用過去文章再探"at least one of"用語

這裡用幾個過去的判例/案例解釋"at least one of"用語。

前言：

在爬梳了一些代理人文章後，覺得，如果要包山包海的涵蓋各種情況，第一，說明書要支持；第二，技術實際該有的才是重點；第三，英文文法要看實務。

"A, B and/or C"雖不建議，但意圖明顯地想要包含所有A,B,C的任一與任意組合（中文可以這樣寫），如果要不受到挑戰的英文寫法，可以是："at least one selected from the group of A, B, C, and combination thereof"。（以下參考七）

參考一：

- 解釋「at least one of」用語的老案子 - Superguide Corp. v. Direct TV Enterprises, Inc. (CAFC 2004)（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2019/05/at-least-one-of-superguide-corp-v.html）

在前例「Rhine v. Casio, Inc., 183 F.3d 1342, 1345 (Fed.Cir.1999)」中，CAFC法官解釋專利範圍中"at least one of"用語，認為字面上如地方法院解釋，指的是"one or more"。

在本案例中，申請專利範圍中描述的幾個"criteria/標準"包括有4個類別：program start time, program end time, program service, program type，每個類別還包括了多個可能的數值。

系爭專利範圍的相關句子：

Claim 1："first means for storing at least one of a desired program start time, a desired program end time, a desired program service, and a desired program type"。

專利權人Superguide主張"at least one of"意思是"所述4個類別中一或多個類別的一或多個數值"（包含所有可能的組合）；被告DirectTV則主張"at least one of"意思是"每個類別的一或多個數值"（比專利權人主張的限縮一些）。

CAFC同意被告DirectTV的解釋，認為"at least one of"寫在"categories/多個類別"之前，而後面加的連接詞是"and"，一般解釋是：

"an article of a preposition applying to all the members of the series must either be used only before the first term or else be repeated before each term."（在此不硬翻，是可以理解的）

這裡舉例："in spring, summer, or winter"，意思是"in spring, in summer, or in winter"。因此，"at least one of"後面列出多個類別，也是套用在每個類別上，成為"at least one value for each category"，因此上述claim段落應解釋為"at least one of a desired program start time, a desired program end time, a desired program service, and a desired program type"，也就是每個類別都選擇至少一個數值，而非"one or more categories"。

CAFC判決原文：https://scholar.google.com.tw/scholar_case?case=8801876997298455702&q=Superguide+Corp.+v.+Direct+TV+Enterprises,+Inc.+(2004)&hl=en&as_sdt=2006&as_vis=1

參考二：

- 「at least one of」用語筆記（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2023/11/at-least-one-of.html）

總結上述案例：

"at least one of A and B”的解釋為：“at least one of A and at least one of B”（"at least one of"套在後面列出的名詞上），還可寫為"one or more of A and one or more of B"。

如果發明還要包括A或B（或包括"one or more A" or "one or more B"）的範圍，需要寫為：“at least one of A or B”、“one or more of A or B”或是“one of A or B”這類寫法。

參考三：

- 解釋"at least one"，雖有前例但說明書沒有支持 - Ex parte Jung (PTAB 2016-008290)（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2021/05/at-least-one-ex-parte-jung-ptab-2016.html）

此案例有趣的是，專利審查委員以及PTAB行政法官解釋專利範圍中"at least one of ... and"是用比較廣的解釋（但以現在理解是是錯的解釋），認為其中之一即可，也就如以下解釋：

當時PTAB解釋"at least one of A and B"認為會有以下幾個可能：

1) "at least one of A or B";

2) "at least one of A or at least one of B"; or

3) "at least one selected from the group of A and B".

但此案中，因為專利範圍解釋過廣而被核駁，專利申請人主張"at least one of A and B"應解釋為"at least one of A and at least one of B"（編按，根據以上Superguide案例也應這樣解釋）。

此案後續是，專利申請人捨棄有爭議的"at least one of"寫法。

參考四：

- 專利用詞「at least one」討論 - Joao v. Sleepy Hollow Bank (S.D.N.Y. 2004)（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2016/04/at-least-one.html）

原告對此句的解釋為：從其中列舉項目中僅有一個元件，或是元件的任何組合，句型「at least one of A, B and C」意思指「only A, or only B, or only C, or any combination of A, B and C」。（編按，原告原則上希望專利範圍更廣，除非是如上例要迴避先前技術而限縮專利範圍）

