.PAR'l'MEi\lT OF COMMERCE
`UNITED STATES
`Patent: and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS A
`' AI MARKS
`Washington. D.C. 20231 _
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`PAPER NUMBER DATE MAILED-.13‘
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`ART UNIT .
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`This is a communication irom the examiner in charge of your application.
`CQMMISSIONEH OF PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
`OFFICE ACTION SUMMARY
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`D Responsive to communication(s) tiled on
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`[] This action is FINAL.
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`[:1 since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is closed in
`accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 D.C. 11; 453 O.G. 213.
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`month(s), o thirty days,
`A shortened statutory period for response to this action is set to expire
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`ponse will cause
`whichever is longer, from the mailing date of this communication. Failure to respond within the
`the application to become abandoned.
`(35 U.S.C. § 133). Extensions of time may be obtained under the provisions of 37 CFR
`1.136(a).
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`Disposition of Claims _
`M ciaim(s) __ K“ K g
`Of the above, ciaim(s)
`E] Ciaim(s)
`K Ciaim(s)
`[3 ciaim(s)
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`K F ( ¥
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`i 2
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`is/are pending in the application.
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`is/are aiiowed.
`is/are rejected.
`is/are objected to.
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`[3 Claims
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`are subject to restriction or eiection requirement.
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`Application Papers
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`U see the attached Notice of Draftsperson’s Patent Drawing Review, PTO—948.
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`D The drawing(s) filed on
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`is/are objected to by the Examiner.
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`is 57 approved Ci disapproved.
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`U The proposed drawing correction, filed on
`D The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`D Th8 oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner.
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
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`Ackmwledgement is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d).
`D A" 5 Some‘ C] None
`of the CEFiTiFiED copies of the priority documents have been
`D received,
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`F
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`r\
`~J received in Application No. (Series Code/Serial Number)
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`re‘79|Ved in this national stage application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`C .
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`emhed Copies not received‘
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`knumedgement is
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`nflchmenqs)
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`made of a claim for domestic priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e).
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`:5 l
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`N0iic
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`n Disciosure Statement(s), PTO—1449. Paper No(s).
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`mew S”’“mary, PTO-413
`N0tic
`9 °f D’a“SiJerson’s Patent Drawing Review, PTO-948
`8 °’ '”f°Fmai Patent Application, PTO-152
`-- see OFFICE ACTION on THE FOLLOWING PAGES --
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`i:1m_-325
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`(R°V‘1°’95)
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`(3
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`is us GPO: 1995-aoa-290140029
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`Plaid 1006
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`Serial Number: 09/419,708
`Art Unit: 2152
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`2
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`1
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`Claims 1-18 are presented for examination.
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`2_
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`Restriction to one of the following inventions is required under 35 U.S.C. 121:
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`Claims 1-14, drawn to distributed data processing, classified in class 709,
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`subclass 201.
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`ll.
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`Claims 15-18, drawn to broadcasting messages, classified in class 709,
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`subclass 206.
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`The inventions are distinct, each from the other because of the following reasons:
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`inventions Group l and Group ll are relatedas subcombinations disclosed as usable
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`together in a single combination. The subcombinations are distinct from each other if they
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`are shown to be separately usable.
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`in the instant case, invention Group I has separate
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`utility such as interact with lnternet Web sites to process a multi-component task, and
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`Group II has separate utility such as broadcasting messages to multiple lnternet
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`destinations. See " "IPEP § 806.05(d).
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`3.
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`The inventions are distinct, each from the other because of the following reasons:
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`a.
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`These inventions have acquired a separate status in the art as shown by
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`their different classification
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`b.
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`The search required for one Group is not required for the other Groups
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`For the reasons above restriction for examination purposes as indicated is proper.
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`serial Number: 09/419,708
`Art Unit: 2152
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`3
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`4_
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`Applicant is requested to formally cancel the non-elected claims.
