CTFR 18/479,961 CTFR 95317 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia 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 07-37 AIA Applicant's arguments filed March 3, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. In response to Applicant's argument on page 9 – 10 pertaining to “ Huang is concerned with phase identification, holdup mapping, deposit and corrosion monitoring, and flow assurance, all of which are achieved through relative heat-transfer behavior, and not an accurate temperature of the fluid in the pipe. In other words, Huang's method works with an approximation of the fluid temperature and thus modifying Huang to include another sensor to directly measure the fluid temperature proximate the non-invasive thermal probes would not be necessary. ”. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. Huang discloses that invasive temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 92 additional types of sensors based on other measurement principles, either invasive or non-invasive, may be added ) sensors can be used in conjunction with the non-invasive temperature sensors taught by Huang. It would be obvious for one skilled in the art to modify Huang to use invasive temperature sensors. In response to Applicant's argument on page 10 pertaining to “ Further, adding an invasive sensor goes against the teachings of Huang, which emphasize non-invasive sensing, clamp-on probes, subsea applications, and otherwise teaches approaches that avoid pipe penetration (e.g., Doppler probes, acoustic impedance probes), for example, to avoid disruption to the industrial/production process. (See e.g., Huang at para. [0056].) … As approximate fluid temperature is sufficient for the method of Huang and Huang teaches noninvasive sensing methods to avoid disruption to the process, one of ordinary skill art would not be motivated to modify the system of Huang to include an invasive temperature sensor. ”. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. Huang does not teach away from using invasive temperature sensors. On the contrary, Huang discloses that invasive temperature sensors could be used in combination with the embodiments disclosed by Huang ( Fig. 1, ¶ 92 additional types of sensors based on other measurement principles, either invasive or non-invasive, may be added ). In response to Applicant's argument on page 10 pertaining to “ With respect to independent claim 16, the Office Action relies on the combination of Huang, Davis, and Gebhardt. As discussed with respect to claim 1, one of ordinary skill in the art would not modify Huang in view of Davis to include an invasive temperature sensor. … Gebhardt, does not disclose determining flow data of the fluid "based on a comparison model using" using temperature data of a non-invasive temperature sensor, temperature data of an invasive temperature sensor, and process condition data in the manner recited in claim 16. ”. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. As mentioned above, Huang discloses that invasive temperature sensors could be used in combination with the embodiments disclosed by Huang ( Fig. 1, ¶ 92 additional types of sensors based on other measurement principles, either invasive or non-invasive, may be added ) . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-21-aia AIA Claim(s) 1 i s rejec ted under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang et al ( US 2008/0163692 A1 ) (herein after Huang ) in view of Davis et al ( US 2011/0301867 A1 ) (herein after Davis ). Regar ding Claim 1, Huang discloses, a computer implemented method for determining boundary thermal resistance data of a boundary layer ( Fig. 1B, ¶ 31 methods for reliable and accurate flow analysis; ¶ 41 – 44 Rf a thermal resistance of the thin boundary film; unknown Rf may be determined by measuring ΔT ), comprising: obtaining first temperature data from a first temperature sensor ( Fig. 1A, non-invasive thermal probe ), the first temperature sensor being arranged at a first pipe section ( Fig. 1E, temperature sensor array 170; ” the array is the pipe section ”); obtaining second temperature data from a second temperature sensor ( Fig. 1A, non-invasive thermal probe ), the second temperature sensor arranged at a second pipe section proximate the first pipe section ( Fig. 1E, temperature sensor array 170 ); wherein the first temperature sensor is a non-invasive temperature sensor, — providing process condition data ( Fig. 1B, ¶ 10 output parameters, flow rates, phase fractions, flow regime ); and determining boundary thermal resistance data of a boundary layer of a fluid ( Fig. 1B, ¶ 41 – 44 Rf a thermal resistance of the thin boundary film ) next to an inner surface of the wall of the pipe based on at least one of: the process condition data, the first temperature data, and the second temperature data ( Fig. 1B, ¶ 41 – 44 unknown Rf may be determined by measuring ΔT ). Huang fails to disclose, — and the second temperature sensor is an invasive temperature sensor; — In analogous art, Davis discloses, — and the second temperature sensor is an invasive temperature sensor ( Fig. 1, ¶ 16 a temperature-sensitive element positioned in thermal contact with process flow F ); — It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic comprising, a temperature sensor that is an invasive temperature sensor; taught by Davis for the benefit of using fluid properties to accurately measure process fluid flow, [ Davis: ¶ 13 Diagnostic signal DG is related to the fluid properties of process flow F, and in particular to phase transitions, which affect flow measurement accuracy ] . 07-21-aia AIA Claim(s) 2 – 20 are rejected u nder 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang et al ( US 2008/0163692 A1 ) (herein after Huang ) in view of Davis et al ( US 2011/0301867 A1 ) (herein after Davis ), and further in view of Gebhardt et al ( US 2020/0408580 A1 ) (herein after Gebhardt ). Regarding Claim 2, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 2. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the temperature data of the fluid based on at least the first and/or second temperature data and the boundary thermal resistance data of the boundary layer. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 2. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining the temperature data of the fluid ( Fig. 1, ¶ 59 temperature TM of the fluid ) based on at least the first and/or second temperature data and the boundary thermal resistance data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 59 determined on the basis of the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer 15 ) of the boundary layer. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic wherein, determining the temperature data of the fluid based on at least the first and/or second temperature data and the boundary thermal resistance data of the boundary layer; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 3, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 3, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 3. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model using the first and second temperature data and the process condition data. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 3. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model ( Fig. 1, ¶ 56 temperature model ) using the first and second temperature data and the process condition data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 distance 1 between the location, at which the temperature Twa of the pipe section 11 is measured, location at which the fluid 12 enters a pipe ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic wherein, determining flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model using the first and second temperature data and the process condition data; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 4, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 4. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 3, wherein the flow data comprises flow state data and/or flow regime data and/or stratification data and/or allocation data. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 4. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 3, wherein the flow data comprises flow state data and/or flow regime data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 22 a laminar boundary layer, a turbulent boundary layer or a transition layer ) and/or stratification data and/or allocation data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 22 boundary layer may have a viscous underlayer ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic wherein, the flow data comprises flow state data and/or flow regime data and/or stratification data and/or allocation data; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 5, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 5. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises distance data of the first temperature sensor and/or second temperature sensor to a reference point. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 5. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises distance data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 distance 1 between the location, at which the temperature Twa of the pipe section 11 is measured ) of the first temperature sensor and/or second temperature sensor to a reference point ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 location at which the fluid 12 enters a pipe ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic wherein the process condition data comprises distance data of the first temperature sensor and/or second temperature sensor to a reference point; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 6, Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt disclose the limitations of claim 5, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 6. (Original) The method according to claim 5, wherein the reference point is a feature of the pipe. Gebhardt further discloses, 6. (Original) The method according to claim 5, wherein the reference point is a feature of the pipe ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 location at which the fluid 12 enters a pipe ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic wherein, the reference point is a feature of the pipe. taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 7, Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt disclose the limitations of claim 6, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 7. (Original) The method according to claim 6, wherein the feature of the pipe is an inlet of the pipe. Gebhardt further discloses, 7. (Original) The method according to claim 6, wherein the feature of the pipe is an inlet of the pipe ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 location at which the fluid 12 enters a pipe ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic wherein, the feature of the pipe is an inlet of the pipe; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 8, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 8 . (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises flow velocity data, viscosity data and density data of the fluid and pipe diameter data. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 8 . (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises flow velocity data, viscosity data and density data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 25 velocity, dynamic viscosity, density ) of the fluid and pipe diameter data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 31 a diameter of the fluid cross section ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic, wherein the process condition data comprises flow velocity data, viscosity data and density data of the fluid and pipe diameter data; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 9, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 9 . (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises viscosity data, thermal conductivity data and specific heat capacity data of the fluid. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 9 . (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises viscosity data, thermal conductivity data and specific heat capacity data of the fluid ( Fig. 1, ¶ 25 dynamic viscosity, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic, wherein the process condition data comprises viscosity data, thermal conductivity data and specific heat capacity data of the fluid; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 10, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 10 . (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises curvature radius data and diameter data of the pipe. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 10 . (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises curvature radius data and diameter data of the pipe ( Fig. 1, ¶ 28 – 31 radius of the pipe, a diameter of the fluid cross section ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic, wherein the process condition data comprises curvature radius data and diameter data of the pipe. taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 11, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 11. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises pressure data and/or pipe material data and/or wall thickness data. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 11. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the process condition data comprises pressure data and/or pipe material data and/or wall thickness data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 a pressure, a thickness sw of the wall 20 ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic, wherein the process condition data comprises pressure data and/or the pipe material data and/or wall thickness data; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 12, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 12. (Original) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a thermal resistance network; wherein the thermal resistance network comprises external thermal resistance data, insulation thermal resistance data, pipe thermal resistance data and the boundary thermal resistance data. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 12. (Original) The method according to claim 1, further comprising determining a thermal resistance network; wherein the thermal resistance network comprises external thermal resistance data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 60 thermal resistance of an environment Rp ), insulation thermal resistance data, pipe thermal resistance data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 60 the wall 20 and the insulation layer 21 form a thermal resistance Rw of the pipe section 11 ) and the boundary thermal resistance data. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic, further comprising determining a thermal resistance network; wherein the thermal resistance network comprises external thermal resistance data, insulation thermal resistance data, pipe thermal resistance data and the boundary thermal resistance data; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 13, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 13. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, further comprising predicting a surface temperature based on the second temperature data and the determined boundary thermal resistance data and determining a flow state based at least in part on a difference between the predicted surface temperature and the measured surface temperature of the first temperature sensor including whether a stratification is present. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 13. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, further comprising predicting a surface temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 estimated temperature ) based on the second temperature data and the determined boundary thermal resistance data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 difference between the newly determined temperature of the fluid and the previously determined temperature of the fluid is output ) and determining a flow state ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 temperature used to recalculate the material properties ) based at least in part on a difference between the predicted surface temperature and the measured surface temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 difference between the newly determined temperature of the fluid and the previously determined temperature of the fluid is output ) of the first temperature sensor including whether a stratification is present ( Fig. 1, ¶ 25 density ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic, further comprising predicting a surface temperature based on the second temperature data and the determined boundary thermal resistance data and determining a flow state based at least in part on a difference between the predicted surface temperature and the measured surface temperature of the first temperature sensor including whether a stratification is present; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 14, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang further discloses, 14. (Original) The method according to claim 1, wherein the non-invasive first temperature sensor is positioned circumferentially offset ( Fig. 1B, ¶ 36 numerous sensor probes may be mounted at different angular positions on a pipe ) from the invasive second temperature sensor; — Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose — and further comprising predicting a surface temperature based on the second temperature data and determining an allocation of condensate, crystallization and/or other buildups based at least in part on a difference between the measured surface temperature of the first temperature sensor and the predicted surface temperature. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, — and further comprising predicting a surface temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 estimated temperature ) based on the second temperature data and determining an allocation of condensate, crystallization and/or other buildups ( Fig. 1, ¶ 25 phase state of the fluid ) based at least in part on a difference between the measured surface temperature of the first temperature sensor and the predicted surface temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 difference between the newly determined temperature of the fluid and the previously determined temperature of the fluid is output ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic, further comprising predicting a surface temperature based on the second temperature data and determining an allocation of condensate, crystallization and/or other buildups based at least in part on a difference between the measured surface temperature of the first temperature sensor and the predicted surface temperature; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 15, Huang in view of Davis disclose the limitations of claim 1, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 15. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein the second temperature data provides a measured invasive temperature, and determining a flow regime based at least in part on a predicted surface temperature determined from the measured invasive temperature and the measured surface temperature wherein the flow regime includes whether a turbulent, transitional or laminar flow regime is present. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, 15. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein the second temperature data provides a measured invasive temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 50 the temperature of the fluid determined as a function of the estimated temperature ), and determining a flow regime based at least in part on a predicted surface temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 difference between the newly determined temperature of the fluid and the previously determined temperature of the fluid is output ) determined from the measured invasive temperature and the measured surface temperature wherein the flow regime includes whether a turbulent, transitional or laminar flow regime ( Fig. 1, ¶ 22 a laminar boundary layer, a turbulent boundary layer or a transition layer ) is present. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the method of determining a process fluid characteristic disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a method of determining a process fluid characteristic, wherein the second temperature data provides a measured invasive temperature, and determining a flow regime based at least in part on a predicted surface temperature determined from the measured invasive temperature and the measured surface temperature wherein the flow regime includes whether a turbulent, transitional or laminar flow regime is present; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 16, Huang discloses, 16. (Currently Amended) A system for providing temperature data of a fluid flowing through a pipe ( Fig. 1B, ¶ 31 systems for reliable and accurate flow analysis; ¶ 41 – 44 Rf a thermal resistance of the thin boundary film; unknown Rf may be determined by measuring ΔT ), the system comprising: a first temperature sensor disposed to provide first temperature data ( Fig. 1A, non-invasive thermal probe ), the first temperature sensor being thermally coupled to a first pipe section ( Fig. 1E, temperature sensor array 170; ” the array is the pipe section ”); a second temperature sensor disposed to provide second temperature data ( Fig. 1A, non-invasive thermal probe ), the second temperature sensor being thermally coupled to a second pipe section proximate the first pipe section ( Fig. 1E, temperature sensor array 170 ); wherein the first temperature sensor is a non-invasive temperature sensor —. Huang fails to disclose, — and the second temperature sensor is an invasive temperature sensor; a processing unit configured to: determine the temperature data of the fluid based on at least one of the first temperature data and the second temperature data, and further based on the boundary thermal resistance data of the boundary layer; and determine flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model using the first temperature data, the second temperature data, and the process condition data. In analogous art, Davis discloses, — and the second temperature sensor is an invasive temperature sensor ( Fig. 1, ¶ 16 a temperature-sensitive element positioned in thermal contact with process flow F ); — It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang by combining the system for providing temperature data disclosed by Huang with a system for providing temperature data, comprising a temperature sensor that is an invasive temperature sensor; taught by Davis for the benefit of using fluid properties to accurately measure process fluid flow, [ Davis: ¶ 13 Diagnostic signal DG is related to the fluid properties of process flow F, and in particular to phase transitions, which affect flow measurement accuracy ]. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, — a processing unit configured to: determine the temperature data of the fluid based on at least one of the first temperature data and the second temperature data, and further based on boundary thermal resistance data of a boundary layer; and determine flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model using the first temperature data, the second temperature data, and process condition data. In analogous art, Gebhardt discloses, — a processing unit ( Fig. 2, evaluation unit 19 ) configured to: determine the temperature data of the fluid ( Fig. 1, ¶ 59 temperature TM of the fluid ) based on at least one of the first temperature data and the second temperature data, and further based on the boundary thermal resistance data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 59 determined on the basis of the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer 15 ) of a boundary layer; and determine flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model ( Fig. 1, ¶ 56 temperature model ) using the first temperature data, the second temperature data, and process condition data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 distance 1 between the location, at which the temperature Twa of the pipe section 11 is measured, location at which the fluid 12 enters a pipe ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis by combining the system for providing temperature data disclosed by Huang in view of Davis with a system for providing temperature data, a processing unit configured to: determine the temperature data of the fluid based on at least one of the first temperature data and the second temperature data, and further based on boundary thermal resistance data of a boundary layer; and determine flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model using the first temperature data, the second temperature data, and process condition data; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 17, Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt disclose the limitations of claim 16, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 17. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 16, wherein to determine flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model using the first and second temperature data and the process condition data includes: determining a predicted surface temperature based at least in part on the second temperature data and the boundary layer; determining a measured surface temperature based at least in part on the first temperature data; and determining flow data based at least in part on a difference between the predicted surface temperature and the measured surface temperature. Gebhardt further discloses, 17. