DETAILED ACTION
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 Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-25 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 08/06/26 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 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.
Claims 1-18, 20-23, and 25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Putman et al. US 2020/0293019 (“Putnam”).
Putnam discloses:
1. A method of automatically generating a process definition for an industrial process to create a product in an industrial plant, the method comprising:
capturing sensor data including one or more of: images of an individual, videos of the individual, or location data of the individual, captured as the individual performs a set of process operations to a set of process materials to make a product (e.g., [0035]: “Multiple imaging devices can be used to capture the operator's motions and his interactions with the product of manufacture that he is assembling to generate video, images and/or 3D point cloud data.”);
analyzing the captured sensor data (e.g., [0035]: “The captured data can provide granular information such as: an operator's hand coordinates in relation to the product of manufacture as it is being assembled, the relationship of one hand to another, and the relationship of the fingers (and in some embodiments, the joints in the fingers) to the product of manufacture as it is being assembled.”); and
identifying, based on analyzing the captured sensor data, a process definition defining how the product is made, the process definition including one or more of: the set of process materials for making the product, one or more equipment used to make the product, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, a sequence of the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, a timing of the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, or quantity information regarding the set of process materials used in the industrial process to make the product (e.g., [0035]: “The data collected from the skilled operator can be used as a ground truth for assembly of an optimal/desired product of manufacture”).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes audio data, associated with the individual, captured as the individual performs one or more process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., [0021], [0030], [0035]).
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes data from sensors associated with one or more equipment involved in the set of process operations (e.g., [0018]-[0019], [0035], [0069], [0077]).
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes location sensor data associated with one or more process materials of the set of process materials, or one or more equipment involved in the set of process operations (e.g., [0018]-[0019], [0035], [0069], [0077]).
5. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the sensor data includes analyzing audio data to identify words or phrases spoken by the individual as the individual performs one or more process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., [0021], [0030], [0035]).
7. A system for automatically generating a process definition for an industrial process to create a product in an industrial plant, the system comprising:
one or more sensors configured to capture sensor data including one or more of:
images of an individual, videos of the individual, audio of the individual, or location data of the individual, captured as the individual performs a set of process operations to a set of process materials to make a product (e.g., [0035]: “Multiple imaging devices can be used to capture the operator's motions and his interactions with the product of manufacture that he is assembling to generate video, images and/or 3D point cloud data.”);
one or more processors (e.g., [0071]);
a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors (e.g., [0071]), cause the one or more processors to:
analyze the captured sensor data (e.g., [0035]: “The captured data can provide granular information such as: an operator's hand coordinates in relation to the product of manufacture as it is being assembled, the relationship of one hand to another, and the relationship of the fingers (and in some embodiments, the joints in the fingers) to the product of manufacture as it is being assembled.”); and
identify, based on analyzing the captured sensor data, a process definition defining how the product is made, the process definition including one or more of: the set of process materials for making the product, one or more equipment used to make the product, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, a sequence of the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, a timing of the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, or quantity information regarding the set of process materials used in the industrial process to make the product (e.g., [0035]: “The data collected from the skilled operator can be used as a ground truth for assembly of an optimal/desired product of manufacture”).
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor data includes audio data, associated with the individual, captured as the individual performs one or more process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., [0021], [0030], [0035]).
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor data includes data from sensors associated with one or more equipment involved in the set of process operations (e.g., [0018]-[0019], [0035], [0069], [0077]).
10. The system of claim 7, wherein the sensor data includes location sensor data associated with one or more process materials of the set of process materials, or one or more equipment involved in the set of process operations (e.g., [0018]-[0019], [0035], [0069], [0077]).
11. The system of claim 7, wherein analyzing the sensor data includes analyzing audio data to identify words or phrases spoken by the individual as the individual performs one or more process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., [0021], [0030], [0035]).
12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a user interface, and wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
provide the identified process definition via the user interface (e.g., [0015]-[0017]);
receive, via the user interface, an adjustment of one or more of: the set of process materials for making the product, the one or more equipment used to make the product, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, the sequence of the set of process operations, the timing of the set of process operations, or the quantity information regarding the set of process materials used in the industrial process (e.g., [0020]: “altering operator instructions/guidance provided to various stations”); and
update the process definition based on the adjustment received via the user interface (e.g., [0020]: “altering operator instructions/guidance provided to various stations”).
