Patenting computer program techniques aren't like patenting a particular device, they're the equivalent of patenting "The use of a large, sturdy mass, usually metal, for the purpose of driving a metallic shard into a softer understructure by repeated forceful application of the sturdy mass via the use of a force magnification device." In other words, hammers, all of them at a shot. Pneumatic, sledge, magnetic, robotic, impact, even jack with enough creativity and the right lawyers. There aren't many ideas like this available!