Month: January 2009

Microsoft Patent Allows Smart Phones To Dock

Inventor: Microsoft
Invention: Smart Phone Docking Technology

Microsoft has patented smart phone docking technology. This will allow smart phones to connect to network peripherals like personal computers. The technology will use a USB port for doing so. A lot of devices can be connected using this technology, including cameras, printers, speakers, storage devices and television screens.

Patent Abstract :

“A universal smart interface and peripheral management system for portable devices such as mobile phones. The smart system includes a connector interface that connects peripherals to a phone and/or personal digital assistant (PDA), through the smart system. The smart system includes a cradle for receiving a cell phone and interfacing the phone to external systems such as peripherals, networks and other systems through a USB hub and other suitable connector interfaces. The peripheral devices to which the smart system can interface include, but are not limited to, large displays (e.g., television), external monitors, input devices such as mice and keyboards, external storage devices, and networks (wired and/or wireless). The smart system also facilitates connectivity to large display systems such as TVs, computer displays and monitors. ”

Here is the link to the patent application: patent application for smart phone docking technology

Inventors should not be greedy

As an inventor, you will face a lot of obstacles while building a prototype of your great idea. A prototype is a good first step. But if you are unable to sell your idea/invention, it will count for nothing. If you do not sell or license the invention, you will end up with a useless patent in your hand, and thousands of dollars spent for nothing.

Inventors, by their very nature, are great thinkers. Some of them, are great doers also. They create a prototype and file for a patent. But, even the doers are very bad negotiators, most of the time. What is the reason for this? Every inventor has a very distorted picture about ownership and profit sharing. Their thought process is, “I created this after so much of thinking and effort, so I deserve the lion’s share of profits”.

Unfortunately, it does not work that way. Think about the manufacturer – he is the one who is taking all the risk with your idea. Even if your idea is great, the final product could fail for a number of reasons, including the economy, market conditions, better product from competitor entering the market, etc. There is a lot of risk in deciding to manufacture a product that has not proven itself in the market.

If the profit margins are big enough, most of the manufacturers will be happy to pay you a reasonable amount of royalty. But if you ask for too much, there may not be enough margins left for the manufacturer to make a profit. The risk to reward ratio will be too high, from their perspective. So, they will just walk out. And you will be left with a great idea, and no product – in other words, 100% of nothing!

So, never be greedy while negotiating with manufacturers – especially if you are a first time inventor.