DETAILED ACTION
This action is responsive to the Applicant’s response filed 10/09/25.
As indicated in Applicant’s response, claims 1, 8, 20-21 have been amended, and claims 6, 14-19. Claims 1-5, 7-13, 20-23 remain and are pending a next office action.
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, 7-13, 20-22 is/are rejected under § 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takeuchi Takuya, JP 2019149845, (translation), 09-05-2019, 21 pgs (herein Takeuchi) in view of Sumiuchi, USPubN: 2017/0006166 (herein Sumiuchi), JP 6929735, (translation), 09-01- 2021, 26 pgs (herein ‘735), and Machida, USPubN: 2002/0083131 (herein Machida) further in view of JP 6884585 (translation), 6-09-2021, 17 pgs (herein ‘585), and Yamamoto Takuya, CN 103200647 (translation), 04-03-2018, 12 pgs. (herein Yamamoto)
As per claim 1, Takeuchi discloses a method for controlling an information processing apparatus (see apparatus 102, CPU 203 - pg. 2-3), the method comprising:
acquiring identification information for identifying (network setting information, connection information ... SSID - pg. 6) a communication apparatus from the communication apparatus (connection information is transmitted from the communication apparatus - pg. 6); and
acquiring, based on the identification information acquired from an external device (external device 206 - pg. 3), interface information that is information for identifying, by the information processing apparatus, one or more connection interfaces (access points found by the search, access points discovered by the search - pg. 9) included in the communication apparatus (Note0: AP-related information acquired by a discovery/search under the apparatus 102 CPU, for establishing of wireless connection in accordance to infrastructure settings formed by access point 103, the communication device 101 and the information processing apparatus 102 - see bottom pg. 5, top pg. 6; setup mode, communication apparatus 101 operates as a predetermined access point having a SSID - bottom pg. 7 - reads on interface information or connection interfaces included with communication apparatus 101 on basis of the SSID transmitted therefrom - see: transmitted from the communication apparatus - pg. 6) by which the identification information is transmitted (setting information related to setting information (SSID or the like) for connecting to the access point 103 - pg. 8; setting information, connection information ... SS7D - pg. 6) among a plurality of connection interfaces including
a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) interface (wireless LAN – pg. 5; examples of wireless communication include Wifi … Bluetooth – pg. 4; interface 252 controls communication via wireless – pg. 4; communication apparatus … can also perform wireless connection – pg. 6; wireless connection with the access point – pg. 7),
a wired LAN interface (wired LAN – pg 5; communication via wireless and … processing via a wired LAN – pg. 3; may have only a network interface 211 for wired communication – pg. 4), and
a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface (transmitted to and received from the communication device 101 connected via the network interface and the USB interface 212 – pg. 3; USB interface 212 – pg. 4), and
displaying (screen display by the setup program - pg. 7) one or more choices (list of devices connected to the interface ... using the acquired information, for example, a device operating as an access point ... network to which the information processing device belongs - pg. 7) corresponding to the one or more connection interfaces (predetermined access point having a predetermined SSID - pg. 7; list of access points discovered by the search - pg. 9 – Note1: S317: list of access points -pg. 10; S310: list of access points- pg. 9 - resulted from a search - S309, pg. 9 - then displayed as options such AP for access point selection screen 401 - pg. 9 - based on which network setup is intended to connect via use of the very device associated access point having itself a predetermined SSID reads on list of connection interfaces being displayed on basis of interface information acquired or discovered from externally) identified based on the interface information (see above) on a predetermined screen on a basis of the interface information acquired from an external device (device 206 - pg. 3), and
performing predetermined processing for communicating with the communication apparatus (e.g. S310, S311, S312: setting button is selected, the CPU 203 wirelessly connects the communication apparatus 101 and the information processing 102 -- pg. 9) via a connection interface (see access points options display per Note1), the predetermined processing corresponding to a choice (access point selection screen 401 - pg. 9) made from among the one or more choices (user selects ... in the displayed list - top, pg. 8),
wherein, in a case where the identification information is acquired from the communication apparatus (when the communication apparatus 101 is connected to the access point 103 to which the information processing apparatus 102 is wirelessly connected, infrastructure connection between ... apparatus 102 and ... apparatus 101 ... is established - bottom, pg. 8) including a plurality of connection interfaces (list of access points discovered by the search - pg. 9), information indicating the plurality of connection interfaces is displayed (see Note1) on the predetermined screen (see above).
