Celestia Forums

I recently came across the following patent in a Google search, which would seem to imply that using a computer to convert equatorial to ecliptic coordinates is a patented process in the US.

United States Patent 7083415

Also looks like the patent was issued on August 1, 2006.

Hmmm...

ajtribick wrote:I recently came across the following patent in a Google search, which would seem to imply that using a computer to convert equatorial to ecliptic coordinates is a patented process in the US.

United States Patent 7083415

Also looks like the patent was issued on August 1, 2006.

Hmmm...

That is unbelievable, indeed!

What I could perhaps understand is that a particularly economic algorithm could become patented. Like we know since a long time that using quaternions to parametrize rotations requires considerably less CPU cycles than doing the same thing with matrices. It's an easy exercise to check...

Fridger

Ridiculous.

I didn't read the whole patent, but these opening lines give some flavor for the contents:



--Chris

Hmm what about prior art? This technique exists for centuries? Ofcourse then it wouldn't be calculated on a computer.

Hummm...

... utilizing a computer or calculator having an iterative equation solver function, coding said conversion formulae into said computational device, and operating said conversions, wherein first solving for latitude, then solving for longitude;

So, solve for longitude first and then latitude and you'll not be violating his patent.

In reading this patent, especially the very last paragraph of it, and seeing "... worshipping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.", I find it interesting such a man would then quote this in an effort to patent this very thing. Hypocrite!



My apologies Selden, for quoting the religious text.