Apple、Nokia等具備GPRS通訊功能之行動裝置被控侵犯網路通訊專利

2011年7月1日，一家設立於夏威夷、以研發DOCSIS、WiMAX、GPRS等相關技術並進行專利授權為主要業務之GPNE Corp.(下稱GPNE)公司，向夏威夷州聯邦地院提告，控告Amazon、Apple、Barnes & Noble、Garmin、Nokia、Pantech、Research In Motion(RIM)、、Sharp、Sony Ericsson等九家公司所製造販售、具備GPRS通訊功能之多款行動裝置(諸如iPhone4、iPad、Kindle等)，侵犯其所擁有之三項專利權利。

原本GPNE是以九家公司為共同被告提起單一告訴案件(案號為1:11-cv-00426)，但夏威夷聯邦地院之預審法官(magistrate judge)做出裁定，要求切割共同被告來成立個別獨立案件進行審理，是故除Amazon維持為原案號案件之單一被告、Garmin與GPNE達成協議外，另七名被告則在2012年5月10日，分別另案成立個別獨立之告訴案件。

本案所涉三項系爭專利的發明人之一均為GPNE之創辦人Gabriel K. Wong，權利人則為GPNE，其內容如下：

US 7,555,267，名稱為「單一節點藉由傳輸兩個保留需求來取得傳輸資料之資源的網路通訊系統（Network communication system wherein a node obtains resources for transmitting data by transmitting two reservation requests）」；

US 7,570,954，名稱為「在不同頻率上提供來自控制器的時序訊號、來自節點的需求、對需求之辨識以及從結點傳送之資料，讓這些訊號可同時傳送之通訊系統（Communication system wherein a clocking signal from a controller, a request from a node, acknowledgement of the request, and data transferred from the node are all provided on different frequencies, enabling simultaneous transmission of these signals）」；

US 7,792,492，名稱「具備校準訊號之網路通訊系統，讓控制器可以提供訊息給節點並在四種獨立頻率上傳輸訊息（Network communication system with an alignment signal to allow a controller to provide messages to nodes and transmission of the messages over four independent frequencies）」。

根據其網站資訊，GPNE在全球擁有超過30項以上的專利技術。在美國近期專利訴訟實務上，承審法院或會對於列多名被告之侵權告訴案件裁定分割案件(如同本案)，而去年甫通過之美國專利法修正(AIA)更是規定，專利侵權告訴可在單一案件中列出多名共同被告的條件是，共同被告製造販售同一產品或實施同一方法。(798字；表2)

表一、請求項解析

US 7,555,267 請求項1	US 7,570,954 請求項1
1. A first node in a data network, the data network including a plurality of nodes including a first node, the first node comprising: 包含複數節點之資料網路，其中首個節點包括	1. A method of operating a two-way communication system between a plurality of communication devices which comprise at least one communication controller including a first communication controller and a plurality of nodes including a first node, the method comprising: 一項在包括至少一個通訊控制台與包含第一個節點之複數節點的複數通訊裝置間運作雙向通訊方法，其步驟為
at least one processor (Fig.1 - 50); a memory(Fig.1 - 54) providing code to the least one processor; and an interface (Fig.1 - 52) controlled by the least one processor to: 至少一個處理器；提供編碼給處理器之記憶體；由處理器控制之介面，其進行	receiving a clocking signal used to enable request signals including a first request signal from the first node, the clocking signal provided from the first communication controller; 接收從第一個通訊控制台傳送之時序訊號，讓第一個節點可以產生需求訊號
transmit a random access request signal in a first slot, the random access request signal including information that allows determination that the first node requires an allocation of resources to transmit a reserve access request signal; receive a first grant signal subsequent to transmission of the random access request signal, said first grant signal including information relating to an allocation of a second slot to the first node for transmitting the reserve access request signal for transmitting first data packets containing a message; 以第一個槽傳送隨機存取之需求訊號，其中包括判定第一個節點要求配置資源傳送保留存取要求訊號之資訊；在傳送後接收第一個准予傳送訊號，該第一個准予傳送訊號包括配置第二個槽給第一個節點來傳送為傳送第一個訊息封包資料之保留存取需求訊號的相關資訊	when the first node has a communication message to transmit, and upon receipt of the clocking signal, transmitting the first request signal from the first node to the first communication controller (Fig. 6 – STEP 214); and receiving an authorization signal at the first node from the first communication controller (Fig. 6 – STEP 136); upon receipt of the authorization signal, transmitting the communication message from the first node subsequent to receiving said authorization signal to the first communication controller (Fig. 6 – STEP 220); 當第一個節點有通訊訊息要傳送，在接收時序訊號後，從第一個節點傳送第一個需求訊號到第一個通訊控制台；在第一個節點接受來自第一個通訊控制台的授權訊號；在接收授權訊號後，從第一個節點傳送通訊訊息到第一個通訊控制台
transmit the reserve access request signal in the second slot in response to the first grant signal; receive a second grant signal subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said second grant signal including information relating to an allocation of additional resources for transmitting the first data packets; 以第二個槽傳送保留存取需求訊號來回應第一個准予傳送訊號；在傳送後接收第二個准予傳送訊號，該第二個准予傳送訊號包括配置額外資源傳送第一個資料封包的資訊	wherein each of the first request signal, the authorization signal, the communication message, and the clocking signal are transmitted on differing frequencies, and wherein the clocking signal further enables a second request signal to be transmitted to the first communication controller by a second node, and wherein the second request signal can be provided simultaneous with transmission of the communication message (Fig. 6 – STEP 140). 個別需求訊號、授權訊號、通訊訊息與時序訊號是不同頻率傳送，且時序訊號可促成第二個節點傳送需求訊號給第一個通訊控制台，而該第二個需求訊號之產生可以與通訊訊息之傳送同時進行
and transmit the first data packets in response to the second grant signal, wherein the first data packets can be transmitted during transmission of a request signal by a second node into a third slot assigned to the second node. 傳送第一個資料封包來回應第二個准予傳送訊號，且第一個資料封包可以在第二個節點傳送需求訊號至配置給第二個節點之第三個槽時被傳送
US 7,792,492 請求項1
1. A method of operating a data communication system, the data communication system including at least a first communication controller and at least a first node, the method comprising: 包含至少一個通訊控制台語至少第一個節點之資料通訊系統的運作方法，其步驟為
transmitting a random access connection request signal from the first node to the first communication controller in a first slot indicating that the first node can receive messages transmitted from the first communication controller (Fig. 6 – STEP 214); receiving a connection request response signal from the first communication controller transmitted to the first node in response to the random access connection request signal, said connection request response signal providing information indicating that the first node can transmit a reserve access request signal in a second slot in order to subsequently transmit a message to the first communication controller; receive an aligning signal which enables the first node to transmit the reserve access request signal; 以第一個槽從第一個節點傳送隨機存取連接需求訊號至第一個通訊控制台，指示第一個節點可以接收第一個通訊控制台所傳來之訊息；接收來自通訊控制台之回應訊號，其提供資訊指示第一個節點可以以第二個槽傳送保留需求訊號已進行後續訊息傳送；接送一配置訊號讓第一個節點傳送保留存取需求訊號
transmitting the reserve access request signal in the first slot in response to the connection request response signal from the first communication controller; receiving a grant signal from the first communication controller subsequent to transmission of the reserve access request signal, said grant signal including information indicating resources have been allocated for transmission of message data packets to the first communication controller(Fig. 6 – STEP 136); 以第一個槽傳送保留存取需求訊號來回應來自通訊控制台之連接需求回應訊號；傳送後接受來自通訊控制台的准予訊號，其包括配置資源來傳送訊息資料封包到通訊控制台的資料
transmitting the message data packets from the first node in response to the grant signal (Fig. 6 – STEP 220); wherein the message data packets comprise multiple data packets, wherein at least one the message data packets contain information related to a count value, wherein the final data packet from the multiple data packets contains terminal indication information indicating that termination of the message data packets has occurred; wherein a subsequent reserve access request signal from a second node provided in a third slot assigned to the second node can be transmitted during transmission of the message data packets by the first node; 回應准予訊號從第一個節點傳送訊息資料封包，其包括指示複數資料封包之傳送目的地的資訊；而第二個節點以第三個槽傳送保留存取需求訊號之動作可以在第一個節點傳送訊息資料封包時同時進行
and wherein the aligning signal is received on first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the grant signal is received on a third frequency and the message data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal 各個訊號傳送以不同頻率來進行	and wherein the aligning signal is received on first frequency, the reserve access request signal is transmitted on a second frequency, the grant signal is received on a third frequency and the message data packets are transmitted on a fourth frequency, wherein the first frequency, the second frequency, the third frequency and the fourth frequency are differing frequencies, wherein the aligning signal is distinct from the first grant signal 各個訊號傳送以不同頻率來進行

Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心—科技產業資訊室整理，2012/05

表二、專利訴訟案件基本資料
GPNE Corp. 控告 Amazon 、 Apple 、 Nokia 等

訴訟名稱	GPNE Corp. v. Amazon.com, Inc.	GPNE  Corp. v. Apple  Inc.	GPNE  Corp. v. Barnes & Noble, Inc	GPNE  Corp. v. Nokia Corporation et. al.	GPNE  Corp. v. Pantech Co., Ltd. et. al.	GPNE  Corp. v. Research In Motion Ltd. et. al.	GPNE  Corp. v. Sharp Corporation et. al.	GPNE  Corp. v. Sony Ericsson Mobile Commications (USA), Inc.
提告日期	2011 年 7 月 1 日	2012年5月10日	2012年5月10日	2012年5月10日	2012年5月10日	2012年5月10日	2012年5月10日	2012年5月10日
原告	GPNE  Corp.	GPNE  Corp.	GPNE  Corp.	GPNE  Corp.	GPNE  Corp.	GPNE  Corp.	GPNE  Corp.	GPNE  Corp.
被告	Amazon.com, Inc.	Apple  Inc.	Barnes & Noble, Inc.	Nokia Corporation ; Nokia, Inc.	Pantech Co., Ltd.; Pantech Wireless, Inc.	Research In Motion Ltd. ; Research In Motion Corporation	Sharp Corporation ; Sharp Electronics Corporation	Sony Ericsson Mobile Commications (USA), Inc.
案號	1:11-cv-00426-JMS-RLP	1:12-cv-00248-SOM-RLP	1:12-cv-00249-SOM-RLP	1:12-cv-00250-SOM-RLP	1:12-cv-00251-SOM-RLP	1:12-cv-00252-SOM-RLP	1:12-cv-00253-SOM-RLP	1:12-cv-00254-SOM-RLP
訴訟法院	U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii	U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii	U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii	U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii	U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii	U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii	U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii	U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii
系爭專利	US 7,555,267 US 7,570,954 US 7,792,492	US 7,555,267 US 7,570,954 US 7,792,492	US 7,555,267 US 7,570,954 US 7,792,492	US 7,555,267 US 7,570,954 US 7,792,492	US 7,555,267 US 7,570,954 US 7,792,492	US 7,555,267 US 7,570,954 US 7,792,492	US 7,555,267 US 7,570,954 US 7,792,492	US 7,555,267 US 7,570,954 US 7,792,492
訴狀下載

Source: 科技政策研究與資訊中心 — 科技產業資訊室整理， 2012/05