[mwambua]

I agree. I'd be pleasantly surprised if this isn't patented already.

[Thrillington]

This is too general (and likely obvious to a skilled practitioner) an idea to be patented.

[Ironchefpython]

> This is too general (and likely obvious to a skilled practitioner) an idea to be patented.

I think you mean that this is too obvious an idea to NOT have been patented.