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 Objections
Claim 2 is objected to because of the following informalities: Line 4 discloses “for each given player terminal, of the plurality of terminal at which a bet was placed, at which a bet was placed….” whereas it should be “for each given player terminal of the plurality of terminal at which a bet was placed at which a bet was placed….. “ (ie: no commas). Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 3-5, 17-18 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 3 recites the limitation "the terminal-specific type" in line 8. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "the communal type" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 4 recites the limitation "an additional highlight effect" in line 7. However, there was disclosure of that limitation previously before in line 32 of Claim 1. It is not clear if these are the same element or distinct elements. For clarity, when multiple terms have the same name but are intended to be distinct elements, clearly distinct labels, such as "first element" and "second element" should be used to make the distinct nature clear. Conversely, if the terms are to the same element, a consistent name should be used with “said” or “the” when referring back.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the communal type" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 17 recites the limitation "the terminal-specific type" in line 3. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 18 recites the limitation "an additional highlight effect" in line 5. However, there was disclosure of that limitation previously before in line 33 of Claim 15. It is not clear if these are the same element or distinct elements. For clarity, when multiple terms have the same name but are intended to be distinct elements, clearly distinct labels, such as "first element" and "second element" should be used to make the distinct nature clear. Conversely, if the terms are to the same element, a consistent name should be used with “said” or “the” when referring back.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEFFREY WONG whose telephone number is (571)270-3003. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 9-5pm.
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/JEFFREY K WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715
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