Appeal No. 95-4377
Application 08/160,348
predefined for use with an (i.e., any) object can be used with
more than one object. The fact that the claims are broad enough
to encompass both types of processes does not render them
indefinite. See In re Miller, 441 F.2d 689, 693, 169 USPQ 597,
600 (CCPA 1971) (breadth should not be confused with
indefiniteness). As a result, we do not agree with the
examiner's contention (Answer at 5)that it is unclear which of
the following conditions (a) to (f) is covered by the claims for
the example of a macro A and objects B and C:
(a) macro A is applicable to B or C;
(b) macro A is applicable to B but not C;
(c) macro A is applicable to C but not B;
(d) macro A is not applicable to B or C;
(e) macro A is applicable to both B and C at the same time;
and
(f) macro A is not applicable to both B and C at the same
time.
The fact that the claims recite the step of, or means for,
"executing said predefined process on a particular object" makes
it clear that the predefined process A is executable with at
least one of the objects B and C, thereby ruling out condition
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