DETAILED ACTION
This is a first action on the merits, in response to the claims received 3/24/2023.
Claims 1-10 are pending for prosecution below.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS)(s) file has been considered by the examiner. An initialed copy is attached herewith.
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) 1-5,7-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipation by Alan, (USPATNO.11,148,549).
As for claim 1, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2 a method of operating a charging station for an electric vehicle, the method comprising: automatically providing, by the charging station and the electric vehicle, a direct wireless communication link between the charging station and the electric vehicle when the electric vehicle drives into defined surroundings of the charging station; automatically sending, by the charging station, a status message to the electric vehicle using the direct wireless communication link; receiving, by the electric vehicle, the status message at the electric vehicle; displaying, by the electric vehicle, contents of the status message; and generating, by the electric vehicle, a charging request of the electric vehicle (col.6, line 42-col.7, line 14;col.7, lines 42-57;col.15, lines 43-58; col.22, lines 49-col.23, line 10)
As for claim 2, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2 direct wireless communication link is a Bluetooth link and a range of the direct wireless communication link defines the defined surroundings of the charging station (col.7,lines 42-57)
As for claim 3, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2 status message indicates an occupancy of the charging station and includes a waiting list (col.15, lines 7-58).
As for claim 4, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2 status message indicates an arrival time of the electric vehicle, a waiting time of the electric vehicle, and a state of charge of another electric vehicle (col.15, lines 7-58)
As for claim 6, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2 sending, by the electric vehicle, a reply message to the charging station; adding, by the charging station, the electric vehicle to the waiting list if the reply message indicates the charging request of the electric vehicle; and sending, by the charging station, a confirmation message to the electric vehicle if the reply message indicates the charging request of the electric vehicle.
As for claim 7, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2sending, by the charging station, a changed status message to another electric vehicle behind the electric vehicle in the waiting list when charging of the electric vehicle is finished (col.16, lines 20-34).
As for claim 8, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2 providing, by the charging station, a separate waiting list for each of a plurality of charging ports of the charging station, wherein the status message indicates an identifier of one of the plurality of charging ports of the charging station (col.14, line 65-col.15, line 6)
As for claim 9, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2 a charging station for an electric vehicle, the charging station comprising: at least one charging port; and a communication device coupled to the at least one charging port, wherein the communication device, in operation, automatically provides a direct wireless communication link between the charging station and the electric vehicle when the electric vehicle drives into defined surroundings of the charging station, automatically sends a status message to the electric vehicle using the direct wireless communication link, and receives a charging request of the electric vehicle, and wherein the at least one charging port, in operation, charges the electric vehicle in response to the communication device receiving the charging request (col.6, line 42-col.7, line 14;col.7, lines 42-57;col.15, lines 43-58; col.22, lines 49-col.23, line 10).
As for claim 10, Alan discloses and shows in Figs.1-2 an electric vehicle, comprising: a communication device; and an interface device coupled to the communication device, wherein the communication device, in operation,
automatically provides a direct wireless communication link between a charging
station and the electric vehicle when the electric vehicle drives into defined surroundings of the charging station, receives a status message from the charging station, and sends a charging request of the electric vehicle, and wherein the interface device, in operation, displays contents of the status message, and
generates the charging request of the electric vehicle (col.6, line 42-col.7, line 14;col.7, lines 42-57;col.15, lines 43-58; col.22, lines 49-col.23, line 10).
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Alan in view of Sun et al, (Sun), (USNO.2021/0213846)
As for claim 6, Alan discloses all limitations, but differs from the claimed invention because he does not explicitly disclose sending, by the electric vehicle, a cancellation message corresponding to the confirmation
Sun discloses sending, by the electric vehicle, a cancellation message corresponding to the confirmation (par.[0153])
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention was made to have modified the teachings of Alan by using sending, by the electric vehicle, a cancellation message corresponding to the confirmation for advantages such as providing the ability to inform and guide the user (par.[0151]), as taught by Sun.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ARUN C WILLIAMS whose telephone number is (571)272-9765. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9 a.m. - 6 p.m..
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Julian Huffman can be reached on 571-272-2147. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ARUN C WILLIAMS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2859