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 .
This action is in response to the Request for Continued Examination filed 9/16/2026. Claims 1, 3-7, 9 have been amended. Claims 2, 8 have been canceled. Claims 1, 3-7 and 9 are pending and have been considered below.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 9/16/2026 has been entered.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 and 7 include the limitations:
the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to perform: accessing the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface; receiving, by the image processing program, page data of an original web page from the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface,
wherein the accessing of the embedded web server and the receiving of the page data of the original web page are performed by the image processing program without the browser accessing the embedded web server.
The first limitation above appears to disclose that the embedded web server of the image processing device is accessed through the communication interface to receive, by the image processing program, page data of an original web page. Since the second limitation is directed to the same “the accessing of the embedded web server”, then same operation must be described, i.e. the embedded web server of the imaging processing device being accessed to receive an original web page through the communication interface. But, the second limitation above directed to “the accessing of the embedded web server” appears to be directed to a different operation and contradicts itself by claiming the embedded web server is accessed to receive the page data of the original web page by the image processing program “without the browser accessing the embedded web server”.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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) 1, 3-4, 7, 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hanson et al. (US 2006/0170943 A1) in view of Parry (US 2003/0030664 A1) and further in view of Nagaraja (US 2006/0132835 A1) and Otake et al. (US 2016/0021271 A1).
Claim 1. Hanson discloses an information processing device, comprising: a communication interface; a user interface; a memory; and a controller,
wherein the memory includes a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium containing first instructions realizing an image processing program having a function of requesting an image processing device to perform image processing, the system provides improved data-processing (P 0004) for configuring rendering devices, such as printers, scanners, multi-function devices, photocopy machines, and the like (P 0005) on a data-processing apparatus that includes a CPU (P 0020), and
second instructions realizing a browser having a function of displaying a web page on the user interface, a web page is built into the rendering device (P 0034),
wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to perform: receiving… a customization setting of the web page provided by an embedded web server of an image processing device, the web page allows an administrator to configure all, or a subset thereof, of the driver features for propagation to the computers connected to the image processing device where the driver will be installed (P 0034) by an administrator who browses to a default driver configuration page, selects, for example, the duplex printing option, selects separation pages for the start of the job, along with a setting that allows color management to be done by the device, enables the default driver configuration, and saves the changes made (P 0037) driver configuration is generally kept on the device itself and is accessible and modifiable by the system administrator via the device's web page (P 0042) Hanson discloses receiving through a webpage via a web server on an image processing device a customization setting and propagating the customization setting to information processing devices, Hanson does not disclose the webpage and webserver are accessed from the information processing device; this is added to Hanson by Parry and Nagaraja,
of an image processing device, the image processing device having the embedded web server functioning as a web server, the embedded web server being configured to provide the web page, the printer driver default configuration can be set up in the printer through the printer's embedded web server (P 0027);
storing the customization setting received in the receiving in the memory of the information processing device, driver features are propagated to computers connected to image processing device (P 0034).
Hanson does not disclose causes the information processing device to perform: receiving, through the user interface, a customization setting, as disclosed in the claims. In the same field of invention, Parry discloses customized or customizable control panels can be accessed, created and/or reconfigured through interaction of a workstation with the Web interfacing system of a printing device (P 0046) by sending via a browser on the workstation a retrieval command through a URL to the web server on the printing device (P 0047) and Nagaraja discloses a computing system includes an application (P 0022) where a user changes devmode settings and initiates a print job from a GUI (on the application side) (P 0024) and the user selects a printer to used for a selected print job (P 0027) to communicate to a printer (P 0020). That is, the combination of Parry and Nagaraja with Hanson provides a web browser on a workstation (Parry) to be used a GUI (Nagaraja) to access the web server of Hanson to send print settings and commands to an image processing device. Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine causes the information processing device to perform: receiving, through the user interface, a customization setting with the teachings of Hanson with the motivation to quickly determine the important customized information concerning computer peripherals available to their computer (Parry: P 0015) and maximum flexibility and functionality in the management of peripheral devices to greatly enhance access, control, management, and utilization of computer peripherals, including printing devices, while customizable control panel screens would allow the user or manager to organize control panel functions such that the control panel is optimized for that user or manager (Parry: P 0016).
