Nokia patents touch-tastic NFC operator leapfrog A US patent from Nokia shows how a handset manufacturer can make money from NFC, without being forced into a relationship with the banks or even the network operators. The idea, explained in detail over at NFC World, is to forget about proximity payments and tap-to-pair networking. The suggestion is to concentrate on …
Well, this certainly seems to be a solution looking for a problem.
Surely a far simpler way (although not so lucrative to these people) is simply for someone (Google?) to setup something like tinyurl.com. Allow people to link a credit card to an account and with a phone number and address and print the 6 digit codes onto posters and such.
Enter this code into a website (which has been logged into previously), an app or send a text message and the system can bill the saved card. You can add the need to enter a simple password (like iTunes on the iPhone) to ensure it's the correct user.
Can I patent that?
Nokia filed in parallel an international application under the provisions of the PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty). A preliminary prior art search was performed by the Finnish patent office. Even though the examiner's preliminary opinion (which isn't binding on national offices) is not yet available on WIPO's web site. The search report appears to be serviceable, and appears to say "get lost".
In any case a new search for prior art will be performed by the EPO if and when this application enters the regional phase. With a bit of luck the application will be prosecuted by a division which won't let itself be bamboozled.
The Finns gave this application a "G06Q" leading international classification, i.e., a business method, this is already not a good sign (from the applicant's perspective), as this will in all probability determine that the file will in be assigned to a unit specialized in business methods, where patents are less frequently granted than elsewhere.
WIPO: http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2010097509&IA=FI2010050125&DISPLAY=DOCS
EPO: http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=WO&NR=2010097509A1&KC=A1&FT=D&date=20100902&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP
BTW, looking at the cited documents I can see that Nokia aren't the only ones going after that NFC stuff.
Glued to your ear, of course. Lest you're accidentally signing up for something again. "Let's now all nod in agreement" indeed. This is what they call "consumer friendly" these days. As in, finding more ways to easily part "the consumer" and his money. For everybody else, some simple advice: Just don't nod, hmkay?
The Register 
Biting the hand that feeds IT
Copyright. All rights reserved © 1998–2024
