Nintendo and Microsoft in Suit Over Controller Patents

Via Kotaku, an article at the Inquirer discussing a patent suit brought against Microsoft and Nintendo over controller technologies. Anascape Ltd, a Texas firm, claims the two companies have infringed on over a dozen of its held patents. From the article: "Anascape alleges 6,222,525 'Image Controller with Sheet Connected Sensors' was also breached, as well as 6,343, 991 'Game Control with Analog Pressure Sensor' and 6,344,791 'Variable Sensor with Tactile Feedback'. As well as 6,347,997 'Analog Controls Housed with Electronic Displays', 6,351,205 'Variable Conductance Sensor' (a different one) and 6,400, 303 'Remote Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor' (a different one)."

Comments

Patent trolls?

[govtpiggy]

So these guys have apparently patented the idea of an analog button doing anything on a display. Smells like patent trolls to me. I just want to know why these seemingly obvious patents keep getting given out.

United States Patent 6,347,997:

Devices for controlling imagery shown by a display, and including an analog sensor for creating a varying analog value according to varying depression applied by a finger of a human user to the analog sensor. In one preferred embodiment the analog sensor(s) includes a resilient dome cap for providing tactile feedback to the finger depressing the analog sensor. Circuitry within a housing is connected to the analog sensor for reading the varying analog value from the analog sensor and causing representative varying the imagery shown by the display. The devices can be individually structured as electronic game controllers/systems, telephones, pagers, electronic books, web browsers, global positioning receivers, ovens, coffee makers and personal digital assistants (PDA) to name a few.

Re:Patent trolls?

[fishybell]

Devices for controlling imagery shown by a display, and including an analog sensor for creating a varying analog value

Wow...sucks for them. Too bad both Microsoft and Nintendo use digital controllers. Yes, there are varying values depending on the analog input (all human input is analog after all), but the output is now, always has been, and always will be, digital.

There is no way that either Microsoft or Nintendo are sending varying levels of voltages to the console when they can send a couple of digital packets that contain all the information on all the buttons in about the same amount of bandwidth (over cord or air). Technically the packets are an analog signal that is encoded to represent a digital value, but there is no "varying analog value," just a series of different combinations of the same value of high and low voltage.

Re:Patent trolls?

[shimage]

So you're telling me that only companies big enough to sell things should be allowed to patent something? A guy can't just come up with a good idea and sell it to someone anymore? I think requiring intent to manufacture something results in a chicken and egg problem for "little people". Not that I don't think there is a serious problem with the USPTO; I just don't think that's the solution.

Re:Patent trolls?

[sqlrob]

So go back to requiring a prototype

Re:Patent trolls?

[KDR_11k]

Software algorithms are just mathematics, I don't think those were ever patentable. After all maths were around when the patent system was set up so it would have a provision for maths already if that was intended to be patentable.

Prior Art?

[twistedsymphony]

Patents Filed in 1999 eh?

I guess that box sitting in my basement full of old Nintendo controlers would classify as prior art?

Re:Prior Art?

[Raistlin77]

So why not sue Sony as well - the PS2 came out in 2000 with the new controllers that had analog joysticks...

Re:Prior Art?

[deadmantyping]

Actually the Nintendo 64 (N64) featured an analog stick, in addition to the digital pads, and the N64 was released in (drumroll please) 1996 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_64) and it was publically introduced in 1995, so Nintendo can indeed claim prior art.

Patent with no product using it?

[Yvan256]

Aren't patents supposed to be allowed only if the company actually has a product on the market using the patented feature?

THey have their own patents...

[madhatter256]

Nintendo clearly states the patent number their devices use. I am not sure about MS though. If these patents by the plaintiff were filed in 1999, but if Nintendo has patents on their analog joysticks then this case will be thrown out the window like the million other patent suits brought up against them. I need to hurry up and patent my invention called "Life" and then sue the whole world for patent infringement.

Re:They have their own patents...

[Admiral Justin]

If you're the inventory of life, that would make you God. Being God, you are hereby under arrest for billions of deaths throughout history. And the platypus.

what about Sony?

[thoughtlover]

My PS2 controller has analog pressure-sensitive buttons. Why were they excluded from the lawsuit?

What about any third-party that makes controllers using said technology?

Re:Business Plan

[soft_guy]

Microsoft hardly dominates the video game business. Out of the last generation consoles, they were only one to consistantly lose money.

Anascape Ltd. ??

[Chaffar]

What kind of company that has patents on GAME CONTROLLERS doesn't even have its own website ??

Misleading title

[Chris Pimlott]

The article title makes it sound like Nintendo and Microsoft are suing each other, instead of both being sued by a third party. How about something like "Company sues Nintendo, Microsoft over Controller Patent"?

But wait theres more....

[madhatter256]

I also found this...

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6906700.html?high light=computer,games

According to the google summary. Patent was filed in 2000 and published in 2005. This is purely just another intended patent infrigement suit against a profitable company.

It is true that the patent system needs some updating because there are old fogies in there who are not up to date with what is going on outside their office walls. This is why you are hearing patent suits of this nature. Some are legitimate while some aren't, while some were clearly made to sue a profitable source. Other than that this is clearly a patent troll.

Re:Nintendo's Console Strategy Falling Apart?

[Perseid]

Yeah. Not only is this an AC troll, it's off-topic. But here I go.

Launch titles. Launch titles. They suck. Get used to it. You can't rightfully judge the quality of any system for at least a year after it's been out and this has been true for generations now.

Injunction probable

[DeadCatX2]

I thought something was funny when I read about the suit being filed in East Texas.

According to techdirt, there's a federal judge in Marshall, Texas (a district in East Texas) who almost universally grants injunctions against patent infringers. Said judge is a favorite of patent trolls.

According to this pdf, the case is filed in...gasp...Marshall, TX.

Let's see now,

[Sarreq Teryx]

analog controllers have been around since, let me think, 2-45*58 carry the 9 * cos20 = roughly about 50 years now. Can we all say "Patent Office Morons"?