Appeal No. 2000-0376
Application 08/753,236
printed information on a mail piece. We conclude it would have
been obvious to read the indicia and additional identification
characteristics in Dietrich using a scanner as taught by Kim to
automate the reading process. The Examiner's reasons about
counterfeiting seem inapplicable to the use of a scanner.
Nevertheless, the combination of Dietrich and Kim provides
sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case of
obviousness. The rejection of claims 17 and 18 is sustained.
Claims 25-28 and 30
Independent claim 25 recites recording information relative
to characteristics of the printer that recorded the indicia and
reading the recorded information to determine whether or not the
recorded information indicates that a printer recognized by the
Postal Service recorded the indicia.
The Examiner finds that Kim discloses a scanner used to
determine the validity of an indicium on a mail piece (EA16).
The Examiner concludes that it would have been obvious to
implement the indicia reading of Dietrich with the system of Kim
to indicate whether or not a printer recognized by the USPS
printed the indicia (EA17). The Examiner concludes that it would
have been obvious to modify Dietrich and Bruns in view of Kim
because it aids in preventing and detecting counterfeiting and it
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