`
`2751
`
`Applicant:
`Serial No.
`Filed:
`For:
`
`Examiner:
`Art Unit:
`
`Shane D. Mattaway, et al.
`08/721,316
`,
`September 25, 1996
`GRAPHIC USER INTERFACE FOR INTERNET TELEPHONY
`APPLICATION
`Group 2700
`E. Chan
`
`'ij/
`
`CERTIFICATEOF MAILING UNDER37 C.F.R. §1.8(a)
`
`The undersigned hereby certifies that this document is being placed in the United States mail
`with first-class postage attached, addressed to Assistant Commissioner for Patents,
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Om
`Box Non-Fee Amendment Washington. DC 20231 on Ma h 3. 1999.
`Eiiggm HI. Wagon,
`
`Frances M. Cunningham
`
`'
`
`_
`
`Assistant Commissioner for Patents
`
`Washington, 0.0. 20231
`Box Non-Fee Amendment
`
`In response to the office communication dated February 3, 1999, please
`amend the above-identified application as follows;
`
`
`In the Claims:
`
`
`
`1.
`(Twice Amended) A Computer programproduct for use with a computer
`‘JCJX system having a display and an audio transducer the computer system capable
`of executing [one or more processes]aafir‘st processsand connecting to other
`processes and a server process over/a'computer network, the computer program
`product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable code
`means embodied in the medium, comprising:
`a.
`program code-[means] for generating a user-interface enabling
`[through which a user may] control a first process executing on the
`compute/IC system [and coupled to the computer network];
`program code [means] for determining the currently assigned
`net<Nork protocol address of the first process upon connection to
`
`\
`(\q
`
`b.
`
`the computer network;
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 001
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 001
`
`
`
`c.
`
`d.
`
`program code [means,] responsive to the currently assigned
`' network protocol address of the first process, for establishing a
`communication connection with thes’erver process and for
`fon/varding the assigned netvvork’protocol address of the first
`process and a unique identifier of the first process to the server
`process upon establishing a communication connection with the
`server process; and
`program code means, responsive to user input commands, for
`establishing a point-to-point communications with another process
`
`over the computer network.
`
`2.
`
`(Twice Amended) The computer program product of claim 1 wherein the
`
`program code [means] for establishing a point-to-point communication link further
`
`comprises:
`
`d.1
`
`program code [means], responsive to the network protocol address
`
`of a second process, for establishing a point-to-point
`
`communication link between the first process and the second
`
`process over the computer network.
`
`3.,
`
`(Twice Amended) The computer program p duct of claim 2 wherein the
`
`program code [means] for establishing a point-t point communication link further
`
`\
`L
`
`8%
`
`3' 39
`
`V
`
`comprise:
`
`d .2
`
`program code [means] for tr
`
`smitting, from the first process to the
`
`
`server process, a query8240 whetherthe second process is
`
`connected to the comp er network; and
`
`d.3
`
`program code means . or receiving a network protocol address of
`
`the second process rom the server process, when the second
`
`process is conne ed to the computer network.
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 002
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et a1. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 002
`
`
`
`4.
`
`comprises:
`
`.
`
`(Twice Amended) The computer program pr
`
`program code [means] for establishing a poi
`d.2
`program code
`ns fortransmitting an E-mail message
`
`containin
`network protocol'address from the first process to the
`
`process over the computer network;
`serv
`
`
`640mm 2 wherein the
`
`o-point communication link further
`
`9/1
`{
`
`‘
`
`d.3
`
`ogram code means for receiving a second network protocol
`
`address from the second process over the computer network.
`
`
`
`
`d an audio
`(Amended) in a computer system having a display
`SW21”.
`[n
`C/
`first process and communicating with other proce 543m 3 server process over
`
`transducer, the computer system capable of executing
`
`ne or more processes] a
`
`QQ‘
`
`,
`
`a computer network, a method for establishin point—to-point communications
`with other processes comprising:
`A.
`determining the current
`assigned network protocol address of the
`first process upon cogection to the computer network;
`establishing a coerunication connection with the server process
`
`B.
`
`once the ass" ned network protocol of the first process is known;
`
`C.
`
`D.
`
`to the server process upon establishing a communication
`
`forwardin the assigned network protocol address of the first
`
`proce
`co
`ection with the server process; and
`
`stablishing a point-to-point communication with another process
`
`over the computer network.
`
`it
`,8.
`
`6
`The method of claim 7wherein the program step D comprises: '
`
`D.1
`
`transmitting, from the first process to the server process. a query ‘
`
`as to whether a second process is connected to the computer
`
`network; and
`
`D2
`
`receiving a network protocol address of the second process from
`
`the server process, when the second process is connected to the
`
`computer network.
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 003
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 003
`
`
`
`O
`
`‘
`
`.
`
`u
`
`.
`
`.
`
`IkA
`
`3’
`113’.
`
`5
`
`The method of claim)’ wherein the program step D comprises:
`
`D.1
`
`transmitting an E—mail message containing a network protocol
`
`address from the first process to the server process over the
`
`computer network;
`
`D.2
`
`receiving a second network protocol address from a second
`
`process over the computer network.
