Appeal No. 1998-1802
Application 08/245,786
The examiner points to the “INT” signal of Lange as meeting
the stop memory operation signal. Although the “INT” signal
does stop operation of the memory controller, this signal is a
function of the “MATCH” signal output from comparator 29. The
“MATCH” signal indicates a determination that desired
information is in the cache. Claims 1 and 11 would require
that signals “MATCH” and “INT” be generated concurrently and
directly from the cache controller to the memory controller.
These two signals are not generated concurrently. Lange
states that the “match signal is generated between the time
the strobe address register signal SAR is generated and the
time that an interrupt signal INT is to be generated by the
interrupt generator 16" [column 8, lines 16-19]. Thus,
signals MATCH and INT are clearly not concurrent as required
by independent claims 1 and 11 nor is the stop memory
operation signal in Lange sent directly from the cache
controller to the memory controller.
The examiner has also cited a per se rule that
shifting the location of parts is not patentable [answer, page
6]. Examiners should avoid the application of such per se
rules without considering the particular facts of each case.
-7-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007