Appeal 2007-1775 Application 09/749,106 shown in the “Account Information” block on the right side of Figure 12A (Answer 11). As further pointed out by the Examiner, Pallakoff’s system notifies the current buying group members that they should tell their friends and family about the offer in order to get more buyers to join the buying group (Answer 9). Specifically, the Examiner points to Pallakoff, at column 10, lines 43-50, where Pallakoff’s system sends a message stating: “We need 5 more people to join the Buying Team in order to get the Soccer Balls for only $10 each. Tell your friends!” (Answer 9). Thus, the Examiner finds Pallakoff teaches the feature of a discounted price (e.g., $10 each) according to a threshold number of buyers (e.g., the current number of buyers in the buying team plus five) (Answer 9-10). The Examiner also relies on the following passage in Pallakoff: In still other embodiments of this invention, sellers could specify different types of thresholds. For example, sellers could offer a special price if enough people agree to purchase exactly 500 units (in aggregate) of a given item (e.g. because the seller has exactly 500 units to sell). Or they could offer a special price if potential buyers agree to purchase at least 500 units (in aggregate) if the deal goes through (e.g. because the seller has more than 500 units available for sale). Pallakoff, col. 11, ll. 16-24. (Answer 4, 10.) The Examiner contends the claims do not require that each subscriber belonging to the subscriber group may elect to purchase the program because of the alternative language “or” as used in the claim [e.g., wherein each subscriber may elect to purchase or not purchase the program or programming event] (Answer 10). 7Page: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Next
Last modified: September 9, 2013