Appeal No. 97-2877
Application No. 08/334,096
by reading the values stored in the registers. . . .” Thus,
it appears that the first act performed by Gilham after the
comparison between the two pseudo-random numbers is to allow
access to the accounting data in the registers of memories 14
and 15, and not to reset the timer.
In view of this latter teaching in Gilham, we do not
agree with the examiner (Answer, page 5) that Gilham “must
first reset the timer and second grant access to the secured
memories.” Accordingly, the 35 U.S.C. § 102(b) rejection of
claims 1 through 5 based upon Gilham is reversed.
Hunter ‘654 and Hunter ‘268 (hereinafter Hunter) disclose
a postage metering system (Figure 1) in which a meter reader
obtains a current meter reading from the postage meter 10.
This current meter reading is then transferred to the billing
data center 20. An encrypted combination that reflects the
current meter reading is thereafter transferred back to the
postage meter. The encrypted combination is entered into the
postage meter, and the postage meter decrypts the combination.
If the decrypted combination matches the currently stored
meter reading, then the meter is reset (column 4, lines 35
through 41). The resetting of a timer is never mentioned by
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Last modified: November 3, 2007