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 § 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023/0156156, hereinafter “Zhang”) in view of White et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0353304, hereinafter “White”); further in view of Jefferson et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0288099, hereinafter “Jefferson”).
Claims 1, 8 ,and 15:
Zhang discloses a system (§ 0166, Line 1; Computing device 2600) comprising:
a communications interface (§ 0170, Lines 4-7; NIC 2622);
a non-transitory computer-readable medium (§ 0169, Lines 3-5; RAM 2608); and
one or more processors communicatively coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium (§ 0169, Lines 3-5; The chipset 2606 may provide an interface to a RAM 2608 used as the main memory in the computing device 2600), the one or more processors configured to execute processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
receive, from a client device by a conference provider, a request to join a first virtual space hosted by the conference provider, the first virtual space having a first plurality of members, the client device associated with a first member of the first plurality of members (§ 0061, Lines 4-7; When a user 210a-n becomes connected to the communication service 112, the connection management service 224 may receive, from a user 210a-n, data indicative of a request to join a particular virtual space);
receive, from the client device by the conference provider, a request to join a second virtual space hosted by the conference provider, the second virtual space having a second plurality of members, the first member being one of the second plurality of members (§ 0061, Lines 4-7; When a user 210a-n becomes connected to the communication service 112, the connection management service 224 may receive, from a user 210a-n, data indicative of a request to join a particular virtual space);
join the client device to the first and second virtual spaces, concurrently (§ 0044, Lines 11-12; A user 210a-n may join one virtual space at a time, or multiple virtual spaces at a time);
establish a first presence associated with the first member based on an interaction of the first member with the first virtual space, the first presence indicating whether the first member is present in the first virtual space and a first context indicating a location of the first member (§ 0067, Lines 1-7; Each of the users 210a-n may be associated with a status. The status may indicate the availability of the users 210a-n. For example, other users may see the status of a particular user and may gain an understanding of that user’s availability. A user’s status may indicate that they are available, idle/away, busy, or do not want to be disturbed) (§ 0069, Lines 3-7; The user’s status may indicate a location associated with that user. A user may be in a virtual space. That user’s status may indicate that they are available to communicate and that they are in that virtual space);
establish a second presence associated with the first member based on an interaction of the first member with the second virtual space (§ 0067, Lines 1-7; Each of the users 210a-n may be associated with a status. The status may indicate the availability of the users 210a-n. For example, other users may see the status of a particular user and may gain an understanding of that user’s availability. A user’s status may indicate that they are available, idle/away, busy, or do not want to be disturbed) (§ 0069, Lines 3-7; The user’s status may indicate a location associated with that user. A user may be in a virtual space. That user’s status may indicate that they are available to communicate and that they are in that virtual space);
provide a first indication of the first presence to the other members of the first plurality of members (§ 0045; Each virtual space may be implemented as a data structure and one or more software functions that track users, permission, any data that is exchanged between users 210a-n, and time associations of when users 210a-n associate (join the virtual space) and disassociate (leave the virtual space). In certain embodiments, each virtual space is associated with a calendar that indicates events or meetings associated with that virtual space) (§ 0049, Lines 6-8; If the user checks into a virtual space, other users may be able to see that the location of the user is in that particular virtual space); and
provide an indication of the second presence to the other members of the second plurality of members (§ 0045; Each virtual space may be implemented as a data structure and one or more software functions that track users, permission, any data that is exchanged between users 210a-n, and time associations of when users 210a-n associate (join the virtual space) and disassociate (leave the virtual space). In certain embodiments, each virtual space is associated with a calendar that indicates events or meetings associated with that virtual space) (§ 0049, Lines 6-8; If the user checks into a virtual space, other users may be able to see that the location of the user is in that particular virtual space).
Zhang does not appear to disclose the first context indicating a physical location of the first member and the second presence indicating whether the first member is present in the second virtual space and a second context indicating a physical location of the first member, the first and second presences maintained concurrently, and wherein only one of the first and second presences can indicate the first member is present in the respective virtual space at any given time.
White discloses an intelligent agent wherein the second presence indicating whether the first member is present in the second virtual space (Abstract; An intelligent agent may assume a ghost presence in a meeting on behalf of a non-participant) and a second context (§ 0020, Lines 6-8; The digital agent represents and effectively attends (“second interaction”) the meeting (“second virtual space”) on behalf of the non-participating user), the first and second presences maintained concurrently (§ 0019, Lines 4-7; The simultaneous meeting presence may be employed when a user is invite to meetings occurring simultaneously (e.g., concurrent or parallel-in-time)), and wherein only one of the first and second presences can indicate the first member is present in the respective virtual space at any given time (§ 0021, Lines 4-8; The user may join the primary meeting where their presence is required (e.g., they are presenting or it is the most important), while the digital agent joins the one or more other meetings the user is invited to that are happening at the same time).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Zhang’s system (which supports a user joining multiple virtual spaces simultaneously) by integrating the concept of a user’s presence in multiple concurrent meetings/sessions, as taught by White, in order to enhance the productivity of meetings taking place simultaneously (White, § 0002) (White, § 0018, Lines 1-5).
Jefferson discloses context information may be collected such as determining the users physical location (§§ 0042 and 0045).
