Appeal No. 2005-0004
Application No. 09/135,230
In contrast, Gauvin et al. describes a distributed computer environment in
which a mobile client 110 is able to connect to a gateway or router 120 through a
network 130.
Appellants assert, on page 7 of the brief, “[h]ence, although a connection
between a client and server can be achieved in Gauvin et al. from different access
locations, such a connection is NOT provided in accordance with connection information
associated with a particular network address of a server machine to be accessed.”
In response, the examiner states on page 4 of the answer:
Gauvin teaches a communication manager 200 on the client for managing
network communication using various protocols- IPX/SPX, Net BEUI, TCP/IP etc.
(See col. 4, lines 5-8). It is well known that these protocols require a destination
address of the server in order to make a connection with it. Gauvin further
teaches providing a database 300 containing information necessary to initiate
and maintain a communication connection to a server (See Col. 4 lines 9-12).
We concur with the examiner; however, before we consider the teachings of
Gauvin we must first determine the scope of the claim limitations. Claims will be given
their broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the specification, limitations
appearing in the specification will not be read into the claims. In re Etter 756 F.2d 852,
858, 225 USPQ 1, 5 (Fed. Cir. 1985). In analyzing the scope of the claim, office
personnel must rely on the appellant’s disclosure to properly determine the given their
broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the specification, meaning of the
terms used in the claims. Markman v. Westview Instruments, Inc., 52 F3d 967, 980,
34 USPQ2d 1321, 1330 (Fed. Cir. 1995). “[I]nterpreting what is meant by a word in a
claim ‘is not to be confused with adding an extraneous limitation appearing in the
specification, which is improper.’” (emphasis original) In re Cruciferous Sprout
-5-
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