Smartphone patent litigations across the world gained traction during early years of influx of path-breaking devices, including the likes of Apple iPhone and Samsung series (S, Note, Galaxy etc.). Most of such lawsuits seem to have settled by now excluding a few that are still ongoing but the battlefront of patents in mobile technology has now shifted to a new sector, i.e. in-car technology facilitating connected cars via digital dashboards that represents one of the hottest categories among Internet of Things (IoT). Going by technology trends, future of tech innovations strongly depends upon the Internet of Things, commonly referred to as IoT, which facilitates communication between everyday objects via Internet. Such communication is amplified and brought to consumer utility by the powerful smartphones, tablets and wearable devices. Patent Strategy – IoT and Connected Cars Companies working in technology sectors such as IoT and Connected Cars, which are capable of disrupting the industry, need to have a well-formulated patent strategy in place to tackle the associated challenges. First and foremost, it is crucial to analyse appropriate Freedom To-Operate (FTO) by reviewing scope of existing patents with a view to obtain product clearance and to avoid patent infringement. Secondly, validity of in-house patents has to be ascertained along with patentability analysis of in-house innovations. Lastly, a strong and enforceable patent strategy can be formulated if global patent landscape studies are conducted as innovations in the field of IoT and Connected Cars are spanned across multiple jurisdictions.

1. Internet of Things
(IoT)
Patents, Technology & Legal Landscape

2. IoT – Communication between everyday
objects via Internet
Image Source

3. IoT – Essential Technology Elements
Embedded
Sensors
Software
Admin Interface
Electronic
Objects
Wireless
Internet
Connection
Security
Algorithms
Operating
Platforms
Data
Protocols

4. IoT Patents – Important Considerations
IoT includes multiple aspects
Software & Business Methods Not
Patentable
Technical Features Involving
Hardware are Patentable
Hardware: Computer, Smartphones,
Wearable Devices, Electronic Objects

5. IoT Patents – SEP and FRAND
SEP
Standard
Essential
Patents
Cover Core
Technology
FRAND
Fair,
Reasonable
Non-
Discriminatory
License Terms
IoT Implementation Requires Standard Technology

6. IoT – Patent Classifications
Hardware
Infrastructure – Sensors,
Power Management
Computing –
Encryption, Algorithm,
Memory Management
Application Interface
Networking –
Wired / Wireless

7. IoT Technology Example – BLE
Bluetooth
Low
Energy
Wireless Technology
Ultra-low Power Consumption
Low Cost
Enhanced Range
Multivendor Inter-
operability
Allows enhancement of devices like
watches, toothbrushes, toys etc.

8. IoT Technology Example – BLE Patents
Bluetooth
Low Energy
(BLE)
Patents
Master Devices
Access Points
Mobile Devices
Low Power Elements
Networking Modules
Electronic Devices (Appliances)

9. IoT Technology Example – BLE Patents
Bluetooth
Low Energy
(BLE)
Patents
Major
Players
Samsung
Broadcom
Blackberry
Qualcomm
Google
AT&T
Sony
Apple
ZTE
Nokia

10. Connected Cars – Digital Dashboards
Image Source

11. Emerging Battleground after Smartphone
Patent War
Connected Car – Mobile Technology
Patents
Image Source

12. Connected Car Patents – Major Players
Car Manufacturers
(Ford, GM, VW, BMW)
Equipment Manufacturers
(Bosch, Denso)
Electronics & Software Companies –
Tech Innovators
(Apple, Google, Panasonic, Motorola)

13. Connected Car – Technology Areas
In-Car Navigation:
GPS
Telematics:
Wireless communication
In-Car Entertainment: Digital Media
Commerce Functions:
Search, Advertising, Payments

14. IoT – Connected Car Technology
Patent Strategy
FTO: Analyze freedom to-operate by
mapping scope of relevant patents to
avoid patent infringement
Validity: Ascertain Validity / Patentability
of in-house Patents / Innovations
Patent Landscape: Global Strategy

15. Questions?
Visit www.techlaw.attorney