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 .
Drawings
The drawings were received on 12/16/22. These drawings are approved.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more as described below:
The claim(s) recite(s) a computer implemented process for controlling operation of an elevator system. The claims recite a fundamental concept of collecting data (using a camera), analyzing the data, and generating a result based on said collected data, which is considered an abstract idea of data analysis and information processing.
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because it simply uses a generic computer (server) to perform routine data processing without specific technical improvement or a novel way of using a computer processor.
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the claims use a generic processor performing conventional activities without defining specific inventive steps or modifications to obtain a unique process or apparatus.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
5. 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.
6. Claims 1-16 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.
The claims lack a description of the novel algorithm used by the “server” to generate reference information to be used by an elevator, wherein said information is generated based on acquired data from a camera (as recited in claims 1 and 14-16). What does it mean for a user to use reference information for movement?
Additionally, the claims do not specify how the wait time or number of people is being generated (as claimed in claims 2).
How is a person pressing an elevator call button being identified? (as recited in claim 4).
How is reference information generated based on “statistical processing” of the wait time or the number of people waiting for the elevator? (as recited in claim 5).
How is the reference information generated based on data obtained from an outside server? (as recited in claim 7)
How is a user heading for an elevator call being identified from image data? And how do we control calling an elevator based on “scheduled information” (as recited in claim 9).
The limitations in claims 12 and 13 make no sense. What stages are you talking about?
All pending claims have been rejected for being unclear, however prior art will be applied to the invention as best understood by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
7. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
8. Claim(s) 1-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Klima et al (US Publication 2016/0005053).
Claims 1-2 and 14-15, Klima et al teaches a server device comprising: at least one memory 508; and at least one processor 504 for executing a computer program stored in the memory unit, wherein the server device is configured to generate elevator traffic information by analyzing overhead images captured by an overhead camera system 200; generate information that can be utilized by an elevator user based on the data captured by the camera system such as user wait time (see paragraphs 0025-0026); and output the generated information to a mobile device 412.
Claim 3, Klima et al describes in fig. 6 and corresponding description how the estimated wait time is estimated based on the elevator users waiting for the elevator.
Claims 4 and 9, Klima et al describes a computer system 404 which includes the processor 504 and memory 508 for communicating with a mobile device 412 through network 408, wherein the computer system identifies a person requesting an elevator when said person uses his/her personal mobile device to initiate an elevator call.
Claims 5-6, Klima et al describes for example in paragraph 0037 the mathematical calculations made to estimate an elevator user wait time. The claims do not particularly point out any known or novel steps for performing the required estimation of the wait time.
Claim 7, Klima et al describes for example in paragraph 0036 that external information such as information on discounts/offers or wait times at concession stands in a local venue, wherein this external information as well as elevator estimated wait times are provided to the user using mobile device 412.
Claim 8, Klima et al describes in paragraph 0037 the computer server acquiring other information such as congregation traffic that describes a number of users congregating in a specific area or location.
Claims 10 and 16, Klima et al teaches a system and a method of operation (as described in fig. 4) comprising a digital signage such as an electronic sign or billboard (see paragraph 0035) or digital mobile device 412; and a server device as described above in the rejection of claim 1.
Claim 11, Klima et al teaches for example in paragraph 0039 that icons or images can be used to indicate the usage status of various systems or venues.
Claims 12-13, Klima et al describes in figure 4 (item 412 for example) a system that works in stages to output needed information by elevators users, wherein the stages include acquiring images of various areas in a particular building, estimating wait times for elevators, concession stands, and other venues in a particular building, and outputting information in different forms such as pictures or icons to a user.
Conclusion
9. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The documents listed in the attached PTO-892 describe elevator system that use computer processors and memory unit for storing a series of operating steps for elevator systems.
10. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Rina I Duda whose telephone number is (571)272-2062. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-4 PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Eduardo Colon-Santana can be reached at (571) 272-2060. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RINA I DUDA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2846
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