BlackBerry applied for a patent in India on an invention it claimed regarding a method of verifying a digital signature, especially in smaller devices like mobile phones. However, this patent has been denied, says the Financial Times.
Why was BlackBerry denied?
The invention generally relates to the processing of messages and a method for validating certificates used in the processing of encoded messages, the Canadian firm claims. Technical issues concerning time and the costs involved in verifying smaller devices such as mobile phones can be solved with this invention, argued the company.
Despite that, the patent office in India refused to grant the patent, noting that the claims fell under Section 3 (k) of section 3 of Patent Act 1970. Section 3 (k) states that mathematical and business methods, computer programs per se or algorithms are categorized as non-patentable subject matter, the report says
Ajay Singh Meena, assistant controller of patents and designs, explained why he rejected the patent application: “The instructions for performing the steps of the method claims and execution of instruction are software features and are not physical constructional features. It is considered as a not patentable subject matter.”
However, BlackBerry claims the present invention was directed at a system and method for efficient verification of digital signatures on certificates. The system stored certain information employed in signature verification operation for the purpose of reuse.
In the patent document, BlackBerry claims the verification process can be both time-consuming and costly, particularly in cases, where the verifications are performed on smaller devices such as mobile devices. At times, the same digital signature is subjected to verification more than once when multiple certificates are processed on the computing device.
Two new handsets
In other BlackBerry news, a some Chinese sources released a few images and details for the two handsets code-named the “Hamburg’ and “Rome,” but we have learned that some nefarious activities have been going on. CrackBerry claims the Chinese source that leaked these images and details acquired them from Dylan Habkirk and re-watermarked them as their own.
Habkirk is a contributor to CrackBerry forums, and he has inside information from BlackBerry. Using his own information as the basis, Habkirk rendered those images. In Hamburg’s case, he has seen some “internal device sketches,” while his renderings of the Rome were based on his own hands-on time with a prototype.
On Friday, BlackBerry shares closed down 1.21% at $6.53. Year to date, the stock is down by over 30%, while in the last year, it is down almost 37%.
