14765107 - (D) (P.T.A.B. May. 8, 2019)

Ex Parte Ni et al

Patent Trials and Appeals BoardMay 8, 2019

14765107 - (D) (P.T.A.B. May. 8, 2019)

UNITED STA TES p A TENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE APPLICATION NO. FILING DATE FIRST NAMED INVENTOR 14/765,107 07/31/2015 Zhaozhong Ni 56436 7590 05/10/2019 Hewlett Packard Enterprise 3404 E. Harmony Road Mail Stop 79 Fort Collins, CO 80528 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450 www .uspto.gov ATTORNEY DOCKET NO. CONFIRMATION NO. 84224855 6978 EXAMINER RUSSELL, ANDREW D ART UNIT PAPER NUMBER 2136 NOTIFICATION DATE DELIVERY MODE 05/10/2019 ELECTRONIC Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding. The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication. Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the following e-mail address(es): hpe.ip.mail@hpe.com chris.mania@hpe.com PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07) UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD Ex parte ZHAOZHONG NI, SIAMAK NAZARI, DOUG CAMERON, and MING MA Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 Technology Center 2100 Before JOHN A. EV ANS, JAMES W. DEJMEK, and JASON M. REPKO, Administrative Patent Judges. Opinion for the Board filed by Administrative Patent Judge, JASON M. REPKO. Opinion dissenting filed by Administrative Patent Judge, JAMES W. DEJMEK. REPKO, Administrative Patent Judge. DECISION ON APPEAL Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 STATEMENT OF THE CASE Appellants1 appeal under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 134(a) from the Examiner's rejection of claims 1-20. App. Br. 1.2 We have jurisdiction under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 6(b). We reverse. THE INVENTION Appellants' invention manages a storage system's performance. Spec. ,-J 7. The invention uses configurable rules associated with storage devices. Id. ,-i 11-12. The rules may specify how many input/output ("IO") transactions that a processor may execute over time on a set of storage units. Id. ,-i 12. The rules may also specify how many bits that a processor may process over time. Id. For example, one rule may allow some servers to handle a relatively heavy workload, and another may specify a lower IO and bit rate for other servers. Id. ,-i 20. If multiple servers are associated with the rule, the increased bit rate in the rule will also affect the other associated servers. Id. This behavior, though, may be undesirable when the adjustments cause a performance- policy violation. Id. To avoid this violation, the invention's mapping 1 According to Appellants, the real party in interest is Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (HPED), "a limited partnership established under the laws of the State of Texas and having a principal place of business at 11445 Compaq Center Dr. W, Houston, TX 77070, U.S.A," which is a wholly owned affiliate of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and the general or managing partner of HPED is Enterprise DC Holdings LLC. App. Br. 1. 2 Throughout this opinion, we refer to the Final Office Action ("Final Act.") mailed March 17, 2017; the Appeal Brief ("App. Br.") filed September 13, 2017; the Examiner's Answer ("Ans.") mailed February 23, 2018; and the Reply Brief ("Reply Br.") filed April 23, 2018. 2 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 module may create new associations between rules and servers. Id. ,i 20. For example, one rule may allow a server to handle a relatively heavy workload, and another may specify a lower IO and bit rate so that the performance policy is not violated. Id. Claims 1, 6, and 11 are independent. Claim 1 is reproduced below with our emphasis: 1. A system comprising: a plurality of storage units; a plurality of different configurable rules, each respective configurable rule of the plurality of different configurable rules specifying a number of input and output transactions that at least one processor may execute per time unit on a respective subset of the plurality of storage