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 .
Claims 1-8 are pending.
Claims 9-20 are cancelled.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Forbes, Jr. et al. USPGPUB 2017/0358041 (hereinafter “Forbes, Jr.”).
As to claim 1, Forbes, Jr. teaches a method of metering and tracking distributed energy generation (paragraph 0119 “showing meter distributions” and FIG. 5, 0242), comprising: receiving a digital energy asset that authorizes an amount of electrical energy to be generated (paragraph 01560157 and FIG. 5 “network of power”); based upon the received digital energy asset, distributing multiple measurable amounts of electrical energy generation rights to a plurality of end users of energy generation (paragraph 0161-0163); receiving from the end users of energy generation, an amount of energy generated by the end users (paragraph 0161-0164); calculating or receiving from the end users of energy generation, an amount of energy generation rights consumed (paragraph 0199-0202); and comparing the amount of energy generation rights consumed to the measurable amounts of electrical energy generation rights provided to each end user and controlling the energy authorized to be generated by each end users based upon the comparison (paragraph 0215-0218).
As to claim 2, Forbes, Jr. teaches wherein the comparing includes generating a ratio between the portion of electrical energy generation rights consumed and the portion of energy generated by end users (paragraph 0131-0133).
As to claim 3, Forbes, Jr. teaches further including generating electrical energy by the end users based upon the distributed electrical energy generation rights (paragraph 0156-0157).
As to claim 4, Forbes, Jr. teaches wherein the generating of electrical energy includes switching ON an electrical generator via a control circuit that controls a status (ON/OFF) of an electrical energy generator (paragraph 0136, 0239 and 0206).
As to claim 5, Forbes, Jr. teaches wherein the electrical energy generator monitors and reports the amount of energy generated (paragraph 0172-0178).
As to claim 6, Forbes, Jr. teaches further comprising receiving a digital energy asset that authorizes generation of electrical energy and dividing the authorization into multiple of the digital authorization rights including the digital authorization right received at the end-user generator (paragraph 0131-0134).
As to claim 7, Forbes, Jr. teaches wherein the digital energy asset is received from an authorization-to-generate marketplace (paragraph 0134-0135).
As to claim 8, Forbes, Jr. teaches wherein the digital authorization to generate is a depleting asset with the depletion determined as proportional to energy generated at the user level relative to a total energy authorized to be generated at the group level (paragraph 0194-0198).
It is noted that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2123.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and listed on the attached PTO Form 892 but not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Forbes, Jr. et al USPGPUB 2015/0066231 a system and methods for financial settlement of transactions within an electric power grid network are disclosed. A multiplicity of active grid elements are constructed and configured for electric connection and network-based communication over a blockchain-based platform. The multiplicity of active grid elements are operable to make peer-to-peer transactions based on their participation within the electric power grid by generating and executing a digital contract. The multiplicity of active grid elements generate messages autonomously and/or automatically within a predetermined time interval. The messages comprise energy related data and settlement related data. The energy related data of the multiplicity of active grid elements are based on measurement and verification. The energy related data and the settlement related data are validated and recorded on a distributed ledger with a time stamp and a geodetic reference.
Mazzarella USPGPUB 20030144864 A1 teaches a system and method for operating a distributed power generation system comprising one or more Local Production Units (LPPUs) is provided. The method includes the steps of receiving and storing data relating to the operating performance of a plurality of LPPUs, receiving and storing data relating to the local power consumption for the plurality of LPPUs, determining the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity for the plurality of LPPUs based upon the operating performance data and the power consumption data, communicating to at least one power purchasing entity an offer to sell at least part of the available aggregate quantity of excess power generation capacity, receiving from at least one power purchasing entity an order to purchase, and communicating with the plurality of LPPUs to provide each LPPU with instructions regarding the quantity of power to be produced. The system includes means for performing each of these steps.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ZIAUL KARIM whose telephone number is (571)270-3279. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday 8:00-4:00 PM EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mohammad Ali can be reached on 571 272 4105. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ZIAUL KARIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119
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