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Docket No.: 418278883US1 (PATENT)
IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
In re Reexamination Application of:
Patent No. 6,725,281
Application No.: 90/011,541 Confirmation No.: 5471
Filed: March 7, 2011 Art Unit: 3992
For: SYNCHRONIZATION OF CONTROLLED Examiner: R. S. Desai DEVICE STATE TABLE AND EVENTING IN DATA-DRIVEN REMOTE DEVICE CONTROL MODEL
RESPONSE TO OFFICE ACTION IN EX PARTE REEXAMINATION
Commissioner for Patents P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Sir:
INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS
Patent owner acknowledges receipt of the Office Action dated August 16, 2011.
Amendments to the Claims are reflected in the listing of claims which begins on
page 2 of this paper.
Remarks/Arguments begin on page 11 of this paper.
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Comcast, Exhibit-11211
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AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS
1. (Original) A distributed computing network having at least one computing
device, the distributed computing network comprising:
a controlled computing device;
a state table maintained by the controlled computing device and representing an
operational state of the controlled computing device;
a user controller device having user input/output capability for presenting a user
perceptible device control interface for remote user interaction with the
controlled computing device to effect a change in the operational state of
the controlled computing device represented in the state table;
a user control point module in the user controller device operating to obtain a
copy of the state table of the user controller device and subscribe to
change notifications of the state table; and
an event source module in the controlled computing device operating according
to an eventing model to distribute the change notifications to any
subscribing user controller device upon a change to the state table
representing the operational state of the controlled computing device,
wherein the change notifications represent the respective change in the
state table, so as to thereby synchronize the user perceptible device
control interface with the changed operational state among said any
subscribing user controller device.
2. (Original) The distributed computing network of claim 1 further
comprising:
the state table having a plurality of entries, wherein each entry of the state table
comprises at least a variable identifier, a type and a current value;
at least one entry of the state table being of a type of data buffer, and containing
a file as its current value;
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whereby a change to the current value of said at least one entry effects a file
transfer from the controlled device to said any subscribing user control
device.
3. (Original) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the
controlled computing device is an embedded computing device.
4. (Original) The distributed computing network of claim 1, further
comprising a computer-readable medium controlled computing device having encoded
thereon the state table representing the operational state of the controlled computing
device, the state table comprising:
a plurality of entries, each entry comprising:
a variable identifier; and
a current value.
20. (Amended) A peer networking state eventing and control protocol method
for effecting state-concurrent multi-master control of a controlled computing device by a
plurality of control point computing devices communicating on a data communications
network, the data communications network having the controlled computing device, a
state table maintained by the controlled computing device and representing an
operational state of the controlled computing device, a control point computing device
having user input/output capability for presenting a user perceptible device control
interface for remote user interaction with the controlled computing device and
communicating with the controlled computing device via a device control protocol to
effect remote operational control of the controlled computing device, a user control point
module in the control point computing device operating to obtain a copy of the state
table of the control point computing device and subscribe to change notifications of the
state table, and an event source module operating according to an eventing model to
distribute the change notifications to any subscribing control point computing device
upon a change to the operational state of the controlled computing device, so as to
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thereby synchronize the user perceptible device control interface with the changed
operational state among said any subscribing control point computing device, the
method comprising:
from a plurality of the control point computing devices, receiving state eventing
subscription requests;
responsive to the state eventing subscription requests, registering subscriptions
of the respective control point computing devices to state events from the
controlled computing device;
communicating state events having information descriptive of a state of the
controlled computing device to the respective control point computing
devices of the registered subscriptions;
receiving a control command from a control point computing device instructing
the controlled computing device to perform a specified operation affecting
the state of the controlled computing device;
responsive to the control command, performing the specified operation; and
communicating further state events having information descriptive of the state of
the controlled computing device after the specified operation is performed
to the respective control point computing devices of the registered
subscriptions, whereby the plurality of control point computing devices
having registered subscriptions can maintain concurrent storage of data
representing the state of the controlled computing device.
23. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1, the controlled
computing device storing presentation data defining a presentation of the user
perceptible device control interface.
24. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 23, the controlled
computing device being further configured to transfer the presentation data defining the
presentation of the user perceptible device control interface to the user controller
device.
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25. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 23, the user controller
device further operating to receive the presentation data defining the presentation of the
user perceptible device control interface from the controlled computing device and
present the user perceptible device control interface.
26. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 25 wherein the user
controller device is a mobile phone.
27. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 25 wherein the user
controller device is a set-top box.
28. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 25 wherein the user
controller device is a handheld computer.
29. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 23 wherein the state
table maintained by the controlled computing device represents a current electrical state
of the controlled computing device.
30. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 23 wherein the state
table maintained by the controlled computing device represents a current mechanical
state of the controlled computing device.
31. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 23 wherein the state
table maintained by the controlled computing device represents a current logical state of
the controlled computing device.
32. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1, the user control point
module in the user controller device further operating to unsubscribe to change
notifications of the state table.
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33. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1, the controlled
computing device being configured to send a copy of the state table maintained by the
controlled computing device to the user control point module in the user controller
device in response to receiving a subscribe message from the user control point
module.
34. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the user
control point module is configured to subscribe to change notifications of the state table
by sending to the controlled computing device a subscribe message specifying a
timeout duration and wherein the controlled computing device is configured to remove
the subscription of the user control point module in response to determining that a re
subscribe message has not been received from the user control point module for at
least the specified timeout duration.
35. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the user
control point module is configured to form an unsubscribe message and unsubscribe to
change notifications of the state table by sending the unsubscribe message to the
controlled computing device.
36. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the
controlled computing device is a cell phone.
37. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the
controlled computing device is an audio and video recorder.
38. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the
controlled computing device is an audio or video playback device.
39. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the
controlled computing device is a set-top box.
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40. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 39 wherein the state
table represents a tuner channel selection.
41. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 39 wherein the state
table represents an audio decoding format.
42. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 39 wherein the state
table represents a video decoding format.
43. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the
controlled computing device is a game console.
44. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the
controlled computing device is an environment control device.
45. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the user
controller device is a mobile phone.
46. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the user
controller device is a set-top box.
47. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 1 wherein the user
controller device is a handheld computer.
48. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 20, further comprising:
storing presentation data defining a presentation of the user perceptible device
control interface; and
transferring the presentation data defining the presentation of the user
perceptible device control interface to a control point computing device.