units, and a number of bits that at least one processor may process per time unit on the respective subset; and a non-transitory storage medium storing mapping instructions executable on a processor to alter associations between the plurality of different configurable rules and the plurality of storage units in response to a change in a status of a first subset of the plurality of storage units, while maintaining adherence to a predetermined performance policy, wherein the first subset of the plurality of storage units is associated with a first configurable rule of the plurality of different configurable rules prior to the change, and the altering of the associations comprises establishing a new association that associates a storage unit in the first subset of the plurality of storage units with a second configurable rule of the plurality of different configurable rules in response to the change, the second configurable rule different from the first configurable rule. 3 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 THE EVIDENCE The Examiner relies on the following as evidence: Lazar US 8,621,178 Bl Dec. 31, 2013 THE REJECTION Claims 1-20 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 102(a)(2) as anticipated by Lazar. Ans. 4-8. CLAIMS 1-5 AND 16-19 The Examiner's Findings The Examiner finds that Lazar discloses every limitation of claim 1. Final Act. 4-6. In particular, the Examiner finds that Lazar discloses the recited mapping instructions "to alter associations between the plurality of different configurable rules and the plurality of storage units in response to a change in a status of a first subset of the plurality of storage units." Id. at 5. In the Examiner's view, Lazar's partition administrator modifies a partition's policy as needed by changing the partition's quality-of-service (QOS) level to reference a new policy in a new QOS template. Id. ( citing Lazar Fig. 17, step 1110). Appellants' Contentions Appellants argue that Lazar does not alter associations between the rules and storage units, as recited in claim 1. App. Br. 7; Reply Br. 5-6. Appellants argue that Lazar's administrator merely changes the access- control policy. Reply Br. 5. According to Appellants, Lazar does not reassign a storage unit to, or otherwise alter its association with, rules. Id. 4 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 Issue UnderÂ§ 102, has the Examiner shown that Lazar discloses mapping instructions to alter associations between the rules and the storage units to establish a new association with a second rule different from the first? Analysis In claim 1, the configurable rules are associated with storage units. The claim further recites that the associations are altered. This alteration "comprises establishing a new association that associates a storage unit in the first subset of the plurality of storage units with a second configurable rule of the plurality of different configurable rules" ( emphasis added). The issue in this case turns on the meaning of the recited association. During examination, the PTO must give claims their broadest reasonable interpretation. In re Am. Acad. of Sci. Tech Ctr., 367 F.3d 1359, 1364 (Fed. Cir. 2004). "It is an interpretation that corresponds with what and how the inventor describes his invention in the specification, i.e., an interpretation that is 'consistent with the specification."' In re Smith Int 'l, Inc., 871 F.3d 1375, 1383 (Fed. Cir. 2017). The Specification here provides an example of how the recited associations between rules and storage units may be altered by a new association. Spec. ,i,i 11-12. In particular, configurable rules may specify how many input/output ("IO") transactions a processor may execute over time on a set of storage units. Id. ,i 12. Mapping module 304 alters 5 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 associations between rules and storage units. Id. ,i 20. Figures 3 and 4, reproduced below, graphically illustrate how the associations are altered . ..,.. _ _....,.,.,.-y,,. .. ..,. .- : .............. -........