Ex parte RICHARD et al. - Page 18




          Appeal No. 96-2894                                                          
          Application 08/742,974                                                      

          (1993) ("For each rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103, the                        
          argument shall specify the errors in the rejection . . .").                 
          Cf. 37 CFR § 1.192(c)(7) (1997) ("Merely pointing out                       
          differences in what the claims cover is not an argument as                  
          to why the claims are separately patentable.").  Because                    
          appellants have not argued the merits of the rejection or                   
          shown error in the examiner's position, the rejection of                    
          claims 14-18 is sustained.                                                  

               Claim 19                                                               
               Appellants argue that the combination of Andersen and                  
          Abrahamson does not teach the step of "verifying prior                      
          authorizations of said student for executing said                           
          courseware."  This is the only issue argued with respect to                 
          claim 19.                                                                   
               The examiner admits that Andersen does not disclose                    
          verifying authorization of the user (FR3).  The examiner                    
          states (FR5-6):                                                             
                    Regarding applicants['] request to provide a                      
               teaching in the prior art of at least                                  
               authorization/verification, the Examiner takes notice                  
               on record that, for at least the past five years, a                    
               user identification and password are required for                      
               access to the PTO computer network, and that such was                  
               the requirement while the Examiner attended college                    
                                       - 18 -                                         





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