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 .
Response to Amendment
Claims 1-20 are pending on the application, of which claim 1 is amended and claims 10-20 are withdrawn from consideration.
In light of the amendments, all previous rejections are withdrawn, but for the 35 U.S.C. 112(a) and 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejection of claim 9.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/11/2025 with respect to the rejection to claim 9 under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) and 35 U.S.C. 112(b) have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Although the cited portions of the disclosure in the remarks relates user data to a vehicle and vehicle profile data to the vehicle, examiner does not see a clear connection that explicitly relates the user data with the vehicle profile. The mere fact that both relate to the vehicle is not clearly indicative that the user data relates to the vehicle profile.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the prior art rejection of claim(s) 1-9 have been considered but are moot as the rejection is withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The specification appears to be devoid of any link between the user data and the vehicle profile.
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.
Claims 9 is 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.
With respect to claim 9, it is unclear how the user data relates to the vehicle profile. Further, the specification does not provide any explicit linking between the two which would be indicative of such.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-8 allowable over prior art.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The closest prior art of record is that recited in the action dated 09/15/2025, and Malki (US20230256943A1).
Malki discloses a vision system which is utilized to determine special care requirements of a vehicle and adjust a cleaning operation accordingly, including making cleaning portions inactive for areas deemed to be damaged [0047, 0064, 0069-0070, 0075-0077].
When Malki is taken in view with the references recited in the previous action, it is reasonably believed that such teachings would lead a skilled artisan to develop a system which identifies and maps the vehicle surface as well as surface discontinuities (such as damage) via point cloud systems and adjusts a spraying operation so as to avoid such areas.
However, in the time allotted by the office, and based on the prior art of record, it does not appear that the references of record when taken in combination fairly teach or suggest the entirety of claim 1. Thus, claim 1 is considered allowable.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OMAIR CHAUDHRI whose telephone number is (571)272-4773. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:00am to 5:00pm EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Michael Barr can be reached at (571)272-1414. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/OMAIR CHAUDHRI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1711
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