Appeal 2007-2171
Application 09/821,066
likewise cannot disclose searching the database, as further claimed in
claims 1, 6, and 13.
Additionally, Scheer does not disclose “defining a first table
identifying a plurality of parts; defining a second table, associated
with the first table, indicating functional relationships between the
parts; and recursively searching the first and second tables to generate
[a] list of interchangeable parts” as claimed in claim 3. Claims 4 and 5
depend directly or indirectly from claim 3 and are therefore allowable
over Scheer for at least the same reasons.
Claims 2, 7-12, 14 and 16 depend directly or indirectly from
claims 1, 6, and 13 and are therefore allowable over Scheer for at least
the same reasons.
(Appeal Br. 9).
6. This rebuttal argument was originally presented in Appellant’s
response (filed January 23, 2004) to the Office action mailed October 23,
2002.
7. The Final Rejection (pp. 4-5; reproduced in the Answer at p. 7)
responded to this rebuttal argument as follows:
Applicant's arguments filed January 27, 2004 have been fully
considered but they are not persuasive.
The Attorney argues that Sheer [sic] does not disclose at least
defining a database for indicating functional relationships between a
plurality of parts; and searching the database to identify one or more
groups of functionally interchangeable parts.
The Examiner notes, Sheer [sic] does disclose an intelligent
order fulfillment planning process, wherein for each order the
distributor has access to data relating to equivalent products. An
equivalent product can be a product that has the same functions and
features as a specified product. The equivalency of functions and
features is determined as a function of product definitions provided by
the distributor. This action of substitution utilizes the Intelligent Agent
as shown in Figure 2. Also shown in Figure 2 is a linkage between the
lntelligent Agent and the distributor whereby the Intelligent Agent can
locate the product definitions. The product definitions is how the
Agent Identifies groups of functionally interchangeable parts,
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