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 .
Status of Claims
Applicant's arguments, filed 12/23/2025, have been fully considered. The following rejections and/or objections are either reiterated or newly applied. They constitute the complete set presently being applied to the instant application.
Applicants have amended their claims, filed 12/23/2025, and therefore rejections newly made in the instant office action have been necessitated by amendment.
Applicants have amended claims 1, 4-6, 8-9, 11-13, 15-17, and 19-20.
Applicants have left claims 7, 10, and 18 as originally filed/previously presented.
Applicants have canceled/previously canceled claims 2-3, and 14.
Claims 1, 4-13, and 15-20 are the current claims hereby under examination.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Objections - Withdrawn and Maintained
Claim 9 is objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claim 9, line 2 recites “person centers”, however it appears it should read --person center-- (emphasis added).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see page 1 of Remarks, filed 12/23/2025, with respect to claims 1-3, 5, 9, 13-14, 16, and 20 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Applicants have amended the claims rendering the objections moot. The claim objections of claims 1-3, 5, 9, 13-14, 16, and 20 has been withdrawn. However, the claim amendments did not fully address the objections of claim 9, therefore some of the objections are maintained.
Claim Interpretation - 35 USC § 112(f) - Withdrawn
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 1-2 of Remarks, filed 12/23/2025, with respect to the 112(f) interpretation of “a wearable sensing device …” and “an insole-type sensing device …” have been fully considered and are persuasive. Applicants have amended the claims to recite sufficient structure for performing the claimed function. The 112(f) interpretation of “a wearable sensing device …” and “an insole-type sensing device …” has been withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 - Withdrawn
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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see page 2 of Remarks, filed 12/23/2025, with respect to the 112(b) rejection of claims 8-10 and 19-20 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Applicants have amended the claims, rendering the 112(b) rejections moot. The 112(b) rejection of claims 8-10 and 19-20 has been withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 - Withdrawn
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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 4-5 of Remarks, filed 12/23/2025, with respect to the 101 rejection of claims 1-20 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Applicants have amended the independent claims, rendering the 101 rejections moot. The 101 rejection of claims 1-20 has been withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 - Withdrawn
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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 2-3 of Remarks, filed 12/23/2025, with respect to the 102 rejection of claims 1, 5-13, and 15-20 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Applicants have amended the independent claims, rendering the rejection moot. The 102 rejection of claims 1, 5-13, and 15-20 has been withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 - Newly Applied Necessitated by Applicant’s Amendments
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.
Claims 1, 4-13, and 15-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wen et al. (US 20200170515 A1) (previously cited), hereinafter referred to as Wen, in view of Schwartz et al. (US 20070219059 A1) (previously cited), hereinafter referred to as Schwartz, in view of Sazonov et al. (US 20110054359 A1), hereinafter referred to as Sazonov.
The claims are generally directed towards a sport and health cloud system comprising: a cloud server including an intelligent analysis module; a big data database electrically coupled to said cloud server; a wearable sensing circuit for collecting at least one of heart sound information, electrocardiograms, lung sound information, blood pressure, blood glucose level and blood oxygen saturation level; an insole-type sensing circuit for collecting at least foot information; and a mobile device, for connecting to said cloud server, wherein said wearable sensing circuit and said insole-type sensing circuit are for connecting to said mobile device to transmit collected data to said cloud service for being analyzed by said intelligent analysis module, in order to obtain health and exercise data for facilitating an assessment of health status and exercise intensity; wherein said wearable sensing circuit includes an internet of things wearable stethoscope for performing: in response to a connection to said mobile device, performing real-time monitoring online to said heart sound information; and in response to disconnection from said mobile device, recording said heart sound information offline; wherein said mobile device is set with an emergency contact person, and said mobile device is for displaying said heart sound information analyzed by said intelligent analysis module which is indicated with a normal state, an abnormal state or an emergency state, and is for issuing a warning for said abnormal state and said emergency state to said emergency contact person.
