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 .
The NON Final Office Action mailed on 2/25/27 mistakenly cited the Joseph reference as US Publication No. 2006/0091213. This action is a Second Non Final correcting the typographical error of the publication number . The Joseph citation has been change to US Publication No. 2006/0091219.
Claims 1-26 are pending and an action on the merits is as follows.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-10, 13, 14, 16-23, and 26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102a1/a2 as being anticipated by Joseph US Publication No. 2006/0091219.
Re Claim 1, Joseph discloses an imaging device, comprising:
an imaging assembly configured to capture image data of an indicia appearing in a field of view (FOV);
a decode module configured to decode the indicia using the image data; and a computer-readable media storing machine readable instructions that, when executed, cause the imaging device to:
detect an indication of a parameter change (dataform moving slowly ) for a decode parameter (P40, Challenge dataform )associated with the imaging device, wherein the decode parameter (challenge dataform ) is indicative of damage associated with the indicia (P40, P43);
transition, responsive to detecting the indication of the parameter change, from a first operation mode (first signal processing algorithm) associated with decoding the indicia to a second operation mode ( second processing algorithm ) associated with decoding the indicia, wherein the decode module is configured to decode the indicia based at least on the damage associated with the indicia while operating in the second operation mode (P30) ; receive, from the imaging assembly, image data associated with the indicia; and decode, at the decode module, the indicia in accordance with the second operation mode (P30, P43) .
Re Claim 2, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein the indicia is a two-dimensional (2D) barcode including at least one of a finder pattern or a timing pattern positioned along at least one edge of the 2D barcode (P54).
Re Claim 3, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable media further stores additional instructions that, when executed, cause the imaging system to: after decoding the indicia, transition from the second operation mode to the first operation mode (P55; Fig. 2 Following step 255, processing of method 200 proceeds to step 260 where the method returns to step 210, and the swipe scanner 100 is ready to process the next dataform).
Re Claim 4, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 3, wherein the decode module is configured to decode the indicia without the damage associated with the indicia while operating in the first operation mode (P44) .
Re Claim 5, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein the imaging device in the first operation mode has a first timeout period for decoding the indicia, the imaging device in the second operation mode has a second timeout period for decoding the indicia, and the second timeout period is longer than the first timeout period (P13, P59).
Re Claim 6, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein decoding the indicia in accordance with the second operation mode (Second algorithm ) includes: analyzing each of at least one of (i) rows or (ii) columns of the indicia (P37).
Re Claim 7, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein decoding the indicia in accordance with the second operation mode (Second algorithm) includes: determining a type of indicia for the indicia; identifying corners of the indicia based on the type of indicia; and decoding the indicia within the corners (P43, P59).
Re Claim 8, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein the image data is first image data, and detecting the indication of the parameter change includes: receiving, from the imaging assembly, second image data of a parameter indicia in the FOV; decoding, at the decode module and after receiving the second image data, the parameter indicia; and detecting the indication of the parameter change responsive to decoding the parameter indicia (P40-43; fig. 4).
Re Claim 9, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein detecting the indication of the parameter change includes: receiving, at the imaging device, the decode parameter from a user; and detecting the indication of the parameter change responsive to receiving the decode parameter (P41, 58, 61-62, See claims 13, 31, 41).
Re Claim 10, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein transitioning to the second operation mode is responsive to determining that a switch parameter indicates that the imaging device is enabled for damaged decode operations (P30, P43, P58).
Re Claim 13, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein the indication of the parameter change is a decode event associated with decoding a parameter indicia (P58-59).
