Appeal No. 2003-1052
Application 09/222,644
the method in a manipulative sense, i.e., the closed
system meter determines the postal code and prints the
postal code on the mailpiece, and therefore is not
purely ornamental.
Thus, according to this position, the subject matter of
claim 1 on appeal requires that a closed system postage meter not
only perform the explicit function of coupling a scanning device
to the closed system postage meter but also requires that the
functions of scanning, determining and printing the postal code
on the mailpiece, which postal code corresponds to the scanned
recipient address, must be performed by the closed system postage
meter.
Neither reference applied by the examiner in formulating the
rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103 teaches such a closed system
environment.
Appellants argue that Kara is an open system. We agree.
The open system definition at page 13 of the Postal Service 37
CFR document indicates that such a system does not require that
the implementing components be dedicated to the printing of
postage information functions. This is easily determinable by
viewing Fig. 1A of Kara which is characterized as a general
purpose computer or personal computer in the corresponding text
of this patent. Note also the Field of Invention discussion at
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