Appeal 2007-1084
Application 09/764,543
Based upon Nakamura’s extensive discussion and showing beginning
at figure 2 associated with the IEEE 1394 protocols for interconnection of
the devices of Nakamura’s figure 1, we agree with the Examiner’s
characterization that the outlets 101 of this reference may be fairly
characterized as being intelligent and truly to form the “underlying
foundation or basic framework of a network” as argued in the paragraph
bridging pages 4 and 5 of the principal Brief on appeal. Outlets 101 in
Nakamura appear to be infrastructure nodal devices that communicate with
other outlets 101 by means of the previously mention IEEE 1394 protocol.
Moreover, the network devices, that are only broadly referred to in the
claims on appeal, comprise “in station devices, such as personal computers
(“PCs”), servers, printers, scanners, fax machines and the like” that are
defined in this manner as part of the prior art at Specification pages 25 and
26. Corresponding elements are shown in Nakamura’s home network figure
1.
Further, Nakamura’s PC 112 in figure 1 is depicted in figure 28 as
comprising a node which connects to other nodal devices as illustrated. The
function of this PC is a management type function characterized beginning
at the bottom of column 4, and as further characterized as a management
functional device at column 16 through at least half of column 17 and the
bottom of column 20. The artisan would consider such a PC 112 as
representative of other devices that may be characterized as included within
the home network shown in figure 1 of Nakamura. Additionally, this PC,
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Last modified: September 9, 2013