Patents seem to be increasingly newsworthy items of late, huh? You have probably already read about Jingle Networks‘ announcement of a patent award - the lead abstract description is copied below:
The current invention is a system for providing telephone directory assistance service in which a telephone user calls to the system and the system will, based on the requested number or type of service, hear a recorded advertisement. The advertisements are selected from a databank according to selection criteria, which may include any number of advertisements. After the advertising announcement is completed, the directory assistance call is processed as usual. The selection criteria can include the use of SIC codes.
The industry reaction I’ve witnessed seems to be fairly consistent - with a patent filing date of May 31, 2002 how can something this general purpose not have “prior art”? (more…)
