Appeal No. 1997-0895
Application 08/286,107
interface (such as HIPPI)(col. 1, lines 42 and 53).
It is not necessary that the two interfaces use the
same protocol, just because they adopt the same
communications interface standard....A protocol
comprises many layers of hand-shake commands and
responses....
An interface encompasses more than the
physical signal lines. An interface includes all
the elements and functions required for coupling two
units....
The crossbar interface in Hedberg et al
off-loads all communications-related functions from
the host computer (col. 2, lines 8, 28-31, and 46-
48). The format of the information transferred from
the host computer to the crossbar interface (col. 5,
lines 21 and 22) and the format of the information
transferred from the crossbar interface to the
crossbar switch (col. 3, line 58; col. 5, lines 22-
24) are different (col.5, line 21). To accommodate
two different formats of information, two different
protocols are used. (Answer-pages 7 and 8.)
We agree with the Examiner. Although the physical
structure discussed with respect to Hedberg is the same on
both sides of the crossbar interface (i.e., adapter), this
does not require the protocols to be the same. As noted
supra, the
programmable platform and software of Hedberg accommodates the
differences or different layers in protocol. As recited in
8-8-
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