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49. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein at least one of the plurality of control point computing devices is a
mobile phone.
50. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein at least one of the plurality of control point computing devices is a set
top box.
51. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein at least one of the plurality of control point computing devices is a
handheld computer .
. 52. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48, further comprising:
storing in the state table maintained by the controlled computing device a
representation of a current electrical state of the controlled computing
device.
53. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48, further comprising:
storing in the state table maintained by the controlled computing device a
representation of a current mechanical state of the controlled computing
device.
54. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48, further comprising:
storing in the state table maintained by the controlled computing device a
representation of a current logical state of the controlled computing
device.
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55. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48, further comprising:
from a plurality of the control point computing devices, receiving state eventing
unsubscribe requests.
56. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48, further comprising:
sending a copy of the state table maintained by the controlled computing device
to a first user control point module in response to receiving a subscribe
message from the first user control point module.
57. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48, further comprising:
receiving, from a first user control point module, a subscribe message specifying
a timeout duration; and
removing the subscription of the first user control point module in response to
determining that a re-subscribe message has not been received from the
first user control point module for at least the specified timeout duration.
58. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein the controlled computing device is a cell phone.
59. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein the controlled computing device is an audio and video recorder.
60. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein the controlled computing device is an audio or video playback device.
61. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein the controlled computing device is a set-top box.
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62. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 61 wherein the state
table represents a tuner channel selection of the set-top box.
63. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 61 wherein the state
table represents an audio decoding format of the set-top box.
64. (New) The distributed computing network of claim 61 wherein the state
table represents a video decoding format of the set-top box.
65. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein the controlled computing device is a game console.
66. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein the controlled computing device is an environment control device.
67. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein at least one of the plurality of control point computing devices is a
mobile phone.
68. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein at least one of the plurality of control point computing devices is a set
top box.
69. (New) The peer networking state eventing and control protocol method of
claim 48 wherein at least one of the plurality of control point computing devices is a
handheld computer.
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REMARKS
I. Introduction
Claims 1-4 and 20 of U.S. Patent No. 6,725,281 ("the '281 patent") were
considered in the Non-Final Office Action ("the Office Action") mailed on August 16,
2011. The third party requester did not request reexamination of the remaining claims.
Accordingly, claims 5-19, 21, and 22 are notsubjectto reexamination. 1
The patent owner herein amends claim 20, presents new claims 23-69, and does
not cancel any claims. Accordingly, claims 1-4, 20, and 23-69 are currently under
consideration.
The Office Action rejects claims 1, 3, 4, and 20 under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) over
U.S. Patent No. 6,404,743 to Meandzija ("Meandzija"), rejects claims 1, 3, 4, and 20
under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) over U.S. Patent No. 6, 167,433 to Maples et al. ("Maples"),
rejects claims 1, 3, 4, and 20 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) over the combination of U.S.
Patent No. 6,389,464 to Krishnamurthy et al. ("Krishnamurthy") and Meandzija, and
rejects claims 1-4 and 20 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) over the combination of U.S. Patent
No. 5,655,081 to Bonnell et al. ("Bonnell") and Maples. The patent owner respectfully
traverses these rejections and, at least for the reasons set forth below, submits that
each of the claims under consideration is patentable over the applied references, alone
or in combination.
II. Current Status of Litigation Involving the '281 patent
The '281 patent is currently the subject of litigation between Microsoft
Corporation and Tivo Inc. The case is captioned Case No. 5:1 O-cv-00240-LHK,
Microsoft Corporation v. Tivo Inc. Proceedings in the litigation have been stayed
pending completion of re-examination.
1 Silence regarding a position taken, or argument made, by the Examiner does not indicate any acquiescence to that position or argument. Furthermore, arguments made with respect to any particular claim or claims apply to only those claims and not to any other claims or patents/applications unless specifically noted herein.
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Ill. Claim Amendments
Support for the clarifying amendments to claim 20 can be found in the '281 patent
including, but not limited to, e.g., col. 1, line 66 to col. 2, line 16 and col. 43, lines 40-59.
IV. New Claims
Support for the newly added claims can be found in the '281 patent including, but
not limited to, the following portions:
claims 23-25 and 48: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 2, lines 1-7 and col. 5, line 39
to col. 6, line 9,
claims 26-28, 45-47, 49-51, and 67-69: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 6, lines 43-
44,
claims 29-31 and 52-54: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 8, lines 53-56,
claims 32, 35, and 55: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 38, lines 25-41,
claim 33 and 56: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 43, lines 40-43,
claim 34 and 57: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 36, line 55 to col. 37, line 18,
claims 36, 37, 39, 43, 44, 58, 59, 61, 65, and 66: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 45,
lines 26-47,
claim 38 and 60: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 6, line 61, and
claims 40-42 and 62-64: see, e.g., '281 patent at col. 13, lines 61-66.
V. Background
During the 1990s, computers were becoming increasingly popular in U.S.
households, growing from 15% of U.S. households in 1989 to 51 % in 2000.
(Newburger, Eric C., Home Computers and Internet Use in the United States: August
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2000, U.S. Census Bureau, p. 1.) By the late 1990s, network and Internet access within
U.S. households was also increasing rapidly, with 18% of U.S. households having
Internet access in 1997 to 41.5% in 2000. (Newburger, p. 1.) Seeing these trends,
personal computer (PC) manufacturers began to "ship PCs with built-in support for
Ethernet, IEEE 1394, radio frequency (RF), power line carrier (PLC), or phone line
connectivity that makes it possible to add home networking without adding wires."
(Christensson, Bengt and Larsson, Olaf, Universal Plug and Play Connects Smart
Devices, WinHEC 99 White Paper, 1999, p. 3.) "Set-top boxes, networked
entertainment appliances, and other smart devices [were also] evolving with the growth
of the Internet and improved bandwidth availability to the home." (Christensson, p. 3.)
The '281 patent describes an architecture that enables network-connected
devices, such as desktop computers, mobile phones, etc., to discover, connect to, and
control remote network-connected devices, such as VCRs, DVD players, television set
top boxes (STBs), telephones, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
systems, lighting systems, and so on. Among other things, the disclosed architecture
enables devices (e.g., DVD player, STB, HVAC system, lighting system) to export user
interfaces over a network so that the devices can be controlled from other devices. For
example, a· representation of "a controlled device's physical control panel (e.g., the
buttons, knobs and display of an audio/video equipment's front panel and infrared
remote) [may be] remoted to other user interface capable control devices." ('281 patent,
1 :61-65.) These user controller devices enable users to interact with and control the
controlled devices through a user interface.