Regarding claim 1, Wen discloses a sport and health cloud system (Abstract, “system … for monitoring heart failure …”, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, para. [0006]) comprising:
a cloud server including an intelligent analysis module (Fig. 1, element 124, para. [0051], “external system may include … a remote server-based patient management system …”, para. [0053], “remote device may include a centralized server acting as a central hub for collected patient data storage and analysis …”);
a big data database electrically coupled to said cloud server (Fig. 1, element 124, para. [0053], “remote device may include a centralized server acting as a central hub for collected patient data storage and analysis …”);
a wearable sensing circuit for collecting at least one of heart sound information, electrocardiograms, lung sound information, blood pressure, blood glucose level and blood oxygen saturation level (Fig. 2, element 210, para. [0048], para. [0057], “sensor circuit may be coupled to an implantable, wearable, or otherwise ambulatory sensor or electrodes associated with the patient … sense at least one physiologic or functional signal … electrocardiography … heart rate signal … arterial pressure signal … blood oxygen saturation signal … heart sound signal … glucose level …”);
an insole-type sensing circuit for collecting at least foot information (Fig. 3, element 303, para. [0074], “motion sensors may include … an apparel-mounted sensor … may be mounted on a garment, a footwear … include insole force sensor for placement inside a shoe or a boot …”, para. [0077], “extract one or more moto activity features … gait, balance, posture, physical activity, or range of motion …”); and
a mobile device, for connecting to said cloud server, wherein said wearable sensing circuit and said insole-type sensing circuit are for connecting to said mobile device to transmit collected data to said cloud server for being analyzed by said intelligent analysis module, in order to obtain health and exercise data for facilitating an assessment of health status and exercise intensity (Fig. 1, element 125, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 8, para. [0052], “external system may include an external device … a remote device … in communication with the external device via a telecommunication network …”, para. [0066], “detect patient HF status … reduced walking capacity and poor exercise tolerance …”, para. [0069], “heart failure detector circuit may detected HF status … using a combination of the gait feature and the physiological signal metrics …”, para. [0096], “machine may be a … a mobile telephone …”);
wherein said mobile device is set with an emergency contact person, and said mobile device is for displaying said heart sound information analyzed by said intelligent analysis module which is indicated with a normal state, an abnormal state or an emergency state, and is for issuing a warning for said abnormal state and said emergency state to said emergency contact person (para. [0053-0054], “remote device may generate an alert notification … phone or pager call … output unit may generate alerts, alarms, emergency calls, or other forms of warnings to signal the system user about the WHF detection or WHF risk …”, para. [0094], “the detected HF status or the WHF risk indicator may be output to a user … displayed on a display screen of the user interface …”, para. [0096], “machine may be a … a mobile telephone …”).
Wen suggests, but does not explicitly disclose wherein said wearable sensing circuit includes an internet of things wearable stethoscope. Wen suggests this because in at least para. [0048] and [0057] it is disclosed that the ambulatory device, which is connected to an external system, includes a sensor circuit to measure a physiologic or functional signal from the patient including a heart sound signal.
However, Wen does not explicitly disclose wherein said wearable sensing circuit includes an internet of things wearable stethoscope for performing real-time monitoring online to said heart sound information.
Schwartz teaches an analogous system including a wearable sensing device and a device for collecting foot information (Abstract, Fig. 2A, Fig. 3A, para. [0002], para. [0005-0006], para. [0075]). Schwartz further teaches the wearable sensing circuit includes an internet of things wearable stethoscope for performing real-time monitoring online to said heart sound information (para. [0048], “real-time diagnosis”, para. [0072], para. [0122], para. [0129], “acoustic sensors can be … electronic stethoscopes … outputs will be connected to the data acquisition unit …”). 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 system and wearable sensing device disclosed by Wen to additionally include an internet of things wearable stethoscope for performing real-time monitoring online to said heart sound information, as taught by Schwartz. This is because Schwartz teaches acoustic sensors, including electronic stethoscopes, are sufficiently sensitive to acquire body sounds, including heart and lung sounds (para. [0129]).
However, modified Wen does not explicitly disclose in response to a connection to said mobile device, performing the real-time monitoring online; and in response to disconnection from said mobile device, recording said heart sound information offline.
