Subject: Searching for Prior Art to Invalidate a Patent on an Electronic Diary

From: [email-masked] (R. Goldstein)
Date: Fri, 19 Feb 1993 03:38:39 GMT

I am respectfully requesting the assistance of the collective knowledge of
the net.  My problem is as follows:

A client of mine has recently been approached regarding U.S. Patent
3,999,050 issued on December 21, 1976 to Pitroda for an ELECTRONIC
DIARY.  The abstract recites, in part:

"An electronic diary having combined clock-calendar means and diary
storage means is provided wherein a random access memory is
employed in a diary mode of operation for the storage and readout
of preselected daily schedule and message events keyed for visual
display in response to equal time comparisons with real time of day
TOD as generated by clock calendar means. (...)".  The claims appear to be
equally as broad.

Since this case was filed in the early days of the "pocket electronics" 
industry, we would appreciate any help, advice, leads or information about
ANY products commercially available prior to December 21, 1976
which may have performed this function OR about any software
written to run on a mini or mainframe computer (or any other computer for that
matter, which may have been used to provide a "tickler" function to the user 
(possibly at login).

Please contact Rich Goldstein at (617) 332-0113 or
[email-masked]    Many thanks!   Rich G.

-- 
Richard D. Goldstein, Esq.	      | (617) 332-0113    - West Newton Office
Intellectual Property Counsel	      | (617) 227-5454    - Boston Office
75 Valentine Street		      | (617) 523-9339    - Boston Fax
West Newton, Massachusetts  02160     | [email-masked] - Internet