Big dogs

Pat Choate, an economist, looked at seven corporations (Big Dogs) backing the Coalition for Patent Fairness (CPF): Intel, Dell, HP, Cisco, Oracle, Micron, and Apple.

His research is summarized at The Patent Prospector. Lots of interesting statistics, including this:

In the 11-year period 1996-2006, the seven CPF founding corporations disclosed $1.9 billion in patent settlement payments, an average of $173 million per year. During that same time, these seven corporations had collective revenues of more than $1.7 trillion.

Patent reform, protecting the strong?

The Register interviewed Steve Perlman (WebTV, owner of 70+/- patents) about Patent Reform Act. A very interesting article.

"This is isn't pharm versus high-tech," he said. "This is people who need patents versus people who don't need patents."

The comments that follow are equally interesting.

Remember that the courts do have most of the facts and they are hosing members of the Coalition for Patent fairness & PIRACY. These companies are the worst which America has produced. They act like school yard bullies, picking on those who are weak, and then when they get their justly earned attitude adjustments they rationalize and whine like like children who have not yet learned the difference between right and wrong.

Ronald J. Riley,

President - www.PIAUSA.org - RJR at PIAUSA.org

Executive Director - www.InventorEd.org - RJR at InvEd.org

Senior Fellow - www.PatentPolicy.org - RRiley at PatentPolicy.org

Joe's links

CNet News reports that Thomas Barnett, U.S. Justice Department's assistant attorney general for antitrust is pleased with the 2002 Microsoft consent decree stating, "(The) remedy was well-crafted and has been successful."

The cynical will keep an eye on Mr. Barnett and take note if he moves to the private sector.

theinquirer reports that FB-DIMMS may be around for another two years.

BetaNews opines that the US Supreme Court has accepted a case for review that may "impact technology patent law but also how manufacturers mix Intel and AMD parts, and also how - believe it or not - how digital music stores sell MP3 tracks."

Need a lawyer or a cop?

Do you wonder if Warner Brothers has sent its Legal Eagles to the courthouse?

The WB looks similar. Spelling not good - so not good press?

Arriving in Donkey's mailbag with this picture was one of what appeared to be a deceased cat along the edge of a road - sign next to the cat read "Free Cat". Didn't laugh, not even a little . . . bit my tongue did I.

Please pass the Kool-Aid

Treasury Secretary Paulson has been globe trotting in Asia. Pressing the flesh, beating the drum of open markets and waving the American flag.

More than a few Ramboids have been hoping the Mr. Paulson will champion respect for intellectual property in general and Rambus IP in particular.

NJ posted in part on the IV Rambus board:

I sense that the folks inside the beltway have finally realized that a US company invented the IP that is the basis for all DRAM's sold over the past 10+ years, and trillions of dollars of products have memory and use memory controllers that are based on US IP ....and yet we have only been paid a tiny fraction of the royalties that should have been paid.

I thought mixing Coke & Kool-Aid was a bit much - but somebody has slipped NJ the strong stuff. What "folks inside the beltway"? The Trilateral Commission? NJ, I think you are giving the Beltway Gang too much credit.

Catch ya later, while I am still in Fantasy Land, I am going to grab a Mega Millions ticket.

HT The1stBA

Patent continuation restrictions - undead

The Patent Prospector reports that patent continuation and divisional restrictions are now "undead". This a couple of days after the whispered post mortem. Expect that the patent bar will rally and mount an assault.

Patent reform, well no

Digit reports that close to 300 people, including tech executives, advocacy groups and government officials were expected to attend the Tech Policy Summit this week in San Jose, California.

Patent reforms, trolls and the PTO backlog graced the menu. Adding to the indigestion was Deborah Platt Majoras, chairman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, who endorses the idea of post-patent review. (Any Donkey wonders if Ms. Majoras wants to add the post-patent review to her ever-expanding portfolio.)

