It's not often that we genuinely
like what these big corporations are doing, so you'd better pay close attention here. We've caught wind of a Verizon patent covering the logistics of setting up and running a GPS-based classifieds service, which matches potential buyers and sellers of goods on the basis of their stated interests and location. Thus, next time you're driving by the home of a carpenter, for example, you might be alerted of his contact details should you need some woodworking done. This seems like a legitimately useful expansion on the location services already available on GPS devices, but -- as with the
Nokia flexible display patent -- the application was filed back in 2008 indicating that nothing is imminent. Still, at least it's comforting to know that good ideas
can fleet by carriers' brain trusts when they're not too busy
talking trash about each other on TV.
[Thanks, Anand]
posted January 20th 2010 7:23AM
there's prior art for this functionality...
@Stewsam I was about to say the same. Beyond my own drawings (from years ago), there are live services that do precisely this based on your To Do list etc.
Does this confirm Verizon is buying Craig's List? I jest, I jest...
@Rick James
Haha, I can't wait for the location aware casual encounters
That's it... I'm going to patent a method for human mobility... I'll call it "walking". Its going to be huge!
@ECH
No shit man. This patent business is nonsense. I was thinking about patenting the 'thought process'. Or the act of 'phrasing a question'. I'm going to be so rich!
I think this was pretty much exactly what Nokia said they were doing in India at the CES presentation. Something like this probably has loads of other prior art.
Oh why must the patent system be so broken?
I thought this was illegals to do in the United States? They've been doing this for a while in different countries like India and stuff where if you walk by a McDonalds a text would be sent to your phone with a coupon for a big mac or whatever.
Come on now Engadget, must you be a completely unquestioning republisher of press releases?
This is one of the more absurd patent claims I've seen in years. There's SO much prior art here that was documented long before Verizon jumped on the bandwagon and lied, calling it their own idea. People have been writing about, mocking up and building prototypes of location-aware classified ad systems for at least 10 years, and some location-aware ad delivery systems have already hit the market.
Also – Prior Art issues aside, this illegitimate patent clearly fails the non-obviousness test required of U.S. patents:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inventive_step_and_non-obviousness#United_States
Finally – I had to dig to find that the most important fact you reported here is (thankfully) incorrect: This story refers to a patent **application**, not a patent. The overworked USPTO has awarded bogus patents before, but let's hope this one doesn't make it.
I have a better idea, I will patent "stupidity", oh boy... all the money I'll be making.
Does this mean everytime i drive by a strip club or bar, i'll get an advertising for there escort service? The idea is quite nice if you can filter it down though. Imagine you're in the city looking for restaurant. You can choose to turn on only restaurant advertising. As you walk by each restaurant you can see what their specials for the day and some picture of it, not just the name on the sign outside.