Path: utzoo!telecom-request Date: Tue, 14 May 91 14:03:21 EDT From: "Steven S. Brack" Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Hayes Wins Damages on its Command Set Patent Message-ID: Organization: Blue Moon BBS ((614) 868-998[0][2][4]) Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 360, Message 7 of 11 Lines: 47 kentrox!bud@uunet.uu.net (Bud Couch) writes: > As a matter of fact, as PN-2120, a document from TIA committee > TR-30.4, the command set has been submitted to the CCITT as part of > draft recomendation "V.25 ter". One of the regular contributors to > TELECOM Digest, Toby Nixon of Hayes is the chairman of TR-30.4, and > can probably post an update of the status of this proposal, if asked. > Communication software writers can, quite freely, write software which > sends the string "AT whatever" and DCE equipment may recognize that > string and act upon it. > Most software defaults to a one second pause, transmitting three plus > (+) signs, followed by a one second pause. Hayes patent is broader, > covering any time delay, followed by any unique sequence. This patent, > however, covers only async data ports used for both data and command. > Synchronous ports, obviously, cannot pause in sending data, and the > use of separate command and data ports is also outside the scope of > the patent. This is a valid patent?? I haven't studied patent law in depth, but I would think that a patent like that would fall under the realm of overbredth (sp?). Ha this patent been upheld in court? It certainly appears that Hayes has patented a PAUSE-DATA-PAUSE sequence. If that's true, then Hayes holds license on nearly every piece of data manipulation equipment ever manufactured. If a patent that broad covering a process that basic is admissible, then the first person to patent the breathing process is in for a fortune in royalties from all those people using his "technology" all this time 8) 8) 8). > For those in the external async modem business, the Hayes patent is a > business expense that they will have to factor in. The rest of us can > continue to type in "ATxxx" without worrying that the feds are going > to come after us. Steven S. Brack | sbrack%bluemoon@nstar.rn.com Jacob E. Taylor Honors Tower | sbrack@bluemoon.uucp The Ohio State University | sbrack@nyx.cs.du.edu 50 Curl Drive. | sbrack@isis.cs.du.edu Columbus, Ohio 43210-1112 USA | brack@ewf.eng.ohio-state.edu +1 (011) 614 293 7383 | Steven.S.Brack@osu.edu