被告對此句的解釋為：列舉的項目的一或多個項目，句型「at least one of A, B and C」意思指「one or more of A, one or more of B, and one or more of C」。（編按，侵權被告自然是希望專利範圍解釋更小，而目前實務是符合此案被告主張的。）

此案例中，法官解釋的很玄："I construe the phrase "at least one of... and ..." in connection with a list of items to mean, "One or more of one or more of the items contained in the list.""。（編按，以目前實務來看，應該不是這樣繞的。）

參考五：

- 美國專利局認同"and/or"的專利範圍語言，但有更好的寫法 (about Claims)（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2014/01/andor-about-claims.html）

本篇是認為，and/or沒有不明確，但是可能"as least one of A and B"叫好，這是文法上的解法，但在解釋專利範圍上，應該還是要看目前最新的解釋。

參考六：

這位代理人很生動的意見應該就是目前主流的態度：

https://harrityllp.com/avoiding-common-mistakes-in-patent-applications-careful-when-using-at-least-one-of-in-patent-claims/

參考七：

這位代理人建議一種取代"and/or"的寫法：

“at least one selected from the group of A, B, C, and combinations thereof”。

https://www.bomcip.com/blog/considerations-using-conjunctive-vs-disjunctive-claim-language/

Ron

JPO提供的專利侵權訴訟要領 - 一些摘要

Patent Infringement Litigation in Japan

https://www.jpo.go.jp/e/news/kokusai/developing/training/textbook/document/index/patent_infringement_litigation_in_japan_2016.pdf

Part 1 - How to Deal with a Warning Letter

專利侵權訴訟經常開始於專利權人發出的警告信，接獲警告信的標準處理流程：

接獲警告信的人可提出專利無效的動作，有兩種程序：

(1)在侵權訴訟程序中，專利權人提出禁制令、損害賠償的同時，被告侵權對象可以提出無效抗辯；

(2)在日本專利局提出無效程序。

=>案件在之後可能會進入智慧財產法院、最高法院。

解釋專利範圍並評斷是否有侵權可能是接收警告信的人最在乎的事，這裡提到幾個解釋專利範圍的原則：從請求項文字表面的意思解釋專利範圍（literal），如果這樣都有侵權疑慮，就要注意；如果字面看來似乎不侵權，就看其解釋上的等效範圍（equivalents）。根據以上原則評估之後，可以看看是間接侵權或是直接侵權，這時需要判斷自己所處的產業鏈位置。

對自身的檢驗包括，(1)查自己擁有的專利權；(2)是否有先使用權（prior user right）；(3)是否有實驗上的使用（experimental use），在實驗上的使用或是科學上的測試可免除專利侵權；(4)是否有強制許可（compulsory licenses）。

若有侵權疑慮，應(1)停止侵權行為；(2)尋求授權協議；(3)迴避設計。

若沒有侵權問題，應(1)回應沒有侵權；(2)對專利提出無效程序；(3)若確認沒有侵權，收到警告信的人可以在法院提起宣告式判決訴訟（Declaratory judgment action），通過法院確認沒有侵權的事實。

以上措施可以參考下圖流程：

Part 2 - Court Proceedings

在日本，僅兩個法院處理專利侵權爭議：Tokyo and Osaka District Courts

法院系統：

訴訟程序：

1. 提交訴狀（complaint）

2. 相關救濟（remedy），包括主訴（main suit，包括損害賠償與永久禁制令）與初步禁制令（preliminary injunction）

3. 聽證（first hearing）

4. 後續程序，包括審判、言詞辯論、專家作證等程序。

5. 侵權判斷與損害賠償為兩個程序。

6. 和解

7. 損害賠償計算

8. 宣判

9. 上訴

（更多細節可參考JPO網站與本文）

Ron

從鉅細靡遺的判決中學習相關議題答辯方式 - IMPACT ENGINE, INC. v. GOOGLE LLC (Jul. 3, 2024 CAFC)

案件資訊：

原告/上訴人：IMPACT ENGINE, INC.

