Patent decision

BL number

O/272/06

Concerning rights in

GB0312402.1

Hearing Officer

Mr R C Kennell

Decision date

28 September 2006

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Yi Tang

Provisions discussed

PA 1977 Section 1(2)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The invention provided a system which improved the voice recognition-based scheduling and management of business appointments. Applying the test in CFPH LLP’s Application [2005] EWHC 1589, [2206] RPC 5 and noting that the invention was implemented by standard hardware and data-processing techniques using known voice response systems, the hearing officer considered that the advance lay in the application of natural language voice techniques the management of a business appointments and reservations so as to provide a more efficient and user-friendly system.

On the business method exclusion, the hearing officer did not accept that making a business appointment did not of itself involve a business transaction, but made no decision under this head in the absence of argument on Macrossan’s Application [2006] EWHC 705 (although still considering that the invention was distinguishable from Macrossan as being more a way of conducting an entire business than a mere tool). However, the hearing officer held that the invention was excluded as relating to a computer program (since the improvements were essentially brought about by a database searching algorithm) and as a mental act (since it went through the routine of presenting options and asking questions which replicated what a human receptionist would do).

In view of these findings, the hearing officer did not consider it necessary to consider outstanding objections obviousness and plurality of invention and refused the application.

Full decision O/272/06 40Kb