Hanson does not disclose the embedded web server being configured to provide the web page including a setting item and a setting field for setting a value of the setting item, the web page being configured to receive the value of the setting item, the customization setting being a setting of customizing a display form of the web page, as disclosed in the claims. However, Parry discloses customizable control panels are initially displayed as either a blank control panel GUI or a default or template control panel that provides one or more preselected features that can be added to, or deleted from, control panel GUI (P 0049) and may be adjusted by the user by way of on/off selectors, "OK" buttons, and the like, or the pre-selected features may be accepted (P 0050) and customized for one or more specific users (P 0053) allowing authorized users to use or forgo the control panels provided by conventional print driver software, and to designate, delete, or adjust the printing features of their choice for incorporation into one or more customized and/or customizable control panels (P 0055) selected features are compiled in a "selected feature window" as "selected labeled feature buttons" for incorporation into a user-configured and usable version of a customized or customizable printer control panel (P 0061). Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine the embedded web server being configured to provide the web page including a setting item and a setting field for setting a value of the setting item, the web page being configured to receive the value of the setting item, the customization setting being a setting of customizing a display form of the web page with the teachings of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja with the motivation to allow a user to quickly determine the important customized information concerning computer peripherals available to their computer (Parry: P 0015) and maximum flexibility and functionality in the management of peripheral devices to greatly enhance access, control, management, and utilization of computer peripherals, including printing devices, while customizable control panel screens would allow the user or manager to organize control panel functions such that the control panel is optimized for that user or manager (Parry: P 0016).
Hanson does not disclose without the customization setting being stored in the image processing device, as disclosed in the claims. However, Nagaraja discloses print job settings are stored in a temporary file on the application side (P 0026, 0028) and the printer driver retrieves the settings in the temporary file (P 0031-0032). Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine without the customization setting being stored in the image processing device with the teachings of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja with the motivation to allow the device to allow a user to quickly determine the important customized information concerning computer peripherals available to their computer (Parry: P 0015) and maximum flexibility and functionality in the management of peripheral devices to greatly enhance access, control, management, and utilization of computer peripherals, including printing devices, while customizable control panel screens would allow the user or manager to organize control panel functions such that the control panel is optimized for that user or manager (Parry: P 0016) and to be more flexible by allowing access to expanded settings and to save memory by using settings for special device settings (Nagaraja: P 0031).
Hanson does not disclose wherein, when the information processing device receives a display instruction of the web page provided by the embedded web server of the image processing device through the user interface, while the customization setting of customizing the display form of the web page received in the receiving is stored in the memory of the information processing device, as disclosed in the claims. However, Hanson discloses an administrator can display a device’s default drive page or modify a device’s driver configuration via the rendering device’s webpage (P 0009) out of many different types of devices (P 0016). Parry discloses customized or customizable control panels can be accessed, created and/or reconfigured through interaction of a workstation with the Web interfacing system of a printing device (P 0046) by sending via a browser on the workstation a retrieval command through a URL to the web server on the printing device (P 0047) and Nagaraja discloses a computing system includes an application (P 0022) where a user changes devmode settings and initiates a print job from a GUI (on the application side) (P 0024) and the user selects a printer to use for a selected print job (P 0027) to communicate to a printer (P 0020) print job settings are stored in a temporary file on the application side (P 0026, 0028) and the printer driver retrieves the settings in the temporary file (P 0031-0032). Because the devices webpage can be used to select the default driver configuration or to modify the driver configuration, then the driver configuration page of Hanson will be displayed differently for each option. But, Hanson does not provide the option of modifying the displayed webpage itself. Combining Parry and Nagaraja with Hanson would allow the user of Hanson to customize the webpage. Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine wherein, when the information processing device receives a display instruction of the web page provided by the embedded web server of the image processing device through the user interface, while the customization setting of customizing the display form of the web page received in the receiving is stored in the memory of the information processing device with the teachings of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja with the motivation to allow a user to quickly determine the important customized information concerning computer peripherals available to their computer (Parry: P 0015) and maximum flexibility and functionality in the management of peripheral devices to greatly enhance access, control, management, and utilization of computer peripherals, including printing devices, while customizable control panel screens would allow the user or manager to organize control panel functions such that the control panel is optimized for that user or manager (Parry: P 0016) and to allow the device to be more flexible by allowing access to expanded settings and to save memory by using settings for special device settings (Nagaraja: P 0031).
