Homework 8: Patent Liability Analysis
Introduction
The purpose of this project is to design an automated robotic waitress that is capable of traveling through given set points in order to serve food to various tables in a restaurant. Proximity sensors as well as tilt sensors will be used to detect any objects blocking the path or to indicate that the waitress as been tipped over. Another sensor on the tray will check if the tray has been emptied and is ready to go back to the control center. It will communicate wirelessly through a RF interface to a control center to acquire an instruction set with a given path to travel, signal alerts, and also send its current status. By counting the number of rotations of the motor, a reasonable estimate of the robotic waitress’ position can be calculated. With such information, the control center has the ability to re-route the path of the robotic waitress through an algorithm if needed. An intuitive user interface will be provided on the control center computer. Such software will allow the user to check on the current status and position of the robot, load and re-load a new map for the restaurant, and also call the robotic waitress back to the control center at any point in time.
Results of Patent Search
After searching the database on the [1] US Patent and Trademark Office website, several patents which might be infringed by individual portions of our project were found.
Patent #6,597,143 Mobile robot system using RF module
This patent is assigned to [2] Samsung Electronics. In this patent, a mobile robot system includes a RF module that is under the control of a controlling computer is described. The mobile robot system includes a running device for moving the mobile robot about a room, an obstacle detecting device for detecting the presence of an obstacle in the mobile robot's path, a location recognizing device and transceivers for transmitting and receiving a signal to control the various devices.
Patent #6,667,592 Mapped robot system
This patent is assigned to Intellibot LLC. This patent describes a method of utilizing a robot system is provided comprising the steps of commanding the robot system to perform a function in an area. The method further includes accessing by the robot system a stored map of the area layout, the stored map having at least one function task associated with the at least one area segment.
Patent #6,543,983 Robotic pick up and deliver system
This patent is assigned to [3] University of Virginia Patent Foundation. In this patent, a pick up and delivery system for use with mobile robots which have a body with a horizontal upper surface is described. The system further uses multiple stations, each of which contain at least one pallet retaining surface to contain at least two pallets. The mobile robot picks up a pallet from a first station, and delivers the pallet to a second station.
Patent #6,760,647 Socially interactive autonomous robot
This patent is assigned to Axxon Robotics, LLC. In this patent, a robot that is capable of substantially autonomous movement includes a processing device, a memory, and a mobility structure is described. The processor directs the robot to move with any predetermined safe area having a boundary and a reference point. The robot also exhibits features of social interactivity by accepting an input from a human.
Analysis of Patent Liability
Literal Infringement
No literal infringement exists.
Infringement under Doctrine of Equivalents
Patent #6,597,143 Mobile robot system using RF module
The description of this patent is very similar to Robotic Waitress. Both systems include a control center that can communicate with the robot via a RF module, mobile robot that can move and an obstacle detecting device for detecting the presence of an obstacle in the robot's path. However, Robotic Waitress determines its position by counting the number of rotations of the motor instead of a location recognizing device described by this patent.
Also, this patent compromises a connecting means for connecting the controlling computer to the Internet so that the robot can be remotely controlled via the Internet. We do not infringe this patent under doctrine of equivalents as our Robot does not perform the same function.
Patent #6,667,592 Mapped robot system
Robotic Waitress performs similar function as the description of this patent. Both systems contain information of the destinations so the robot can navigate to the designated area. However the form we store the information is different. As described in this patent, information is stored as an area layout map format and the stored map is edited by the robot system upon the detection of an obstacle in the function path. Robotic Waitress just stores the coordinates of the destinations and nothing will be updated upon detection of an obstacle. Further more, no specific function task is associated with each designated area in our design. Hence, infringement under the doctrine of equivalents does not exist for this patent.
Patent #6,543,983 Robotic pick up and deliver system
This patent describes a pick up and delivery system for use with mobile robots having a body with a horizontal upper surface, which is similar to the tray mounted on Robotic Waitress. However, this patent also describes the use of multiple stations which contain at least one pallet retaining surface to contain at least two pallets. In our design, we do not have any physical station. Neither pallet nor retaining surface is used. Since we do not perform exactly the same function, we do not infringe this patent under doctrine of equivalents.
Patent #6,760,647 Socially interactive autonomous robot
Our design is similar to this patent in the way that both systems include a processing device, a memory, and a mobility structure. However, this patent describes a method such that the sensors are used to measure human condition. In Robotic Waitress, sensors are used to monitor the status of the robot and to detect obstacles. Hence we do not infringe this patent under the doctrine of equivalents as we perform substantially different functions.
Action Recommended
Since our design, Robotic Waitress, do not infringe any patent, no action is needed to be taken. It is worth noticing that the patent of “delivering food by a robot in a restaurant” and “robotic waiter” has not been assigned. If we plan to apply for this patent, a more extensive search of prior art should be performed. In addition, a patent lawyer should be hired to have a protracted negotiation with the assigned patent officer.
References
1. United States Patent and Trademark Office
[http://www.uspto.gov]
2. Samsung Electronics
[http://www.samsung.com]
3. University of Virginia Patent Foundation
[http://www.uvapf.org]