_..,,. "- ...... ~-.,.,~ â€¢â€¢ ,,.........,.,...,,.._.,.u-..,,-.__..,. c- ~,--.,-+â€¢"" 3()2 fiG. 3 FIG~ 4 Figures 3 and 4 show rules database 302, mapping module 304, and storage units (i.e., volume servers 306, 308, and 310). Id. ,i 15. In Figure 3, mapping module 304 associates rules 305 with storage units 308 and 310. Id. ,i 18. Notably, Figure 4 shows "new associations between rules in rules 6 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 database 302 and volume servers 306, 308, and 310." Id. ,i 20 (emphasis added). In particular, mapping module 304 creates a new association between rule 303 and unit 308 and a new association between rule 309 and unit 310. Id. Rule 305 remains in the database, but the rule is no longer associated with units 308 and 310. Compare Fig.3, with Fig. 4. In sum, Figures 3 and 4 show how mapping module 304 creates a new link or connection between the rules and the storage units. See Spec. ,i 20. Although this example is non-limiting, the Specification nevertheless informs our understanding of the claim. In particular, the Specification consistently refers to and depicts an "association" as some link or connection. See id. ,i,i 18-20; see also Figs. 3-4 (illustrating links and connections). In this way, Appellants' use of the term is consistent with its ordinary meaning. See, e.g., Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 70 (10th ed. 1996) (defining "associate" as "to join or connect together"); The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 135 (2nd College ed. 1982) (defining "associate" as "To connect or join together; combine; link."). So under the broadest reasonable interpretation, the recited "association" means a link or connection in this case. The recited associations link two different rules to a storage unit at different times. Claim 1 recites that the first configurable rule is associated with the storage unit "prior to the change" in a storage unit's status. Claim 1 further recites that the second configurable rule is (1) "different from the first configurable rule" and (2) established in a new association "in response to the change." As to this feature, the Examiner finds that Lazar alters associations between two rules and the storage units. Final Act. 5. We, however, agree with Appellants (see Reply Br. 5) that the Examiner has only 7 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 shown that Lazar's administrator changes the access-control policy (i.e., rules), not the associations that link or connect the rules to the units. Specifically, Lazar discloses a performance policy for a virtual partition. Lazar 17: 17-21. Lazar determines the policy using a partition's quality-of-service (QOS) level. Id. The QOS level has an associated QOS template. Id. at 17:30-32. The template specifies a combination of policy limits or thresholds for resource consumption. Id. For example, the template may specify the size and rate of the incoming IO. Id. at 17:39-48. Lazar's partition administrator modifies a partition's policy. Id. at 21 :41-46. But the Examiner has not adequately supported the finding that "any changes to the QOS template would be reflected in the partition, because the QOS level references the values in the QOS template." Ans. 5. In the Examiner's view, Lazar's QOS level is a partition attribute, and thus, Lazar uses the QOS template's values. Id. at 4 (citing Lazar 17:28, 17:53). The Examiner's findings relate to Lazar's step 1110. Id. at 5. Yet step 1110 does not mention the QOS level or template values. See Lazar 21 :41-46, Fig. 17. Instead, Lazar explains that "virtual partition administrators may create, modify and/or delete objects included in and in accordance with the access control policy." Id. at 21 :41-44 ( emphasis added). Here, "objects" represent data-storage resources, not links and connections-i.e., associations. Id. at 21 :27-28. The administrator may also "modify other virtual partition policies as needed." Id. at 21 :44-46 ( emphasis added). To be sure, the QOS template may provide default values