Cellport Systems

Last updated
Cellport Systems, Inc.
TypePrivate Corporation
Industry
  • Wireless communication
  • Vehicular communication systems
  • Blockchain vehicle systems
  • Crypotocurrency
FoundedBoulder, Colorado, United States (1992)
FoundersPat Kennedy, Dale Hatfield, Hiroshi Sakurai, Michael F. Braitberg, Les Hatcher, Dick Chandler, Don Hume
HeadquartersBoulder Colorado, United States
Number of locations
2 (2018)
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Pat Kennedy (Chairman and CEO), Andy Quartner (Vice Chairman), Chuck Spaur (Architect), Ralph Poplawsky (Product Development), Steve Parrish (CFO).
Products
  • Mobile device cradles
  • Internet vehicle gateways
  • Blockchain enabled gateways
Website Cellport Systems

Cellport Systems, Inc., is an American company specializing in the invention, prototype development, patenting, and licensing of wireless connectivity technologies for Internet-connected vehicles and mobile devices. Cellport also develops vehicle gateways using secure blockchain technology. Cellport licenses its technologies to vehicle and wireless device manufacturers worldwide.

Contents

History

Cellport Systems was founded in 1992 as Cellport Labs by a diverse group of entrepreneurs and inventors. In 2000 the company’s name changed to Cellport Systems. From its inception Cellport has designed innovative connectivity systems for mass adoption. [1] The first product Cellport designed and prototyped was the CellBase™ mobile docking station under contract by licensee Hello Direct in 1993. In 1994 a consortium of six cellular carriers (GTE, AT&T Wireless, PacTel (Pacific Telesis), Bell Atlantic, Ameritech, and Bell Canada) funded a Cellport research project focused on interfacing digital wireless data services to vehicle networks.

Further equity infusion from AT&T Wireless in 1995 allowed Cellport to hire design architect Chuck Spaur from the NCAR who, in 1996, led the design of the MobileWeb™ 9700 platform, a system using wireless data technology to connect vehicle internal systems as a node on the Internet. The first public showing of the Internet-connected vehicle was made with a real-time demonstration using CDPD on March 25, 1996, at Cellport’s booth at the CTIA conference in Dallas, Texas.

On April 29, 1997, Mercedes-Benz , as noted by The New York Times, [2] made a public demonstration of their WebCar™ which included Cellport’s MobileWeb platform. Other vehicle manufactures using the MobileWeb 9700 and 9720 to investigate vehicle wireless connectivity included Caterpillar, Chrysler, John Deere, Motorola, Cisco Systems, and Omron. During 2000, Cellport engineers developed a second-generation universal mobile docking station, the CP-3000™, addressing the trend of lawmakers seeking to prohibit hand-held wireless phones in cars. [3] The hands-free kit consisted of a docking station, microphone, speaker, antenna, and adapter, and could be used with nearly any mobile phone. [4] Cellport showcased its product in five General Motors vehicles on display at the 2001 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. [5] Initial customers and licensees for this product were Motorola, [6] Omron, Peiker Acustic, and Harman International. Other automotive manufactures using the CP-3000 technologies and patents included Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. In 2001, Kyoto-based Omron formed a partnership with Cellport to market an automobile anti-theft system and develop a technology to convert text messages into voice messages. [7]

At the Geneva Motor Show in 2005, Cellport announced a new security architecture which was, at that time, known as Secure Telematics Framework. In September 2015, the company rebranded as VeeZee. The architecture was designed to protect vehicles against cyber-attacks and enhance user privacy. Incorporating PKI (public key infrastructure) and federated security models, the system is said to offer improved transaction security for commerce as well as during access to vehicle resources.

By mid-2010, some 2 million Internet-connected cars arrived in auto showrooms. Annual licenses and royalties from Cellport's patent portfolio generated more than $10 million a year in revenue. [8]

In 2012 Cellport initiated the development of the context aware vehicle architecture (CAVA) project leading to the third-generation Cellport III™ universal mobile docking station. The Cellport III platform is designed to improve secure use of mobile services and applications. Cellport III it is intended to connect smartphones, tablets, and public-safety radios to vehicle resources. Initial markets for this platform are commercial fleets and public-safety vehicles. Cellport projects that the new platform will be available for licensing in 2015.

