Skip to main content

Kapsch triumphs in Neology patent dispute

Kapsch TrafficCom is celebrating after a landmark patent decision went in its favour. The US Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has agreed with the company that Neology cannot patent technologies in its 6C switchable tolling tag. The tag uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology at highway toll zones, and is manually activated and deactivated using a switch device. The PTAB agreed with Kapsch’s arguments that Neology’s claims for its product were “unpatentable and invalid”. The decision reinf
May 9, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

4984 Kapsch TrafficCom is celebrating after a landmark patent decision went in its favour. The US Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) has agreed with the company that Neology cannot patent technologies in its 6C switchable tolling tag.

The tag uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology at highway toll zones, and is manually activated and deactivated using a switch device.

The PTAB agreed with Kapsch’s arguments that Neology’s claims for its product were “unpatentable and invalid”.

The decision reinforces a ruling last October by the International Trade Commission, which found Kapsch did not violate any other Neology patent assertions on several of its other RFID patents related to the 6C RFID protocol (the ‘6C Standard’).

“The 6C Standard is and should remain an open communications protocol,” said Chris Murray, president of Kapsch TrafficCom North America. “We applaud the PTAB’s recent decision, and will continue to support open protocol standards, which will facilitate national interoperability requirements by providing access to those who wish to implement various toll technology specifications.”

Related Content

  • Standardise global ITS protocols to enable interoperability
    January 26, 2012
    ITS America has a new chief technology officer. ITS International caught up with Nu Rosenbohm at this year's World Congress to gather his thoughts on the main challenges at home and abroad
  • Debating contactless toll charging by smartphone
    April 25, 2012
    Developments in the mass transit sector could provide indicators of potential for greater use of mobile consumer electronic devices for charging and tolling, according to Consult Hyperion’s Mike Burden. However, opinion among toll system suppliers is divided. Jason Barnes reports The combination of mass-market devices and their protocols, typified by smartphones featuring near field communication (NFC), points to some exciting cross-fertilisation possibilities in the charging and tolling sector, says Consul
  • OmniAir to design certification program for non-Kapsch readers and tags
    December 4, 2013
    The E-ZPass Group is to work with OmniAir Certification Services (OCS) to specify a testing program for ensuring full compliance of competitive equipment with E-ZPass readers and tags. OCS was hired by the E-ZPass Group for fees of around US$50,000 to detail the testing needed. The documents are due to be completed by the end of the year. Actual testing for certification will be negotiated by manufacturers with OCS-accredited testing firms. The move to certify additional suppliers’ equipment follows K
  • Debating a cost-effective means of road user charging
    July 20, 2012
    Does GPS/GNSS-based technology provide a cost-effective means of charging or tolling on a national or international level, or are the issues pertaining to effective enforcement an obstacle. Here, leading equipment manufacturers debate the issue.