for a performance policy. Id. at 17:48-54. Lazar, though, does not disclose that these policy modifications establish new associations-i.e., some links or connections. App. Br. 7; Reply Br. 5- 8 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 6. Nor has the Examiner shown that any other new rules are associated in the way that is recited in the claim. See Final Act. 4-6. In sum, merely showing that Lazar's rules are altered is insufficient to establish that claim 1 is anticipated by Lazar. Claim 1 recites "rules" and "associations," and it is the associations that are altered. "A claim construction that gives meaning to all the terms of the claim is preferred over one that does not do so." Merck & Co. v. Teva Pharms. USA, Inc., 395 F.3d 1364, 1372 (Fed. Cir. 2005); see also In re Power Integrations, Inc., 884 F.3d 1370, 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2018) (explaining that a problem with the "claim construction is that it renders claim language meaningless."). The Examiner here interprets the language "alter associations between the plurality of different configurable rules and the plurality of storage units" as covering alterations of Lazar's rules. Under this interpretation, the term "association" is rendered meaningless. 3 Thus, we do not sustain the rejection of independent claim 1. For similar reasons, we also do not sustain the rejection of claims 2-5 and 16- 19, which depend from claim 1. CLAIMS 6-15 AND 20 Like the mapping instructions recited in claim 1, independent claim 6 recites, in part, "adjust an association for the first subset by associating the first subset with a second rule of the plurality of different rules," and independent claim 11 recites, in part, "adjusting, by the system, an 3 We also disagree with the Dissent's interpretation for this same reason. See Dissent 7-8 ( equating "adjusting performance policy values" to altering associations). 9 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 association of performance rules by associating the first subset with a second performance rule of a plurality of different performance rules to execute the operation without causing a violation of a performance policy." The Examiner rejects independent claims 6 and 11 for the same reasons discussed above in connection with claim 1. Final Act. 4-6; see also Ans. 5. Appellants argue that the rejections of claims 6 and 11 should be reversed for the same reasons as the rejection of claim 1. App. Br. 10-12. We agree. Because claims 6 and 11 recite similar limitations to claim 1, the reasoning above applies here. Thus, we do not sustain the rejection of independent claims 6 and 11. For similar reasons, we also do not sustain the rejection of claims 7-10, 12- 15, and 20, which depend from claims 6 or 11. DECISION We reverse the Examiner's decision to reject claims 1-20. REVERSED 10 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE BEFORE THE PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD Ex parte ZHAOZHONG NI, SIAMAK NAZARI, DOUG CAMERON, and MING MA Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 Technology Center 2100 Before JOHN A. EV ANS, JAMES W. DEJMEK, and JASON M. REPKO, Administrative Patent Judges. DEJMEK, Administrative Patent Judge. DISSENTING OPINION I respectfully dissent from the Majority's decision reversing the Examiner's decision rejecting claims 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. Â§ 102(a)(2). Appellants' disclosed and claimed invention generally relates to managing the performance of a storage system. Spec. ,-J 7. Appellants describe that a storage system may comprise a variety of storage units and may further be distributed throughout a network. Spec. ,-J 1. Different storage units may have different performance capabilities or may experience heavier workloads than others. Spec. ,-J,-J 1, 6. In order to manage the performance of a storage system, Appellants describe "associat[ing]" a subset of a plurality of storage units with "a rule that specifies a number of Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 