UNITED STATES pATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMJSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`www .uspto.gov
`
`I ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. I CONFIRMATION NO.
`
`09/930,780
`
`08/15/2001
`
`Carrel W. Ewing
`
`MLF-600-14
`
`3325
`
`06/09/2005
`
`7590
`Robert C. Ryan
`Nath and Associates PLLC
`1030 15th StreetN. W.
`6th Floor
`Washington, DC 20005
`
`EXAMINER
`
`PATEL, ASHOKKUMAR B
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2154
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`DATE MAILED: 06/09/2005
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`PT0-90C (Rev. 10/03)
`
`IPR Page 1
`
`Raritan v. Server Technology
`
`RARITAN EXHIBIT 1006
`
`

`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Application No.
`
`09/930,780
`
`Examiner
`
`Applicant{s)
`
`EWING ET AL.
`
`Art Unit
`
`Ashok B. Patel
`2154
`•• The MAILING DATE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE~ MONTH(S) FROM
`THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`• Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`If the period for reply specified above is less than thirty (30) days, a reply within the statutory minimum of thirty (30) days will be considered timely.
`•
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from tha mailing date of this communication.
`-
`• Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`Status
`
`1 )125] Responsive to communication(s) filed on 03 March 2005 and 06 Mav 2005.
`2a)l25l This action is FINAL.
`2b)0 This action is non-final.
`3)0 Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 C. D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`
`4)125] Claim(s) 1-32 is/are pending in the application.
`4a) Of the above claim(s) 1-9 is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`5)0 Claim(s) __ is/are allowed.
`6)125] Claim(s) 10-32 is/are rejected.
`7)0 Claim(s) __ is/are objected to.
`8)0 Claim(s) __ are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`
`Application Papers
`
`9)0 The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`10)0 The drawing(s) filed on __ is/are: a)O accepted or b)O objecteti to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`11 )0 The oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner. Note the attached Office Action or form PT0-152.
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`12)0 Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`a)O All b)O Some* c)O None of:
`1.0 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.0 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No. __ .
`3.0 Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`1) 125] Notice of References Cited (PT0-892)
`2) 0 Notice of Draftsperson's Patent Drawing Review (PT0-948)
`3) 125Jinformation Disclosure Statement(s) (PT0-1449 orPTO/SB/08)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date 2116105.
`
`4) 0 Interview Summary (PT0-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date. __ .
`5) 0 Notice of Informal Patent Application (PT0-152)
`6) 0 Other: __ .
`
`U.S. Patent and Trademar1< Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 1-04)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20050602
`
`IPR Page 2
`
`

`
`,.
`
`Applica.tion/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page2
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`1.
`
`Claims 10-32 are subject to examination.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`2.
`
`Applicant's arguments filed 5/6/2005 and 3/3/2005 have been fully considered
`
`but they are not persuasive for the following reasons:
`
`Interview:
`
`Applicant's argument:
`
`In an
`
`interview with Examiner Ashokkumar Patel and Primary Examiner Larry
`
`Donaghue on November 22, 2004, Applicant's Representative, Teresa M. Arroyo,
`
`presented a draft amended claim 24 and proposed new claim 33, and discussed how
`
`claims 10-33 distinguished over the cited references.
`
`Examiner's response:
`
`This instant amendment does not incorporate proposed new claim 33.
`
`Priority:
`
`Applicant's argument:
`
`In response,
`
`this application
`
`is a Continuation-In-part (CIP) of Application No.
`
`09/732,557, fled December 8, 2000. This CIP is an application filed during the lifetime of
`
`earlier non-provisional Application No. 09/732,557, repeats some substantial portion of
`
`the earlier non-provisional application, and adds, matter not disclosed (emphasis
`
`added) in the earlier non-provisional application. (In re Klein, 1930 C.D. 2. 393 O.G. 519
`
`(Comm'r Pat. 1930)). The matter not disclosed in Application No. 09/732,557 includes at
`
`least the user display. Therefore, Applicants respectfully submit that this Continuation-
`
`IPR Page 3
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`