13. A method of automatically generating a configuration hierarchy for a process definition for an industrial process to create a product in an industrial plant, the method comprising:
analyzing sensor data including one or more of: images of an individual, videos of the individual, audio of the individual, or location data of the individual, captured as the individual performs a set of process operations to a set of process materials to make a product (e.g., [0035]: “The captured data can provide granular information such as: an operator's hand coordinates in relation to the product of manufacture as it is being assembled, the relationship of one hand to another, and the relationship of the fingers (and in some embodiments, the joints in the fingers) to the product of manufacture as it is being assembled.”);
identifying, based on analyzing the sensor data, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product and one or more equipment used in each of the process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., [0035]: “The data collected from the skilled operator can be used as a ground truth for assembly of an optimal/desired product of manufacture”); and
determining, based on the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product and the one or more equipment used in each of the process operations of the set of process operations, a hierarchy level of the industrial plant associated with each of the process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., [0025]-[0026], [0043]).
14. A system for automatically generating a configuration hierarchy for a process definition for an industrial process to create a product in an industrial plant, the system comprising:
one or more processors (e.g., [0071]);
a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors (e.g., [0071]), cause the one or more processors to:
analyze sensor data including one or more of:
images of an individual, videos of the individual, audio of the individual, or location data of the individual, captured as the individual performs a set of process operations to a set of process materials to make a product (e.g., [0035]: “Multiple imaging devices can be used to capture the operator's motions and his interactions with the product of manufacture that he is assembling to generate video, images and/or 3D point cloud data.”);
identify, based on analyzing the sensor data, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product and one or more equipment used in each of the process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., [0035]: “The data collected from the skilled operator can be used as a ground truth for assembly of an optimal/desired product of manufacture”); and
determine, based on the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product and the one or more equipment used in each of the process operations of the set of process operations, a hierarchy level of the industrial plant associated with each of the process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., [0025]-[0026], [0043]).
15. A method of visualizing a process definition for an industrial process to create a product in an industrial plant, the method comprising:
analyzing sensor data including one or more of: images of an individual, videos of the individual, audio of the individual, or location data of the individual, captured as the individual performs a set of process operations to a set of process materials to make a product (e.g., [0018], [0035]: “Multiple imaging devices can be used to capture the operator's motions and his interactions with the product of manufacture that he is assembling to generate video, images and/or 3D point cloud data.”);
identifying, based on analyzing the sensor data, a process definition defining how the product is made, the process definition including one or more of: the set of process materials for making the product, one or more equipment used to make the product, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, a sequence of the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, a timing of the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, or quantity information regarding the set of process materials used in the industrial process to make the product (e.g., [0015]-[0018], [0035]: “The data collected from the skilled operator can be used as a ground truth for assembly of an optimal/desired product of manufacture”);
generating, based on analyzing the sensor data associated with the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product, a visualization of the set of process operations being performed to the set of process materials to make the product, wherein the visualization illustrates one or more of the set of process materials for making the product, the one or more equipment used to make the product, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, the sequence of the set of process operations, the timing of the set of process operations, or the quantity information regarding the set of process materials used in the industrial process (e.g., [0015]-[0017]); and
providing, via a user interface, the visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product (e.g., [0015]-[0017]).
16. The method of claim 15, wherein providing the visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product includes providing an augmented reality (AR) visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product (e.g., [0015], [0017]).
17. The method of claim 16, wherein providing the AR visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product includes providing the AR visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product, overlaid upon a process environment in which the sensor data associated with the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product was captured (e.g., [0015]-[0017]).
18. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
receiving input from a user requesting a particular process operation of the set of process operations (e.g., [0060]: “input parameters”); and
providing, via the user interface, the visualization of the particular process operation of the set of process operations, isolated from the set of process operations, based on the input from the user (e.g., [0060]: “The CAD system may then generate a three-dimensional CAD model that represents the configuration of the output at each step”).
