BlackBerry Limited formulates, develops, and retails wireless solutions for the international mobile communications network. The Company also offers platforms and services for access to mails, mobile phones, SMS, texting, Internet, and Intranet-based applications.
In India, the business of BlackBerry Limited focuses on Device and method for improving the efficiency of entering a password using a key-limited keyboard, PUBLISHING LOCATION FOR A LIMITED TIME, SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BAND-LIMITED SUBFRAMES IN WIRELESS NETWORKS, and Apparatus and method pertaining to a stylus having a plurality of non-passive location modalities.
BlackBerry Limited filed a patent application numbered 2346/DELNP/2013 that is titled A MECHANISM FOR MANAGING AUTHENTICATION DEVICE LIFECYCLES. The patent has been filed in the field of Computer Science. This Patent Application has been granted as Patent Number 351808. This invention relates to an authentication device that is used to authenticate a component to a product using a secret key. The life of the verification device is monitored by selective deletion of the private key. An attestation statement is transmitted by the device after the deletion of the key. Due to faulty elements or oversupply of the devices may be rendered inoperable and audited.
During the patent examination, the Patent Examiner raised objections under Section 3(k) of the Patents Act, 1970 (as amended) stating that the subject matter of the claims includes a set of sequences employed to execute an algorithm, without publishing any structural element of the said claims. Other, claims include an apparatus without disclosing any constructional or structural feature of the said claims but in turn, represents an algorithm in a sequential manner. The claims are computer program products having computer-executable instructions, so they are computer programs per se, and also do not disclose any constructional or structural feature.
As a response, the Applicant submitted that the subject matter of amended claims do not involve a mere representation of an algorithm and hence they cannot be objected to being falling under the ambit of algorithms or computer program. The invention discloses physical constructional features like authentication devices as integrated circuits, components, products, secure memory, and logic unit. As the claimed invention is implemented using physical constructional features, the invention cannot be considered as a mere scheme or mental method.
Advocate Rahul Dev is a Patent Attorney & International Business Lawyer practicing Technology, Intellectual Property & Corporate Laws. He is reachable at rd (at) patentbusinesslawyer (dot) com & @rdpatentlawyer on Twitter.
Quoted in and contributed to 50+ national & international publications (Bloomberg, FirstPost, SwissInfo, Outlook Money, Yahoo News, Times of India, Economic Times, Business Standard, Quartz, Global Legal Post, International Bar Association, LawAsia, BioSpectrum Asia, Digital News Asia, e27, Leaders Speak, Entrepreneur India, VCCircle, AutoTech).
Regularly invited to speak at international & national platforms (conferences, TV channels, seminars, corporate trainings, government workshops) on technology, patents, business strategy, legal developments, leadership & management.
