`
`In ‘u
`Lt- Mt fa
`
`“pf/Y
`
`5%,;
`
`0722.
`
`*'
`
`
`
`WASHINGTON, D. C. 20231
`
`Art Unit:
`
`Examiner: Felicia Ives
`
`In re application of:
`
`LAWRENCE B. LOCKWOOD
`
`Serial No: 08/210,301
`
`Filed: March 16, 1994
`
`For:
`
`AUTOMATED SALES AND
`SERVICES SYSTEM
`
`AMENDMENT
`
`Box Non-fee Amendment (Pats)
`
`The Honorable Commissioner
`of Patents and Trademarks
`Washington, D. c. 20231
`
`Dear Sir:
`
`f7Vm5fi1;‘"
`
`F3ngkgwymjj
`MflY 0? m0
`"
`"’
`
`GRQUP .2333
`
`In response to the Examiner's Communication mailed April 1,
`
`1996,
`
`applicant offers
`
`this
`
`amendment
`
`to be
`
`entered as
`
`a
`
`substitute for
`
`the amendment filed November 2,
`
`1995 which is
`
`hereby withdrawn.
`In response to the Office Action mailed September 26, 1995,
`
`please amend this application as indicated below:
`
`In The Specification
`
`
`
`‘
`
`/fl£
`
`On page 19,
`
`line 4; page 42,
`
`line 24; page 45,
`
`line 25; page
`
`46,
`
`line 15; page 51,
`
`lines 10, 13, and 16; page 58,
`
`lines 7, 10,
`
`14, 16 and 26; and on page 59,
`
`lines 4 and 7, replace "R" with --
`
`('9--.
`
`Landmark Exhibit 2008
`
`Ebay and GSI V. Landmark
`
`IPR2014—00026 ‘
`
`Landmark Exhibit 2008
`Ebay and GSI v. Landmark
`IPR2014-00026
`
`
`
`.
`
`.
`
`v
`
`E% M
`@6wwgo
`Delete Claims 8 and 9.
`
`Amend Claims 1, 7, 11 and 12 as indicated below.
`
`,,r
`
`1.
`
`(Once Amended)
`
`A computer search system for retrieving
`
`information, comprising:
`
`means for storing interrelated textual
`
`information and
`
`graphical information;
`
`means
`
`for
`
`interrelating said textual
`
`and graphical
`
`information;
`
`a plurality of entry path means
`
`for searching said
`
`stored interrelated textual and graphical information, said entry
`
`path means comprising:
`
`textual
`
`search entry path means
`
`for
`
`searching said
`
`textual
`
`information and for
`
`retrieving interrelated graphical
`
`information to said searched text;
`
`graphics entry path means for searching said graphical
`
`information and for retrieving interrelated textual
`
`information
`
`to said searched graphical information;
`
`selecting means for providing a menu of said plurality
`
`of entry path means for selection;
`
`automatic data processing means for executing inquiries
`
`provided by a user in order to search said textual and graphical
`
`information through said selected entry path means
`
`and
`
`for
`
`fetching data as a function of other data;
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`29
`
`30
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`indicating means for indicating a pathway that accesses
`
`information
`
`related in one
`
`of
`
`said entry path means
`
`to
`
`information accessible in another one of said entry path means;
`
`accessing means
`
`for providing access to said related
`
`information in said another entry path means; and
`
`output means
`
`for
`
`receiving search results from said
`
`processing means and said related information from said accessing
`
`means
`
`and
`
`for providing said search results
`
`and
`
`received
`
`information to such user.
`
`In Claim 7,
`
`line
`
`3,
`
`replace
`
`"assisting means" with
`
`--informing means--.
`
`11.
`
`(Once Amended) The search system according to Claim 1
`
`which further comprises:
`
`[A computer search system for retrieving
`
`information, comprising:
`
`means for storing interrelated textual
`
`information and
`
`graphical information;
`
`means
`
`for
`
`interrelating said textual
`
`and graphical
`
`information;
`
`a plurality of entry path means
`
`for searching said
`
`stored interrelated textual and graphical information, said entry
`
`path means comprising:
`
`textual
`
`information
`
`and
`
`for
`
`retrieving
`
`interrelated graphical information to said searched text;
`
`graphics
`
`entry path means
`
`for
`
`searching said
`
`
`
`n
`
`a-
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`29
`
`30
`
`31
`
`graphical
`
`information and for
`
`retrieving interrelated textual
`
`information to said searched graphical information;]
`
`title finder entry path means for assisting a user
`
`in uncovering titles stored in said stored textual information
`
`[; selecting means for providing a nmnu of said
`
`plurality of entry path means for selection;
`
`processing means for executing inquiries provided
`
`by
`
`a user
`
`in order
`
`to search said textual
`
`and graphical
`
`information through said selected entry path means;
`
`indicating means
`for
`indicating a pathway that
`accesses information related in one of said entry path means to
`
`information accessible in another one of said entry path means;
`
`accessing means
`
`for providing access
`
`to said
`
`related information in said another entry path means; and
`
`output means
`
`for
`
`receiving search results from
`
`said processing means
`
`and said.
