Laughable, how can you patent technology that is already in use in the
industry.
Easily, given the broken and outmoded state of the patent process. This patent will probably not survive a challenge, though.
Specious patent claims are the only profit growth center left in the industry. Recent examples are the JPEG claim (could go either way, frankly), SCO's Linux claim (SCO unlikely to win), that little company's claim against Microsoft for security services (likely to be quashed on appeal), Microsoft's patent on interactive TV (likely to be upheld), etc.