被告/被上訴人：GOOGLE LLC

系爭專利：US7,870,497、US10,572,898、US10,565,618 ... 等

判決日期：July 3, 2024

原告Impact於地方法院對Google提出侵權告訴，地方法院解釋專利範圍，解釋"compiling engine"如一般理解的編譯器（compiler），另外，還解釋"project viewer"為功能手段用語。地院另判決系爭專利範圍不符35U.S.C.101適格性規定，而陪審團判定侵權不成立，部分專利範圍因為違反112規定而無效。

原本訴願涉及有相同說明書的七件專利，其中系爭專利'497關於一種多媒體通訊系統與方法，其中涉及創造、編輯、分享與散布高品質多媒體通訊內容，其中整合文字、顏色、背景圖、影像、聲音、影片等，其中互動方式不需要使用者理解複雜的程式語言。Claim 1如下，多媒體通訊系統包括媒體庫以及專案建造器，專案建造器提供GUI給使用者操作，使用者可從媒體庫中選擇專案範本（template），系統通過提出問題得到使用者的答案，取得使用者喜好的專案範本，以及一或多個媒體內容以形成通訊內容。

1. A multimedia communication system comprising:

a media repository storing communication project templates and media assets of a number of content types, the project templates and media assets being accessible by a graphical user interface on a client computer via a network; and

a project builder providing the graphical user interface for the client computer via the network for local display of the graphical user interface on the client computer, the graphical user interface comprising controls to receive user input for selecting at least one communication project template from the media repository and one or more media assets, and assembling a communication based on the at least one communication project template, the project builder further including an interactive interview for display on the graphical user interface, the interactive interview providing a plurality of questions to a user for eliciting a user response pertaining to user preferences, and further receiving the user preferences about the at least one communication project template and one or more media assets to assemble the communication.

9. A multimedia communication system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a project viewer that renders an assembled communication and transmits the rendered communication via the network to the client computer for viewing in the graphical user interface.

其中值得一提的是，地方法院在2021年提出一次補充解釋專利範圍命令，其中解釋"project viewer"，查說明書與專利範圍，認為"project viewer"執行的功能包括顯示並能自動播放/或停止投影片、傳送通訊至客戶電腦，以及讓使用者查看樣本與媒體，如此認為無法以結構定義此元件，屬於以35U.S.C.112(f)解釋的功能手段用語。

針對專利的適格性，地院判定'618案claims 14, 16, 22, 23、'497的claim 1不具專利適格性，理由是發明涉及基於使用者資訊產生客製與修改電腦通訊內容的技術，僅採用一般目的電腦，並使用其中一般功能，屬於抽象概念。

在2022年，地院同意Google提起簡易判決，判定多項專利範圍不符專利適格性規定（35U.S.C.101），其判決理由採用常用TWO-STEP測試，另判定部分專利範圍侵權不成立。

（編按，從法院判決來看，如果專利範圍僅描述一般目的電腦執行的習知功能，如＂傳送＂或＂顯示＂資訊，將被判定是抽象概念，然而，如果是＂產生／rendering＂，可能讓資訊產生變化，就有機會超越一般目的電腦執行一般功能的情況。）

... （上訴CAFC前的地院很忙呀! 詳情請看判決原文。）

Impact上訴CAFC，其中包括三個上訴議題：

1. 挑戰地方法院判定系爭專利不符專利適格性的意見；

2. 挑戰地方法院對"project viewer"的解釋，以及基於此解釋作出侵權不成立的決定；

3. 挑戰系爭專利'898的claim 30不符35U.S.C.112(a)（說明書不支持）的決定。

議題1（以下意見為自判決文整理，並可循著法院意見得出101答辯參考）

對於系爭專利不符專利適格性意見，地院提出的理由是因為系爭專利基於使用者資訊的相關動作屬於抽象概念，且僅使用一般目的電腦以其一般功能元件執行其固有功能，並沒有轉換抽象概念為具體的應用。

況且，資訊本身，包括資訊收集、分析與顯示，若沒有以任何進步的技術執行這些功能，加上這些功能一般目的電腦所執行，就僅是抽象概念。

所謂一般功能元件，這裡定義有"network", "graphical user interface", "server"等。且系爭專利說明書描述的內容包括gathering, sending, presenting資訊，如此不容易克服這是抽象概念的專利無效的意見。

接著又判斷系爭專利範圍並沒有加入特定特徵限制，而被認為不具備進步概念（inventive concetp），因為所謂inventive concept是要從非過去知悉、非已知以及非常規的技術得出。

議題2（功能手段用語）

上訴人Impact宣稱Google產品侵權，認為說明書描述的"project viewer"是一個產生或連載通訊計畫投影片與內容的應用程式，並且提供功能，當"project viewer"啟動後，需要"資料結構"以及相關軟體程式呼叫計畫物件（project object）...。