`
`related information from said
`
`accessing means
`
`and
`
`for providing said search results
`
`and
`
`received information to such user].
`
`12.
`
`(Once Amended)
`
`A computerized system for selecting and
`
`ordering a variety of
`
`informationI goods and services, which
`
`comprises:
`
`-a
`
`plurality
`
`of
`
`computerized
`
`data
`
`processing
`
`installations
`
`programmed
`
`for
`
`processing
`
`orders
`
`for
`
`said
`
`informationI goods and services;
`
`at
`
`least
`
`one
`
`computerized
`
`station,
`
`said
`
`station
`
`
`
`including:
`
`a micro-processor;
`
`a device for displaying graphical and textual material;
`
`at
`
`least one mass memory device controlled by said
`
`micro-processor;
`
`means for addressing at least one of said computerized
`
`data processing installations,
`
`and
`
`for
`
`sending thereto and
`
`receiving therefrom, coded messages and batches of data;
`
`program means for controlling the display tdisplaying]
`
`on said display device[,] 9; inquiries and acceptable answers;
`
`user operated means for selecting at least one of said
`
`acceptable answers;
`
`means
`
`for
`
`accumulating
`
`a
`
`set
`
`of
`
`said acceptable
`
`answers;
`
`automatic data processing means for processing said set
`
`of answers as a function of other data;
`
`means
`
`for
`
`storing
`
`in
`
`said mass-storing
`
`device,
`
`interrelated textual information and graphical information;
`
`means
`
`for
`
`interrelating said textual
`
`and graphical
`
`information;
`
`a plurality of entry path means
`
`for searching said
`
`stored interrelated textual and graphical information;
`
`means,
`
`responsive to said. means
`
`for processing,
`
`for
`
`executing inquiries provided by said user and for searching said
`
`textual and graphical
`
`information through said selected entry
`
`10
`
`11
`
`12
`
`13
`
`14
`
`15
`
`16
`
`17
`
`18
`
`19
`
`20
`
`21
`
`22
`
`23
`
`24
`
`25
`
`26
`
`27
`
`28
`
`29
`
`3O
`
`31
`
`32
`
`
`
`33
`
`34
`
`35
`
`36
`
`37
`
`38
`
`39
`
`path means;
`
`said means for executing and searching,
`
`including means
`
`I for addressing at
`
`least
`
`one of
`
`said installations
`
`and
`
`for
`
`retrieving data related to said answer; and
`
`means
`
`responsive to said
`
`means
`
`for processing,
`
`for
`
`transferring orders for said information, goods and services to
`
`said installations.
`
`REMARKS
`
`Claims 1-7 and 10-12 remain pending in this application.
`
`1. Applicant respectfully traverses the rejection under 35
`
`USC
`
`112,
`
`first paragraph,
`
`and points
`
`to the below4listed
`
`materials in the disclosures to support every element in each of
`
`the claims.
`
`For
`
`the
`
`sake
`
`of brevity,
`
`disclosure
`
`of
`
`the
`
`instant
`
`application will be referred to as "A '301", application serial
`
`number 822,115 will be referenced as "A '115", and the disclosure
`
`of U.S. Patent No. 4,359,631 and 4,567,359 which specifications
`
`are incorporated by reference on page 21,
`
`lines 15—18 of
`
`the
`
`specification, will be referred to respectively as "P '631" and
`
`"P '359".
`
`Support for the invention as recited in the remaining claims
`
`can
`
`be
`
`found
`
`in various parts
`
`of
`
`the parent patents
`
`and
`
`applications as follows:
`
`In the
`
`following outline "r" refers to a drawing reference,
`
`"p" refers to a page,
`
`"c" refers to a column, and "1" refers to
`
`
`
`lines.
`
`To facilitate the understanding of terms used in the claim
`
`language and specification,
`
`the following definitions are from
`
`the IBM Dictionary of Computing.
`
`'Menu'
`
`is defined as;
`
`"A list
`
`of options displayed to the user by a data processing system,
`
`from which the user
`
`can select
`
`an action to be
`
`initiated."
`
`'Entry'
`
`is defined as;
`
`"In programming languages,
`
`a
`
`language
`
`construct within a procedure, designating the start of
`
`the
`
`execution sequences of the procedure.
`
`A procedure may have more
`
`than one entry.
