Ex Parte PURI et al - Page 5

                Appeal 2006-2678                                                                                
                Application 09/235,120                                                                          

           1    identifier data structure is assigned for each step in a multi-step job so that a               
           2    job having multiple constituent steps or a manufactured item having a                           
           3    plurality of sub-parts or sub-assemblies may be assigned a corresponding                        
           4    plurality of cost source identifier data structures (Specification p. 12).  As                  
           5    disclosed, the advantage of using the cost source identifier data structure of                  
           6    the Appellants’ invention is that calculation of actual cost is carried out in                  
           7    real time or near real time (Specification, p. 13).                                             
           8       Conway discloses a system for tracking the cost of medical procedures                        
           9    by monitoring the movements of personnel and/or equipment and supplies                          
          10    (col. 1, ll. 4-6).  The system utilizes transponder tags 20 associated with each                
          11    person, each equipment and each supply (col. 2, ll. 1-2).  A tag reader 28                      
          12    communicates with each tag 20 as the tag 20 passes within proximity of the                      
          13    tag reader 28 (col. 2, ll. 42-43).  The tag reader 28 then supplies tag                         
          14    information from the tag 20 to a computer which processes the information                       
          15    (col. 2, ll. 46-47).  The system is depicted in Figure 2 which illustrates how                  
          16    the tag readers 28a, 28b, and 28c register the presence of the tags 20 on                       
          17    equipment (2b for example), and people (22b and 23b for example) in                             
          18    operating room 42.  The information from the tag readers is used to                             
          19    determine the cost of the procedure provided to the patient by accumulating                     
          20    the labor cost of caregivers, rental cost of equipment used and cost of                         
          21    supplies consumed, combined with any rental expenses associated with the                        
          22    operating room 42 and any fixed equipment in the room (col. 6, ll. 7-11).                       
          23       Conway does not disclose creating a cost source identifier data structure                    
          24    and associating the cost source identifier data structure with a step carried                   
          25    out while manufacturing the item or performing the service.  Conway                             


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