input and output transactions that may be executed by the subset per given unit of time and a number of bits that may be processed per given unit of time." Spec. ,i 7. The association of such a rule with a particular subset of storage units may be adjusted in accordance with a performance policy and/or changes to the subset of storage units. Spec. ,i 7. Additionally, according to the Specification, different storage units may be configured differently (i.e., with higher input/output and bit rate limits) based on the capabilities of the storage units and the needs of the system. Spec. ,i 7. Further, the Specification describes that, in a disclosed embodiment, a system may comprise a rules database, a mapping module, and a plurality of storage units. Spec. ,i 11, Figs. 1, 3. When construing claim terminology during prosecution before the Office, claims are to be given their broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the Specification, reading claim language in light of the Specification as it would be interpreted by one of ordinary skill in the art. In re Am. Acad. of Sci. Tech Ctr., 367 F.3d 1359, 1364 (Fed. Cir. 2004). However, limitations are not to be read into the claims from the Specification. In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 1184 (Fed. Cir. 1993). To the extent the Majority interprets the claimed "'association' means a link or connection," I disagree. See Maj. Op. 7. As an initial matter, contrary to the embodiments illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, I do not find that the claims recite a mapping module that links or connects configurable rules to certain storage units. See Giles Sutherland Rich, Extent of Protection and Interpretation of Claims-American Perspectives, 21 Int'l Rev. Indus. Prop. & Copyright L. 497,499 (1990) ("The U.S. is strictly an examination country and the main purpose of the 2 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 examination, to which every application is subjected, is to try to make sure that what each claim defines is patentable. To coin a phrase, the name of the game is the claim."). Further, in describing the claimed plurality of different configurable rules, claim 1 recites, in relevant part, "each respective configurable rule of the plurality of different configurable rules specif[ies] a number of input and output transactions that at least one processor may execute per time unit ... and a number of bits that at least one processor may process per time unit .. . . " Further, claim 1 requires that in response to a change in status of a first subset of the plurality of storage units the association of the first subset of the plurality of storage units with a first configurable rule is altered such that the first subset of the plurality of storage units is associated with a second (i.e., different) configurable rule. In other words, claim 1 requires that in response to a change in status of a subset of storage units, the rule being applied to the subset of storage units is changed to a different rule, wherein each rule is configurable and specifies (i) a number of IO transactions that the processor may execute per given time unit, and (ii) the number of bits that the processor may process per given time unit. Somewhat similarly, the method of independent claim 11 recites that, in response to determining an operation is prevented by a performance rule, a second performance rule is associated with a first subset of storage units.4 4 In the event of further prosecution, I leave it to the Examiner to determine whether, under the broadest reasonable interpretation claim 11, the adjustment of an association of performance rules "in response to determining that the first performance rule prevents the first subset from carrying out the operation" is a conditional limitation. See Ex parte 3 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 Claim 11 indicates that by "associating" a second performance rule with the first subset of storage units, the storage units are able to carry out the previously