DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
1. Claims 9-28 recites the limitation "A mobile robot comprising a control unit wherein the control unit comprises….”then later “ a second control unit” without clearly relating the second control unit to the same robot or different component" in claims 9, 14 and 20. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 9-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Brady et al (10,22,798) and further in view of THEOBALD (U.S. 2020/0216265).
2. As per claim 9, 14 and 20 Brady disclosed a modular transporting system comprising: a mobile robot comprising
a control unit, wherein the control unit comprises a microprocessor-controlled module that is operated independently and configured for receiving sensor data; a first communication component; and a power component [the AGV control system 210 includes one or more processors 1602 coupled to a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 1620 via an input/output (I/O) interface 1610. The AGV control system 210 may also include a propulsion controller 1604 (e.g., for controlling one or more motors, engines, etc.), a power controller 1606 (e.g., for controlling, monitoring and/or regulating the use and charging of the power modules) and/or a navigation system 1608. The AGV control system 210 further includes an item engagement mechanism controller 1612, a network interface 1616, and one or more input/output devices 1618] (col. 68, lines 14-31):
a motion component; a second control unit; a second communication component; a second power component [movement mechanisms 234 (e.g., for assisting with the movement of a storage compartment portion 202 for coupling/decoupling from a propulsion portion 201) may be operated as input/output devices by the AGV control system 210] (col. 70, lines 26-29);
a modular container [For example, an AGV facility may include an item engagement mechanism (e.g., a mechanical arm) that is capable of placing items in, and removing items from, a storage compartment of an AGV. As another example, an AGV access door may be provided that is specifically sized to match the outer dimensions of an AGV, and which can only be accessed through use of a code/signal that the AGV is configured to provide/transmit] (col.14, lines 45-61) according to claim 1; and
a locking component configured to lock the modular container to the mobile robot [the storage compartment 257 may include a locking mechanism 277, which may be controlled directly or remotely by the AGV control system 210. The storage compartment 257 may also include a presence detection sensor 271, a motion sensor 272, an image capture sensor 273, a temperature sensor 274 and/or other sensors] (col. 11, lines 47-58), wherein the modular container is configured to be installed into the mobile robot, and wherein the modular container is configured to exchange at least one operation transmission with the mobile robot relating to at least one of [In various implementations, the transportation vehicle 332 may be any type of mobile machine, such as a truck, car, watercraft, aircraft, etc., and control of the mobile machine may be manual (e.g., a driver) or automated (e.g., directly or remotely controlled by an automated system, robotic, etc.)] (col. 20, lines 37-40):
secure placement of the modular container into the mobile robot; and/or
contents of the modular container [the storage compartment portion 202 may be securely coupled to the propulsion portion 201 such that an access code may be required to remove the storage compartment portion 202 from the propulsion portion 201. In various implementations, the delivery location 808 may include a docking station and/or other facilities with coupling portions that allow the storage compartment portion 202 to be securely coupled,] (col. 50, lines 57-64) and/or
status of the modular container and/or
traveling area and/or region [a control system of the AGV 200 may control the propulsion portion 201 (e.g., as instructed) to navigate the AGV along a travel path to the delivery location 808, wherein the item for delivery is contained in the storage compartment portion 202 that is coupled to the propulsion portion 201.] (col. 51, lines 8-13), and
wherein the modular container comprises at least one identifying component (ID), which is further configured to be unique to each modular container, and wherein the ID comprises container data, which further comprises information about at least one type of content for which the modular container is adapted [FIG. 1, the transportation vehicle, individual storage areas (e.g., bins), AGVs and/or storage compartments may include unique identifiers, such as a bar code, QR code, unique number, etc., to enable tracking, identification and association of items placed into the storage areas and/or storage compartments. Scanning of the identifiers for the storage areas/storage compartments and the picked items may result in the items becoming associated with the storage areas/storage compartments and tracked with the transportation vehicle, AGVs and/or other autonomous vehicles. In various implementations, the associated data may be synchronized among computing systems of the transportation vehicle, the AGVs, the other autonomous vehicles, the management system, and/or other systems] (col. 54, lines 38-41),
