Some of I.B.M.'s 2,886 patents last year turned it away from circuit boards and semiconductors

Article Abstract:

IBM has made the US Patent and Trademark Office's 2000 Top-Ten list for patents issued with a total of 2,886. It was one of only four US companies to make the Top Ten list. Beyond its usual patents, for semiconductors and circuit boards, IBM has also developed patents for a vehicle surface-sensing device, a device that releases scent in multimedia programs, an inflatable keyboard, an automatic bookmarking system for Web pages and a voice-controlled wheelchair.

Author: Chartrand, Sabra
Computer and Office Equipment, Office & Computing Machines, Patents & copyrights, Office equipment, Office equipment and supplies industry, Office equipment industry, Laws, regulations and rules, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Copyrights, Patents, United States. Patent and Trademark Office, Patent/copyright issue, Moskowitz, Paul, Budman, Mark, Dordick, Rowan, Bates, Cary Lee, Ryan, Jeffrey, Kurtzberg, Jerome, Lew, John

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Software that lets a user control the stereo, the DVD and the computer, all from the TV screen

Article Abstract:

Jeffrey Sampsell has received a patent for his "electronic resource guide," an ultimate remote that links all audio and visual appliances via a menu, usually on the TV screen so one can access all components and they are aware of each other. A user can check out selections for the CD player or the cable TV menu and the guide will invent programming guides for those components that don't have one. One could route signals between the video recorder to the DVD while surfing the Web via TV. Sampsell says the software will accomodate old equipment as well.

Author: Chartrand, Sabra
Computer Software, Software Publishers, Product development, Household audio and video equipment, Consumer Electronics, Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing, Consumer electronics industry, Software product development, Sampsell, Jeffrey

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Compaq printer can tell you what's ailing it

Article Abstract:

Compaq Computer Corp began furnishing case-based reasoning software developed by Inference Corp free of charge to Pagemarq laser printer purchasers in Sep 1992 to aid in troubleshooting common printer problems. Instead of phoning Compaq's help line, which has been using the software since 1991, to resolve their problems, Pagemarq users can receive similar advice from their own computers by running the expert-system software. The artificial intelligence application searches a case-by-case database of printer problems and their solutions in response to keywords gleaned from users' typed-in trouble reports, selects the most relevant items and displays them on screen for the user. Industry analysts see Compaq's offering as a signal that artificial intelligence software may soon go commercial.

Author: Chartrand, Sabra
Electronic computers, Computer peripheral equipment, not elsewhere classified, Computer programming services, Usage, Innovations, Product information, Compaq Computer Corp., CPQ, Computer peripherals industry, Expert systems, Laser printers, Laser Printer, Troubleshooting, Applications, Inference Corp., Compaq PageMarq (Laser printer)

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Subjects list: United States, Intellectual property, Computer software industry, Software industry, Software
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