Neowin.net

Actually I think the "input area" would be the controller. "User immutable graphical keyboard" would be the keyboard that's on the screen.

It's another weird patent that can be used to explain any kind of typing. An actual keyboard, a game controller or a touch screen would fit that patent. Just another person who created the patent then waited for the perfect moment to sue someone over infringment of it. It'll never end.

That's what I said

RTFA

This only applies to touch screen, so not the 360

"...invoking a graphical keyboard area incapable of user termination independent of termination of the input area, the graphical keyboard area having a plurality of keys on the display; selecting keys on the keyboard to provide the desired input; and automatically terminating the graphical keyboard area after the desired input is received in the input area"

"The present invention relates generally to a method and medium for inputting data, and more particularly, to a keyboard of constant size and shape present on the screen of a touch-screen style computer whenever user input may be desired"

"Currently, on-screen keyboards allow a user to maximize, minimize, or simply remove the keyboard on the display. Further, the shape and size of the keyboard may be altered. Often, such alterations or terminations are accidental and returning a keyboard to a useable size and shape wastes valuable time... it is therefore desirable to provide an on-screen keyboard which is incapable of alteration or termination by a user."

I never understood how Creative won that. Must've been a lucky patent. The iPod menu system was clearly based on Mac OS X's column view.

agreed! i've been saying this forever, it's nice to know someone else out there has some common sense.

Which itself was developed by NeXT, not Apple.

Yeah, but since Apple bought NeXT, I think they're within their rights to use it!

But then again, Creative had already patented that UI technology before Apple implemented it.

And how many of those lawsuits are spurious and without merit?

I'm not sure.

The vast majority. Patent trolling is the new black.

WindowsCE (the core of the PocketPC and WindowsMobile systems) was in use before 2000, as was the (sic) Apple Newton...
... so, by those facts alone, the patent should be nullified.

"Currently, on-screen keyboards allow a user to maximize, minimize, or simply remove the keyboard on the display. Further, the shape and size of the keyboard may be altered. Often, such alterations or terminations are accidental and returning a keyboard to a useable size and shape wastes valuable time... it is therefore desirable to provide an on-screen keyboard which is incapable of alteration or termination by a user."

I thought the courts ruled recently that "prior art" is no longer a useable means to invalidate a patent?

If that is true, then everybody should hold the courts in contempt and refuse any and all summons for anything remotely to do with patent infringement as that ruling is so unbelievably stupid. A few high profile non-appearances from Microsoft, Apple, Google et al. along with refusals to accept rulings and fines against them in absentia would bring the whole patent system into sharp relief.

so true, they think they invented everything and in reality they bought it or stolen the technology

think?

Apple bought coverflow, Apple generally invented many conventions of the modern GUI, they got the idea from Xerox but things like all menu items having shortcut keys and windows looking the way they do today are because of some work by Apple, otherwise they wouldn't have had so much legal wrangling with Microsoft.

Apple bought CoverFlow from Steel Skies. See here:

http://steelskies.com/article/48/on-coverflow

They basically bought all these technologies, hyped them up, and made people believe that Apple had invented them.

My theory is that it's run entirely by pot heads. I swear I'm closer and closer to seeing if I can actually get the process of a fart patented to see if they'd grant it to me.

If they did, I could sue anyone I hear tooting

Man 1: *rips one* Whew!!!!!

Me: You owe me a dollar

Man 1: Huh?

Me: I have succeeded in patenting the fart *shows proof*

Man 1: *Hands over my dollar*

The Kingdom of NightmarE D has begun

im gonna patent money transactions... HAHA... ALL MONEY BELONG TO ME!!!

Glassed Silver:mac

My kingdom has fallen

read the patent!! this is specific to an onscreen keyboard that cannot be maximized, minimized, terminated, etc. during input

Please do tell. Other than obvious copyright infringement (such as Y'Z Dock), please give me one example.

Sure. Remember when Apple was suing all these companies that used the word "pod" in product names?

again, RTFA

"Currently, on-screen keyboards allow a user to maximize, minimize, or simply remove the keyboard on the display. Further, the shape and size of the keyboard may be altered. Often, such alterations or terminations are accidental and returning a keyboard to a useable size and shape wastes valuable time... it is therefore desirable to provide an on-screen keyboard which is incapable of alteration or termination by a user."

Why you are posting this crap? Express said that he is I remembering using a touchscreen back in 1997. What is the point with keyboard resizing? Do you think that program code for Keyboard resizing automatically appears through some miracle and there is special effort needed for programmer to remove it? These are just simple inevitable options. You can't patent obvious inevitable things. Its like that stupid argument on "Which country invented dumplings?" and answer that it takes an idiot to believe that you need a genius to come with idea of wrapping meat into pastry. This patent looks like an fraud to steal money and I think these people must be punished. Its good that Nature can't sue or we all would be f***ed.

Last edited by EJocys on 07 Aug 2007 - 12:23

Good idea! I think I'll do that.

It was a joke I cracked, get over it. Like I would actually try to patent "farting".

Thank you for informing us ignorant masses Mr Patent Lawyer.

So the iPhone's onscreen keyboard can not be minimized or removed? It just sits in the exact same spot constantly?

Not allowing the user to minimise / move / alter something can be set up as a parameter for the object rendering, like not having a minimise button on a dialog box. Therefore any onscreen keyboard could have this (lack of) "functionality" and would infringe this pathetic patent.

I'd end with an insult but I can't be bothered with people this ignorant...