3 ms·
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.wikipe
by 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 agoLet 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 agoPrograms 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 agoSo, 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 agoIt 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.