Appeal 2007-0820
Application 09/734,808
1 Claims 5-11 and 13-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103(a) (2002)
2 over Nakano (US Patent 5,845,260) in view of Dethloff (US Patent
3 4,837,422) and Harada (US Patent 5,721,583).
4 We AFFIRM.
5 Appellant’s claimed invention is a consumer electronics device using
6 bioauthentication to authorize sub-users of an authorized credit account to
7 place orders over a communication network up to a pre-set maximum sub-
8 credit limit. The device includes a bioauthentication device, such as a
9 fingerprint sensor (claim 6) or voice sensor (claim 8). The claimed
10 electronics device comprises a memory, a processor, and a communications
11 link. The memory stores account information for an account holder as well
12 as bioauthentication information and sub-credit limits for authorized users of
13 the account. The processor (a) detects a match between bioauthentication
14 information received from the bioauthentication device and
15 bioauthentication information stored in memory, and when a match is
16 detected, (b) finds a sub-credit limit associated with the bioauthentication
17 information, and when a sub-credit limit is not exceeded, (c) sends account
18 holder information over the communication link to enable the user of the
19 electronics device to place an order.
20 Appellant, in the Brief2, argues claims 5-11 and 13-16 as a group.
21 The Board selects representative claim 5 to decide the appeal. 37 C.F.R.
22 § 41.37(c)(1)(vii) (2006). Accordingly, the remaining claims stand or fall
23 with claim 5.
2 Our decision will make reference to Appellant’s Appeal Brief (“Appeal
Br.,” filed Aug. 9, 2006), the Examiner’s Answer (“Answer,” mailed Aug.
17, 2006), and to the Reply Brief (“Reply Br.,” filed Oct. 17, 2006).
2
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