`
`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 3
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`In-part application can properly claim the benefit of the prior non-provisional application
`
`under 35 U.S.C. j 120.
`
`Examiner's response:
`
`As Applicant has stated, the matter not disclosed in Application No. 09/732,557
`
`includes at least the user display.
`
`Examiner did not state previously that Application No. 09/732,557 does not
`
`disclose the user display. What Examiner stated in the previous Office action is "The
`
`instant application's incorporation of "a user display disposed on vertical strip enclosure
`
`whereby a user may observe information. relative to the amount of current flowing
`
`through the power input and plurality of power outputs as shown in Fig.1, element 1 04 "
`
`which Examiner was unable to locate in the applications 09/735, 471 and 08/685, 436.
`
`And as such, the priority date was considered as being 12/08/2000."
`
`Therefore, the user display as a claimed limitation is presented by the reference
`
`Liu (US 6, 476, 729 81) and as such, in order to overcome the reference Liu (US 6, 476,
`
`729 B1 ), the filing date of the earlier non-provisional application is actually needed.
`
`(MPEP 201.08). Therefore, Applicant has not complied with one or more conditions for
`
`receiving the benefit of an earlier filing date under 35 U.S.C. 120 as follows:
`
`The later-filed application must be an application for a patent for an invention
`
`which is also disclosed in the prior application (the parent or original nonprovisional
`
`application or provisional application); the disclosure of the invention in the parent
`
`application and in the later-filed application must be sufficient to comply with the
`
`IPR Page 4
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 4
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`requirements of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112. See Transco Products, Inc. v.
`
`Performance Contracting, Inc., 38 F.3d 551,32 USPQ2d 1077 (Fed. Cir. 1994).
`
`Rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 103 (a) and Rejections under U.S.C.§ 102 (b):
`
`(US 6, 476, 729 81 ).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 1 03(a) which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set
`forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and
`the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the
`invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
`Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 29 and 31 are rejected under
`
`35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being Unpatent~ble over Schreiber (US 5, 424, 903) in view of Liu
`
`(US 6, 476, 729 81)
`
`Referring to claim 10,
`
`The reference Schreiber teaches an electrical power distribution on plugstrip of the type
`
`for providing power to one or more electrical loads in a vertical electrical equipment rack
`
`(Fig.1 I element 16, Fig.2), the electrical power distribution plugstrip comprising in
`
`combination:
`
`A.
`
`a vertical strip enclosure having a thickness and a length that is longer than a
`
`width of the enclosure (Fig.1 I element 16);
`
`B.
`
`a power input penetrating said vertical strip enclosure (Fig.1, element 30);
`
`IPR Page 5
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`

