DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
I. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Election/Restrictions
II. Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I: claims 115-132 in the reply filed on December 9, 2025 is acknowledged.
Allowable Subject Matter
III. Claims 115, 127, 128, and 130 may be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The closest prior art found is Yamane et al. (US 2015/0054618 A1) and Tsuji (EP 3547731 A1).
Yamane teaches an antenna, transmitting at a first transmit power at a first distance, a transmitting distance of the antenna at a second transmit power is a second distance, and the first transmit power is greater than the second transmit power (see abstract and paragraphs [0032] – [0033] and [0040] – [0041] and Fig. 1 & Fig. 5, Upon determination that a mobile device has continued to be present within a first transmission area for a predetermined time or over, the control device lowers first transmitter power output of a first electromagnetic wave to be transmitted from the communication section to second transmitter power output of the first electromagnetic wave so that the first transmission area is narrowed to a second transmission area until no more response is received from the mobile device. Then, the communication section transmits the first electromagnetic wave having the second transmitter power output and generating the second transmission area. This reads on an antenna, transmitting at a first transmit power at a first distance, a transmitting distance of the antenna at a second transmit power is a second distance, and the first transmit power is greater than the second transmit power (abstract)); periodically transmitting at the first transmit power and periodically transmitting at the second transmit power (see abstract, The communication section not only transmits the first electromagnetic wave having the second transmitter power output and generating the second transmission area but also transmits, with a second cyclic period longer than the first cyclic period. This reads on periodically transmitting at the first transmit power and periodically transmitting at the second transmit power).
Tsuji teaches receiving a first response message of a mobile device, wherein the electronic device wirelessly communicates with the mobile device (see abstract and paragraph [0101], The terminal sends a request signal, via the access point (AP) to the printer. This reads on receiving a first response message of a mobile device, wherein the electronic device wirelessly communicates with the mobile device); receiving a second response message of the mobile device; and executing all or a part of a function in response to receiving the second response message (see paragraphs [0102] – [0103], The terminal sends print data to the printer. The printer receives the print data from the terminal and causes the print execution unit to execute printing based on the print data. This reads on receiving a second response message of the mobile device; and executing all or a part of a function in response to receiving the second response message).
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.
IV. Claims 115-132 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor regards as the invention.
Claim 115 recites “periodically sending a first message based on a first periodicity using the antenna at the first transmit power, wherein the first message is encrypted ciphertext; receiving a first response message of a mobile device, wherein the electronic device wirelessly communicates with the mobile device; periodically sending, in response to receiving the first response message, a second message based on a second periodicity using the antenna tat the second transmit power, wherein the second message is unencrypted plaintext; receiving a second response message of the mobile device” in lines 11-18.
It is unclear what the first response message is in response to and/or whether the first response message is related to “the first message” in line 11. It is unclear what the second response message is in response to and/or whether the second response message is related to “the second message” in lines 15-16. The limitations render the claim indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor regards as the invention.
For purposes of examination, the examiner has treated the following quotation from claim 115 “periodically sending a first message based on a first periodicity using the antenna at the first transmit power, wherein the first message is encrypted ciphertext; receiving a first response message of a mobile device, wherein the electronic device wirelessly communicates with the mobile device; periodically sending, in response to receiving the first response message, a second message based on a second periodicity using the antenna at the second transmit power, wherein the second message is unencrypted plaintext; receiving a second response message of the mobile device” as
“periodically sending a first message based on a first periodicity using the antenna at the first transmit power, wherein the first message is encrypted ciphertext; receiving, in response to the first message, a first response message of a mobile device, wherein the electronic device wirelessly communicates with the mobile device; periodically sending, in response to receiving the first response message, a second message based on a second periodicity using the antenna at the second transmit power, wherein the second message is unencrypted plaintext; receiving, in response to the second message, a second response message of the mobile device”.
Claims 116-126 are dependent on claim 115 and are rejected for indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for the same reason given above regarding claim 115.
Claims 127, 128, 130, and 131 contain limitations similar to the ones recite above in claim 115. Therefore, claims 127, 128, 130, and 131 are rejected for indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for the same reason given above regarding 115.
Claims 129 and 132 are dependent on claims 128 and 131 and are rejected for indefiniteness under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for the same reason given above regarding claims 128 and 131.
Additionally, claim 126 recites “a holder of the mobile device can quickly control the electronic device”. The term “quickly” in claim 126 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite. The term “quickly” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. Applicant may delete the term or limitation, or amend the claim.
Conclusion
V. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Bell et al. Patent No.: US 9,965,009 B1 discloses systems and methods for assigning a power receiver to individual power transmitters based on location of the power receiver including managing a wireless power transmission system, wherein, in accordance with a determination that a changed location of the power receiver is closest to the first power transmitter, the first power transmitter is instructed to adjust the wireless transmission of controlled RF wave based on the changed location (see abstract and claim 1).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRANDON J MILLER whose telephone number is (571)272-7869. The examiner can normally be reached M-F.
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, Alison Slater can be reached at 571-270-0375. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/BRANDON J MILLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2647
January 5, 2026