While you guys can debate amended vs modified ad nauseum, it seems by the below text of the newly recertified '336 ( the one that SUPERCEDES the original), that the patent language has been both modified and amended by any definition.

Ultimtely, all that matters, however IMO, is whether the modifications and amendments alter the ability of TPL to enforce and prosecute the patents against each individual infringer. The ONLY proof of that comes in the form of licenses and/or court victories with substantial financial reward. The next 10q will give us an opportunity to review if they are continuing to have success in that regard.

If so, I hope that PTSC will take the opportunity to publicly emphasize that success.

mod⋅i⋅fy

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–verb (used with object)

The link to the gazette official notice of recertification:

http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/patog/week50/OG/ExParteReex.htm

Below is a regurgitation of the recertified patent. It includes the original language, the deleted language and the revised language. I'm not sure if this is a weaker patent, or simply a re-orgainized statement of the same patent. Educated commentary is appreciated.

RED = Deleted

BLACK = Original To Remain

GREEN = New

To my laymans eye, it appears the biggest distinction is the introduction of the "off-chip" distinction in many of the claims. I don't quite understand what it means, but overall, as long as it doesn't mean that that distinction no longer covers most microprocessor systems, it seems the patent has just been clarified, and many of the claims restated individually over again in their entirety rather than by a claim that says something like "a claim like the last claim, but slightly different". I hope my read is correct!

1. A microprocessor system, comprising a single integrated circuit including a central processing unit and an entire ring oscillator variable speed system clock in said single integrated circuit and connected to said central processing unit for clocking said central processing unit, said central processing unit and said ring oscillator variable speed system clock each including a plurality of electronic devices correspondingly constructed of the same process technology with corresponding manufacturing variations, a processing frequency capability of said central processing unit and a speed of said ring oscillator variable speed system clock varying together due to said manufacturing variations and due to at least operating voltage and temperature of said single integrated circuit; an on-chip input/output interface connected to exchange coupling control signals, addresses and data with said central processing unit; and a second clock independent of said ring oscillator variable speed system clock connected to said input/output interface.

2. The microprocessor system of claim 1 in which said second clock is a fixed frequency clock.

3. In a microprocessor integrated circuit, a method for clocking the microprocessor within the integrated circuit, comprising the steps of:

providing an entire ring oscillator system clock constructed of electronic devices within the integrated circuit, said electronic devices having operating characteristics which will, because said entire ring oscillator system clock and said microprocessor are located within the same integrated circuit, vary together with operating characteristics of electronic devices included within the microprocessor;

using the ring oscillator system clock for clocking the microprocessor, said microprocessor operating at a variable processing frequency dependent upon a variable speed of said ring oscillator system clock;

providing an on chip input/output interface for the microprocessor integrated circuit; and

clocking the input/output interface with a second clock independent of the ring oscillator system clock.

4. The method of claim 3 in which the second clock is a fixed frequency clock.

5. The method of claim 3 further including the step of:

transferring information to and from said microprocessor in synchrony with said ring oscillator system clock.

6. A microprocessor system comprising:

a central processing unit disposed upon an integrated circuit substrate, said central processing unit operating at a processing frequency and being constructed of a first plurality of electronic devices;

an entire oscillator disposed upon said integrated circuit substrate and connected to said central processing unit, said oscillator clocking said central processing unit at a clock rate and being constructed of a second plurality of electronic devices, thus varying the processing frequency of said first plurality of electronic devices and the clock rate of said second plurality of electronic devices in the same way as a function of parameter variation in one or more fabrication or operational parameters associated with said integrated circuit substrate, thereby enabling said processing frequency to track said clock rate in response to said parameter variation;

an on-chip input/output interface, connected between said central processing unit and an off-chip external memory bus, for facilitating exchanging coupling control signals, addresses and data with said central processing unit; and

an off-chip external clock, independent of said oscillator, connected to said input/output interface wherein said off-chip external clock is operative at a frequency independent of a clock frequency of said oscillator[.] and wherein a clock signal from said off-chip external clock originates from a source other than said oscillator.

7. The microprocessor system of claim 6 wherein said one or more operational parameters include operating temperature of said substrate or operating voltage of said substrate.

8. The microprocessor system of claim 6 wherein said external clock comprises a fixed-frequency clock which operates synchronously relative to said oscillator.

