[kazinator]

But exclude n=1 from the patent just reduces the scope of the claims. The n=1 case turned out to be infringing on something, right?

If a patent has some parameter space, and some values of that space infringe on something, where others do not appear to, then it makes sense to exclude those values.

> They chose that word, but it seems that they don't like the implications of that word.

But, out of context, the word has implications of denoting 0, -1, -2, ... those were present and clear when they initially chose the word.

Anyway, how about that C language, redefining integers to be between INT_MIN and INT_MAX! And what to make of these "unsigned integers". That's a total oxymoron; I mean the C constant 5U is positive. Positive is a sign. So, not unsigned! :)