A) Takeuchi does not explicitly disclose service identifier transmitted by the communication apparatus as a beacon transmitted by the communication apparatus; the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted
A signal transmitted or broadcasted as a beacon from a communication interface of a host/source device towards a wireless network in which plurality of predisposed access points operate as listeners of the beacon so that the access points can fetch and validate the SSID inside each received beacon to return a response to the source device indicating that the AP is a valid NW point from which a wireless connection can be established with the source device whose SSID was identified was a known concept.
Accordingly, Sumiuchi discloses SSID being identification name of the access point being distinct from a communication apparatus SSID (para 0049), such that when the printer-attached communication apparatus (CA - apparatus 251 - Fig. 2) is in a connection setting mode, it can broadcast a beacon packet including connection information therewith for connecting to the access point, according to which, a information processing apparatus (IPA - Fig. 2) or printer host device can set the communication apparatus SSID as destination SSID so to allow the IPA to connect to the CA and any external access point (para 0061) that corresponds to the CA SSID using connection information received with the beacon, where information on access points obtained via the communication apparatus enables the CPU of the source machine (IPA - Fig. 2) to display access-point selection to prompt user selection as part of a communication mode (Fig. 8)
Similar to Sumiuchi, ‘735 discloses communication between a host terminal and external access point of the internet (pg. 2) wherein a communication interface of a printer enabled by a connection setting mode (pg. 5) sends out a beacon including a SSID of a access point (AP) that is dedicated to said connection setting mode, based on which, the host terminal device can detect the AP via a search, and establish a communication with the printer so that the printer enters the connection setting mode and can set communication mode according to NW condition around the printer, or executing a reception process in receiving setting information from the terminal device (pg. 6). Hence, sending a beacon including SSID of an access point by which to enable establishing a wireless connecting mode between a terminal and the printer whose identifier is detected via the beacon is recognized.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement use of a transmission from a source device a beacon - as in Sumiuchi - signal that contains the SSID as set forth above in ‘735 - where the SSID contained with the beacon is transmitted from a communication device of the host device that request connection with a corresponding access point - as set forth in “735 and Sumiuchi - so that a rule-based validation of the SSID at the access point enables a connection to be established between the access point and the requesting source device whose Service Setting ID is being processed; because
a connection setting or setup between predisposed access points (e.g. of a wireless network) and a given device that wishes to connect to a point of the network adhere to activation rules that constrain only those devices whose SSID are prerecorded within certain access points to be given a connection line of communication with the access point (AP) that is dedicated for that connection on basis of the preregistered SSID included with the transmitted beacon from the (connection) requesting device; in the sense that use of a beacon signal can act as a broadcasting so to enable plural access points to receive the signaled request from the source device, and incorporating a SSID from a requesting device into a beacon signal transmitted via a communication apparatus (or NW interface) of the host device to the AP network as set forth above would enable identifier of the requesting device to be extracted and validated by a given access point upon the latter receiving the beacon, affording thereby the requesting device to be granted a connection with one or more access points at which the beacon-contained SSID is deemed fulfilling setup rules, i.e. the requesting device permitted with one or more paths for communicating of data between various points in a wireless network.
B) Nor does Takeuchi explicitly disclose acquiring interface information from an external device as:
acquiring interface information, based on the identification information acquired from the
beacon, from a server external to the information processing apparatus and external to the communication apparatus, via the internet.
Setup program and connection information associated with this setup in Takeuchi comes from a network device external to both the host CPU and the communication apparatus attached to the host; whereas connection setting and setup program including the setting can be provided from a particular server that installs the setup program initiated along with installation of a peripheral device such as a printer which is also under management by the CPU host; and this is shown in Machida; that is, Machida discloses that a setup program (para 0064) associated with process of transmitting property information (para 0066) and set-up command for it to a client device (see Abstract), the property information is transmitted, via the internet, from a server device (para 0011, 0014; Fig. 10- 11) - or installation server in response to client request for a setup program (para 0093) - and relates to connection status of PC and peripherals (para 0050-0051, 0062; Fig. 2, 8), installation (or update) of a driver - e.g. for a printer (para 0052; Fig. 3) - in terms of information/settings required (Fig. 23) to be installed with the client system and/or peripherals (Fig.10), where the setup program transmits information adapted to functions or options of each printer (para 0098), the setup command issued by a server device(para 0012) - e.g. to display connection status as part of the setup (para 0062) -- and where driver installation is provided by a installer API (Fig. 14, 19).
