Appeal No. 1999-2607
Application 08/826,618
object was selected; e.g., to "step back" to the Desk from the
telephone interface in figure 6. Lynch does not suggest that an
interface remains displayed (visible) and active if the user
navigates using the "step back" function. In fact, because the
user returns to the place where the object was selected, which
occupies the whole screen, Lynch suggests that the application
interface is closed. Moreover, using the arrow to "step back" to
the Desk from the telephone interface in figure 6 would not
constitute "user interface means for navigating away from said
selected virtual object within said three-dimensional workspace"
because the object would still be in view. The user would have
to go to the Hallway from the Desk to navigate away. There is no
suggestion in Lynch that an application interface remains active
and displayed once the user "steps back" to the Desk, much less
any suggestion that an interface would go with the user as he
navigates away from the Desk.
If the Examiner's position is that the claim language "means
for user interactive input to said displayed two-dimensional
image, said input means remaining interactive after the user has
navigated away from said selected virtual object," does not
preclude navigating away and then returning, this interpretation
has not been expressly stated. The language "interactive input
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