Patent decision

BL number

O/272/06

Concerning rights in

GB 0312402.1

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.