and wherein the modular transporting system uses information in container IDs [The delivery container may also include a unique identifier, such as a bar code, QR code, unique number, etc., to enable tracking and identification of the delivery container and association of items placed into the delivery container. For example, during a picking operation, an agent within the materials handling facility may scan the bar code of the delivery container and scan a bar code or identifier of the picked item as the item is placed into the delivery container. Scanning of the delivery container and the picked item results in the item becoming associated with and tracked with the delivery container. In some implementations, for delivery containers that are segmented or otherwise include division points, those segments may each include a unique identifier (e.g., bar code) and as items are placed in the delivery container they may be associated with a specific location, or segment within the delivery container by scanning the identifier of that segment.] (col. 8, lines 16-32), to select a modular container and/or a mobile robot for a delivery [when a transportation vehicle and/or AGV has been designated for a delivery, the item(s) of one or more shipment sets may be picked at the picking operation 140 directly into storage areas (e.g., bins) of the transportation vehicle and/or storage compartments of AGVs and/or other autonomous vehicles (e.g., which may be carried by the transportation vehicle or may travel independently, etc.)] (col. 7, lines 10-18).
However, Brady did not explicitly disclose including information about at least one type of content for which a container is adapted
In the same field of endeavor THEOBALD disclosed, “The method includes receiving an indication that the user is going to retrieve one or more items from a source container on a shelf (450), identifying the one or more items based on the indication, and accessing a database that identifies a number of the items, and a destination container of the number of items (452). In one example, the database that identifies where items should flow through a warehouse can include instructions or data such as that five bars of soap need to be transferred from a source container 416 to each of a destination container 430, 434. The control center 438 will access this information. Based on this information, several tasks may occur” (Paragraph. 0119).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date was made to have incorporated the method includes receiving an indication that the user is going to retrieve one or more items from a source container on a shelf (450), identifying the one or more items based on the indication, and accessing a database that identifies a number of the items, and a destination container of the number of items (452). In one example, the database that identifies where items should flow through a warehouse can include instructions or data such as that five bars of soap need to be transferred from a source container 416 to each of a destination container 430, 434. The control center 438 will access this information. Based on this information, several tasks may occur as taught by THEOBALD in the method and system of Brady to increase accuracy of secure delivery and reduce latency.
3. As per claim 10 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed further comprising a base unit comprising a handling device, the handing device comprising at least one mechanical arm, the handling device configured to fit the modular container to the mobile robot (Brady, col. 4, lines 21-38).
4. As per claim 11 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed wherein the mechanical arm is further configured to: lift the modular container above the mobile robot; install the modular container into the mobile robot so that the locking component can be engaged; and twist the locking component through an angle of at least 60 degrees (Brady, col. 11, lines 47-58).
5. As per claim 12 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed wherein the base unit is equipped with at least one of: at least one parking space for the mobile robot; and/or at least one charging pod for at least one of the mobile robot and the modular container (Brady, col. 4, lines 4-10); and/or at least one third communication component; and/or at least one maintenance unit; and/or at least one servicing unit; and/or at least registering at least one incoming and at least one outgoing modular container ID (Brady, col. 54, lines 25-38).
6. As per claim 13 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed wherein the mobile robot is further equipped with at least one interactive component which is configured to provide a user information about at least one of a service and a product, the system further comprising a user interface configured to interact with the mobile robot so as to generate at least one augmented reality feature accessible to a user (Brady, col. 3, lines 42-48).
7. As per claim 15 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed wherein installing the modular container to the mobile robot is performed via at least one handing device comprising at least one mechanical arm (Brady, col. 4, lines 21-38), and wherein the method further comprises: rotating a locking component by an angle of at least 60 degrees; and unlocking the modular container from the mobile robot only when the mobile robot has reached at least one base unit (degrees (Brady, col. 11, lines 47-58). The obviousness motivation given to independent claims 1,20 also apply to their respective dependent claim 15.