Hence, setup command and connection state and SW requirements to be adapted to a CPU and its peripherals for provision of function and driver to be directed by a setup command as part of the setup program transmitted from a server is recognized.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement acquisition of a setup program that support adaptation of software and settings related to a host CPU and its printer in Takeuchi so that the setup program not only provide interface information but also setting and required option to configure the host system and its peripherals as in Machida from above, the setup program received from a server in the internet - as in Machida- or installation server being external to the information processing apparatus (or host system for a printer) and external to the communication apparatus, where the setup program is configured to support setting requirement of the host system and its peripheral, including a setup configuration to activate a connection setting mode on basis of receiving a beacon from a connection requesting device as set forth above; because
a server equipped with capability to transmit/install a setup program that associates therewith setting information and requisites for configuring a target system recipient of the installation would offer the flexibility for functional and connection update to be adapted to the recipient system, based on determination by the server on what setting or configuration at the target system being deemed most optimal or up-to-date to its operation and NW communication; such that a server-provided setup program can be improved by additional update to setting information for use by a target system, including scenarios that either support update made to or required for existing software or drivers of a attached peripheral - as in Machida - or setting instances where connectivity between peripheral devices attached to the CPU host and a wireless network require additional access point discovery and extension of connection I/F due to augmented number of AP predisposed with a wireless network - as set forth in Sumiuchi and ‘735 from above - with which a peripheral (e.g. printer) is to establish connection and communicate data.
C) Takeuchi does not explicitly disclose interface information
(i) as information that differs depending on a model of the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted,
(ii) wherein, in a case where the model of the communication apparatus is a first model, the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information include at least the wireless LAN interface, and,
in a case where the model of the communication apparatus is a second model different from the first model, the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information include at least the wired LAN interface
(iii) wherein, in the case where the model of the communication apparatus is the first model, the one or more choices displayed on the predetermined screen include at least a choice corresponding to the wireless LAN interface, and,
in the case where the model of the communication apparatus is the second model, the one or more choices displayed on the predetermined screen include at least a choice corresponding to the wired LAN interface.
As for (i) and (ii),
Similar to using wireless and wired interface in Takeuchi, ‘585 discloses communication system initiated with a beacon broadcasting (pg. 3) for information of potential access points to be returned to the terminals seeking to connect to APs, followed by processing of probe request (pg. 3) received from terminals for SSID included thereby to be accepted by a controller to establish connection with one or more access points using identification of corresponding MAC addresses (pg. 2) either within a WLAN via a wireless communication unit or a wired LAN via a wired communication unit (pg. 3-4); that is, per communication mode to connect access points to communication terminals that follows either a wired mode and wireless mode (pg. 4) by which MAC address of communication terminal are transmitted and processed. Thus, depending on a model of the communication apparatus by which the beacon or a probe request is transmitted, information such as SSID or MAC address being processed by a control unit to fulfill a request so to establish one or more AP connection with a terminal via wireless or wired mode is recognized, in the sense that identification of one or more access points (or connection interfaces) by way of matching possible SSIDs included with a beacon received along a wireless or wired communication path by which a probe request is to be fulfilled entails a communication choice of first model (wireless mode) or second model (wired mode) that each includes either a wireless LAN interface or a wired LAN interface from which beacon associated data is derived.