Sazonov teaches an analogous sport and health cloud system (Abstract, Fig. 1C) comprising a wearable sensing circuit for collecting physiological information (Fig. 1C, element 121, para. [0041]) and an insole-type sensing device for collecting foot information (Fig. 1C, element 101, 201, 103, 203, para. [0037-0040]). Sazonov further teaches in response to a connection to said mobile device, performing real-time monitoring online; and in response to disconnection from said mobile device, recording information offline (Fig. 6, para. [0078], “connected to the processing device … transmitter may transmit the pressure and acceleration data … determines that the transmitter is not connected to the processor device … store the data in a storage device for later transmission …”). 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 wearable sensing circuit taught by modified Wen to additionally in response to a connection to said mobile device, performing the real-time monitoring online; and in response to disconnection from said mobile device, recording said heart sound information offline, as taught by Sazonov. This is because Sazonov teaches storing information for later transmission even though the device is not connected to the processing device allows for health information to still be obtained, and processing and transmission to occur at a later time (para. [0078]), thereby improving health monitoring and the wearable sensing circuit in the same way.
Regarding claim 4, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 3, wherein said mobile device is further set with an ambulance service, a police department or an insurance company for designating a medical service unit, an emergency rescue or a rescue network in advance (para. [0045], “portions of the system may be disposed in … a hospital …”, para. [0053-0054], “alert notifications … to emergency services and to the clinician … WFH risk to … a clinician”).
Regarding claim 5, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 1, wherein said foot information is displayed in real time by said mobile device to analyze a personal movement or exercise, and establish a relationship between said exercise and a foot pressure (Fig. 1, Fig. 3, para. [0051], “external system may include real-time … physiological data from the patient …”, para. [0070], “user interface may include a display unit and a user input device … display unit may be configured to display sensed gait or balance signal or other moto activity signals or physiologic signals …”, para. [0074], “insole force sensor for placement inside a shoe or a boot …”, para. [0077], “extract one or more motor activity features, such as gait, balance, posture, physical activity, or range of motion …”, para. [0078-0080]).
Regarding claim 6, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 1, wherein said insole-type sensing circuit includes a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a GPS or any combination thereof (para. [0058], para. [0074], “insole force sensor for placement inside a shoe or a boot … insole force sensor may take the form of a strain gauge, piezoelectric sensor, or capacitive sensor, among others …”, para. [0075]).
Regarding claim 7, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 6, wherein said analyzed data includes one or any combination of following: a foot pressure distribution, a weight ratio of feet, a gait, a stride frequency and a pressure center (para. [0077], “motor activity feature generator may extract one or more motor activity features, such as gait, balance, posture, physical activity, or range of motion …”).
Regarding claim 8, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 1, wherein said collected data stored in said mobile device or said big data database is used for health management or used by a third party (para. [0045], para. [0051], para. [0053], “generate an alert … to a clinician”, para. [0054], para. [0069], “heart failure detector circuit may detected HF status … using a combination of the gait feature and the physiological signal metrics …”).
Regarding claim 9, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 8, wherein said third party includes a hospital, an insurance company, a senior person centers or a brand manufacture (para. [0045], “portions of the system may be disposed in … a hospital …”, para. [0053-0054], “alert notifications … to emergency services and to the clinician … WFH risk to … a clinician”).
Regarding claim 10, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 9, wherein said big data database employs a block chain technology (para. [0053], “remote device may include a centralized server acting as a central hub for collected patient data storage and analysis … server may be configured as a … multi-, or distributed computing and processing system …”).
Regarding claim 11, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 1, wherein said collected data is analyzed by said intelligent analysis module to obtain accurate sport and health information which is used by an insurance company or a hospital to facilitate insurance risk analysis, or hospital treatment evaluation (para. [0053-0054], “alert notifications … emergency services and to the clinician … clinician may review, perform further analysis …”, para. [0066], “heart failure detector circuit, coupled to the gait analyzer circuit, may be configured to detect patient HF status …”).
