On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 2:16 PM, Dean Arnold <[email protected]> wrote:
> (Sorry if this is OT, but I'm hoping someone can point me in the right > direction) > > Someone has just alerted me to the following patent attempt by our friends > at IBM: > > Data Plotting Extension for Structured Query Language > (http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2008/0215554.html) > > Given that DBD::Chart predates the filing by at least 7 years (in fact, you > can still get a version from CPAN from 2002, and I think BackPAN may have > stuff from 2000/2001), I'd like to make sure this thing gets killed. Does > anyone know an open source patent holding group, or someplace I can submit > prior art claims ? > >From the link you gave... Title: * Data Plotting Extension for Structured Query Language * Document Type and Number: United States Patent Application 20080215554 Kind Code: A1 Abstract: Information is typically obtained from a relational database using a query in structured query language (SQL). An extension to the SQL standard is described which permits plotting the results of a query. SQL keywords are provided for specifying a format for graphing selected data, and syntax for recognizing those keywords, thereby causing the data to be presented as a graph according to the specified format. This extension of SQL maintains the syntax and style of conventional SQL queries. This permits automated systems, such as database driven websites, to issue extended SQL queries directly to a relational database and have the results returned as formatted graphical content. In what sense does DBIx::Chart modify the SQL recognized by the DBMS that it is built on? Prima facie, there is not much connection between what DBIx::Chart does in presenting data by using standard SQL to fetch it and then transform the data into a chart and what the patent abstract suggests - modify the SQL language recognized by the DBMS. OK - I'm one of the bad guys - I work for IBM, and I do work related to patents some of the time. But IANAL (and especially not a patent lawyer). However, DBIx::Chart is in no mortal danger from this patent, and DBIx::Chart is not a threat to this patent. Now, I've not read the patent in more detail than the information above - so I could be being misled by the description. But that is my immediate take on it. Two ships passing in the night, coincidentally headed to the same place (charting data from SQL databases) but getting there by different courses and not interfering with each other. If you would like me to trawl through my records, I may be able to find some organizations that handle issued patents and prior art. However, you would have to demonstrate in considerable detail how DBIx::Chart covers what this invention claims. -- Jonathan Leffler <[email protected]> #include <disclaimer.h> Guardian of DBD::Informix - v2008.0513 - http://dbi.perl.org "Blessed are we who can laugh at ourselves, for we shall never cease to be amused."