9. The microprocessor system of claim 6 wherein said oscillator comprises a ring oscillator.

10. In a microprocessor system including a central processing unit, a method for clocking said central processing unit comprising the steps of:

providing said central processing unit upon an integrated circuit substrate, said central processing unit being constructed of a first plurality of transistors and being operative at a processing frequency;

providing an entire variable speed clock disposed upon said integrated circuit substrate, said variable speed clock being constructed of a second plurality of transistors;

clocking said central processing unit at a clock rate using said variable speed clock with said central processing unit being clocked by said variable speed clock at a variable frequency dependent upon variation in one or more fabrication or operational parameters associated with said integrated circuit substrate, said processing frequency and said clock rate varying in the same way relative to said variation in said one or more fabrication or operational parameters associated with said integrated circuit substrate;

connecting an on chip input/output interface between said central processing unit and an off-chip external memory bus, and exchanging coupling control signals, addresses and data between said input/output interface and said central processing unit; and

clocking said input/output interface using an off-chip external clock wherein said off-chip external clock is operative at a frequency independent of a clock frequency of said oscillator[.] and wherein a clock signal from said off-chip external clock originates from a source other than said variable speed clock.

11. A microprocessor system, comprising a single integrated circuit including a central processing unit and an entire ring oscillator variable speed system clock in said single integrated circuit and connected to said central processing unit for clocking said central processing unit, said central processing unit and said ring oscillator variable speed system clock each including a plurality of electronic devices correspondingly constructed of the same process technology with corresponding manufacturing variations, a processing frequency capability of said central processing unit and a speed of said ring oscillator variable speed system clock varying together due to said manufacturing variations and due to at least operating voltage and temperature of said single integrated circuit; an on-chip input/output interface connected to exchange coupling control signals, addresses and data with said central processing unit; and a second clock independent of said ring oscillator variable speed system clock connected to said input/output interface, wherein said processing unit operates asynchronously to said input/output interface.

12. The microprocessor system of claim 11 in which said second clock is a fixed frequency clock.

13. A microprocessor system comprising:

a central processing unit disposed upon an integrated circuit substrate, said central processing unit operating at a processing frequency and being constructed of a first plurality of electronic devices;

an entire oscillator disposed upon said integrated circuit substrate and connected to said central processing unit, said oscillator clocking said central processing unit at a clock rate and being constructed of a second plurality of electronic devices, thus varying the processing frequency of said first plurality of electronic devices and the clock rate of said second plurality of electronic devices in the same way as a function of parameter variation in one or more fabrication or operational parameters associated with said integrated circuit substrate, thereby enabling said processing frequency to track said clock rate in response to said parameter variation;

an on-chip input/output interface, connected between said central processing unit and an off-chip external memory bus, for facilitating exchanging coupling control signals, addresses and data with said central processing unit; and

an off-chip external clock, independent of said oscillator, connected to said input/output interface wherein said off-chip external clock is operative at a frequency independent of a clock frequency of said oscillator and further wherein said central processing unit operates asynchronously to said input/output interface.

14. The microprocessor system of claim 13 wherein said one or more operational parameters include operating temperature of said substrate or operating voltage of said substrate.

15. The microprocessor system of claim 13 wherein said oscillator comprises a ring oscillator.

16. In a microprocessor system including a central processing unit, a method for clocking said central processing unit comprising the steps of:

providing said central processing unit upon an integrated circuit substrate, said central processing unit being constructed of a first plurality of transistors and being operative at a processing frequency;

providing an entire variable speed clock disposed upon said integrated circuit substrate, said variable speed clock being constructed of a second plurality of transistors;

clocking said central processing unit at a clock rate using said variable speed clock with said central processing unit being clocked by said variable speed clock at a variable frequency dependent upon variation in one or more fabrication or operational parameters associated with said integrated circuit substrate, said processing frequency and said clock rate varying in the same way relative to said variation in said one or more fabrication or operational parameters associated with said integrated circuit substrate;

connecting an on chip input/output interface between said central processing unit and an off-chip external memory bus, and exchanging coupling control signals, addresses and data between said input/output interface and said central processing unit; and

clocking said input/output interface using an off-chip external clock wherein said off-chip external clock is operative at a frequency independent of a clock frequency of said variable speed clock, wherein said central processing unit operates asynchronously to said input/output interface.