Patent Landscape Analysis Report on:

Biometric Authentication using Ultrasound Technology

We are glad to share with a comprehensive Patent Landscape Analysis for patent activities in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound technology during the period of 1993 to till date.This landscape is based on published patent applications and granted patents in US jurisdiction and mainly focuses on theparameters, such as:Patent application publication trend (year wise), patenting activities of key players, patent filing trend,technologyanalysis etc.

In this emerging era of e-commerce, secure online transactions play a vital role. Though online transaction is a convenient option, yet it is prone to hacking, leading to frauds and related crimes. Thepasswords and PINs,commonly used for online banking,have become absolutely inadequate to protect security of user or consumer. Apart from this, in all spheres of life, especially in any public place or corporate world, security issues are increasing and there is always risk of an unauthorized person entering into restricted areas with an intention of theft, terrorist attack etc.In order to overcome such problems,biometric systems are often deployed at such places to ensure data security to the internet users. It also assists in authentication of an individual on basis of physical, physiological or behavioural characteristics.

There are several systems and products in the market that relate to biometric authentication and their demandis growing exponentially. With increasing demand, innovation and number of patents in this domain are also increasing. Patent has

an effective tool not just to protect such innovations but also to strengthen core technologies.Biometric is considered to be the most suitable authentication system for security as every individual is unique and hence identification of specific traits is a reliable way of authentication. As the specific traits cannot be borrowed, stolen or forgotten, counterfeiting is practically impossible, that makes biometric authentication an extremely effective technology for authentication of individual. Biometric characteristicsmay be physical, physiological or behavioural. Physiological characteristics relate to physiological parameters of body, such as, fingerprints, geometry of hand, finger or palm, retina, iris, and any of the facial features. Behavioural characteristics include parameters such as, signature, voice and keystroke pattern etc.

Biometric scanners, such as optical, capacitance, direct pressure, thermal, ultra sound are employed to carry out the process of authentication. However, ultrasound scanner is gaining popularity today for being highly accurate and moreover it is insulated from the effects of dirt, paint, ink and other image contaminants.

Below are some of the analyses with respective graphical representation.

1) PATENT APPLICATION PUBLICATION TREND

Fig 1: Patent Application Publication Trend

An analysis of patent applications that are published in the field of ultrasound based biometric authentication revealed that in the last five years, the number of patent applications published has increased drastically. Year 2013 has been a remarkable year with maximum number of published patent application.

2) PATENTING ACTIVITIES OF KEY PLAYERS

Fig 2: Patenting Activities of Key Players

An analysis for the patents granted in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound technology revealed that ELWHA, a US-based firm, holds the highest number of patents in this field. Among the key players, ELWHA has been assigned with almost 22% of total number of patents in this technology.

3) PATENT FILING TREND

Fig 3: Patent Filing Trend

The chart represents the patent filing trend in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound technology in the US jurisdiction till date

4) RECENT TREND IN TECHNOLOGY

Fig 5: Recent Trend in Technology

A technology analysis of the patents/patent applications filed in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound during last five years revealed that number of patent under the IPC G06F (ELECTRICAL DIGITAL …) is increasing every year.

CONCLUSION

Hence, the landscape analysis carried out to identify the patenting activities in US in the field of biometric authentication using ultrasound technology clearly shows two things, firstly,  that  ultrasound based biometric authentication is becoming the most sought after authentication technology among various sectors like communication (AT&T), banking (AMERICAN EXPRESS and BANK OF AMERICA) and identification (APPLE, NEXTGENID) etc. and secondly although biometric authentication is not the primary sector of business for billion dollar companies like APPLE, IBM etc., according to this landscape study, these companies are showing significant interest in this field. This is evident by the fact that these companies hold more patent in this field than the companies’ whose main area of business is biometric authentication.

Please click here in order to view the detailed and more descriptive report of this Patent Landscape Analysis.

Innovative Product of the Month

ReMeDi® Tele-Medicine Solution

Neurosynaptic  Communications , a Bangalore based company, has indigenously developed a low-cost ReMeDi™ Medical Data Acquisition Unit and Software, todeliver primary health services to rural, remote populations through Telemedicine. It is always observed that access to basic healthcare is a daunting challenge in rural India. Over 70% of the country’s population lives in villages, yet 80% doctors, 75% dispensaries and 60% hospitals are in urban areas. About 70-80% private practitioners are semi- or unqualified and absentee rate at government rural clinics is ~40%. For rural population, healthcare is 1.5 times costlier. Quality healthcare is sought very late in the disease cycle, resulting in high mortality & morbidity besides huge expenses. Clearly, there is a huge demand-supply gap for the rural health services, where quality care is most needed. ReMeDi® Tele-Medicine Solution offers solution to this which can measure basic physiological parameters like patient’s ECG, Temp, BP, HR & oxygen saturation, as well as real-time transmission of heart and lung sounds through electronic stethoscope probe and provide vital information about the patient to a doctor for preliminary diagnosis. The medical device uses only 2W of power. The solution also includes video conferencing between doctors and patients which can work at a bandwidth of as low as 32 Kbps. A preliminary diagnosis of cardio-vascular problems can be carried out using stethoscope, ECG and blood pressure measurement. With images, taken using a normal web camera, doctors can provide eye care, dermatology and ENT services.

