Appeal No. 1997-3821
Application No. 08/570,256
8-13, 15, 16, 18-20, and 22-24, all of the pending claims. 2
We
affirm-in-part.
A. The Invention
The invention relates to the architecture of a computer
expansion board. The specification (at 2) describes the prior
art as follows:
The bits of data which define the information
provided to the board are referred to as configuration
bits and the act of providing the data bits to the
board is referred to as configuring the board. Some
boards are configured by manually operated switches
which are connected to the board. These switches can
be set prior to attaching the board to the host computer.
When the board is powered up, the switches are read by
the on board microprocessor or controller and the
configuration information stored in the appropriate
register for use as needed.
In the past, the on board microprocessor or
controller received the configuration bits on dedicated
lines. Since the microprocessor or controller is
typically implemented as an integrated circuit chip, each
line requires an additional pin. The number of pins used
solely for configuration bits will vary but in some LAN
cards is thirty-two. Together with the various control,
2The claims before us are the claims as amended in the
amendment (paper no. 31) faxed to the PTO on August 28, 1996,
which the examiner in a September 12, 1996, advisory action
(paper no. 32) indicated would be entered upon the filing of
an appeal. Although this amendment inadvertently has not yet
been physically entered, it is being treated as such for
purposes of this appeal.
2
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007