prevented operation. Thus, when a second performance rule is applied to the first subset of storage units, the operation of the storage units is in accord with the new performance rule. Accordingly, I would conclude that an association of a rule with a subset of storage units is merely an application of the rule to the subset of storage units. Therefore, altering an association of a rule with a subset of storage units is simply applying a different rule to the operation of the subset of storage units. This construction (i) is consistent with the Specification and claim language; (ii) does not improperly import limitations from the Specification into the claim; (iii) and does not render the term "association" meaningless. Lazar generally relates to data storage system management. Lazar, col. 1, 11. 8-9. Lazar discloses the data storage system is divided into a plurality of virtual partitions and that each virtual partition is assigned a policy set. Lazar, col. 1, 11. 44-53. Lazar further discloses the policy set may include an access control policy, performance policy, allocation policy, and other policies. Lazar, col. 20, 1. 65- col. 21, 1. 7, Fig. 16. The performance policy may be assigned a predetermined quality of service level such that specified thresholds or performance limits are "determined in accordance with the predetermined quality of service level." Lazar, col. 2, 11. 60-65. Schulhauser, No. 2013-007847, 2016 WL 6277792, at *3-6 (PTAB April 28, 2016) ( concluding the broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim encompassed situations in which conditional method steps "need not be reached") (precedential). 4 Appeal 2018-005195 Application 14/7 65,107 Figure 16 of Lazar is illustrative and is reproduced below: .. ~Â·.,. I "'""" l OJ O, \\ """"""""""' ,/ ... ,// -Â·Â·Â·Â·Â·p"'1""''.l .. l002Â·Â·Â· J Pat!.itkm 2 l 004 I \, ll, ' \ - ........... â€¢â€¢â€¢<ocia.k:VE~~n:Itâ€¢â€¢Â·Â· Webster alort~is nb guafttnt~toof eXc~llenI Ifis used by a number of publishers and may serve mainly to mislead an unwary buyer. .Mfriam,H'ei,steqMis tlie.nameyo\lslwuld)ook fotw11en.yo~ consider rte purchase ot cticti9nar~es o:r othtlf Â· fine rt'Jere~ce bqo~s. it carries the reimtation oJ a comgany)hathas been pubhshi9$ sinceJ 83 Land is your assurance of quality and authority. Â· Â· Â· Â· Â·â€¢ Â·. Â·:Â·:. .;. Library of â€¢. (.!~,ta1og1n1i:1n Publkatiqn Data Main et1try under title: Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. - 10th ed. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 0-87779, 708-0 fonindei;.ed : alk. paper). --Â· ISBN 0.87779-709-9 (indei;.ed : alk. paper). -- ISBN 0-87779-710-2 (delui;.e: alk. paper). - ISBN 0-87779-707-2 Oaminated caver). 1. English language-Dictionaries. L Merriam-Webster, Inc. Pp628Jvi.36 \996 423-c-dt20 . . 95,36076 . CIP Merriam-Webster's CollegiateÂ® Dictionary, Tenth Edition principal copyright 1993 COLLEGIATE is a registered trademark of Merriam-Webster, Incorporated All rights reserved. No part of this book covered by the copyrights hereon may be reproduced or copied in any' form or by any means-graphic, electronic, or mechani- cal, including photocopying, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems- without written permission of the pul:>lisher. 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Â·~.s. a Âµart~ net, friend; or cotnpaniou 2 obs: to keep compauy with_:_ AUBND 3 : to join or coruiect together : : COMmNE 4 : to bril\g lOge~het <>r. into relationship in anyÂ·ot:vatjo~i{intat:igiblt.::,~ys .{as i~ meit;t.(?1y,or,'l/riagi- nation}Â·Â·~Â·vi l! t.<:/come or bei toge(h.erÂ·as partpers~ i:rienQ$,:.orÂ·com- paÂ·n~ollt( Â· ~ .~ to com~ineÂ· O~ joh?: "".ith:~t~er parts : Â· ~ITE. : Â·~ Â·s~)OIN 23!Sâ€¢$o,ciat~ ,,,_ ~o;~he-a,; -~e-, -,at, Â·-sli<,t\ adj < J4c) Â·. _ 1 Â· r closely co~- Â·nected (as m funct10n or office> with another â€¢ 2.: closely _related esp, m the mind â€¢ 3 , Â· hai;mg secondary or sul'>o_rdinate status <- meinbetshlp in a society> Â· â€¢Â· Â· â€¢Â·. Â· : Â· â€¢ Â· â€¢ â€¢ Â· â€¢ â€¢ â€¢ Â· >as,so,ciete \same :ils. '\ Â» (1533} 1: one associated with .another: as 2 : PARTNER: cotLEAGiiil b: COMPANION. COMRADE 2 Â· a : an entryâ€¢ JevelÂ·memberÂ·(asÂ·Â·of ::::'!' learned society," pr.ofesSionalÂ·Â·Orgru~.ization,. 