IP Innovation L.L.C. and Technology Licensing Corporation (collectively, "Plaintiffs") have brought a patent-infringement action against Red Hat, Inc., and Novell, Inc., alleging infringement of U.S. Patent Numbers 5,072,412; 5,533,183; and 5,394,521. The patents concern a user interface that has multiple workspaces. The Plaintiffs' complaint identifies as accused products "Red Hat Linux system," the "Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop," and the "Novell Suse Linux Enterprise Server."
UPDATE: THESE THREE PATENTS WERE INVALIDATED BY THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, ON APRIL 30, 2010, IN THE ABOVE REFERENCED ACTION.
UPDATE: THESE THREE PATENTS WERE INVALIDATED BY THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT, EASTERN DISTRICT OF TEXAS, ON APRIL 30, 2010, IN THE ABOVE REFERENCED ACTION.
Last updated: 2 months ago
Summary / Description
| Summary / Description | Written by Vannevar Bush in 1945, it describes a futuristic device having multiple viewing "screens", analogous to modern day workspaces. That the concept of multiple "viewing positions" was considered more than sixty (60) years ago, claim 1 is obvious and does not warrant the protection associated with novel ideas. |
Basic Information
| Type of Prior Art | Print Publication |
| Publication Title * | As We May Think |
| Author | Vannevar Bush |
| ISBN | N/A |
| Page Range | See excerpt attached |
| Medium | Magazine article |
| Publication Date * | July 31, 1945 |
| URL | http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/... |
Notes / To Do
| Notes | Wikipedia: As We May Think predicted many kinds of technology invented after its publication, including hypertext, personal computers, the Internet, the World Wide Web, speech recognition, and online encyclopedias. The concept presented by Bush permeat |
Excerpt
Excerpt 1) It consists of a desk, and while it can presumably be operated from a distance, it is
primarily the piece of furniture at which he works. On the top are slanting translucent screens, on which material can be projected for convenient reading. There is a keyboard, and sets of buttons and levers. Otherwise it looks like an ordinary desk.
Excerpt 2) If the user wishes to consult a certain book, he taps its code on the keyboard, and the title page of the book promptly appears before him, projected onto one of his viewing positions.
Excerpt 3) As he has several projection positions, he can leave one item in position while he calls up another.
Relevance
Claims
User input means
The system of Claim 1, further comprising input means for receiving signals from a user; the signals from the user including a first signal requesting an operation affecting the first display object and a second signal requesting an operation affecting the second display object; the display object means further being for receiving the first and second signals from the input means; the display object means responding to the first signal by generating a first response, the display object means further responding to the second signal by generating a second response, the display object means further generating the first and second responses so that the second display object is perceptible as the same tool as the first display object when the second workspace is presented after the first workspace.
Relevance
Bush also describes the system as being equipped with a keyboard and levers for controlling the various "projection positions".
Bush also describes the system as being equipped with a keyboard and levers for controlling the various "projection positions".
Claim Chart
All
User interface with mulitple workspaces
A system comprising:
a display;
first and second workspace data structures relating respectively to first and second workspaces that can be presented on the display; each of the first and second workspaces including a respective set of display objects; each of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features; the display objects of each respective set being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when the respective workspace is presented on the display;
display object means for generating first and second display objects; the first workspace data structure being linked to the display object means so that the first display object is in the respective set of display objects of the first workspace; the second workspace data structure being linked to the display object means so that the second display object is in the respective set of display objects of the second workspace; and
control means for accessing the first workspace data structure to cause the display to present the first workspace including the first display object; the control means further being for accessing the second workspace data structure to cause the display to present the second workspace including the second display object; the display object means generating the first and second display objects so that the second display object is perceptible as the same tool as the first display object when the second workspace is presented after the first workspace.
Relevance
Multiple screens or workspaces was considered sixty (60) years ago. It can hardly be thought of as a novel idea.
Multiple screens or workspaces was considered sixty (60) years ago. It can hardly be thought of as a novel idea.
Claim Chart
All