`
`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 5
`
`C.
`
`a plurality of power outputs disposed along a face of said length of the strip
`
`enclosure, each among the plurality of power outputs being connectable to a
`
`corresponding one of said one or more electrical loads (Fig.1, elements 32a-32f);
`
`D.
`
`a plurality of power control relays disposed in said vertical strip enclosure, each
`
`among aid plurality of power control relays being connected to independently control
`
`power from said power input to one or more corresponding power outputs among said
`
`plurality of power outputs (Fig.2, elements 46a-46e).
`
`The reference fails to teach a user display disposed on said vertical strip
`
`enclosure and adjacent to the plurality of power outputs in information-determining
`
`communication with at least one among said power input and said plurality of power
`
`outputs, said user display providing information to a user, the information being related
`
`to the amount of current flowing through at least one among the power input and said
`
`plurality of power outputs.
`
`The reference Liu teaches this limitation in Fig. 3, col. 4, line 64-col. 5, line 9).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of invention was made to enhance the functionality of the power strip of
`
`Schreiber by adding Liu's user display such that the electrical parameters are displayed.
`
`It would have been obvious because it is difficult for ordinary users to measure the
`
`electrical parameters such as kilowatt-hour, power factor, watt, etc. of the electric
`
`appliances or the power source, Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved power
`
`source device with a display unit which is capable of indicting various electrical
`
`IPR Page 6
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 6
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`parameters of both the electric appliance electrically connected to the power source
`
`device and the power source as taught by Liu.
`
`Referring to claim 11,
`
`The reference Schreiber teaches electrical power plugstrip of claim 10 further
`
`comprising at least one intelligent power section disposed in the vertical strip enclosure
`
`and in which is disposed at least one of the plurality of power control relays (col.4, lines
`
`6-9, "The outlets 32a-32e are programmable. The outlet 32f is nonprogrammable and is
`
`be used to supply electrical power to a lamp 34 or other non-system device.", and Fig.2,
`
`elements 46a-46e).
`
`Referring to claim 13,
`
`The electrical power plugstrip of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of intelligent
`
`power sections disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, each said intelligent power
`
`section being in independent communication with at least a corresponding one or more
`
`among the plurality of power outputs (col.4, lines 6-9, "The outlets 32a-32e are
`
`programmable. The outlet 32f is non-programmable and is be used to supply electrical
`
`power to a lamp 34 or other non-system device." The reference also teaches "It is
`
`understood that the present invention can take many forms and embodiments. The
`
`embodiments shown herein are intended to illustrate rather than to limit the invention, it
`
`being appreciated that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the
`
`scope of the invention. For example, the system 10 may be implemented using
`
`alternative electronic components, rather than as herein described. Further, it will be
`
`appreciated that different elements of the system may be embodied as a single
`
`IPR Page 7
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 7
`
`integrated chip, or any varying combination of discrete digital or analog components
`
`interconnected in a standard manner. The system may be used to supply power to a
`
`variety of devices other than components of a computer system. Examples include,
`
`inter alia, lighting devices, consumer electronic products such as stereos, players, cable
`
`TV arrangements, and other systems.", col.?, lines 65 thru col.8, lines 14. Thereby the
`
`reference teaches that additional groups of the receptacles can be added and formed
`
`as being separately controlled as being the intelligent power section.(a plurality of
`
`intelligent power sections disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, each said intelligent
`
`power section being in independent communication with at least a corresponding one or
`
`more among the plurality of power outputs.)
`
`Referring to claim 15,
`
`Keeping in mind the teachings of the reference Schreiber as stated above, the
`
`reference fails to teach the electrical power plugstrip of claim 10 wherein the user
`
`display is in current-determining communication with all among the plurality of power
`
`outputs through at least one current sensing device.
`
`The reference Liu teaches this limitation in Fig. 3, Fig. 10, col. 4, line 18-col. 5,
`
`line 9).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of invention was made to enhance the functionality of the power strip of
`
`Schreiber by adding Liu's user display such that the electrical parameters are displayed.
`
`It would have been obvious because it is difficult for ordinary users to measure the
`
`electrical parameters such as kilowatt-hour, power factor, watt, etc. of the electric
`
`IPR Page 8
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`

`
`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 8
`
`appliances or the power source, Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved power
`
`source device with a display unit which is capable of indicting various electrical
`
`parameters of both the electric appliance electrically connected to the power source
`
`device and the power source as taught by Liu.
`
`Referring to claim 16,
`
`Keeping in mind the teachings of the reference Schreiber as stated above, the
`
`reference fails to teach the electrical power plugstrip of claim 10 wherein the user
`
`display is in current-determining communication with all among the plurality of power
`
`outputs through at least one current sensing device.
`
`The reference Liu teaches this limitation in Fig. 3, Fig. 10, col. 4, line 18-col. 5,
`
`line 9).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of invention was made· to enhance the functionality of the power strip of
`
`Schreiber by adding Liu's user display such that the electrical parameters are displayed.
`
`It would have been obvious because it is difficult for ordinary users to measure the
`
`electrical parameters such as kilowatt-hour, power factor, watt, etc. of the electric
`
`appliances or the power source, Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved power
`
`source device with a display unit which is capable of indicting various electrical
`
`parameters of both the electric appliance electrically connected to the power source
`
`device and the power source as taught by Liu.
`
`Referring to claim 18, 20 and 22,
`
`IPR Page 9
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`

