Ex Parte Eckl - Page 4

            Appeal Number: 2006-1650                                                                          
            Application Number: 09/903,500                                                                    


                                           FINDINGS OF FACT                                                   
                   As shown in Figures 1 and 2, Comesanas' invention provides an automated,                   
            computer-directed means by which banking institutions and credit card companies                   
            may attempt to expedite the return of invoice payments.  At the same time,                        
            Comesanas' invention provides a service for customers by providing the customer                   
            with a time saving pre-paid envelope for return of an invoice payment.  In the                    
            preferred embodiment, after the computer software billing system is properly                      
            loaded into the computer memory and executed, the computer would access a                         
            database containing debtor account information.  Then after reviewing information                 
            presented for the first debtor account, the computer would decide whether a                       
            payment was required for that debtor, and, if so, generate an invoice for the first               
            debtor account so that the creditor's address is in a consolidated position on the                
            invoice for use with a return envelope having a window and so that the debtor's                   
            current address is also in a consolidated position on the invoice for use with a                  
            shipping envelope having a window.  The computer would then determine from the                    
            information in the database whether or not the first debtor has signed an agreement               
            to pay transmittal charges associated with a return envelope.  If the debtor has                  
            signed such an agreement, the transmittal charges would be added to the invoice.                  
            (See Comesanas, column 2, line 55 to column 3, line 5).                                           
                   The computer would then direct a printer to print an invoice for the first                 
            debtor.                                                                                           
            Comesanas teaches (column 3, lines 5-45) that:                                                    
                                In a second embodiment of the present invention (not shown),                  
                         it is contemplated for a creditor [to] have the option to eliminate the              
                         step of printing a paper copy of the invoice when the invoice                        
                         information is electronically transmitted to the debtor.                             

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