China E-ventions
Selected Software-Related Invention Patents
Vol. 2 , No. 8 - July 19, 2002
Welcome to China E-ventions. Keeping up with technology is difficult enough, but learning about new trends in patent examination methods and policies in different countries is a monumental task. One area of keen interest these days involves a particular classification of patent that goes by many names: business method patent, Internet patent, software patent, and so on - in China, "software-related invention patents". To be clear, many of these names have distinct definitions in certain jurisdictions; however, their similarity has caused great confusion for international practitioners.
The purpose of this newsletter is to provide the foreign patent practitioner with China patent news as well as a regular snapshot of how China's State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) is approaching these kinds of inventions.
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Chinese Worker Invents New Global Positioning Device
A retired shipyard worker has invented a new global positioning and navigation device, which experts say may break the monopoly of satellite-based GPS technology developed in the West.
Cao Zengjie, a former shipyard worker in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, has received a patent certificate from the Patent Office of China for his invention.
After examining the device, experts said Cao's is the first global positioning and navigation instrument in the world that operates without satellite, radio, or any other external information.
Cao's is the first global positioning and navigation instrument can work automatically in any place in the world and under any weather conditions, the experts said.
He Chenguang, a member of the China association for the application of GPS technology, said the invention could have very wide applications, as it occupies no radio frequency and needs no base stations, a fact that makes it much cheaper than the current satellite-based GPS technology.
Cao, with only a high school education, was admitted to the China Society of Mathematics after his work on linear geometry won the high praise of noted Chinese mathematician in 1985.
Cao said he started his research on positioning and navigation in 1986. He came up with the prototype in 1993 and has since been working to improve it.
(Source: People's Daily)
Micro-processor Designer in Arm with China Market
The British based ARM Holdings, one of the world's biggest independent suppliers of microprocessor designs, recently announced that it would establish a pilot operation in Shanghai in an attempt to tap the huge potential of China's domestic semiconductor market.
A new company, ARM Consulting (Shanghai) Co Ltd is expected to act as the base for ARM's future business in China, forecast to become the second largest semiconductor market worldwide by 2010, according to Tan Jun, president of ARM's China operation.
ARM's local presence is expected to help the domestic semiconductor industry grow, especially in terms of chip design, by introducing its company's technology -- primarily through intellectual property (IP) licensing.
An increasingly popular practice in the semiconductor industry is for companies to buy designs for chip components, including the microprocessor core itself, from independent design firms like ARM and MIPS Technologies to power various products.
Gartner Dataquest, a global information technology research firm, earlier revealed that worldwide silicon IP sales grew by 40% to US $690 million in 2000, and chipmakers shipped 420 million ARM-based chips last year, up 14% from 2000. Ying Zhigang, a senior Shanghai government official with expertise in the integrated circuit (IC) industry, said: "ARM's entry will hopefully bring advanced chip design technologies, which are badly needed in China."
(Source: China Daily)
China's National Patent Office Pays for Mistake
The State Intellectual Property Office paid RMB 4,000 (US $480) in compensation to an inventor whose patent was mistakenly recorded as expired following the awarding of the compensation by the Beijing No 1 Intermediate People's Court.
The patent in question was granted to Niu Yuegui who acquired the patent for his invention of a "health cap" in 1998. However, due to a computer within the State Intellectual Property Office, their records showed his patent right had been invalid since March 1996.
(Source: Beijing Times)
CDMA Repeats DVD Story
According to the fourth China Information Technology Patent Trend Discussion and Industry Development Seminar recently held in Beijing, China's CDMA (code division multiple access) industry is likely to face many of the same hurdles as China's DVD industry has in recent times industry due to the lack of core technologies.
The International Telecom Union (ITU), recently accepted three CDMA standards, namely W-CDMA proposed by Europe and Japan, CDMA2000 proposed by the US, and Chinas TD-SCDMA. Of the three standards, WCDMA and CDMA2000 are the two major standards frequently applied by CDMA equipment manufacturers.
