NeoMedia Technologies, Inc (NEOM)

[Poptech]

SRM: When you say it references the '048 patent, this means it is entirely novel over the '048 patent. There are a couple of important differences:

1. The '573 is restricted to a phone, '048 is not. This will make it more difficult to challenge the '573 on a novelty basis.
2. The '573 patent adds two steps to the '048 patent. First, it scans an index (same as the '048). Then it uses the phone to translate the index to URL. It sends the URL to a server which then send back a second URL. The phone then sends the second URL to retrieve the content.

The rest of patent addresses the deficiencies of camera phones to read 1D codes by adding external housing. This section of the patent is certainly be infringed today.

'573 does not extend the life of '048, but instead proposes an entirely new way of processing barcodes on a mobile phone. To implement the '573, NeoMedia will have to convince the industry to change from using the '048 processes. However, that task is many years in the future.