根據AppleInsider報導指出[1]，新創公司SP Technologies LLC已於美國德州控告蘋果公司iPhone之觸控鍵盤侵犯其專利，其中該專利申請於2000年8月4日，專利名稱為"Method and medium for readable keyboard display incapable of user termination."，主要技術內容為觸控式螢幕輸入介面相關技術。
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圖一、iPhone觸控鍵盤與SP Technologies專利比較
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Source: STPI, 2007/08
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| 表三、US6784873專利申請範圍之兩獨立項 |
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獨立項
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內容
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1
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1. A method of entering data on a touch screen display, the method comprising: invoking a computer program in which user input is sought; invoking an input area, including a plurality of data input fields; invoking a graphical keyboard area incapable of user termination independent of termination of the input area, the graphical keyboard area having a plurality of keys on the display; selecting keys on the keyboard to provide the desired input; and automatically terminating the graphical keyboard area after the desired input is received in the input area.
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2
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10. A method of providing a user interface for receiving information from a user using a user immutable graphical keyboard linked to an input area, comprising: invoking the input area; determining that input from the user using the graphical keyboard is needed within the input area; invoking the graphical keyboard on a touch screen display to receive input from a user, the graphical keyboard placed in a set position; persistently maintaining the graphical keyboard on the touch screen display such that the user cannot move, resize, remove, or close the graphical keyboard through the user interface while the input area remains and requires input; receiving input within the input area from the user through the graphical keyboard; determining that further input from the user is no longer needed in the input area; and removing the graphical keyboard.
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Source: STPI, 2007/08
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| 表四、其他公司轉移給SP Technologies之專利 |
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Assignor
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Assignee
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Pat #
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Exec Dt:
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BOESEN, PETER V.
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SP TECHNOLOGIES LLC
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6408081
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02/01/2006
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BOESEN, PETER V.
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SP TECHNOLOGIES LLC
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6094492; 6560468; 6852084; 6470893; 6823195; 6718043; 6784873; 6738485; 6694180; 6542721; 6879698; 6987986; 6664713; 6920229; 6892082; D468299; D464039; D468300
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02/20/2006
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Source: STPI, 2007/08
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由Google Patent Search查詢，SP Technologies現有兩件專利如表一所示，包括US7203331與US7209569。根據AppleInsider報導，SP Technologies指控蘋果侵權，專利號US6784873，之專利資訊與全文如表二，其中原專利權人與發明人為Peter V. Boesen與Thomas J. Mann。此外，由美國專利移轉資料庫查詢可知[2]，US6784873專利權分別由如下之過程，移轉給SP Technologies，其中刮號內執行日期，如下：
MANN, THOMAS J.(09/22/2000) -> PLANET CONSULTING, INC.(09/22/2000) -> BOESEN, PETER V. M.D. (02/20/2006) -> SP TECHNOLOGIES LLC
| 表一、SP Technologies美國核准專利 |
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專利號
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專利名稱
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申請日
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發明人
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7203331
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Voice communication device
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Apr 29, 2002
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Peter V. Boesen
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7209569
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Earpiece with an inertial sensor
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Apr 25, 2005
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Peter V. Boesen
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Source: STPI, 2007/08
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| 表二、SP Technologies控告蘋果之專利 |
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專利號
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專利名稱
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申請日
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發明人
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6784873
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Method and medium for computer readable keyboard display incapable of user termination [全文pdf]
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Aug 4, 2000
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Peter V. Boesen, Thomas J. Mann
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Source: STPI, 2007/08
相關全文下載可至Google Patent Search (http://www.google.com/patents)
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該專利US6784873所代表圖示與iPhone鍵盤輸入比對如圖一所示，該專利兩獨立項彙整如表三。
若以SP Technologies為對象，美國專利移轉資料庫中轉移給SP Technologies之專利彙整如表四所示，總計2006年2月Peter V. Boesen共轉移給SP Technologies達18件專利（含US6784873）。換言之，現階段SP Technologies共有20件美國專利。
最後，雖然蘋果執行長Steve Jobs指出，發展iPhone過程中，頻果電腦累積超過200件專利。但是有專利與不侵犯別人的專利是兩碼子事，在iPhone熱賣下，無可避免的，將會有更多技術發明者出來主張他們權利，並想盡辦法分食iPhone超高利潤的。(1011字；表4；圖1)
參考資料：
- http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/07/08/06/apple_faces_new_suit_over_iphones_
touch_screen_keyboard.html
- ttp://assignments.uspto.gov/assignments/?db=pat
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