Small Business IP Protection and Management

Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC)

Think your tablet computer is state of the art?  Not for long.  The latest advance in smaller, better, faster is what is known as the Ultra-Mobile PC (UMPC).  This new device takes mobile to a new level.  Microsoft Corporation has a version called Origami.

The first thing you will notice is that it does not include a traditional keyboard.  The keyboard, if you choose to use one, actually pops up on the touch screen for use. It is anticipated that the UMPC may also include

• 7-inch TFT LCD touchscreen
• 1 GHz Intel ULV Mobile Pentium M or Celeron M processor
• 1 GB SDRAM system memory
• Built-in flash storage
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Built-in GPS receiver
• SDIO/MMC expansion slot for flash and other expansion
• Windows XP with Tablet PC Edition and Media Center Edition extensions
• VoIP support
• GPS support

The UMPC is also expected to have a price of under $1,000.  With all of these features, the UMPC will be extremely attractive to any mobile professional.  For more information, see recent articles in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and The New York Times (sign-up for free account required).

Improving Business Climate in China

What has been driving the increased sourcing of goods in China?  Certainly it is a combination of factors.  Inexpensive labor has traditionally been one of the biggest reasons.  China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) also provided a catalyst.

However, technology has also played a major roll in the increase.  A critical element of any business relationship is communication.  Communication by mail, facsimile, or by telephone, which often required the use of an interpreter, hindered the business relationship.

The advent of e-mail and the Internet have facilitated better communication between U.S. companies and Chinese counterparts.  Communication can be nearly instantaneous, and computers can help in translation of messages, which further improves efficiency.  Also, on-line databases, catalogs, information, and ordering systems provide a convenient means of transferring information.

Through the use of the improved technology mentioned above, China has become more accessible to small companies.  The technology has further decreased overall costs, making an already attractive Chinese market even more attractive.

Backing up files

How do you back up your computer files?

1. Tape?
2. CD?
3. DVD?
4. Mirra personal server?
5. Dedicated server on network?
6. Internet service?
7. External hard drive?
8. Portable drives?
9. Other?

Law.com has an article in the Legal Technology area discussing these various methods including recommendations.

Anyone know how to translate Japanese to English?

Ever want to know what that Japanese patent document says, without having to pay to have the document translated?  There is a feature within the Japanese Patent Office web site that will provide you with the English translation of the entire document, free of charge.  The one caveat, precision is not guaranteed.

The patent document is translated by computer, and any words included in the drawings are not translated.  However, this is an excellent tool to provide an overview of what the patent discloses.  Translations can be used to assist a practitioner in patentability opinions and responding to Office Actions, for example.

To access the translation, the search area of the web site must be accessed.  Then, the Patent Abstracts of Japan (PAJ) area is accessed.  (Note that a plug-in may be required for your browser to obtain the English version of the web site, and/or you may have to access the search area from the main page and clicking on the Reference Room, SEARCHING IPDL which is the search area, and then PAJ).  Once in the PAJ area of the web site, key words, publication numbers, etc. can be entered to access the desired patent document.  The Abstract of the document will first be displayed.  To access the translation, the DETAIL button at the top of the Abstract page is selected.  Various sections can then be viewed and printed in English.

The accuracy of the translation is not known.  If anyone has experience in dealing with these translations and can attest to the accuracy thereof, your comments would be appreciated.

It should be noted that this service is not provided for the entire PAJ collection.

Technology

As a final note for the day, an early focus of this blog will be to explore technology and its application to IP issues.  The next several weeks will focus on how small companies, and those professionals that service these small companies, can use technology to provide better quality, efficiency, and price.