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Graphics Rendering Patent Suits Target Apple, Samsung, HTC, RIM, LG and Sony

Posted by Soulskill on from the i-invented-the-pixel dept.

angry tapir writes "Formerly known as Silicon Graphics, Graphics Properties Holdings has filed six separate patent cases against Apple, Samsung, Research In Motion, HTC, Sony and LG with the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. The patent at issue in the lawsuits relates to floating point calculations to render graphics, and is registered as patent number 8,144,158 with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office."

2 of 159 comments (clear)

  1. An cue the standard reply by maroberts · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You've only read the damn abstract haven't you?

    How many times do people have to say READ THE CLAIMS before it sinks in that the abstract normally only gives an example and the patents claims normally go far beyond that. In some patents the abstract comes close to being completely misleading. Incidentally the claims are not restricted to 16 bit floating point representations or any other size of floating point accuracy, plus it's a continuation of other patents, so don't forget to read their claims too.

    --

    Donte Alistair Anderson Roberts - hi son!
    Karma: Chameleon

    1. Re:An cue the standard reply by BSAtHome · · Score: 5, Insightful

      But I read the claims and they are ludicrous. They basically state if you implement/use math in a specific manner, you are owned by us. And that is besides the obviousness to use floating point instead of integer/fixpoint (actually, integer and fixpoint approximations were created to overcome slow hardware). Once hardware is fast enough, you most often move to the more precise solution; there is nothing inventive about that, but a natural evolution.