Both are possible. If you want to protect the method, you can only apply for an invention patent. Authorization is slow and the application time is relatively long. If you want to protect the equipment used in the method, you can apply for an invention patent or a utility patent. New patents and utility model patents can be applied for authorization quickly and the application process is relatively short.
If you feel that both methods and equipment can be patented, that person suggested: 1: Apply for a patent, then apply for an invention patent. The claims in this invention patent include protection of methods and equipment;
2. Apply for 2 patents, apply for an invention patent to protect the method; apply for a utility model patent to protect the equipment, which can achieve the purpose of faster protection.