I’m slowly processing XML files of patents from the US Patent Office. You can read the origin of my journey here, but as of today, I finished processing 50 files of patent applications for 2013, adding 973 API related patents to the queue. I’m still making sense of the different types of patents, and whether they are specifically for APIs, more API adjacent, or just mention API as one component in the patent definition.
I figure I’ll go back to about 1990-1995, but not 100% sure at this point. So far I’ve identified 105 patent applications from 2015, 322 from 2014, and now 973 from 2013. I’m still reading the title and abstract of each patent application as they come in, building my understanding of what has been submitted, and the possible motivations behind each application.
Here are the current numbers that I have so far.
There are 6 patents so far that mention application programming interface or API directly in the title of the patent:
- 12953023 - Providing customized visualization of application binary interface/application programming interface-related information - Red Hat, Inc.
- 11559545 - 3D graphics API extension for a shared exponent image format - Nvidia Corporation
- 12832025 - Application programming interface, system, and method for collaborative online applications - Apple Inc.
- 12974934 - Method and apparatus for reverse patching of application programming interface calls in a sandbox environment - Adobe Systems Incorporated
- 13178356 - Application programming interface for identifying, downloading and installing applicable software updates - Microsoft Corporation
- 12716022 - Secure expandable advertisements using an API and cross-domain communications - eBay Inc.
There are 54 patents that mention application programming interface or API directly in the abstract of the patent:
- 14477614 - System and method for connecting, configuring and testing wireless devices and applications - Jasper Technologies, Inc.
- 13974635 - Information processing device, information processing method, and program - Sony Corporation
- 13564610 - System and method for detecting errors in audio data - NVIDIA Corporation
- 13744892 - Configuring and controlling wagering game compatibility - WMS Gaming, Inc.
- 13858506 - Method and system for providing transparent access to hardware graphic layers - QNX Software Systems Limited
- 11110293 - Directory features in a distributed telephony system - ShoreTel, Inc.
- 12875132 - Lighting control system and method - Lumetric Lighting, Inc.
- 13283872 - Unified transportation payment system - LG CNS Co., Ltd.
- 13244694 - Apparatuses, methods and systems for a distributed object renderer - Zynga Inc.
- 13743078 - System and method for processing telephony sessions - Twilio, Inc.
- 13793712 - Cross-promotion API - Zynga Inc.
- 13654798 - Declarative interface for developing test cases for graphics programs - Google Inc.
- 12267828 - Method and apparatus for monitoring runtime of persistence applications - SAP AG
- 12559750 - Graphical display of management data obtained from an extensible management server - American Megatrends, Inc.
- 13146368 - Configuring and controlling wagering game compatibility - WMS Gaming, Inc.
- 12957479 - User authentication system and method for encryption and decryption - Empire IP LLC
- 12570012 - Generic user interface command architecture - Microsoft Corporation
- 13072462 - Adaptive termination - Triune Systems, LLC
- 12605782 - Digital broadcasting system and method of processing data in digital broadcasting system - LG Electronics Inc.
- 13244187 - Backup systems and methods for a virtual computing environment - Vizioncore, Inc.
- 12970873 - Shared resource discovery, configuration, and consumption for networked solutions - SAP AG
- 12425992 - Command portal for securely communicating and executing non-standard storage subsystem commands - Siliconsystems, Inc.
- 12535139 - Methods for determining battery statistics using a system-wide daemon - Red Hat, Inc.
- 12940986 - Integrated repository of structured and unstructured data - Apple Inc.
- 13354233 - Browsing or searching user interfaces and other aspects - Apple Inc.
- 12564288 - Detecting security vulnerabilities relating to cryptographically-sensitive information carriers when testing computer software - International Business Machines Corporation
- 12885706 - Contact picker interface - Microsoft Corporation
- 12357979 - Computer apparatus and method for non-intrusive inspection of program behavior - Trend Micro Incorporated
- 12512121 - Method and system for managing graphics objects in a graphics display system - Microsoft Corporation
- 11559545 - 3D graphics API extension for a shared exponent image format - Nvidia Corporation
- 11828957 - Apparatus, system, and method for hiding advanced XML schema properties in EMF objects - International Business Machines Corporation
- 12829714 - Storage manager for virtual machines with virtual storage - International Business Machines Corporation
- 13073146 - Unified onscreen advertisement system for CE devices - Sony Corporation
- 12209267 - Method and apparatus for measuring the end-to-end performance and capacity of complex network service - AT&T Intellectual Property I, LP
- 12832025 - Application programming interface, system, and method for collaborative online applications - Apple Inc.
