In re appl1ont1on ot 

wn1:M 7. il'riedr\V\J\, 

Filf•d .Tuly ~f, 19:13, 

ferifll '.\>. 682,096, 

Crypi;op,1"f\l>hin ~":rstea, 

Hon. "°""1edoner ot Patents, 

REF ID: A2 '1~entlai 

GLf " .{ ~ 1 l 11 ~ '/ 

Reenonei~e to ':)a.ilent Oft'ioe BO'Hon dR.tod 1lotooor 9, 1933. 

Cln!tt f, J. ine 6, ohl\.fll\'8 " f\ ml\frtie't '' to r.en.d - - l'Ul electro-

: ane line bet' ore "a.HOO iA ted n inser" - - an .. - Same Une. 

after "pawl, •• insert - - eanh rn.tohet 6.lld pawl actuating' 1 '\e aeeooil'lted 

ooar;m.tator, - -

Olafo1 ti• la~' line change the period after "or~ptoe;rnpb " 

• 

ci'phering rhftl'AOtere in a plurt\l unl'\ code , - -

praoUol'l.111 - - :JR.Me line nMoel "sequenoe •• Md 1mb1t 1. tute .. - aerie.• ... -

Laet line ohftn6e the final period. to a comrtR Md ln&firt - - lft!d ohaMetere 

ooe • • - -

Olftim :?P., 11.M 8 before "non'!-repeRUng" 111 .. ert - - n'bCln.iB 23, 11.ne 8, oaneel "'bare" and fJUb•ti tu ta - - keya - .. 

Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 09-13-2013 pursuantto E .0. 1352a 

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REF ID:A272847 

t• .. 18 noted th"'"; clniMs l t,> 4 1nclue1w f\re re.1octed on 1ihe patent 

to Hebarn, And the ea e patffnt is rM1nly relied upon tor the reJeo~ion 

ot claim• 6, '• e, 9, 10 A.nd 11 to 21 1nclua1.a. It 19 4e•1re4 to er.Jphaaise 

'\be point that nowhere in Hel:M!arn is A CitJber ke~ tranarnitte.r 41ecloae4. 

!'hi• 11!1 M 11'!1})or~ant and tundar.len"al diati.natti)n in faTor of a.ppUcant'a 

tn•entton. In Hebem the mover.sent& or dil!fl'llU'1e1'.iente ot the oode wheels 

a.re purel1 l'\\nOhn.nictlll theee :~10Ye11i.antP "',.*' r•~P.'l.i.l,,!' or 'f'"1rlodtc in ~hnrn.ete r, ., '.;d contriJl lP.d b:t rntr.lv-3t r39oht\tiitm1 1nternf\l to the devioe 1 tAelt. 

In the present invention, these naowrnenta 1irA ('H>:ntrolled by the cipher ke~ 

transrn1tt4':r in Nl aperiodic •nner1 Rnd b1 A. tRpe or 1>lur:Uit;r of tt\1'88 

external 'to and not a pBr'i ot the devi"8 itaelt. Dua acknowledgnent hn.e 

been t'Jl\d8 of the Mid :!ebern pA.ter.-: on J>hA'ft 15 of the epecif!oatinn in thi• 

case., and 11. 'bfl.sia hn.111 thf1re been established for the 1nportnnt di11tinction 

wbioh ls now brought mit. It will be rrtcognised. thf\t t:11'9 'iebern. etr.uct11re 

has the inherent vrel\.krwrs uf. nll f.'·.;c:h rtevicas w1wre the ):R;1:t.nr ru~chfl..ni• 

h a part of the tie'fi·~~ lt!•olf. Pe!'iO<tic~al 7.'80">:rrenoe of 1'10118MJ1t8 ii & 

naturA.l c~1Rr.l\r.tarhtic of All auoh meohan.1111'!19 R.nd ~ha prodiotn.ble f'Mtor 

"hue intr,)d·1ced def'el\te the essen'tinl JJ'll'J>OIMI. '!.'hua we hnve "" diat1nct1on 

which ie r11ntftri,:l l\llll inob'fi<>Us. f'Lnd which te "11pi)orted b:r " mR~erial adYRntf\g·e. Olf\it'lf! l to 4., fl.Fl wan na t~\EI r>ther cl"irns B.bOft ~'18nt1oned, 81\Ch 

inolUdee th!a dirrUnoti ve •lenent in one WR~ or A.Ilnthar and uro clear ot 

Hebern. 