In some embodiments, each controlled device maintains a state table
representing an operational state. ('281 patent, 1 :67-2:1.) User controller devices
obtain copies of the controlled device's state table over a network, for example, and
subscribe to notifications of changes to the state table. ('281 patent, Abstract.) In
response to any change to the controlled device's operational state, such as changes
caused by inputs from a user controller device or the controlled device's front panel or
infrared remote, the controlled device notifies subscribing user controller devices of the
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change. ('281 patent, Abstract and 2:7-16.) Each subscribing user controller device
can then update its copy of the state table so that the copies of the state tables of the
user controller devices remain synchronized. ('281 patent, Abstract and 2:7-16). In this
manner, the "user is able to interact appropriately to the actual current state of the
device, e.g., avoiding issuing a 'toggle power on/off' command when the controlled
device" is already in the desired state. ('281 patent, 2:29-32.)
VI. Brief Description of the Applied References
A. Meandzija
Meandzija describes an "enhanced Simple Network Management Protocol
(SNMP) management system for telecommunications networks." (Meandzija, Abstract).
Meandzija's "invention enables the use of the TMN X.700 techniques in SNMP
management systems through a new mapping of the X.700 information model onto the
SNMP information model." (Meandzija, 4:35-41.) Meandzija employs an "SNMP
management station" in communication with "SNMP management agents" that support
access to managed resources, such as hosts, bridges, routers, and hubs, represented
by "managed objects referred to as the MIB." (Meandzija, 10:4-10.) Each MIB or
"Management Information Base" is a component of the SNMP framework as defined by
"RFC 1213." (Meandzija, 2:45-55.) The SNMP management station monitors
resources by retrieving and storing values of MIB objects from the agents and can also
cause an action to occur at an agent or change its configuration settings by modifying
these values. (Meandzija, 10:1-19.)
In addition to the SNMP-based MIB stored at each agent, Meandzjia also
describes an ITU-T X.731-based "state information module" stored at the SNMP
management station. (Meandzija, Figure 2 and 11 :26-28.) The station's "state
information module" represents "the management state of agents across a network or
internet." (Meandzija, 11:19-21.) In other words, the state information includes state
information for the agent itself, such as "a management state, an administrative state,
an operational state, a user state," and so on. (Meandzjia, 11 :31-37.) Several of these
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states, and their values/transitions, are "defined in the ITU-T X.731 standard."
(Meandzjia, 11 :31-37 and 12:7-13:26.)
Meandzija's management stations define event information, including pre
conditions for generating an event, and communicate the event information to
management agents. When the pre-conditions are met, an event is generated at the
agent and the agent sends a notification regarding the event to the management
station. (Meandzija, 4:55-64.) In this manner, "X-700-style alarm and event
surveillance, and event reporting" is enabled "in a way that is consistent with the SNMP
management paradigm." (Meandzija, 4:38-44.)
B. Krishnamurthy
Krishnamurthy describes a "network management system" comprising at least
one site server connected to manageable devices. (Krishnamurthy, 5:48-67.) The site
server includes an SNMP agent and a set of managed objects or variables, in the form
of an MIB, and provides web pages that guide users to enter configuration information
"to associate a particular device to be managed from the site server 12 to a MIB table in
a MIB." (Krishnamurthy, Figure 3, 2:34-35, and 6:36-44.) By connecting to the site
server, users can configure "any of the MIB variables of a managed device" through a
web interface provided by the site server. (Krishnamurthy, Figure 7 and 11 :24-30.) In
this manner, the site server provides a portal through which users can manage
managed devices.
C. Maples
Maples describes a "synthetic multi-dimensional user oriented environment,"
referred to as "MUSE," and allowing a "group of users to explore, navigate, manipulate
and examine application data in" such an environment. (Maples, 1 :28-31, Abstract.)
Maples' system enables individuals located in different, remote locations can interact
within a shared "virtual space." (Maples, 2:61-66.)
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Maples employs a number of "MUSE" systems, each of which stores local state
and parameter tables that "contain control state and parameter of the local MUSE
system." (Maples, 7:52-54.) Maples' state and parameters tables represent state and
parameters of a synthetic or virtual environment. "Parameters may include information
identifying objects within the virtual environment, while state information may include the
orientation of the object, its translation in space, or any other necessary control state to
accomplish the desired functionality of the application 18 or the MUSE system."
(Maples, 7:54-59.) Additional examples of information that may be stored in Maples'
parameter and state tables include "user position, application scenario time, application
environment scale, application magnification factor, user field of view, lighting control,
the generation of teleportion markers, application object size and placement, or any
other application state." (Maples, 18: 1-5.)
In addition to the local state and parameter tables, each MUSE system includes
a "shared memory" storing state and parameters tables for remote MUSE systems so
that the current state of each individual is known by every user connected in the shared
environment. (Maples, Figure 10 and 11 :8-12.) Each MUSE system "transmits state
values and parameter information only when the state values and parameters
information are changed." (Maples, 15:16-19.) "Each time such information is
changed, it is sent to each of the shared environments" so that the state and parameter
tables of the remote MUSE systems remain synchronized with the local version.
(Maples, 15: 19-24.) Using the tables stored in the shared memory, the local user can
elect to allow a remote user to control various parameters of the local MUSE
environment. For example, "if the local user 30 would like the perspective of the shared
user 2, the local user requests shared user 2 control of the point of view, and the shared
control table 114 provides the information defining this point of view [from the shared
memory] to the application state table and application parameter table." (Maples,
16:31-48.)
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D. Bonnell
Docket No.: 418278883US1
Bonnell describes techniques for "monitoring and managing applications and
other resources in a computer network." (Bonnell, 6:56-57.) Bonnell's techniques
include using "network management computer systems [that] act as consoles for
monitoring and managing resources present on server computer systems in the
network." (Bonnell, 6:64-67.) Bonnell employs "agent software systems" installed on
server computer systems to "carr[y] out tasks on the computer system in which it is
installed such as discovering which resources and applications are present,"
"monitoring particular aspects of the resources and applications present," and
"executing recovery actions automatically." (Bonnell, 7:2-8.) The agent software
systems include a number of "event catalogs" for storing historical information about
events that have occurred. (Bonnell, 10:11-38.)