Re Claim 14, Joseph discloses a method implemented in an imaging device including an imaging assembly configured to capture image data of an indicia appearing in a field of view (FOV) and a decode module configured to decode the indicia using the image data, the method comprising:
detecting, by one or more processors of the imaging device, an indication of a parameter change (dataform moving slowly ) for a decode parameter (challenging dataform ) associated with the imaging device, wherein the decode parameter (Challenging dataform ) is indicative of damage associated with the indicia; transitioning (first processing algorithm transitioning to a second processing algorithm ), by the one or more processors and responsive to detecting the indication of the parameter change , from a first operation mode associated with decoding the indicia to a second operation mode associated with decoding the indicia, wherein the decode module is configured to decode the indicia based at least on the damage associated with the indicia while operating in the second operation mode; receiving, by the one or more processors, image data associated with the indicia; and decoding, by the one or more processors, the indicia in accordance with the second operation mode (P30, P43).
Re Claim 16, Joseph discloses the method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises: after decoding the indicia, transitioning, by the one or more processors, from the second operation mode to the first operation mode(P55; Fig. 2 Following step 255, processing of method 200 proceeds to step 260 where the method returns to step 210, and the swipe scanner 100 is ready to process the next dataform).
Re Claim 17, Joseph discloses the method of claim 16, wherein the image data is first image data, and the method further comprises: receiving, by the one or more processors, second image data of an undamaged indicia; decoding, by the one or more processors the undamaged indicia in accordance with the first operation mode (P44) .
Re Claim 18, Joseph discloses the method of claim 14, wherein decoding the indicia occurs during a second timeout period longer than a first timeout period associated with a time period for decoding the indicia when in the first operation(P13, P59).
Re Claim 19, Joseph discloses the method of claim 14, wherein decoding the indicia in accordance with the second operation mode includes: analyzing each of at least one of (i) rows or (ii) columns of the indicia (P37).
Re Claim 20, Joseph discloses the method of claim 14, wherein decoding the indicia in accordance with the second operation mode includes: determining a type of indicia for the indicia; identifying corners of the indicia based on the type of indicia; and decoding the indicia within the corners (P43, P59).
Re Claim 21, Joseph discloses The method of claim 14, wherein the image data is first image data, and detecting the indication of the parameter change includes: receiving, from the imaging assembly, second image data of a parameter indicia in the FOV; decoding, at the decode module and after receiving the second image data, the parameter indicia; and detecting the indication of the parameter change responsive to decoding the parameter indicia (P40-43; fig. 4.
Re Claim 22, Joseph discloses the method of claim 14, wherein detecting the indication of the parameter change includes: receiving, at the imaging device, the decode parameter from a user; and detecting the indication of the parameter change responsive to receiving the decode parameter (P41, 58, 61-62, See claims 13, 31, 41).
Re Claim 23, Joseph discloses the method of claim 14, wherein transitioning to the second operation mode is responsive to determining that a switch parameter indicates that the imaging device is enabled for damaged decode operations (P30, P43, P58).
Re Claim 26, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 14, wherein the indication of the parameter change is a decode event associated with decoding a parameter indicia (P58-59).
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) 11, 12, 15, 24-25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Joseph et al. US Publication No. 2006/0091219 A1 in view of Narayanaswami et al. US Publication No. US 20140061316 A1 cited in previous action .
Re Claim 11, Joseph discloses the imaging device of claim 1, wherein the decode parameters are representative of scenarios in which the damage.
Joseph fails to specifically disclose wherein the damages includes at least: (i) the indicia missing a portion of a timing pattern , (ii) the indicia missing an entirety of the timing pattern, (iii) the indicia missing a portion of a solid edge indicative of an indicia type, (iv) the indicia missing an entirety of the solid edge, (v) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the portion of the timing pattern, (vi) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern, (vii) the indicia missing the portion of the timing pattern and the entirety of the solid edge, or (viii) the indicia missing the entirety of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern.
However, Narayanaswami discloses wherein the damages includes at least: (i) the indicia missing a portion of a timing pattern (p22), (ii) the indicia missing an entirety of the timing pattern, (iii) the indicia missing a portion of a solid edge indicative of an indicia type, (iv) the indicia missing an entirety of the solid edge, (v) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the portion of the timing pattern, (vi) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern, (vii) the indicia missing the portion of the timing pattern and the entirety of the solid edge, or (viii) the indicia missing the entirety of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern.