As for (iii),
Yamamoto discloses use of a reader on a communication terminal by which access point connection setting information such as RF tag and plurality of SSID for an access point set as identifier can be provided as setting information for display (pg. 4-5), where using a controller that is operationally positioned within a wireless and/or wired LAN, said connection setting information is read to derive identification of a access point, the SSID part of its profile, a label flag indicative of a priority SSID, and the LAN interface (pg. 5) through which the communication terminal corresponding to the probe request is to be connected to one or more access point designated by the controller; e.g. per a scenario in which the communication terminal accesses a server through a wired or wireless LAN (pg. 11) and seeks to establish connection with one or more access points on basis of a beacon broadcasted to the controller or further discovered by the latter in terms of AP SSIDs along with a respective MAC address (pg. 7); in the sense that the controller displays the connection setting information or connection list, which in turn is exposed for use by the communication terminal. Hence use of a controller to display of connection setting information that include an access point slated to be connected with a communication terminal operating via a wireless or wired LAN within which the controller operates to receive, and process broadcasted SSID, determine priority and presenting the setting information entails access points choices displayed on the predetermined screen of a controller in terms of either a choice corresponding to the wireless LAN interface or a one corresponding to a wired LAN interface for use by a communication terminal.
Therefore, based on possibility that connection to access points discovered from SSID can be made via a wireless LAN or a wired LAN, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement the acquisition of connection interfaces or access points selection in Takeuchi so that
1) this information would differs depending on a model of the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted, via either a wireless mode or wired mode as set forth in Takeuchi or ‘585 approach of broadcasting beacon or transmitting probe request;
2) wherein, in a case where the model of the communication apparatus is a first (wireless) model, the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information include at least the wireless LAN interface, as in ‘585 from above,
in a case where the model of the communication apparatus is a second (wired) model different from the first model, the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information include at least the wired LAN interface as in ‘585 from above.
3) wherein, in the case where the model of the communication apparatus is the first model, the one or more choices displayed on the predetermined screen include at least a choice corresponding to the wireless LAN interface as evidenced in Yamamoto display of access point by a controller for a wireless LAN connection between the access point and a communication terminal,
in the case where the model of the communication apparatus is the second model, the one or more choices displayed on the predetermined screen include at least a choice corresponding to the wired LAN interface as evidenced in Yamamoto display of access point by a controller for a wired LAN connection between the access point and a communication terminal; because
implementing a communication controller with capability to process broadcasted beacon and accordingly scan, and discover identifier, Mac addresses and SSIDs of access points for recommendation to other devices or terminals seeking connection within a particular network in that for a given mode of communication model and LAN fabric, presentation of access points as result from processing and validating information pertinent thereto by a controller as set forth above, would enable only compliant access points to be discovered, mapped and accordingly displayed for proper selection or use by user devices or terminals with request to establish a desired communication connection that follows a particular type of network or communication protocol in which these devices/terminal intend to operate or pass information.
As per claims 7-8, Takeuchi discloses method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined processing is processing of displaying a tutorial screen (setup program ... network setting process execution instruction that triggers the network setting process ... on the screen display by the setup program - pg. 7) indicating a method for performing connection processing using the connection interface corresponding to the choice made from among the one or more choices (list of access points discovered by the search - pg. 9)
wherein, in a case where the connection interface corresponding to the choice made (S301, user selects - pg. 7) from among the one or more choices is a wireless LAN interface (network interface 211 controls communication connecting apparatus 101... outside the information processing apparatus 102 by wireless or wired LAN - pg. 3), the predetermined processing is processing of displaying a tutorial screen (see screen display by the setup program from above) to enable the communication apparatus to connect with an access point (see S301, S302, S303, S304, S305, S306, S307 and wireless communication - pg. 7-8) forming a network using the wireless LAN interface.
As per claim 9, Takeuchi discloses method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the connection interface corresponding to the choice made from among the one or more choices is the wireless LAN interface (wireless or wired LAN - pg. 3), the predetermined processing is processing of transmitting connection information to an access point (see display of access points; list of devices - per pg. 7-9) used to connect the communication apparatus with the access point forming a network using the wireless LAN interface (refer to rejection of claims 7-8 from above).
As per claim 10, Takeuchi discloses method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the connection interface corresponding to the choice made from among the one or more choices is a wired LAN interface (refer to claim 1; wireless connection with the access point – pg. 7; direct connection method ... network interface 211 may communicate ... via an external apparatus existing outside the communication apparatus 101 ... capable of relaying communication other than the access point - pg. 4 - Note2: communicating data by the communication device in direct connection method or a non-wireless mode per effect of using a external apparatus capable to relaying information other than an access point reads on control of communication of data via wired LAN cable not using wireless Access points type), the predetermined processing is processing of displaying a tutorial screen (refer to claim 7) to prompt a connection of a wired LAN cable (see Note2).