018.1~ ! MS bften aiwnded Mel in 1 te present form is bel1e'f84 

to 11.'fotd the obJttet!.nn"' as to fo:m not11d ~ the Y.:X"l!iner. 

2 
REF ID:A272847 

Al reprdo r" 1.n!:is 6, '1, 8, 9 fl.rid 10, the '.<xaminer tBUI 'o di ... 

Unguteb b8twee'l 'tho• ))l\rte ot ~h• raeohani• which are 1n'\ernA1 to 

the or~ptOf.rrn:ph i tnelf, Ti• t 

cipher ke;t tl",\.nard tter. nr trl'\nm1ittere, the indion.'\trJB r:iachanim on 

the one .btt.nd., nntl the extern"l element which 1• the key tape i tselt. 

on "he other hl\nd. It h not crmtended that '1\e cipher ke~ '\ra.n.U'\,el" 

1• the ex'terMl el81'.lC' • 11hia part of the r•obantlR"J 1 a oontrollecl b7 

a ptirforated +;ape; it 11 ~he latter •len111nt whioh 111 w..,,.,n: external, 

oan be rel'l'lOved, oh.fU188d And YAl"ie<l at will. In otht11r O!"!/PWr.r'&l>h• 

known 14 &Jmlloant in whtoh rotatable aircul-. OM"4Jlfr,s ftre enpl~e~, 

the ke:;'int! r.aeoh&nilkll 18 tnterMl to an.4 a l)l!Ll't ot the oryp"°£ra}.'h 

1teelt and, therefore, inherentl: preeents the wenkne•• from a or1])-

tocraph1o etn.nd:point that poriodiclty 0AJU10t be prevented, 11noe whateTer the ~tet:1in{; f'lt•ClhNliP.r. t'l'l~ 'be (whether ettR.rillf~, Cl\i1l8 or tho li~8 ) , 

the p1tr·u r1\l"l't onf~mte upon Meohan1c&l princlplee gi"t''ll'lfr 1'198 to pbnM 

reourrencee, or n:inlee, or period a. lt 1• 'hel11ned tlmt t~1a tl "t'fl clfl.ir111 

are OOl'1"8Ctl~ 1i.nd MourR tely phrRsied and n.re ent.traly olet\r tn the l tr.h• 

Of 1ihe "1'90 tfi~P..tion f',.HQ dr:nWi!'Wle 

Ret'tn•rtn{;' to tlit't r~.jde'Uon of ola1rin ~ n.mi J.0 on :'im:ehoul!e, 

1t 1• pcJ1nte4 ou\ thfl.1 tM.a oitt\tion cbee no' disoloee appll•!Mt'a fluidanten-\Al concept ot ap•rlod.iosll;: (Nntrol11n;~ AWi to.'lh\8 de"t'icee b' an external ke:,-inir~ t!lttl"len'\ 1 and !1orehm:uta fflill to snow or ~o teach th1• fundamental concept. Jfow, eince 'he:stt clai"e each 0<>"9'91'8 ~o •id tunclamental oonoep' tn corob1Mt'\.c>n wt.th t<ie fent·~re of n plurtl.H'\z; of ot'pher ke)' 

trfilllel'litters, an attenJ)t ,,, lni1ld up n aen•l M:UotpaUon ot eatd clam 

in •1ew ot Morehnuee alone oAnnot be ma1ntft!ne4. In lfol'eh•._.. 'he ohaziaoier •3'M'bole of the t•o tnpee are •T'lJ>lO~ad 11u.coeeei •ly, Nld the 