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 16, wherein to determine flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model ( Fig. 1, ¶ 56 temperature model ) using the first and second temperature data and the process condition data includes: determining a predicted surface temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 estimated temperature ) based at least in part on the second temperature data and the boundary layer ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 difference between the newly determined temperature of the fluid and the previously determined temperature of the fluid is output ) ; determining a measured surface temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 estimated temperature ) based at least in part on the first temperature data; and determining flow data based at least in part on a difference between the predicted surface temperature and the measured surface temperature ( Fig. 1, ¶ 51 difference between the newly determined temperature of the fluid and the previously determined temperature of the fluid is output ) . It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt by combining the system for providing temperature data disclosed by Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt with a system for providing temperature data, wherein to determine flow data of the fluid based on a comparison model using the first and second temperature data and the process condition data includes: determining a predicted surface temperature based at least in part on the second temperature data and the boundary layer; determining a measured surface temperature based at least in part on the first temperature data; and determining flow data based at least in part on a difference between the predicted surface temperature and the measured surface temperature; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 18, Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt disclose the limitations of claim 16, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 18. (Original) The system according to claim 16, the flow data comprises flow state data and/or flow regime data and/or stratification data and/or allocation data. Gebhardt further discloses, 18. (Original) The system according to claim 16, the flow data comprises flow state data and/or flow regime data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 22 a laminar boundary layer, a turbulent boundary layer or a transition layer ) and/or stratification data and/or allocation data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 22 boundary layer may have a viscous underlayer ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt by combining the system for providing temperature data disclosed by Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt with a system for providing temperature data, wherein the flow data comprises flow state data and/or flow regime data and/or stratification data and/or allocation data; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 19, Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt disclose the limitations of claim 16, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 19. (Original) The system according to claim 16, wherein the process condition data comprises distance data of the first temperature sensor and/or second temperature sensor to a reference point. Gebhardt further discloses, 19. (Original) The system according to claim 16, wherein the process condition data comprises distance data ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 distance 1 between the location, at which the temperature Twa of the pipe section 11 is measured ) of the first temperature sensor and/or second temperature sensor to a reference point ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 location at which the fluid 12 enters a pipe ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt by combining the system for providing temperature data disclosed by Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt with a system for providing temperature data, the system according to claim 16, wherein the process condition data comprises distance data of the first temperature sensor and/or second temperature sensor to a reference point; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ]. Regarding Claim 20, Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt disclose the limitations of claim 19, which this claim depends on. Huang in view of Davis fail to disclose, 20. (Original) The system according to claim 19, wherein the reference point is a feature of the pipe. Gebhardt further discloses, 20. (Original) The system according to claim 19, wherein the reference point is a feature of the pipe ( Fig. 1, ¶ 63 location at which the fluid 12 enters a pipe ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt by combining the system for providing temperature data disclosed by Huang in view of Davis in view of Gebhardt with a system for providing temperature data, the system according to claim 19, wherein the reference point is a feature of the pipe; taught by Gebhardt for the benefit of using heat transfer behavior of a boundary fluid to accurately determine process fluid temperature [ Gebhardt: ¶ 22 advantage of the proposed method is that the heat transfer behavior of the boundary layer, can be included and thus the temperature of the fluid can be determined more accurately ] . Conclusion 07-96 AIA The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. ROGHANIZAD ( US 2022/0390292 A1 ) discloses, a first temperature sensor disposed to provide first temperature data, a second temperature sensor disposed to provide second temperature data ( Fig. 12, ¶ 146 In this example embodiment, each NITI sensor (i.e., sensor node or node) contains one heat flux sensor-temperature sensor pair ) . Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL . See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 JOSEPH O. NYAMOGO whose telephone number is (469)295-9276. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 A to 5:00 P CT. 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, EMAN ALFAKAWI can be reached at 571-272-4448. 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. /JOSEPH O. NYAMOGO/ Examiner Art Unit 2858 /FARHANA A HOQUE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 2 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 3 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 4 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 5 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 6 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 7 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 8 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 9 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 10 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 11 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 12 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 13 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 14 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 15 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 16 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 17 Art Unit: 2858 Application/Control Number: 18/479,961 Page 18 Art Unit: 2858
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