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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding Claims, 1,15,20 the phrase “is used” is vague and indefinite, as it is not clear what is done to the template to ‘add a soundtrack to the audio.’ “Adding a soundtrack” does not clearly seem to be part of the result of the claim. Is the “target music style” the same as the “target music”? Correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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) 1-3,15-17,20 is/are rejected (to the extent understood) under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being fully met by Yuan et al (CN 115831080 A, filed 11/18/22, published 3/21/23, referring to Google Patents translation).
Regarding Claims 1,15,20, Yuan discloses a music generation method, comprising:
acquiring initial audio S110;
acquiring a first arrangement template corresponding to the initial audio S120, wherein the first arrangement template is used for adding a soundtrack with a target music style to the initial audio;
processing the initial audio based on the first arrangement template to generate target music S140.
Regarding Claims 2,16, Yuan discloses acquiring the initial audio comprises:
collecting real-time voice data in response to a first trigger operation in a first interface S110 (“One manner may be: in response to a special effect trigger operation, collect audio information of the target user and use it as input audio”);
after reaching a preset condition, generating the initial audio based on real-time voice data collected at different times (“wake up words”);
the method further comprises: displaying waveform corresponding to the real-time voice data in the first interface in real time (voiceprint, Fig. 2).
Regarding Claims 3,17, Yuan discloses before collecting the real-time voice data in response to the first trigger operation in the first interface, further comprising:
receiving a first setting operation for a first setting component in the first interface, wherein the first setting operation is used for setting a target type of vocal effect (“triggering a special effect prop”);
the collecting the real-time voice data in response to the first trigger operation in the first interface comprises:
performing sound collection in response to the first trigger operation to obtain an original voice;
processing the original voice to obtain the initial audio with the target type of the vocal effect S110.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-14,18,19 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The references cited show related teachings in the art.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEFFREY DONELS whose telephone number is (571)272-2061. The examiner can normally be reached M-F.
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, Dedei Hammond can be reached at (571) 270-7938. 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.
JEFFREY . DONELS
Examiner
Art Unit 2837
/JEFFREY DONELS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2837
Prosecution Insights