Appeal 2007-0789 Application 09/810,063 The invention is directed to a method and system “for providing network usage pricing based on a user’s service demands … [and] a means to track and record a user’s priority demand Internet service and bill the user accordingly.” (Specification 1:14-18). Servers provide different types of content from simple textual information to real-time audio and video. (Specification 2:22 – 3:1). In order to accommodate user’s needs, a differentiated services Internet is being developed to prioritize packets of information that need to be delivered to the user on a faster basis. Packets include a header portion that determines, among other things, the destination of the packet (i.e., a server or client computer address). In a differentiated services Internet, the packets further include prioritization information detailing whether the packet is a high or low priority packet. High priority packets, such as those containing real-time teleconferencing information, are handled differently than lower priority packets. As the packets travel through the Internet from one computer to another, they pass through other computers including specialized devices called routers. Routers and other points along the Internet can be programmed to treat high priority packets differently in such a way that those packets travel through the Internet faster than their lower priority counterparts. (Specification 3:6-23). The invention is to “provide users with a way to switch between high and normal prioritized usage of the Internet coupled with an effective billing system to bill users for their high priority usage.” (Specification 4:28 - 5:1). The claims are rejected as follows: • Claims 1-4, 6, 8-11, 13, 15-18, 21, 23, and 24 under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) as being unpatentable over Odlyzko (US 6,295,294 B1) in view of Saari (US 6,338,046 B1). 2Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013