VII. The Jones Declaration
The Jones declaration provides a general description of Dr. Jones' interpretation
of the applied references. Dr. Jones makes several assertions regarding the applied
references but does not support these assertions with references to the applied
references. Patent owner does not agree with Dr. Jones' interpretation of the applied
references and believes that at least some of Dr. Jones' assertions are incorrect. For
example, Dr. Jones asserts that "client devices in [Maples'] MUSE environment can be
fully functional standalone system$ such as printers, routers, and hubs, or embedded
devices with basic memory and storage systems such as NIC cards" and that the "state
table contains updated information regarding the respective client devices." (Jones
Declaration, 1f 6.) However, Dr. Jones does not point to any portion of Maples that
describes a state table containing updated information regarding such "client devices."
Rather, Maples' state and parameters tables represent state and parameters of a
synthetic or virtual environment. (Maples, 7:54-59 and 18:1-5.) As another example,
the Jones declaration asserts that Meandzija's management station includes an "MIB
database" containing "a copy of the MIB information (e.g., state table) of the agent
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station." (Jones Declaration, 1f 9.) However, Dr. Jones does not point to any portion of
Meandzija that describes an MIB database containing a "copy" of any state table of the
agent station. Rather, Meandzija describes a management station that receives values
from MIB objects and stores information extracted from MIBs in a database.
(Meandzija, 10:1-16.) Meandzija provides no indication that this "database" is a "copy"
of any MIB or state table or that information retrieved from any MIB constitutes a copy of
the MIB.
VIII. Rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) over Meandzija
A. Meandzija does not Qualify as Prior Art under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b)
Patent owner submits that Meandzija does not qualify as prior art to the '281
patent under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b). According to the United States Code,
"[a] person shall be entitled to a patent unless-
(b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of the application for patent in the United States."
(35 U.S.C. § 102.) Meandzija, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application
No. 60/064, 178, was filed on May 11, 1998 and issued on June 11, 2002. U.S. Patent
Publication No. 2002/0085571, which corresponds to Meandzija, was published on
July 4, 2002. The '281 patent, however, was filed on November 2, 1999. Thus,
Meandzija was not patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign
country more than one year prior to the date of the application for patent in the United
States (November 2, 1999). Moreover, the Office Action does not establish that the
disclosure of Meandzjia was in public use or on sale in this country more than one year
prior to November 2, 1999. Accordingly, Meandzija does not qualify as prior art under
35 U.S.C. § 102(b). For at least this reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the
Examiner withdraw this rejection of claims 1, 3, 4, and 20.
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Notwithstanding the improper rejection of the pending claims under 35 U.S.C.
§ 102(b), patent owner would like to make the following comments regarding differences
between the pending claims and Meandzija.
8. Meandzija does not disclose "a user control point module in the user controller device operating to obtain a copy of the state table," as claim 1 recites
Independent claim 1 recites, inter alia, "a user control point module in the user
controller device operating to obtain a copy of the state table of the user controller
device." The Office Action relies on Meandzija at 9:50-54, 10:37-40, 11 :31-35, 11 :48-
55, Figure 2, and Figure 4 as disclosing this feature. (Office Action, August 16, 2011,
p. 8.) According to the Office Action, Meandzija's "MIB" corresponds to the recited
"state table." (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 6.) Even assuming, for the sake of
argument, that Meandzija's "MIB" corresponds to "a state table maintained by the
controlled computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled
computing device," which patent owner does not concede, the relied-upon portions of
Meandzija do not disclose a user control point operating to obtain a QQQY of the MIB.
The relied-upon portions of Meandzija describe two separate data structures
stored by different entities: the SNMP-based MIB, stored by an SNMP agent, and an
ITU-T X.731-based "state information module" stored at an "SNMP management
station." (See Meandzija, Figure 2.) The Office Action does not point to any portion of
Meandzija that discloses that Meandzija's state information module is a "copy" of
Meandzija's MIB. Meandzija's state information module includes a "management state"
that "represents the instantaneous condition of availability and operability of the
associated agent resource from the point of view of management" and further includes
"a number of states and status functions, including a management state, an
administrative state, an operational state, a usage state, a procedural status, an alarm
status, an availability status, control status, a standby status, and an unknown status."
(Meandzija, 11 :31-35 and Figure 4.) Meandzija's MIB, in contrast, comprises
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representations of managed objects, each representing a managed resource.
Meandzija does not disclose that the state information module is a "copy" of the MIB.
Moreover, the Office Action's reliance on portions of Meandzija that describe a
processor of an SNMP agent communicating with both the SNMP management station
and the MIB (Meandzija, 9:50-54 and 10:37-40), does not cure these deficiencies
because Meandzija does not disclose that these communications including
communicating a "copy" of the MIB to the management station.
The Request for Ex Parte Reexamination and the Jones declaration similarly
conflate Meandzija's state information module and MIB and do not point to any portion
of Meandzija that describes that a copy of the MIB is obtained or that the state
information module is a copy of the MIB. The Request for Ex Parte Reexamination, for
example, asserts that the "management system of Meandzija includes a 'database of
information extracted from the MIBs of all the managed entities in the network."'
(Request for Ex Parte Reexamination, March 7, 2011, p. 12 (citing Meandzija, 10:1-2)
(emphasis added by Request for Ex Parte Reexamination)). However, the Request for
Ex Parte Reexamination fails to point to any portion of Meandzija which indicates that
the database of Meandzija's management system includes all of the information of
Meandzija's MIB as opposed to selected portions of the MIB. In other words, the
database of Meandzija's management system is not a "copy" of the MIB.
As another example, the Jones declaration asserts that once certain criteria are
met "the agent station sends an SNMP trap message (e.g., event notification) to the
management station, updating a MIB database at the management station containing a
copy of the MIB information (e.g., state table) of the agent state (e.g., monitored
device). (Jones' Declaration, ,-r 9.) The state information module can thus store the
updated change in states at the managed station." (Jones Declaration, ,-r 9.) The Jones
declaration, however, fails to identify any portion of Meandzija that supports its assertion
that Meandzija's management station maintains an "MIB database" that is a .QQQY of the
MIB maintained by the "agent station." Furthermore, even if, as the Jones declaration
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asserts, the "state information module can thus store the updated change in states at
the managed station," the Jones declaration fails to point to, and patent owner is unable
to find, any portion of Meandzija disclosing that the state information is a "copy" of the
MIB.
