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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 7/1/26 has been entered.
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.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shelton et al., U.S. 20220083957 A1, in view of DeJarnette et al., U.S. 20190311322 A1.
1. A system for item management, comprising:
a radio-frequency identification reading system for an item storage area, (see Sheldon, abstract), the radio- frequency identification reading system configured to receive user information from a user radio-frequency identification tag, (see Sheldon, ¶ 32)(In order to access the storage bin 206 of the kiosk device 202, a user can … swipe a badge, security key, and/or access card (e.g., via a badge and/or card reader)), and
the radio-frequency identification reading system configured to receive item information from an item radio-frequency identification tag, (see Sheldon, abstract)(the RFID reader is to record the removal of the first item via an RFID tag associated with the first item); and
a control system in signal communication with the radio-frequency identification reading system, the control system configured to perform a checkout process for an item inventoried within the item storage area to a user, (see Sheldon, ¶ 46)(The controller 214 can associate the determined user identity with the details regarding the item 208, 210 transiting the storage bin 206, (i.e. a checkout process)),
the user radio-frequency identification tag assigned to the user, (see Sheldon, ¶ 32),
the item radio-frequency identification tag disposed with the item, (see Sheldon, abstract), and
the checkout process including identifying the user based on the user information received by the radio-frequency identification reading system, (see Sheldon, ¶ 46);
identifying the item to be checked out based on the item information received by the radio-frequency identification reading system, (see Sheldon, ¶ 46); and
registering the item as being checked out to the user using the user information and the item information, (see Sheldon, ¶ 46)(Associating a user identity with transiting items 208, 210 can allow for inventory tracking of items included in the storage bin 206. For example, a kiosk administrator can easily determine a user associated (i.e. registered) with an item 208, 210 which has been removed from the storage bin 206, how many items 208, 210 the user has removed, whether the items 208, 210 have been returned, etc.);
the control system configured to identify the item as the item is removed from the item storage area based on the item information received by the radio-frequency identification reading system, (see Sheldon, ¶ 46); and
the control system configured to trigger a response when the item removed from the item storage area has not been registered as being checked out, (see Sheldon, ¶ 60)( a kiosk administrator may have to perform routine maintenance and/or adjust inventory levels of storage bins 406 of the kiosk device 402. Accordingly, the kiosk administrator can cause the kiosk device 402 to enter an inventory adjustment mode in response to an input to the kiosk device 402. For example, the kiosk administrator can swipe a unique badge, unique security key, and/or unique access card (e.g., via a badge and/or card reader), enter a unique passcode (e.g., via a keypad/touch-screen display), enter a biometric input (e.g., such as a facial scan, eye scan, fingerprint, voice input, etc.), among other types of inputs to cause the kiosk device 402 to enter the inventory adjustment mode). Performing routine maintenance and/or adjusting inventory levels of storage bins is considered to be “configured to trigger a response” as claimed.
Shelton fails to disclose the following amended features taught by DeJeanette:
the control system configured to, based on identifying the item as removed from the item storage area, determine whether the item is registered as being checked out to the user; the control system configured to trigger a response when the item removed from the item storage area is determined to have has not been registered as being checked out to the user, (See DeJarnette, ¶ 149 “the system automatically updates the inventory without user intervention. User action is unnecessary for the system to adjust for discarded or non-compliant items removed from the cart”). Automatic system adjustment is considered to be a response triggered by a discarded or non-compliant item, wherein the claimed unregistered item is considered to be a form of non-compliant item.
A tracking system comprising a second radio-frequency identification reader, (see DeJarnette, ¶ 72), the tracking system configured to track a location of the item when the item is outside of the item storage area, based on identifying the item as removed from the item storage area, (see DeJarnette, ¶ 143).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to combine the features of Shelton and DeJarnette because of the following findings of fact:
F. Known Work in One Field of Endeavor May Prompt Variations of It for Use in Either the Same Field or a Different One Based on Design Incentives or Other Market Forces if the Variations Are Predictable to One of Ordinary Skill in the Art
(1) the scope and content of the prior art in the same field of endeavor as that of the applicant’s invention include a similar or analogous device (method, or product), i.e. Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders;
(2) there were design incentives or market forces which would have prompted adaptation of the known device (method, or product), (see DeJarnette, ¶ 2 “A cold-chain compliance component outputs a first alert recommending return of the smart storage cart to the temperature-controlled storage area if a first per-cart dwell time-period after exiting the first geofence area expires”).
(3) the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art were encompassed in known variations or in a principle known in the prior art;
(4) one of ordinary skill in the art, in view of the identified design incentives or other market forces, could have implemented the claimed variation of the prior art, and the claimed variation would have been predictable to one of ordinary skill in the art.
This motivation to combine references is applied to all claims below herein by reference.