As per claim 11, Takeuchi discloses method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in a case where the connection interface corresponding to the choice made (refer to claim 7) from among the one or more choices is a universal serial bus (USB) interface (USB interface 212 - pg. 4), the processing of displaying from a tutorial screen (screen display by the setup program from above; interface that communicates using communication method ... may not have network interface 211 for wireless ... may only have interface 211 for wired communication and USB 212 - Pg. 4)
Takeuchi does not explicitly disclose processing of displaying a tutorial screen to prompt a connection of a USB cable.
However, based on the display screen by which setup program provides instructions to tutor a user in selectively configuring a connection that can connect that the host CPU to a wireless AP and via a wired LAN, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement use of the tutorial screen in case where communication using the communication apparatus can be offered via a connection made with USB interface, presentation of a USB communication unit would be included among the screen provided options by which the user can be instructed to configure a connection; because
provision of a USB communication interface as part of the proffered options for use and setting under direction of a setup program as a alternative way to complement non-availability or absence of connection offerings would enhance the scope of setting covered by the setup program, according to which more than one alternatives are presented to a user via a tutorial screen to either choose a desired connection I/F or else elect a replacement connection.
As per claim 12, Takeuchi discloses method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
additional information (beacon to transmit SS7D of the communication apparatus included with the beacon broadcasting by Sumiuchi per rationale A in claim 1- see para 0049 ) different from the identification information (see Takeuchi: SSID used to connect to an the access point - pg. 6; access point having a predetermined SSID - pg. 7) is acquired from the beacon (refer to rationale A of claim 1 - using Sumiuchi),
in a case where the identification information (SSID - pg. 6) and the additional information (see Simiuchi per rationale A) are acquired from the beacon, the interface information is acquired on a basis of the identification information from the external server (refer to rationale B of claim 1), and
control is performed such that the one or more choices (access point selection screen 401 - pg 9; see Note1) displayed on the basis of the interface information on the predetermined screen (refer to claim 1) in a case where first information is acquired as the identification information (see SSID from above) where second information is acquired as the additional information (see beacon from above)
D) Takeuchi does not explicitly disclose control is performed such that
one or more choices displayed on basis of interface information on a screen where first information as the identification information and second information as the additional information are different from the one or more choices displayed on the basis of interface information on the screen in a case where the first information is acquired as the identification information and where third information different from the second information is acquired as the additional information.
However, additional information other than SSID of a access point (first information) sent with a beacon from a communication device can include SSID of the communication apparatus (second information) of the source information processing system, as well as the SSID of the printer (or third information) that request support for new setting mode using a wireless AP connection as in the case of ‘735, in that access points shifting is based on validating -via a AP scan - whether SSID of a peripheral device included in the beacon (see ‘735: S405: SSID of the printer 101 - pg. 15) would satisfy setting for the shifting. Hence, third additional information different from first identification information and second additional information can be basis for displaying a different set of AP interface choices.
Thus, it would have been obvious at the time of the invention for one skill in the art to implement control of choices display in Takeuchi so that upon receipt of first, second or third information representing respectively SSID of a access point, SSID of a source processing apparatus, and SSID of a peripheral printer, configuration of choices on a screen/display of connection interfaces would be different in terms of
a) the list of access point are options based on first SSID and second SSID information, and
b) when the choice list includes access points options based on first information and third information, the latter different from the second information as set forth above; because
SSID included within a beacon packet transmitted from a requesting source device via its NW interface/unit can be intercepted by a network of predisposed Access points, each configured to check whether the SSID inside the beacon fulfill the setup constraints by which the AP can grant a wireless connection to the source device whose SSID matches a SSID registered on the access point; and possibility to verify different type of identification by a plural access points based on the above paradigm can lead to forming of plurality of AP connection instances as selectable connection options since each verified SSID can trigger activation of another connection between the APs and the source device, the activation linking one or more APs to the device identified from its SSID whereby a plurality of AP interfaces can be collected via a AP scan to support representation of connection options setup using a selection screen as intended in Takeuchi; according to which, a first set of AP connection options is being different from another set of AP connection options, necessarily when the first set is based on validation of different SSID than those validated in the second set.
As per claim 13, Takeuchi discloses method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the additional information (refer to claim 12) is a serial number (SSID - see ‘735: SSID of the printer 101 - pg. 15; or the SSID of a communication apparatus in Sumiuchi - para 0049) or keyword information.