For at least these reasons, the relied-upon portions of Meandzija do not
identically disclose "a user control point module in the user controller device operating
to obtain a copy of the state table" as claim 1 recites. Patent owner respectfully
requests that the Examiner reconsider and withdraw this rejection of claim 1 and its
dependent claims 3 and 4.
C. Meandzija does not disclose "a user control point module in the control point computing device operating to obtain a copy of the state table," as claim 20 recites
Independent claim 20 now recites, inter alia, "a user control point module in the
control point computing device operating to obtain a copy of the state table of the
control point computing device." This feature is similar to the feature discussed above
with respect to claim 1, which the Office Action relies on Meandzija at 9:50-54, 10:37-
40, 11 :31-35, 11 :48-55, Figure 2, and Figure 4 as disclosing. (Office Action, August 16,
2011, p. 8.) As discussed above, the relied-upon portions of Meandzija describe two
separate data structures stored by different entities: the SNMP-based MIB, stored by
an SNMP agent, and an ITU-T X.731-based "state information module" stored at an
"SNMP management station." (See Meandzija, Figure 2.) The Office Action does not
establish that the state information module is a "copy" of the MIB or that the SNMP
management station operates to "obtain a copy" of the MIB. For at least these reasons,
the relied-upon portions of Meandzija do not identically disclose "a user control point
module in the control point computing device operating to obtain a copy of the state
table of the control point computing device," as claim 20 now recites. For at least this
reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider and withdraw
this rejection of claim 20.
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D. Meandzija does not disclose "a state table maintained by the controlled computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled computing device," as claims 1 and 20 recite
Independent claims 1 and 20 recite, inter alia, "a state table maintained by the
controlled computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled
computing device." The Office Action relies on Meandzija at 10:3-10 as disclosing this
feature, pointing specifically to Meandzija's "agent" as corresponding to the recited
"controlled computing device" and Meandzija's "MIB" as corresponding to the recited
"state table." (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 6.) As discussed above, Meandzija's
MIB comprises "managed objects" each representing a "managed resource."
(Meandzija, 10:3-10.) The information stored in Meandzija's MIB pertains to those
resources managed by the agent, not the agent itself. Thus, Meandzija's MIB does not
represent an operational state of Meandzija's SNMP agent. Accordingly, Meandzija's
MIB does not maintain information representing an operational state of Meandzija's
agent which, according to the Office Action, corresponds to the recited "controlled
computing device." (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 6.) Accordingly, the relied-upon
portions of Meandzija do not identically disclose "a state table maintained by the
controlled computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled
computing," as claims 1 and 20 recite. For at least this reason, patent owner
respectfully requests that the Examiner withdraw this rejection of independent claims 1
and 20 and dependent claims 3 and 4, which depend from claim 1 .
E. Meandzija does not disclose "the state table comprising: a plurality of entries, each entry comprising: a variable identifier; and a current value," as claim 4 recites
Dependent claim 4 recites, inter alia, "the state table comprising: a plurality of
entries, each entry comprising: a variable identifier; and a current value." The Office
Action relies on Meandzija at 2:66-3:9 as disclosing these features, pointing specifically
to Meandzija's MIB. (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 11.) The MIB defines objects
where "each object type is named by an object identifier, an administratively assigned
name" and "[t]he object type together with an object instance serves to uniquely
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identify a specific instantiation of the object." (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 11
(quoting Meandzija, 3:3-7) (emphasis added by Office Action).) Patent owner
respectfully disagrees that Meandzija's object identifier or object instance are variable
identifiers. Although different objects may have different object identifiers and each
instance of an object may correspond to different instantiations of an object, for a
specific instantiation of an object, neither the value of the object identifier nor the object
instance value change. In other words, the object identifier and the object instance are
not "variable identifiers." If either the object identifier value or the object instance value
could change for an instantiated object, the object type (object identifier value) and
object instance would not serve to uniquely identify a specific instantiation, which is in
contrast to Meandzija's description. Accordingly, the relied-upon portions of Meandzija
do not identically disclose a "state table comprising: a plurality of entries, each entry
comprising: a variable identifier; and a current value," as claim 4 recites. For at least
this reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider and
withdraw this rejection of claim 4.
IX. Rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) over Meandzija and Krishnamurthy
A. The combination of Meandzija and Krishnamurthy neither describes nor suggests "a user control point module in the user controller device operating to obtain a copy of the state table," as claim 1 recites
Independent claim 1 recites, inter alia, "a user control point module in the user
controller device operating to obtain a copy of the state table of the user controller
device." As the Office Action points out, Krishnamurthy does not disclose this feature.
(Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 35.) The Office Action relies on Meandzija at 9:50-
54, 10:37-40, 11 :31-35, 11 :48-55, and Figure 4 as disclosing this feature. (Office
Action, August 16, 2011, pp. 35-36.) As discussed above, Meandzija does not disclose
"a user control point module in the user controller device operating to obtain a copy of
the state table of the user controller device." Rather, the relied-upon portions of
Meandzija describe two separate data structures stored by different entities: the SNMP-
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based MIB, stored by an SNMP agent, and an ITU-T X.731-based "state information
module" stored at an "SNMP management station," neither of which is a "copy" of the
other. (See Meandzija, Figure 2.) For at least this reason, the relied-upon portions of
the applied references neither describe nor suggest "a user control point module ...
operating to obtain a copy of the state table" as claim 1 recites. Patent owner
respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider and withdraw this rejection of claim 1
and its dependent claims 3 and 4.
B. The combination of Meandzija and Krishnamurthy neither describes nor suggests "a user control point module in the control point computing device operating to obtain a copy of the state table," as claim 20 recites
Independent claim 20 now recites, inter alia, "a user control point module in the
control point computing device operating to obtain a copy of the state table of the
control point computing device." This feature is similar to the feature discussed above
with respect to claim 1, which the Office Action relies on Meandzija at 9:50-54, 10:37-
40, 11 :31-35, 11 :48-55, and Figure 4 as disclosing this feature. (Office Action,
August 16, 2011, pp. 35-36.) As discussed above, Meandzija does not disclose this
feature. For at least reasons similar to those discussed above with respect to claim 1,
patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider and withdraw this
rejection of claim 20.