`
`Synonym for entry pointJ'
`
`'Entry point'
`
`is
`
`defined as;
`
`"In a database,
`
`the record that
`
`is first accessed
`
`upon entry into a database, caused by a user's command."
`
`'Path'
`
`is defined as;
`
`"The route used to locate files;
`
`the storage
`
`location of a file."
`
`'Search' is defined as;
`
`"A function or mode
`
`that enables the user to locate occurrences of such things as
`
`particular character strings,
`
`embedded commands, or boldface
`
`letters in a document.
`
`The process of looking for a particular
`
`item."
`
`'Retrieve'
`
`is defined as;
`
`"To locate data in storage and
`
`read it so that it can be processed, printed or displayed."
`
`Claim 1
`
`A computer search system for retrieving information,
`a.
`comprising:
`
`means for storing interrelated textual
`graphical information;
`
`information and
`
`The means for storing interrelated textual
`
`information and
`
`graphical information are the video discs (P '631: r 27/P '359: r
`~‘———_—-——-———
`
`
`
`9/A '115: r 14/A '301: r 9, r 114), and RAMs and/or on-line mass
`
`storage P '631: r 28/P '359: r 14/A '115: r 17 and A '301: r 117.
`m
`
`The latter constitute storage of the information downloaded from
`
`the
`
`central
`
`station which
`
`consists
`
`of
`
`transitory travel
`
`information (P '631: c 3,
`M
`
`1 26-34),
`
`insurance policy information
`
`(P '359: c 7, 1 5-13),
`
`loan schedule information (A '115: p 10,
`
`1
`
`3-10)
`
`and times and prices information (A '301: p 26,
`
`1 1-6).
`
`The storage means associated with the central station, financial
`
`institution, or network (P '631: r 42/P '359: r 23/A '115: r 8/A
`———‘1__,
`
`'301: r 108, r 223, r 281). Although single and/or dual storage
`
`devices are taught at
`
`the remote station in P '631,
`
`
`P
`
`'359, A
`
`'115 and A '301, a single hard disk drive can perform a similar
`
`function.
`
`For example,
`
`P
`
`'359 taught a mass memory device as
`
`being a Winchester hard disk drive with 40 Mbytes of online disk
`
`storage.
`
`b.
`
`means
`
`for
`
`interrelating said textual
`
`and graphical
`
`information;
`
`The graphical and textual information on the video disc and
`
`other memory devices
`
`are
`
`interrelated through
`
`the various
`
`processor hardware and software components (A '301: p 21,
`
`l 19-p
`
`23, 1 13).
`
`Graphical
`
`information in the
`
`form of
`
`the
`
`"fictitious
`
`officer" offers a means for interrelating textual
`
`information (P
`
`'359: c 1,
`
`1 60-61; c 5,
`
`1 32-36; c 6,
`
`1 46-c 7,
`
`l 13/A '115: p
`
`7,
`
`1 7-11; p 8, 1 1-17; p 10,
`
`1 3-12/A '301: p 13,
`
`1 16-21; p 35,
`
`
`
`1 9—15; p 36,
`
`1 3-22; p 37,
`
`1 8-20; p 38,
`
`1 22-p 39,
`
`1 3).
`
`In the second alternate embodiment’of the invention (Figures
`
`12-17)
`
`the data sources 223 store audio-visual segments (A '301 p
`
`46,
`
`1 7-13)
`
`that
`
`include video presentations of various choices
`
`of available goods and services, and selection menus
`
`(A '301: p
`
`48,
`
`1 3—9).
`
`The goods and services presentations include both
`
`graphical and textual information (A '301: p 16,
`
`1 9-11; p 18,
`
`1
`
`14-19),
`
`including use in the educational, medical and health
`
`industries (A '301: p 60, 1 14-18).
`
`for searching said
`a plurality of entry path. means
`c.
`stored interrelated textual and graphical information, said entry
`path means comprising:
`
`searching said
`for
`search entry path means
`textual
`information and for
`retrieving interrelated graphical
`textual
`information to said searched text;
`
`Menus are provided in every disclosed embodiment to retrieve
`
`both related and unrelated graphical and textual
`
`information.
`
`Interrelated iterative search routines are provided in every
`
`disclosed embodiment
`data.
`
`to retrieve related graphical and textual
`V
`
`"The menu display 233 presents a series of selections in
`
`which choices are available to navigate through the numerous
`
`decision-making branches of possible interactions.
`
`The main menu
`
`presents the general categories of products and services which
`
`are available such as: retail,.travel,
`
`financial and grocery...
`
`For example, key #5 would be - repeat, key #6 would be - return
`
`to main menu, key #7 would be - new selection and so forth...
`
`
`
`The customer can quickly locate a specific product or service by
`
`defining his
`
`selections
`
`through the menu...
`
`the menu
`
`also
`
`displays a numbered key for entry on the control device for an
`
`order of a product or service.
