I think , from what I've read, the examiner is giving them one last shot to try and bring the 7 groups of claims together under one "inventive" category as required by the patent office rules. I think the response says 1 month for them to answer her.
If they dont succeed, they'll have to file under separate patent apps. for each grouping. Now I understand why they are trying to do it this way.......if successful they keep the original patent date of the first attempt back in '98...if not they have to start anew and then they get a new more current date which then probably puts them behind other patents who have an origination date between '98 and '08...in other words... existing prior art.
In they can get someone to wrap it all under one "umbrella" of common inventive language then we may have a significant patent app. there....if not, it was at least worth a try but useless(IMO) if made to have 7 separate filings with a current origination date.