By December 26, 2001, a total of 462 patents related to the third generation mobile communication systems had been applied for in China, 85 % or 392 of which were from overseas applicants. Companies from Japan, Republic of Korea and the United States submitted the most applications.
Huawei Technologies was the only domestic firm to be placed in the top ten companies with the most applications, ranking eighth with 23 patents, which is a mere 28.7% of that of Samsung. The rest patents have been granted to many of the world's communication giants including Matsushita, Ericsson, Nihon Electric, Lucent Technologies and Qualcomm. Foreign companies, including Qualcomm, Lucent and Samsung possesses all the 12 core technology patents related to the CDMA 2000 system, and 15 core patents concerning the W-CDMA system. Datang Telecom, a domestic telecom leader possesses 5 core patents that related to TD-SCDMA technology, which to date, has not been widely accepted by telecom companies.
(Source: Xinhua)
A Selection of Software-related Invention Patents Published in China
Application Number: 00113710
Publication Number: 1306195
Application Date: 00.01.18
Publication Date: 01.08.01
Title: Intelligent meter for heating and air conditioning
Intl. Class. Nr.: G01D 4/00; G01K 17/00
Applicant(s) Name: Wang Guangdi
Inventor(s) Name: Wang Guangdi
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: An intelligent meter for heating or air conditioning is composed of a cover, casing, water inlet and outlet, electromagnetic valve, flowmeter, input water temp sensor, final-stage temperature sensor, power transformer, microcomputerized controller, IC card reader, LCD and controller keys.
Application Number: 00116073
Publication Number: 1291846
Application Date: 00.10.11
Publication Date: 01.04.18
Title: Detection and management system for users connected to cable TV
Intl. Class. Nr.: H04N 7/16
Applicant(s) Name: Zhang Xuebin
Inventor(s) Name: Zhang Xuebin
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: A detection and management system for users connected to cable TV is composed of front-end master controller (CENT), user access manager (cable hub), user indoor terminal connection box (cable link box) and management software. It can determine whether a RF signal channel is being provided to an authorized user can require the user to pay according to connection times. If there is no link user, the amplifier can be automatically turned off by the cable hub, saving electric energy.
Application Number: 00122479
Publication Number: 1315711
Application Date: 00.08.03
Publication Date: 01.10.03
Title: On-line payment method
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 17/60; G06F 17/30; G06K 9/00
PRiority Data: GB0007496.3 000328
Applicant(s) Name: Digital Yintong International Co Ltd
Inventor(s) Name: Chen Honglie; Jiang Tao
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: An on-line payment method over Internet is disclosed. A data recognizing device, such a savings, debit or credit card, is used, and the system is able to recognize the account number and a PIN. At first, the account is associated with the account number and the PIN is activated by a user via the systems network address. After the user selects pay mode, they can log into the system network address and input their account number and PIN, which are then verified according to the data stored in the database. Finally, the amount of money in the account is examined. If it is deemed to be sufficient, the user can then take part in network shopping.
Application Number: 00135812
Publication Number: 1305156
Application Date: 00.12.21
Publication Date: 01.07.25
Title: Device for recognizing intelligent IC cards with universal serial bus interfaces and its implementing method
Intl. Class. Nr.: G06F 13/38; G06K 19/067; G06K 9/00; G06F 17/60
Applicant(s) Name: Sun Jiping
Inventor(s) Name: Sun Jiping; Yang Xiangyu; Han Yong
Legal Status: Publication
Abstract: A device for recognizing intelligent IC cards with universal serial bus interfaces is composed of a microprocessor chip with USB interface and the chip of intelligent card. The microprocessor is connected via a USB interface to an external microcomputer and its I/O pin is connected to the I/O pin of intelligent card's chip. The intelligent IC card is recognized via the Internet for implementing authentication, cipher check and credit pay.
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China E-ventions is intended to be used for news purposes only. It should not be taken as comprehensive legal advice, and Lehman, Lee & Xu will not be held responsible for any such reliance on its contents.
