Appeal No. 2000-0765
Application No. 08/670,929
With this established that the Taligent reference is prior art, we agree with
appellants that dragging and dropping an icon from one window to another is different
from the function set forth in the language of independent claim 27. (See brief at page
17.) Claim 27 recites that the "processor is configured to search the database . . . In
response to . . . dragging and dropping one subobject onto another subobject."
Therefore, the Taligent reference applied by the examiner does not teach or suggest
the claimed invention. Additionally, the examiner relies on the teachings of Bosworth to
teach "dragging selected columns into a QBE grid to initiate a search.” (See answer at
page 7). The examiner provides no citation beyond the abstract to support the
selection and dragging data into a search query. We equate this to a copy and paste
with a selection and drag. Appellants argue that the user in Bosworth still is required to
actuate/initiate the search function. (See brief at page 18.) We agree with appellants.
Therefore, Bosworth does not teach or suggest the search in response to the drag and
drop as recited in dependent claim 27, and we will not sustain the rejection of claim 27.
With respect to independent claims 30 and 35, appellants argue the dragging
and dropping to perform a search. (See brief at page 19.) As above, this feature is not
taught or suggest by the prior art applied against the claims, and we will not sustain the
rejection of claim 30.
17
Page: Previous 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007