法院認為Impact提出的段落並不足夠說明project viewer的結構特徵，根據說明書內容，認為元件"project viewer"為電腦實現的功能手段用語，因為說明書中僅"純粹地"描述功能，並倚賴演算法，並不足以提供必要的結構特徵。

Google宣稱上述幾行字並沒有特定演算法，僅是功能的高階描述。由於這些段落並不足夠證明相關功能手段用語對應結構特徵。

議題3 （說明書是否支持專利範圍議題）

這部分涉及專利範圍中都個用語解釋（編按，上訴人過度解釋專利範圍），法院認為上訴人解釋專利的內容，並無法被說明書支持（細節請參考判決原文）。

CAFC支持地方法院判決 （部分專利範圍不符101, 112規定，侵權不成立）。

my two cents:

針對101，如果發明本質是純軟體、功能性，免不了遭受不符專利適格性的挑戰，根據本篇意旨，資訊搜集、分析與顯示，都是抽象概念，並且這類技術由一般目的電腦執行。在重重困難中，需要找到具有進步概念的元件，並且動作不能是一般資訊處裡，若是執行特定動作，建議講清楚，避免用上位而模糊的用語。

針對112，特別是針對功能手段用語，說明書需要詳細描述對應硬體、結構，這甚至影響侵權的主張。

CAFC判決：https://cafc.uscourts.gov/opinions-orders/22-2291.OPINION.7-3-2024_2344303.pdf（備份：https://app.box.com/s/4o4hdc76ripk2jktgaekza9yhuoro63n）

Ron

澳洲專利適格性定義 - "manner of manufacture" - D'Arcy v Myriad Genetics Inc [2015] HCA 35 (Myriad)

本篇討論澳洲專利適格性判例，訴訟議題是涉及分離BRCA1核酸（isolated BRCA1 nucleic acid）的系爭專利是否屬於可專利標的。

在案例D'Arcy v Myriad Genetics Inc [2015] HCA 35 (Myriad)中，澳洲高等法院裁決系爭專利claims 1-3並非關於製造/製品（manufacture）的技術，即便專利範圍描述的是產品，但技術實質上是分子核苷酸（nucleotides）中表現的資訊，而此資訊是分子中固有的內容，並非是人為產生的內容，因此不具有可專利性。

案件資訊：

上訴人：YVONNE D'ARCY

被上訴人／專利權人：MYRIAD GENETICS INC & ANOR RESPONDENTS

系爭專利：AU686004

系爭專利的claims 1-3：

1. An isolated nucleic acid coding for a mutant or polymorphic BRCA1 polypeptide, said nucleic acid containing in comparison to the BRCA1 polypeptide encoding sequence set forth in SEQ.ID No:1 one or more mutations or polymorphisms selected from the mutations set forth in Tables 12, 12A and 14 and the polymorphisms set forth in Tables 18 and 19.

（1.一種突變體或多態性BRCA1多勝肽的分離核酸編碼技術，所述核酸與SEQ.ID No:1中所示的BRCA1多肽編碼序列相比，含有選自表中的一或多個突變或多態性，突變可查表12, 12A與14，多態性見表18和19。）

舉例來說，表12如下：

表18：

2. An isolated nucleic acid as claimed in claim 1 which is a DNA coding for a mutant BRCA1 polypeptide, said DNA containing in comparison to the BRCA1 polypeptide encoding sequence set forth in SEQ.ID No: 1 one or more mutations set forth in Tables 12, 12A and 14.

3. An isolated nucleic acid as claimed in claim 1 which is a DNA coding for a polymorphic BRCA1 polypeptide, said DNA containing in comparison to the BRCA1 polypeptide encoding sequence set forth in SEQ.ID No:1 one or more polymorphisms set forth in Tables 18 and 19.

---澳洲專利法18(1)：---

Patentable inventions for the purposes of a standard patent

 (1)  Subject to subsection   (2), an invention is a patentable invention for the purposes of a standard patent if the invention, so far as claimed in any claim:

 (a)  is a manner of manufacture within the meaning of section 6 of the Statute of Monopolies; and

 (b)  when compared with the prior art base as it existed before the priority date of that claim:

 (i)  is novel; and

 (ii)  involves an inventive step; and

 (c)  is useful; and

 (d)  was not secretly used in the patent area before the priority date of that claim by, or on behalf of, or with the authority of, the patentee or nominated person or the patentee's or nominated person's predecessor in title to the invention.