8. As per claim 16 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed wherein the method further comprises parking the mobile robot at the base unit; charging at least one of the mobile robot and the modular container at the base unit (Brady, col. 4, lines 4-10); maintaining at least one of the mobile robot and the modular container at the base unit; servicing at least one of the mobile robot and the modular container at the base unit; installing a different modular container to the mobile robot; and identifying a modular container via at least one unique ID (Brady, col. 54, lines 25-38).
9. As per claim 17 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed further comprising the modular container sending operational information to the mobile robot, the operational information relating to at least one of: installing the modular container to the mobile robot; and/or status of the modular container; and/or traveling to an area and/or region (Brady, col. 3, lines 2-17).
10. As per claim 18 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed further comprising using at least one sensor of a modular container to perform at least one of: sensing motion; and/or sensing successful fitting of the modular container to the mobile robot; and/or sensing a temperature inside the modular container; and/or sensing an inclination of the modular container (Brady, col. 6, lines 29-38).
11. As per claim 19 Brady-THEOBALD disclosed further comprising establishing communication between at least one user terminal and at least one base unit via at least one server, the server further accessing historical data relating to mobile robot and modular container stored in the base unit (Brady, col. 62, lines 5-18).
12. As per claim 21 Brady- THEOBALD disclosed wherein the method further comprises: locking the at least one mobile robot to prevent any access in a closed position and allowing access to at least one part of the modular container in an open position; and a control unit of the modular container causing a lid of the at least one mobile robot to change from the closed position to the open position before communicating to a second control unit of the at least one mobile robot via a first and second communication components that a function of the modular container can be performed (Brady, col. 11, lines 40-46).
13. As per claim 22 Brady- THEOBALD disclosed wherein the container data further comprises information about at least one geometrical specification of the modular container (Brady, col. 7, lines 48-66).
14. As per claim 23 BRADY-THEOBALD disclosed further comprising at least one sensor, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of: a motion sensor, configured to measure at least one numerical value of acceleration; and/or a placement sensor, configured to measure data relating to installation of the a modular container to the mobile robot; and/or a temperature sensor, configured to share temperature data within at least one compartment to the control unit; and/or an inclination sensor, configured to measure the modular container's inclination, and wherein the control unit comprises a microprocessor-controlled module configured to receive sensor data (Brady, col. 6, lines 17-38).
15. As per claim 24 BRADY-THEOBALD disclosed wherein the control unit is further configured for: receiving at least one first data comprising at least one operational command from at least one sender via the first communication component; receiving second data comprising information about battery status from the power component; sending at least one second data to at least one recipient via the first communication component; and examining a status of contents of the modular container, comprising information about at least one of product levels, maintenance, and malfunctioning of any component (Brady, col. 10, lines 29-53).
16. As per claims 25, 28 BRADY-THEOBALD disclosed wherein the modular container comprises a width of 40 to 100 cm, a length of 40 to 100 cm, and a height of 20 to 80 cm (Brady, col. 19, lines 35-52).
17. As per claim 26 BRADY-THEOBALD disclosed wherein the first communication component comprises at least one of: a short-range communication component, wherein short-range comprises distances up to 100m, and wherein the modular container is configured to exchange data with the mobile robot (Brady, col. 33, lines 4-26).
18. As per claim 27 BRADY-THEOBALD disclosed wherein the first communication component additionally comprises at least one long-range communication component, wherein long-range comprises distances of more than 1 km, and wherein the first communication component is configured to transmit data (Brady, col. 33, lines 4-26).
Response to Arguments
19. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 9-28 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
20. THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
21. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communication from the
0xaminer should be directed to Adnan Mirza whose telephone number is (571)-272-3885.
22. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday during normal
business hours. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the
examiner’s supervisor, Faris Almatrahi can be reached on (313)-446-4821.
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/ADNAN M MIRZA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3667