I 

0 REF ID:A52145,9 £j +'I "-tl011\:J6fldftIn re application of 

t':ilHam l?. rriednian, 

FilPd July P.~, 1933, 

f'.erial ~::-o. 682,096, 

CrYt>'Offr~~h1n ~ystem, 

Div!nion 63, RoOB 6897 

Hon. nomr.iiasione~ nt Patents, 

. Sirs 

Roeponsive to ?a~ent Q!fir.e action dated Octobnr 9, 1~33. 

!t ie desired to Ment1 tho nla1•11t ne follow1!u 

Olnia 5, Una 61 r.1'1Nll;e " " ~et " to read - - an electro-

. ;ans line betore "assoc!a.tec1 " insert - - an·- - Same l~ne, 

after "pawl, " ir•sert ,_ - each rn.tche' and pawl l\CtuatiJJl: 1ta aBSoc1a.te4 

oomr.:nitator, - -

Clai="I 6, las't line charp ·the period after "cr,ptoeraph " 

• 

to a COl'!lllR Rnd insert - - said elem.ant COl'.IJ>riatng a perf orRted ta'P8 bearing 

Ci'Phering characters in a plural unit code • - -

ClRim 21, line 9, before ;'non-repeating " lnaert - -

pracUoall~ - - sanae Una cancel "sequence " and eubati. tute - - aerie a - -

L&et line cbn.nBa the final period to a ooTtll!la and lnaert - - aaid cbal'll.ctera 

being represented °b1 pertore..t!nna penn1ted. '· in accmrdnnoe with Ro plurf'.l unit 

oci e • - -

r.lR.im 2.P.t 1 ina 8 bef'ore "notr!9repe""t1118" inF.1ert - - subatautially - - r.A.iia Hn•t, C'IJ1C8l •

1

ee11uttnoe ·• And 1mbeti+.11te - - aeries - -

Clo.le 23, llne e, cancel "bars" and 11ubst1tuta - - k&Ja - -

eclassified and a roved for release b NSA on 12-16-2013 ursuant to E.O. 1352 

. ' 
I' 

II/ 

I 

I 

I 

I 

\ 

1: 

c 

d.-

REF ID:A521456 

..., 

I'': iB noted that clail!la 1 to 4 inclusive A.re re,}ected on the patent 

to He'barn, A.nd the ea:·;e pp.'tfint !s mainly ~elied upon for the roj~cHon 

of olaims 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 And ll to 21 inclusive. It is desired to el:'lpha.size 

the point tha:t nowhere· in llebern is fl. cipher ke~ transmitter d!ecloeed. 

Thie is flJl important and fundamental distinction in f'a.vor of applicant's 

invention. !n Heb~rn the movements or di spln.ceinente of the code wheels 

are purely meohm1.icnlf :these 1~1ovef"le:nta n:re rP-f;:"J.ht!" or periodic in ~hnrncter, ·~.nd cont:rf)lled 'hy ratchet nsohn.ni mas in'ternA.l to the devioe ! tsalf. 

In the preeent invention, these l!lOYernents rtrP. nontrolled by the cipher key 

trsnsmitte:r. in M aperiodic manner, and by n tP.pe or plur,'.'.\li ty of tapes 

external to and not a part ot the device itself. Due a.cknowledf:r11ent. has 

been m..s:i.de of tho ea.id Hebern J)f\ter.t on :pnge 5 of the epecif~m\tion in this 

case. ~md a basis ha.a there been estA.bliehed for. the imp,>rtnnt dist5.nction 

which is nov• brought o\1t. It will be recognized thnt ths \lflbern atr.uct,1re 

has the inh?rent wen.kni?.es of all w.wh devices where thu ke.;yinr nechn.nimm 

is a. part of. the device iteel!. Pe!'iodical' raciirrence ot 1".lowments is a 

natural charactG?rist!c of All such mechanisms and ~he prodic!tnble factor 

thus introduced defeate the essen't!nl purpose. '.."hue we 1mve a d!atinc~ion 

which is mo.ter1nl rmd inobvim.1s, a.nd which is supported by n mn~erial adve·ntaaeo Clttime l to 4, H.s wen na the other cln.ims above mentioned, eMh 

includes this distinct! ve ele:lent in one way or another e.nd a.rt} clear of 

Rebern. 

