Patent Win Buoys Northpoint

摘要

Northpoint Technology executives predict that a new patent covering a portion of the company's plan for an earth-bound competitor to satellite TV will bolster their lawsuit against a would-be rival. Northpoint, which paid for and conducted research necessary to persuade the FCC to authorize a terrestrial microwave competitor to DBS and cable, is suing both the agency and competing applicant MDS America over plans to auction the necessary spectrum. The most recent patent, granted Feb. 11, covers Northpoint's method for using direct-broadcast-satellite spectrum to transmit at power levels so low the signal won't interfere with DBS service. The spectrum is located on the 12 GHz band used by EchoStar and DirecTV Those companies say the system, which would rely on microwave transmitters dispersed around the country, would wreak havoc on their customers' reception.