`
`Product ordering menu questions
`
`would include; quantity, color, sizes and styles" (A '301: p 53,
`
`l 13-p 54,
`
`l 25). Hence,
`
`the textual menu selections lead to the
`
`retrieval of interrelated graphical presentations of products or
`
`services ("...a typical audio-visual presentation..." A '301: p
`
`53,
`
`1 20).
`
`A textual menu with selections made on a keypad or keyboard
`
`can give access to textual information such as a flight schedule
`
`(P '631: c 3,
`
`l 20),
`
`insurance policy quotations (P '359: c 6,
`
`1
`
`51-53), a loan schedule (A '115: p 8, 1 10-17/A '301: p 36,
`
`l 14-
`
`22), or the price of a product,
`
`the cost of a service, and any
`
`other information necessary to make a buying decision (A '301: p
`
`15,
`
`l 26-p 16,
`
`l 11; p 54,
`
`1 3-16).
`
`For example, retieval of
`
`interrelated graphical
`
`information to searched text is necessary
`
`to present the local and remote travel information (A '301: r 2,3
`
`and 6).
`
`A requested sales presentation typically includes pictorial
`
`representations
`
`of
`
`hotel
`
`facilities
`
`and
`
`textual
`
`travel
`
`information (A '301:
`
`p 27,
`
`l
`
`24
`
`-
`
`p 28,
`
`l 6).
`
`(see also
`
`subparagraph (f) of Claim 1).
`
`graphics entry path means for searching said graphical
`d.
`information and for retrieving interrelated textual
`information
`
`10
`
`
`
`to said searched graphical information;
`
`The display of graphical
`
`information such as
`
`a video
`
`presentation of particular financial services by the "fictitious
`
`officer" (P '359: c 1,
`
`1 31-41/A '115: p 7,
`
`1 8-ll/A '301: p 35,
`
`1 10-13),
`
`and various types of graphical and textual data (A
`
`'301: p 29,
`
`l 17-P 30,
`
`1 2)
`
`lead to the retrieval of graphical or
`
`textual presentations of alternate options.
`
`"...the customer is
`
`asked [by the audio-visual display of the "fictitious officer"]
`
`if he/she wishes to purchase a policy...
`
`If the answer is yes,
`
`the customer is asked to select the insurance coverage [words and
`
`numbers] and insurance company [names, words, addresses] desired"
`
`(P '359: c 7,
`
`1 14-24).
`
`P '631 does not
`
`teach a graphic entry
`
`path means for searching interrelated textual information.
`
`The system presents a search path that can be characterized
`
`as graphical or based on graphics in two different ways. First,
`
`"the terminal
`
`is programmed to audio-visually elicit
`
`from the
`
`customer
`
`the
`
`information necessary to provide
`
`an
`
`insurance
`
`quotation from the various companies"
`
`(P '359:
`
`c 2,
`
`1 12-15).
`
`Thus,
`
`the search and selection of
`
`the appropriate insurance
`
`policy's textual quotations are performed through an audio-visual
`
`means, i.e., a graphical means.
`
`Second,
`
`the selection may be performed by selecting one of
`
`several audio-visual presentations or travelogs "For example,
`
`a
`
`typical sales presentation for selecting hotel accommodations...
`
`would include displaying pictorial
`
`representations of hotels,
`
`11
`
`
`
`i.e., overview,
`
`rooms, restaurants, sporting facilities, swimming
`
`pools, and tennis courts. Applicable textual travel information
`
`such
`
`as
`
`Canadian
`
`custom
`
`and
`
`immunization
`
`regulations
`
`correlatively stored with the hotel's
`
`information would
`
`be
`
`displayed textually. This textual information would be backed by
`
`maps of the area."
`
`(A '301: p 27,
`
`1 24-p 28,
`
`l 6 and r 2 and 3).
`
`Accordingly,
`
`the search is performed on pictoral or graphical
`
`information to retrieve related textual information.
`
`The entire presentation originates from multiple graphical
`
`entry paths,
`
`i.e., English or Spanish.
`
`"Once
`
`the system is
`
`activated the recording of an image and sound of a fictitious
`
`loan officer... graphically.appears on the video screen.v The
`
`fictitious loan officer takes the applicant
`
`through a language
`
`selection routine.
`
`In this case,
`
`the applicant is asked in both
`
`English and Spanish in what
`
`language the loan transaction is to
`
`be conducted."
`
`(A '301: p 36,
`
`1 3-10).
`
`(see also subparagraph
`
`(f) of Claim 1).
`
`selecting means for providing a menu of said plurality
`e.
`of entry path means for selection;
`
`In all embodiments (P '359 through A '301), menus including
`
`text and photographs are provided by display on video screens
`
`generated by the processors at the remote terminal sites or at
`
`the control center
`
`(A '301:
`
`p 17,
`
`1 19-24).
