Patent decision

BL number

O/174/13

Concerning rights in

GB1019471.0

Hearing Officer

Mr B Buchanan

Decision date

29 April 2013

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Motorola Mobility, Inc.

Provisions discussed

Patents Act 1977 section 1(2)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The invention relates to the customisation of a graphical user interface (GUI) of a networked communication device which is used to access services such as calls, messaging and the Internet. A service usage history is analysed to enable the GUI to be customised dependent upon user patterns and preferences. The invention prioritises the placement and display of elements for selecting service options on the GUI accordingly. Consequently, the user experiences quicker and easier access to services, because the invention presents service options in accordance with the determined most likely next user action.

The Hearing Officer considered whether the claimed invention was excluded from patentability under section 1(2). He followed the four step test set-out in Aerotel/Macrossan as confirmed by Symbian in considering whether the better interface, which enables a user to access communication services more quickly, provides the required technical contribution. The claims were found to define an invention falling solely within the excluded subject matter and which does not provide the required technical contribution. First and second auxiliary claims were also considered, but these were also found not to define a patentable invention. The application was refused.