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in reply to Help! DBD/DBIx::Chart need patent protection!

The patent and DBD::Chart cover different grounds. The patent very specifically covers an extension to SQL (including new keywords) to be used to apply a transform on the output of a query. DBD::Chart does not extend SQL — it creates virtual tables instead — and cannot be used to transform the output of queries.

Update: Improved the grammar.

  • Comment on Re: Help! DBD/DBIx::Chart need patent protection!

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Re^2: Help! DBD/DBIx::Chart need patent protection!
by renodino (Curate) on Feb 19, 2009 at 23:31 UTC
    Er, huh ? Which part of the SQL syntax in DBD/DBIx::Chart *isn't* about charting ? e.g., from the DBIx::Chart homepage, first example: 
    select * from simpline
    returning linegraph(*), imagemap
    where WIDTH=500
    AND HEIGHT=500
    AND X_AXIS='Some Domain'
    AND Y_AXIS='Some Range'
    AND TITLE='Linegraph Test'
    AND SIGNATURE='(C)2002, GOWI Systems'
    AND LOGO='t/gowilogo.png'
    AND FORMAT='PNG'
    AND SHOWGRID=1
    AND LINEWIDTH=4
    AND MAPNAME='simpline'
    AND MAPURL='http://www.gowi.com/cgi-bin/sample.pl?x=:X&y=:Y&z=:Z&p
+lotno=:PLOTNUM'
    AND MAPTYPE='HTML'
    AND COLOR='newcolor'
    AND SHAPE='fillcircle'
    AND SHOWVALUES=1

    [download]
    Perl Contrarian & SQL fanboy
[reply]
[d/l]

      Which part of the SQL syntax in DBD/DBIx::Chart *isn't* about charting

      None of it is. Except maybe for "returning", that would run fine on a MySQL database (for example).

      In fact, I can't find "returning" anywhere in the documentation. I don't think it's part of DBD::Chart's syntax either.

[reply]
        Hmmm. An interesting interpretation. I suppose, given a narrow interpretation of the patent application in question, you're correct, in that DBD/DBIx::Chart attempts to conform to existing SQL syntax as much as possible, whereas the patent attempts to create whole new syntax elements for SQL. However, patents (esp. software patents) don't seem to be written for narrow interpretation, so I think it behooves me to file a prior art claim, since either

        1. You're right: in which case, its important that the patent office dismiss my claim of prior art so any users of DBD/DBIx::Chart needn't worry about future claims of infringement, since it predates the patent filing, and has been ruled unrelated by the patent office
        2. I'm right: in which case, its important that the patent be denied on prior art claims.
        Perl Contrarian & SQL fanboy
[reply]
Re^2: Help! DBD/DBIx::Chart need patent protection!
by wol (Hermit) on Feb 20, 2009 at 14:45 UTC
    I'd be very wary of making this judgement. (Unless you're a patent lawyer and this is your legal advice on this case, of course :-)

    I also had a look at the DBIx::Chart homepage, and the text under "Show SQL" does look like SQL which produces graphs, complete with an addition to the SQL tokens ("RETURNING"). I think the patent is trying to claim such a kind of language.

    I don't think that the DBIx::Chart implementation has any bearing. The patent claims a "system", and a system can be implemented in any number of peices.

    I'm no lawyer, but prima facie I'd say that the patent and DBIx::Chart may be in conflict.

    --
    use JAPH;
    print JAPH::asString();

[reply]

      I also had a look at the DBIx::Chart homepage,

      There was no mention of DBIx::Chart in the OP. My reply only applies to the module he did mention, DBD::Chart. I made no comments regarding DBIx::Chart. Having not found the word "returning" in the source for DBD::Chart, I didn't realize he pulled a switcheroo on me in his second post.

      It looks far more likely that DBIx::Chart might have common ground with the patent.

[reply]

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