Since the submission consist of multiple pages (oath, spec, drawings, claims, etc.), the explanation that "upside down" means that some of the pages were faxed so that the back of the page was transmitted is most likely. If the transmission was missing essential information to receive a filing date, then it makes sense that the USPTO would be unable to continue processing the application.
See http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/0600_601_01_d.htm
Plus miniSD cards can be a pain to find in decent capacities, they're kind of the red-headed stepchild of the SD family.
Also, there are adapters so that you can use your microSD. I only purchase microSD cards and use adapters for device that take full size of mini cards. I also recommend the N810.
I've been using the 9.04 Ubuntu netbook-remix release without problem (even though it is an Alpha4 release). You might give it a try. The interface is very convenient for smaller screens and resolutions.
It does not matter what limitations a dependent claim (like claim 120) contains. The independent claims are the claims that have the "allowable" subject matter. Claim 120 depends from claim 114 which contains the limitations:
"A method for displaying representations of objects in a graphical user interface for a computer system, comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of icons in a row, where each icon represents an object in the computer system; displaying a movable cursor via which the user can select individual ones of said icons; magnifying the size of at least one of said icons as said cursor is moved into the vicinity of said one icon; and repositioning others of the icons along said row to accommodate the magnified size of said one icon."
All the limitations in claim 114 were considered allowable over the prior art; claim 120 has nothing to do with the allowability of the application.
Patents cost WAY too much. It is virtually impossible for a middle class person to obtain a patent on anything.
Regarding patent fees, please look at the fee schedule. For a small entity filing an electronic application with = 20 claims and = 3 independent claims, the total fee examination fee is $435. If the application is allowed, the issue fee is $720. There are maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years that are $465, $1180, and $1955 respectively. By the time the third year arrives, the assignee would know if the patent should be maintained. This is affordable to a middle class person/small entity.
The USPTO is under the Commerce branch, but it is NOT taxpayer funded. The USPTO us funded by Applicants (those filing patent applications) and that money is allocated by Congress. Currently, the USPTO earns more money than Congress allocates it, and therefore that extra money goes to other non-USPTO uses, that if anything, lowers your taxes.
From the US Constitution: "Art. 1, Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power . . . To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries."
From the Constitution, it seems that the intention of patents is "to promote the progress of science and useful arts." The means to do this is the patent.
Slashdot Mirror
Since the submission consist of multiple pages (oath, spec, drawings, claims, etc.), the explanation that "upside down" means that some of the pages were faxed so that the back of the page was transmitted is most likely. If the transmission was missing essential information to receive a filing date, then it makes sense that the USPTO would be unable to continue processing the application. See http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/mpep/documents/0600_601_01_d.htm
Plus miniSD cards can be a pain to find in decent capacities, they're kind of the red-headed stepchild of the SD family.
Also, there are adapters so that you can use your microSD. I only purchase microSD cards and use adapters for device that take full size of mini cards. I also recommend the N810.
I've been using the 9.04 Ubuntu netbook-remix release without problem (even though it is an Alpha4 release). You might give it a try. The interface is very convenient for smaller screens and resolutions.
It does not matter what limitations a dependent claim (like claim 120) contains. The independent claims are the claims that have the "allowable" subject matter. Claim 120 depends from claim 114 which contains the limitations: "A method for displaying representations of objects in a graphical user interface for a computer system, comprising the steps of: displaying a plurality of icons in a row, where each icon represents an object in the computer system; displaying a movable cursor via which the user can select individual ones of said icons; magnifying the size of at least one of said icons as said cursor is moved into the vicinity of said one icon; and repositioning others of the icons along said row to accommodate the magnified size of said one icon." All the limitations in claim 114 were considered allowable over the prior art; claim 120 has nothing to do with the allowability of the application.
I use a cowan d2 that supports ogg and linux. The d2 has a touch screen interface.
Regarding patent fees, please look at the fee schedule. For a small entity filing an electronic application with = 20 claims and = 3 independent claims, the total fee examination fee is $435. If the application is allowed, the issue fee is $720. There are maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years that are $465, $1180, and $1955 respectively. By the time the third year arrives, the assignee would know if the patent should be maintained. This is affordable to a middle class person/small entity.
The USPTO is under the Commerce branch, but it is NOT taxpayer funded. The USPTO us funded by Applicants (those filing patent applications) and that money is allocated by Congress. Currently, the USPTO earns more money than Congress allocates it, and therefore that extra money goes to other non-USPTO uses, that if anything, lowers your taxes.
Lenovo shipped Novell's SLED 10 (SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10), but not Ubuntu. Maybe Lenovo selected the wrong distro?
From the US Constitution: "Art. 1, Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power . . . To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries." From the Constitution, it seems that the intention of patents is "to promote the progress of science and useful arts." The means to do this is the patent.
There is no such thing as an international patent. Patents are per country, and in the UK, the patent term is up to 20 years from the filing date.