Earlier quoted context omitted.
The patent system is so broken.
Yes, so broken that the original inventors of a product class had to spend $50 million on litigation in not even a court, but rather a quasi court in DC after a trillion dollar company stole their IP, because it's the last place where patent holders in the US get a reasonably fair shake.
The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
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Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#22If you can, let me know where I can sign up for free Sonos products for astroturfing too.
Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#23Edit: Surprised I'm getting downvoted for this. All the patents listed are things multi-zone and room correcting systems already do. Look at technology built by Dirac or Audyssey for latency-correcting multiple clock domains; they already do it. Audyssey, Dirac, and Sonos all started around the same time, around 20 years ago, and all base their technology on the companies and engineers who came before them, and Audyssey and Dirac have solutions that are lightyears ahead of Sonos.
How does Sonos have valid patents here when its identical to what two better companies have done at the same time, or worse, what companies before them have already done? Something does not sound right here.
Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#24As far as I can tell, these are the patents mentioned in the document: Method and apparatus for adjusting volume levels in a multi-zone system - https://patents.google.com/patent/US8588949B2/en System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices - https://patents.google.com/patent/US9195258B2/en Multi-channel pairing in a media system - https://pat…
> System and method for synchronizing operations among a plurality of independently clocked digital data processing devices - https://patents.google.com/patent/US9195258B2/en This one in particular seems way too broad. So... they have a patent on the concept of deducting latency from a message to synchronize clocks? (and then sending data with a timestamp for when it will play?)
Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#25Patents are horrible. Can you really look me in the face and tell me that controlling the volume of speakers independently of each other is some kind of special idea - not even a concrete product, but so innovative that the very concept deserves an exclusive license and millions in damages from those that dare implement a common-sense UX control? If you can, let me know where I can sign up for free Sonos products for…
Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#26Patents are horrible. Can you really look me in the face and tell me that controlling the volume of speakers independently of each other is some kind of special idea - not even a concrete product, but so innovative that the very concept deserves an exclusive license and millions in damages from those that dare implement a common-sense UX control? If you can, let me know where I can sign up for free Sonos products for…
Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#27Adjusting Spotify cast on the Google Home used to be so easy...
https://www.androidpolice.com/google-had-to-remove-cast-volu...
Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#28Patents are horrible. Can you really look me in the face and tell me that controlling the volume of speakers independently of each other is some kind of special idea - not even a concrete product, but so innovative that the very concept deserves an exclusive license and millions in damages from those that dare implement a common-sense UX control? If you can, let me know where I can sign up for free Sonos products for…
Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#29Patents are horrible. Can you really look me in the face and tell me that controlling the volume of speakers independently of each other is some kind of special idea - not even a concrete product, but so innovative that the very concept deserves an exclusive license and millions in damages from those that dare implement a common-sense UX control? If you can, let me know where I can sign up for free Sonos products for…
Ignoring the HN-pleasing "Patents are horrible" (to which I agree btw), the patents are very specifically about the opposite of independent volume control: They are about setting up groups of speakers which can be controlled together.
The volume knob on your stereo from 1960 controls both the left and right speaker volume, at the same time. Woah.
Re: The ITC declares Google infringed on audio tech patents held by Sonos [pdf]
#30Patents are horrible. Can you really look me in the face and tell me that controlling the volume of speakers independently of each other is some kind of special idea - not even a concrete product, but so innovative that the very concept deserves an exclusive license and millions in damages from those that dare implement a common-sense UX control? If you can, let me know where I can sign up for free Sonos products for…