Appeal No. 2002-1318
Application No. 08/693,662
the power line of the first branch as an aerial antenna to
radiate data signals to the second branch, and vice versa.” To
overcome these deficiencies in West, the examiner turns to Downey
for teaching of a communication system using a power line as a
communications medium. The examiner asserts (id.) that it would
have been obvious to have modified the network of West to
communicate over existing power lines to reduce cost. The
examiner additionally asserts (id.) that Dockery teaches that a
power line used as a communication medium in a communication
system may also be used as an aerial antenna. The examiner
argues (answer, pages 4 and 5) that it would have been obvious to
incorporate the teaching of Dockery into the communication system
of West in view of Downey, so as to eliminate redundant RF
transmitters and antenna of West/Downey to reduce the hardware
complexity and cost.
Appellants do not dispute the combinability of West and
Downey, and admit (brief, page 4)that "[a]pplicants concede that
West in view of Downey suggests a communication system wherein
data is transmitted between separate communication mediums
comprised of power lines." Rather, appellants assert (id.) that
neither of these references teach the sensing of data from a
communications medium without the use of an RF transmitter. It
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