-----------------------------

定義「核酸」：

每一項請求項都涉及「isolated nucleic acid/分離的核酸」，根據說明書定義，「分離的核酸」包括DNA, RNA，或混和聚合物（mixed polymer），包括天然存在環境中的核酸序列或蛋白質，包括複製的DNA的分離物，以及化學合成的類似物，或通過異質生物合成的物質。並且，看來各方都同意源自人類細胞衍生的核苷酸序列（nucleotide sequence）都可稱核酸。

本案系爭專利涉及「分離核酸編碼技術」，複製人類細胞中原有的核苷酸序列，取得與人類細胞功能等效的序列，即便專利範圍描述的專利標的如一產品（product）。如此，本案例的上訴議題就是上述專利範圍是否符合專利法定義的＂manner of manufacture＂？

在判決前言中提及，立法有其侷限性，因此針對新的技術的公共利益相關議題需要找到各種利益衝突（公眾利益v.發明人權益）的平衡，本案討論源自人類細胞的DNA編碼技術就是此類議題的代表之一，並且因為專利範圍的界線不明，存在可能權利壟斷的疑慮。

定義「manner of manufacture」：

「NRDC / National Research Development Corporation v Commissioner of Patents」法院確立使用已知化學物的未知特性而得出新的目的的用途發明的可專利性。

本案系爭專利涉及的"product"，長久以來的觀念是"product"就是可販售的產品（vendible product），這是有用的判斷，本次法官再進一步定義，具有人為創造的事態，此事態具有經濟意義（economic significance），即構成專利法所設定的「manner of manufacture」。

"a product that consists of an artificially created state of affairs which has economic significance will constitute a 'manner of manufacture'." (emphasis added)

定義「product」:

全院進一步設定所謂「product」，只要是人為創造的事態」即導致經濟有用的結果。

"The Court held that it is sufficient for a product to result in 'an artificially created state of affairs', leading to 'an economically useful result'."

因此，全院認為本案「產品發明 - isolated nucleic acid」包括cDNA，屬於具有經濟效益的人為創造的事態，屬於專利法定義的發明。

"The isolated nucleic acid, including cDNA, has resulted in an artificially created state of affairs for economic benefit. The claimed product is properly the subject of letters patent. The claim is to an invention within the meaning of s 18(1) of the Act."

「基因工程」是否排除在可專利標的以外？

以上定義已知如本案系爭專利屬於一種產品發明，具備可專利性，然而，本案系爭專利又屬於基因工程，涉及道德倫理與社會議題，但排除涉及道德與社會規範的發明的專利適格性是一種司法命令（judicial fiat）。法院參考了一位教授的意見，如下，其中表示不僅是基因工程，連同醫療方法與商業系統，都會面對可專利性議題的爭論。

"Although it was important to expand patentable subject matter and remove artificial fetters on patentable subject matter at the time of NRDC, there is no consensus that we should continue to expand the scope of patentable subject matter into all fields of endeavour so as to remove the remaining fetters on patentable subject matter. The continuing debates on whether methods of medical treatment, business systems and genes should be patentable subject matter demonstrate that there is no universal acceptance of an approach that would accept that anything under the sun invented by man is patentable."

以下提出兩個檢查發明是否屬於「manner of manufacture」，第一，是否發明為用於製作產品，或是產生因為人類行為產生的結果的流程；第二，是否發明具有經濟用途。

檢視發明特點，包括：

They characterised the subject matter of the claims as:

1.a compound, not information;（是一種化合物，非資訊本身）

2. an isolated nucleic acid, which is taken out of the genome and removed from the cell and is unable to be the subject of cellular processes of transcription and translation;（從基因取出的分離的核酸，不能是細胞程序的主體）

3. containing the code for a mutant or polymorphic protein; and（包括突變體或是多態性蛋白的編碼）

4. containing a sequence identified by comparison with tables created following extensive research describing the location of the mutations or polymorphisms in DNA.（包括可通過比對表格識別的序列）

法院據此判斷系爭專利有經濟用途。

判決中，經過檢視發明涉及的技術內容（內容太長，有興趣者可看判決原文），法官判定，經以上分析的系爭案發明，無疑地，是為可專利的標的。而全院判決是，系爭案發明是一種產品專利，其描述的分離的核酸並不同於自然發生的產物，甚至參考美國最高法院的決定，判定系爭專利具有專利適格性。

"The Full Court described the impugned claims as claims "for a product set within a context of invention described in the specification: a context of development, through research and work, of the knowledge of the mutations or polymorphisms in question, and of the finding of the gene in question." Their Honours emphasised the character of the claims as relating to "the nucleic acid as isolated from the cell" and differences between the claimed product and the "naturally occurring product"."

