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 § 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 – 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claims do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (an Abstract Idea) and does not include additional elements that amount to significantly more than the Abstract Idea itself.
Step 2A, Prong One: Abstract Idea
Claim 1 recites a series of operations which collectively describe collecting information, analyzing the information to predict a future condition, making a decision based on the analysis, and presenting the result, which constitutes an Abstract Idea, such as mental process and mathematical concept as well as organizing human activity (ie scheduling an activity based on a prediction).
Step 2A, Prong Two: No Practical Application
Claim 1 does not integrate the Abstract Idea into a practical application. The recited processing circuitry is described generically and merely performs conventional functions of data acquisition, analysis, decision making, and notification. The claimed battery mounted on an electric vehicle serves as an intended field of use and does not reflect an improvement to battery technology, charging technology or vehicle operation.
The claim does not recite any technical features regarding how the future SOC is predicted, how the scheduling is technically implemented, or how the system improves the functioning of a computer or other technology. Instead, the claim simply automates a process that could be performed by a human using generic computing components.
Thus, the Abstract Idea is not integrated into a practical application.
Step 2B: No Inventive Concept
Claim 1 does not include additional elements that amount to significantly more than the Abstract Idea. The additional elements, such as acquiring information, predicting SOC, setting a scheduled charge date based on a threshold, and notifying the result are performed using generic processing circuitry and represent well-understood, routine and conventional computer functions.
Dependent claims 2-6 merely recite additional types of information (eg user schedule, reservation status of charging, weather information or selecting candidate dates), which are simply additional data inputs and routine decision criteria and do not ad any unconventional technical feature or improvement.
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.
1. Claims 1 – 6 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 1 recites, “charge-related information” as a basis for setting the scheduled charge date. However, this term is defined only functionally and encompasses a potentially unlimited range of information. Dependent claims 2 – 5 recite examples of “charge-related information,” but the limitations do not meaningfully limit or define the scope of “charge-related information.”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 1 and 2 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Birek (US 20190143832).
Regarding claim 1, Birek teaches a charge management system for a battery mounted on an electric vehicle (figures 1 and 2 and [0045] teaches a human-machine interface with selectable options mounted within an electric vehicle. The interface displays a charge management system for a vehicle battery item 11),
the charge management system comprising processing circuitry configured to: acquire charge-related information that is information on whether charge is possible ([0059] figure 3 shows block 31 as acquiring charge related information, interpreted as determining a routine. [0060]-[0062] discloses wherein the user charging and driving schedule is determined from this routine and whether charging will occur) ;
acquire power consumption history of the battery (paragraph [0050] wherein power consumption is monitored, stored, and acquired or selected) ;
predict a future SOC of the battery based on the power consumption history (paragraph [0063] teaches wherein a future SOC is predicted as a function of modeling SOC over time. [0064] teaches using data such as power consumption of battery usage, SOC is predicted);
set a scheduled charge date when a predicted SOC value of the battery is predicted to decrease to a threshold or less (paragraph [0008] discloses predicting a reduction of SOC. Paragraph [0069] teaches wherein a charge date is scheduled, interpreted as a user requirement for future driving is determined. The user requirement, sets a schedule, or a time period in which the battery will be depleted, thus requiring recharging. [0075] discloses determining how the SOC has decreased, interpreted as determining how much charge has been consumed defined as ad change in SOC. This prediction is determined as the SOC consumed during a specific time); and
notify the scheduled charge date, wherein the processing circuitry sets the scheduled charge date based on the charge-related information (Paragraphs [0084] –[0086] and figure 3 block 37 discloses wherein the user is notified by an output being provided to the user indicative of a time requirement to recharge the battery based on the data monitored).
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Birek figure 3 shows the steps to predicting an SOC within a vehicle battery
Regarding claim 2, Birek teaches the charge management system according to claim 1, wherein the charge-related information includes information on a schedule of a user, and wherein the processing circuitry sets the scheduled charge date based on the schedule of the user (paragraph [0009], [0022] teaches wherein the user schedule is determined as a personal routine including schedules and driving patterns).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 3 – 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Birek (US 20190143832) in view of North (US 20150226572).
Regarding claim 3, Birek teaches the charge management system according to claim 1, but does not explicitly teach wherein the charge-related information includes information on a reservation status of charge equipment, and wherein the processing circuitry sets the scheduled charge date based on the reservation status of the charge equipment.
North teaches wherein the charge-related information includes information on a reservation status of charge equipment, and wherein the processing circuitry sets the scheduled charge date based on the reservation status of the charge equipment (defined in paragraph [0038] wherein a charging date is set based on the reservation status of the charging equipment or charging station. This charging schedule is set as a station is selected for a charging based on the travel time for the user).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the charging system of the Birek reference with the charging system of the North reference so that the vehicle user may extend the driving range of the vehicle during an extended trip
The suggestion/motivation for combination can be found in North reference in paragraph [0005] wherein driving range is extended.
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North Figure 1 shows a vehicle processing circuitry
Regarding claim 4, Birek teaches the charge management system according to claim 3, but does not explicitly teach wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to reserve the charge equipment before notifying the user of the scheduled charge date.
North teaches the processing circuitry is further configured to reserve the charge equipment before notifying the user of the scheduled charge date (defined in paragraph [0072] wherein a processing circuitry, interpreted as a vehicle routing system may automatically reserve a charging station).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the charging system of the Birek reference with the charging system of the North reference so that the vehicle user may extend the driving range of the vehicle during an extended trip
The suggestion/motivation for combination can be found in North reference in paragraph [0005] wherein driving range is extended.
Regarding claim 5, Birek teaches the charge management system according to claim 1, but does not explicitly teach wherein the charge-related information includes weather information of a charge site, and wherein the processing circuitry sets the scheduled charge date based on the weather information.
North teaches wherein the charge-related information includes weather information of a charge site, and wherein the processing circuitry sets the scheduled charge date based on the weather information (defined in paragraph [0040] wherein the current weather is determined while determining charging station information).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the charging system of the Birek reference with the charging system of the North reference so that the vehicle user may extend the driving range of the vehicle during an extended trip
The suggestion/motivation for combination can be found in North reference in paragraph [0005] wherein driving range is extended.
Regarding claim 6, Birek teaches the charge management system according to claim 1, but does not explicitly teach wherein the processing circuitry selects a plurality of candidate dates earlier than an expected date on which a predicted SOC value of the battery decreases to a threshold or less, and sets the scheduled charge date from the plurality of candidate dates.
North teaches wherein the processing circuitry selects a plurality of candidate dates earlier than an expected date on which a predicted SOC value of the battery decreases to a threshold or less, and sets the scheduled charge date from the plurality of candidate dates (paragraphs [0038] and [0054] teaches wherein charging stations are selected based on a travel time associated with a predicted SOC or after a time period has elapsed).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the charging system of the Birek reference with the charging system of the North reference so that the vehicle user may extend the driving range of the vehicle during an extended trip
The suggestion/motivation for combination can be found in North reference in paragraph [0005] wherein driving range is extended.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALEXIS B PACHECO whose telephone number is (571)272-5979. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00 - 5:30.
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ALEXIS BOATENG PACHECO
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2859
/ALEXIS B PACHECO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859