Appeal No. 2000-0376
Application 08/753,236
automatically controlling the printer functions to adjust to the
new print wheel. Because Bruns never prints out the identity
codes or the printing parameters, we do not find any motivation
for modifying Dietrich. The Examiner does not explain how this
hardware coded information suggests modifying Dietrich.
Nevertheless, we find that claim 1 is anticipated by
Dietrich. Anticipation is the epitome of obviousness. Dietrich
affixes the usual postage information (indicia) to a mail piece.
Dietrich records additional identification characteristics
information regarding machine parameters, such as a serial number
or factory number, which is either in the indicia (if indicia
includes all information in the final printing pattern) or in the
vicinity of the indicia (if indicia is only the postage
information). The machines are postage meter and monetary value
stamping machines using microprocessor-controlled printers
(col. 1, lines 37-39) and, so, are broadly printers. Thus, the
machine parameters are broadly printer parameters. The only
question is whether the information regarding machine (printer)
parameters in Dietrich constitutes "information relative to
printing parameters of a printer" (emphasis added). Appellant
discloses that the printing parameters include the manufacturer
of the printer that printed the indicia and the printer model, in
addition to information about the actual printing process, such
as the print density, the print dither type, envelope size, paper
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