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Introduction
On November 15, 1883, Edison filed a patent for the first electronic patent called the Electronic Indicator. Less than two centuries later, we already have cars that drive themselves, health monitors, and lights that turn on automatically. There’s so much going on in the field of technology that we are not far away from a technological utopia (but that is up for debate). One such domain is IoT.
Within less than a decade, IoT devices have gained mainstream status and are in common use in healthcare, automotive, smart homes, and industrial automation. The future of IoT is being carried forward by patents that continuously push the boundaries of innovation. Let’s explore it.
The Emergence of IoT and Pioneering Patents
The very first seeds of IoT can be traced back to the early part of the 20th century – a period when a pool of visionary inventors and innovators laid the groundwork for interconnected machines and systems.
One of the very first patents filed of this nature is Nikola Tesla’s 1898 patent for a Method of and Apparatus for Controlling Mechanism of Moving Vessels or Vehicles, (U.S. patent 613809), which described a remote-control system for controlling the movement of vehicles without any wired transmission. While not explicitly falling in the category of IoT, Tesla’s invention laid the groundwork for the concept of remote monitoring and control, which remains a fundamental aspect of IoT technology.
The development of communication and networking technologies also accelerated the emergence of IoT. Transistors and integrated circuits developed in the mid-20th century made today’s IoT devices possible. In 1973, U.S. Patent 3761695 titled Multipoint Data Communication System with Collision Detection by Robert Metcalfe and David Boggs laid the groundwork for Ethernet technology which would later become a cornerstone of local area networking (LAN) and facilitate the interconnection of devices in IoT deployments.
The term ‘Internet of Things’ was coined only in 1999 by computer scientist Kevin Ashton, but early prototypes that embodied the principles of IoT emerged as early as the 1960s. An example is Morton Heilig’s patent titled Sensorama Simulator (US Patent 3,050,870).
The state of Patent Protection in IoT Security
Around the recent, very rapid burgeoning of IoT devices, concerns about security vulnerabilities and potential cyber threats have been looming around. Patented technologies in IoT Security have attempted to alleviate some of the many security challenges inherent in IoT deployments.
A lot of patented innovations focus on addressing the security issues concerning IoT devices and network. Areas have seen a lot of patent filing activity include – Security measures such as controlling vendor access to IoT data, augmented data recognizing, and accident reduction model (ARM). Patents also indirectly promote transparency and encourage collaboration among industry leaders. Patented security technologies are more attractive to consumers, and this sets companies apart in the market.
One patent worth mentioning in this relation is the patent filed by D. L. Davis for Secure Boot – a critical security mechanism that ensures the integrity of the boot process in IoT devices. Secure Boot (US Patent 5937063A) is used widely to prevent unauthorized firmware modifications and malware infections.
Another innovation of note is the patent for Lightweight Cryptography bearing US Patent No. US8953784B2. Lightweight Cryptography offers efficient encryption and authentication solutions that were later optimized for resource constrained IoT devices. This patented technology has enabled secure communication and data exchange without imposing undue computational overhead.
Many patented innovations also focus on advancing authentication and access control mechanisms for IoT devices such as wearables, smart home devices, and even industrial IoT-enabled machines. For instance, the patent titled Portable Consumer Device Configured to Generate Dynamic Authentication Data (US Patent US20110066516A1), owned by Hammad and Faith, introduces a dynamic authentication framework that adapts to changing network conditions and device states. This technology improves security by dynamically adjusting authentication requirements based on contextual factors such as device location, user behavior, and network traffic patterns.
Patented technologies have raised the bar for security standards in the IoT market. Along with cancelling known security gaps, these patents structure a strong defense against evolving cyber-attacks.
How Patents Drive IoT Innovation
Patents, by granting inventors exclusive rights, provide a competitive advantage that encourages companies, including those in IoT, to allocate resources towards R&D efforts aimed at advancing IoT tech. Companies such as Qualcomm have gathered impressive patent portfolios covering essential wireless communication technologies that form the backbone of IoT connectivity. These patents incentivize continuous innovation in wireless networking standards such as LTE-M and 5G; they enable faster data transmission, lower latency and greater network reliability for IoT applications to work more seamlessly. Similarly, patents in edge computing, machine learning, and cybersecurity promote investment in technologies that improve the performance, intelligence and security of IoT ecosystems.
Cross-licensing, a commonly employed collaborative approach in intellectual property transfer, promotes the fertile sharing of knowledge and cross-pollination of ideas. Collaborations drive collective progress and technological advancement in the IoT space.
One important example of collaborative innovation fueled by patents is the development of IoT standards and protocols. Standards organizations such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) depend on patented technologies to define interoperability standards that govern the communication and interaction of IoT devices. Patented technologies such as Zigbee, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which were a result of collaborative Research & Development efforts are already de facto standards in the IoT industry. For instance, Ericsson and Apple signed a global patent license partnership in 2022 to collaborate and innovate on cellular 5G and other standard-essential networking technologies.
IoT and the Patenting Landscape
Ever since John Romkey and Simon Hackett devised the world’s first non-computerized connected device in the form of a toaster, IoT has marched on to be embedded everywhere in our lives – from the lights in our homes to our music speakers. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum, the number of connected devices in the world long surpassed the number of people. IoT is expected to be one of the top 10 technologies that will influence the coming decade, according to a McKinsey assessment.
A quick search for IOT patents on PatSeer reveals an increasing YoY growth in new application filings with an almost 150% jump from 2019 to 2020.
Note: Due to an 18-month gap from filing to publication, the application count for 2022 and 2023 is expected to increase and so the trend analysis considers data up to 2021 only.
When patenting an IoT invention, a key consideration is to focus on securing fewer, yet essential and distinctive features or limitations of the invention. IoT technology often transcends industries; drafting broader claims without restricting to any specific industry implies better coverage and protection against potential infringement of the invention.
Another exciting development to look out for is the use of IoT devices in conjunction with affordable satellites instead of traditional low earth orbit (LEO) satellites for earth monitoring, disaster prevention, and connectivity in remote areas. Google, SpaceX, One Web and Meta are already invested in research regarding this. According to an analysis, by 2030, the jump to IoT is expected to contribute between $1.2 trillion and $2 trillion to the global GDP, mostly in growing economies.
Conclusion
The IoT industry is expanding at an unprecedented rate, and one can only be optimistic about the future of IoT. The road to that future goes through the complications and the opportunities associated with patenting and intellectual property rights.
In conclusion, we will reiterate that careful drafting is a must to make sure that IoT patents are eligible for patent protection, that they cover a reasonable amount of ground, that they help prove patent infringement against possible infringers, and that they eventually spur innovation in this field.
Leveraging a massive database and cutting-edge AI tools, PatSeer unlocks the latest developments in fields like IoT. This platform goes beyond basic patent searching empowering users to analyze trends, visualize findings with clarity, and effectively communicate during the patenting process. PatSeer is a valuable tool for corporations, universities, and businesses of all sizes. It helps assess the originality of your innovations and strategically position them for optimal impact. With PatSeer, navigating the ever-evolving patent landscape becomes effortless.