Cl~in B has been tlJnended snd in i te present form ia believed 

to s.voi.d the o'h;jActions as to fom not~d by the Exn.miner. 
REF ID:A521456 () 

Aa ra@"rdo ~i.ni··:s 6, 7, 8, 9 Md lO, 't;be ·~xMlinar fails \o cl1aUllr,'Uiab 'betwee'l 'those l)Arta ut 'tbe aeollanisr1 which a.re 1ntol'IU\.l to 

the keyboard, the C01!111Ute.to?"a, the 

cipher ke;t trrui~td tter. l')r trRZ1S11itters, tbe indir.n"tag aachanim on 

'the one bll.nd, onii the externl\l. elemnt wh!ah ia the key tape iiself', 

on the other hsnd. U 1• not CGJltended that the cipher key tranmit'Mr 

la the external el81Bl ~ - thia part ot the rneohaniSl!l ie con1irolled :bJ 

a lJ&rtorat-.ed "t;ape; 111 la ~he latter eleman~ which 1a •~'.!.11 external, 

known 't;o aPDlioan' in whiob rotatable circuit cbanaers are 8fl!IJ>lO:ed, 

the ke:;illl.J !!l&O'h&niBI~ 18 internal to and A par'\ Of the orn,ograph 

1teelt a.nd,.~herefore, inherentl1 preeen't;a 'the waftk:neaa from a OZJPtocraphic atn.ndpoin~ that periodicity cR.JU10' ba prevented, a1nce what• 

the pR.rta mu1t nnr.mte 'upon nechanlcal prinoit>lea giving rise to J)baaa 

recurre?X:ea, or n:•nlea, or period a. U ls bel1P.ved that the five clA1ma 

are oorrectl)' •1;11.d aocar.Atel:t phrR.Md snd Bre eJ\tiraly clear in the lteht 

Of the "Jll9Ci.f.!CP..tion l\nd dt.'P.t'li!WI• 

it ia pointed out thnt this aittt.tlon d iee not d tsclo.ee appU~t· a f'andamentA.l concept or at>Ar.iodicall:.· c,lntroll1111: swi tc°'l1Jf6 devlcea bJ an extermt.l keylnc: eel~~nt, 1u:i.d !'lorehouee= f'n.118 to e:OOW or t.o teach +.bis tunda.-

mental con<:ept. :~ow, a.tnr.e t:~:;,., ela.ini:- •)acb covers t..'10 said funW.:'lenttranSBitters, an. atte~t to build up R zne4tal Anticipation of said claS!ml 

in view or l!orehouse alone oMnot 'be maintl\ined. In. Moreh·'U88 the aharacter synbnle nt the t~o tapes are 8f!IPloyed a~cessi'98ly, and the 

' 
ll 

0 . . REF ID: A521456 ~ ·, 

\J 

oolleo·u~ or mul.Uple action aontea'P!ated "1 'the 11.ppUonnt•a ln-

. ~ Ye.11Uon is not poseibltt. 1~oreovar, in al>lJlicant• e invention, '\be 

numbers ot aucb character• in the rea"Qec'U Te tRpea bei.nfr "Pr1J!IB to 

"\' 

one another conati tutaa Mother 1rat>ol'tant d1at1not1on owr Morehou• 

from ft OJ"JPt061"&Pbic atAnd}Joint, whiah diatinotion 1R broUlfht out in 

clA111 10. ~tudl' h~& shown tbP.t if these nu.l!bera Rre not t>r .Irle . '\o one 

another, the tall com'b1nat10M1 pota11t1a11'\iea of the re_P.J)&ct:i."8 keyJ 

oe.nnot be re&lbed !n pro.c~!.ce. For eXN'1Plff 1 1.! th1r1re P\re two -t.apea, one 

