Patent decision

BL number
O/297/17
Concerning rights in
GB1207457.1
Hearing Officer
Mr B Buchanan
Decision date
12 July 2017
Person(s) or Company(s) involved
Cadio INC
Provisions discussed
Section 1(2)
Keywords
Excluded fields (refused)
Related Decisions
None

Summary

The application is concerned with a method for obtaining location data about a consumer (person) and the manner in which location information is determined from: the location data; a particular known location; and a history of locations associated with the consumer. The location data is repeatedly obtained following a time interval which is adjusted based on the proximity of the consumer to the known location and the history of locations. In effect, this results in the interval for obtaining location information being increased or decreased based on where the consumer is, within a context of their behaviour, and therefore either more or less accurate location information is determined. The Applicant argued that the contribution was a reduction in power consumption because location data was obtained less frequently. The Hearing Officer followed the four step test in Aerotel/Macrossan and found that the contribution was implemented by a program for a computer and did not constitute a method for doing business. The Hearing Officer confirmed that the AT&T signposts did not suggest that the invention provided a technical contribution and found the application to be excluded under section 1(2).

Full decision O/297/17 PDF document98Kb