What level of usefulness must an invention satisfy to meet the "utility" requirement?

To satisfy the "utility" requirement for patentability, an invention must have a specific, substantial, and credible utility. This means that it must be capable of providing some practical benefit or demonstrating that it is useful. The requirement does not demand that the invention be the most efficient method of achieving the desired result, nor does it have to represent the best mode of carrying out the invention. In fact, the standard for usefulness allows for an invention to provide some basic functionality, which is why a description of "crude functionality" aligns well with the threshold for utility.

This understanding is rooted in the notion that as long as the invention has some identifiable benefit or function that could be considered useful, it typically meets the criteria established under patent law. The more sophisticated notions of efficiency or immediate benefits, as suggested by the other options, are not required to fulfill the utility standard in the patent context.