Ex. PGS 1050
`
`EX. PGS 1050
`
`
`
`
`
`

`
`/!1
`E UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`Serial Number: 111455,042
`
`Confirmation Number: 9123
`
`Filed: June 16, 2006
`
`Entitled: CONTROL SYSTEM FOR
`POSITIONING OF MARINE
`SEISMIC STREAMERS
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`Group Art Unit: 3617
`
`Examiner: Jesus D. Sotelo
`
`Atty Dkt No.: 14.0123-PCT(cid:173)
`US-CONT4
`
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`§
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
`
`Dear Sir:
`
`The applicants and the attorney who signs below on the basis of the information
`
`supplied by the inventor and the information in this file, submit herewith patents,
`
`publications, or other information of which they are aware, which may be material to the
`
`examination of this application and in respect of which there may be a duty to disclose in
`
`accordance with 37 CFR § 1.56.
`
`While the information submitted in this Information Disclosure Statement may be
`
`material pursuant to 37 CFR § 1.56, it is not intended to constitute an admission that any
`
`patent, publication, or other information referred to therein is prior art for this invention
`
`unless specifically designated as such.
`
`In accordance with 37 CFR § 1.97, this Information Disclosure Statement is not to~ .... -
`
`be construed as a representation that a search has been made or that no other possibly-
`~
`material information as defined under 37 CFR § 1.56(a) exists.
`~
`The patents and/or publications submitted herewith are set forth on the attached S :S
`§ 8
`Form PT0-1449.
`:ii
`Applicants have claimed in the present application, and continue to claim, domestic 5 ...
`~
`priority from the parent file under 35 U.S.C. § 120, and believe the present Information i
`Disclosure Statement otherwise complies with 37 C.P.R. §§ 1.97 and 1.98. Therefore, ~ !
`=~ ..... -...
`
`Clo
`
`Clo Clo
`
`Ex. PGS 1050
`
`

`
`copies of the foreign references, B 1 through B23, are not provided herein, as they were
`
`provided in the parent ftle, serial number 091787,723, filed July 2, 2001, now patent number
`
`6,932,017. In that file, Applicants noted that there were several foreign language references
`
`for which Applicants had no English-language counterpart, nor did they have a translation.
`
`Applicants therefore offered descriptions of those references, which are repeated here:
`
`N0992701 and DE69702673: From the Abstract of corresponding W09828636,
`
`these references are cited for disclosing a control device (or "bird") for controlling the
`
`position of a marine seismic streamer. The disclosed device is provided with an elongate,
`
`partly flexible, body which is designed to be connected electrically and mechanically in
`
`series with the streamer. The bird may have two opposed wings, which may be
`
`independently controllable in order to control the streamer's lateral position, as well as its
`
`depth.
`
`EP0319716: From the Abstract, this reference is cited for disclosing a method for
`
`obtaining seismic data of an area, especially a sea area, in which objects such as drilling
`
`platforms prevent acquisition with the aid of conventional seismology, e.g. using towed
`
`streamers. The entire area is firstly subdivided into subareas, in which receiver chains are
`
`arranged between two objects in each case. A sound generator is then moved relative to the ·
`
`receiver chain along a grid, whose grid points correspond to the exciter points of the
`
`generator. The fully acquired subareas are subsequently combined by a grid transformation
`
`to produce a uniform 3D data volume.
`
`EP0321705: From the Abstract, the reference is cited for disclosing a method for
`
`obtaining seismic data of an area having a central structure, e.g. an island, with the aid of a
`
`streamer towed by a ship, in which the ship describes a spiral course (2) about the central
`
`structure (1) in order to obtain the data. The spiral is preferably an Archimedes spiral with
`
`equidistant spacing of the individual spiral line sections.