`
`"The various
`
`programs
`
`for
`
`executing
`
`the
`
`operations
`
`of
`
`the
`
`sales
`
`and
`
`information terminal and the data processing center computer 222
`
`12
`
`
`
`are of a 'menu-type' and can best be understood with reference to
`
`the flow diagrams of Figures 13-16" (A '301: p 49,
`
`1 20-24).
`
`f. automatic data processing means for executing inquiries
`provided by a user in order to search said textual and graphical
`information through said selected entry path means
`and
`for
`fetching data as a function of other data;
`
`The automatic data processing means for executing inquiries
`
`by complex multi-level decision-making and fetching sequences are
`
`not found in P '631; but are disclosed for the first time in P
`
`'359.
`
`Examples of multi-level decision-making and
`
`fetching
`
`sequences include:
`
`(i)
`
`relaying
`
`requested
`
`information
`
`selectively
`
`gathered from the operator to the data processing center and
`
`receiving therefrom processed data to be displayed to the
`
`operator (P '359: c 6,
`
`1 2-9; c 7,
`
`1 5-24);
`
`(ii) reprogramming the entire video presentation system
`
`depending upon the language selected by the operator
`
`(P
`
`'359: c 6,
`
`1 41-45/A '115: p 8,
`
`1 3-6/A '301: p 36,
`
`1 7—10);
`
`(iii)
`
`fetching from storage previously selected data,
`
`i.e., related quotations, which alter and modify the search
`
`process (P '359: c 6,
`
`1 46-50/ A '115: p 8,
`
`l 10-17/A '301:
`
`p 36, 1 14-22);
`
`(iv)
`
`framing the sequence of questions presented to the
`
`operator according to the type of insurance or loan selected
`
`(P '359: c 6,
`
`1 51-56/A '115: p 9,
`
`1 10-14/A '301: p 36,
`
`1
`
`14-20); and generally analyzing certain key answers in order
`
`13
`
`
`
`to determine the decision or next step to be taken (A '115:
`
`p 9,
`
`1 23-25/A '301: p 38, 1 4-7);
`
`(v)
`
`using operator determinants to select the display
`
`segments and to formulate the message to be sent
`
`to the
`
`central processor (A '301: p 24,
`
`l 21—p 25, l 5);
`
`(vi)
`
`contrary to the process disclosed in P
`
`'631,
`
`conducting
`
`and
`
`processing
`
`some
`
`of
`
`the
`
`customer's
`
`qualifications as will be explained in section 2;
`
`(vii)
`
`implementation of an address matrix to search
`
`and
`
`compose
`
`local,
`
`local/remote
`
`and
`
`remote multimedia
`
`displays (A '301: p 27,
`
`1 13-20); and
`
`(viii)
`
`searching hierarchical databases to facilitate
`
`the retrieval of multimedia information (A '301:
`
`p 27,
`
`l
`
`25) .
`
`indicating means for indicating a pathway that accesses
`9.
`information related in one of
`said entry path means
`to
`information accessible in another one of said entry path means;
`
`The presentation by the "fictitious officer" of various
`
`choices, provide pathway indications to graphical
`
`and textual
`
`information.
`
`Furthermore, once a particular pathway is used to access
`
`selected information such as
`
`an insurance quotation, "...the
`
`customer is asked [by the audio-visual display of the "fictitious
`
`officer"] if he/she wishes to purchase a policy...
`
`If the answer
`
`is yes,
`
`the customer
`
`is asked to select the insurance coverage
`
`and insurance company desired" (P '359: c 7,
`
`1 14-24). Thus,
`
`the
`
`14
`
`
`
`insurance policy selection pathway is indicated in order
`
`to
`
`access information related to the insurance quotation pathway.
`
`Indicating pathways of loan selection information related to loan
`
`acquisition (A '115, p 9,
`
`l 3-9/A '301, p 37, 1 8-15).
`
`Pathways to information related to a basic selection made by
`
`the operator through another pathway are generated by means of
`
`the PROM (A '301:
`
`p 24,
`
`1 12-25).
`
`"To facilitate customer
`
`interaction,
`
`the graphical display could include city maps
`
`designated by zip code areas so the applicant could indicate the
`
`location of his or her current residence.
`
`Other
`
`interrelated
`
`displays would present
`
`types of dwellings,
`
`i.e., single,
`
`family
`
`or
`
`commercial,
`
`of pictorial
`
`representations which
`
`aid the
`
`applicant in determining his or her loan needs" (A '301: p 41,
`
`1
`
`23-p 42, 1 3).
`
`for providing access to said related
`accessing means
`h.