oontA1n1116 1,000 c~~rRCtRr~. 'the other 600, than Rfter twn r.evnlutions 

ot the lr>JJger tape, the r.nn'b!nl\tion ot the twn 'tfL1>8·8 t>rodneea a reaul tant 

which oo:Lnoldea with the rAattltM' ot -the· first "wlution. In o'ther 

1fOMS1 inRteBd 0£ havinf; R. Bint~le rt!Bill.tunt ke7 Of 1,000 X 500 s 600000 

oharaotere the reaul tant 1 s only . 21 .'JOO chn.n"i.Oters 1.n la111~~h. ln the 

latent l.enp,+..h thH.t is "the .'Product of the!r indivldun! laugths. 

As to the blanket re.Jaotion of cla11a ll tr) 21 ou !tebern, 

ot these cln1ns !ncludea the aipber ka:1 trhnsrd -star or- n. plura.l! ty ot 

suob t~MJeui'ttera def.in1t<l in on'9 Wf\Y or e.notb?r for wtinh there is :no 

aoun1erpart in Hebern. 

Ola1nm 17 fUld 19 are beUeYed. to def.ine sut1'1c1er1t si:ructure whan interpreted 1n the liaht ot the discloaure w1 thou't introducing 

'WDL80881&1'J l1m1 t&,tona. 

As to claim 18, it iR belieTed ~bnt the oi~~1f1cHl\Ce of the 

worde "external'1 and "independent" h quite olear and tnl.11 ,j;11111fiec1 
/ · .. REF ID:A521456 

\.j 

..... _. I 

~../ 

b7 the d:lf!lnloeura, A.11 r.s e!Abor!\ted Rbove in d!P.011~sin~ +.hB distinctione over He"b>3rn Rnd in explaining the 1!11H\n1ng of sn:Ld tP.m11. ""• 

perf'orate<l "\npe ls the external elenent .. 

Claims ?.l, ?.!? n.l:ld. ?.3 have bean a.~dod and 1n their present 

ram n.re thoug1rt to bu cltmr or the o"'bJeotinna notac\ 'b;r •Jia r.:xamtner. 

The trrounds ror rejecting clau,s 2'J to 25 inclusive 8re not 

unclerG°t;'>Od. ':ttla 8.BtlOTlCt! Of t .e 1nvc?nt ion t !'J r)ef1.:rlfld in r.1tc"1 '>8Z':"1!1 in 

these cl~ Ir.le e..t~ Rro <:uplo~d in the c'ther olA.tr2s tuld i.:he i!llCM.lli'!J6 is 

thour.ht to be entirely cler.r in tl:e lif;'ht of .the disclosure. 

'1'be E:cftr\1.ner'a roJer,~lon on ~he r,rolmd ot nniltipl!cit1 la 

noted. 'l'he ertort has been to draft a sutf'icient mmber of clams to 

cover A fair rn.nee of eaul'Vt\lents beBrintr in ~ind the 1m!>ortance of 

blocking po~~tble i"Atμre 1ntr1Zlf,'8nenta, but not overlooking the 1mnortnnce of v~liditJ. 1;eferrir.g to cll\il'l!l!I l am 2, these wo claJns 

are phramJd in 1ttff£rent tema Md "re beliewd to be 'Pl\te11tabl7 d1etinct. FoT AXBMJ>le, clniB 1 r1tci'fies " " r.1pher-key tranen!tter" 