9r profession) b : EMPtoYEE. WORKER _3 o]ten ci(p :: a degree confer,ed esp. l:>y ajunior colle$e (~ in arts)'-- iss,so0 ,:,illteâ€¢sidp \-,ship\ ,i aÂ§Sociate J>rofes:Sor n â€¢ (1822) , a member of a. college or university faculty Â·Â·whQÂ· r2~ksÂ· abc:fve an ~SSistant prof~ssor and .heio'Y Â·a pfoi'~ssOr - associate profestsoiship Â·n â€¢. .Â·Â· Â· Â·. Â·.Â· . Â·. . . . Â·11s,~f being as~i:>dated :Â· COMB!NA1'!0N, RELATIONSl!IP 2 : an organization il football n ( ! 373) : soccER â€¢ 811>â€¢:i!Oâ€¢Ciâ€¢llstiJ:m>i$m \;,-,so-se-'a-sh~c,ni-fam., Â· -,socsM, \ ff (\ 875) : a reductionist schiiol of psychology that bolds _that the cci.otent ofcoi)- scio~3:ness c~ .be _e?"-,plainedÂ·. by theÂ· assodatk,it a:nd. rea~$oCiation Â· of irreducible sensoryÂ· andâ€¢ perceptual Â· elements â€¢ ~ Â· as-so,ciâ€¢!!â€¢tlon,fat \-'a-shfaâ€¢)nist\ M .c..;crui,so;dâ€¢aâ€¢tlonâ€¢is-tk\0;a-sh"''nis-tik\ 11dJ .. â€¢â€¢â€¢ : .. â€¢ asâ€¢S<1â€¢cia.tive \<1-'so'Â·she-,llAiv, -se-; -~h:>-Â·tiv\ iiilj (\Sl4) 1, o! oqelar- ing to associ<>tfon esp. â€¢ of ideas or images 2 : J!ependeijt on Â·or iic- qajred bY ai.Sociatinn Â·Of lea(ningÂ·. 3 !: Â·of; having~ or-bcirig the property of prOdtid~g theÂ· same ref}ult Â·i:10 matterÂ· w:)).i.ch p3ir Qf eie:mentsÂ· flext>to each OtherÂ· Â·fo Â·a >niathefiiatiCaI expressionÂ·Â· is. Used Â·t1i: pefforin a given. operation first i( the elements in th_e expression are listed in a fixed order '-'-' :&i.,soR Â·3 (}.rÂ· chaic: EXPlA1'E~ ;;w0 s<1i1Â°ment \.,mgut\n, archaic ant\ aaj o,. >1 :::::-,-,.~S~Â·iso ... naut'.'2l \)a--~-~nan~.t,\. adj. Â· . Â· :.: : :-.Â·.. .Â· . Â·Â·: . : .Â· .Â· .Â· Â·: 8Sz0op ~ c;orzj (14c} g. immeillateiy at or. sho.rtly :af~er ti)e t~~e:th8t.-: ... :~ asâ€¢50rt \:>,'sort\ vb [lYlF.asso,-t{r, k a- (fr.Lad.-)+ sorte sort)vt (l.5c)â€¢. : l ; fo .di~tritute. into groups of _a like ki_nd : <;I.ASS!FY . ;i ; . to. snwly â€¢â€¢â€¢ with an assortment (as of goods) ..., vi l ; . to agree -in kind ; HAR&io,/ NfZ~. 2.; .Â·t:oÂ·keep.com.P~QY :. ~\5iSOCl-AT;::.--as,,s~iÂ·.t .. er n. : . Â·:..Â· .. > .... :; ag .. sor:~:t.~ot!Vie .\a-as6r~~.~.-:~iv\ ad}. (H>97}.: .l?.eing. nonra~dom.matipg:: ix,sed 01, like.o>' unlike characteristici; ,- Gt$â€¢Sor,fa,tiveâ€¢lY \,le\ adv. :. :::. as 0 sorj,ed \.'si>r0 ti>d\ adj (cit, 1797) l : suited esp. by na.ture o;: char-â€¢ acte., â€¢ .2 : c011sisting of various kinds ( "".- choco{ !,\(.es) .: â€¢Â·.â€¢Â·Â· . . . . . . . .Â· . .Â· . .. . . â€¢. . .Â·â€¢â€¢ â€¢â€¢ :.: 8Sâ€¢$Ott,moTl!IN: PU1'0N; DON .. 3: }-te\ n -~ as,;s11m,11bfo .\-'~u-m;,-b~l\ adJ,-c-c~~\, sum,at,ly \,ble\ adv . Â· Â· .. . . Â· . . Â· â€¢. Â·â€¢ : â€¢â€¢â€¢â€¢ .:::::,:::;:, â€¢â€¢â€¢ syn ASSUME. AFFECT. PRETEND. SIMULATE, FE!GN, COUNTBRF.EJT, &!#;ii// m:ea.n .to .put. on a fa.l.se qr d~,e.eptiv~ appearance,: f..SSf..111,.~ 9f~n: fm.1:iJ:fii;:i{: justifiable inotlve rathei: tha..., an intent to dec.retende_d.Lt~t M/1:ii{ m,i had happened). SIMULATE suggests a cl<)se 1mttat1on .oHhe Â«W~ai:iâ€¢:â€¢ ance of something et oflaying claim to or taking something {the ~ of p9wer). )':a~::. . as . ii i. Pl.WOE, GUARANTEE Â· I, : _the ict of conveying r~l pr ..... . : the 11siTurnent &y which it.is conveyed .. c chiefly Erin l : the state of being assured, as a : BEDURITY I,: a being mind (the puritan's - of salvation) < : confidence of mind or.,~ : easy freedom from self-doul)t or uncertainty; also : ex<:esswe ~ confideri<:e : BRASHNESS, PRESUMl'T!ON. 3 : something .. th~t i1~:ii~ tends to tnspire con.udence dwillf:}~ CONFllJE'NCE .. Â· . ii:.Ci/â€¢â€¢â€¢:Â·\ ~~~~~x:-e. ,~-~shUr\.vt. ~ .. ;;::u.re:d; asâ€¢.Â§U~.;-ing ffy'IE, fr. ~I-f::9~~Â·:::::Â·Â·Â· c,ssecurGre, fr. L.ad- + ,ecurnssecure] (J4c) l: Jo make.sl!#: .rls!