Appeal No. 2002-1383
Application No. 08/868,972
physical communications link. Virtual Path/Virtual channels are generally
allocated during set-up of a communication transmission between two
devices (e.g., between two clients) and “torn down” after the
communication has completed. For example, in an ATM network
implemented to support telephone communications, virtual channels may
be set up along the communications link between the caller and the called
party at the time the call is placed and then tom [sic; torn] down when the
telephone conversation ends.
Subramanian col. 6, ll. 9-22.
Information in an ATM network is transmitted within these fixed-length cells, or
packets, which have a defined format. The header information includes virtual path and
virtual channel identifiers (VPI/VCI) for routing the cell through the network. Id. at col. 1,
l. 52 - col. 2, l. 11; col. 8., ll. 48 -col. 9, l. 45; Figs. 1A-1C.
There is no evidence in the record that the word “bunch,” which is modified by
the art-recognized term “virtual circuit” in the instant written description and claims, had
any special meaning to the artisan at the time of disclosure.2 Nor do we find any
particular definition of the word in the instant specification. See In re Paulsen, 30 F.3d
1475, 1480, 31 USPQ2d 1671, 1674 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (repeating the principle that where
an inventor chooses to be his own lexicographer and gives terms uncommon meanings,
he must set out the uncommon definition in the patent disclosure). See also
Beachcombers Int’l, Inc. v. WildeWood Creative Prods., Inc., 31 F.3d 1154, 1158, 31
USPQ2d 1653, 1656 (Fed. Cir. 1994) (“As we have repeatedly said, a patentee can be
2 A search for the relevant term in the U.S. Patent text database, available on the USPTO
website, yielded one hit, for U.S. Patent 6,278,714. The ‘714 patent, with a filing date of February 6,
1998, was thus filed later in time than the instant application. Moreover, the ‘714 patent issued to an
ostensible co-inventor of the instant invention.
-5-
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007