Hanson does not disclose the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to perform: accessing the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface; receiving, by the image processing program, page data of an original web page from the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface, as disclosed in the claims. That is, it appears that the claim amendment now says the web server on the image processing device receives page data of an original webpage through the communication interface. However, in the same field of invention, Otake discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a processor which performs imaging of a web page provided by an external web server and provides a user with the web page, the processor is configured to: acquire contents information of the web page which is information related to the web page (P 0019) information acquired by the image forming apparatus in the intranet can be gotten and browsed by an external terminal device via Internet (P 0045) which is original data (P 0142). Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to perform: accessing the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface; receiving, by the image processing program, page data of an original web page from the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface with the teachings of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja with the motivation to provide maximum flexibility and functionality in the management of peripheral devices to greatly enhance access, control, management, and utilization of computer peripherals, including printing devices, while customizable control panel screens would allow the user or manager to organize control panel functions such that the control panel is optimized for that user or manager (Parry: P 0016) and to allow the device to be more flexible by allowing access to expanded settings (Nagaraja: P 0031).
Hanson does not disclose generating page data of a customized web page by applying the customization setting read out from the memory of the information processing device to the page data of the original web page received from the embedded web server of the image processing device such that the display form of the original web page is customized; and passing the generated page data of the customized web page from the image processing program to the browser, wherein the second instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to perform: displaying, by executing the browser, the customized web page on the user interface of the information processing device based on the page data passed from the image processing program, as disclosed in the claims. However, Parry discloses customized or customizable control panels can be accessed, created and/or reconfigured through interaction of a workstation with the Web interfacing system of a printing device (P 0046) selected features are compiled in a "selected feature window" as "selected labeled feature buttons" for incorporation into a user-configured and usable version of a customized or customizable printer control pane (P 0061) one or more customizable printer control panels are saved to a directory accessible by other workstations on local network architecture or even by users at remote workstations; a directory for storage of customized or customizable printer control panels resides in memory on printing the device, accessible by interfacing with the embedded Web server through local network or Internet links (P 0072). Parry clearly discloses that the original printer control panel may be customized and/or reconfigured and reside in memory of the printing device and are accessible via the printing device web browser through local network or Internet links. Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine generating page data of a customized web page by applying the customization setting read out from the memory of the information processing device to the page data of the original web page received from the embedded web server of the image processing device such that the display form of the original web page is customized; and passing the generated page data of the customized web page from the image processing program to the browser, wherein the second instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to perform: displaying, by executing the browser, the customized web page on the user interface of the information processing device based on the page data passed from the image processing program with the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake with the motivation to allow a user to quickly determine the important customized information concerning computer peripherals available to their computer (Parry: P 0015) and maximum flexibility and functionality in the management of peripheral devices to greatly enhance access, control, management, and utilization of computer peripherals, including printing devices, while customizable control panel screens would allow the user or manager to organize control panel functions such that the control panel is optimized for that user or manager (Parry: P 0016).
Hanson does not disclose wherein the accessing of the embedded web server and the receiving of the page data of the original web page are performed by the image processing program without the browser accessing the embedded web server, as disclosed in the claims. Parry discloses customized or customizable control panels can be accessed, created and/or reconfigured through interaction of a workstation with the Web interfacing system of a printing device (P 0046) by sending via a browser on the workstation a retrieval command through a URL to the web server on the printing device (P 0047) the selected functionalities and configuration may then be stored in a specified directory of the user's workstation, or an intermediary device for later use in accessing, controlling, and/or managing the peripheral device (P 0019) a customized or customizable printer control panel that is initially configured via interaction between an embedded Web server and a workstation or a remote workstation is stored in memory of a workstation or a remote workstation, the customized or customizable printer control panel is stored as a control panel GUI which operates independently from Web browser, the retrieval of the control panel GUI file from a specified directory, causes the subject workstation to access the previously configured customized or customizable printer control panel (P 0052) and Nagaraja discloses a computing system includes an application (P 0022) where a user changes devmode settings and initiates a print job from a GUI (on the application side) (P 0024) and the user selects a printer to used for a selected print job (P 0027) to communicate to a printer (P 0020). As noted above, the claim includes a contradiction regarding accessing the embedded web server, that is, the claim limitations directed to the embedded web server of the image processing device is accessed through the communication interface to receive, by the image processing program, page data of an original web page, and the embedded web server is accessed to receive the page data of the original web page by the image processing program “without the browser accessing the embedded web server”. Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine wherein the accessing of the embedded web server and the receiving of the page data of the original web page are performed by the image processing program without the browser accessing the embedded web server with the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake with Hanson with the motivation to quickly determine the important customized information concerning computer peripherals available to their computer (Parry: P 0015) and maximum flexibility and functionality in the management of peripheral devices to greatly enhance access, control, management, and utilization of computer peripherals, including printing devices, while customizable control panel screens would allow the user or manager to organize control panel functions such that the control panel is optimized for that user or manager (Parry: P 0016).
