Appeal 2007-0223
Application 09/752,090
prima facie case of obviousness as to claim 77, which has not been rebutted.
The rejection of claims 77-79 is affirmed.
Group 3 - claims 45, 56, and 67
Representative claim 45 recites "recommending at least one of a
technology, part, and supplier based on a purchasing entity's requirements
via said web-based user interface."
The Examiner finds that Aycock discloses recommending a supplier
at column 3, lines 35-60 (Final Rejection 3). Appellants argue that Aycock
does not teach a Web-based user interface and shared data repository,
lending strength to Appellants' contention that Aycock does not disclose
collaborative elements (Br. 14).
The issue is whether Appellants have shown that the Examiner erred
in concluding that the combination of Aycock and Gervais discloses or
suggests the limitations of claim 45.
Aycock provides a network-based system and method for interactive
evaluation and qualification (i.e., approval or recommending) of suppliers
(e.g., Figure 1, block 32). The method may involve evaluations of hardware
equipment or software (i.e., parts) (col. 8, ll. 27-31). Accordingly, Aycock
discloses the limitations of recommending a part and supplier in claim 45,
but not a "web-based" user interface. Aycock discloses a network-based
user interface, but does not disclose that the network is the "Web."
Appellants have not argued and, thus, have not pointed to any error in the
Examiner's finding that Gervais discloses a Web-based user interface, or
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