Appeal No. 2006-2765 Application No. 10/372,160 Claim 1 is illustrative of the claimed invention, and it reads as follows: 1. A computer-implemented global optimization system comprising: an input component that receives a problem, the problem being based, at least in part, upon a mathematical function; an optimization component that employs a quantum mechanical tunneling technique in connection with determining an optimal solution of the problem from among a plurality of solutions, the determination being based, at least in part, upon utilities associated with the respective solutions; and, an output component that provides the optimal solution determined by the optimization component. The references relied on by the examiner are: Atkins el al. (Atkins), “Molecular Quantum Mechanics,” Oxford University Press, Third Edition, 1997, pages 54 though 56, 164 though 201 and 304 through 308. Gomez et al. (Gomez), “The Tunnelling Method For Solving The Constrained Global Optimization Problem With Several Non-Connected Feasible Regions,” Lecture Notes in Mathematics, Springer-Verlag, Volume 909, 1982, pages 34 though 47. Claims 1 through 11 and 28 through 30 stand rejected under the second paragraph of 35 U.S.C. § 112 for indefiniteness. 2Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013