United States Federal Circuit

Several claims of a patent, describing a computer network in which the processing of user applications is distributed among several computers, were properly rejected. Even under the patent holder's construction, it would have been obvious to replace the mainframe computers of the prior art with personal computers.

Appellate Information

• Decided 05/13/2004
• Published 05/13/2004

Judges

• BRYSON, Circuit Judge., Before RADER, BRYSON, and GAJARSA, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States Federal Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• John M. Collins,Hovey Williams LLP, of Kansas City, MO, argued for appellant., Barry E. Bretschneider, Morrison & Foerster LLP, of McLean, VA, for amicus curiae Novell, Inc. With him on the brief was Charles C. Carson.


• For Appellees:
  
• C. Edward Polk, Jr., Associate Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor, United States Patent and Trademark Office, of Arlington, VA, argued for appellee.   With him on the brief were John M. Whealan, Solicitor;  and Linda Moncys Isacson, Associate Solicitor.