Too many candidates today to list them all. There’s a plethora of auction patents, including another one to IBM, that certainly die under BIlski. But the four patents below have their own charm.. Assignees are McAfee, Trading Technologies, Ariba, and Goldman Sachs. Enjoy.
-aaron
7,483,861 System, method and computer program product for a network analyzer business model
Assignee: McAfee, Inc.
1. A method for charging for network analysis, and executing on a computer including a computer readable medium, comprising:
(a) collecting network traffic information utilizing a plurality of agents;
(b) consolidating the network traffic information utilizing a plurality of host controllers coupled to the agents;
(c) reporting on the network traffic information to a user utilizing a plurality of zone controllers coupled to the host controllers; and
(d) determining a reoccurring fee associated with the reporting based on a number of at least one of the agents, the host controllers, and the zone controllers.
Commentary: This one is tricky. On the surface it certainly appears to be tied to a machine (the pluralities of host and zone controllers). But a good case could be made that those are just ‘extra-solution activity. The real “invention” here is the determining step, which could be performed even if all the data was collected by hand. It’s one of those claims that makes you realize that under Bilski, the patentability test has a very context-sensitive angle in order to conclude whether a step is integral to the invention or if it is extra-solution. I’d be curious to hear others’ thoughts on this.
7,483,855 System and method for automated order entry on short queues
Assignee: Trading Technologies
1. A method for order entry in an automated electronic trading environment having at least one accessible electronic exchange to trade at, the method comprising the steps of:
receiving a threshold value and at least one order parameter at a processor, the threshold value configured to determine whether to send an order to an electronic exchange depending on comparison of a length of a queue in a market to the threshold value, the threshold value representing a combination of at least a particular quantity value and a particular number of orders value;
determining a length of a queue for a given price level in the market using the processor, the length of the queue representing a combination of at least a quantity currently available in the market to buy or sell a tradable object at the given price level and a number of orders currently available in the market to buy or sell the tradable object at the given price level;
comparing the length of the queue to the threshold value using the processor; and
automatically sending, using the processor, an order to the electronic exchange, the order having a parameter associated with the at least one order parameter based on the step of comparing.
Commentary: The only particular machine here is a single “processor”. Need we say more?
7,483,852 Total value bidding
Assignee: Ariba, Inc.
1. A computer implemented method of evaluating values of different terms in online auctions comprising:
obtaining an interest rate and a period from a buyer for a lot, the lot having a predetermined value;
receiving a first bid from a first bidder and a second bid from a second bidder on the lot, the first and second bids each having a payment time and a rebate;
transforming the first bid into a first value and the second bid into a second value using the interest rate, period, and predetermined value from the buyer and the payment times and rebates from the first and second bidders; and
providing as output the first and second value to allow the first value to be compared with the second value to choose the best bid for a particular situation;
wherein the transforming comprises: determining a factor from the interest rate and the period; and generating a first and second adder from the first and second payment times, respectively, the interest rate, the period, and the predetermined value; and wherein the generating comprises: calculating the adder (b) according to equations (2) and (3): [insert image of mathematical summation formula] wherein: q=1 to total time periods; payment value=payment time-period; and extra time.sub.q,=total time units from 0 to q time periods+payment value.
Commentary: Only an allusion to machine here (“computer implemented”). Could it be that “transforming”step?? The kicker, of course, is that the Examiner allowed this method claim but REJECTED the system and Beauregard claims under 101!
7,483,851 Method and system for venture capitalist distribution of stock
Assignee: Goldman Sachs
1. A method for providing restricted security distribution instructions to a transfer agent in a distribution of securities from a Venture Capitalist to a plurality of participants comprising:
receiving distribution information from a Venture Capitalist ("VC") in electronic form, the distribution information including data indicating for each participant in the distribution a name, an identification number, and a number of allocated securities;
importing the distribution information into a database system;
matching participants identified in the distribution information to participant information previously entered in the database system;
associating each respective participant in the distribution information with a contact from which instructions regarding a disposition of the allocated securities to each respective participant can be obtained;
indicating a plurality of contacts to be contacted to obtain distribution instructions for associated participants;
sorting the plurality of contacts in an order of urgency;
contacting the plurality of contacts in order of urgency to obtain the distribution instructions, such that contacts associated with more exigent items are contacted before contacts associated with less exigent items;
storing the distribution instructions received from the plurality of contacts in the database system;
generating a report including received distribution instructions for the participants in the distribution; and
providing the report to a transfer agent.
Commentary: Again, the only thing close to a machine here is that pesky “database system.” Real particular.
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