C. The combination of Meandzija and Krishnamurthy neither describes nor suggests "a state table maintained by the controlled computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled computing device," as claims 1 and 20 recite
Independent claims 1 and 20 recite, inter alia, "a state table maintained by the
controlled computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled
computing device." The Office Action relies on Krishnamurthy at 4:44-47, 6:36-44, and
6:55-65 as disclosing this feature, pointing specifically to Krishnamurthy's "MIB" as
corresponding to the recited "state table" and Krishnamurthy's "site server" as
corresponding to the recited "controlled computing device." (Office Action, August 16,
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2011, pp. 33-34). The relied-upon portions of Krishnamurthy describe 1) MIS files,
2) configuration data "used in connection with MIS files," and 3) guiding "a user to enter
configuration information to associate a particular device to be managed from the site
server 12 to a MIS table." None of the relied-upon portions of Krishnamurthy, however,
suggest that Krishnamurthy's MIS represents an operational state of Krishnamurthy's
site server. Rather, information in the MIS is associated with "a particular device to be
managed from the site server." (Krishnamurthy, 6:42-43 (emphasis added).)
Furthermore, the Office Action does not point to any portion of Krishnamurthy that
describes the managed devices maintaining an MIS. The relied-upon portions of
Krishnamurthy neither describe nor suggest "a state table maintained by the controlled
computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled computing
device," as claims 1 and 20 recite. As discussed above, Meandzija does not cure this
deficiency. Accordingly, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner withdraw
this rejection of independent claims 1 and 20 and dependent claims 3 and 4, which
depend from claim 1.
D. The combination of Meandzija and Krishnamurthy neither describes nor suggests "wherein the controlled computing device is an embedded computing device," as claim 3 recites
Dependent claim 3 recites, inter alia, "wherein the controlled computing device is
an embedded computing device." The Office Action relies on Krishnamurthy at Figure 3
and 6:28-39 as disclosing this feature. (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 38.) Patent
owner respectfully disagrees. According to the Office Action, "Krishnamurthy discloses
a controlled computing device as the site server." (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 33
(emphasis added).) The relied-upon portions of Krishnamurthy describe a site server
having a "modem" and "Ethernet 10-SaseT board" and operating "using an I SA-Sus
architecture." These elements, however, do not suggest that Krishnamurthy's site
server itself is an "embedded device." Even assuming, for the sake of argument, that
Krishnamurthy's modem, Ethernet board, and bus architecture constitute embedded
devices (which patent owner does not concede), Krishnamurthy's site server is not an
embedded device, as the Office Action asserts. Accordingly, the relied-upon portions of
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the applied references neither describe nor a suggest "wherein the controlled computing
device is an embedded computing device," as claim 3 recites. Patent owner
respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider and withdraw this rejection of claim
3.
X. Rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) over Maples
A. Maples does not disclose "a user control point module ... operating to ... subscribe to change notifications of the state table" as claims 1 and 20 recite
Independent claims 1 and 20 recite, inter alia, "a user control point module ...
operating to ... subscribe to change notifications of the state table." The Office Action
relies on Maples at 18:6-30 as disclosing this feature. (Office Action, August 16, 2011,
pp. 23-24 and 28-29.) Patent owner respectfully disagrees that the relied-upon portion
of Maples discloses this feature. Maples at 18:6-30 describes allowing different users to
exert control over different aspects of Maples' synthetic environment imaging system
through Maples' "shared control table." For example, "if the local user 30 would like the
perspective of the shared user 2, the local user requests shared user 2 control of the
point of view, and the shared control table 114 provides the information defining this
point of view to the application state table and application parameter table." (Maples,
16:43-48.) However, Maples' distributed "remote MUSE systems" do not subscribe to
change notifications of Maples' state and parameter tables. Rather, each system
"transmits state values and parameter information only when the state values and
parameter information are changed in value" and "[e]ach time such information is
changed, it is sent to each of the shared environments." (Maples, 15:16-21 (emphasis
added).) Because the state value and parameter information changes are automatically
distributed to the various systems, there is no reason for Maples' systems to "subscribe
to change notifications of the state table" as recited and Maples does not describing a
system subscribing to any change notifications.
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The Office Action's assertion that Maples at 18:6-30 "teaches that subscription
may be optionally selected by denoting whether the local user is in control of a particular
parameter of if (sic) the state is shared between users" is misplaced. (Office Action,
August 16, 2011, pp. 23-24.) Although a local user may select remote or local control
over a particular parameter of the local system, the local system receives state value
and parameter information changes from the remote systems regardless of the local
user's parameter control selections. For example, if the local user would like the
perspective of the shared user 2, the local system is still notified of any changes to the
perspective information of other shared users. If the local user decides to switch to the
perspective of shared user 1, the local system is. still notified of any changes to the
perspective information of shared user 2. Thus, the local user's selection of remote or
local control over a particular parameter does not affect the local system's receipt of
change notifications of that parameter from remote systems. Accordingly, a local
system need not "subscribe" to change notifications and the relied-upon portions of
Maples do not disclose "a user control point module in the user controller device
operating to ... subscribe to change notifications of the state table," as claims 1 and 20
recite. For at least this reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner
reconsider and withdraw this rejection of independent claims 1 and 20 and dependent
claims 3 and 4, which depend from claim 1.
B. Maples does not disclose "a state table maintained by the controlled computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled computing device," as claims 1 and 20 recite
Independent claims 1 and 20 recite, inter alia, "a state table maintained by the
controlled computing device and representing an operational state of the controlled
computing device." The Office Action relies on Maples at 7:47-59 as disclosing this
feature. (Office Action, August 16, 2011, pp. 21-22.) Patent owner respectfully
disagrees that Maples discloses a state table representing an operational state of a
controlled computing device. Maples at 7 :4 7 -59 describes "state and parameter
tables 120, 122 which are a representation of all control states and parameters needed
to control [Maples' MUSE] application" and "contain each control state and parameter
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for the local MUSE system." Maples' state and parameter tables, however, do not
represent an operational state of a controlled device. Rather, Maples' "[p]arameters
may include information identifying objects within the virtual environment, while state
information may include the orientation of the object, its translation in space, or any
other necessary control state to accomplish the desired functionality of the
application 18 or the MUSE [multi-dimensional user synthetic environment] system 1 O."
