Networking methods and systems

• US 8,407,061 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ParkerVision, Inc.
• Inventors: Sorrells, David F.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEIKH, ASFAND M
• Application Number:
  US12/118,111
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270170A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,782 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

A network system includes integrated radio transceivers and digitizers, integrated baseband processors and device controllers, digital interfaces there between, and architectures and partitions for same. Licensing methodologies are provided for implementing the features described herein, and for other products and services.

Claims

1. A method for licensing a secondary technology in order to facilitate adoption of a primary technology, the method comprising:

coupling a secondary technology having a first interface configured to communicate with

a second interface, the second interface coupled to at least one of the primary technology or a third-party technology, wherein the first interface is a digital interface having an associated microprocessor;

enabling access, using the microprocessor associated with the first digital interface, to the secondary technology according to a license;

providing the license to a licensee for the secondary technology; and

the primary technology and the third-party technology each comprise the second interface, and establishing terms for the license, comprising;

a second license term, if the licensee couples the primary technology to the secondary technology;

a third license term, if the licensee couples a third-party technology to the secondary technology; and

a fourth license term, if the licensee enables coupling of the third-party technology or the primary technology to the secondary technology, and the licensee does not couple the third-party technology or the primary technology to the secondary technology;

wherein the primary technology comprises one of either a wireless transmitter technology and a wireless receiver technology;

wherein the secondary and third-party technologies each comprise a baseband technology; and

wherein the third-party technology comprises one of either a wireless transmitter technology, a wireless receiver technology and a baseband technology.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second, third, and fourth license terms are structured to encourage the licensee to couple the primary technology to the secondary technology.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the primary technology and the second technology is licensed from a licensor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

enforcing the terms of the license.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the enforcing comprises:

receiving a fee under the terms of the license.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second license term comprises a second fee, the third license term comprises a third fee, and the fourth license term comprises a fourth fee.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the second fee, the third fee, or the fourth fee is due under the license for each sale of a product comprising the secondary technology.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein one of the second fee, the third fee, or the fourth fee is due under the license for each manufactured product comprising the secondary technology.

9. A system for facilitating adoption by a licensee of a primary technology circuitry, comprising:

a secondary technology circuitry having a first interface configured to communicate with a second interface, wherein the second interface is coupled to at least one of a primary technology or a third-party technology;

a processor that enables access to the secondary technology circuitry according to a license;

the primary technology circuitry and the third-party technology each comprise the second interface, and wherein the licensee is bound by the license for the secondary technology circuitry, the license comprising;

a second license term, if the licensee couples the primary technology circuitry to the secondary technology circuitry;

a third license term, if the licensee couples a third-party technology to the secondary technology circuitry; and

a fourth license term, if the licensee enables coupling of the third-party technology or the primary technology circuitry to the secondary technology circuitry, and the licensee does not couple the third-party technology or the primary technology circuitry to the secondary technology circuitry;

wherein the primary technology comprises one of either a wireless transmitter technology and a wireless receiver technology;

wherein the secondary and third-party technologies each comprise a baseband technology; and

wherein the third-party technology comprises one of either a wireless transmitter technology, a wireless receiver technology and a baseband technology.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

the primary technology circuitry coupled to the secondary technology circuitry.

11. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

the third-party technology coupled to the secondary technology circuitry.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the secondary technology circuitry is enabled to couple with the third-party technology or the primary technology circuitry.