As per claim 20, Takeuchi discloses an information processing apparatus comprising:
an acquisition unit configured to acquire identification information (refer to claim 1) for identifying a communication apparatus from a beacon (refer to rationale A of claim 1) transmitted by the communication apparatus and acquire, based on the identification information acquired from the beacon, from a server (refer to rationale B of claim 1) external to the information processing apparatus and external to the communication apparatus via the internet, interface information
that is information for identifying, by the information processing apparatus, one or more connection interfaces (refer to claim 1) included in the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted (refer to rationale A of claim 1), among a plurality of connection interfaces (refer to claim 1)
including (refer to claim 1) a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) interface, a wired LAN interface, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and
that is information that differs depending on a model of the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted (refer to rationale Ci of claim 1), wherein,
in a case where the model of the communication apparatus is a first model, the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information include at least the wireless LAN interface (refer to rationale Cii of claim 1), and,
in a case where the model of the communication apparatus is a second model different from the first model, the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information include at least the wired LAN interface (refer to rationale Cii of claim 1); and
a display unit configured to display one or more choices (refer to rationale Ciii of claim 1) corresponding to the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information on a predetermined screen on a basis of the interface information acquired from the server, wherein,
in the case where the model of the communication apparatus is the first model, the one or more choices displayed on the predetermined screen include at least a choice (refer to rationale Ciii of claim 1) corresponding to the wireless LAN interface, and,
in the case where the model of the communication apparatus is the second model, the one or more choices displayed on the predetermined screen include at least a choice corresponding to the wired LAN interface (refer to rationale Ciii of claim 1); and
a processing unit to perform predetermined processing for communicating with the communication apparatus via a connection interface (refer to claim 1), the predetermined processing corresponding to a choice (refer to claim 1) made from among the one or more choices,
wherein, in a case where the identification information is acquired from the communication apparatus including a plurality of connection interfaces (refer to claim 1), information indicating the plurality of connection interfaces is displayed (refer to claim 1) on the predetermined screen
As per claim 21, Takeuchi discloses a non-transitory storage medium storing a program for causing a computer of an information processing apparatus to perform:
acquiring identification information for identifying a communication apparatus from a beacon transmitted by the communication apparatus; and
acquiring, based on the identification information acquired from the beacon, from a server external to the information processing apparatus and external to the communication apparatus via the internet, interface information that is information for identifying, by the information processing apparatus, one or more connection interfaces included in the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted, among a plurality of connection interfaces including a wireless Local Area Network (LAN) interface, a wired LAN interface, and a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface,
and that is information that differs depending on a model of the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted,
wherein, in a case where the model of the communication apparatus is a first model, the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information include at least the wireless LAN interface, and, in a case where the model of the communication apparatus is a second model different from the first model, the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information include at least the wired LAN interface;
displaying one or more choices corresponding to the one or more connection interfaces identified based on the interface information on a predetermined screen on a basis of the interface information acquired from the server,
wherein, in the case where the model of the communication apparatus is the first model, the one or more choices displayed on the predetermined screen include at least a choice corresponding to the wireless LAN interface, and,
in the case where the model of the communication apparatus is the second model, the one or more choices displayed on the predetermined screen include at least a choice corresponding to the wired LAN interface; and
performing predetermined processing for communicating with the communication apparatus via a connection interface, the predetermined processing corresponding to a choice made from among the one or more choices,
wherein, in a case where the identification information is acquired from the communication apparatus including a plurality of connection interfaces, information indicating the plurality of connection interfaces is displayed on the predetermined screen.
(all of which having been addressed in claim 1)
As per claim 22, Takeuchi does not explicitly disclose method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 1,
wherein one or more choices corresponding to one or more connection interfaces not included in the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted and not corresponding to the identification information acquired from the beacon are not displayed on the predetermined screen.