3 
REF ID:A272847 

oolleotiTe or multiple action oonterrplnted lJ~ the ftrymHoMt'a inTen'Uon is riot pooeiblflJ. 1CoreoYer. in rt.l>l>l1nan1i' e invention:\ "he 

n'Ul'llbers of. ffUCh elu\r&atera in the ree1'f!c-l;i Te tR.pee beinB prim to 

\' one n.nother oonatl tute1 Mother 1.mportan1 di11ttnotion. o•r J{O:rebou• 

tram ,... nryptoCTaPhic atAndpoint, whioh cU1tinoUon il'I l:irour.ht out bl 

which aoinoidea with the ?'Pllltl t.Rnt o! -the ttrat ntTOllttion. In other 

oharawtera th1ot resul tu.at i e onl~ . 2,000 ohn.n1.oters in lffllf~'!..h. ln "tl1e 

la.t~nt lel'IKth tlw.t h the product of the:r 1.nui vidunl lanp;ths. 

ot theae olnina include• the oipber key trhnsrd ttar o::;· " plitrAlt ty ot 

3N believed to define auttic1ertt e11rucworde nexter.na1•• nnd "'1ndepenc1en't" h qu.tte oleR.r Md tnl.11 .J<1at1tie4 
REF ID:A272847 

t1ons nvur He"blt:rn ftnd in expln.1n1:ng the meaning of s1ti<l ten.tit. Nlbe 

perfor11.tecl tnpe is the oxternal eler!.l.ent .. 

Olft.iitfl ?.l, ?.2 R.nd. ~3 have bean &r.aendod and in their preaent 

The rrrotind~ for rejecting cla~11 2'J io 25 inclusive are not 

thOUf:'h't to be entirely cltml' in tl'ie lieht of the d.tsclo8tl!'ft. 

in. J<::XMliMr' a rejection. on ~he t-rrormd or 1'!1Ul tiplici ty 1• 

noted. The ertort has 'been ~ drat't a euttlc1ent number of claime to 

oo1'er fl fn.ir rNlgfl ot 4'Qu1 'Yl\lente beRrinr. in mind the importa:1oa ot 

blookine poeeible t'\ltl.ll'e infri~r.iente, 1'1.tt no' ovarloo1d11f,' 'the 1,... 

are phrA.lfflcl in 1Uft'nren't term• Md Bre balie"Jed to be rmte11tabl7 diawhile clail'l 2 rttci tee •• a. clpher-ke1 trA-namit'tar nlftc~lmni• •• • A 

cipher ke~ trlVlBMitter is one elenent - a cipher key tr1111amittar 

meoM.nifllla hna a diffflrflnt !\nd broader 1ignifimmoe. Referring to 

Olfliru 11 and 12, it will be noted tlmt elRiM 12 h BOl'!lfJWhR'fi 11ore 

1peoitic thf\n oll\im 11 and should ob.il'l 12 be rmmd &llmrable, appl1-

CP.nt wou d be willirie to drop clntm 11. Am>U<Hmt wou~d of c<>,U"oo be 

i:ng 

will/to rmke sonae reduction in ~h'1 nunber of the t?ln inet pr'>'fided this 

would not inYQl va PL!V l'!lfl.orif'ioe in protection urnm hi u 1nvontio!l. 
REF ID:A272847 

~a Ji::Xruuiner'" ground• tor the l"8Jaot1on of the me'1lod olnimt 

aoter or condition nre efteatad b7 the pr~otice ~f the pre"8~t llMl"hod. 

text chaM\otera ae to pre.ant :periodtol ty in '\he relationship, and 

one which ch~mt~Js tho rttltrtt1onahiTJ to !'l~t0h M extent Re to Mhiew 

Cht'.rnoter or Otlnd l ti on. 

elidina.tion 

"'he t'\mdamen.tn.l <'oncept oontempla'\ea the llhiiana ot μrodictable 

tactore 'b)' the !"le~hod whioh Yflrie1 the cipher retNltAnt of a. plain. ten 

a ke1 tApe which cnn be ~r!ed at will. ln the pre199n~ "'"hod• ellnination of pred.io'8ble tRe,ore is md.e l'ION effecU""' l.>y l'll\ll t1t>lying tbl 

mmbtlr of external kttyintr elttrstmta to pr.odune a colloot1,,., action. '!"he 

of " 'Plu:rnl lUll t code auch '"' the JR.udot Goda f\nd tlla usual. twenty-six 

Co4e. 

first, it is r.ontended 'that a s:i-~teru coripr.istng the 11tepa 

charanter• And llO chanuea tbe relaUonttbip ot aucb a lM89868 l:n reepect 

6 
REF ID:A272847 

to the finf'Ll oryptogrND a• to prRnticaJ.11 eliminate th~ predictable 

or r>ertodic fA.cto'!'s, brings fl'bm1t a ohanee of chA.rA.eter fL.~d oondi t Lon 

which certainly snthfie!I! this reqn treMnt of whA.t constUutes n. Method. 