Claim 2. Canceled.
Claim 3. Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake disclose the information processing device according to claim 1, and the combination of Hansen and Parry and Nagaraja further discloses wherein the page data of the customized web page is generated such that a destination of setting contents received as settings of the image processing device is the image processing device, the settings are applied for configuring rendering devices, such as printers, scanners, multi-function devices, photocopy machines, and the like (P 0005). Parry and Nagaraja have been combined with Hanson for accessing the webpage on the information processing device.
Claim 4. Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake disclose the information processing device according to claim 1 and the combination of Hansen and Parry and Nagaraja discloses the limitations of Claim 4. The limitations unique to Claim 4 are bolded accompanied by the citations from the references used to reject the limitations specific to Claim 4. Hanson discloses wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to further perform:
in the storing, transmitting the customization setting received in the receiving to the image processing device (Hanson: the settings are saved, P 0037) [Since the claims have been amended with the limitation “of the image processing device”, then the “transmitting” must be to the device itself, e.g. in a save operation], in association with identification information (Hanson: an administrator configures a default driver, P 0037) [The driver is identified as being the default], and causing the image processing device to store the customization setting in association with one of the information processing device and a user using the information processing device by causing the image processing device to store the customization setting in association with the identification information;
in the displaying, accessing the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface and transmitting the identification information to the embedded web server, thereby causing the embedded web server to generate the customized web page reflecting the customization setting associated with the received identification information (Hanson: the web page allows an administrator to configure all, or a subset thereof, the driver features, P 0034) and transmit the generated customized web page to the information processing device (Hanson: the settings are saved, P 0037); and
in the displaying, receiving the customized web page reflecting the customization setting associated with the identification information (Hanson: an administrator configures a default driver, P 0037) from the embedded web server, and displaying the received customized web page on the user interface (Hanson: the driver configuration is generally kept on the device itself and is accessible and modifiable by the system administrator via the device's web page or local UI, P 0009). Parry and Nagaraja have been combined with Hanson for accessing the webpage on the information processing device.
Claim(s) 7, 9 is/are directed to non-transitory computer-readable medium claim(s) similar to the information processing device claim(s) of Claim(s) 1, 4 and is/are rejected with the same rationale.
Claim 8. Canceled.
Claim(s) 5, 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hanson et al. (US 2006/0170943 A1) in view of Parry (US 2003/0030664 A1) and Nagaraja (US 2006/0132835 A1) and Otake et al. (US 2016/0021271 A1) and further in view of Torgemane et al. (US 2015/0264423 A1).
Claim 5. Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake disclose the information processing device according to claim 1, but Hanson does not disclose wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to further perform:
receiving selection, regarding the customization setting, one of a first method and a second method through the user interface,
wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to further perform: after the receiving of the selection, determining which of the first method and the second method is selected in the receiving of the selection;
when it is determined that the first method is selected, performing the storing; and
when it is determined that the second method is selected, not performing the storing but transmitting the customization setting received in the receiving of the selection to the image processing device through the communication interface, the image processing device changing the original web page provided by the embedded web server to the customized web page reflecting the received customization setting, and
wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to further perform: when the controller receives the display instruction through the user interface, determining which of the first method and the second method is selected in the receiving of the selection;
when it is determined that the first method is selected, performing the displaying; and
when it is determined that the second method is selected, not performing the displaying but accessing the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface, receiving the customized web page from the embedded web server, and displaying the received customized web page on the user interface by executing the browser.