`
`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 9
`
`The reference Schreiber teaches in col.4,
`
`lines 6-9, "The outlets 32a-32e are
`
`programmable. The outlet 32f is non-programmable and is be used to supply electrical
`
`power to a lamp 34 or other non-system device." The reference also teaches "It is
`
`understood that the present invention can take many forms and embodiments. The
`
`embodiments shown herein are intended to illustrate rather than to limit the invention, it
`
`being appreciated that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the
`
`scope of the invention. For example, the system 10 may be implemented using
`
`alternative electronic components, rather than as herein described. Further, it will be
`
`appreciated that different elements of the system may be embodied as a single
`
`integrated chip, or any varying combination of discrete digital or analog components
`
`interconnected in a standard manner. The system may be used to supply power to a
`
`variety of devices other than components of a computer system. Examples include,
`
`inter alia, lighting devices, consumer electronic products such as stereos, players, cable
`
`TV arrangements, and other systems.", col.?, lines 65 thru col.8, lines 14. Thereby the
`
`reference impliedly teaches that additional groups of the receptacles can be added and
`
`formed as being separately controlled as being the intelligent power section. The
`
`reference also teaches the power control relays as claimed in Fig.2, elements 46a-46e
`
`and master relay 42 .. (wherein said intelligent power section comprises an intelligent
`
`power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the
`
`corresponding power output for such one power control relay, and the corresponding
`
`power outputs for such one power control relay).
`
`Referring to claim 24,
`
`IPR Page 10
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`

`
`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 10
`
`The reference Schreiber teaches an electrical power distribution plugstrip of the type for
`
`providing power to one or more electrical loads in a vertical electrical equipment rack
`
`(Fig.1 element 16, Fig.2), the electrical power distribution plugstrip comprising in
`
`combination:
`
`A.
`
`a vertical strip enclosure having a thickness and a length that is longer than a
`
`width of the enclosure (Fig.1, element 16);
`
`B.
`
`C.
`
`a power input penetrating said vertical strip enclosure (Fig.1, element 30);
`
`a plurality of power outputs disposed along an area on a face of said length of
`
`the strip enclosure, each among the plurality of power outputs being connectable to a
`
`corresponding one of said one or more electrical loads (Fig.1, elements 32a-32f);
`
`D.
`
`a plurality of power control relays disposed in said vertical strip enclosure, each
`
`among said plurality of power control relays being connected to individually control
`
`power from said power input to one or more corresponding power outputs among said
`
`plurality of power outputs (Fig.2, elements 46a-46e); and
`
`The reference fails to teach a digital display disposed on another area of said
`
`vertical strip enclosure and adjacent to said plurality of power outputs in information-
`
`determining communication with at least one among said power input and said plurality
`
`of power outputs, said user display providing
`
`information to a user, the information
`
`being related to the amount of current flowing through at least one among the power
`
`input and said plurality of power outputs.
`
`The reference Liu teaches this limitation in Fig. 3, col. 4, line 64-col. 5, line 9.
`
`IPR Page 11
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 11
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of invention was made to enhance the functionality of the power strip of
`
`Schreiber by adding Liu's user display such that the electrical parameters are displayed.
`
`It would have been obvious because it is difficult for ordinary users to measure the
`
`electrical parameters such as kilowatt-hour, power factor, watt, etc. of the electric
`
`appliances or the power source, Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved power
`
`source device with a display unit which is capable of indicting various electrical
`
`parameters of both the electric appliance electrically connected to the power source
`
`device and the power source as taught by Liu.
`
`Referring to claim 25,
`
`The reference Schreiber teaches the electrical po,wer plugstrip of claim 24
`
`further
`
`comprising at least one intelligent power section disposed in the vertical strip enclosure
`
`and in which is disposed at least one of the plurality of power control relays. (col.4, lines
`
`6-9, "The outlets 32a-32e are programmable. The outlet 32f is nonprogrammable and is
`
`be used to supply electrical power to a lamp 34 or other non-system device.", and Fig.2,
`
`elements 46a-46e ).
`
`Referring to claim 27,
`
`The electrical power plugstrtp of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of intelligent
`
`power sections disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, each said intelligent power
`
`section being in independent communication with at least a corresponding one or more
`
`among the plurality of power outputs (col.4, lines 6-9, "The outlets 32a-32e are
`
`programmable. The outlet 32f is non-programmable and is be used to supply electrical
`
`IPR Page 12
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`