The Patent Prospector repeats the gossip that USPTO Under Secretary Jon Dudas recently assured tech leaders that proposed continuation limits are as "dead as a doornail." Add Treowth to the gossip chain.

News summary

Texas MP3 Technologies bought a patent and the next day (2/15/07) filed a lawsuit against the major MP3 manufacturers - Apple, Samsung and SanDisk . The Register reports:

Chief executive Ron Edgerton explained the company's rationale last July. "We made this decision because this patent may require millions of dollars of legal fees to optimize its value, and otherwise would have required a significant amount of SigmaTel's management attention," he said. "SigmaTel's customers, however, will not have to worry about this patent being enforced against them, as SigmaTel has retained the necessary rights to protect its customers."

Not so new news department, IBM plans on having Roadrunner up and running for the US Department of Energy early 2008. Roadrunner will bounce along at 1 petaflop or 1,000 trillion calculations per second. DailyTech reports:

Roadrunner will use a conventional cluster of 16,000 AMD Opteron processor cores alongside 16,000 Cell B.E. chips, with both chips working together to handle a share of the calculating work.

The chip world is changing, so says Wally Rhines, CEO of Mentor Graphics, speaking at the Globalpress Summit (2/26/07). From EDN:

With process differentiation rules out of the equation, companies will have to rely on design differentiation, according to Rhines. This means expertise at four levels: system architecture innovation; proprietary IP blocks; implementation efficiencies and higher yields.

More:

On the intellectual property (IP) side, the independent IP industry is now growing at 20 percent a year. Rhines said it was worth about $2 billion this year and he expects it to double by 2010.

HT Pinehurt Joe.

Former Rambus Inc. VP lands new job

Ira Blumberg joins IPotential after having served as the Vice President of Licensing for Rambus Inc. where he was responsible for creating and executing the company’s patent licensing strategy. During his two-and-a-half year tenure at Rambus, Blumberg structured, managed, negotiated and closed patent licenses with aggregate payments to Rambus in excess of $500 million.

More than a few Ramboids consider Mr. Blumberg's tenure with Rambus Inc. a failure. Intel, Mr. Blumberg's previous employer, did not renew its license. The Infineon license, although in Any Donkey's opinion, quite necessary at any price to neuter Judge Payne, was for pennies on the dollar. Ramboids ask "Where are the mobile phone licenses?"

As Mr. Frog would croak . . . Best wishes Mr. Blumberg, best wishes.

Rambus Inc. patents, it's a two-fer

United States Patent 7,184,483
Rajan February 27, 2007

Technique for emulating differential signaling

Abstract
A technique for emulating differential signaling is disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the technique is realized by encoding a plurality of input signals so as to generate a plurality of encoded signals having a spatial run length of N, wherein N is an integer having a value of at least two. Each of the plurality of encoded signals is then transmitted over a transmission medium so as to provide a respective plurality of transmitted encoded signals. Each of the plurality of transmitted encoded signals is then compared with at least N neighboring others of the plurality of transmitted encoded signals so as to recover a representation of each of the plurality of encoded signals. Each of the plurality of recovered encoded signals is then decoded so as to generate a plurality of decoded signals representing the plurality of input signals.
Inventors: Rajan; Suresh (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/326,343
Filed: January 6, 2006

***

United States Patent 7,183,805
Wang , et al. February 27, 2007

Method and apparatus for multi-mode driver
Abstract
Multi-mode signal drivers with a single output circuit that may be controlled using a mode select input and that may include a common mode (CM) voltage compensation mechanism are described. In a first exemplary implementation, a multi-mode output driver is adapted to drive signals from a single output circuit according to at least two modes, such as a current mode logic (CML) signaling mode and a low voltage differential signaling (LVDS) mode. In a second exemplary implementation, a circuit comprises a quasi-LVDS output driver in which a differential amplifier circuit is connected in series with an adjustable resistive element and a programmable current source. In a third exemplary implementation, a CM voltage of an output driver circuit changes with changes to a programmable bias current. To compensate, a feedback mechanism provides a compensation signal to a variable resistive element of the output driver circuit to maintain a desired CM voltage.
Inventors: Wang; Yueyong (Sunnyvale, CA), Daly; Barry W. (Sunnyvale, CA), Nguyen; Nhat M. (San Jose, CA), Frans; Yohan U. (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/385,234
Filed: March 20, 2006

Hat tip FinzToRite.

