Patent decision

BL number
O/277/09
Concerning rights in
GB0811727.7
Hearing Officer
Miss J Pullen
Decision date
10 September 2009
Person(s) or Company(s) involved
Fisher-Rosemount Systems Inc
Provisions discussed
PA 1977 Section 1(2)
Keywords
Excluded fields (refused)
Related Decisions
None

Summary

The invention relates to a process control safety system and in particular to a method and apparatus for generating a script for use in writing data in a process control safety system. The claims address the interface provided to the user when changes to safety systems are required. A script is automatically generated as a result of one (or a number) or parameters selected by the user, and a confirmation is required by the user before the command is sent. By virtue of the invention, the applicant has enabled what would otherwise be a manual process to be automated.

The hearing officer considered the four-step test in Aerotel/Macrossan in the light of the Symbian judgment, and found the contribution to relate to a computer program for automatically generating a script. The Hearing Officer could find no technical contribution and so refused the application under Section 18(3).

Full decision O/277/09 PDF document25Kb