Their Honours referred at some length to the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Association for Molecular Pathology v Myriad Genetics Inc. That decision was concerned with the application of 35 USC §101 to claims differently expressed from those impugned in this case:

An isolated DNA coding for a BRCA1 polypeptide, said polypeptide having the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID No:2.

The isolated DNA of claim 1 wherein said DNA has the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID No:1 ("the Myriad claims").

可參考：第1000篇「Association for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics」美國最高法院判決（https://enpan.blogspot.com/2013/06/1000association-for-molecular-pathology.html）

＂法院認為，在僅自人類基因隔離的技術為不可專利，不過除此之外又增加其他改變基因序列的技術仍可為可專利標的（"created" cDNA相關技術為可核准專利標的。＂

本案概要可以參考：https://consultation.ipaustralia.gov.au/policy/myriad-genetics-2015/

澳洲高等法院判決：https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/2015/35.html

判決文：https://wipolex-resources-eu-central-1-358922420655.s3.amazonaws.com/edocs/lexdocs/judgments/en/au/au016-jen.pdf

Ron

筆記cross reference的寫法

以下為美國專利US11586181（申請號：US16/698,606）的cross reference（優先權資訊），覺得超複雜，就只是看看，專利權人是＂Strong Force IoT Portfolio＂，名稱看來是NPE。（用顏色勾勒一下關聯性，寫法很分散，有點特殊。）

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of, and is a continuation of, U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 16/143,286, filed Sep. 26, 2018, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTION IN AN INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS DATA COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT WITH FREQUENCY BAND ADJUSTMENTS FOR DIAGNOSING OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION EQUIPMENT.

U.S. Ser. No. 16/143,286 is a continuation of, U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/973,406, filed May 7, 2018, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTION IN AN INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS DATA COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT WITH LARGE DATA SETS.

U.S. Ser. No. 15/973,406 is a bypass continuation-in-part of International Application Number PCT/US17/31721, filed May 9, 2017, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEM FOR THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS, published on Nov. 16, 2017, as WO 2017/196821, which claims priority to: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/333,589, filed May 9, 2016, entitled STRONG FORCE INDUSTRIAL IOT MATRIX; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/350,672, filed Jun. 15, 2016, entitled STRATEGY FOR HIGH SAMPLING RATE DIGITAL RECORDING OF MEASUREMENT WAVEFORM DATA AS PART OF AN AUTOMATED SEQUENTIAL LIST THAT STREAMS LONG-DURATION AND GAP-FREE WAVEFORM DATA TO STORAGE FOR MORE FLEXIBLE POST-PROCESSING; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/412,843, filed Oct. 26, 2016, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/427,141, filed Nov. 28, 2016, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS.

U.S. Ser. No. 15/973,406 also claims priority to: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/540,557, filed Aug. 2, 2017, entitled SMART HEATING SYSTEMS IN AN INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/562,487, filed Sep. 24, 2017, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/583,487, filed Nov. 8, 2017, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS.

U.S. Ser. No. 16/143,286 claims the benefit of, and is a bypass continuation of, International Application Number PCT/US18/45036, filed Aug. 2, 2018, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTION IN AN INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS DATA COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT WITH LARGE DATA SETS.

International Application Number PCT/US18/45036 claims the benefit of, and is a continuation of, U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 15/973,406, filed May 7, 2018, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DEFECTION IN AN INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS DATA COLLECTION ENVIRONMENT WITH LARGE DATA SETS.

International Application Number PCT/US18/45036 claims priority to: U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/540,557, filed Aug. 2, 2017, entitled SMART HEATING SYSTEMS IN AN INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/540,513, filed Aug. 2, 2017, entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SMART HEATING SYSTEM THAT PRODUCES AND USES HYDROGEN FUEL; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/562,487, filed Sep. 24, 2017, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/583,487, filed Nov. 8, 2017, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS.

U.S. Ser. No. 16/143,286 claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/583,487, filed Nov. 8, 2017, entitled METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR THE INDUSTRIAL INTERNET OF THINGS.

All of the foregoing applications are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein in their entirety.

