Usable, Audible, Visible: Patents that caught our eye this week

A big welcome to the first issue of "The Intellectual Igniter". We at Arctic Invent are taking a stab at creating a new go-to resource on everything Intellectual Property (IP) and patents.

We know the IP world is buzzing and bubbling over with a myriad of ideas and can be a bit overwhelming. So, we've got you covered with a selection of patent filings by the big guns in business.

But it’s not just about the news. We hope to get those gears turning in your head by providing you with food for thought. ?

So, whether you're deep in the IP game wanting to know where IP trends are heading, or just curious about the next big thing, "The Intellectual Igniter" is your spark.

Got the EV Charging Blues While Waiting in Line? Baidu Says 'Not Anymore'

Picture this: You're cruising in your electric vehicle, battery blinking on low, and you're in need to recharge fast. You've got a charging station in mind, but who knows how many others are moving towards that very station, or are already there? Are you about to step into a line longer than weekend blockbuster premiere?

If Baidu gets its way, this could be a thing of the past!

Baidu, the most popular search engine from China, has a vision. It wants to be the smart, savvy guide that helps keep your EV juiced up without the queues.

In a patent titled "System and Method for Recommending Charging Stations" it looks at leveraging a pre-trained AI model to recommend optimal charging stations to electric vehicle (EV) users.

The system would evaluate location data, surrounding stations, the wait time, your estimated arrival, and even the number of EVs in line ahead of you. Thus, offering you an enhanced user experience.

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China dominates the EV market with EVs making up a solid 25% of all new cars sold there in 2022. The secret behind this success story is a robust charging infrastructure. China's got over 6 million chargers, the most globally, and a standard plug-in system that makes juicing up easy.

Baidu, despite being smaller players in China's big EV market, are keen to ride this wave. They're looking at the bigger picture, knowing that an EV is only as good as its next charge. And with their new system, they're looking to grow consumer trust and tap into this booming market.

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The catch…

Questions about Baidu's ability to secure this patent, given that similar technologies already exist in the market. To obtain the patent, Baidu would need to demonstrate the novelty and uniqueness of its technology.

Let's see where this electrifying journey takes them!

Your Voice Holds the Key!

Your voiceprint, a special mix of all things that make your voice unique to you alone could now be your secret password to all your social media accounts with Meta.

That’s right, the company formerly known as Facebook is seeking to patent a system for “User Identification with Voiceprints” for social media networks.

In particular, a voiceprint could be a part of a two-factor authentication system, with a user’s voice being one of the steps alongside a password or other biometric scan. Meta says this is more secure than using solely a biometric, such as a thumb or retina scan.

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But hold on, there's more!

Besides using it for authentication, i.e.: knowing it’s you and nobody else, Meta wants to go above and beyond, and give you a personalized experience. So once their system hears you, it'll show you stuff you like, including advertisements, news feeds, push notifications, and more.

If you’re worried about privacy, don’t says Meta. You can control it all with your privacy settings. You can choose to join the voiceprint party or sit it out. Plus, you can set limits on how they use your voiceprint, so it won't be shared with any outsiders. Your voice, your rules!

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And then there’s this…

Like any other method of cybersecurity, however, a 10-foot wall generally leads to a 12-foot ladder from attackers. In this case, that 12-foot ladder is AI voice dupes and the ability to spoof and impersonate with (AI).

No form of cybersecurity is fool-proof, but when multi-factor authentication is paired with monitoring for “risk signals,” such as looking at device type and location of log-in attempts, or what a user is looking to do in an account, you can prevent a good deal of cyberattacks.

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And Meta isn’t the first company that wants to get to know your voice: PayPal too is seeking to patent AI-based methods of voice authentication for customer service call scenarios.

Ghostly Gadgets: Embracing the Unknown with Google’s Ghost Detector

Let's end this issue on a light-hearted note. Let’s dip our toe into the fascination of the supernatural.

Humans have been fascinated by the idea of spirits and afterlife for centuries, and we've all grown up on tales of ghosts, haven't we? This curiosity has given rise to a kind of ghost-hunting culture, a bit quirky, yes, but super engaging!

Now imagine having a gadget that can give a pseudo-scientific edge to your ghost hunting adventures. That's exactly what this novelty toy is all about.

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Created for amusement and diversion, this spook detector is that it doesn't just have to be a standalone device. You could wear it as a piece of jewellery, like a pendant or a ring, or even integrate it into a trendy piece of apparel. It's affordable, easy to make, and super durable, and it's a fun way to mix fashion and the macabre.

It uses a Hall Effect sensor powered by a simple battery. The sensor gets activated when it comes into the presence of electromagnetic fields. Depending on how strong the field is, the sensor either lights up an LED or heats up an element which in turn causes a color-changing element (also known as a thermochromic element) to, well, change colors.

Just the kind of cool, mysterious stuff that can add a certain chill factor to any ghost storytelling session, or maybe even to a late-night tour of an "allegedly" haunted house!

So, if you're someone who loves the mystery and allure of ghost stories or just someone who enjoys a cool, fun gadget, this ghost detector is definitely something to check out.

And just like that, we've blazed our way through our first issue of "The Intellectual Igniter" We hope we have stirred up some food for thought, and left some sparks along the way to keep that curiosity fire lit.

We'll be back, fanning the flames with more from the fascinating world of IP and patents.

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