’s future technologies as seen from the viewpoint of patents

built a powerful patent purchase network to reinforce new areas of interest.

When interworking between existing and new services was needed, responded by purchasing a large number of patents.

Actually intensively bought patents related to networks and databases on which the organic interworking between services is based.

raised the entry barrier by purchasing core technologies and then quickly increasing the number of related registered patents. The technologies in which Apple greatly increased their registered patents have something in common.

Apple tends to acquire small companies or purchase a large number of patents 1~2 years prior to sharply increasing the number of patents they register themselves. ?It is in this way of purchasing core technologies and then increasing the number of patents they register that builds a high entry barrier.

goes about technological innovation in earnest by citing their patents called "self-citation". Self-citation refers to an enterprise applying for a patent by citing its own prior technology. It can be thought of as a technology segment (or patent) the enterprise has confidence in or is continuously concentrating on.

sets up a technological barrier by securing core technologies, registering patents for them, and then citing them on their own.   As a matter of fact, the self-citations of the next-generation technologies that has announced, such as for smart car technologies, Glass and artificial intelligence, sharply increased 1~2 years before disclosure.

Also, to advance their existing service areas and develop next-generation technologies, has been continuously increasing its self-citations of related patents.