"Or is it possible that Edig had the foresight to patent something that was already in play but not protected by a patent from anyone else?"

Perhaps you do not understand what the Voice Times Standards Alliance was all about...?

e.Digital did not start the NUNCHI platform on a whim....

Without a doubt in my mind ..that is how far back e.Digital started NUNCHI....

e.Digital went it alone after Intel ditched them.

doni