`
`EP0525391: From the Abstract, this reference is cited for teaching, in the acquisition
`
`of marine seismic data using towed streamers, only a relatively narrow underground strip is
`
`covered. Detecting the underground without gaps therefore requires sailing over many
`
`closely neighboring profile lines. In the measuring arrangement according to the invention
`
`and in the method, as wide as possible an underground strip is detected by means of a single
`
`sail along a profile by providing that at least one streamer is held at an acute offset angle
`
`2
`
`Ex. PGS 1050
`
`

`
`(alpha) between its longitudinal axis and the bearing of the ship and is moved through the
`
`water essentially parallel to the bearing, the offset angle (alpha) being controlled from the
`
`ship in a wide angular range in order to evade obstacles. The technique is suitable for the
`
`rapid and cost-effective 3-dimensional coverage of the marine seismology of relatively large
`
`measurement areas, in particular in coastal areas and around drilling platforms.
`
`A fee in the amount of $180.00 is due under 37 CFR § 1.17(p), since this
`
`Information Disclosure Statement is being submitted after the first office action, but before a
`
`final office action or notice of allowance. Therefore, the Commissioner is hereby authorized
`
`to charge this fee, and any other fee necessary to make this submission timely, to the
`
`Deposit Account 50-1720114.0123-PCT-US-CONT4.
`
`Respectfully submitted,
`
`~ Registration Number 48,276
`
`WesternGeco, L.L.C.
`10001 Richmond A venue
`Houston, Texas 77042
`Telephone: (713) 689-5799
`Facsimile: (713) 689-1977
`
`CERTIFICATION OF MAILING
`
`I hereby certify that this correspondence and its attachments are being deposited with the United States
`Postal Service with sufficient postage as First Class Mail in an envelope addressed to: Commissioner for
`Patents, USPTO, P.O. BOX 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 on: January 5. 2007.
`
`By' ~~ Qt/~;Lgz::o7
`
`3
`
`Ex. PGS 1050
`
`

`
`/SB08A and 08B (modified)
`
`Application No.:
`Atty. Docket No.: 14.0123-PCT·
`11/455,042
`US-CONT4
`Applicant(s): Oyvind Hillesund, et al.
`
`(Use several sheets if necessary)
`U.S. Patent Documents
`See Page 1-3
`
`Foreign Patent Documents
`See Page 3-4
`
`Group: 3617
`Other Art
`SeePage4
`
`Exam. Ref.
`I nit.
`Des.
`
`AI
`
`A2
`
`A3
`
`A4
`
`AS
`
`A6
`
`A7
`
`A8
`
`A9
`
`A10
`
`All
`
`A12
`
`Document
`Number
`3,560,912
`
`3,605,674
`
`3,774,570
`
`3,896,756
`
`3,943,483
`
`4,222,340
`
`4,290,124
`
`4,404,664
`
`4,463,701
`
`3,375,800
`
`4,709,355
`
`4,711,194
`
`U.S. Patent Documents
`Date
`Name
`Class
`
`Sub
`Class
`
`Filing Date of
`App.
`
`02/02/1971
`
`Spink, et al.
`
`09/20/1971 Weese
`
`11127/1973
`
`Pearson
`
`01/29/1975
`
`Pearson, et al.
`
`03/09/1976 Strange
`
`09/16/1980 Cole
`
`09/15/1981 Cole
`
`09/13/1983 Zachariadis
`
`08/07/1984
`
`Pickett, et a/.
`
`04/02/1968 Cole, eta/.
`
`11124/1987 Woods, eta/.
`
`12/08/1987
`
`Fowler
`
`340
`
`114
`
`114
`
`114
`
`340
`
`114
`
`367
`
`367
`
`114
`
`114
`
`367
`
`114
`
`3
`
`235b
`
`235b
`
`235b
`
`7PC
`
`245
`
`18
`
`19
`
`245
`
`235
`
`16
`
`245
`
`02/03/1969
`
`09/08/1969
`
`01/25/1972
`
`02/02/1971
`
`05/08/1974
`
`1110111978
`
`11101/1978
`
`12/31/1980
`
`02/28/1980
`
`04/07/1967
`
`06/18/1984
`
`A13
`
`Al4
`
`A15
`
`A16
`
`A17
`
`AI8
`
`Al9
`
`A20
`
`A21
`
`A22
`
`A23
`
`A24
`
`A25
`
`4,729,333
`
`4,745,583
`
`4,767,183
`
`4,843,996
`
`3,412,705
`
`4,890,569
`
`4,912,684
`
`4,992,990
`
`5,042,413
`
`5,402,745
`
`5,443,027
`
`5,507,243
`
`5,529,011
`
`03/08/1988 Kirby, eta/.