Secondly, it is nontended that here we hA."fe f\ tru.e r'lotho4 

which is J10re than the mere function ot the appara,1111 di11Cloae4 • 

'l'hat this i~ so is evidenced bl the tact that the Aethod doee not 

depend upon a eingle meohtU11m. It will 'be noted tba't •he draw1nt11·; 

in this caM h lnrgely diaaranmatio in cbare.c'ter and '119 mechanlct•l 

sut up or A.~Burnbly ot coordinated mechani•a may be Y&ried oonsiderably in respect to the indiYidUA.l COJ!IPonente. In other word•, the 

does not depe1~d ~pon one 

method -._..~ ... ~-~-- einrle aP.aaMbly ot indi'fidUAl oorrponent•. 

In the third. piace, it ts cnntended tl\f\t true M'\hod clP.iml 

111&7 be predicR'ttld. upon a recital ot "tructure in the preNJ.tblea 11Ut'tic1ent 

'tio define ruid gi "~ rneMinr, to the MBthod ir~epa, nll of which i e well 

eetAblishe<l b!' the practioe. '!.'he preAant method is one which ,justitiee 

a certain introductory or R.ntecedent recital ot structure. In principle 

thh h BUpported by numerous Jmtente, anong whir.h M1 be mentioned the 

·./ pstent to VernNl .No. 1,416,766. Se1'erA.l decieions in BUPT>Ort of the 

pr8Ctice in thi• regard wtll be oitf!d 'below, and it h l'ligniticant that 

a !Nl!lber of these Rre nomparativel: recent. 

A lo?lf; line of decisions M.Y be cited to show that in general, 

a meohRnical method ie entitled to patent protection. In \hi• catego1'7 

the to!lo•11'18' decietone are rnentionedsBx parte Weston - l? Ct. ~pp. D.C. 449J 1901 C.D. 417 

BK Pft.rte Ohase (Patent 1,637,138 ) - 2 u.s. Df\ily 1669 

Bxpanded Metil! r~o. T1'. Bradford - 214 u.s. 366; 1909 o.D. P21 

American Gr1Lphapbone Oo. n. UniTerRal '1'1Llk1118 Machine 14ftr• Oo. 

151 r. 595-601 (2nd car. 190'1 J 

Buttalo Forge Oo. Yn. Oity of Butfalo - 246 F. iae 

' 
REF ID:A272847 

't'hl'lt. n r6ni tt1.l of 11J'\1'11.otu.r'-'l eleMenh h pemieafble in metho4 

olp.:L,1~ iP 11upported b)' the follow~~ decieion•:-

:lbt J'IP.rte ifW:'ra,: - (Ot. App. D.C. lff28 ) - 379 tl. o. 442 

Rx par"t• Aator Md '.lleAle - 16 Pat. Q. 292 (Bd. of Appeal,., l9:i2 

Ex p!U'te t~~tn~aon - 14 U.S. Pat. ~. 332 {?ft.ten~ l,ff?0,~56 ) 

It will be notod thr.t neA.rly ,.11 of 'tl'<ff deoh.inn~ n'how 

cited A.re mwh r1ore 1·onet1t tbAn thos relie'l iJ'!lDn 'by the l::XN'l1ner, and 

'110" in the second p:roU'P are tor t11e !'llost pl'\r11 qui to reoen-t, whloh .,..., 

be regRrded ~• persuaaiye of a •ore lfbe:~l prautice ~oth ~ the Court. 

&:!d the PA.tent •l.t'fi<'la in fa.Tor of aeobanical :Mthod olain• Md perrd'\ting the roo"ital in suoh clak~• ot euttto:Se nt •"ruoture to support 'the 

J11thod 11tepa. 

11!1.•ornble Z'ftoontid4r~tion 11 oour"4tm1aly aoliottad 13 the 

light or the foregoing. 

\1111118!!\ 1'. Friedr.an, 

111 

8