While the ReMeDi™ technology is designed to work with extremely low bandwidths by compressing video, audio and data information, this works on all kinds of Internet based connectivity. The ReMeDi™ technology is built in a way that a person with – typically a high school graduate - can operate it with minimal training. Training processes are also considered a part of technology itself. Certain benefits of the system are early detection of ailments, high quality branded healthcare, very much cost effective as per consult cost Rs 30 to 50, close proximity distance of the telemedicine  centre and nearly 75 % of walk in patients taken care of with tele-consultation.A combination of such appropriate technologies that require lower dependency on skilled personnel and bridge the access gap in rural  areas is surely a significant innovative product.

Interesting Patent

Title of the invention: Garment for identifying location on body of the garment wearer

Publication number:         US20060191053 A1

Publication type:              Application

Application number:          US 11/066,815

Publication date:              Aug 31, 2006

Filing date:                      Feb 25, 2005

Inventors:                        Francis Coppola

ABSTRACT: The present invention discloses a garment having printed thereon a figure comprising uniquely identifiable regions that when worn permit the wearer to identify for a third party a particular location on the wearer’s body.

Exclusive Interview with Mr V Rengasamy, Retd. Deputy Controller of Patents. Designs and Trademarks, Indian Patent Office

This section is an initiative by Origiin to introduce latest innovations and valuable expert opinions on protection, exploitation of Intellectual property by Intellectual Property experts to provide inspiration to the readers and also make our readers aware about the emerging technologies, products and innovations. This section also aims at bringing out the importance of patent protection and the way such innovations make difference in evolution of scientific progress in the country.

In this issue, we are extremely happy to publish interview of V Rengasamy, Retd. Deputy Controller of Patents, Designs and Trademarks.

Mr Rengaswamy examined the most talked about patent application of Novartis and raised objections based on section 3 (d) of Indian Patent Act. Though his decision was appealed at various forums including IPAB, High Court and Supreme Court, but Mr Rengaswamy’s observations & analysis on section 3 (d) was found to be valid by Supreme Court.

Mr Rengaswamy is post-graduate in Chemistry from Madurai-Kamaraj University. He started his career in 1977 at Central Drugs Laboratory, Govt. of India, Kolkata. Then he moved to National Test House, Govt. of India, Kolkata in 1982.Mr Rangaswamy joined the Indian Patent Office, Kolkata, as Examiner of Patents & Designs in 1983 and later in the year 1985 he got transferred to the Indian Patent Office, Chennai. Mr Rengaswamy has attended many seminars and training programmes such as Orientation Seminar on General Aspects of Industrial Proper at WIPO, Geneva, Switzerland; training course on Patent Examination at the Netherlands Patent Office,training course on Intellectual Property at Colombo; attended Europe Asia Patent Information Conference at Singapore;attended WIPO Regional Forum on ESTs at Colombo etc.

Below are his expert opinions on various issues of patents particularly in pharmaceutical area falling under section 3 (d) of Indian IP regime.

Origiin: Hello Sir. It is a great pleasure and honor for us to interact with you and publish your thoughts in our newsletter.

Mr Rengasamy: Thank you. I feel privileged to share my views and thoughts with your esteemed organization.

Origiin: During your tenure as Assistant Controller at Indian Patent Office, Novartis filed for patent application related to anti cancerous drug Glivec. You were the first one to reject the application on the ground of section 3 (d). Your decision was even upheld by Supreme Court on further appeal by Novartis. It was indeed a big news all over the world.  Would you like to share your experience regarding this case?

Mr Rengasamy: Surely, I would like to share my experience on this historic judgment by our Supreme Court. I had been fortunate to have handled this case right from day one. Also by chance, I happened to be the Controller for that case. Just to brief you on the case: Novartis claimed beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate salt, in their anti-cancer drug Glivec. This was a very fit case to be rejected on the ground of section 3 (d) of the Patents Act, 1970 as amended by the Patents (Amendment) Act, 2005; because they could not prove any improvement in the therapeutic efficacy of the beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate salt over the known forms of imatinibmesylate salt. Moreover, the specification itself stated that beta crystalline form of imatinib mesylate can be equally used where imatinib base is used. This proved that there was no inventive step in their invention and it is a clear case of ever-greening.

