TiVo fired back at rival Sonicblue, filing patent infringement suit alleging latter’s ReplayTV personal video recorder (PVR) violated broad patent it received last May. TiVo, which filed patent application in 1998, was granted coverage for method for simultaneous playback and recording of TV programs. Patent had 56 claims with others relating to methods of processing various multimedia streams such as audio and video at low cost and storage format that allows user to pause and scan through live TV broadcast. TiVo filed suit in U.S. Dist. Court, San Francisco, in Jan.
TiVo fired back at rival Sonicblue, filing patent infringement suit alleging latter’s ReplayTV personal video recorder (PVR) violated broad patent it received last May. TiVo, which filed patent application in 1998, was granted coverage for method for simultaneous playback and recording of TV programs. Patent had 56 claims, with others relating to methods of processing various multimedia streams such as audio and video at low cost and storage format that allows user to pause and scan through live TV broadcast. TiVo filed suit in U.S. Dist. Court, San Francisco, in Jan.
ESS Technology said it would offer encoder chip for MPEG audio and video in 2nd quarter. Company said chip was intended for digital set-top boxes, DVD players and digital video recorders and enables set-tops to delay, pause, record and search live video broadcasts. Chip supports hard disc drive and optical media-based applications, ESS said.
Ill. became 2nd Ameritech state to suspend operation support system (OSS) testing because test administrator KPMG Consulting complained it lacked confidence in validity of Ameritech’s raw input data on OSS performance. Ill. Commerce Commission (ICC) “paused” Ameritech test until Jan. 3 so agency could look into situation. Pause was in response to KPMG project managers’ complaints to ICC earlier this month that Ameritech was making “inadequate” efforts to provide accurate data on how well its systems were handling CLEC service orders.
SonicBlue escalated battle with rival TiVo Wed., saying it would file suit for patent infringement in U.S. Dist. Court, San Francisco. CEO Kenneth Potashner said it was “no longer acceptable” for TiVo “not to enter some kind of relationship with us.” He said companies had been discussing possible licensing agreement for 3 months and SonicBlue, which purchased ReplayTV earlier this year, gave rival “one last chance in good faith to negotiate with us.”
TiVo said it received patent for technology that controls streaming media in digital device and connects devices to home network. TrickPlay patent covers functions that allow subscribers to pause live TV as well as rewind and fast forward and provides for storing, editing and manipulation of video, company said. Home Networking patent covers technology to ease use of its current product and service to digital entertainment that can be enjoyed throughout home, TiVo said.
TiVo has been granted additional U.S. patents for its PVR technology and service, San Jose company said. One patent covers functions of digital recording devices while 2nd applies to networking of multiple streaming media devices in home. TiVo said TrickPlay patent (6,327,418) describes method of controlling streaming media in digital device, such as ability to pause live TV and perform other disc transport functions. Storing, editing and manipulating video also are among 64 claims in patent. Company earlier this year received patent (6,233,389) for Time Warp technology that enables simultaneous recording and playback. Other new patent (6,310,886) is for home networking that permits TiVo PVR and other streaming media devices to be linked in home - - application that TiVo said will proliferate in future.
SonicBlue said it was in negotiations with rival TiVo on possible licensing agreement for patent it received last week for portion of personal video recorder (PVR) technology.
FCC Comr. Martin said Tues. he was wary of instituting new regulations on Internet but indicated willingness to lift rules to achieve regulatory parity between cable and other kinds of companies that provided Internet or information services. He told reporters Commission should act soon on Notice of Inquiry pending more than year on how to define Internet delivered over cable. Question whether it’s telecom service, cable service, information service or some other kind of service has regulatory implications no matter which way it is decided, he said. Bankruptcy judge allowed Excite@Home to turn off its Internet network, leaving thousands of AT&T Broadband customers without service (CD Dec 4 p1, Dec 3 p4). Because Internet provided via cable has yet to be defined, FCC has no regulatory role now, raising criticisms from consumer advocates. Internet service provided by telcos over phone lines is regulated, which angers telco executives. Martin pointed to DSL provider Rhythms, which went out of business earlier this year and had to ask FCC for permission to discontinue service. In such case, Commission could provide transition period for consumers.
Competition for PVR maker TiVo in U.K. is about to come from party that warmly endorsed set-top PVR and service just last year. New opponent is News Corp.’s BSkyB satellite service, which has introduced rival Sky+ set-box made by Pace. Besides challenge from Sky, TiVo is facing other difficulties in U.K. market owing to unreliable nature of British programming schedules -- upon which its timer-recording function depends to acquire telecasts and store them on hard disc.