Rambus Inc. patent hat trick

United States Patent 7,180,959
Bessios, et al. February 20, 2007

Technique for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a code in a multi-level signaling system

Abstract
A technique for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a code in a multi-level signaling system is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a code in a multi-level signaling system, wherein the code has a characteristic wherein a signal transition is periodically unused. Such a method may comprise modifying the code such that the periodically unused signal transition is used to represent additional information.

Inventors: Bessios; Anthony (Fremont, CA), Zerbe; Jared (Woodside, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/878,342
Filed: June 29, 2004

***

United States Patent 7,180,958
Bessios, et al. February 20, 2007

Technique for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a transition-limiting code in a multi-level signaling system

Abstract
A technique for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a transition-limiting code in a multi-level signaling system is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a transition-limiting code in a multi-level signaling system, wherein the transition-limiting code has a characteristic such that at least one signal level is periodically unused. The method comprises utilizing the at least one periodically unused signal level in a codeword that has been encoded using the transition-limiting code so as to represent additional information in the multi-level signaling system.

Inventors: Bessios; Anthony (Fremont, CA), Stonecypher; William (San Jose, CA), Werner; Carl (Los Gatos, CA), Zerbe; Jared (Woodside, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/849,153
Filed: May 20, 2004

***

United States Patent 7,180,957
Bessios , et al. February 20, 2007

Technique for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a transition-limiting code in a multi-level signaling system

Abstract
A technique for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a transition-limiting code in a multi-level signaling system is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as a method for utilizing spare bandwidth resulting from the use of a transition-limiting code in a multi-level signaling system, wherein the transition-limiting code has a characteristic wherein a signal level is periodically unused. Such a method may comprise modifying the transition-limiting code such that the periodically unused signal level is used to represent additional information.

Inventors: Bessios; Anthony (Fremont, CA), Stonecypher; William (San Jose, CA), Zerbe; Jared (Woodside, CA), Werner; Carl (Los Gatos, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/667,355
Filed: September 23, 2003

Submitted by FinzToRite.

Rambus Inc., still chopping wood

And storing it for the winter . . .

United States Patent 7,174,400
Horowitz, et al. February 6, 2007

Integrated circuit device that stores a value representative of an equalization co-efficient setting

Abstract
An integrated circuit device is described. The integrated circuit device includes a transmitter circuit having an output driver to output data, and a register to store a value representative of an equalization co-efficient setting of the output driver. The value may be determined based on information stored in a supplemental memory device.

Inventors: Horowitz; Mark A. (Menlo Park, CA), Barth; Richard M. (Palo Alto, CA), Hampel; Craig E. (San Jose, CA), Moncayo; Alfredo (Redwood City, CA), Donnelly; Kevin S. (Los Altos, CA), Zerbe; Jared L. (Woodside, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/181,411
Filed: July 13, 2005

HT FinzToRite for the link.

Rambus Inc., patent hat trick

United States Patent 7,171,528
Evans, et al. January 30, 2007

Method and apparatus for generating a write mask key

Abstract
A method and apparatus provides a mask key that is used instead of mask data. In an embodiment of the present invention, a write mask key is generated by a memory controller and transferred to a memory device that uses the write mask key to determine whether to write a data value to a storage array. A plurality of decoders, an OR logic gate tree and a binary propagation tree is used to provide the write mask key that reduces latency while using the approximate same circuit area and allows for the use of standard software tools in an embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of log.sub.2 decoders is coupled to a plurality of OR logic gates in the OR logic gate tree.

