San Diego-based Novatel Wireless, the maker of the MiFi mobile hotspot products, reported this morning that it has gained a patent covering that product and its other products. Novatel said it was awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,208,517, covering "Systems and methods for multi-mode wireless modem". The patent filing shows that the patent was awarded to Slim S. Souissi, Michael Loh, and Humphrey GOrdon. The patent was issued on June 26th, and was originally filed on August 28, 2006. The filing indicates the patent filing was made for Novatel by AlbertDhand LLP. Novatel says it now has 45 issued or allowed U.S. patents and 58 filed U.S> patent applications.