- 11633851 - Method and apparatus for persistent object tool - SAP AG
- 12889083 - Window server event taps - Apple Inc.
- 12974934 - Method and apparatus for reverse patching of application programming interface calls in a sandbox environment - Adobe Systems Incorporated
- 13248633 - Ecommerce marketplace integration techniques - Microsoft Corporation
- 11899197 - Energy distribution and marketing backoffice system and method - Ambit Holdings, L.L.C.
- 12941026 - Extended database search - Apple Inc.
- 12209996 - Custom search index data security - Google Inc.
- 13481814 - Apparatus and method for circuit design - Agnisys, Inc.
- 12536363 - Seamless user navigation between high-definition movie and video game in digital medium - Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
- 12271690 - Programming APIS for an extensible avatar system - Microsoft Corporation
- 13178356 - Application programming interface for identifying, downloading and installing applicable software updates - Microsoft Corporation
- 12716022 - Secure expandable advertisements using an API and cross-domain communications - eBay Inc.
- 12838128 - Method and system for improving performance of a manufacturing execution system - Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
- 12459005 - Method and system for providing internet services - Alibaba Group Holding Limited
- 12858814 - Interaction management - 8x8, Inc.
- 11684351 - Administrator level access to backend stores - Microsoft Corporation
- 13048810 - Preventing malware from abusing application data - Symantec Corporation
- 13271978 - Interfaces for high availability systems and log shipping - Microsoft Corporation
- 12276157 - Unified storage for configuring multiple networking technologies - Microsoft Corporation
With the other other 1231 mentioning application programming interface or API in the description of the patent. It will take time to understand the scope of role APIs play when APIs are just a metnion in the description, where patents that directly mention in title, and abstract, carry a little more weight. (at least for now)
Another interesting layer so far, were the companies behind the last 2 years of API related patent activity. Here are the top 25 from the list so far.
- Microsoft Corporation with 118 patents
- International Business Machines Corporation with 75 patents
- Google Inc. with 52 patents
- Apple Inc. with 41 patents
- Amazon Technologies, Inc. with 26 patents
- QUALCOMM Incorporated with 23 patents
- SAP AG with 19 patents
- Research In Motion Limited with 18 patents
- Citrix Systems, Inc. with 17 patents
- Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. with 17 patents
- BlackBerry Limited with 16 patents
- Adobe Systems Incorporated with 16 patents
- Bally Gaming, Inc. with 16 patents
- Oracle International Corporation with 15 patents
- Zynga Inc. with 15 patents
- Cisco Technology, Inc. with 13 patents
- Symantec Corporation with 12 patents
- Red Hat, Inc. with 12 patents
- AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. with 11 patents
- Fujitsu Limited with 10 patents
- EMC Corporation with 10 patents
- Intel Corporation with 9 patents
- CommVault Systems, Inc. with 9 patents
- Canon Kabushiki Kaisha with 9 patents
- Enpulz, L.L.C. with 9 patents
I’m still learning, understanding, and making sense of these API related patents I’m mining. I will work to read, and separate out the hardware related APIs, but only slightly off to the side, as I still think hardware APIs are extremely relevant with the latest IoT evolution. During the process, I’m sure I’ll come up with other buckets to put APIs into, but ultimately looking to understand the role that APIs are playing in the patent game.
I suspect that downloading the last 20+ years of patents, processing them looking for the phrases “application programming interface”, or the acronym API, is just the beginning. As I read through the patents, learn about the ideas, people, and companies behind them, I’m sure my understanding will expand greatly. I’ll check in with more data after each import of files, and discovery of any new insights, and as always, you can find my patent API research repository on Github.
