Ex parte SUTTON - Page 7




          Appeal No. 94-4200                                                          
          Application 07/979,139                                                      


               calculation means [processor 105 shown in Figure 1 and                 
          described on page 5 of the specification] for calculating from              
          said time dependent inputs a predicted value, y*, of said                   
          pattern sequence;                                                           
               a computer memory [memory 110 shown in Figure 1 and                    
          described on page 5 of the specification] associated with said              
          means for calculating . . . .                                               
          Thus, when properly construed, claim 1 claims a machine for                 
          receiving a plurality of time dependent inputs and for                      
          learning of a time dependent pattern sequence based upon these              
          inputs having the specific structures disclosed in the written              
          description and corresponding to the means-plus-function                    
          elements recited in the claim.                                              
               We agree with the Examiner that the claim recites a                    
          mathematical algorithm.  The mere fact that a claimed                       
          invention involves inputting numbers, calculating numbers,                  
          outputting numbers, and storing numbers, in and of itself,                  
          would not render it nonstatutory subject matter, unless, of                 
          course, its operation does not produce a ‘useful, concrete and              
          tangible result.'  In this case, we find that the claim                     
          language recites a specific machine for learning of a time                  
          dependent pattern sequence                                                  



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