Re: “Is the suggestion that mainframe architecture and processes are prior art for microprocessors? If so, I would have to disagree, as did the examiner prior to the current Final Action.(Please note that the information supplied was from 2007, ergo, revisited).”

You may be reading too much into what the examiner had to say. What I’m suggesting is this. If (big if) a ring oscillator had been implemented on a PCB using discrete components and LSI chips before the ring oscillator was reduced in size and patented in a micro processor I doubt that the patent could withstand the “prior knowledge” review.

I hope the ring oscillator concept is not considered unique to a specific implementation. If it where it would seem impossible to enforce because minor changes to how the concept is implemented could avoid infringement.