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Patexia Contest

CONTEST

Competed
Prize
$5,000
DEADLINE
This contest is closed.
Winner
Runner Up

Bhaskar_K

technology
Runner Up

Angela Leo

technology
Runner Up

Problem

Patexia contests ask you to find, submit, and explain references that respond to our research criteria. In this contest we’re seeking prior art; published examples of an idea or invention before a specific date.

If you are new to Patexia and have never submitted to a contest, start by watching this simple how-to video  and take a look at our tutorial contest first, and refer to the submission notes below. The following questions will help you understand specifically what we are looking for in this study.

Patexia seeks prior art for US patent 7,724,879 (‘879) -- “Efficient communication through networks.” This patent describes the transmission of a voice communication between two parties through multiple types of communications networks.

In particular, ‘879 claims a method for communication involving:

  • Transmitting a voice communication over a first network in a telecommunications protocol format;
  • Converting the communication from the first telecommunications protocol format to a second IP format;
  • Transmitting the communication over a second network, which is a data network;
  • Converting the communication from the second IP format to a telecommunications format suitable for the end user device.

Additional Features

Additionally, the patent specification discloses the following features:

  • The call is intercepted and diverted from its normal transmission path before being converted to an IP format and transmitted over a data network.
  • A “best” transmission route is selected based on user preferences (for quality, cost, and calling credit available to the calling party), as well as storing information about the call.

Questions

To enter the contest, Patexia’s system will ask you the following questions. Contestants should focus their search by locating sources which answer these questions, and submitting a concise explanation of why the source(s) respond to a particular question. This explanation should specifically indicate where in the reference we can find the required supporting information. If you do not provide an adequate explanation and we cannot locate the desired information in your reference, you will not get credit and will not be eligible for contest prizes.

Entries must answer at least questions 1-3. Contest entries will be judged based on the number of questions answered beyond 1-3 and the quality of each question’s explanation, and favoring earlier submissions in the event of a tie.

All sources must be clearly dated before October 11th,1994 or they will not be considered for contest prizes. Does each source describe...

  1. receiving a transmission from a first access device in a telecommunications protocol (TP) format at a first network node and converting to internet protocol (IP) format?
  2. sending the transmission in IP format to a second network node over a data network?
  3. converting the transmission from IP format to a TP format at the second network node or second access device?
  4. do either of the network nodes belong to an analog, digital, or cellular telecommunications network?
  5. are the transmissions between the two access devices voice communications?
  6. a second access device connected to a central telecommunications office?
  7. does the second access device intercept and divert the communication from its normal path?
  8. selecting a route for transmission based on a user-defined criterion (e.g. level of transmission quality, call credit availability, cost of routing, etc.)?
  9. storing information about the call (subscriber information, rate information, etc.)?
Have a question about this contest? Ask a Question

Questions

#QuestionValue
1Does this source describe receiving a transmission from a first access device in a telecommunications protocol (TP) format at a first network node and converting to internet protocol (IP) format? 0
2Does this source describe sending the transmission in IP format to a second network node over a data network? 0
3Does this source describe converting the transmission from IP format to a TP format at the second network node or second access device? 0
4Do either of the network nodes belong to an analog, digital, or cellular telecommunications network? 0
5Are the transmissions between the two access devices voice communications? 0
6Does this source describe a second access device connected to a central telecommunications office? 0
7Does the second access device intercept and divert the communication from its normal path? 0
8Does this source describe selecting a route for transmission based on a user-defined criterion (e.g. level of transmission quality, call credit availability, cost of routing, etc.)? 0
9Does the source describe storing information about the call (subscriber information, rate information, etc.)? 0

Additional Notes

Submission Notes

  • Submission deadline is 11:59pm, July 14th 2013.
  • All work must be prepared by a single researcher.
  • Maximum of one entry per person allowed.
  • If you were referred, the referral prize ($500) will be paid to the referring user from the total prize pool of $5,000.
  • Contest entries will be judged based on the number of questions answered beyond 1-3 and the quality of each question’s explanation, and favoring earlier submissions in the event of a tie. Runners-up answering questions beyond 1-3 will also be considered for a partial contest reward.
  • Entries must be in English.
  • Answer all the questions (yes or no) factually based on your references and clearly explain supporting information about how each reference supports each question. If you do not provide an adequate explanation you will not get credit and will not be eligible for contest prizes.
  • In case you are submitting foreign references, please provide a translation of key sections.
  • If your reference has already been submitted by another researcher before you or is among the known references, it will not be considered for the contest.
  • Please use “Ask a Question” to post general questions or feedback about the contest to the community.
  • For specific questions, you can contact us directly by email at contests@patexia.com.
  • All submissions are subject to Patexia's contest legal terms. Failure to follow these rules may lead to disqualification from the contest.

Prize Distribution

We will award 80% of the contest prize to the winning submission, and will distribute the remaining 20% among the qualifying runners-up. If the winning entry was referred by another user, a $500 referral prize will be subtracted from the 80% winner's award.

Known References

The following US patents are known prior art related to ‘879. Please do not resubmit them. Entries relying on known references will not be considered for contest prizes.

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