Before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Zhang and White’s first and second contexts (and by extension, the first and second presences) with Jefferson’s physical location in order to more accurately determine the willingness of a user to communicate with a watcher (Jefferson, § 0048, Lines 1-3) thru the addition of contextual awareness (Jefferson, § 0014, Lines 5-10).
The method of claim 1 is implemented by the system of claim 8 and is therefore rejected with the same rationale.
Regarding the “non-transitory computer readable medium” of claim 15, Zhang discloses computer-readable storage media storing instructions to implement the disclosed invention (§§ 0171 and 0175).
Claims 2, 9, and 16:
Zhang in view of White further in view of Jefferson further discloses wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute further processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
adjust the first presence to indicate that the first member is present in the first virtual space (“joins a different virtual space”); and adjust the second presence to indicate that the first member is not present in the second virtual space (“leaves a virtual space”) (Zhang, § 0071, Lines 14-20; User management service 225 may store data indicative of the location of each user 210a-n and may update/modify the data indicative of the location of each user 210a-n when the user’s location changes (e.g., the user leaves a virtual space and joins a different virtual space, etc.)).
Claims 3, 10, and 17:
Zhang in view of White further in view of Jefferson further discloses wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute further processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
adjust the first presence to indicate that the first member is not present in the first virtual space (“leaves a virtual space”); and adjust a second presence to indicate that the first member is present in the second virtual space (“joins a different virtual space”) (Zhang, § 0071, Lines 14-20; User management service 225 may store data indicative of the location of each user 210a-n and may update/modify the data indicative of the location of each user 210a-n when the user’s location changes (e.g., the user leaves a virtual space and joins a different virtual space, etc.)).
Claims 4, 11, and 18:
Zhang in view of White further in view of Jefferson further discloses wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute further processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
receive, from the client device, a request to join a conference attached to the first virtual space; join the client device to the conference (Zhang, § 0069, Lines 10-13; If user 210a wants to communicate with user 210b and sees that user 210b is available and in a particular virtual space, user 210a may join that virtual space and initiate a chat or video conference with the user 210b);
adjust the first presence based on joining the client device to the conference; update the first indication of the first presence based on the adjusting; and provide the updated first indication (Zhang, § 0068, Lines 3-4 and 8-11; A user’s status may indicate a period of time for which that status is applicable. The user management service 225 may automatically populate this time period based on, for example, a calendar associated with the user).
Claims 5, 12, and 19:
Zhang in view of White further in view of Jefferson further discloses wherein the client device is associated with a conference room, and wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute further processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
attach the conference room to the first virtual space; detect the first member within the conference room (Zhang, § 0069, Lines 10-13; If user 210a wants to communicate with user 210b and sees that user 210b is available and in a particular virtual space, user 210a may join that virtual space and initiate a chat or video conference with the user 210b); and
wherein the first (or second) presence is further based on the detecting (Zhang, § 0071, Lines 14-20; User management service 225 may store data indicative of the location of each user 210a-n and may update/modify the data indicative of the location of each user 210a-n when the user’s location changes (e.g., the user leaves a virtual space and joins a different virtual space, etc.)).
Claims 6, 13, and 20:
Zhang in view of White further in view of Jefferson further discloses wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute further processor-executable instructions stored in the non-transitory computer-readable medium to:
receive, from a second client device associated with a second member of the first virtual space, a request to interact with the first member; provide one or more interaction options; receive a selected interaction option (Zhang, § 0123, Lines 12-14; The user may need to obtain a permission from users who are already in bubble chats to join the bubble chats that are private); and responsive to receiving approval of the requested interaction from the first member, enable the requested interaction between the first and second members (See citation above. It follows that if the user obtains permission, then the user will be allowed to join the bubble chat).
Claims 7 and 14:
Zhang in view of White further in view of Jefferson further discloses wherein the first or second context indicates one or more of a calendar context, a time-of-day context, or a holiday context (Jefferson, §§ 0042-0044; Context information may be collected such as meetings recorded in Microsoft Outlook or checking the time of day either online or on a local clock).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 07/27/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues on page 10 that White’s disclosure that a user can have a concurrent presence in two different meetings by using a ghost presence is not the same as having two presences and “wherein only one of the first and second presences can indicate the first member is present in the respective virtual space at any given time.” The examiner disagrees. White’s user, as disclosed in § 0021, maintains a presence in a primary meeting and maintains a ghost presence in one or more other meetings the user is invited to that are happening at the same time, which reads on two presences. Further, White’s user maintaining a presence in a primary meeting reads on “wherein only one of the first and second presences can indicate the first member is present in the respective virtual space at any given time”. Applicant further argues on pages 9-10 that Zhang does not disclose that different presences may be maintained concurrently for multiple virtual spaces and Jefferson does not contemplate that a user might have multiple different presences for different virtual spaces. While this may be true, the rejection of claims 1-20 relies on the White reference to disclose the argued features. For these reasons, the rejection of claims 1-20 under 35 USC 103 is respectfully maintained.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NAM T TRAN whose telephone number is (408)918-7553. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7AM-3PM EST.
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/NAM T TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2455
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