Chessbase patent

[Peperoni]

Hello,

I was curious about what kind of patents exist in Chess software and I found this :
https://patents.google.com/patent/US8109820B2/

Did they really patent the fact to display engines variations?

Or maybe I misunderstood something ...

[Andrew]

Check claim 1 and the abstract.
They're getting an engine to analyze a set of game moves, storing top ranked moves (whatever that means) in a database,
some more steps, generating from the database "instructional" puzzles. Not sure if it would be patentable subject matter here in Aus.

At the start they mention a program Chess Mentor (also with a patent) that this is meant to be an improvement on.

A couple of the drawings look interesting.

Andrew

[Andrew]

I'll just add that as far as I can tell from the inventor/applicant and other data on this patent it has no relationship to Chessbase
the company. But correct me if I'm wrong!

Andrew

[daniel71]

Maybe this is a patent troll just waiting to make money because they applied for the patent. Should not be allowed because this has been in the open domain for a very long time.

[Peperoni]

Maybe this is a patent troll just waiting to make money because they applied for the patent. Should not be allowed because this has been in the open domain for a very long time.

This is exactly my point, and we should be careful of the definition of "puzzle".

From wikipedia :
Chess puzzles can also be regular positions from a game (with normal rules), usually meant as training positions, tactical or positional, from all phases of the game (openings, middlegame and endings). These are known as tactical puzzles. They can range from a simple "Mate in one" combination to a complex attack on the opponent's king. Solving tactical chess puzzles is a very common chess teaching technique. Although it is unlikely that the same position will occur in a game the student plays, the recognition of certain patterns can help to find a good move or plan in another position.

If puzzle = position, this patent is ridiculous ...

[Andrew]

Maybe this is a patent troll just waiting to make money because they applied for the patent. Should not be allowed because this has been in the open domain for a very long time.

THey were also the same inventors for the
https://patents.google.com/patent/US567 ... c678%2c001
patent i.e. the Chess Mentor program

So I don't think a patent troll.(They have products)

[jefk]

it's for Chess Mentor, not Chessbase

but either such patents don't work, or
they were too late (with such a patent)

and they seem to be out of business,
although the programs still is there
https://chess-mentor.software.informer.com

[Peperoni]

Yes you are right jefk !

[daniel71]

I purchased all the Chess Mentor software long time ago, its ancient history and maybe cannot run on Windows 10 now. Maybe the Spanish priest Ruy Lopez descendants are owed huge back payments since he was the first to have a opening named after him. I think this is ridiculous.

[jefk]

some 35 yrs ago when i didn't know much about
chess i filed for intellectual property rights
the move 1.e3 !
whereafter i was attacked by such persons
as (not here anymore i guess) a certain Vvd
as an idiot; now it's already proven to be the solution
of losing chess.
Mentioned Vvd (banned now since some 2 decades
in the Dutch computer chess association), apparently never
achieved is goal as becoming IM) asked me if i knew anything about
chess (sigh my grandfather told me a few things, but i wanted to
see such things in math computer perspective)

So now the 1.e3 or late e3 move is not so bad:


PS now i've claimed chess is draw, i ofcourse also
sometimes get derogatory reactions, but nevertheless
1.e3 cannot win for White in normal chess (although it's
a brilliant move avoiding zugzwang) so chess is a draw.