In my 35 years of career in this field, I felt so accomplished and honored, when our Supreme Court gave this historical judgment, upholding my decision.

Origiin: Do you think the perception that United States IP model is logical and needs to be changed? Recently when whole world was questioning Indian IP policy, many big players like Honeywell, Boeing and Abbot came forward and supported Indian IPR regime saying that Indian IP framework is very much adequate to protect IP with no known cases of IP violation. Is this a good sign to believe that perceived philosophy will change gradually?

Mr Rengasamy: I quite personally believe that this perceived philosophy will always change gradually.

Origiin: Indian Patent Act 2005 is in compliance with WTO’s Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) but does not comply with WTO plus, which gives protection to even incremental innovation and this has been a prime demand from global Pharma companies. Is there any likelihood of this in near future?

Mr Rengasamy: It is a policy decision that government has to take. In my personal opinion, I don’t think that there is any possibility that our government will go for WTO plus in the near future.

Origiin: Although the number of patents filed in India has been increased significantly for past 3-4, years yet we are way behind compared to China and other counter parts. Is it because of lack of innovation or lack of awareness?

Mr Rengasamy: It is both. Most of the research scholars in India are reluctant to apply for a patent even when there is a patentable innovation. This can be gauged from the fact that only a few patent applications are filed by research scholars in India whereas their strength is in thousands. The story is the same in the case of big corporate too.

Origiin: Despite India being a potential growth market, foreign companies that are controlled by US trade lobby are speculative about coming to India owing to India’s strict IP laws. Is this an unfavorable condition towards Indian economy?

Mr Rengasamy: In my personal opinion, this is partly true. India is still a developing country with huge population. Health care for every Indian is still a distant dream, unlike other developed countries. Unless our government makes health care either free or affordable for every Indian, our government may not be in a position to embrace strict IP laws. This is a huge challenge for us. I personally foresee many years to go by, before we reach this situation. Having said that, I acknowledge that we are on the right track towards free/affordable health care for every individual, as we see from the trends of various State governments offering cheap health insurance to cover every citizen.

Origiin: What would be your message to Indian innovators?

Mr Rengasamy: Every Indian innovator should come forward to protect their innovation. Different government agencies should do their best to increase awareness about intellectual property, particularly patents, among research scholars.I would also like to add that IP Offices in India in collaboration with various Industry bodies reach out to various educational institutions as well as corporate, to spread awareness and encourage protecting their IP rights.

During my tenure at Patent Office, I personally had been part of many such activities, visiting various educational institutions as well as corporate.India has immense talent and the same has to be brought out and protected through IP. This is my message to all.

Origiin: Thank you so much Sir for your valuable thoughts.

Mr Rengasamy: Thanks for the opportunity. It has been a pleasure to be part of this interview.

Innovative Product of the Month

Gecko – a product to make your smart phone much smarter

In an attempt to feature one innovative product of the month, this time, we bring to our readers a unique product called ‘Gecko’, invented by a Bangalore based innovative start-up company, Connovate Technology Private Limited, founded by Mr Bahubali Shete. The product Gecko makes your smart phone much smarter. Gecko can add all smart features to the smart phones, such as, it can secure, trigger, remind, capture, track and even find the objects in case of lost.

The product is equipped with accelerometer which enables users to connect Gecko with smartphone via low energy Bluetooth. This, in return, helps Gecko to control gesture and triggers many activities. The device is packed with a TI CC2541 SoC, removable coin cell battery along with a buzzer and LED lights for sending alert signals. Gecko along with Gecko app can make life much easier as it creates endless possibilities by enabling number of applications like, by sending you an alarm if you have missed your daily dose of medicine, or letting you know if your pet or kid tries to sneak out of the house or to catch an intruder if the door opens without the owner’s knowledge. Gecko also comes with an extension port that helps to connect with other devices and trigger actions. This is useful for controlling music on phone such as changing volume or switching track by just a flick of your hand without taking out the phone from pocket. The hand-held Gecko is great to trigger the camera to snap a picture, shoot a video or even trigger multiple photos taken at set intervals. All this you can do by simply waving the arm with Gecko in your hand and it will trigger the picture. The device comes with four available gestures, including turning it to the left and right and shaking it once or twice. The best part of Gecko is that the Gecko app tell the owner where he has left his Gecko by remembering the last location where it went out of your phone’s range in case he has lost the Gecko itself.

So, this small and handy device with all of its state of the art technologies and which makes sure that you never lose anything in real world is surely an innovative one.