However, Hanson discloses as rejected in Claim 1:
receiving selection, regarding the customization setting, one of a first method … through the user interface, wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, causes the information processing device to further perform: after the receiving of the selection, … ; when it is determined that the first method is selected, performing the storing, Jensen discloses the web page allows an administrator to configure all, or a subset thereof, the driver features (P 0034) by an administrator who browses to a default driver configuration page, selects, for example, the duplex printing option, selects separation pages for the start of the job, along with a setting that allows color management to be done by the device, enables the default driver configuration, and saves the changes made (P 0037) driver configuration is generally kept on the device itself and is accessible and modifiable by the system administrator via the device's web page (P 0042); and
wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, causes the information processing device to further perform: when the controller receives the display instruction through the user interface, … when … the first method is selected, performing the displaying, Jensen discloses the driver configuration is generally kept on the device itself and is accessible and modifiable by the system administrator via the device's web page or local UI (P 0009). Parry and Nagaraja have been combined with Hanson for accessing the webpage on the information processing device.
Parry and Nagaraja have been combined with Hanson for accessing the webpage on the information processing device does not disclose the limitations of the claim determine whether one of two methods is selected. The first method stores and displays the customized user interface, whereas the second method does not store and display the customized user interface. In the same field of invention, Torgemane discloses storing multiple sets of valid style rules and transmitting the multiple sets of style rules to a plurality of UE devices of a plurality of users (P 0008) the augmented style code comprises parameterized CSS files that can be used in deferred evaluable transformation system for high-performance, dynamic, run-time, parameterized finalization (P 0065) a set of valid style rules are transmitted to a user equipment (UE) device causing a customized user interface to be presented, wherein the set of valid style rules are part of a CSS file, which is rendered by a browser application executing on the UE device (P 0081) alternatively, augmented style rules are transformed into style generation code that is not valid according to a style standard (e.g., CSS) of the style syntax, and is transmitted to a UE device, and is executed by a set of one or more invocations using a set of one or more input variables corresponding to the set of variables, and generates a set of one or more valid style rules according to the style standard (P 0085). Torgemane discloses either transmitting a stored set of style rules (a cascading style sheet), analogous to the claimed transmitting and displaying customization settings, to a user device to generate a customized user interface, or transmitting style code, which is not in a valid CSS format, analogous to not transmitting and displaying customization settings, to a user device, and then the code is executed by a set of one or more invocations using a set of one or more input variables corresponding to the set of variables, that generates a set of one or more valid style rules (CSS) according to the style standard in order to perform deferred evaluation for high-performance, dynamic, run-time, parameterized finalization of the CSS. That is, in Torgemane, customization settings are transmitted in the CSS. However, in an alternative embodiment, the customization settings are not transmitted, but a set of code is transmitted and it is the device that determines the customizations in a deferred evaluation of the user interface construction with the CSS. Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja, Otake and Torgemane, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine wherein the first instructions, when executed by the computer, causes the information processing device to further perform:
receiving selection, regarding the customization setting, one of a first method and a second method through the user interface,
wherein the first instructions, when executed by the computer, causes the information processing device to further perform: after the receiving of the selection, determining which of the first method and the second method is selected in the receiving of the selection;
when it is determined that the first method is selected, performing the storing; and
when it is determined that the second method is selected, not performing the storing but transmitting the customization setting received in the receiving of the selection to the image processing device through the communication interface, the image processing device changing the original web page provided by the embedded web server to the customized web page reflecting the received customization setting, and
wherein the first instructions, when executed by the computer, causes the information processing device to further perform: when the computer receives the display instruction through the user interface, determining which of the first method and the second method is selected in the receiving of the selection;
when it is determined that the first method is selected, performing the displaying; and
when it is determined that the second method is selected, not performing the displaying but accessing the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface, receiving the customized web page from the embedded web server, and displaying the received customized web page on the user interface by executing the browser,
with the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake with the motivation to generate and maintain per-user (or per-device) style customization of web application, at a significantly smaller footprint such that it could be suitable for highly customized CSS that can be generated on-demand by web servers or by web browsers (Torgemane: P 0007).