20. A system for visualizing a process definition for an industrial process to create a product in an industrial plant, the system comprising:
a user interface (e.g., [0071]);
one or more processors (e.g., [0071]);
a memory storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors (e.g., [0071]), cause the one or more processors to:
analyze sensor data including one or more of: images of an individual, videos of the individual, audio of the individual, or location data of the individual, captured as the individual performs a set of process operations to a set of process materials to make a product (e.g., [0018]);
identify, based on analyzing the sensor data, a process definition defining how the product is made, the process definition including one or more of: the set of process materials for making the product, one or more equipment used to make the product, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, a sequence of the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, a timing of the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, or quantity information regarding the set of process materials used in the industrial process to make the product (e.g., [0015]-[0018]);
generate, based on analyzing the sensor data associated with the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product, a visualization of the set of process operations being performed to the set of process materials to make the product, wherein the visualization illustrates one or more of the set of process materials for making the product, the one or more equipment used to make the product, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, the sequence of the set of process operations, the timing of the set of process operations, or the quantity information regarding the set of process materials used in the industrial process (e.g., [0015]-[0017]); and
provide, via the user interface, the visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product (e.g., [0015]-[0017], [0066]-[0074]).
21. The system of claim 20, wherein providing the visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product includes providing an augmented reality (AR) visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product (e.g., [0015], [0017]).
22. The system of claim 21, wherein providing the AR visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product includes providing the AR visualization of the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product, overlaid upon a process environment in which the sensor data associated with the individual performing the set of process operations to the set of process materials to make the product was captured (e.g., [0015], [0017]).
23. The system of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
receive input from a user requesting a particular process operation of the set of process operations (e.g., [0060]: “input parameters”); and
provide, via the user interface, the visualization of the particular process operation of the set of process operations, isolated from the set of process operations, based on the input from the user (e.g., [0060]: “The CAD system may then generate a three-dimensional CAD model that represents the configuration of the output at each step”).
25. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
providing, via a user interface, the identified process definition (e.g., [0015]-[0017]);
receiving, via the user interface, an adjustment of one or more of: the set of process materials for making the product, the one or more equipment used to make the product, the set of process operations applied to the set of process materials to make the product, the sequence of the set of process operations, the timing of the set of process operations, or the quantity information regarding the set of process materials used in the industrial process (e.g., [0020]: “altering operator instructions/guidance provided to various stations”); and
updating the process definition based on the adjustment received via the user interface (e.g., [0020]: “altering operator instructions/guidance provided to various stations”).
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
Claims 19 and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Putman in view of Mehrotra et al. US 2021/0150438 (“Mehrotra”).
Putnam does not explicitly disclose the features of claims 19 and 24.
Mehrotra (in combination with Putnam) discloses:
19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:
receiving input from a user indicating a request to increase or decrease a speed associated with the visualization of one or more process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., Fig. 12, claim 15, claim 19: “receiving an input at the computing device, wherein the input is indicative of an instruction to continue to a second instruction”); and
providing, via the user interface, a slowed-down or sped-up visualization of the one or more process operations of the set of process operations based on the input from the user (e.g., Fig. 12, claim 15, claim 19: “receiving an input at the computing device, wherein the input is indicative of an instruction to continue to a second instruction”).
24. The system of claim 20, wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to:
receive input from a user indicating a request to increase or decrease a speed associated with the visualization of one or more process operations of the set of process operations (e.g., Fig. 12, claim 15, claim 19: “receiving an input at the computing device, wherein the input is indicative of an instruction to continue to a second instruction”); and
provide, via the user interface, a slowed-down or sped-up visualization of the one or more process operations of the set of process operations based on the input from the user (e.g., Fig. 12, claim 15, claim 19: “receiving an input at the computing device, wherein the input is indicative of an instruction to continue to a second instruction”).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Putnam with Mehrotra in order to allow someone to view the instructional sequence of Putnam at a faster pace in order to get to the portion of the tutorial sequence they are concerned with. This prevents them from wasting time viewing instructions that are not pertinent to them or that they are already familiar with.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RYAN A JARRETT whose telephone number is (571)272-3742. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:30.
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/RYAN A JARRETT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2116
10/10/26
