LTE可能引爆下一轮专利诉讼

    除了速度和可靠的网络，消费者还要求获得更长的电池续航时间。虽然要同时实现强大的性能和长时间电池续航能力一直是一项挑战，高通（Qualcomm）和英伟达（Nvidia）等领先芯片制造商在4核处理器领域正在取得更大进展，这些4核处理器可以安装到LTE智能手机中。举例来说，三星的Galaxy S III就使用了高通的4核Snapdragon处理器 ，同时提供4G LTE连接，虽然目前只能在亚洲和欧洲的部分地区使用。毫不奇怪，这样一款杰出产品包含了大量专利。

    依托于这类科技，很多专利研究机构在对科技公司的专利组合进行评估，就像用其他指标对公司进行评估一样。尽管不同的研究机构给出的排名不尽相同，全球专利研究平台Article One Partners的数据显示，高通和诺基亚在拥有最多关键LTE专利方面排名居首，三星和LG则紧随其后。

    旷日持久的苹果-三星专利之争可能已经决出一时的胜负。然而，随后的专利争端还将延续。TechIPm的李认为，苹果-三星专利之争将进一步夯实专利在重塑智能手机市场价值链过程中的作用。但另一方面，Strategy Analytics的沙赫也表示，专利变得如此炙手可热也才短短两年的时间。尽管意见不一，但LTE仍然很可能会成为高科技领域引发下一个热点的亮点。

    姜艺媛是驻首尔记者，负责报道IT新闻和韩国初创企业。她的Twitter账号为 @yewon。

    In addition to speed and reliable networks, consumers are demanding longer battery life. Although achieving both strong performance and long-lasting power has been the challenge, the leading chipset makers like Qualcomm (QCOM) and Nvidia (NVDA) are becoming more advanced with quad-core processors that can be integrated into LTE-capable smartphones. For example, Samsung's Galaxy S III runs on Qualcomm's quad-core Snapdragon processor and offers a 4G LTE connection, although only in parts of Asia and Europe for now. Not surprisingly, the technical wizardry to pull this off is heavily patented.

    Based on technologies like these, many patent research firms are actually rating tech companies by their patent portfolios as much as anything else. Although the list varies by different surveying firms, according to Article One Partners, Qualcomm and Nokia ranked the top with the most essential LTE patents, followed by Samsung and LG.

    The drawn-out Apple-Samsung patent saga may be an one-time showdown. Its aftermath is sure to last. Lee with TechIPm argues the epic battle will help further cement the role of patents in reshaping the value chains in the smartphone markets. On the other hand, it's only been in the last two years that patents have become a such hot button issue, says Shah with Strategy Analytics. Differences of opinion notwithstanding, LTE could very well be the next headline-creating flash point in high-tech.

    Yewon Kang is a Seoul-based journalist covering IT news and startups in Korea. Follow her Twitter @yewon.