Given the teachings of Narayanaswami 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 teachings of Joseph with wherein the damages includes at least: (i) the indicia missing a portion of a timing pattern , (ii) the indicia missing an entirety of the timing pattern, (iii) the indicia missing a portion of a solid edge indicative of an indicia type, (iv) the indicia missing an entirety of the solid edge, (v) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the portion of the timing pattern, (vi) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern, (vii) the indicia missing the portion of the timing pattern and the entirety of the solid edge, or (viii) the indicia missing the entirety of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern.
The pattern in the damaged region would expand a search space of the barcode, thus reduces unintentional scanning.
Re Claim 12, Joseph and Narayanaswami discloses the imaging device of claim 11, and Narayanaswami discloses wherein a first timeout period associated with at least some of the scenarios (i)-(vii) is different than a second timeout period associated with a remainder of the scenarios (i)-(vii) (P25).
Re Claim 15, Joseph discloses the method of claim 14.
Joseph fails to disclose wherein the indicia is a two-dimensional (2D) barcode including at least one of a finder pattern or a timing pattern positioned along at least one edge of the 2D barcode.
Narayanaswami discloses wherein the indicia is a two-dimensional (2D) barcode including at least one of a finder pattern or a timing pattern positioned along at least one edge of the 2D barcode (P24).
Given the teachings of Narayanaswami 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 teachings of Joseph with wherein the indicia is a two-dimensional (2D) barcode including at least one of a finder pattern or a timing pattern positioned along at least one edge of the 2D barcode.
The pattern in the damaged region would expand a search space of the barcode, thus reduces unintentional scanning.
Re Claim 24, Joseph discloses the method of claim 14.
Joseph fails to specifically disclose wherein the decode parameters are representative of scenarios in which the damage includes at least: (i) the indicia missing a portion of a timing pattern, (ii) the indicia missing an entirety of the timing pattern, (iii) the indicia missing a portion of a solid edge indicative of an indicia type, (iv) the indicia missing an entirety of the solid edge, (v) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the portion of the timing pattern, (vi) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern, (vii) the indicia missing the portion of the timing pattern and the entirety of the solid edge, or (viii) the indicia missing the entirety of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern.
Narayanaswami discloses wherein the decode parameters are representative of scenarios in which the damage includes at least: (i) the indicia missing a portion of a timing pattern, (ii) the indicia missing an entirety of the timing pattern, (iii) the indicia missing a portion of a solid edge indicative of an indicia type, (iv) the indicia missing an entirety of the solid edge, (v) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the portion of the timing pattern, (vi) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern, (vii) the indicia missing the portion of the timing pattern and the entirety of the solid edge, or (viii) the indicia missing the entirety of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern (P22).
Given the teachings of Narayanaswami 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 teachings of Joseph with wherein the decode parameters are representative of scenarios in which the damage includes at least: (i) the indicia missing a portion of a timing pattern, (ii) the indicia missing an entirety of the timing pattern, (iii) the indicia missing a portion of a solid edge indicative of an indicia type, (iv) the indicia missing an entirety of the solid edge, (v) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the portion of the timing pattern, (vi) the indicia missing the portion of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern, (vii) the indicia missing the portion of the timing pattern and the entirety of the solid edge, or (viii) the indicia missing the entirety of the solid edge and the entirety of the timing pattern.
The pattern in the damaged region would expand a search space of the barcode, thus reduces unintentional scanning.
Re Claim 25, Joseph and Narayanaswami discloses the imaging device of claim 24, and Narayanaswami discloses wherein a first timeout period associated with at least some of the scenarios (i)-(vii) is different than a second timeout period associated with a remainder of the scenarios (i)-(vii) (P25).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 1-2, filed 8/27/25, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1 under 102 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 Joseph et al. US Publication No. 2006/0091219.
Conclusion
The following reference is cited but not relied upon:
Vanhall (cited in precious action ) discloses systems and methods for reducing the likelihood of false positive decodes.
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SONJI N. JOHNSON
Examiner
Art Unit 2876
/SONJI N JOHNSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876