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`·Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 12
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`power to a lamp 34 or other non-system device." · The reference also teaches "It is
`
`understood that t~e present invention can take many forms and embodiments. The
`
`embodiments shown herein are intended to illustrate rather than to limit the invention, it
`
`being appreciated that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the
`
`scope of the invention. For example, the system 10 may be implemented using
`
`alternative electronic components, rather than as herein described. Further, it will be
`
`appreciated that differen~ elements of the system may be embodied as a single
`
`integrated chip, or any varying combination of discrete digital or analog components
`
`interconnected in a standard manner. The system may be used to supply power to a
`
`variety of devices other than components of a computer system. Examples include,
`
`inter alia, lighting devices, consumer electronic products such as stereos, players, cable
`
`TV arrangements, and other systems.", col.?, lines 65 thru coi.B, lines 14. Thereby the
`
`reference impliedly teaches that additional groups of the receptacles can be added and
`
`formed as being separately controlled as being the intelligent power section. (a plurality
`
`of intelligent power sections disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, each said intelligent
`
`power section being in independent communication with at least a corresponding one or
`
`more among the plurality of power outputs.)
`
`Referring to claims 29 and 31,
`
`The reference Schreiber teaches in col.4,
`
`lines 6-9, "The outlets 32a-32e are
`
`programmable. The outlet 32f is non-programmable and is be used to supply electrical
`
`power to a lamp 34 or other non-system device." The reference also teaches "It is
`
`understood that the present invention can. take many forms and embodiments. The
`
`IPR Page 13
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`

`
`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 13
`
`embodiments shown herein are intended to illustrate rather than to limit the invention, it
`
`being appreciated that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the
`
`scope of the invention. For example, the system 10 may be implemented using
`
`alternative electronic components, rather than as herein described. Further, it will be
`
`appreciated that different elements of the system may be embodied as a single
`
`integrated chip, or any varying combination of discrete digital or analog components
`
`interconnected in a standard manner. The system may be used to supply power to a
`
`variety of devices other than components of a computer system. Examples include,
`
`inter alia, lighting devices, consumer electronic products such as stereos, players, cable
`
`TV arrangements, and other systems.", col.?, lines 65 thru col.8, lines 14. Thereby the
`
`reference impliedly teaches that additional groups of the receptacles can be added and
`
`formed as being separately controlled as being the intelligent power section. The
`
`reference also teaches the power control relays as claimed in Fig.2, elements 46a-46e
`
`and master relay 42. (wherein said intelligent power section comprises an intelligent
`
`power module having at least one of the plurality of power control relays and the
`
`corresponding power output for such one power control relay, and the corresponding
`
`power outputs for such one power control relay)
`
`4.
`
`Claims 12, 14, 17, 19, 21, 23, 26, 28, 30 and 32 are rejected under 35
`
`U.S.C. 1 03(a) as being unpatentable over Schreiber (US 5, 424, 903) and Liu (US 6,
`
`476, 729 81) as applied to claim 10 above, and further in view of Lovenrich (US 5, 619,
`
`722).
`
`Referring to claim 12,
`
`IPR Page 14
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`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 14
`
`The reference Schreiber teaches "The sequence in which the switches 26c-26e are
`
`actuated and the time delay between successive actuation of the switches 26c-26e are
`
`stored in the memory of the microprocessor 40.(col.6, lines 36-40). The reference
`
`discloses that the microprocessor incorporated by the power strip has the capability to
`
`store and execute the commands pertaining to selectable ones of plurality of power
`
`outputs.(the vertical strip enclosure in network communication with the intelligent power
`
`section disposed in the vertical strip enclosure, whereby a user of the external power
`
`manager may control power provided to selectable ones of said plurality of power
`
`outputs.) Although, the reference teaches the external power manager which is a
`
`hardware device, Fig.1, element 14, which is used to control · power provided to
`
`selectable ones of plurality of power outputs as stated in col. 6,
`
`lines 15-54, and
`
`although the hardware functionality of the device Fig.1, element can be implemented as
`
`being carried out by the software, since the claim includes external power manager
`
`application. the external power manager application is interpreted . as being exclusively
`
`a software and its relevant hardware.
`
`The reference fails to teach a user display disposed on said vertical strip
`
`enclosure and adjacent to the plurality of power outputs in information-determining
`
`communication with at least one among said power input and said plurality of power
`
`outputs, said user display providing information to a user, the information being related
`
`to the amount of current flowing through at least one among the power input and said
`
`plurality of power outputs.
`
`The reference Liu teaches this limitation in Fig. 3, col. 4, line 64-col. 5, line 9).
`
`IPR Page 15
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 15
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of invention was made to enhance the functionality of the power strip of
`
`Schreiber by adding Liu's user display such that the electrical parameters are displayed.
`
`It would have been obvious because it is difficult for ordinary users to measure the
`
`electrical parameters such as kilowatt-hour, power factor, watt, etc. of the electric
`
`appliances or the power source, Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved power
`
`source device with a display unit which is capable of indicting various electrical
`
`parameters of both the electric appliance electrically connected to the power source
`
`device and the power source as taught by Liu.
`
`Both, Schreiber and Liu teach all claimed limitations except an external power
`
`manager application .
`
`The reference Lovrenich teaches "a computer interface that is capable of
`
`providing an unlimited number ofaddressable multiplexed output ports to interface with
`
`remote peripheral devices, wherein the remote peripheral devices need not have
`
`inherent addressing circuitry, and wherein the computer interface can be inexpensively
`
`manufactured." In col. 3, lines 8-14. The reference also teaches "The extent of the
`
`functions which can be performed depend on the capabilities of the device.", col. 6, lines
`
`50-51. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of invention was made to enhance the functionality of the power strip of
`
`Schreiber and Liu by adding the interface of Lovrenich such that the programming
`
`aspect of the hardware device of Schreiber is replaced and carried out by the interface
`
`IPR Page 16
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 16
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`of Lovrenich because the reference Lovrenich has disclosed that "the extent of the
`
`functions which can be performed depend on the capabilities of the device."
`
`Referring to claim 14,
`
`The reference Schreiber teaches in col.4,
`
`lines 6-9, "The outlets 32a-32e are
`
`programmable. The outlet 32f is non-programmable and is be used to supply electrical
`
`· power to a lamp 34 or other non-system device." The reference also teaches "It is
`
`understood that the present invention can take many forms and embodiments. The
`
`embodiments shown herein are intended to illustrate rather than to limit the invention, it
`
`being appreciated that variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the
`
`scope of the invention. For example, the system 10 may be implemented using
`
`alternative electronic components, rather than as herein described. Further, it will be
`
`appreciated that different elements of the system may be embodied as a single
`
`integrated chip, or any varying combination of discrete digital or analog components
`
`interconnected in a standard manner. The system may be used to supply power to a
`
`variety of devices other than components of a computer system. Examples include,
`
`inter alia, lighting devices, consumer electronic products such as stereos, players, cable
`
`TV arrangements, and other systems.", col.?, lines 65 thru col.8, lines 14. Thereby the
`
`reference teaches that additional groups of the receptacles can be added and formed
`
`as being separately controlled as being the intelligent power section. (and in network
`
`communication with the plurality of intelligent power sections disposed in the vertical
`
`strip enclosure, whereby a user of the external power manager may control power
`
`provided to selectable ones of said plurality of power outputs.) Although, the reference
`
`IPR Page 17
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`