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`5_
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`During a telephone conversation with Mr. Donald R. Boys on 03/15/2001 a
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`provisional election was made without traverse to prosecute the invention of GROUP l,
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`claims 1-14. Affirmation of this election must be made by applicant in responding to this
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`Office action. Claims 15-18 withdrawn from further consideration by the Examiner, 37
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`C.F.R. § 1.142(1)), as being drawn to a non-elected invention.
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`6.
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`Applicant is advised that the reply to this requirement to be complete must include
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`an election of the invention to be examined even though the requirement be traversed (37
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`CFR 1.143).
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`7.
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`Applicant is requested to formally cancel the non-elected claims.
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`8.
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`Applicant
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`is reminded that upon the cancellation of claims to a non-elected
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`invention, the inventorship must be amended in compliance with 37 CFR 1.48(b) if one or
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`more of the currently named inventors is no longer an inventor of at least one claim
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`remaining in the application. Any amendment of inventorship must be accompanied by a
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`diligent|y—fi_led petition under 37 CFR 1.48(b) and by the fee required under 37 CFR
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`1.17(h).
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`Serial Number: 09/419,708
`Art; Unit: 2152
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`4
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`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. § 102 that
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`form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
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`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless --
`(a) the invention was known or used by others in this country, or patented or
`described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country, before the invention
`thereof by the applicant for a patent.
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`10.
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`Claims 1-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a) as being anticipated by
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`DeLorme et al. (DeLorme) patent no. 5,948,040.
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`11.
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`As to claims 1, 3-4, and 6-7 DeLorme teaches the invention as claimed, including
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`an Internet portal system for accomplishing a multi-component task involving interaction
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`with one or more Internet Web sites, comprising:
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`an lnternet—connected server having access to client-related data;
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`an |nternet—capable client station usable by a client; and
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`software executing on the server for managing individual component tasks in
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`execution of the multi-component task;
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`wherein the software, in response to initiation of a multi-component task specified
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`by the client, defines the component tasks, identifies internet Web sources for completion
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`of the tasks, manages interaction with the identified Web sites gathering results of the
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`interactions, integrates the gathered results, and communicates final results to the client
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`at the client station (Abstract; col. 6 line 55 - col. 9 line 2; col. 10 lines 19-33; col. 13 line
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`30 - col. 14 line 52; col. 15 line 33,- col. 16 line 15; col. 33 line 53 - col. 34 line 56) .
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`serial Number: 09/419,708
`Art Unit: 2152
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`12_
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`As to claim 2, DeLorme teaches individual ones of the component tasks involve
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`payment for services rendered in the interaction with one or more lnternet Web sites, and
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`wherein one of the component tasks is transfer of funds from a client account in payment
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`for the service rendered (col. 8 line 49 - col. 9 line 2; col. 33 line 53 - col. 34 line 56).
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`13.
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`As to claim 5, DeLorme teaches arranging services for a trip,
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`including airline
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`reservations, lodging reservations, or rental car reservations (col. 8 line 49 - col. 9 line 2;
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`col. 12 lines 36-48).
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`14.
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`Claims 8-14 have similar limitations as claims 1-7; therefore, they are rejected under
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`the same rationale.
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`15.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to Le H. Luu, whose telephone number is (703) 305-9650.
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`The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's
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`Supervisor, Mark Rinehart, can be reached at (703) 305-4815.
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`Any inquiry of a general nature of relating to the status of this application should be
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`directed to the Group receptionistwhose telephone number is (703) 305-9600.
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`Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
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`Washington, D.C. 20231
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`or faxed to:
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`(703) 308-9051, (for formal communications intended for entry)
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`Or:
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`(703) 305-7201 (for informal or draft communications, please label
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`"PROPOSED" or "DRAFT")
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`Any response to this action should be mailed to:
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`Hand—delivered responses should be brought to Crystal Park ll, 2121 Crystal Drive,
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`Arlington. VA., Sixth Floor (Receptionist).
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`’tMlWJ\/
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`LE HIEN LUU
`PRIMARY EXAMINER
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`March 19, 2001