During 2016 CyberCar was created as a subsidiary of Cellport. CyberCar has designed a blockchain platform, Secure Telematics Platform (STP), for any vehicle gateway, delivering a membrane of trust.

Licensing

Although Cellport has been successful in licensing its patents and know-how, the company was unable to capitalize on product development and manufacturing. As a result, Cellport eliminated manufacturing operations and concentrated on prototype development, licensing its patent portfolios, and developing additional technology platforms. [9] Licensees for technology-transfer and patent rights include Motorola Solutions, Apple, BMW, Harman International, Samsung, Nokia, LG, Continental AG, Peiker Acustic, Cullmann, HTC, Omron and Toyota Motor Sales.

Mobile and vehicle connectivity patents

In May 2014, Cellport announced it received an additional U.S. patent; 8,719,592 B2, Secure Telematics, which complements the company’s Secure Telematics Framework portfolio and its security-product platforms.

The following patents cover mobile and vehicle connectivity technologies:

US Patents

Search the US Patent Office Database Archived 2019-04-28 at the Wayback Machine

  1. US 5,333,177—Universal Connection for Cellular Telephone Interface (Universal Mobile Phone Port)
  2. US 5,535,274— Universal Connection for Cellular Telephone Interface (Phone Adaptor Holder with Charging)
  3. US 5,822,427—Battery Charging for a Plurality of Different Cellular Telephone (Adaptor Latching System)
  4. US 6,341,218—Supporting and Connecting a Portable Phone (Dual-Processor Multi-Bus)
  5. US 6,377,825—Hands-Free Wireless Communication in a Vehicle (Dual-Processor Multi-Bus)
  6. US 5,479,479—Method and Apparatus for Transmission of and Receiving Signals Having Digital Information Using an Air Link (Vehicle Server)
  7. US 5,732,074—Mobile Portable Wireless Communication System (Vehicle Server)
  8. US 6,122,514—Communications Channel Selection (Link Select Router)
  9. US 6,430,164—Communications Involving Disparate Protocol Network/Bus Device Subsystems (Mobile Application Platform)
  10. US 6,516,192—Communications Channel Selection (Link Select Router)
  11. US 7,346,370—Enabling Interoperability Between Distributed Devices Using Different Communication Link Technologies (CP Connect) US Publication No. 2005/0245272A1 is a related publication
  12. US 7,366,892—Secure Telematics (VeeZee)
  13. US 8,719,592—Secure Telematics (VeeZee)
  14. US 8,027,293—Communication Channel Selection and Use (Link Select) US Publication No. 2009/0022095 is a related publication
  15. US 9,130,930 B2—Secure Telematics (VeeZee)

European Patents

Search the European Patent Office Database

  1. EP 1 266 456B1—Hands-Free Wireless Communications in a Vehicle (Grant) (Dual-Processor Multi-Bus)
  2. EP 1 266 456 A1 and A4 are related applications
  3. DE 60127825 D1 and T2—Wireless Hands-Free Communication in a Vehicle (Grant) (Dual-Processor Multi-Bus)
  4. DE 69432927 D1 and T2—Method and Device for Wireless Transmission of Data (Grant) (Vehicle Server)
  5. EP 0 875 111B1—Mobile Portable Wireless Communication System (Grant) (Vehicle Server)
  6. EP 0 875 111 A1 and A4 are related applications
  7. EP 1 515 496B1— Mobile Portable Wireless Communication System (Grant) (Vehicle Server)
  8. EP 1 515 496 A1 and A4 are related applications
  9. DE 69732900 D1 and T2—Mobile, Portable, Wireless Communication System (Grant) (Vehicle Server)
  10. DE 69737486 D1 and T2—Mobile, Portable, Wireless Communication System (Grant) (Vehicle Server)
  11. EP 1 590 9171B1—A System and a Method for Controlling Use by Applications of Proprietary Resources Within a Secure Telematics System in a Vehicle (Grant) (Secure Telematics Framework)
  12. EP 1 590 917 A2 and A4 are related applications
  13. EP 1 774 755B Method and Apparatus for Enabling Discovery and Use of a Service by a Client Device (Grant) (CP Connect)
  14. EP 1 744 755 A1 and A4 are related applications
  15. DE 602005024277D1 Method and Apparatus for Enabling Client Device (Grant) (CP Connect)
  16. DE 602004030534D1 System and Method for Controlling Access of Applications to Protected Resources Within a Secure Telematics System Vehicle (Secure Telematics Framework)