(Maples, 7:54-59.) Additional examples of information that may be stored in Maples'
parameter and state tables include "user position, application scenario time, application
environment scale, application magnification factor, user field of view, lighting control,
the generation of teleportion markers, application object size and placement, or any
other application state." (Maples, 18: 1-5.) Thus, Maples' state and parameters tables
represent state and parameters of an application that represents a synthetic or virtual
environment, not "an operational state of [a] controlled computing device," as claims 1
and 20 recite. Although, as the Office Action at p. 21 indicates, "the local multi
dimensional synthetic environment or MUSE system 10 may be implemented with
virtually any general purpose digital computer having multi-processing capabilities and
virtually any input and output devices," Maples' state and parameter tables do not store
"an operational state" of any general purpose digital computer, input, or output device.
For at least these reasons, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner
reconsider and withdraw this rejection of independent claims 1 and 20 and dependent
claims 3 and 4, which depend from claim 1.
C. Maples does not disclose "wherein the controlled computing device is an embedded computing device," as claim 3 recites
Dependent claim 3 recites "wherein the controlled computing device is an
embedded computing device." The Office Action relies on Maples at 5:60-67 as
disclosing this feature. Patent owner respectfully disagrees. According to the Office
Action, the "controlled computing device" corresponds to Maples' "local multi
dimensional synthetic environment or MUSE system 1 O" which "may be implemented
with virtually any general purpose digital computer having multi-processing capabilities
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and virtually any input and output devices" and "employs a shared memory to interact
between the user 30 and a selected synthetic environment application." (Office Action,
August 16, 2011, p. 21; Maples 5:60-67.) As is clear form Maples, the local multi
dimensional synthetic environment or MUSE system is a general purpose digital
computer, not an embedded device.
The Jones declaration's assertion that "[c]lient devices in the MUSE environment
can be fully functional computers, standalone systems such as printers, routers, and
hubs, or embedded devices with basic memory and storage systems such as NIC
cards" is not supported by Maples. Maples clearly indicates that "the local multi
dimensional synthetic environment or MUSE system 10 may be implemented with
virtually any general purpose digital computer having multi-processing capabilities and
virtually any input and output devices." (Maples, 5:60-64 (emphasis added).) Although
Maple's system may include input and output devices in addition to "virtually any
general purpose digital computer," these input and output devices do not constitute
Maples' local multi-dimensional synthetic environment or MUSE system. Maples'
MUSE systems, which include a "general purpose digital computer having multi
processing capabilities," are not embedded devices. Maples does not identically
disclose a "controlled computing device [that] is an embedded computing device" as
recited. For at least this reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner
reconsider and withdraw this rejection of claim 3.
XI. Rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) over Maples and Bonnell
A. The combination of Maples and Bonnell neither describes nor suggests "a user control point module ... operating to ... subscribe to change notifications of the state table" as claims 1 and 20 recite
Independent claims 1 and 20 recite, inter alia, "a user control point module ...
operating to ... subscribe to change notifications of the state table." As the Office
Action points out, Bonnell does not disclose this feature. (Office Action, August 16,
2011, p. 52.). The Office Action relies on Maples at 18:6-30 as disclosing this feature.
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(Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 53.). As discussed above, the relied-upon portions
of Maples do not disclose this feature. Accordingly, for at least reasons similar to those
discussed above, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider and
withdraw this rejection of claims 1 and 20 and dependent claims 2-4, which depend
from claim 1.
8. The combination of Maples and Bonnell neither describes nor suggests "a user perceptible device control interface for remote user interaction with the controlled computing device to effect a change in the operational state of the controlled computing device represented in the state table," as claim 1 recites
Independent claim 1 recites "a user perceptible device control interface for
remote user interaction with the controlled computing device to effect a change in the
operational state of the controlled computing device represented in the state table." The
Office Action relies on Bonnell at 2:29-51 as disclosing this feature. (Office Action,
August 16, 2011, p. 51.) Patent owner respectfully disagrees that the relied-upon
portion of Bonnell discloses an interface for remote user interaction to effect a change in
the operational state of the controlled computing device represented in the state table.
The relied-upon portions of Bonnell describe "components for implementing [a] manager
software system," which include a graphical user interface "to present visual
representations of objects on the display of [a] network management computer system"
and "coordinate[ ] the representation of pop-up windows for command menus and the
display of requested or monitored data." (Bonnell, 2:29-31.) The graphical user
interface Bonnell describes, however, does not permit remote user interaction to effect a
change in an operational state of a controlled device as recited. Rather, the graphical
user interface of Bonnell permits monitoring of the state or other requested information
of objects present on a computer network, not effecting a change in the state or
information. Thus, even assuming, for the sake of argument, that the user interface can
be "incorporated ... within Bonnell to create a simple and easy method for monitoring
devices from a user perspective," as the Office Action asserts, the incorporation only
permits monitoring of devices, not the ability to "effect a change in the operational state
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of [a] controlled computing device," as recited. (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 52.)
For at least this reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner
reconsider and withdraw this rejection of claim 1 and its dependent claims 2-4.
C. The combination of Maples and Bonnell neither describes nor suggests "a user perceptible device control interface for remote user interaction with the controlled computing device and communicating with the controlled computing device via a device control protocol to effect remote operational control of the controlled computing device," as claim 20 recites
Independent claim 20 .recites "a user perceptible device control interface for
remote user interaction with the controlled computing device and communicating with
the controlled computing device via a device control protocol to effect remote
operational control of the controlled computing device." The Office Action relies on
Bonnell at 2:29-51 as disclosing this feature. (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 59.)
As discussed above, the relied-upon portions of Bonnell describe a graphical user
interface that permits monitoring of the state or other requested information of objects
present on a computer network, not effecting a change in the state or information.
Thus, even assuming, for the sake of argument, that the user interface can be
"incorporated ... within Bonnell to create a simple and easy method for monitoring
devices from a user perspective," as the Office Action asserts, the incorporation only
permits monitoring of devices, not the ability to "effect a change in the operational state
of [a] controlled computing device," as recited. (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 59.)
