Re^2: Help! DBD/DBIx::Chart need patent protection!

[renodino]

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

[ikegami]

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.

[renodino]

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.

[ikegami]

You ignored the second point I brought up. From the first clause:

where a first portion of the text query specifies the data to be retrieved and a second portion of the text query specifies a format for graphing the data

DBD::Chart fetches its data from an existing table, but the patent explicitly combines data query with output formatting.

If there's any ambiguity in that, it's cleared up in by the following: The choice of chart type is done "in accordance with a keyword in the second portion of the text query." DBD::Chart has neither such a keyword nor "a second portion of the text query".