Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
Summary: Apple has received a confirmed patent for the "slide to unlock" control in use on every Android phone and tablet in existence.
Whatever your position is on patent infringement and the never-ending lawsuits in the mobile space, the fact is until the system is overhauled it is the law. I hate that design elements can be patented, instead of actual devices which makes more sense. Apple has been riding the patentability of design elements for a while, and has a number of Android device makers on the ropes as a result. A U. S. patent awarded today to Apple guarantees that every Android phone and tablet ever made infringes Apple's design.
Anyone who has touched an Android device has come face-to-face with the slide to unlock feature. The device is inaccessible until a slider or similar control is touched and slid to a boundary, unlocking the gadget. This simple control has now been patented by Apple, removing it from the available design pool to anyone else.
Apple has been picking and choosing its targets for patent infringement litigation carefully, using various patents it owns to go after infringers. This new patent over the simple slide to unlock feature means the company can go after any Android device maker it wants, and likely have success in the courts.
Heck, the control on Windows Phone devices, sliding the lock screen up to access the phone functions, may very well infringe on this patent too. That could extend to the upcoming Windows 8 as early preview versions use this same control to unlock devices.
Apple filed for the slide to unlock patent before the original iPhone was released, and just received confirmation of the patent. That puts every Android device ever made firmly in the infringing category, should Apple choose to get nasty.
[via 9to5mac]
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Talkback
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
Touchwiz is the thing Apple is suing Samsung over, right?
Yes, but Touchwiz is safe from touch to unlock patent
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
Just because Apple gets a frivolous event handler patent from the most indiscreet patent regime in the world does not necessarily mean all kinds touch+slide gestures to unlock will infringe Apple's patents. By the way, all of Apple's products too are alleged to infringe on HTC's patents. The ipads and iphones too infringe Motorola's and Samsung's wireless patents. Let Apple continue to sue and entangle itself in its web of law suits and take the path to oblivion. To sum, let Apple do its worst, while the Open Source community behind Android will continue to do its best.
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
Coincidentally one piece was horizontal scrolling and I believe the patent was tossed out.
Horizontal slide was patented
Until May 2006, Apple did not apply for this patent, when many other had already been granted the same behaviour for the same purpose. Here is a list:
Patent Number Filing date Issue date Original Assignee Title
US5619555 Jul 28, 1995 Apr 8, 1997 Latitude Communications Graphical computer interface for an audio conferencing system
US5627978 Dec 16, 1994 May 6, 1997 Lucent Technologies Inc. Graphical user interface for multimedia call set-up and call handling in a virtual conference on a desktop computer conferencing system
US5633912 Jun 17, 1996 May 27, 1997 U S West Advanced Technologies, Inc. Mobile telephone user interface including fixed and dynamic function keys and method of using same
US5644628 Mar 15, 1995 Jul 1, 1997 Alcatel N.V. telecommunications terminal interface for control by predetermined gestures
US5701340 Nov 20, 1995 Dec 23, 1997 Dialogic Corporation AD-HOC conferencing method
US6047054 Apr 7, 1998 Apr 4, 2000 Davox Corporation Computer telephone system
US6070068 Mar 14, 1997 May 30, 2000 Sony Corporation Communication terminal device and method for controlling a connecting state of a call into a desired connection state upon a predetermined operation by a user
US6088696 Sep 29, 1997 Jul 11, 2000 Ericsson Inc. Mailing/filing system for congruently categorizing different types of electronic mail resources received through a messaging system
US6236854 Aug 17, 1998 May 22, 2001 Nortel Networks Limited Method and apparatus for controlling a conference call
US6259436 Dec 22, 1998 Jul 10, 2001 Ericsson Inc. Apparatus and method for determining selection of touchable items on a computer touchscreen by an imprecise touch
US6298045 Nov 3, 1999 Oct 2, 2001 Vertical Networks, Inc. Systems and methods for multiple mode voice and data communications using intelligently bridged TDM and packet buses and methods for performing telephony and data functions using the same
US6323846 Jan 25, 1999 Nov 27, 2001 University of Delaware Method and apparatus for integrating manual input
US6392999 Feb 29, 2000 May 21, 2002 Lucent Technologies Inc. Conferencing and announcement generation for wireless VoIP and VoATM calls
US6396531 Dec 31, 1998 May 28, 2002 ATT Corp. Set top integrated visionphone user interface having multiple menu hierarchies
US6424711 Jan 20, 1999 Jul 23, 2002 Davox Corporation Computer telephone system
US6430284 Nov 13, 2000 Aug 6, 2002 AT&T Corp. System and method for redirecting control of in-band signaling
US6505040 Dec 30, 1999 Jan 7, 2003 Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd. Method of making a multiparty conference call on a mobile phone
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US6535730 Dec 13, 1999 Mar 18, 2003 AT&T Corp. Wireless centrex conference call adding a party
US6570557 Feb 10, 2001 May 27, 2003 Finger Works, Inc. Multi-touch system and method for emulating modifier keys via fingertip chords
US6577721 Apr 30, 1999 Jun 10, 2003 Nokia Mobile Phones Limited Conference call
US6677932 Jan 28, 2001 Jan 13, 2004 Finger Works, Inc. System and method for recognizing touch typing under limited tactile feedback conditions
US6768722 Jun 23, 2000 Jul 27, 2004 AT&T Corp. Systems and methods for managing multiple communications
US6839417 Sep 10, 2002 Jan 4, 2005 Myriad Entertainment, Inc. Method and apparatus for improved conference call management
US7007239 Oct 14, 2001 Feb 28, 2006 Palm, Inc. Method and apparatus for accessing a contacts database and telephone services
US7031728 Sep 21, 2004 Apr 18, 2006 Cellular phone/PDA communication system
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
There is nothing open source about Android. It is all closed source Google stuff.
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
Same but...
Galaxy, Infuse, Galaxy S2, Nexus One...
No slide to unlock on any of these.....
So which are really affected?
Smell a fast "update" coming....
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
"Apple has received a confirmed patent for the slide to unlock control in use on every Android phone and tablet in existence."
That just means that if the device has a 'slide to unlock' control, it now violates Apple's patent. It is a poorly worded headline, and a poorly worded sentence, but that is how reporters and the media in general make things sound more dramatic than they really are. Although this is dramatic. Those tactics are taught in upper level journalism classes and at media propagators. It sells more copy!
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
Incredibles, Droid, Droid X
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
However, a device could still use slide to unlock if it didn't use image cues: e.g. instead of having an actual slider on the screen, if you just do a horizontal slide anywhere on the lower half of the screen.
Some actual text of the patent is in the linked article about how Windows 8 also infringes the patent.
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
Its moving an image along a predefined path. And all android even not skinned violates this. Windows phone uses sliding image yes but it isn't along a predefined path.
Now I am confused
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
True.
I always use a passcode or pattern unlike...
Had to take a second look - thx
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
How stupid the US patent office is. I also thought they once said that everything that could be invented was invented or something rediculous like that?
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock
RE: Every Android device now infringes Apple patent: Slide to unlock