Claim 6. Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake disclose the information processing device according to claim 1, but Hanson does not disclose wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to further perform: in the storing, storing a cascading style sheet indicating the customization setting received in the receiving of the customization setting, the customized web page being generated by incorporating the stored cascading style sheet into the original web page, as disclosed in the claims. However, in the same field of invention, Torgemane discloses storing multiple sets of valid style rules and transmitting the multiple sets of style rules to a plurality of UE devices of a plurality of users (P 0008) a set of valid style rules are transmitted to a user equipment (UE) device causing a customized user interface to be presented, wherein the set of valid style rules are part of a CSS file, which is rendered by a browser application executing on the UE device (P 0081) alternatively, augmented style rules are transformed into style generation code that is not valid according to a style standard (e.g., CSS) of the style syntax, and is transmitted to a UE device, and is executed by a set of one or more invocations using a set of one or more input variables corresponding to the set of variables, and generates a set of one or more valid style rules according to the style standard (P 0085). Torgemane discloses either transmitting a stored set of style rules (a cascading style sheet), analogous to the claimed transmitting and displaying customization settings, to a user device to generate a customized user interface, or transmitting style code, which is not in a valid CSS format, analogous to not transmitting and displaying customization settings, to a user device, and then the code is executed by a set of one or more invocations using a set of one or more input variables corresponding to the set of variables, that generates a set of one or more valid style rules (CSS) according to the style standard. That is, in Torgemane, customization settings are transmitted in the CSS. However, in an alternative embodiment, the customization settings are not transmitted, but a set of code is transmitted and it is the device that determines the customization. Therefore, considering the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja, Otake and Torgemane, one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention would have been motivated to combine wherein the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to further perform: in the storing, storing a cascading style sheet indicating the customization setting received in the receiving of the customization setting, the customized web page being generated by incorporating the stored cascading style sheet into the original web page with the teachings of Hanson, Parry, Nagaraja and Otake with the motivation to generate and maintain per-user (or per-device) style customization of web application, at a significantly smaller footprint such that it could be suitable for highly customized CSS that can be generated on-demand by web servers or by web browsers (Torgemane: P 0007).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 9/16/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The applicant argues:
First, Parry does not disclose the claimed allocation of processing between the image processing program and the browser. As noted by the Examiner in the response to Arguments, Parry teaches sending via a browser a retrieval command to the webserver. In Parry, Web browser 21 accesses EWS 54 and receives Web page 56 and a Java application, and the Java application then provides the customizable printer control panel.
In contrast, as recited in claims 1 and 7, the setting application itself of the information processing device accesses the EWS and receives the EWS page data, applies the customization information to the received page data, and then passes the modified page data to browser 23 for display. Thus, the program that accesses the EWS and obtains the page data is different from that in Parry, as is the data flow between the application and the browser.
That is, the present application and Parry differ in terms of which component accesses the EWS and obtains the page data. In the present application, the setting application accesses the EWS and obtains the page data, whereas in Parry, the browser 21 does so. Further, in the present application, the browser displays the web page based on the page data received from the setting application, rather than directly from the MFP.
The above described differences with Parry have been clarified in claims 1 and 7 by separately reciting, among the operations of receiving, customizing, and displaying the web page, the operations performed by the setting application and those performed by the browser.
Second, the driver file disclosed in Hanson concerns configuration or installation of a printer driver and is unrelated to customization or display of a web page. Accordingly, Hanson does not cure the deficiencies of Parry merely because a driver file may be downloaded to a computer.
Third, Nagaraja discloses storing and retrieving print or devmode settings, but does not disclose customization of an EWS web page or the claimed allocation of processing between an image processing program and a browser. Therefore, Nagaraja likewise does not cure the deficiencies of Parry.
Thus, claims 1, 3-4, 7 and 9 would not have been obvious from the combination of Hanson in view of Parry and further in view of Nagaraja. Torgemane does not overcome the deficiencies of Hanson, Parry and Nagaraja described above. Thus, claims 5 and 6 would not have been obvious from the combination of Hanson in view of Parry and Nagaraja and further in view of Torgemane.
The examiner respectfully disagrees. As noted above, the claim includes a contradiction regarding accessing the embedded web server, that is, the claim limitations directed to the embedded web server of the image processing device is accessed through the communication interface to receive, by the image processing program, page data of an original web page, and the embedded web server is accessed to receive the page data of the original web page by the image processing program “without the browser accessing the embedded web server”.
