Appeal No. 96-0587
Application 07/927,543
the constraints, because if a constraint is violated "the
subsystem or component is termed unsatisfactory" (page 186,
item 1.c, right col.). A feasible solution is a satisfactory
solution and, therefore, must also be a satisficing solution, as
broadly claimed. Appellants' argument that "[s]atisfactory
implies a criteria or rank of solution" (Brief, page 13) is not
persuasive. "Satisfactory" is defined as "adequate." Webster's
New Collegiate Dictionary (1977). Neither "satisfactory" nor
"satisficing" imply a criteria or rank of solution. If claim 1
was meant to include a ranking, it could have been expressly
recited as in claim 12. Accordingly, we sustain the rejection of
claim 1 and the rejection of claims 6, 7, 9, 11, and 25, which
depend on claim 1 and which have not been separately argued.
Claim 27 recites "ranking said solution states and said
alternatives in response to said evaluation, and selecting a
satisficing solution to satisfy all said constraints." Claim 27
does not recite that "selecting a satisficing solution" is
selecting the solution having the highest rank. Dependent
claim 12 similarly recites "ranking said additional current
solution states and alternatives in response to said figure of
merit," but does not tie the satisficing solution to the ranking.
Nevertheless, Sriram must disclose ranking for it to be an
anticipation. The examiner refers to section "4.1.2 Control
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