0o (--2 O
`Transaction History Date tq.-
`Date information retrieved from USPTO Pat
`Application Information Retrieval (PAIR)
`system records at www.uspto.gov
`
`... THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`APPLICANT:
`:
`WORKMAN "AND CHAMBERS
`SERIAL NO: 08/771,049
`
`S
`§.
`§
`§ S
`
`DOCKET NO: WG-96-09
`
`ART UNIT: 2201
`
`FILED: DECEMBER 20, 1996
`
`§
`
`EXAMINER: LOBO, I.
`
`FOR: ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF MARINE SEISMIC STREA ERS
`
`.-.
`
`I
`
`Box FEE AMENDMENT
`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
`Washington, D.C. 20231
`
`Dear Sir:
`
`';.
`
`'I
`
`Please enter the following amendment. with 'espect to the
`patent application identified above. A petition for a one-month
`extension of time, to January 22, 1998, accompanies this amendment.
`
`AMENDMENT
`
`In response to the Office Action dated September 22, 1997,
`please amend the application as follows:
`
`In the Claims:
`
`Please make the folowing changes:
`
`Delete claim 6.
`
`Amend claims 1, 4, 5, 7 and 9 as follows.
`
`Add claim 11 as follows
`
`1.
`
`(Amended) A system for controlling the position and shape of
`
`marine seismic streamer cables, comprising the steps of:
`
`receiving a plurality of real time signals, including
`
`hydrophone noise, from a marine seismic data acquisition systemand
`
`a plurality of threshold parameters, including maximum allowable
`
`hydrophone noise, from an input device;
`
`comparing the real time signals to the threshold parameters to
`
`determine if the streamer cables should be repositioned; and
`
`1
`
`PGS Exhibit 1107, pg. 1
`PGS v. WesternGeco (IPR2014-00689)
`
`

`

`Serial No. 08/771,049
`Filed 12/20/96
`Docket No. WG-96-09
`
`repositioning the streamer cables when the real time
`
`hydrophone noise signal is within the maximum allowable hydrophone
`noise threshold and when the remaining real time signals exceed the
`
`threshold parameters..
`
`4.
`
`(Amended) The system of claim 3, wherein the receiving step
`
`further comprises the steps of:
`
`receiving real time signals including streamer cable
`
`positions, streamer cable shapes, streamer cable separations,
`
`obstructive hazard positions, and subsurface seismic coverage; and
`
`receiving threshold parameters including minimum allowable
`
`separations between streamer cables,. minimum allowable separations
`
`S/ between any streamer cable and an obstructive hazard, and minimum
`
`allowable subsurface seismic coverage;
`
`and the sending step further comprises the steps of:
`
`determining if the streamer cables are in an at risk
`
`situation; and
`
`sending the position correction to the streamer device
`
`controller when the streamer cables are at risk.
`
`5. (Amended) The system of claim 4, wherein the receiving step
`
`further comprises the step of:
`
`receiving real time signals including recorded seismic data;
`
`and the sending step further comprises the steps of:
`
`2
`
`K
`
`'
`
`PGS Exhibit 1107, pg. 2
`PGS v. WesternGeco (IPR2014-00689)
`
`

`

`Serial No. 08/771,049
`Filed 12/20/96
`Docket No. WG-96-09
`
`determining if the streamer cables are in use for recording
`
`seismic data; and
`
`sending the position correction to the streamer device
`
`controller when the streamer cables are not in use for recording
`
`seismic data.
`
`& .
`
`(Amended) The system of claim [6],1 wherein the threshold
`
`parameter of maximum allowable hydrophone noise is a single noise
`
`threshold which is applied across the entire frequency spectrum of
`
`the seismic survey.
`
`.
`
`(Amended) The system of claim [6] 1, wherein the threshold
`
`parameter of maximum allowable hydrophone noise is a weighted noise
`
`threshold which varies and is applied as a function of the
`
`frequency spectrum of the seismic survey.
`
`(Added) A system for controlling the position and shape of
`
`6 .
`marine seismic streamer cables, comprising the steps of:
`
`receiving a plurality of real time signals, including streamer
`
`cable positions, streamer cable shapes, streamer cable separations,
`
`obstructive hazard positions, subsurface seismic coverage, recorded
`
`seismic data and hydrophone noise, from a marine seismic data
`
`acquisition system;
`
`PGS Exhibit 1107, pg. 3
`PGS v. WesternGeco (IPR2014-00689)
`
`