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國際優先權主張的法條：35 U.S. Code § 119 - Benefit of earlier filing date; right of priority

美國國內優先權（CA, CIP）主張的法條：35 U.S. Code § 120 - Benefit of earlier filing date in the United States

美國分割案是基於：35 U.S. Code § 121 - Divisional applications

-------------------------------------------

以下為美國專利US20210315581（申請號：US17/358,276）的cross reference，比以上案例更複雜，此例特別的是有將法條依據補上，更顯得複雜。

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/773,778, titled METHOD FOR ADAPTIVE CONTROL SCHEMES FOR SURGICAL NETWORK CONTROL AND INTERACTION, filed Nov. 30, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/773,728, titled METHOD FOR SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR SURGICAL NETWORK OR SURGICAL NETWORK CONNECTED DEVICE CAPABLE OF ADJUSTING FUNCTION BASED ON A SENSED SITUATION OR USAGE, filed Nov. 30, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/773,741, titled METHOD FOR FACILITY DATA COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION, filed Nov. 30, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/773,742, titled METHOD FOR CIRCULAR STAPLER CONTROL ALGORITHM ADJUSTMENT BASED ON SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, filed Nov. 30, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/750,529, titled METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWERED ARTICULATING MULTI-CLIP APPLIER, filed Oct. 25, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/750,539, titled SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER, filed Oct. 25, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/750,555, titled SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER, filed Oct. 25, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,183, titled CONTROL FOR A SURGICAL NETWORK OR SURGICAL NETWORK CONNECTED DEVICE THAT ADJUSTS ITS FUNCTION BASED ON A SENSED SITUATION OR USAGE, filed Sep. 10, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,177, titled AUTOMATED DATA SCALING, ALIGNMENT, AND ORGANIZING BASED ON PREDEFINED PARAMETERS WITHIN A SURGICAL NETWORK BEFORE TRANSMISSION, filed Sep. 10, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,176, titled INDIRECT COMMAND AND CONTROL OF A FIRST OPERATING ROOM SYSTEM THROUGH THE USE OF A SECOND OPERATING ROOM SYSTEM WITHIN A STERILE FIELD WHERE THE SECOND OPERATING ROOM SYSTEM HAS PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OPERATING MODES, filed Sep. 10, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,185, titled POWERED STAPLING DEVICE THAT IS CAPABLE OF ADJUSTING FORCE, ADVANCEMENT SPEED, AND OVERALL STROKE OF CUTTING MEMBER OF THE DEVICE BASED ON SENSED PARAME1ER OF FIRING OR CLAMPING, filed Sep. 10, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,184, tided POWERED SURGICAL TOOL WITH A PREDEFINED ADJUSTABLE CONTROL ALGORITHM FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE END EFFECTOR PARAMETER AND A MEANS FOR LIMITING THE ADJUSTMENT, filed Sep. 10, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,182, tided SENSING THE PATIENT POSITION AND CONTACT UTILIZING THE MONO-POLAR RETURN PAD ELECTRODE TO PROVIDE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS TO THE HUB, filed Sep. 10, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,191, titled SURGICAL NETWORK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM REAL TIME ANALYSIS OF PROCEDURE VARIABLES AGAINST A BASELINE HIGHLIGHTING DIFFERENCES FROM THE OPTIMAL SOLUTION, filed Sep. 10, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,195, tided ULTRASONIC ENERGY DEVICE WHICH VARIES PRESSURE APPLIED BY CLAMP ARM TO PROVIDE THRESHOLD CONTROL PRESSURE AT A CUT PROGRESSION LOCATION, filed Sep. 10, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/729,186, tided WIRELESS PAIRING OF A SURGICAL DEVICE WITH ANOTHER DEVICE WITHIN A STERILE SURGICAL FIELD BASED ON THE USAGE AND SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF DEVICES, filed Sep. 10, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/721,995, titled CONTROLLING AN ULTRASONIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ACCORDING TO TISSUE LOCATION, filed Aug. 23, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/721,998, titled SITUATIONAL AWARENESS OF ELECTROSURGICAL SYSTEMS, filed Aug. 23, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/721,999, tided INTERRUPTION OF ENERGY DUE TO INADVERTENT CAPACITIVE COUPLING, filed Aug. 23, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/721,994, tided BIPOLAR COMBINATION DEVICE THAT AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTS PRESSURE BASED ON ENERGY MODALITY, filed Aug. 23, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/721,996, tided RADIO FREQUENCY ENERGY DEVICE FOR DELIVERING COMBINED ELECTRICAL SIGNALS, filed Aug. 23, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/692,747, tided SMART ACTIVATION OF AN ENERGY DEVICE BY ANOTHER DEVICE, filed on Jun. 30, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/692,748, titled SMART ENERGY ARCHITECTURE, filed on Jun. 30, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/692,768, tided SMART ENERGY DEVICES, filed on Jun. 30, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/691,228, titled METHOD OF USING REINFORCED FLEX CIRCUITS WITH MULTIPLE SENSORS WITH ELECTROSURGICAL DEVICES, filed Jun. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/691,227, titled CONTROLLING A SURGICAL INSTRUMENT ACCORDING TO SENSED CLOSURE PARAMETERS, filed Jun. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/691,230, titled SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HAVING A FLEXIBLE ELECTRODE, filed Jun. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/691,219, titled SURGICAL EVACUATION SENSING AND MOTOR CONTROL, filed Jun. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/691,257, titled COMMUNICATION OF SMOKE EVACUATION SYSTEM PARAMETERS TO HUB OR CLOUD IN SMOKE EVACUATION MODULE FOR IN IERACTIVE SURGICAL PLATFORM, filed Jun. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/691,262, titled SURGICAL EVACUATION SYSTEM WITH A COMMUNICATION CIRCUIT FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN A FILTER AND A SMOKE EVACUATION DEVICE, filed Jun. 28, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/691,251, titled DUAL IN-SERIES LARGE AND SMALL DROPLET FILTERS, filed Jun. 28, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/665,129, titled SURGICAL SUTURING SYSTEMS, filed May 1, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/665,139, titled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING CONTROL SYSTEMS, filed May 1, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/665,177, titled SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS COMPRISING HANDLE ARRANGEMENTS, filed May 1, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/665,128, titled MODULAR SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, filed May 1, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/665,192, titled SURGICAL DISSECTORS, filed May 1, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/665,134, titled SURGICAL CLIP APPLIER, filed May 1, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/659,900, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, filed on Apr. 19, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/650,898, filed on Mar. 30, 2018, titled CAPACITIVE COUPLED RETURN PATH PAD WITH SEPARABLE ARRAY ELEMENTS, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/650,887, titled SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH OPTIMIZED SENSING CAPABILITIES, filed Mar. 30, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/650,882, titled SMOKE EVACUATION MODULE FOR IN IERACTIVE SURGICAL PLATFORM, filed Mar. 30, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/650,877, titled SURGICAL SMOKE EVACUATION SENSING AND CONTROLS, filed Mar. 30, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,302, titled INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS WITH ENCRYPTED COMMUNICATION CAPABILITIES, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,294, titled DATA STRIPPING METHOD TO IN IERROGATE PATIENT RECORDS AND CREATE ANONYMIZED RECORD, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,300, titled SURGICAL HUB SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,309, titled SURGICAL HUB SPATIAL AWARENESS TO DETERMINE DEVICES IN OPERATING THEATER, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,310, titled COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED INTERACTIVE SURGICAL SYSTEMS, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,291, titled USE OF LASER LIGHT AND RED-GREEN-BLUE COLORATION TO DETERMINE PROPERTIES OF BACK SCATTERED LIGHT, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,296, titled ADAPTIVE CONTROL PROGRAM UPDATES FOR SURGICAL DEVICES, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,333, titled CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR CUSTOMIZATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO A USER, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,327, titled CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS FOR SECURITY AND AUTHENTICATION TRENDS AND REACTIVE MEASURES, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,315, titled DATA HANDLING AND PRIORITIZATION IN A CLOUD ANALYTICS NETWORK, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,313, titled CLOUD INTERFACE FOR COUPLED SURGICAL DEVICES, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,320, titled DRIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS, filed Mar. 28, 2018, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,307, titled AUTOMATIC TOOL ADJUSTMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS, filed Mar. 28, 2018, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/649,323, titled SENSING ARRANGEMENTS FOR ROBOT-ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORMS, filed Mar. 28, 2018, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

This application is a continuation application claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 120 to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/209,416, titled METHOD OF HUB COMMUNICATION, PROCESSING, DISPLAY, AND CLOUD ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 4, 2018, now U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0206562, which also claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/611,341, titled INTERACTIVE SURGICAL PLATFORM, filed Dec. 28, 2017, to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/611,340, titled CLOUD-BASED MEDICAL ANALYTICS, filed Dec. 28, 2017, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/611,339, titled ROBOT ASSISTED SURGICAL PLATFORM, filed Dec. 28, 2017, the disclosure of each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Ron