Litigation

Cellport filed a contract-violation suit against Peiker Acustic in 2009, claiming the German electronics producer breached a 2004 licensing contract, and sought royalties for seven Peiker products using Cellport hands-free communication systems for motor vehicles. Cellport was awarded $613,433 in damages in the first instance and prevailed in a federal appeals court hearing. [10] [11] [12] [13] On February 4, 2016, the company received a final judgement in Cellport's favor. [14] On April 19, 2016, the U.S. District Court ruled that, in the 2009 litigation v. Peiker Acustic, Cellport is entitled to legal fees.

In January 2013, Cellport filed suit in federal district court against seven smartphone makers—HTC, ZTE, Samsung, LG, Kyocera, Pantech, and Nokia. [15] Cellport settled out of court with each company to collect royalties for its technology-licensing deals.

In June 2014, Cellport filed suit against BMW of North America and Toyota Motor Sales, USA, claiming the auto makers intentionally violated two vehicle-connectivity patents that enable cars to communicate safety and functionality data back to the manufacturers and others. The case is still pending in federal court against BMW. [16]

In 2014, Toyota Motor Sales filed two sets of patent validity challenges against two of Cellport's patents. Toyota was unsuccessful in these two invalidity attempts. On April 11, 2016, the Toyota matter was resolved.

In July 2016, BMW licensed the MNT portfolio thereby resolving patent litigation.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intelligent transportation system</span> Advanced application

An intelligent transportation system (ITS) is an advanced application which aims to provide innovative services relating to different modes of transport and traffic management and enable users to be better informed and make safer, more coordinated, and 'smarter' use of transport networks.

An application server is a server that hosts applications or software that delivers a business application through a communication protocol. For a typical web application, the application server sits behind the web servers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wireless</span> Transfer of information or power that does not require the use of physical wires

Wireless communication is the transfer of information (telecommunication) between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided medium for the transfer. The most common wireless technologies use radio waves. With radio waves, intended distances can be short, such as a few meters for Bluetooth or as far as millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications. It encompasses various types of fixed, mobile, and portable applications, including two-way radios, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and wireless networking. Other examples of applications of radio wireless technology include GPS units, garage door openers, wireless computer mouse, keyboards and headsets, headphones, radio receivers, satellite television, broadcast television and cordless telephones. Somewhat less common methods of achieving wireless communications involve other electromagnetic phenomena, such as light and magnetic or electric fields, or the use of sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mobile computing</span> Human–computer interaction in which a computer is expected to be transported during normal usage

Mobile computing is human–computer interaction in which a computer is expected to be transported during normal usage and allow for transmission of data, which can include voice and video transmissions. Mobile computing involves mobile communication, mobile hardware, and mobile software. Communication issues include ad hoc networks and infrastructure networks as well as communication properties, protocols, data formats, and concrete technologies. Hardware includes mobile devices or device components. Mobile software deals with the characteristics and requirements of mobile applications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telematics</span> Interdisciplinary field that encompasses telecommunications

Telematics is an interdisciplinary field encompassing telecommunications, vehicular technologies, electrical engineering, and computer science. Telematics can involve any of the following:

Usage-based insurance (UBI), also known as pay as you drive (PAYD), pay how you drive (PHYD) and mile-based auto insurance, is a type of vehicle insurance whereby the costs are dependent upon type of vehicle used, measured against time, distance, behavior and place.

