Disqus - Latest Comments for dwb

Re: More on NTP’s Ridiculous Patents

dwb — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 09:27:46 -0000

I hold four patents and also review patents for our legal group from time to time. I was told that one of the requirements for a patent is to be innovative and non-obvious to someone practiced in the art. In my opinion, all four of my patents are obvious, by my engineer definition of obvious.

The patent lawyers have told me over and over again that my definition of obvious is not the legal definition of obvious. This is usually after they find out that I have not written up a disclosure on something I'm working on. I have never been able to get them to explain the legal definition of obvious in a way that ever made sense to me. So, I just write up my invention disclosures and submit them.

We don't patent everything we can. We only patent things that will protect the products that we manufacture. These are mostly hardware but some are software running in the hardware.

Re: TPW 19: Internet Gambling, Frontline Wireless, and E-voting Trade Secrets

dwb — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 22:43:29 -0000

I have sort of a love-hate feeling about your podcasts. The content is great but the production quality is so awful it's nearly unlistenable.

I listen to podcasts in my car through the car radio. Most podcasts are marginal sound quality but I can live with the result. TLF is not even close to that standard. The most recent, TWP 19, was so bad I just gave up and went to the next program. Whoever was the first person to speak after the host's introduction needs to take a course in public speaking. Learn to speak at a somewhat constant volume. Don't drop to a whisper and then back to normal and back to a whisper.

Also, use a mixer board and set the levels for each speaker. Each person was at a different vastly different volume. The only person that's consistently understandable is the host.

I'm not expecting professional broadcast quality here, just something where I can set the volume control and then leave it alone for the rest of the program.

I'm trying to not sound like a jerk, and probably not succeeding. I am very interested in your take on technology issues and the idea of a podcast is a great addition to the blog. I just want to listen without wanting to scream "SPEAK UP" at the radio every 20 seconds.

Dale B

Re: Susan Landau on how FISA is a “gateway for hackers”

dwb — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:29:03 -0000

The article The Athens Affair in the July IEEE Spectrum magazine has a pretty good description of the Greek cell phone tap scheme. Someone hacked into CO switch and modified the wire tap system software . It was much more complicated that this, read the article for details.

I suppose a similar attack could succeed here, but it would be tough. Still, if there is a back door and someone is determined and skilled enough, they will figure out a way use it.

BTW, Several weeks ago I complained about the lousy audio quality of the podcasts. Since the break you took a couple weeks ago, there has been a huge improvement in the audio quality. Thanks.

Re: Bloggingheads.tv

dwb — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 23:22:47 -0000

They also supply the audio on itunes. I listen in the car, on my bicycle, and when working around the house. I don't have time to waste sitting in front of the computer for an hour for each segment.

This works great for me as the video doesn't supply much, if any, additional information.

Re: Against “Autonomous Driving”

dwb — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 09:46:54 -0000

Driving is one of my pleasures and it would be a shame to loose it.

One thing you forgot to mention is that along with autonomous driving we'll get autonomous crashing. The lawyers will certainly have fun with that.

Re: Don on antitrust

dwb — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:13:08 -0000

I'm also in the mp3 camp. I listen in the car, gym, bicycle, etc.