`
`05117/1988 Mota!
`
`08/30/1988 Martin
`
`07/04/1989 Dare he
`
`11/26/1968 Nesson
`
`01/02/1990 Givens
`
`03/27/1990 Fowler
`
`02112/1991
`
`Langeland
`
`08/27/1991 Benoit
`
`04/04/1995 Wood
`
`08/22/1995 Owsley, eta/.
`
`04/16/1996 Williams, eta/.
`
`06/25/1996 Williams, Jr.
`
`114
`
`367
`
`350
`
`114
`
`115
`
`114
`
`367
`
`367
`
`114
`
`114
`
`114
`
`114
`
`114
`
`01/1111985
`
`07/09/1986
`
`12/18/1986
`
`244
`
`18
`
`96.23
`
`05/12/1986
`
`245
`
`12
`
`349
`
`76
`
`19
`
`244
`
`244
`
`244
`
`245
`
`245
`
`05/06/1988
`
`06/27/1967
`
`05/31/1988
`
`02/29/1988
`
`06/06/1989
`
`03/29/1990
`
`05/02/1994
`
`12/20/1993
`
`02/23/1994
`
`02/23/1995
`
`EXAMINER:
`
`I DATE CONSIDERED:
`
`EXAMINER: INITIAL IF REFERENCE CONSIDERED, WHETHER OR NOT CITATION IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH MPEP609; DRAW LINE THROUGH
`CITATION IF NOT IN CONFORMANCE AND NOT CONSIDERED. INCLUDE COPY OF THIS FORM WITH NEXT COMMUNICATION TO APPLICANT.
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT- PT0-1449 (MODIFIED)
`
`Ex. PGS 1050
`
`

`
`PTO/SB08A and 08B (modified)
`
`Application No.:
`Atty. Docket No.: 14.0123-PCT(cid:173)
`11/455,042
`US-CONT4
`Applicant(s): Oyvind Hillesund, et aL
`
`(Use several sheets if necessary)
`U.S. Patent Documents
`See Page 1-3
`
`Foreign Patent Documents
`See Page 3-4
`
`Group: 3617
`Other Art
`See Page4
`
`Exam.
`I nit.
`
`Ref.
`Des.
`
`A26
`
`A27
`
`A28
`
`A29
`
`A30
`
`A31
`
`A32
`
`A33
`
`A34
`
`A35
`
`A36
`
`A37
`
`Document
`Number
`5,619,474
`
`5,642,330
`
`5,790,472
`
`6,011,752
`
`6,011,753
`
`6,016,286
`
`6,144,342
`
`6,459,653
`
`6,525,992
`
`6,549,653
`
`3,434,446
`
`3,440,992
`
`U.S. Patent Documents
`Date
`Name
`Class
`
`Sub
`Class
`
`Filing Date of
`App.
`
`04/08/1997 Kuche
`
`06/2411997
`
`Santopietro
`
`08/04/1998 Workman, et a/.
`
`01/04/2000 Ambs, et al.
`
`01/04/2000 Chien
`
`01/18/2000 Olivier, et al.
`
`11/07/2000 Bertheas, et al.
`
`10/01/2002 Kuche
`
`02/25/2003 Olivier, et al.
`
`04/15/2003 Osawa, et al.
`
`03/25/1969 Cole
`
`04/29/1969 Chance
`
`367
`
`367
`
`367
`
`367
`
`367
`
`367
`
`343
`
`367
`
`367
`
`382
`
`114
`
`114
`
`17
`
`131
`
`19
`
`17
`
`21
`
`17
`
`709
`
`17
`
`17
`
`162
`
`235
`
`235
`
`05/10/1995
`
`05/02/1994
`
`12/2011996
`
`08/03/1998
`
`0311911998
`
`06110/1998
`
`0211111997
`
`06118/1998
`
`04/18/2000
`
`08114/1998
`
`10/02/1967
`
`A38
`
`A39
`
`A40
`
`A41
`
`A42
`
`A43
`
`A44
`
`A45
`
`A46
`
`A47
`
`A48
`
`A49
`
`3,648,642
`
`3,931,608
`
`3,961,303
`
`4,033,278
`
`4,063,213
`
`4,087,780
`
`4,227,479
`
`4,313,392
`
`4,323,989
`
`4,484,534
`
`4,694,435
`
`4,723,501
`
`03/1411972
`
`Fetrow, et al.
