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United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office Decisions |
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You are here: BAILII >> Databases >> United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office Decisions >> Compurants Ltd (Patent) [2011] UKIntelP o28211 (11 August 2011) URL: http://www.bailii.org/uk/cases/UKIntelP/2011/o28211.html Cite as: [2011] UKIntelP o28211 |
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For the whole decision click here: o28211
Summary
The application relates to a computer-controlled interactive food and/or drink ordering system for direct use by a customer where the prices are varied according to demand. It is known for restaurants and bars to vary the prices of food and/or drink. For example, the application refers to a “happy hour” as a time when prices would be varied. The invention provides a system which includes a computer controlled projector that projects prices for food and/or drink items onto the surface of a table, that, when selected by a customer operating an interface device, leads to selected items being ordered at the displayed prices. The prices are varied automatically according to demand.
The Hearing Officer applied the four part test set out in the Aerotel and Macrossan judgment and found the contribution made by the invention fell solely within excluded matter. She also considered the Court of Appeal decision in Symbian and the decision in AT&T & Cvon and concluded that the contribution did not have a relevant technical effect. The application was refused as being a program for a computer as such and a method for doing business.
