Ex parte XIAO B. ZHANG - Page 3




              Appeal No. 96-0506                                                                                                                       
              Application 07/856,001                                                                                                                   

                       padding said message with said predetermined set of constant bit values to provide a second                                     
                       symbol aligned array of bits that is identical to said first array, subject only to any decode                                  
                       errors that may have corrupted said message;                                                                                    
                       reading out said second array in accordance with said predetermined one of said scan patterns                                   
                       to provide a second set of symbols that are identical to first set of symbols, subject only to any                              
                       decode errors that may have corrupted said message; and                                                                         
                       computing a decode of said error correction code on said second set of symbols and said                                         
                       parity symbols to correct said decode errors if and when possible.                                                              

                                                           THE REFERENCES                                                                              
                       The examiner relies on the following references ("primary"                                                                      
              and "secondary" characterizations are by the examiner):                                                                                  
                                                                   Primary                                                                             
                       Okamoto et al. (Okamoto)   4,646,301    February 24, 1987                                                                       
                       Chapman                    5,181,207     January 19, 1993                                                                       
              (filed January 28, 1991)                                                                                                                 
                                                                 Secondary                                                                             
                       Cerracchio                 4,375,101    February 22, 1983                                                                       
                       Patel et al. (Patel)       4,745,604         May 17, 1988                                                                       
                       Golden                     4,868,824   September 19, 1989                                                                       
                       Pughe, Jr. et al. (Pughe)  5,226,043         July 6, 1993                                                                       
              (filed December 27, 1990)                                                                                                                

                                                           THE REJECTIONS                                                                              
                       Claims 1-6 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Okamoto and                                          
              Chapman.  The examiner cites Cerracchio, Patel, Golden, and Pughe as evidence that it was well                                           
              known in the art to pad bits, but does not include the references in the statement of the rejection.  We                                 
              refer to the Examiner's Answer for the statement of the rejection.                                                                       
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