ICAP Ocean Tomo to Auction Multiple NASA Patent Portfolios at Upcoming Live Auction

ICAP Ocean Tomo, the intellectual property brokerage division of ICAP Plc (IAP.L), will offer exclusive licenses to four patent portfolios owned by NASA Goddard and NASA Marshall Space Flight Centers at its upcoming Live Auction March 25th in San Francisco. The portfolios relate to digital memory storage, fiber optic, microresonator, and docking system technologies.

The assets of the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Lot describe methods for accessing multiple memory storage devices from a computer through a single USB port. This technology enables multiple external memory devices to be collectively represented as a single device on a computer. It also allows for that computer to be connected with another to facilitate sharing of internal and external memory. The technology of this Digital Media Storage Hub Lot improves sharing capabilities, offers convenient accessibility, and solves problems associated with large storage needs. Companies such as memory storage device manufacturers and network storage solution providers should consider this intellectual property a valuable asset.

NASA Marshall Space Flight Center owns the remaining three Lots which relate to fiber optic, microresonator, and docking system technologies. U.S. patent 6,873,762 in the Fiber Optic Grating Apparatus Lot provides a convenient method for fabricating fiber-optic gratings with different specifications without the requirement of high precision and multiple apparatuses as those traditionally required. The patent specifically describes an apparatus and method for fabricating fiber-optic gratings by producing two divergent beams from a single beam of light using a phase-mask. The assets included in this Lot should be of interest to optical fiber system and optical sensor manufacturers and optical sensor manufacturers.

The Microresonator Lot relates to photonic signal processing for applications such as data processing and communication. U.S. patent 6,028,693 describes the design of a device used to introduce and control prescribed delays during processing of pulsed photonic signals. This technology will enable companies to develop compact photonic processing systems, as well as increase the performance of those systems and should be of interest to companies developing or manufacturing photonic systems for communication, data processing, computing, and networking.

The remaining NASA Marshall Lot, Docking System, contains eight U.S. issued patents and relates to motion tracking and guidance systems. The assets describe methods and systems for tracking and guiding the motion of objects by capturing and processing images and videos which improve upon conventional technology by enhancing image quality and video processing capabilities. The assets of this Lot should be of interest to companies across a range of industries, especially those providing spacecraft docking systems, aircraft motion control systems, automated warehouse management systems, military tracking and guidance systems, and surveillance and satellite systems.

“We are extremely fortunate to be able to work with NASA again and bring this valuable intellectual property to Auction,” said ICAP Ocean Tomo’s Dean Becker. “Each Lot represents key technologies that have the potential to greatly impact their respective industries.”

According to Nona Cheeks, Chief of NASA Goddard’s Innovative Partnerships Program Office, “The Auction is an immediate and innovative way to determine the appeal of NASA technologies for commercial applications. It is another platform for NASA to reach out to industry to allow them access to NASA technologies for new and advanced commercial products. We look forward to the opportunity to license rights to use of NASA intellectual property via the Auction process.”

To learn more about the patents available for sale in these Lots visit http://icapoceantomo.com/forsale. To register to attend the upcoming Live Auction, please visit www.icapoceantomo.com.

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