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Subject: Re: [ubl-dev] Re: OB10 patent on common e-invoicing pattern?


I also posted this on Mikkel's blog:

TradeCard (tradecard.com) has been in production with a global internet based e-invoicing platform since 1999. 2008 platform volumes were about $8 billion USD across 40+ countries in 2008 with 4000 trading partners in the TradeCard network.

The diagram in your blog is an exact match of the messaging architecture we designed in 1999 and it is the same that is currently in use.

The meta-data used by TradeCard is our own XML based schema with around 40 trade documents defined (PO, CI, ASN, etc...)

The communications protocol (AS2, SFTP, etc...) and format (ANSI, EDIFACT, UBL, etc...) can be different for all trading partners even within the context of a single transaction.

Reading through the claims of both patents looks like the inventors must have never heard of TradeCard.

More details: http://tradecard.com/platform/overview.html

BTW, the US application is substantively changed (claims dropped and amended) from the version linked to in your blog entry. (I have asked our consel if we can distribute the version he got this morning from the US patent office for us).

Nestor Zwyhun
CTO
TradeCard Inc.



-----Mikkel Hippe Brun <mhb@schemaworks.com> wrote: -----

To: ubl-dev@lists.oasis-open.org
From: Mikkel Hippe Brun <mhb@schemaworks.com>
Date: 06/07/2009 02:19PM
Subject: [ubl-dev] Re: OB10 patent on common e-invoicing pattern?

Sorry - here are the correct links:
 
Link to European patent: http://v3.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?adjacent=true&KC=A2&date=20020703&NR=1220114A2&DB=EPODOC&locale=en_EP&CC=EP&FT=D
 
Observe that the US patent is broader: http://www.google.com/patents?id=88iNAAAAEBAJ
 
I have written a blog post with my interpretation of the patent:  http://bit.ly/JxvZX
I have also written a post where I am collecting evidence to be used in a notice of opposition: http://bit.ly/l0zBq
 
Best regards Mikkel

On Sat, Jun 6, 2009 at 2:36 PM, Mikkel Hippe Brun < mhb@schemaworks.com > wrote:
Hello ubl-dev,
 
OB10 has received a patent on an "Communication routing apparatus" (US patent and European patent). The patent describes a middleware product (e.g. an ESB) where the ESB acts as an intermediary messaging hub between many IT-systems. It basically describes protocol conversion and content conversion of e-invoices between 1) senders 2) the hub and 3) receivers. The characteristics of the OB10 patent are that static and dynamic data is added to the input protocol and the input content.
 
I my view this is standard functionality in many middleware products and most ESB's. I also believe that the described pattern of transformations of protocols and content describes exactly what Value Added Network Operators has been making a business on for the last 20+ years. The "VA" (Value Added) in the VAN acronym - is to do transformations on protocols and contents like it is described in the patent.
 
There is less than 7 weeks to oppose the patent. I therefore urge suppliers of Middleware products and service providers to send an opposition to the patent.
 
I have written a blog post with my interpretation of the patent. http://bit.ly/JxvZX
I have also written a post where I am collecting evidence to be used in a notice of opposition. http://bit.ly/l0zBq
See also the patent at the European Patent Office: http://bit.ly/Kh95m
 
Best regards
Mikkel Hippe Brun
Technical Director @ PEPPOL.eu
Cheif Consultant @ The Danish National IT and Telecom Agency



--
Venlig hilsen Mikkel

-----------------------------
Mikkel Hippe Brun
Resedavej 21, 2820 Gentofte
Mob: 25674252



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