`

`Serial No. 08/771,049
`Filed 12/20/96
`Docket No. WG-96-09
`
`receiving a plurality of threshold parameters, including
`
`minimum allowable separations between streamer cables, minimum
`
`allowable separations between any streamer cable and an obstructive
`
`hazard, minimum allowable subsurface seismic coverage and maximum
`
`allowable hydrophone noise, from an input device;
`
`calculating a position correction that will keep the streamer
`
`cables within the threshold parameters;
`
`determining if the streamer cables are in an at risk
`
`situation;
`
`sending the position correction to a streamer device
`
`controller for adjusting a plurality of streamer positioning
`
`determining if the streamer cables are in use for recording
`
`seismic data;
`
`sending the ,position correction to the streamer device
`
`controller when the streamer cables are not in use for recording
`
`seismic data;
`
`determining if the real time signals of hydrophone noise are
`
`within the threshold parameters of maximum allowable hydrophone
`
`noise; and
`
`sending the position correction to the streamer device
`
`controller when the real time hydrophone noise is within the
`
`maximum allowable hydrophone noise threshold.
`
`4
`
`-?
`
`PGS Exhibit 1107, pg. 4
`PGS v. WesternGeco (IPR2014-00689)
`
`

`

`Serial No. 08/771,049
`Filed 12/20/96
`Docket No. WG-96-09
`
`REMARKS
`
`This amendment is in response to the examiner's Office Action
`of September 22, 1997 in this patent application. Reconsideration
`and reexamination of this patent application is respectfully
`requested in view of the foregoing amendments and the following
`remarks.
`
`In the Office Action, claims 1-10 were rejected under 35 U.S.C
`112, first paragraph, as containing subject matter which was not
`described in the specification in such a way as to enable one
`skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most
`nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. In particular,
`the examiner stated that the specification is void of any
`description of the threshold parameters and how the streamer
`control processor compares real time signals with them.
`
`Lines 10-15 on page 9 of the specification contain the
`following description of the threshold parameters:
`
`"Threshold parameters may include a plurality of values for:
`minimum allowable separations between streamer cables 13,
`minimum allowable subsurface seismic coverage, maximum
`allowable hydrophone noise levels, and minimum allowable
`separations between any streamer cable 13 and any obstructive
`hazard."
`
`Lines 14-23 on page 12 of the specification contain a further
`description of how maximum allowable noise thresholds are chosen.
`
`Lines 12-20 on page 10 of the specification contain the
`following description of the comparison of the real time signals
`with the threshold parameters:
`
`At step 41, the streamer control processor 40 determines if
`the streamer cables 13 need to be repositioned by comparing
`the real time signals received from the network solution
`system 10, the seismic binning system 30, and the seismic data
`recording system 18. with the threshold parameters received
`from the terminal 32. At step 42, it is determined if any of
`the real time signals exceed any threshold parameter received
`from the terminal 32.
`
`Since the threshold parameters are allowable minimums or maximums,
`this passage is a sufficient description of comparing the
`corresponding ,real time signals to -the threshold parameters by
`determining if the minimum or maximum is exceeded. Lines 25 on
`page 12 through line 6 on page 13 of the specification contain a
`
`5
`
`.. .
`
`1
`
`"
`
`PGS Exhibit 1107, pg. 5
`PGS v. WesternGeco (IPR2014-00689)
`
`