while cla.ir.a. 2 reel tea '' a cipher-ke1 tr!Ulemi tter r:sechnnim '' • A 

cipher key trMmdt"ter is one alenent - a cipher key trMentitter 

eieclu\n!PP.J hA.s a diffarttnt &nd broader aignifimmce. 'Ref'orri11B to 

clniPu1 11 Md 12, 1t w Ul be noted th1t.t clRiM 12 iP. somewhn.t rnnra 

1pecif'ic thn!l <:1BiJ'l1 11 and should. cl11.in 12 be tuwid allowable, a:p!Jlicn.nt wou d be wUline to drop clninl 11. Ar.ipUnNtt won":.d of ciourfle be 

ing 

will/to 1!'111.ke sr>l"Je reduntion in "th1~ nu.-zber of +.he r.lA iritt pr.,vided thia 

wnuld not !nvt>l'Yt! Rl\V P.H.crifica in ~rotec"iion 111')()11 hiu 1nvnnt1on. 

6 
·v: .. · · . .... 

;¥'~ 

t .. 

-~ . 

f.. : r- . .,.. . 

.. 

·' . 

. ·

f 

, ... 

" 

' 

f 

f. 

I.· 

I 

O· REF ID:A521456 ,-.-

u 

!he zx-iner' a pounds to~ the raJeatlon ot the •thod olai.'"11 

Jfta\lue 16 ta·H are hl.J.no'te4 • 

Jllaeptlon a11' 'be taken ,0 the poai ~ion '\hili no Cl\e.ngel Of Olaraetff or ap.nditlon an effected ~ "1la vraatl~e of the present •tbod. 

A .,.-. which 10 o'hM«ee ·the cipher equl ~lenis repreHnUntr plain 

test chal'&OH!'8 as ta prewnt per1od1ct'1 la the NlaUon8hlp, And 

ene wJl1ch cha.Jl89• th~ relat1on11hi11 to auch an extent ae to Mhie• 

pnn:lcal aperlo41alv 11 aertainl.3 aaklna a '9ary 4eo1de4 eanse ot 

8ba"8e'8r or aond1t1on. 

eU.~ination · !he tandamentftl concept 00J1t919lAte1 the dmilrab at pradicU.'ble 

t•"9r1 bJ 'the •thod. which 'Ta.riae the cipher reaul:tan' of a plain ~ 

·obaraata~ 'bJ ex'8rnallJ an4 aper1o41oall1 con\roll1ng sw1,ch1Dff devices. 

'!bta a'\ap ot e~ternal oon'trol depem• upon an ax1:e~l elamant 'Tlsu 

a k91· tape which ann be ~r1ed at. •111. In '\be 11re•nt •thod, ellalnation ot 1tre41a"1ltla tactor1 la ma"8 aore ettecti w lJ1 lft1l. ti'P1J1JJS tbe 

rmalxlr at external kt.Jing a18ft811'1 'o pro4une a colleot1ft ac'1on. 't'he 

.. thod also 1nnlu4ee tne further step ot so cDntrnll1118' the oi~ber 

ele•Dts &9 M el!flblft,t8 trca •he final Op1,P'togl'NI &!Z U'flrn panruta-

'10lll r8J'l"819fJJ!l1iing tbe 4ttter1Jnce 'between the· th1r't7-'twO varamtAtions 

ot a plU"al 'ml t oode 111.lCh a• 11ha ll\u4ot Ooda And the unal 'twent7-aiz 

llharl\Gtere of '\be alpha'H' or the 11'\nnllard· equ1 ftlen'• ot '\be Kor• 

Cole. 

