Microsoft Patents Ad-Hoc Wi-Fi Media Players

While the patent title specifically refers to portable media players, the patent itself references "wireless devices" in general, while noting that the "invention" is "not limited to such devices".

Ad-hoc W-Fi networks are particularly useful to establish short-range connections to other wireless devices that are connected to the same access point and use the same SSID and channel number. Microsoft's patent was filed in November 2010 and was quite obviously targeted for use in its Zune media players, which were retired in early 2011. The patent claim could be easily extended to smartphones as well as tablets.

From the patent: "According to a first aspect of the invention, a method to operate a wireless device in an ad hoc network is provided. The method comprises: transmitting and receiving discovery information by the wireless device during a discovery window of a periodic discovery interval; and operating the wireless device in a power save mode during an inactive portion of the periodic discovery interval."

It may be difficult, however, it may be nearly impossible for Microsoft to enforce the patent due to the existence of prior art and the rather general description of wireless devices in the patent.

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  • igot1forya
    When I look at that mind-map/graphic I thought of an engineer at Microsoft sitting at his desk:

    Engineer: "OK, I opened Visio... now, let me make 3 boxes... ooooh how symmetrical of you... ummmm draw dome funny lines linking them."

    Manager: "Have you invented anything yet?"

    Engineer: "Ah, yeah... this is a patent for something, I, ah, invented"

    Manager: "Great! What is it?"

    Engineer: "Wa.. Wireless! Yes, it's for wireless!"
    Reply
  • ses27
    OCPL did this in 2007 with there laptop

    Here we go again, another patent on old tech with little twist. (and i do mean little)

    How is this helping innovation.
    Reply
  • izajasz
    American patent law is great. Antoher old tech pateneted by a big company to troll others. Apple is the king of those ofc .
    Reply
  • pharoahhalfdead
    "It may be difficult, however, it may be nearly impossible for Microsoft to enforce the patent due to the existence of prior art..."

    Apple patented prior art, but then again, some might well argue a favoritism towards Apple and against opponents.
    Reply
  • damianrobertjones
    Before all tech sites went 'patent news' mad hardly any tech reader would care about what patents went where until, of course, the post counts increased. Now we have to read about all the wonderful patent information. yay
    Reply
  • myromance123
    When they use vague terms like "portable media players" and then say its not limited to just those devices, they are practically giving themselves a 360 view for targeting potential suing victims.

    Why do they allow such vague detailing in patents? I can understand wanting to give the company's idea the freedom to grow, but at the cost of destroying every other tech on that plane due to the defined similarities is not for the greater good. It's like choosing the greater evil over the lesser.
    Reply
  • audioee
    Wasn't this the point of Zigbee?

    The article says Wi-Fi, are they using 802.11?

    Reply
  • the3dsgeek
    patent everything, so apple doesn't sue you for it later.
    Reply
  • jaksun5
    pharoahhalfdead"It may be difficult, however, it may be nearly impossible for Microsoft to enforce the patent due to the existence of prior art..."Apple patented prior art, but then again, some might well argue a favoritism towards Apple and against opponents.
    Some would argue that the US has a favoritism towards American companies when going against overseas companies
    Reply
  • L0tus
    It must be the best job in the world: simply sitting on your ass then dreaming & digging up random tech to patent. You don't even have to develop a product. All you need is Visio, a functioning brain and some lawyers. Where do I sign up?
    Reply