`

`Serial No. 08/771,049
`Filed 12/20/96
`Docket No. WG-96-09
`
`further description of how the streamer control processor compares
`the real time hydrophone noise signals with the maximum allowable
`noise thresholds. Thus the Examiner's rejection under 35 U.S.C. §.
`112, first paragraph, has been respectfully traversed.
`
`Claims 1-10 were rejected under 35 U.S.C 112, second
`paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point
`out and distinctly claim the subject matter which applicant regards
`as the invention. In particular, the examiner stated that, in
`claim 1, it is vague and indefinite what the "real time signals"
`and "plurality of threshold parameters" entail.
`
`Claim 1, as amended, specifies particular nonexclusive
`examples of real time signals, i.e., hydrophone noise, and
`specifies particular nonexclusive examples of threshold parameters,
`i.e., maximum allowable hydrophone noise. Claims 4 and 5 have been
`similarly amended to specify particular nonexclusive examples of
`real time signals, i.e., streamer cable positions, streamer cable
`shapes, streamer cable separations, obstructive hazard positions',
`subsurface seismic coverage and recorded seismic data, and to
`specify particular nonexclusive examples of threshold parameters,
`i.e., minimum allowable separations between streamer cables,
`minimum allowable separations between any streamer cable and an
`obstructive hazard and minimum allowable subsurface seismic
`coverage. Thus the Examiner's rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 112,
`second paragraph, has been.respectfully traversed.
`
`Claim 1 was rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being
`unpatentable over U.S. Patent No. 4,404,664 to Zachariadis. In
`particular, the examiner stated that Zachariadis discloses a system
`for positioning a streamer cable which includes receiving a
`plurality of signals from magnetic compass sensors, true north
`headings from a compass, and absolute coordinates from a navigation
`system. A computer inherently compares the compass readings with
`the gyro compass readings to determine the course of the streamer
`and, if necessary, reposition the streamer. The examiner stated
`that the claimed "real time signals" read upon the sensor signals.
`and the "plurality of. threshold parameters" read upon the gyro
`compass readfings, and thus it is obvious to one of ordinary skill.
`in the art that, the claimed system reads upon the system of
`Zachariadis.
`
`Claim 1, as amended, is neither taught nor suggested by
`Zachariadis. Zachariadis does not teach or suggest determining i f.
`hydrophone noise levels are low enough so that the additional I
`hydrophone noise caused by activating the streamer positionihg '.
`devices to reposition the streamer cables will not drown out the
`seismic data being recorded. Zachariadis does not teach or suggest
`
`PGS Exhibit 1107, pg. 6
`PGS v. WesternGeco (IPR2014-00689)
`
`

`

`Serial No. 08/771,049
`Filed 12/20/96
`Docket No. WG-96-09
`
`comparing real time signals of hydrophone noise with an input
`threshold parameter of maximum allowable hydrophone noise levels in
`deciding whether to reposition the streamers. This is described in
`the specification at page 5, lines 5-8; page 11, lines 1-5; and
`page 12, line 1 through page 13, line 14.
`Thus the Examiner's
`rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) has been respectfully traversed.
`
`The prior art made of record and not relied upon was read with
`interest, but neither teaches nor suggests, either alone or in
`combination, the present invention.
`
`Each ground of rejection in the Office Action of September 22,
`A
`1997 on this patent application is respectfully traversed.
`notice of allowance is respectfully requested.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`Charles R. Schweppe
`Reg. No. 38,612
`
`Send correspondence to:
`Charles R. Schweppe
`Western Atlas International, Inc.
`P.O. Box 1407 (10205 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77042)
`Houston, Texas 77251-1407
`
`Phone:
`Fax:
`
`713/972-4925
`713/266-1717
`
`January 15, 1998
`
`7
`
`PGS Exhibit 1107, pg. 7
`PGS v. WesternGeco (IPR2014-00689)
`
`