Patent decision

BL number

O/670/18

Concerning rights in

GB1210896.5

Hearing Officer

Mr H Jones

Decision date

22 October 2018

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

General Electric Company

Provisions discussed

Sections 1(2)(c)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The application relates to analysing electrical generation data, in particular electrical microgeneration data. Local electricity produced by a non-utility microgeneration device, such as a solar panel(s) or a diesel turbine generator, is connected to an electrical grid and can offset the electricity consumed by the microgenerating user. Any excess electric power may be used by other customers of the electric grid. The invention lies in collecting electrical generation data and time usage data for the microgeneration device, and then identifying times that the microgeneration device outputs power to the grid. The notification may relate to an offer or incentive to the user to increase electricity supply to or reduce consumption from the grid. The Hearing Officer found that the contribution fell within the excluded category of computer program and refused the application. There was therefore no need to consider the separate objection to business method.

Full decision O/670/18 78Kb