Appeal No. 2006-1753
Application No. 09/732,037
efficiency over conventional notification methods utilizing paper distribution and
collecting written acknowledgements of the changes.
Representative claim 2 is reproduced as follows:
2. A method for updating a quality system having at least one
specification, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a change of the at least one specification of the quality
system;
(b) automatically providing electronic notification of the change to a
plurality of users of the quality system, the plurality of users requiring knowledge
of the change;
(c) determining whether any of the plurality of users have acknowledged
the electronic notification within a particular period of time;
(d) providing an electronic alert to any of the plurality of users who have
not acknowledged the electronic notification if any of the plurality of users have
not acknowledged the electronic notification; and
(e) providing an electronic update to a specification coordinator for any of
the plurality of users that has acknowledged the electronic notification if any of
the plurality of users has acknowledged the electronic notification.
The examiner relies on the following references:
Eaton et al. (Eaton) 5,920,576 Jul. 6, 1999
Meunier et al. (Meunier) 6,681,369 Jan. 20, 2004
(filed May 5, 1999)
Hass et al. (Hass) 6,725,255 Apr. 20, 2004
(filed Aug. 25, 1999)
The following rejections are on appeal before us:
1. Claims 2, 4-6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, and 16 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C.
2
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