Regarding claim 12, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 1, wherein said wearable sensing circuit or said insole-type sensing circuit is further configured to collect information of at least one of foot exercise, ankle exercise, knee exercise or hand exercise (para. [0061-0065], “gait, balance, posture, physical activity, range of motion … walking speed trend, stride length trend, stride width trend, swing time trend, cadence trend …”).
Regarding claim 13, Wen discloses a sport and health cloud system (Abstract, “system … for monitoring heart failure …”, Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, para. [0006]) comprising:
a cloud server including an intelligent analysis module (Fig. 1, element 124, para. [0051], “external system may include … a remote server-based patient management system …”, para. [0053], “remote device may include a centralized server acting as a central hub for collected patient data storage and analysis …”);
a big data database electrically coupled to said cloud server (Fig. 1, element 124, para. [0053], “remote device may include a centralized server acting as a central hub for collected patient data storage and analysis …”);
a wearable sensing circuit for detecting physiological data including heart sound information (Fig. 2, element 210, para. [0048], para. [0057], “sensor circuit may be coupled to an implantable, wearable, or otherwise ambulatory sensor or electrodes associated with the patient … sense at least one physiologic or functional signal … electrocardiography … heart rate signal … arterial pressure signal … blood oxygen saturation signal … heart sound signal … glucose level …”);
an exercise sensing circuit for collecting exercise information (Fig. 3, element 303, para. [0074], “motion sensors may include … an apparel-mounted sensor … may be mounted on a garment, a footwear … include insole force sensor for placement inside a shoe or a boot …”, para. [0077], “extract one or more moto activity features … gait, balance, posture, physical activity, or range of motion …”); and
a mobile device, for connecting to said cloud server, wherein said wearable sensing circuit and said exercise sensing circuit are for connecting to said mobile device to transmit collected data to said cloud server for being analyzed by said intelligent analysis module, in order to obtain health and exercise data for facilitating an assessment of health status and exercise intensity (Fig. 1, element 125, Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 8, para. [0052], “external system may include an external device … a remote device … in communication with the external device via a telecommunication network …”, para. [0066], “detect patient HF status … reduced walking capacity and poor exercise tolerance …”, para. [0069], “heart failure detector circuit may detected HF status … using a combination of the gait feature and the physiological signal metrics …”, para. [0096], “machine may be a … a mobile telephone …”);
wherein said mobile device is set with an emergency contact person, and said mobile device is for displaying said heart sound information analyzed by said intelligent analysis module which is indicated with a normal state, an abnormal state or an emergency state, and is for issuing a warning for said abnormal state and said emergency state to said emergency contact person (para. [0053-0054], “remote device may generate an alert notification … phone or pager call … output unit may generate alerts, alarms, emergency calls, or other forms of warnings to signal the system user about the WHF detection or WHF risk …”, para. [0094], “the detected HF status or the WHF risk indicator may be output to a user … displayed on a display screen of the user interface …”, para. [0096], “machine may be a … a mobile telephone …”).
Wen suggests, but does not explicitly disclose wherein said wearable sensing circuit includes an internet of things wearable stethoscope. Wen suggests this because in at least para. [0048] and [0057] it is disclosed that the ambulatory device, which is connected to an external system, includes a sensor circuit to measure a physiologic or functional signal from the patient including a heart sound signal.
However, Wen does not explicitly disclose wherein said wearable sensing circuit includes an internet of things wearable stethoscope for performing real-time monitoring online to said heart sound information.
Schwartz teaches an analogous system including a wearable sensing device and a device for collecting foot information (Abstract, Fig. 2A, Fig. 3A, para. [0002], para. [0005-0006], para. [0075]). Schwartz further teaches the wearable sensing circuit includes an internet of things wearable stethoscope for performing real-time monitoring online to said heart sound information (para. [0048], “real-time diagnosis”, para. [0072], para. [0122], para. [0129], “acoustic sensors can be … electronic stethoscopes … outputs will be connected to the data acquisition unit …”). 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 system and wearable sensing device disclosed by Wen to additionally include an internet of things wearable stethoscope for performing real-time monitoring online to said heart sound information, as taught by Schwartz. This is because Schwartz teaches acoustic sensors, including electronic stethoscopes, are sufficiently sensitive to acquire body sounds, including heart and lung sounds (para. [0129]).
