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 .
Applicants Arguments/Remarks
The Applicant argues: The features of the claim, such as a program to register in an operating system (OS) information of a color profile managed by the printer driver cannot be performed as a mental process.
The Examiner responds: These are functions that an IT professional can perform using conventional tools such as a computer.
The Applicant argues: In re: Enfish, The pending claims provide a concrete improvement to an existing technology for registering color profile information in an OS.
The Examiner responds: As described below, the claims are directed to an Abstract Idea. The amended wherein clause is repeating the function of the control unit and does not anchor the abstract idea to a particular technological implementation or hardware.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1, 4, 6-8 and 12-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because:
The claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
The claim(s) recite(s) mathematical concepts, a mental process, or certain methods of organizing human activity. This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the abstract idea can be implemented by a human manually registering a color profile in an operating system.
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the use of a computer is generic and lacks detailed improvements for registering a color profile.
Step 1. The claims are directed to a Process, Machine, and Article of Manufacture.
Step 2A. Prong 1. The invention comprises an Abstract Idea of: a Mental Process.
A Mental Process of: "obtaining information of a color profile"; "registering in an operating system (OS), the information of the color profile"; and "to change a method of registration in the OS based on the information of the color profile" can be performed by a human using a physical aid of a computer. MPEP 2106.04(a)(2) III B. e.g. "A Claim That Encompasses a Human Performing the Step(s) Mentally With or Without a Physical Aid Recites a Mental Process".
Step 2A Prong 2. There are no additional elements which are directed to integrating into a practical application. The resulting changing a method of registration in the OS does not result in a meaningful output. There is no technical improvement to the computer, OS, color profile, or extending a function of a print driver. MPEP 2106.04(d)(1), 2106.05.
Step 2B. Are there additional elements that amount to significantly more?
The claims cite obtaining a color profile, registering the information of the color profile in an operating system and changing a method of registration in the operating system which can be performed by a human using a mental process where the inclusion of a processing apparatus serves a substitute for a human, is generic, and lacks the details for a significant technical improvement or an inventive concept. There appears to be no meaningful result for the changing the method of registration. MPEP 2106.05.
Dependent claims having: a satisfying condition, a permission, a successful and unsuccessful condition, a print queue, a deletion function, re-registration, a user selection, color profile information, and a printing medium type are generic, conventional, and do not amount to significantly more.
Relevant Prior Art
Arakawa (US 2003/0142330 A1)
Abstract
In an image processing method which is executed in an image processing system to which a client computer and a color image forming apparatus are connected, profile administration data of the color image forming apparatus is received, and, when it is judged based on the received profile administration data that a predetermined output profile does not exist, the predetermined output profile is registered in the color image forming apparatus, whereby profile administration can be effectively performed.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 4, 6-8, and 12-20 would be allowable if the Abstract Idea rejection listed above is overcome.
The following is an Examiner' s statement of reasons for allowance if the Abstract Idea rejection is overcome:
The closest reference of record is Takasaki (US 2015/0201111A1) .
In the Applicant' s independent claims 1, 6, 12, 13, 19, and 20 the reference of Takasaki does not teach:
1. To change the method of registration in the OS according to information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit include a condition indicating that a file permission indicated in the information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit and a file permission of a standard color profile used in the OS are the same.
6. To change the method of registration in the OS according to whether the information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit include a condition indicating that all of information of a plurality of color profiles obtained by the obtaining unit is registered in the OS.
12. To change a method of registration in the OS based on the information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit, satisfies conditions, wherein a print queue corresponding to the printer driver is registered in the OS, wherein in a case where the conditions are satisfied, the control unit controls the registration unit so as to register, in the OS , the information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit by re-registering the print queue, wherein the print queue re-registration is performed by print queue deletion and print queue creation.
13. To change a method of registration in the OS based on the information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit, satisfies conditions, wherein a print queue corresponding to the printer driver is registered in the OS, wherein in a case where the conditions are satisfied, the control unit controls the registration unit so as to register, in the OS , the information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit by re-registering the print queue.
19. To change the method of registration in the OS according to information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit include a condition indicating that a file permission indicated in the information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit and a file permission of a standard color profile used in the OS are the same.
20. To change the method of registration in the OS according to information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit include a condition indicating that a file permission indicated in the information of the color profile obtained by the obtaining unit and a file permission of a standard color profile used in the OS are the same.
Takasaki fails to directly anticipate or render the above underlined limitations obvious (to be used with other claimed limitations).
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TED W BARNES whose telephone number is (571) 270-1785. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri. 8:00-5:00.
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/TED W. BARNES/ Ph.D. Electrical Engineering
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2682
/TED W BARNES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2682