`
`(Amended) In a computer system having a display and capable of
`
`executing a process, a [A] method for establishing a point-to-point
`
`communication from a caller process to_ a callee process over a computer
`
`network, the caller process [having] capable of generating a user interface and
`
`being operatively [coupled] connected to the callee process and a server process
`
`(Y
`“k
`
`over the computer network, the method comprising the steps of:
`A.
`generating [an] a user-interface element representing a first
`
`communication line;
`
`B.
`
`generating [an] a user interface element representing a first callee
`
`process;
`
`Querying the server process to determine if the first callee process
`g
`is accessible' and
`
`.
`
`[C.] Qestablishing a point-to-point communication link from the caller
`
`process to the first callee process, in response to a user
`
`associating the element representing the first callee process with
`
`the element representing the first communication line.
`
`’1
`
`jxf
`
`The method of claim 1,;wherein step C further comprises the steps of:
`
`,
`
`C1
`
`querying the server process as to the on-line status of the first
`
`callee process; and
`
`C2
`
`receiving a network protocol address of the first callee process over
`
`the computer network from the server process.
`
`W
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 004
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et a1. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 004
`
`
`
`.
`
`V
`l’”
`1% (Amended) The method of claim 1/0/further comprising the step of:
`[D.] ; generating [an] a user—interface element representing a second
`
`communication line.
`
`i)l/f
`
`(Amended) The method of claim 1Xfurther comprising the step of:
`
`[E.] L terminating the point-to-point communication from the caller
`
`process to the first callee process, in response to the user
`
`disassociating the element representing the first callee process
`
`from the element representing the first communication line; and
`
`[F.] g establishing a different point-to-point communication from the caller
`
`process to the first callee process, in response to the user
`
`associating the element representing the first callee [processor]
`
`process with the element representing the second communication
`
`line.
`
`i)-
`
`1% (Amended) The method of claim iz/further comprising the steps of:
`
`[D.] ; generating [an] a user interface element representing a second
`
`callee process; and
`
`,
`
`[E.] L establishing a conference point-to-point communication between
`
`the caller process and the first and second callee processes, in
`
`response to the user associating the element representing the
`
`second callee process with the element representing the first
`
`communication line.
`
`i 5ifi/ (Amended) The method ofclaim 1%furthercomprising the step of:
`
`[F.] g3_. removing the second callee process from the conference point-to-
`
`point communication in response to the user disassociating the
`
`element representing the second callee process from the element
`
`representing the first communication line.
`
`11
`,1—6?
`
`X
`(Amended) The method of claim 10’further comprising the steps of:
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 005
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et a1. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 005
`
`
`
`[D.] igenerating [an] a user interface element representing a
`
`communication line having a temporarily disabled status; and
`
`[E.] L temporarily disabling the point-to-point communication between the
`
`caller process and the first callee process, in response to the user
`
`associating the element representing the first callee process with
`the element representing the communication line having a I
`
`temporarily disabled status.
`
`15
`
`1x7.
`
`(Amended) The method of claim
`
`1!;
`
`wherein the element generated in
`
`step [D] 1; represents a communication line on hold status.
`
`(lo
`Q 16.
`
`l 5
`(Amended) The method of claim 1’? wherein the element generated in
`
`step [D] E represents a communication line on mute status.
`
`(7
`19.
`
`Y
`(Amended) The method of claim 16 wherein the [caller process] My
`
`further comprises a visual display [and the user interface comprises a graphic
`
`user interface].
`
`(x
`{0.
`
`17
`(Amended) The method of claim 18' wherein the user interface is a
`
`graphic user interface and the user-interface elements generated in steps A and
`
`Remarks
`
`Applicants have considered carefully the Office communication dated
`
`February 3, 1999 (Paper No. 8).
`
`In response, Applicants have made minor
`
`amendments to the claims and set forth the following remarks to supplement the
`
`response submitted on October 26, 1999.
`
`The preambles of claims 1 and 7 have been amended to provide proper
`
`antecedent basis for all terms used in the claims.
`
`In addition, claims 1-4 have
`
`been amended to eliminate the term “means” from the claim language. These
`
`amendments are offered to conform the claims to 35 U.S.C. §112 and are not
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 006
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et a1. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 006
`
`
`
`[I
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`necessitated or made in response to any rejection by the Examiner, or, in light of
`
`any reference cited by the Examiner.
`
`Claims 1-4 were originally filed with the application and amended in the
`
`response of October 26, 1998. Remarks distinguishing claims 1-4 over the cited
`
`references are set forth in detail in the prior response of October 26, 1998.