Jlrst9 1' ts contende4 'tibat e. B:rnea c~iaing tha etepa 

41eeua884 abo'ftl Which e\arta •1'h a 11811ft68 coapoaed of ·pltt.1n text 

cbal'M'Hr• anCl 10 change• the rela'C1aneh1p ot iracb a ••D68 :ln respect 

6 

. ·. ~~ .. · ,;···:. •·· .:: .: 
-----==-----==-====================================================···~ 

.• 

, 

: I 

REF ID:A521456 ·"':"'"" 

-. 

to the f'iM-1 cr1])togr1U11 aa 1io prA.cticall;v eliminate the pre41c11a'ble 

or :per\odic fAatora, bJiingB a~out a chanee of CharBcter and oonc11tion 

which certainly satisfies thh l'9q_11ire!!811t of whBt constUutea a Mthocl. • 

Secondly, it is oontended thAt here we hA...,e a tnw netho4 

which la JllOre tba.11 tile mere function ot the apparaha cliacloae4 • 

That this ill ao is evidenced b7 the tact that the eetbod does not 

depend upon a single meob&Ui11r1. It will be noted that the drawlftlfi 

in thill catJe ia lnrgely diagramma1i1o in character and the liechanlcr,,1. 

eat up or asseQbl1 of coordinated meahan1ama r.iay be varied conaiclarably in reBJ>eot to the ind.1..,id'W'lil co!Q:lon.enta. In other words, tba 

does not depend upon one 

method tM1t9;P~~~S:IAllJ s!nr.le aeseobly ot !ndivldual oor.aponenta. . . . . . . '. . 

In the third place, it 1B contended thAt trus method olR!r.11 

111&1 be predicated u~on a recital ot atracture in the preN'!lblea auf'f1c1ent 

to define t\nd give rae&niJlf,' to the method eteps, all ot w~ich ie well 

eatablhhed by the practioe. !l.'he preBent aethod is one which Just1·t1ea 

a oert"!n introduoto11 or antecedent recital ot structure. In "Principle 

this 11 aupported b7 namerou1 patents, &mOJl6 which P.18.7 be mentioned 'he 

patent to YernAm No. l,416,?&6. Se'Y8rRl dac1e1ons in support of th~ 

practice in thia rep.rd will be cited below, and 1 t ia significant that 

a number of thase &re nor.giaratively recent. 

A long line of decisions PIAY be otted to ahow that in general, 

a l!lechft.llical method ts entitled to patent protection. In this catego17 

the to!lowins decisions are .mentionedaEx parte Weston - 17 Ct. APl>· D.O. 4.49; 1901 C.D. 417 

Ex l'f'rte Chase (Patent 11 637,138 ) - 2 u.s. Da.111 1669 . . 

Bxpanded MetA.l no. va." JSr&df'orcl - 214 u.s. 366; 1909 O.D. :·"P21 

.American Graphaphone Oo. Ys •. UniTersal Talking 1fach1ne JI.fr.. Co. 

151 r. 596-601 (2nd 01r. 190? ) 

Buffalo Forge Co. Ys. OitJ ot Buffalo - 246 F. 136 

' 
... ' . ,1-~\ REF ID: A521456 

\._)._ 

olah1~ ta au;pported 'b7 the following decieiona:-

IX p-..rte ifmT~ - (Ot. Al>\)• ]).C. 1928 ) • 319 O. Q. '42 

IX par'ta 41tor AD4 laale - 16 Pa~. Q. 292 (Bel. of A.ppsiala, 19~i2 ) 

Zs part• Ca.etaYaon - 14 U.S. Pat. 1. 332 (PR.tent l,8?0,P56 J 

aitacl are Mnr.h nore i·oeent tbRn tbos relied upon by the ~~Miner, and 

thoea in the eecond groU)) are tor tile most P"or1i qnl te recerl"t, wblah ma1 

le regarded a1 pernaa1 "f8 ot a more Ubaml practice both lJ1 tbe Courtlf 

&t!4 the htent 1>1"ti"a 1n favor ot 111.echaaical method cla1r.le tmd per12ltt111C tbe nc1."tal in such cla~a of euff'io!ent a'tncture to support 'the 

method a1apa. 

Pa~ol'ft.ble reoonelder~tlon la cour'49mis11 sol1oited in '\he . . 

William .,. l'J'iec\man, 

l~t 

8