<.s .or against overthrow) .: INSURE 2 :. to give. confi4~M~ he.reby we know that we .are of the truth, and shall ,..._, 0: }:J9 (AV)). ::i.: W ma].e sur.e or c~rtâ€¢in: _CONVINCE ;,, himself uo oiie was folli:>v.iing> A : ro infonn p that we will do. better next time> S .: to make cert .. attainment of : ouAR.ANTEB (worked hard tq "" accura~i E,NSURE Â·. . .... â€¢ Â·.. ..Â·. Â·Â·Â· â€¢Â·â€¢Â·â€¢Â·â€¢Â·â€¢Â·â€¢Â·â€¢<Â·>â€¢Â·â€¢Â·â€¢Â·â€¢Â·Â· Y"~rt~iiiW~f rity :. 0UARAN1'EB0 t?~~!it-â€¢. assurg~ns; prÂµ_{~:W- to. tise,. fr. ad- + surgere to. _rise ,-~ more at 5UROE] q ~r~tt.-. : .upward; RISING; f!.$PÂ·!: ASCENP~NT ll.? Â·. .Â· : Â·,: . .::;:::::::::::::::::::::::~ .A,;,â€¢srt,i0en \n\ "(15c) 1 : a ""tive or iilhal?llMti;if:: .. A$SYsJ;; ;i i the dialect of Akkadian spoken h{ih~ Aill>:ii.f:!~~~ â€¢.. 1r~::i~lo0 gy \~,,si.r~e-'a-l~-je\ n (.! 8:18) : â€¢ the sci~ri :;:\ hls.tO:I.':Y(:.JangÂµ~~;. a-.qd f1ntiquitjes of anci~n:t A.ssyri?)~ .Af:srr,,,,:,.1og,1-ca1. hsir-e'.o-'lii-ji-k'"l\ qdj â€¢Â· "" ......... . -~~!t:JWÂ¥:u1~~Jtsl,;rteS:._fr .. Gk_ -astes,Â·.Â·1;, Â·~~l Ir ,, "!>tar,bo~d \;;,-'.st~r-1:>~rrl.\. adv (ca.1630).: towe,s<.l 9iii\/i}_ .â€¢.. .:. â€¢... slM. ofa shll? n (~'so'se-?_'shw, :sbe:)n.1. Thc:.a<:tof ~ssod- atirig m the state of being a_ssociatei:I, 2 ... An organized body of people who have _some interest,. activity. or puri:,Qs.e. uJ cqmm.~n; Â·soci.e~y~ ie:~Â£~~-. 3., .A Â·l!l~P.(al e;onl)..ecriot). Â· 9r. reJa'- tion be~?"'Â·.ee!, .Â· t~9u~t,s~ !~lings, Â· i~e!!S~ or .sensa~.~ris. 4. Chem. Any o( 7'~io~ pr<;1~~.5ses .pf cll~mka.1 co.r~b.in~tio:n, ~uch ~Â·.h~Â·dr~tlq~. solv~tio~, .. ~r spp:1plex-.ion forma~io~, 4e:~ pending on relatively weak che;nical bonding. 5. &al. . A large .nyn?her ~ orga~i~n1s ~1\~ SP:et?.i~ic .area with O!i~ qrÂ· two do~/:ta,n~ spe~ies.. .--~sÂ·sa'cj.:~'tlO'~:~i .. adj. associatli:m loo\baU n. Chiejly)3rit. Soccer. asÂ·~oÂ·c~Â·a~tive {~-~O'she~~1try; .. -s~:-, :-.~h~:-}lY) .'!df .. 1. Of, Â·c~~- acterized by, fesulting fron1, or c~using assodat.ion. 2. Math. Independent of the grotJ.ping of elements. lfsed of mathematical operations: lfa -t .lb+ c/ =(a+ b)+ C,the operation i.ndk<1ted f:iy. + {~ (JSSQ(:iauve .. -~sÂ·so'oha'~iveÂ·!Y adv. Â· Â· as~s~.U ~0.,~?W) }r.~. "..s~i!~; ~soU~h~Q, .,;s.oiJs~ Ar~Â·hqii:. ~. Tl? ,;bsolve or pos. away + solvere, t.o .. lo(?S~~-J as~so:~~~~ .{as'~-ll;)?JS). n. J. ~e~em.~.lance i? soun.d, i:sp~Â· ifl the vowel sounds of words. 2, A partial rhyme in which. the .a.':ce11-t~. v9~~I ~m~nt;i.~ .~orreSpo~d :h~t the C??So~.a.~~:~ .~~- .fer, as fobrove :md vain. ifr., < La;,.assona11s, pr,patt.. of ::.4S~t;111ar,e, .to .. ~~~r'o~Q..to.: ad-... to f s1.nare,.t,o.sound.) ~~f- s<>:nant adj. & n. . .. . . Â· Â·. . . Â· as,scrt (a-sori') v .. -sorN,d, ;â€¢orNng, -â€¢ons: -c:-tr, 1, To sepa- rate into grm1ps .. according. to kinds: classify. 2. 1 o . .supply with a variety of '1,0ods. -intr .. 1 .. To.fall into a class; ntatch. 2, :roassociate: COJJJS.ort, [OFr. ""ssorier : a-, i<:, (ortÂ·ed(a-si\r'tid) adj, 1;.ConsisJing of a number of dif- ferent londs; various. ;!, Placed in classes; classi(ied. 3. Sui.ted .or .matcheq.. . aS~Sort~ment (a:-s&rt'ma:nt) n. .1, The a~t ota.ssorting; Sepa. ration into ~lasses. 2 â€¢. Acollection of various things; variety. ~s~.~~~ge ( a-~~~Y). r.r. v .. -.~.ua$~i: -S:l~cisÂ·.ing, Â·-sua$"~:ii .. J . .To mak:e Je~s. but~ens9me or P.:iltnf.ul; ~:ilseÂ·: .. '.~aÂ§:rmageJhe angu{$h of your Qer.eavement'' (Unsoln): :~Â·. 1:'o. ~.~tisfy or. appe:a~1)\Â· .as thirst. 3. To pacify or <:alm .. [ME tJSSWC/gen < OFr. ,:,s.iuagier < YLa.t. *(lSSU.(ll!iar.e ;. L:~t.. ad-;, .fO/f.Â·. $UG)!js;-.swee:r:r.~~- s~ag~'m.e~t n. . .... > asâ€¢suaâ€¢s;ive (o-swa's)v. -~lviÂ·adj. Soothing. as~$:ume {3-.soom'}:fr,.v. -sw-r,ed, .Â·$(..1:mâ€¢ing; -sum~s .... L To put on; don (a garment, for example). 2, :ro take upon one- self:, .undertake, . assuming the respon:ribifi(Y. 3, To invest <;>Q.es~lf fprmally wirh:::'as.sumÂ¢ rbeÂ·presi(f~ncy. 4~.To tak.e9n;; a~opt: "The god assumes a huma11 form"Â· (Ruskin}. 5, To feign; affect, assumed an a,r of indifference. 5. To .. iake for granted: suppose. 7. Theel To take .t)p or receive; as .into heaven. [ME assumenÂ· < LaL assttrr1ere;Â· toÂ· adop-t :Â·.adâ€¢, to:+ (: ll ti