`
`Claims 7-9 include limitation similar to claims 1-4 and are believed
`
`patentable for the same reasons as claims 1-4, as set forth in the Remarks
`
`section of the previous response. Specifically, claim 7 recites a method for
`
`establishing a point-to-point communication comprising the step of “determining
`
`the currently assigned network protocol address of the first process upon
`
`connection to the computer network" (claim 7, lines 6-7). Claim 7 further recites
`
`the steps of “establishing a communication connection with the sewer process
`
`once the assigned network protocol address of the first process is know “ (claim
`
`7, lines 8-9) and "forwarding the assigned network protocol address of the first
`
`process to the server process upon establishing a communication with the
`
`server” (claim 7, lines 10-12). Claim 7, as amended, is believed neither
`
`anticipated nor made obvious in light of the lPhone by Vocal Tec. Specifically,
`
`the lPhone literature does not disclose or suggest a method comprising the
`
`steps of i) determining the currently assigned network protocol address of the
`
`first process upon connection to the computer network, ii) establishing a
`
`communication connection with the server process once the assigned network
`
`protocol address of the first process is know; and iii) fonlvarding the assigned
`
`network protocol address of the first process to the server process upon
`
`establishing a communication with the, as now recited in claim 7. Claims 8-9
`
`include all the limitations of claim 7 and are likewise believed to be patentable
`
`over the lPhone literature for the same reasons\as claim 7.
`In addition to claims 1-4 as originally filed, the Summary of the Invention
`
`section of the specification (pages 5-6) set forth embodiments of the invention.
`
`The specification discloses a client/server system, including a client process
`
`having a user interface which is capable of interacting with a directory server
`
`process and establishing point-to-point communication connections with other
`
`,8 7
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 007
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et a1. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 007
`
`
`
`.‘
`
`processes over a computer network. Claims 1-4, as amended, are computer
`
`program product claims which recite program code limitations for performing the
`
`client functions as disclosed. Claims 7-9 are method limitation counterparts to
`
`the program code limitations recited in claims 1-4.
`
`Claims 10-20 are directed to a method for establishing various point-to—
`
`point communications with a client process utilizing a graphic user interface.
`
`The subject application discloses a client and server system and a I
`
`protocol in which client processes, upon connection to an Internet Protocol based
`
`network, toward their current dynamically assigned network protocol address to
`
`a global server which acts as a repository of directory information for all other
`
`client processes. The global server associates with the network protocol address
`
`of a particular client process, a unique handle, eg. the client’s e-mail address.
`
`With this technique, the on-line status of prospective callees may be determined
`
`even though the callee is not currently connected to the network.
`
`,
`
`The subject matters of claims 10-20 are directed to a method performed
`
`by a caller process having a user interface to establishment of calls, conferencing
`
`of parties, transferring of parties among calls and disabling of calls are achieved
`
`using elements representing communication lines and parties.
`
`Applicants respectfully assert that none of the art of record, whether
`
`considered singularly or in combination, disclose or suggest the subject matter as
`
`recited in claims 10-20. Specifically, claim 10 recites a method for establishing a
`
`point-to-point communication from a caller process to a callee process with a
`
`caller process capable of generating a user interface. Claim 10 specifically
`
`recites the method step of generating a user interface element representing a
`
`first communication line, generating a user interface element representing a first
`
`callee process, querying the server process to determine if the first callee
`
`process is accessible, and establishing a point-to-point communication link from
`
`the caller process to the callee process in response to a user associating the
`
`element representing the first callee process with the element representing the
`
`first communication line (claim 10, lines 7-12). The lPhone literature from Vocal
`
`Tec does not disclose or suggest a method including the step of querying a
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 008
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et a1. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 008
`
`
`
`\
`
`server process to determine the availability of another process and establishing a
`
`communication with the callee process by manipulating user interface elements,
`
`as now recited in claim 10.
`
`As discussed in the previous response, the Vocal Tec Internet Phone
`
`version 2.5 as well as the NetScape Cool Talk product utilize servers executing
`
`the IRC protocol which, for the reasons set forth previously, does not provide a
`
`teaching or suggestion as to how to query a server process to determine if a first
`
`callee process is accessible, i.e. on-line and current network protocol address.
`
`None of the art of record currently are believed to recite the specific limitations of
`
`claim 10, as now amended. Claims 11-20 include all the limitations of claim 10
`
`and are likewise believed patentable for the same reasons.
`
`in light of the foregoing amendments to the claims, Applicants respectfully
`
`assert that all claims currently under consideration now patentably distinguish
`
`over the art of record, including the cited references, whether considered
`
`singularly or in combination. The Examiner is respectfully requested to advance
`
`this case to issuance and send a notice to that effect.
`
`In the event that
`
`outstanding issues remain following the Examiner’s review of this response,
`
`Applicants' attorney requests that the Examiner contact Applicants’ attorney at
`
`the number listed below to set up a telephone interview to attempt to resolve any
`
`outstanding issues with the claims and before any further Office Actions are
`issued.
`I
`
`The Commissioner is hereby authorized to charge any fees or credits
`
`under 37 C.F.R. §1.16 and 1.17 to our deposit account No. 02-3038.
`
`Respectfully submitted
`
`
`
`
`sq. Reg. No. 33.518
`ruce D. Jobse,
`KUDIRKA & JOBSE, LLP
`Customer Number 021127
`
`Tel: (617) 367-4600 Fax: (617) 367-4656
`
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et al. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 009
`Petitioner Vonage Holdings Corp. et a1. - Exhibit 1022 - Page 009
`
`