The Department of Science and Technology-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI) celebrated two significant milestones with the grant of both an invention patent and a utility model by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL).

Approximately four years after filing the application, the invention patent was finally granted on 1 June 2023 with Letters Patent issued on 18 October 2023, for a ‘Mechanical Stabilizing Means for Radio Antennas’. It is a mechanism to negate the angular displacement of polarized antennas when mounted on a non-stationary or floating body such as buoy. The invention was used in the Communication Relay Buoys that were designed and deployed under the Connecting Communities Through Mobile Networks (CoCoMoNets) Project implemented from 2017 to 2019.

The CoCoMoNets Project, funded by the DOST GAA budget, is focused on investigating the effects of sea conditions on signal propagation to determine the design parameters of the proposed Relay Buoy technology. Its goal was to connect isolated coastal communities with minimal or no mobile network coverage by deploying affordable, low-power, compact 2G GSM base stations.

The inventors are Ian C. Mosquera, Gerwin P. Guba, Mar Francis D. De Guzman, and Calvin Artemies G. Hilario.

On 19 June 2024, DOST-ASTI was also granted a utility model for RuralSync®, a precursor of the Resilient Information Infrastructure in the New Normal (REIINN) Project. It is a project that uses television (TV) broadcast signals to distribute information and educational materials to remote areas, which led to the development of the RuralCasting set-top box and is currently being used as one system.

The makers of this utility model include Dr. Joel Joseph Marciano, Alvin E. Retamar, Calvin Artemies G. Hilario, Philip A. Martinez, Mar Francis D. De Guzman, Ramon Van Cleff B. Raro, Jean Jay A. Quitayen, and Pinky R. Manio.

The researchers' and agency's achievements were made possible through the efforts of the DOST-ASTI's Technology Licensing Office which oversees the commercialization, licensing, and technology transfer activities of the Institute, and the DOST-Technology Application and Promotion Institute's (DOST-TAPI) Intellectual Property Rights Assistance Program (IPRAP), which provides technical and funding assistance in securing appropriate IP protection of completed research and development projects.

"Both technologies  and/or its derivatives will soon be available for technology transfer, either through means of public good or commercialization, more specifically to investors that are interested in adopting, integrating, and deploying the said systems in 'Command Centers' of local government units, educational institutions, or communities that have an unreliable source of internet connection or network signals. Generating IP assets and managing the agency's technology transfer portfolio through commercialization is among the most important stages of innovation that will not only help underserved communities but will also boost economic growth," stated Ms. Maria Irene S. Amatorio, Senior Science Research Specialist and the current head of the agency's TLO.

DOST-ASTI Director Franz A. De Leon recognized these achievements as significant contributions to realizing the goals of DOST’s programs on smart communities.

"In line with our mission to deliver innovative products and services with far-reaching benefits to society, DOST-ASTI is committed to contributing to the transformation of smart communities. The recent grant of both an invention patent and a utility model is evidence of our capability to drive innovation. We are inspired by these developments, and we’ll make sure that the utilization of DOST-ASTI generated technologies is maximized," he shared.

DOST-ASTI is committed to protecting the intellectual property generated by its researchers, ensuring their contributions are recognized and valued. By strengthening the Institute’s IP portfolio, we not only protect the fruits of our research efforts but also foster a culture of innovation and progress that drives future breakthroughs.