Inventors: Evans; Marc (San Jose, CA), Perego; Richard E. (Thornton, CO), Ware; Frederick A. (Los Altos Hills, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/896,167
Filed: July 21, 2004

***

United States Patent 7,171,321
Best January 30, 2007

Individual data line strobe-offset control in memory systems

Abstract
Systems and methods for strobe signal timing calibration and control in strobe-based memory systems are provided below. These strobe-offset control systems and methods receive a strobe signal from a memory device and in turn automatically generate separate per-bit strobe signals for use in receiving data on each data line of a memory system. The systems/methods generate the optimal per-bit strobe signals by automatically calibrating per-bit offset timing between data signals of individual data bits and corresponding strobe signals. The strobe-offset control system effectively removes the detected phase difference between the data signal and the strobe signal.

Inventors: Best; Scott C. (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/923,421
Filed: August 20, 2004

***

United States Patent 7,170,314
Haba, et al. January 30, 2007

Multiple channel modules and bus systems using same

Abstract
Various module structures are disclosed which may be used to implement modules having 1 to N channels. Bus systems may be formed by the interconnection of such modules.

Inventors: Haba; Belgacem (Cupertino, CA), Perego; Richard E. (San Jose, CA), Nguyen; David (San Jose, CA), Garrett, Jr.; Billy W. (Mountain View, CA), Tsern; Ely (Los Altos, CA), Hampel; Crag E. (San Jose, CA), Yip; Wai-Yeng (San Jose, CA)

Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/054,955
Filed: February 11, 2005

HT FinzToRite for the links.

Find your own hat stamp and other cool stuff at Frantic Stamper.

The Force will sue you

George Lucas, with a handy assist from the Honorable Ronald M. Whyte, will collect $250,000 from High-Tech Magic for its unauthorized selling of Star Wars lightsabers.

Any Donkey wonders if Judge Whyte can pull off a Yoda imitation?

Ethical Issues in Patent Law - Seminar

Where: Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law

When: March 29, 2007, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Keynote Speaker: Chief Judge Paul Michel, CAFC

More details linked here.

Rambus Inc., two more patents in hand

United States Patent 7,167,039
Garrett, Jr. , et al. January 23, 2007

Memory device having an adjustable voltage swing setting

Abstract
A method of operating an integrated circuit including an output driver. The method includes storing a value in a register, wherein the value is representative of a voltage swing setting of an output driver. The voltage swing setting of the output driver is adjusted using a counter that holds a count value representing an update to the voltage swing setting. The count value is updated in accordance with a signal that indicates an adjustment to the voltage swing setting. In addition, an integrated circuit memory device comprising an output driver, a register and a counter is provided. The counter updates a count value in response to a signal that indicates a direction to adjust the count value.

Inventors: Garrett, Jr.; Billy Wayne (Mountain View, CA), Dillon, legal representative; Nancy David (Marshall, VA), Ching; Michael Tak-Kei (Sunnyvale, CA), Stonecypher; William F. (San Jose, CA), Chan; Andy Peng-Pui (San Jose, CA), Griffin; Matthew M. (Mountain View, CA), Dillon, deceased; John B. (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/890,972
Filed: July 14, 2004

***

United States Patent 7,167,019
Broyde, et al. January 23, 2007

Method and device for transmission with reduced crosstalk

Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for transmission with reduced crosstalk in interconnections used for sending a plurality of signals, such as the interconnections made with flat multiconductor cables, or with the tracks of a printed circuit board, or inside an integrated circuit. An interconnection with four parallel transmission conductors plus a reference conductor has each of its ends connected to a termination circuit. The transmitting circuit receives at its input the signals of the four channels of the source and its output terminals are connected to the conductors of the interconnection. The receiving circuit's input terminals are connected to the conductors of the interconnection, and its four output channels are connected to the destination. The signals of the four channels of the source are sent to the four channels of the destination, without noticeable crosstalk.