With respect to the amended limitation: “generating page data of a customized web page by applying the customization setting read out from the memory of the information processing device to the page data of the original web page received from the embedded web server of the image processing device such that the display form of the original web page is customized; and passing the generated page data of the customized web page from the image processing program to the browser, wherein the second instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to perform: displaying, by executing the browser, the customized web page on the user interface of the information processing device based on the page data passed from the image processing program”, Parry discloses customized or customizable control panels can be accessed, created and/or reconfigured through interaction of a workstation with the Web interfacing system of a printing device (P 0046) selected features are compiled in a "selected feature window" as "selected labeled feature buttons" for incorporation into a user-configured and usable version of a customized or customizable printer control pane (P 0061) one or more customizable printer control panels are saved to a directory accessible by other workstations on local network architecture or even by users at remote workstations; a directory for storage of customized or customizable printer control panels resides in memory on printing the device, accessible by interfacing with the embedded Web server through local network or Internet links (P 0072). Parry clearly discloses that the original printer control panel may be customized and/or reconfigured and reside in memory of the printing device and are accessible via the printing device web browser through local network or Internet links.
With respect to the amended limitation: “wherein the accessing of the embedded web server and the receiving of the page data of the original web page are performed by the image processing program without the browser accessing the embedded web server”, Parry discloses customized or customizable control panels can be accessed, created and/or reconfigured through interaction of a workstation with the Web interfacing system of a printing device (P 0046) by sending via a browser on the workstation a retrieval command through a URL to the web server on the printing device (P 0047) the selected functionalities and configuration may then be stored in a specified directory of the user's workstation, or an intermediary device for later use in accessing, controlling, and/or managing the peripheral device (P 0019) a customized or customizable printer control panel that is initially configured via interaction between an embedded Web server and a workstation or a remote workstation is stored in memory of a workstation or a remote workstation, the customized or customizable printer control panel is stored as a control panel GUI which operates independently from Web browser, the retrieval of the control panel GUI file from a specified directory, causes the subject workstation to access the previously configured customized or customizable printer control panel (P 0052) and Nagaraja discloses a computing system includes an application (P 0022) where a user changes devmode settings and initiates a print job from a GUI (on the application side) (P 0024) and the user selects a printer to used for a selected print job (P 0027) to communicate to a printer (P 0020). As noted above, the claim includes a contradiction regarding accessing the embedded web server, that is, the claim limitations directed to the embedded web server of the image processing device is accessed through the communication interface to receive, by the image processing program, page data of an original web page, and the embedded web server is accessed to receive the page data of the original web page by the image processing program “without the browser accessing the embedded web server”. Parry clearly discloses an embodiment where the customized or customizable control panels are stored on the user’s computer and accessed independent from the web browser, meaning the control panels are accessed through a UI other than a web browser that accesses the control panels from the printing device through the printing devices’s web browser.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 7, 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.
With respect to the amended limitation: “the first instructions, when executed by the controller, cause the information processing device to perform: accessing the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface; receiving, by the image processing program, page data of an original web page from the embedded web server of the image processing device through the communication interface”, the examiner has combined new prior art reference Otake to reject the amended limitations. Otake discloses an image forming apparatus comprising a processor which performs imaging of a web page provided by an external web server and provides a user with the web page, the processor is configured to: acquire contents information of the web page which is information related to the web page (P 0019) information acquired by the image forming apparatus in the intranet can be gotten and browsed by an external terminal device via Internet (P 0045) which is original data (P 0142). It is clear that the original web page contents is acquired by the image forming apparatus via an intranet or the Internet. Parry and Nagaraja provide the necessary motivation to combine the features of Otake with Hanson: provide maximum flexibility and functionality in the management of peripheral devices to greatly enhance access, control, management, and utilization of computer peripherals, including printing devices, while customizable control panel screens would allow the user or manager to organize control panel functions such that the control panel is optimized for that user or manager (Parry: P 0016) and to allow the device to be more flexible by allowing access to expanded settings (Nagaraja: P 0031).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication should be directed to JOHN M HEFFINGTON at telephone number (571)270-1696.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOHN M HEFFINGTON whose telephone number is (571)270-1696. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm Eastern.
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/J.M.H/Examiner, Art Unit 2145 9/29/2026
/CESAR B PAULA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2145
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