The process of identifying all access points as candidate for connection under the paradigm of verifying whether SSID included in a broadcasted beacon from a source device by a preconfigured setup process at any access point along the range of beacon entails that the list of access points deemed susceptible to be selected for a desired WAP connection to be established is provided on a selection screen; according to which, the matching of received beacon-included SSID with a registered SSID under the setup process is shown in Sumiuchi (para 0049, 0054) to enable a connection setting mode via automated operation or via a user to proceed. Similarly, ‘735 discloses a rule-based verifying a SSID (in a beacon originated from a printer) to a corresponding SSID preregistered on a access point as part of AP based connection setting mode that grant the printer a direct communication wireless connection (pg. 5-6) with the access point.
Hence, list of candidate access points to be provided for selection at a information processing system from which a communication device has transmitted a beacon signal is solely based on identification of those access points that respond to the SSID being sent out; that is, choices corresponding to AP connection interfaces not registered in the information sent out by the communication apparatus is recognized; and choices not corresponding to the identification acquired from the transmitted beacon is also recognized; in the sense that neither choices will be part of the listed AP options as shown in Takeuchi.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement Takeuchi’s display of AP connection interfaces as options for establishing a WAP connection so that choices corresponding to AP connection interfaces not registered in the information sent out by communication apparatus and choices not corresponding to the identification acquired from the transmitted beacon - as per Sumiuchi and ‘735 from above - will not be displayed; because
this display omitting act would ease the selection process by a user on the information processing system, in that the selection process is greatly facilitated by presentation of connection interfaces in form of a candidate list restrictive to only those access points that match the SSID sent out from the requesting system.
Claims 2-5, 23 is/are rejected under § 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takeuchi Takuya, JP 2019149845, (translation), 09-05-2019, 21 pgs (herein Takeuchi) in view of Sumiuchi, USPubN: 2017/0006166 (herein Sumiuchi), JP 6929735, (translation), 09-01- 2021, 26 pgs (herein ‘735), and Machida, USPubN: 2002/0083131 (herein Machida) further in view of JP 6884585, 6-09-2021, 17 pgs (herein ‘585), and Yamamoto Takuya, CN 103200647 (translation), 04-03-2018, 12 pgs. (herein Yamamoto) and further of Adler, USPubN: 2013/0061216 (herein Adler)
As per claims 2-5, Takeuchi does not explicitly disclose method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising
(i) displaying one or more choices corresponding to one or more pieces of software supported by the communication apparatus.
(ii) wherein the one or more choices corresponding to the one or more connection interfaces and the one or more choices corresponding to one or more pieces of software are displayed on a same screen.
(iii) wherein the one or more choices corresponding to the one or more connection interfaces and the one or more choices corresponding to one or more pieces of software are displayed on different screens.
(iv) wherein the one or more pieces of software are installed in the information processing apparatus.
As for (ii) and (iv)
Machida discloses presenting the host system with information list (property information - Fig. 3; para 0052) on one or more drivers to select (Fig. 21-22) for configuring installation of a printer at the host system or one of the networked PCs (Fig. 6) using connection status for each device (para 0061); hence presented choices and connection state of the devices for which the piece of software is intended for installation using a same presentation screen is recognized, each piece of software destined to be installed in the information apparatus.
As for (i) and (iii)
Use of a beacon transmission associated with identification of SSID for enabling a connection to be established as part of wireless network fabric is shown in Adler with a CHUMBY service provider; according to which, a user is given choice for a network to connect as result from Access Points search initiated by a received beacon from a emitting device that seeks a wireless connection, the prompted selection enabling the user to enter a NW configuration established with the SSID as property (para 0214; Fig. 17) by which the user registers an account (Fig. 18), so that using the registered profile, the user is presented with a category from a list of widgets (para 0161) whose parameters can be selected for update if applicable by the user as changes made to the widgets which then can be uploaded into the service provider storage (para 0180-0181; Fig.11), where the service provider is also configured to provide software update to the firmware maintained (para 0251), according to which, the user is prompted list of configured Wireless Access Point networks to establish a secure WAP path for a initialization script to perform operations (Fig. 42A, 42B) associated the update process and rebooting of the user system (para 0253) with success of the operations reported on the UI (para 0254)
Hence, presented choices of piece of a software by which to implement update changes for uploading a modified widget into a data store by a provider and presenting Access points via a selection prompt by which user selects a WAP connection by which to carry out installation and reboot to the user system entails presentation of one or more choices corresponding to the one or more connection interfaces and the one or more choices corresponding to one or more pieces of software as displayed of selective information on different screens and so, in the sense that the selection as presented would support broadcasting of a beacon or transmission of SSID included therewith by a communication apparatus attached to the information system that requests establishing of a WAP connection as set forth as obvious per rationale A in claim 1 from above.