`
`01106/1976 Cole
`
`06/0111976
`
`Paitson
`
`07/05/1977 Waters
`
`12/13/1977
`
`ltria, et al.
`
`05/0211978
`
`ltria, et al.
`
`10/14/1980 Gertler, et al.
`
`02/02/1982 Guenther, et al.
`
`114
`
`367
`
`367
`
`114
`
`367
`
`367
`
`114
`
`114
`
`04/06/1982 Huckabee, et al.
`
`367
`
`1112711984
`
`Thillaye du
`Boullay
`
`09/15/1987 Magneville
`
`02/09/1988 Hovden, et al.
`
`114
`
`367
`
`114
`
`12/0711967
`
`01/28/1970
`
`04/2511974
`
`05/8/1974
`
`02/25/1976
`
`06/28/1976
`
`06/28/1976
`
`08/0711962
`
`08/2011979
`
`05/2911980
`
`03/17/1983
`
`12/3011985
`
`235
`
`17
`
`17
`
`245
`
`17
`
`17
`
`312
`
`244
`
`17
`
`244
`
`17
`
`l44B
`
`06/0211986
`
`EXAMINER:
`
`I DATE CONSIDERED:
`
`EXAMINER: INITIAL IF REFERENCE CONSIDERED, WHETHER OR NOT CITATION IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH MPEP609; DRAW LINE THROUGH
`CITATION IF NOT IN CONFORMANCE AND NOT CONSIDERED. INCLUDE COPY OF THIS FORM WITH NEXT COMMUNICATION TO APPLICANT.
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT- PT0-/449 (MODIFIED)
`
`Ex. PGS 1050
`
`

`
`-\ t' E 4..o
`0
`Forms PTO/SB08A and 08B (modf.ed}lt-.~ ). At~ pcket No.: 14.0123-PCT- I Application No.:
`·~~TR
`-
`
`~
`
`'t 1\\\\1
`
`11/455,042
`NT4
`US-
`. ...u"'~cant(s): Oyvind Hillesund, et al.
`
`~
`
`List of Patents and Publications for
`Applicant's
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
`(Use several sheets if necessary)
`U.S. Patent Documents
`See Page 1-3
`
`Exam.
`I nit.
`
`Ref.
`Des.
`
`A50
`
`A51
`
`A52
`
`A53
`
`A54
`
`A55
`
`A56
`
`Document
`Number
`4,766,441
`
`5,052,814
`
`5,517,202
`
`5,517,463
`
`5,532,975
`
`6,879,542
`
`6,144,342
`
`Filing Date: June 16, 2006
`
`See Page 3-4
`
`I Foreign Patent Documents
`
`l
`U.S. Patent Documents
`Class
`Date
`Name
`
`I Group: 3617
`Other Art
`SeePage4
`
`Sub
`Class
`
`Filing Date of
`App.
`
`08/23/1988
`
`Phillips
`
`10/0111991
`
`Stubblefield
`
`05/14/1996
`
`Patel
`
`05/1411996 Hornbostel, et al.
`
`07/02/1996 Elholm
`
`04/12/2005
`
`Soreau, et a/.
`
`343
`
`367
`
`343
`
`367
`
`367
`
`367
`
`343
`
`709
`
`15
`
`709
`
`13
`
`16
`
`17
`
`02/06/1987
`
`09/19/1990
`
`12/30/1994
`
`10/21/1994
`
`02/08/1994
`
`09/30/2002
`
`709
`
`08/13/1998
`
`A57
`
`Exam. Ref.
`Des.
`I nit.
