we just need to couple this technology with a brand new WebKit-based browser and then maybe we'll finally have that kick-butt web surfing experience all of us BlackBerry users have been waiting for.

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