`
`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 17
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`teaches the external power manager which is a hardware device, Fig.1, element 14,
`
`which is used to control power provided to selectable ones of plurality of power outputs
`
`as stated in col. 6,
`
`lines 15-54, and although the hardware functionality of the device
`
`Fig.1, element can be implemented as being carried out by the software, since the claim
`
`includes external power manager application. the external power manager application is
`
`interpreted as being exclusively a software and its relevant hardware.
`
`The reference fails to teach a user display disposed on said vertical strip
`
`enclosure and adjacent to the plurality of power outputs in information-determining
`
`communication with at least one among said power input and said plurality of power
`
`outputs, said user display providing information to a user, the information being related
`
`to the amount of current flowing through at least one among the power input and said
`
`plurality of power outputs. The reference Liu teaches this limitation in Fig. 3, col. 4, line
`
`64-col. 5, line 9) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in
`
`the a~ at the time bf invention was made to enhance the functionality of the power strip
`
`of Schreiber by adding Liu's user display such that the electrical parameters are
`
`displayed.
`
`It would have been obvious because it is difficult for ordinary users to
`
`measure the electrical parameters such as kilowatt-hour, power factor, watt, etc. of the
`
`electric appliances or the power source, Thus, it is desirable to provide an improved
`
`power source device with a display unit which is capable of indicting various electrical
`
`parameters of both the electric appliance electrically connected to the power source
`
`device and the power source as taught by Liu.
`
`IPR Page 18
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`

`
`Application/Control Number: 09/930,780
`Art Unit: 2154
`
`Page 18
`
`Both, Schreiber and