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
This action is in response to applicant arguments filled on 08/24/2026 for application 18354502.
Claims 17-21 and 23-31 have been canceled.
Claims 1-16, 22 and 32 are currently pending and have been examined.
Detailed Action
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
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.
Claim 1-16, 22 and 32 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Enzinna et al. (US 2019/0287381 A1) in view of Prakash et al. (US 2014/0004825 A1)
As per claim 1, Enzinna teaches a nurse call system (Fig. 2-3 and Para 24-25 wherein a pillow speaker system 10 connects to nurse call station 90), comprising: a patient hub (Fig. 2-3 and Para. 24 wherein hub 20 communicates with both nurse call audio port 22 and PID 12), comprising:
a nurse call interface circuit configured to be in electronic communication with a nurse call patient station (Fig. 2-3, Para. 24-25, 29, and 31 wherein port 22 and its circuitry communicates electrically with station 90. Fig. 2 identifies the connected component as the patient station); and
a hub controller in electronic communication with the nurse call interface circuit; and a patient interaction device ("PID") (Para. 24 and 25 and Fig. 2 and Para. 23 taches PIDS 12 which may be a tablet or a smartphone), comprising:
a hub interconnect configured to be in electronic communication with the hub controller (Fig. 2 and Para. 24-25 wherein the PID side USB connection communicates with the hub 20 and carries the hub generated digital nurse call indicator. ); and
Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches:
a communication link for receiving a PID software update (Fig.2 and Para. 28 wherein receiving software update thought wireless communication is taught.
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the filing date of the claimed invention to modify Enzinna patient interaction device to include a communication link for receiving software updates as taught in Prakash. Such modification would permit updates to the PID software to be delivered remotely. Applying Prakash software update technique to Enzinna’s processor based PID would predictably enable the PID to receive update software through the communication link.
As per claim 2, Enzinna in view of Prakash teach the nurse call system of claim 1. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches, wherein the PID software update is a PID firmware update (Para. 12 and 30 wherein software updates including firmware is taught. See also Fig. 3). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 3, Enzinna in view of Prakash teach the nurse call system of claim 1. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches the nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the PID software update is a PID operating system update (Para. 12 securely updating software including operating system on a device is taught). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 4, Enzinna in view of Prakash teach the nurse call system of claim 1. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the PID further comprises a PID memory unit, and the PID is configured to load the PID software update into the PID memory unit (Para. 32-33). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 5, Enzinna in view of Prakash teach the nurse call system of claim 1. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches the nurse call system of claim 4, wherein the PID is configured to load the PID software update into the PID memory unit only if the PID software update has been verified as genuine (Para. 30-31 and Fig. 4 wherein digital signature to verify update integrity and trusted sources is taught). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 6, Enzinna teaches the nurse call system of claim 4. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches the nurse call system of claim 4, wherein the PID further comprises a PID memory recovery module configured to load a previous PID software version into the PID memory unit if the PID software update fails to load. (Para. 44-45 and fig. 4). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 7, Enzinna teaches the nurse call system of claim 4. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches the nurse call system of claim 4, wherein the PID is configured to produce a confirmation sound when the PID software update is successfully programmed into the PID memory unit. (Para. 23 and Fig. 2). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 8, Enzinna teaches the nurse call system of claim 7, wherein the confirmation sound is produced by an audio speaker (Para. 23 and Fig. 2).
As per claim 9, Enzinna teaches the nurse call system of claim 4. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches nurse call system of claim 4, wherein the PID is configured to produce a confirmation notice when the PID software update is successfully programmed into the PID memory unit (Para. 23). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 6.
As per claim 10, Enzinna teaches the nurse call system of claim 4. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches teaches the nurse call system of claim 9, wherein the confirmation notice is shown by a display screen (Para. 32, 23, and Fig. 5). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 6.
As per claim 11, Enzinna teaches the nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the PID is a pillow speaker (Para. 38).
As per claim 12, Enzinna teaches the nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the PID is further configured to receive a hub software update received via the communication link, and to transmit the hub software update to the hub controller via the hub interconnect (Para. 9 and 24-25).
As per claim 13, Enzinna in view of Prakash teach the nurse call system of claim 1. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches nurse call system of claim 12, wherein the hub software update is a hub firmware update (Para. 12 and 30). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 14, Enzinna in view of Prakash teach the nurse call system of claim 1. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches the nurse call system of claim 12, wherein the hub controller comprises a hub memory unit, and the hub controller is configured to load the hub software update into the hub memory unit (Para. 32-33 and Fig. 5-6). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 15, Enzinna in view of Prakash teach the nurse call system of claim 1. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches the nurse call system of claim 14, wherein the hub controller is configured to load the hub software update into the hub memory unit only if the hub software update has been verified as genuine (Para. 30-31 and Fig. 4 wherein authenticating procedure to the hub’s update process is taught). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 16, Enzinna in view of Prakash teach the nurse call system of claim 1. Enzinna does not explicitly teach however Prakash teaches nurse call system of claim 14. Ferguson does not explicitly teach however Hoffman teaches wherein the nurse call system of claim 14, wherein the hub controller further comprises a hub memory recovery module configured to load a previous hub software version into the hub memory unit if the hub software update fails to load (Para. 31). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 22, Prakash teaches the nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the PID is further configured to receive a nurse call software update received via the communication link (Para. 28 and FI. 2 wherein receiving software update wirelessly is taught. Applying this to the nurse call software is part of the proposed modification). Enzinna teaches
and to transmit the nurse call software update to the hub controller via the hub interconnect (Para. 24, 28, and Fig. 2 wherein Pid to hub transmission of digital data is taught.), and Prakash further teaches:
wherein the hub controller is configured to transmit the nurse call software update to the nurse call interface circuit via an intrahub communication link (Para. 34 wherein distributing update operations across physical devices is taught). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
As per claim 32, Prakash teaches the nurse call system of claim 1, wherein the communication link (Para. 28 and Fig. 2 wherein wireless communication between update server and the device is taught) and Enzinna teaches is logically separated from the hub interconnect (Fig. 2 and Para. 24). The motivation to combine references is the same as seen in claim 1.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to the art rejection above have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection. The rejection has been withdrawn and replaced by the new grounds of rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAROUN P KANAAN whose telephone number is (571)270-1497. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Mamon Obeid can be reached on (571) 270-1813. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
MAROUN P. KANAAN
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3687
/MAROUN P KANAAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3687