Machine to machine (M2M) is direct communication between devices using any communications channel, including wired and wireless. Machine to machine communication can include industrial instrumentation, enabling a sensor or meter to communicate the information it records to application software that can use it. Such communication was originally accomplished by having a remote network of machines relay information back to a central hub for analysis, which would then be rerouted into a system like a personal computer.

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) are created by applying the principles of mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) – the spontaneous creation of a wireless network of mobile devices – to the domain of vehicles. VANETs were first mentioned and introduced in 2001 under "car-to-car ad-hoc mobile communication and networking" applications, where networks can be formed and information can be relayed among cars. It was shown that vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-roadside communications architectures will co-exist in VANETs to provide road safety, navigation, and other roadside services. VANETs are a key part of the intelligent transportation systems (ITS) framework. Sometimes, VANETs are referred as Intelligent Transportation Networks. They are understood as having evolved into a broader "Internet of vehicles". which itself is expected to ultimately evolve into an "Internet of autonomous vehicles".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inductive charging</span> Type of wireless power transfer

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peiker Acustic</span>

Peiker Acustic GmbH & Co. KG is a family-owned and -operated company, based in Friedrichsdorf, Taunus, Germany, with about 940 employees worldwide. Since 1946, the company has specialized in manufacturing electronic products including microphones, loudspeakers, handsets for radio and mobile telephone use, Bluetooth hands-free kits, and in-vehicle multimedia systems.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">CarWings</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airbiquity</span>

Airbiquity Inc. is a business-to-business (B2B) software development and engineering company operating in the automotive telematics industry. Airbiquity's business model is to develop, deploy, and support the ongoing management of connected car programs for automotive industry customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CalAmp</span>

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Avanci is an operator of patent licensing platforms established in 2016 in the information and communications technology (ICT) space and more specifically in the Internet of things (IoT) and broadcast spaces. By licensing patents from multiple owners under a single agreement, Avanci provides licenses to standardized technologies for manufacturers in the IoT and broadcast industries. The company is based in Dallas, Texas, operating through offices in Dublin, Beijing, Tokyo, and Seoul.

References

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  2. Markoff, John (29 April 1997) "Daimler-Benz to Exhibit an Early-Stage Internet Car." The New York Times. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  3. Hudson, Kris (22 January 2001) "Cellport Set for Hands-Free Surge." The Denver Post. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  4. Sink, Mindy (19 August 2001) "Grass-Roots Business; A New Car Phone (No Strings Attached)." The New York Times. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  5. ORC Staff (30 October 2001) "Cellport Adds Safety, Convenience to GM Flagship Vehicles at SEMA Event." Off-Road.com. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  6. Telecompaper (18 June 2002) "Cellport Licenses Connectivity Technologies to Motorola." Retrieved 31 October 2014.
  7. Schmetzer, Uli (13 July 2001) "3 Companies Boast Future of Anti-Theft Equipment." Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  8. Avery, Greg (20 May 2010) "Cellport Is Back, as Cars Become Web-Friendly." Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  9. Avery, Greg "Cellport Is Back."
  10. Wickham, Allissa (5 August 2014) "10th Circ. Awards Royalties to Cellport in Licensing Row." Law360. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  11. "Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Colorado." Cellport Systems v. Peiker Acustic. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  12. Beise, Cheryl (6 August 2014) "Breach of Technology License Did Not Depend on Infringement." Intellectual Property Law Daily. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  13. Wu, Stephen (2 October 2014) "License Definition Trumps Need for Actual Infringement Finding: Cellport Systems, Inc. v. Peiker Acustic GMBH & Co. KG." National Law Review. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  14. "Stipulated Final Judgment. Cellport Systems, Inc. v. Peiker Acustic GMBH & CO" (PDF). 4 February 2016.
  15. Avery, Greg (8 March 2013) "Cellport Takes Aim at Samsung, Nokia and Others." Denver Business Journal. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  16. Ryan, Lisa (11 June 2014) "BMW, Toyota Accused of Violating Wireless Tech Patent." Law360. Retrieved 2 February 2015.