For at least this reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner
reconsider and withdraw this rejection of claim 20.
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D. The combination of Maples and Bonnell neither describes nor suggests "the state table having a plurality of entries, wherein each entry of the state table comprises at least a variable identifier, a type and a current value," "at least one entry of the state table being of a type of data buffer, and containing a file as its current value," or "whereby a change to the current value of said at least one entry effects a file transfer from the controlled device to said any subscribing user control device," as claim 2 recites
Dependent claim 2 recites, inter alia, "the state table having a plurality of entries,
wherein each entry of the state table comprises at least a variable identifier, a type and
a current value." The Office Action relies on Bonnell at 9:61-10:4 and Figure 14 as
disclosing this feature. Patent owner respectfully disagrees that the relied-upon portion
of Bonnell discloses an entry comprising "a type." Bonnell at 9:61-10:4 and Figure 14
describes and illustrates a "data repository" for "storing historical application parameter
values and related information." The data repository includes three fields: "parameter
identification field," "[m]easurement time field," and "[v]alue field." (Bonnell, 9:66-10:5.)
The parameter identification field "contains a unique identifier" that includes an
"associated application name, instance name and parameter name." (9:66-10:2.)
According to the Office Action, the parameter name corresponds to the recited "type."
(Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 55.) Bonnell's "parameter name," however, is not a
type. Rather, Bonnell's parameter name represents the name of a parameter and is a
portion of a unique identifier for a particular parameter. Bonnell provides no indication
that the name of a parameter is equivalent to that parameter's "type." In other words,
parameters of the same type may have different names and vice versa. Accordingly,
the relied-upon portion of Bonnell neither describes nor suggests a "state table having a
plurality of entries, wherein each entry of the state table comprises at least a variable
identifier, a type and a current value," as claim 2 recites. For at least this reason, patent
owner respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider and withdraw this rejection of
claim 2.
Dependent claim 2 recites, inter alia, "at least one entry of the state table being of
a type of data buffer, and containing a file as its current value." The Office Action relies
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on Bonnell at 5:23-24 and Figure 7 as disclosing this feature. Patent owner respectfully
disagrees that Bonnell describes an entry in a state table containing a file as its current
value. According to Bonnell at 5:23-24, Figure 7 "is a flow diagram showing how [a]
network management system ... was initialized." Figure 7 illustrates a network
management system initialization process that includes "manager software" sending to
an agent a script program, which the Office Action asserts corresponds to the recited
"file." Bonnell's "script program," however, is not stored in an entry of any table, let
alone a state table representing an operational state of a controlled computing device.
In fact, the relied-upon portions of Bonnell do not mention any "state table," let alone a
state table with an entry that is a type of data buffer. Accordingly, the relied-upon
portions of Bonnell neither describe nor suggest a state table having an entry "being of
a type of data buffer, and containing a file as its current value," as claim 2 recites. For
at least this reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider
and withdraw this rejection of claim 2.
Dependent claim 2 recites, inter alia, "whereby a change to the current value of
said at least one entry effects a file transfer from the controlled device to said any
subscribing user control device." The Office Action relies on Bonnell at 16:57-59, 8:10-
12, and Figure 8 as disclosing this feature. (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 56.) The
relied-upon portions of Bonnell describe receiving and storing "computer script
programs." Bonnell, however, provides no indication that this receiving and storing is an
effect of "a change to the current value of [an] entry [of a state table]," as claim 2
recites. In fact, the relied-upon portions of Bonnell are completely silent as to any "state
table." Bonnell's "receiving" is part of a "procedure for discovering resources" and not a
result of a change to a value of a state table entry. (Bonnell, 8: 18-20.) The relied-upon
portions of Bonnell simply do not describe or suggest "whereby a change to the current
value of said at least one entry effects a file transfer from the controlled device to said
any subscribing user control device." For at least this reason, patent owner respectfully
requests that the Examiner reconsider and withdraw this rejection of claim 2.
41827-8883.US01/LEGAL21648953.3 33
33
Application No.: 90/011,541 Docket No.: 418278883US1
E. The combination of Maples and Bonnell neither describes nor suggests "wherein the controlled computing device is an embedded computing device," as claim 3 recites
Dependent claim 3 recites "wherein the controlled computing device is an
embedded computing device." The Office Action relies on Bonnell at 16:61-65 as
disclosing this feature, asserting that Bonnell's "agent system comprises a RAM and a
non-volatile data storage device." (Office Action, August 16, 2011, p. 56.) Although
Bonnell's agent comprises "a RAM" and "non-volatile data storage service," Bonnell's
agent system need not be an "embedded device." Rather, the "agent system" may
constitute a general purpose computing device that is not an embedded device. The
relied-upon portions of Bonnell simply do not describe or suggest a controlled
computing device that "is an embedded computing device," as claim 3 recites. For at
least this reason, patent owner respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider and
withdraw this rejection of claim 2.
XI I. Conclusion
The patent owner believes no fee is due with this response. However, if a fee is
due, please charge our Deposit Account No. 50-0665, under Order No. 418278883US1
from which the undersigned is authorized to draw.
Dated: September 16, 2011
41827-8883.US01/LEGAL21648953.3
By~~~~~~~~~~-Chun M. Ng
Registration No.: 36,878 PERKINS COIE LLP P.O. Box 1247 Seattle, Washington 98111-1247 (206) 359-8000 (206) 359-7198 (Fax) Attorney for Patent Owner
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Docket No.: 418278883US1 (PATENT)
IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
In re Reexamination Application of:
U.S. Patent No. 5,725,281
Application No.: 90/011,541 Confirmation No.: 5471
Filed: March 7, 2011 Art Unit: 3992
For: SYNCHRONIZATION OF CONTROLLED Examiner: RS. Desai DEVICE STATE TABLE AND EVENTING IN DATA-DRIVEN REMOTE DEVICE CONTROL MODEL
Commissioner for Patents P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE UNDER 37 C.F .R. §§ 1.248(a)(4) AND 1.550(f)
Sir:
I hereby certify that I have delivered copies of the following documents on
September 16, 2011, via first class mail to Greg Gardella, IRELL & MANELLA LLP,
1800 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 900, Los Angeles, CA 90067:
Response to Office Action In Ex Parte Reexamination Certificate of Service
Ar~
41827-8883.USO 1/LEGAL21742625.1 1
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