Appeal No. 2006-1229
Application No. 09/800,690
We note that Furphy states
If the customer has allowed multiple invoices per purchase order, then
the unmatched line items may be placed on hold for a period of time
pending separate invoices. This period of time may also be selected
by the customer, and may be of any duration. Preferably, this period of
time does not extend past 30 days, beyond which the customer may be
contacted through the workflow resolution 60. There may also be a
provision for items that have been placed on back-order status, such
that a separate period of time is specified before the issue is
provided to the workflow resolution 60. [See para. 65]
The electronic documents Appellants refer to are simply the specific implementation
Furphy uses to track purchase history, including back orders. The above section of
Furphy states that, for items physically received, for which no invoice has been
received, some time period will be allowed for the invoice to arrive; but if the item was
on back order, a separate time period, which is the time the item is on back order
(because there is no other reference point for measuring such a time period time) will
be allowed. The language of Furphy, as it pertains to back orders, provides a separate
period of time as specified by customers for items placed on back order before some
resolution must arise. This clearly meets the claim limitation of a time period the back
order is to remain in effect because after such a time period, some resolution is
mandated, i.e., it does not remain as before the time period ended.
7
Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next
Last modified: November 3, 2007