NVidia Still Wants to Develop Controller for Intel Sandy Bridge

When Intel launched the Core 2 Duo, NVidia released a controller, aka GF 9400M, derived from a discrete GPU, it was much faster than any Intel GMA. NVidia had a great success wit this controller and its second generation is still found in all previous generation of MacBooks and iMacs from Apple. This controller, aka Northbridge, was working with Intel Core 2 Duo only, and when NVidia asked Intel to get a license for Nehalem chips, the founder refused; most probably to keep its competitor outside of the sandbox. This was a hard hit for NVidia, as it prevented the company to offer alternative to Intel controllers for Nehalem.
Nevertheless, NVidia does not seem to have dropped the project to release controller/chips for Intel Sandy Bridge and it is actively working on a solution. Even though there is no real need for Northbrdige anymore, most functions will now be integrated in the CPU, NVidia would be working on a chips that would hold remaining functions of the northbridge+southbridge (interface).
If they are actively working on such solution, it can only be for 2 reasons: they found a way to push Intel to sell them license for Sandy Bridge, or there are holes in patents protecting the same technology. It will be interesting to follow this story, as it could well define which controller and partner Apple will be teaming with for bringing Sandy Bridge to MacBook.