Patent decision

BL number

O/0214/23

Concerning rights in

GB1808015.0

Hearing Officer

Mr B Buchanan

Decision date

28 February 2023

Person(s) or Company(s) involved

Global Design Corporation Ltd.

Provisions discussed

Patents Act 1977, section 1(2)(a),(c)

Keywords

Excluded fields (refused)

Related Decisions

None

Summary

The application relates to a means for providing a better estimate of energy consumption (and the associated charges) of an energy user. The claimed invention obtains the amount and cost of a user-�s past energy consumption during a previous billing period. The system then estimates a -�consumption profile-� for a user and obtains tariff information from a range of energy providers. The system compares estimated equivalent costs for different tariffs with the actual cost of the energy used. The system thereby identifies the -�best fit-� tariff that is likely to be the tariff the user is subscribed to. Once this has been identified, the system can present to a user the likely cost of their next bill based on smart meter readings. The Hearing Officer applied the four step Aerotel/Macrossan test and considered the AT&T signposts. The alleged contribution reflected the steps carried out to process large amounts of data using mathematical steps. It was found not to provide the required technical effect and the claimed invention was found to relate solely to a method for doing business and a program for a computer as such, so the application did not meet the requirements of section 1(2)(c). The application was refused under section 18(3).

Full decisionO/0214/23  410Kb