`
`Bl
`
`B2
`
`B3
`
`B4
`
`B5
`
`B6
`
`B7
`
`B8
`
`Document
`Number
`AU 199853305
`
`CA2270719
`
`DE69702673T
`
`EP0193215
`
`EP0319716
`
`EP0321705
`
`EP0390987
`
`EP0525391
`
`EP0581441
`
`B9
`BlO AU734810B
`EP0909701
`
`B11
`Bl2 GB2093610
`Bl3 GB2122562
`Bl4 GB2331971
`
`11/07/2000 Bertheas, et al.
`
`Foreign Patent Documents
`Date
`Country
`Class
`
`Sub
`Class
`
`Translation
`Yes/No
`
`12119/1997 AU
`
`12/1911997 CA
`
`04/05/2001 DE
`
`01/10/1986 EP
`
`06/14/1989 EP
`
`06/2811989 EP
`
`12/08/1993 EP
`
`02/0311993
`
`08/2711997
`
`EP
`
`EP
`
`06/21/2001 AU
`
`01/08/2003 EP
`
`09/02/1982 GB
`
`01/1811984 GB
`
`06/09/1999 GB
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`EXAMINER:
`
`I DATE CONSIDERED:
`
`EXAMINER: INITIAL IF REFERENCE CONSIDERED, WHETHER OR NOT CITATION IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH MPEP609; DRAW LINE THROUGH
`CITATION IF NOT IN CONFORMANCE AND NOT CONSIDERED. INCLUDE COPY OF THIS FORM WITH NEXT COMMUNICATION TO APPLICANT.
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT- PT0-1449 (MODIFIED)
`
`Ex. PGS 1050
`
`

`
`Forms PTO/SB08A and 08B (modified)
`
`Atty. Docket No.: 14.0123-PCT-
`11/455,042
`US-CONT4
`Applicant(s): Oyvind Hillesund, et aL
`
`I Application No.:
`
`List of Patents and Publications for
`_Applicant's
`ORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
`lA
`~~ \9
`'
`(Use several sheds if necessary)
`0
`,~~· l.1 ,. Patent Documents
`~ '\
`See Page 1-3
`~~;
`':>~
`""'-~&'11'~
`
`~'\
`
`Exam. Ref.
`Des.
`I nit.
`
`B15
`
`Document
`Number
`GB2342081
`
`Filing Date: June 16, 2006
`Foreign Patent Documents
`See Page 3-4
`
`I
`
`g
`Forei n Patent Documents
`Date
`Country
`Class
`
`0410512000 GB
`
`B16 N0992701
`
`06/03/1999 NO
`
`B17 W095/31735
`
`11/2311995
`
`PCT
`
`Bl8 W096/21163
`
`07/1111996
`
`PCT
`
`B19 W097/11395
`
`03/27/1997
`
`PCT
`
`B20 W097/30361
`
`08/21/1997
`
`PCT
`
`B21 W097/45006
`
`12/04/1997
`
`PCT
`
`B22 W098/28636
`
`07/02/1998
`
`PCT
`
`B23 W099/04293
`
`0112811999
`
`PCT
`
`B24
`
`B25
`
`EP0613025
`
`08/31/1994 EP
`
`GB2320706
`
`07/0111998 GB
`
`I Group: 3617
`Other Art
`SeePage4
`
`Sub
`Class
`
`Translation
`Yes/No
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Other Art (Including Author, Title, Date Pertinent Pages, Etc.)
`Citation
`Ref.
`Exam.
`Des.
`I nit.
`
`C1
`
`C2
`
`C3
`
`EXAMINER:
`
`I DATE CONSIDERED:
`
`EXAMINER: INITIAL IF REFERENCE CONSIDERED, WHETHER OR NOT CITATION IS IN CONFORMANCE WITH MPEP609; DRAW LINE THROUGH
`CITATION IF NOT IN CONFORMANCE AND NOT CONSIDERED. INCLUDE COPY OF THIS FORM WITH NEXT COMMUNICATION TO APPLICANT.
`
`INFORMATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT- PT0-1449 (MODIFIED)
`
`Ex. PGS 1050