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Algorithm: I found a quicker way of sorting integers.Patentable. Software: I wrote a program that sorts integers. Unpatentable.

by hcho 16y ago

noonespecial 16y ago
I think the problem is a lot of people are trying to patent "sorting integers", period, and its very difficult for a layman to tell the difference between these three.
loup-vaillant 16y ago
(I assume that your "way" involve the use of a computer, and that your "program" is "quicker".) Now, I'd like you to explain to me how your way of sorting integers is not a program. Or how your program is not a way of sorting integer. No matter how I squeeze my brain, I still fail to see a difference between an algorithm and a program. To me, that's only different labels for the same thing.
- hcho 16y ago
  The idea of using a computer program to sort integers is not patentable. A way to sort integers quicker is patentable. For a real lif example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_258/03 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_258/03
  - loup-vaillant 16y ago
    Let me repeat: by "A way to sort integers quicker", you mean an algorithm, right? Something that we naturally implement on general purpose computers, right? In other words, you mean a program in a programming language for which no implementation exist yet, right? If I'm reading you wrong, please tell me where and how. I don't see any actual difference between a program and an algorithm. If you do, please define both, and show me that those definitions aren't equivalent. Now, if there isn't any actual difference, I wonder how regulators managed to forge a legal one. That would be silly. Anyway, if they did make a legal difference, I'd love to have specific references.
    - hcho 16y ago
      Programs may or may not be implemenations of algorithms. Not every program is an algorithm. I suspect in this day and age of frameworks, libraries and all, a big majority of code is void of any algorithmic work.
      - apgwoz 16y ago
        So, this is not an algorithm: 1. Parse HTTP Headers into map of header -> value 2. Check to see if "Cookie" exists in map 3. If it does, and it's value is X load record X from database table N 4. Otherwise, insert a new record in table N and create a "Set-Cookie" header in the response Is this a sexy algorithm? Not at all, but is it still an algorithm? Yes. An algorithm is just a set of things that make up a process.
        hcho 16y ago
        It is an algorithm, you could have patented it if it wasn't prior art. The more trivial your algorithm, the more the chances it's prior art.
- JoeAltmaier 16y ago
  Because you are not a lawyer. What makes sense to an engineer has nothing to do with the law.
  - deleted 16y ago
    [deleted]

Algorithm: I found a quicker way of sorting integers.Patentable. Software: I wrote a program that sorts integers. Unpatentable.

by hcho 16y ago

Algorithm: I found a quicker way of sorting integers.Patentable. Software: I wrote a program that sorts integers. Unpatentable.

noonespecial 16y ago

I think the problem is a lot of people are trying to patent "sorting integers", period, and its very difficult for a layman to tell the difference between these three.

loup-vaillant 16y ago

(I assume that your "way" involve the use of a computer, and that your "program" is "quicker".) Now, I'd like you to explain to me how your way of sorting integers is not a program. Or how your program is not a way of sorting integer. No matter how I squeeze my brain, I still fail to see a difference between an algorithm and a program. To me, that's only different labels for the same thing.

hcho 16y ago
The idea of using a computer program to sort integers is not patentable. A way to sort integers quicker is patentable. For a real lif example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_258/03 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T_258/03
- loup-vaillant 16y ago
  Let me repeat: by "A way to sort integers quicker", you mean an algorithm, right? Something that we naturally implement on general purpose computers, right? In other words, you mean a program in a programming language for which no implementation exist yet, right? If I'm reading you wrong, please tell me where and how. I don't see any actual difference between a program and an algorithm. If you do, please define both, and show me that those definitions aren't equivalent. Now, if there isn't any actual difference, I wonder how regulators managed to forge a legal one. That would be silly. Anyway, if they did make a legal difference, I'd love to have specific references.
  - hcho 16y ago
    Programs may or may not be implemenations of algorithms. Not every program is an algorithm. I suspect in this day and age of frameworks, libraries and all, a big majority of code is void of any algorithmic work.
    - apgwoz 16y ago
      So, this is not an algorithm: 1. Parse HTTP Headers into map of header -> value 2. Check to see if "Cookie" exists in map 3. If it does, and it's value is X load record X from database table N 4. Otherwise, insert a new record in table N and create a "Set-Cookie" header in the response Is this a sexy algorithm? Not at all, but is it still an algorithm? Yes. An algorithm is just a set of things that make up a process.
      - hcho 16y ago
        It is an algorithm, you could have patented it if it wasn't prior art. The more trivial your algorithm, the more the chances it's prior art.
JoeAltmaier 16y ago
Because you are not a lawyer. What makes sense to an engineer has nothing to do with the law.
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]