In re Taner

Citation: In re Taner, 681 F.2d 787 (C.C.P.A. 1982).

Factual Background
Following the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Diamond v. Diehr, the Patent and Trademark Office rejected a patent application for a method of seismic exploration using simulated seismic waves which were generated by summing the signals of conventional waves. A mathematical algorithm carried out on a digital computer was a part of the claimed invention.

C.C.P.A. Decision
Reversing the Patent Office, the C.C.P.A. held that the simulated signal constituted a physical conversion of the summed actual signals, and was therefore a patentable process.