`information in said another entry path means; and
`
`The
`
`complex, multi-level
`
`routines
`
`described
`
`under
`
`subparagraph (f)
`
`above provide access to the information in a
`
`related entry path ("...is the ability of retrieving interrelated
`
`information either textual or graphical, by accessing one topic."
`
`A '301: p 29,
`
`1 18-25).
`
`The
`
`PROM-generated
`
`pathways
`
`also
`
`provide
`
`access
`
`to
`
`information from remote sources.
`
`("...to deliver
`
`a series of
`
`specific disc segment addresses or pathways..." A '301: p 24,
`
`1
`
`25-p 25,
`
`1 5: p 29, 1 17-p 30,
`
`1 2).
`
`15
`
`
`
`receiving search results from said
`for
`i. output means
`processing means and said related information from said accessing
`means
`and
`for providing said
`search results
`and
`received
`information to such user.
`
`The video screens and printers constitute the output means
`
`(P '359: r 2 # 8/A '115: r 2 # 18/A '301: r 4 # 8).
`
`Claim 2
`
`The search system according to Claim 1, wherein said textual
`information comprise words, phrases, numbers and letters stored
`in said at least one database.
`
`The previous quotation necessarily includes words, phrases,
`
`numbers and letters (see f.(iii) above).
`
`Claim 3
`
`The
`graphical
`images.
`
`search system according to Claim 1, wherein said
`information include maps, charts, pictures, and moving
`
`The travel presentations for selecting hotel accommodations
`
`include maps, charts, photographs, pictures,
`
`and illustrative
`
`drawings
`
`("...displaying pictoral
`
`representations of hotels,
`
`i.e., overview,
`
`rooms, restaurants, sporting facilities,
`
`swimming
`
`pools and tennis courts...maps of the area." A '301: p 27,
`
`1 24-p
`
`28,
`
`1 6).
`
`The "fictitious officer" is a moving image and is created by
`
`audio-visual means
`
`(p '359: c 4,
`
`l 24-29/A '115: p 7,
`
`l 7-16/A
`
`'301: p 36,
`
`1 3—7).
`
`16
`
`
`
`Claim 4
`
`The search system according to Claim 1, wherein one of said
`graphical and textual information comprises audio information.
`
`Presentations
`
`by
`
`the "fictitious officer"
`
`include audio
`
`information (P '359: c 5,
`
`1 32-36/A '115: p 7,
`
`1 7-11/A '301: p
`
`36,
`
`1 3-7).
`
`The voice synthesizer converts text
`
`to speech (P
`
`'359: c 5, 1 7-15 and r 2 # 16/A '115: p 7, 1 13-16/A '301: p 35,
`
`1 15-18).
`
`91212.;
`
`search system according to Claim 1, wherein said
`The
`graphical and textual information are stored on a CD-ROM disc.
`
`CD-ROM discs and video discs are equivalent optical memory
`
`devices. Both are disclosed (A '301: p 21, l 25-P 22,
`
`1 4).
`
`Claim 6
`
`The search system according to Claim 1, further comprising a
`micro-computer for executing operations of said search system,
`and for storing said graphical and textual information.
`
`Micro-computers are used in the various processors (P '359:
`
`r 10, r 14/A '115: r 13/A '301: r 113).
`
`Claim 7
`
`The search system according to Claim 1, wherein said textual
`entry path means and said graphical entry path means
`include
`informing means for assisting a user in searching said graphical
`and textual information.
`
`The "fictitious officer" informs and assists the user
`
`in
`
`searching graphical and textual
`
`information (P '359: c 5,
`
`l 32-
`
`17
`
`
`
`36/A '115: p 7,
`
`1 7—11: p 8,
`
`1 6-9/A '301: p 35,
`
`1 9-13: p 36,
`
`1
`
`10-14).
`
`Furthermore,
`
`in A '301,
`
`the PROM assists in gathering of
`
`information (A '301: p 25,
`
`1 12-19).
`
`Claim 10
`
`The search system according to Claim 1, wherein said textual
`search entry path means comprises a topic tree entry path means
`for dividing said textual information into topics.
`
`The topics are provided by the various menu displays
`
`(A
`
`'301:
`
`p
`
`22,
`
`1
`
`12-p
`
`23,
`
`1
`
`4;
`
`p
`
`53,
`
`1
`
`l3-P 54,
`
`1
`
`16).
`
`"Organizational chart Figure 2 describes audio-visual chapter
`
`segments organized in topics and subtopics which constitute the
`
`tour
`
`information and which are identifiable and accessible by
`
`frame numbers" (A '301: p 22,
`
`1 12-15).
`
`Claim 11
`
`The system according to Claim 1 which further comprises:
`
`title finder entry path means for assisting a user in
`uncovering titles stored in said stored textual information.
