CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ICAP Ocean Tomo — a division of ICAP (IAP.L), the world’s premier interdealer broker — today announced it will offer for sale a large number of patent and patent applications owned by TeleVentions, LLC on July 23^rd in Chicago at The ICAP Ocean Tomo Summer IP Markets 2009 Auction & Conference with essential information regarding all lots available immediately online at http://catalog.oceantomoauctions.com.

The TeleVentions lot comprises over fifty patents and patent applications relating to methods and systems for automatic skipping or quick scanning of television commercial “groups” when using a DVR or any other video recorder with either a removable or non-removable recording medium. All other proposed systems for avoiding commercials in a television program typically operate on the principle of assuming a fixed duration of commercials or identifying commercials by the level of frenetic activity at various periods of a broadcast. These methods simply don’t work, and all carry a risk of high error rates in differentiating ads from program material and irretrievably losing program material. During the more than half century of commercial television, no other technology — in spite of countless attempts — has been successful. TeleVentions’ Commercial Advance® works. Implementing Commercial Advance® in today’s video recorders adds little or nothing to build cost.

TeleVentions‘ IP strategy has been to build the proverbial “picket fence” of patent protection around its core technologies. TeleVentions’ '091, '093, '866, '210, '688, and '658 patents disclose and claim methods and devices that provide playback of a recorded television broadcast without commercials or other non-program material. The patented techniques prevent the loss of program material with a typical accuracy of 98 to 100 percent. The '689, '443, '977, '405, '316, '330 and '265 patents provide similarly high accuracy methods for identifying television programming breaks in real time. Alternate programming, built-in game playing…or simply silence…can be enjoyed during the break. Should the viewer leave the room during the break, the TV or recorder will notify the viewer with an audible alert that the program has resumed, or the recorder will simply “pause“ the recording until prompted to resume at the push of a button on the remote. TeleVentions‘ lot separately includes assets that prevent the loss of desired program material. As an example, it is often the case that broadcasts of sports and awards events run over their allotted time. TeleVentions’ patented technology prevents the recorder from cutting off the ‘overtime’ portions of these programs.

“The patents and patent applications in this lot will be of interest to any business entity involved in the design, use or sale of digital video recording systems, game console manufacturers and consumer electronics companies that target home entertainment including desktop and laptop computers as well as cable or satellite service providers,” said Dean Becker of ICAP Ocean Tomo, “and should be valuable for companies looking to improve their digital video patent portfolios today. With an opening bid/reserve of $500,000 and over 50 patents and applications available, the TeleVentions lot is extremely diverse and attractive.”

The technology being sold has been cited as prior art in patents by numerous firms including Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC), Sony Corporation (NYSE:SNE), and Philips Electronics (NYSE:PHG). TeleVentions technology is currently licensed by two major players in the industry.

To request further information about this Lot or to submit intellectual property for consideration by ICAP Ocean Tomo, or for general inquiries, call 312.377.4851 or email auctions@oceantomo.com.

About Auctions by ICAP Ocean Tomo

ICAP Ocean Tomo has received global recognition as the pioneer and leader in the live auctioning of intellectual property assets. During the three years since inception, nine Live IP Auctions across the US, Asia and Europe, which have transacted millions of dollars benefiting sellers such as inventors, small and mid-size companies, large corporations, investors and others. Hundreds of key decision makers in the IP and financial communities attend and participate in auction events, including C-level executives, IP and business professionals, investors, inventors and media professionals. The auctions have been featured on CNBC, Bloomberg TV, The Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Red Herring, Business Week, Reuters and others.

About ICAP Ocean Tomo

ICAP Ocean Tomo leverages the talents of experienced intellectual property monetization professionals to match buyers and sellers for the sale of patents and other intellectual property assets in private sale transactions, multi-lot live IP auctions and through Patent/Bid-Ask, the first and only brokerage and online marketplace for Intellectual Property.

ICAP Ocean Tomo offers broad-ranging expertise and unparalleled credibility not currently available in the emerging patent marketplace continuing ICAP’s standard for excellence and innovation. Combining its brokering expertise and world-class customer service, ICAP Ocean Tomo brings stability and liquidity to the patent monetization marketplace and is currently the intellectual property brokerage of choice for IP assets in both the primary and secondary markets.

Our veteran brokers have expertise in IP revenue generation, technology deployment and law. The team uses their vast knowledge of marketplaces across many sectors throughout the United States, Asia and Europe to deliver highly-valued transactions for client benefit.

On June 16, 2009, ICAP and Ocean Tomo, LLC announced that ICAP had purchased the transactions division of Ocean Tomo. The new name for the division is ICAP Ocean Tomo.

About The ICAP Ocean Tomo Summer IP Markets 2009 Auction & Conference

The ICAP Ocean Tomo Summer IP Markets 2009 Auction & Conference will be held in Chicago on July 22nd -23rd at The Drake Hotel. To register for the CLE approved conference program visit www.IPMarkets2009.com.

About ICAP

ICAP is the world’s premier interdealer broker and provider of post trade services. The Group matches buyers and sellers in the wholesale markets in interest rates, credit, commodities, foreign exchange, equities and equity derivatives through voice and electronic networks. ICAP has an average daily transaction volume in excess of $2.3 trillion, more than 40% of which is electronic. ICAP is also the source of global market information and research for professionals in the international financial markets. ICAP plc was added to the FTSE 100 Index on 30 June 2006. For more information go to www.icap.com.