However, modified Wen does not explicitly disclose in response to a connection to said mobile device, performing the real-time monitoring online; and in response to disconnection from said mobile device, recording said heart sound information offline.
Sazonov teaches an analogous sport and health cloud system (Abstract, Fig. 1C) comprising a wearable sensing circuit for collecting physiological information (Fig. 1C, element 121, para. [0041]) and an insole-type sensing device for collecting foot information (Fig. 1C, element 101, 201, 103, 203, para. [0037-0040]). Sazonov further teaches in response to a connection to said mobile device, performing real-time monitoring online; and in response to disconnection from said mobile device, recording information offline (Fig. 6, para. [0078], “connected to the processing device … transmitter may transmit the pressure and acceleration data … determines that the transmitter is not connected to the processor device … store the data in a storage device for later transmission …”). 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 wearable sensing circuit taught by modified Wen to additionally in response to a connection to said mobile device, performing the real-time monitoring online; and in response to disconnection from said mobile device, recording said heart sound information offline, as taught by Sazonov. This is because Sazonov teaches storing information for later transmission even though the device is not connected to the processing device allows for health information to still be obtained, and processing and transmission to occur at a later time (para. [0078]), thereby improving health monitoring and the wearable sensing circuit in the same way.
Regarding claim 15, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 13, wherein said mobile device is set with an ambulance service, a police department or an insurance company for designating a medical service unit, an emergency rescue or a rescue network in advance (para. [0045], “portions of the system may be disposed in … a hospital …”, para. [0053-0054], “alert notifications … to emergency services and to the clinician … WFH risk to … a clinician”).
Regarding claim 16, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 13, wherein said exercise information includes collects a foot information which is displayed in real time by said mobile device to analyze a personal movement or exercise, and establish a relationship between said exercise and a foot pressure (Fig. 1, Fig. 3, para. [0051], “external system may include real-time … physiological data from the patient …”, para. [0070], “user interface may include a display unit and a user input device … display unit may be configured to display sensed gait or balance signal or other moto activity signals or physiologic signals …”, para. [0074], “insole force sensor for placement inside a shoe or a boot …”, para. [0077], “extract one or more motor activity features, such as gait, balance, posture, physical activity, or range of motion …”, para. [0078-0080]).
Regarding claim 17, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 13, wherein said exercise sensing circuit includes a pressure sensor, an infrared sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a GPS or any combination thereof (para. [0058], para. [0074], “insole force sensor for placement inside a shoe or a boot … insole force sensor may take the form of a strain gauge, piezoelectric sensor, or capacitive sensor, among others …”, para. [0075]).
Regarding claim 18, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 17, wherein said analyzed data includes one or any combination of following: a foot pressure distribution, a weight ratio of feet, a gait, a stride frequency and a pressure center (para. [0077], “motor activity feature generator may extract one or more motor activity features, such as gait, balance, posture, physical activity, or range of motion …”).
Regarding claim 19, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 13, wherein said collected data stored in said mobile device or said big data database is used for health management or used by a third party (para. [0045], para. [0051], para. [0053], “generate an alert … to a clinician”, para. [0054], para. [0069], “heart failure detector circuit may detected HF status … using a combination of the gait feature and the physiological signal metrics …”).
Regarding claim 20, modified Wen discloses the system of claim 19, wherein said third party includes a hospital, an insurance company, a senior person center or a brand manufacturer (para. [0045], “portions of the system may be disposed in … a hospital …”, para. [0053-0054], “alert notifications … to emergency services and to the clinician … WFH risk to … a clinician”).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 2-4 of Remarks, filed 12/23/2025, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-20 under 35 USC 102 and 35 USC 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Sazonov et al. (US 20110054359 A1), hereinafter referred to as Sazonov.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 KYLE W KRETZER whose telephone number is (571)272-1907. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM.
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/K.W.K./Examiner, Art Unit 3791
/JASON M SIMS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3791