Inventors: Broyde; Frederic (Maule, FR), Clavelier; Evelyne (Maule, FR)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/541,059
Filed: December 24, 2003

HT FinzToRite.

Rambus & Spansion cross-license

Daily Tech chimes in with a telling quote:

Rambus holds an iron fist over its patents and products its intellectual property with legendary ferocity.

HT Pinehurst Joe.

Rambus Inc., earns two more patents

United States Patent 7,164,997
Batra, et al. January 16, 2007

Bus line current calibration

Abstract
Disclosed herein is a method and system for calibrating line drive currents in systems that generate data signals by varying line drive currents and that interpret the data signals by comparing them to one or more reference voltages. The calibration includes varying the line drive current at a transmitting component. At different line drive currents, a receiver reference voltage is varied while the transmitting component transmits data to a receiving component. At each line drive current, the system records the highest and lowest receiver reference voltages at which data errors do not occur. The system then examines the recorded high and low receiver reference voltages to determine a desirable line drive current.

Inventors: Batra; Pradeep (Santa Clara, CA), Rutkowski; Rick A. (Sunnyvale, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 11/233,918
Filed: September 23, 2005

***

United States Patent 7,164,292
Schmitt, et al. January 16, 2007

Reducing electrical noise during bus turnaround in signal transfer systems

Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing electrical noise generated during bus turnaround in signal transfer systems are provided. These systems include differential drivers having current sources continuously coupled to a signal bus during all operating modes of the drivers. A first transistor of the driver couples a first signal line of the bus to the driver current source and a second transistor of the driver couples a second signal line of the bus to the driver current source. Each transistor receives control signals in accordance with the operating mode of the driver. These control signals continuously and selectively couple the current source to the bus lines in a manner which provides uniform current distribution across the bus during all driver operating modes. The uniform current distribution across the bus minimizes interruptions in driver current dissipation and any effects from self-induced supply noise during signal transfers.
Inventors: Schmitt; Ralf (Mountain View, CA), Yuan; Xingchao (Palo Alto, CA)
Assignee: Rambus Inc. (Los Altos, CA)
Appl. No.: 10/866,157
Filed: June 12, 2004

HT FinzToRite.

Rambus Inc. & cell phones

Rambus Inc. downloaded pleasing ring tones to the cellular phones of Ramboids when it announced today that Spansion Inc. has signed a five-year royalty based license agreement.

In the Rambus Inc. press release the chief legal officer at Spansion is quoted in part as explaining that now Spansion is able "to expand our memory solutions for cellular phone applications."

Rambus CEO, Harold Hughes has had his eye on the cell phone market (750,000,000 +/- new units each year) for some time. In February 2006 Mr. Hughes proclaimed:

"We have technology that we invented literally 10 to 15 years ago, that is going into just about every mobile phone, so that will be an opportunity for us to find patent licenses."

Ramboids are trusting that notices of infringement have long since been mailed like the leaves of autumn . . .

Hat tip to Joe of the Pinehurst Thread.

Rambus Inc. licenses Spansion Inc.

Despite the fact that the press release stated "Rambus management does not expect revenue generated from this license agreement to be material", Rambus shares climbed following the announcement that Spansion Inc. has signed a five-year royalty based license agreement granting them access to "broad range of Rambus patents."

The press release contained the magic words "cell phones". Ramboids are cleaning their offices looking for those spread sheets . . . (I keep my in plain view so that I am regularly subjected to abuse by co-workers and former friends.)

“This license agreement with Rambus enables Spansion to expand our memory solutions for cellular phone applications,” said Robert Melendres, executive vice president and chief legal officer at Spansion. “Working with the Rambus team to secure access to their patent portfolio will provide us more design freedom as we develop next generation Flash memory technology and solutions."

Hat tip to the Rambus team that can inspire the market with non-material events. Talent, pure talent.