`
`As illustrated in Figure 4 of P '359,
`
`the system presents a
`
`means to recover the titles (auto, home,
`
`life and health) of the
`
`available insurance policies.
`
`In A
`
`'301,
`
`as disclosed on page 29,
`
`lines 17-25,
`
`the
`
`hierarchical organization of
`
`the databases allows
`
`retrieving
`
`interrelated information by accessing one topic.
`
`The list of
`
`topics,
`
`i.e.,
`
`titles are uncovered by the selection process
`
`disclosed on page 27,
`
`line 13 through page 29,
`
`line 10.
`
`18
`
`
`
`Claim 12
`
`selecting and ordering a
`A computerized system for
`a.
`variety of information, goods and services, which comprises:
`
`In each disclosure,
`
`the invention is a system for selecting
`
`and ordering a variety of information, goods and services.
`
`of
`plurality
`a
`b.
`for
`programmed
`installations
`information, goods and services;
`
`computerized
`processing
`
`data
`orders
`
`processing
`for
`said
`
`The central
`
`stations and remote
`
`terminals constitute a
`
`plurality of computerized data processing installations.
`
`The computerized stations include the remote stations of P
`
`'359, A '115, and A '301.
`
`c.
`including:
`
`at
`
`least
`
`one
`
`computerized
`
`station,
`
`said station
`
`a micro-processor;
`
`The remote stations have a micro-processor (see Claim 6).
`
`d.
`
`a device for displaying graphical and textual material;
`
`The
`
`video
`
`screens
`
`and
`
`the printers
`
`can
`
`be
`
`used
`
`for
`
`displaying textual and graphical material
`
`(see Item (i) of Claim
`
`1).
`
`least one mass memory device controlled by said
`at
`e.
`micro-processor;
`
`19
`
`
`
`
`
`The video memory, hard disk drives and the RAMs constitute
`
`mass memory devices controlled by the micro-processors (see Item
`
`(a) of Claim 1).
`
`f. means for addressing at least one of said computerized
`data processing installations,
`and
`for
`sending thereto and
`receiving therefrom, coded messages and batches of data;
`
`The data communication links and controlling hardware are
`
`means
`
`for
`
`addressing
`
`the
`
`computerized
`
`data
`
`processing
`
`installations (P '359: c 4,
`
`l 1-13/A '115: p 3,
`
`l 21-24/A '301: p
`
`31,
`
`1 16-19).
`
`for controlling the display on said
`program means
`g.
`display device of inquiries and acceptable answers;
`
`Computer programs are used for controlling the display of
`
`both graphical and textual
`
`information (P '359: c 4,
`
`l 33-38/A
`
`'115: p 6, 1 13-23/A '301: p 34,
`
`1 16-27).
`
`user-operated means for selecting at least one of said
`h.
`acceptable answers;
`
`The keyboards and the keypads
`
`(P '359: r 13/A '115: r 19/A
`
`'301: r 13) are user-operated.
`
`1. means for accumulating a set of said acceptable answers;
`
`The answers are stored in the RAMs
`
`(P '359: r ll/A '115: r
`
`17/A '301: r 117) and on-line mass storage devices.
`
`j.
`
`automatic data processing means for processing said set
`
`20
`
`
`
`of answers as a function of other data;
`
`The automatic data processing means are constituted by the
`
`hardware and software in P
`
`'359, A '115 and A '301 (see Items
`
`(a),
`
`(c),
`
`(d) and (f) of Claim 1).
`
`device,
`storing in said mass-storing
`for
`means
`k.
`interrelated textual information and graphical information;
`
`For
`
`the devices
`
`storing the
`
`interrelated textual
`
`and
`
`graphical information (see Item (a) of Claim 1).
`
`means
`1.
`information;
`
`for
`
`interrelating said textual
`
`and graphical
`
`For the interrelation between the information (see Item (b)O
`
`of Claim 1).
`
`for searching said
`a plurality of entry path means
`m.
`stored interrelated textual and graphical information;
`
`For the plurality of entry paths (see Items (c) and (d) of
`
`Claim 1).
`
`for
`for processing,
`responsive to said means
`means,
`n.
`executing inquiries provided by said user and for searching said
`textual and graphical
`information through said selected entry
`path means;
`
`For the inquiry executing means (see Item (f) of Claim 1).
`
`including means
`said means for executing and searching,
`0.
`for addressing at
`least one of
`said installations
`and
`for
`retrieving data related to said answer; and
`
`21
`
`
`
`
`
`In P
`
`'359,
`
`A
`
`'115 and A
`
`'301,
`
`the central station is
`
`addressed when necessary to retrieve information (P '359: c 2,
`
`l
`
`48-55/A '115: p 2, 1 20-p 3 1 8/A '301: p 15,
`
`1 16-22; p 17,
`
`1 22-
`
`p 18,
`
`1 7).