2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an alert system for the item storage area; the response comprising an alert issued by the alert system, wherein the alert system comprises at least one of a speaker configured to emit the alert, the alert being an audible alert including at least one of an alarm sound, a tone, or verbal instructions when the item removed from the item storage area has not been registered as being checked out an indicator light configured to emit the alert, the alert being a light when the item removed from the item storage area has not been registered as being checked out or a display screen configured to display the alert, the alert being at least one of an alert symbol, an alert color, or written instructions when the item removed from the item storage area has not been registered as being checked out, (see DeJarnette, Abstract , “The cart outputs an alert recommending return of the smart storage cart to a temperature-controlled area if the cart's dwell time approaches the maximum dwell-time and/or outputs an alert if the smart storage cart's dwell-time exceeds the maximum dwell-time”.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the radio-frequency identification reading system includes a first radio-frequency identification reader arranged within the item storage area; and the first radio-frequency identification reader is configured to obtain the user information and the item information for the checkout process, (see Sheldon, abstract)(a kiosk device having storage bins includes a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) reader and a storage bin).
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the radio-frequency identification reading system includes a second radio-frequency identification reader arranged at a portal for the item storage area; and the second radio-frequency identification reader is configured to obtain the item information as the item is removed from the item storage area through the portal, (see Sheldon, ¶ 15-16)(drawer, door, etc.).
5. The system of claim 1, wherein the user radio-frequency identification tag is included as part of a user identification device, (see Sheldon, ¶ 32).
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the item radio-frequency identification tag is affixed to the item, (see Sheldon, abstract).
7. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a tool, (see Sheldon, ¶ 1)(A kiosk can be used as a structure for storing items (i.e. tools). The items can be stored in the kiosk until a user wants to utilize an item from the kiosk. For example, a user can retrieve the item from the kiosk and utilize the item for a particular purpose).
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a cart storing a plurality of tools, (see Sheldon, ¶ 1)(A kiosk can be used as a structure (i.e. cart) for storing items (i.e. tools). The items can be stored in the kiosk until a user wants to utilize an item from the kiosk. For example, a user can retrieve the item from the kiosk and utilize the item for a particular purpose).
9. The system of claim 8, further comprising: a display screen within the item storage area and in signal communication with the control system; the control system configured to signal the display screen to display a notification to the user during the checkout process when information is known that another user previously checked out one or more of the plurality of tools from the cart.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the item comprises a manufacturing material, (see Sheldon, ¶ 1)(A kiosk can be used as a structure for storing items (i.e. manufacturing material). The items can be stored in the kiosk until a user wants to utilize an item from the kiosk. For example, a user can retrieve the item from the kiosk and utilize the item for a particular purpose).
11. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a display screen arranged within the item storage area and in signal communication with the control system; the control system configured to signal the display screen to display inventory information related to the item registered as being checked out to the user, (see Sheldon, ¶ 60)(Accordingly, the kiosk administrator can cause the kiosk device 402 to enter an inventory adjustment mode in response to an input to the kiosk device 402. For example, the kiosk administrator can swipe a unique badge, unique security key, and/or unique access card (e.g., via a badge and/or card reader).
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the inventory information includes an identification of the item; and an identification of the user, (see Sheldon, ¶ 60)(Accordingly, the kiosk administrator can cause the kiosk device 402 to enter an inventory adjustment mode in response to an input to the kiosk device 402. For example, the kiosk administrator can swipe a unique badge, unique security key, and/or unique access card (e.g., via a badge and/or card reader)).
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the inventory information includes a date and/or a time at which the item was registered as being checked out to the user, (See Sheldon, ¶ 10)(the user may have retrieved the component for a defined period of time).
14. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a display screen arranged within the item storage area and in signal communication with the control system; the control system configured to signal the display screen to display a notification to the user during the checkout process when a parameter for the item is within a predetermined time of expiration, (See Sheldon, ¶ 10)(the user may have retrieved the component for a defined period of time (i.e. a predetermined time of expiration)).
15. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to perform a check-in process for the item when the item is returned to the item storage area, and the check-in process includes identifying the item to be checked-in based on the item information received by the radio-frequency identification reading system; and registering the item as being checked-in by the user using the item information, (see Sheldon, ¶ 27)(the storage bin 106 can include the first item 108, but the second item 110 may have been removed and can be returned to the storage bin 106. The RFID reader 104 can record the addition of the second item 110 to an item inventory of the storage bin 106. For example, the item inventory of storage bin 106 can include the first item 108. In response to the addition of the second item 110 to the storage bin 106, the RFID reader 104 can record the addition of the second item 110 such that the item inventory of the storage bin 106 can be recorded/updated (e.g., from one item to two items).
16. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tracking system configured to track a location of the item when the item is outside of the item storage area, (see DeJarnette, ¶ 72, 143).
As per claims 17-20, these claims contain the same or similar limitations as claims 1, 3-16 rejected above, and therefore the remaining claims are rejected on the same basis and rationale as those rejected above. configured to trigger a response.
Response to Amendment
Shelton fails to disclose the amended features taught by reference above to DeJarnette.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RUSSELL S GLASS whose telephone number is (571)272-7285. The examiner can normally be reached M-F, 9-5.
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/RUSSELL S GLASS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3627
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