That is, one or more choices presented to correspond to one or more pieces of software or one or more connection choices presented to correspond to SW supported by the communication apparatus or NW interface driver is recognized.
Thus, as the host system in Takeuchi is attached with a printer and SSID information thereof is transmitted to a WAP network so that a dedicated AP can be provided to activate a AP connection with the host CPU or the printer, software or driver support by the communication apparatus is recognized; and this would make it obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement configuration of user interface associated with the host system in Takeuchi so that
(1) displaying one or more choices corresponding to one or more pieces of software supported by the communication apparatus can be made via a single screen as in Machida; where the one or more choices corresponding to the one or more connection interfaces and the one or more choices corresponding to one or more pieces of software are displayed on a same screen as in Machida;
(2) wherein the one or more choices corresponding to the one or more connection interfaces and the one or more choices corresponding to one or more pieces of software are displayed on different screens - as in Adler;
(3) so that the one or more pieces of software are installed in the information processing apparatus as result from a UI selection; because
connection information (access points list) presented in conjunction with display of software options to install a corresponding software onto a target apparatus on basis of a selected communication path such as an established WAP connection would exploit the properties of the given connection protocol being chosen to more efficiently communicate a download for installation,
whereas selection of software elements provided in a separate information screen presented with characteristics of a target environment as set forth above would utilize the properties or model of the target hardware as constraints by which installation software would be adapted to support operations such as download, configuration and reboot in accordance with the architecture and I/O setting of the host target; and
selection of a software update from a displayed list such as that of available drivers can improve operation of a peripheral such as printer or a NW interface unit, in the sense that communication data transmitted to support access point connecting as in Takeuchi would be more effective with a new NW interface driver update, and printing throughput of a peripheral device (e.g. a printer) would become more robust due update made to a printer driver.
As per claim 23, Takeuchi discloses method for controlling an information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
acquiring, based on the identification information acquired from the beacon, from the external server, software information corresponding to the one or more pieces of software supported by the communication apparatus (refer to rationale of claims 2-3),
wherein the one or more choices corresponding to the one or more pieces of software supported by the communication apparatus (see above) are displayed on a basis of the software information acquired from the server (refer to rationale B of claim 1)
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 10/09/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Following are the Examiner’s observations in regard thereto.
(A) Applicants have submitted that none of the cited references teach or suggest “acquiring …
based on information acquired from the beacon … from a server .. information … identifying one or more connection interfaces … included in the communication apparatus through which the beacon is transmitted … interfaces including wireless LAN interface, wired LAN interface and USB interface … information differs depending on a model of communication … the one or more connection interfaces identified … include at least a wireless LAN interface … at least a wired LAN interface” (Applicants Remarks pg. 10-11); notably when Takeuchi does not teach information for “identifying connection interfaces including with the communication apparatus by which the beacon is transmitted”; nor is there teaching that the interface information differ from a first model to a second model of communication, the identification information received from a external server based on the beacon transmitted via the communication apparatus in a network having wireless LAN, wired LAN and USB interface as currently claimed (Applicants Remarks pg. 11-12)
The features being referred to by the arguments pertain to a newly added claim language and accordingly, it would not be proper to include these in a prima facie case of rebut, since an adjusted Office action rejection has been initiated to address (for the first time) this newly added subject matter, rendering the merits of the arguments largely MOOT.
(B) Applicants have submitted that the “list of access points” displayed in Takeuchi resulting from a search cannot technically be equivalent to setting information in terms of access points associated with a NW interface being a wireless and a wired one as claimed, each as part of model choice displayed on a screen based on acquisition from a server (Applicants Remarks pg. 13). The raise of merits for a newly added claim language expressed via a simplified attack directed solely at one reference (i.e. Takeuchi) without taking into account teachings from other references included in the combinational rationale presented with a respective 103 rejection as part of the newly formed Office action is deemed largely a case of non-prima facie type of rebut.
( C ) Applicants have submitted that Simiuchi and Machida cannot be seen as sufficient teaching to match the features of amended claim 1 and in all, claims 7-13, 22, 19-21, 2