`
`for
`for processing,
`responsive to said means
`means
`p.
`transferring orders for said information, goods and services to
`said installations.
`
`In each embodiment orders are transferred to a central
`
`processing installation (P '359: c 6,
`
`l 5-16/A '115: p 4,
`
`1 3-
`
`11/A '301: p 31, 1 25-p 32, 1 8).
`
`From the above, one may conclude that all
`
`the inventions
`
`cited were fully disclosed and supported in P '359, A '115 and A
`
`'301 without any objectionable gap or hiatus.
`
`2.
`
`Applicant
`
`traverses the rejection of
`
`the claims
`
`for
`
`obviousness under
`
`35 USC
`
`103
`
`in view of Lockwood et al.,
`
`and submits that P '359, A '115 and A '301 introduced new and
`
`unobvious improvements over P '631.
`
`One of the main distinguishing features of this invention is
`
`recited in Claim 1 as follows:
`
`for executing inquiries
`"automatic data processing means
`provided by a user in order to search said textual and graphical
`information through said selected entry path means
`and
`for
`fetching data as a function of other data;"
`
`and in Claim 12 as follows:
`
`"means for accumulating a set of said acceptable answers;
`
`22
`
`
`
`automatic data processing means for processing said set of
`answers as a function of other data."
`
`Thus, according to the invention as claimed,
`
`the information
`
`to be presented to the operator
`
`is retrieved through complex
`
`multi-level decision-making and fetching sequence routines which
`
`are not taught by the Lockwood et a1. reference. Typically, as
`
`disclosed
`
`in
`
`the
`
`instant
`
`specification,
`
`the
`
`operator
`
`is
`
`questioned in a sequence which varies according, not only to the
`
`last data entered by the operator, but often in accordance with
`
`other data fetched from various sources.
`
`For example, as shown
`
`in Figure
`
`5
`
`after
`
`questioning
`
`the
`
`operator,
`
`the
`
`system
`
`establishes the determinants,
`
`then selects data inquiries to be
`
`sent
`
`to the
`
`reservation system,
`
`transmits
`
`those
`
`inquiries,
`
`receives and stores the answer before displaying new information
`
`to the operator.
`
`In this case,
`
`the system does not
`
`simply display the
`
`information in direct response to a menu selection and only the
`
`information identified on the menu
`
`list.
`
`Instead,
`
`the PROMs
`
`combine the operator's last entry with "other data" to generate
`
`the request for information to be sent to the remote center.
`
`As illustrated in Figures 9 and 11, after the operator has
`
`requested a quotation,
`
`the system inquires whether a previous
`
`quotation has been provided.
`
`If the answer
`
`is positive,
`
`the
`
`system requests entry of
`
`an identification number, uses
`
`the
`
`23
`
`
`
`identification number
`
`to fetch the previous quotation,
`
`then
`
`display it to the operator.
`
`Thus,
`
`the fetching process results
`
`from the combination of two entries.
`
`As
`
`illustrated in Figure
`
`10,
`
`references
`
`142-146,
`
`and
`
`explained on page 38,
`
`lines 3-21 of the specification,
`
`the system
`
`proceeds
`
`to an analysis of
`
`the
`
`information entered by
`
`the
`
`operator
`
`in combination with other data before providing an
`
`answer.
`
`other
`
`examples of non-obviousness
`
`improvements are
`
`provided by the fact that in P '631,
`
`the credit card validity and
`
`credit approval,
`
`and recording of
`
`the transaction are done at
`
`remote credit card centers (P '631, c 8,
`
`1 21-26).
`
`The terminal
`
`simply transmits to the center the credit card data generated by
`
`the card reader or
`
`on
`
`the keyboard,
`
`and the amount of
`
`the
`
`purchase. There is no local processing of the information.
`
`In A '115 and in the instant application,
`
`the terminal
`
`acquires a financial profile of the customer,
`
`then computes the
`
`credit worthiness of the applicant
`
`(A '115: p 5,
`
`l 25-p 6,
`
`l 4/A
`
`'301: p 33, l 25-p 34,
`
`l 6). Thus,
`
`the "set of answers" provided
`
`by the operator is processed as a function of other data such as
`
`eligibility standards.
`
`Also,
`
`in the second alternate embodiment disclosed in the
`
`instant application,
`
`the credit verification and approval is done
`
`by the data processing center (A '301: p 56,
`
`1 26-p 57, l 10).
`
`24
`
`
`
`In other words,
`
`the claimed system has the novel capability of
`
`processing the answer given by the operator in combination with
`
`prior answers and/or other data to formulate or compose a new
`
`inquiry,
`
`to request other information from a central processor,
`
`or
`
`a
`
`response a