Appeal No. 95-3891
Application 08/066,405
step of claim 2 clearly refer to the devices described in the
preambles, making this a case where "the claim drafter cho[se] to
use both the preamble and the body to define the subject matter
of the claimed invention." Bell Communications Research v.
Vitalink Communications Corp., 55 F.3d 615, 620, 34 USPQ2d 1816,
1820 (Fed. Cir. 1995) (emphasis in original). As a result,
claim 1 requires that the memory means store formatting data for
a plurality of devices, of which at least two are in the same
category of devices and at least two are in different categories
of devices, with two devices in the same or different categories
requiring different signal formats. Because at least two of the
devices are in the same device category (e.g., TV), it is
necessary to identify which set of stored formatting data to use
when the "TV" category key (i.e., one of the "predetermined group
of keys") is activated. This function is performed by the "means
for addressing said memory means . . . and reading out said
specific device formatting data for a selected device."
Kocher discloses a remote control system for
controlling a television receiver and one or more other
appliances, such as electric lamps. Remote control decoding
circuitry located in the television receiver determines whether
the received IR signal is intended to be a TV control signal
-8-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007