DETAILED ACTION
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 02/20/2026 has been entered.
Obvious-type Double Patenting (ODP) Rejections
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement.
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
Claims 21-23, 25-28, 30-33, and 35 are rejected under the judicially created doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 21, 23-28, 30-35, and 37-41 of copending Application No. 17/569229, hereinafter ‘229. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other. For example, Claims 21-35 of instant Application, respectively contain elements of claims 21, 23-28, 30-35, and 37-41 of the ‘229 as follows:
Claims
Instant
Claims
‘229
21, 26, 31
processor
memory
processing resources
1st process. resource
1st output
matrix multiplication
1st portion of
1st set of matrix data
2nd set of matrix data
2nd process. resource
generate
2nd output
matrix multiplication
the second portion
21
21
21
21
21
21
23
21
24
21
23
24
23
23
processor
memory
1st , 2nd process. resources
1st process. resource
write
matrix multiplication
1st portion
1st set of matrix data
2nd set of matrix data
2nd process. resource
allocate
write
matrix data
second portion
22, 27, 32
storage
in a set of registers
resources are fused
21
write in to
set of registers
resources are fused
23, 28, 33
receive an instruction
to initiate
matrix multiplication
1st set of registers
1st set of matrix data
shared local memory
1st process. resource
1st data bus
2nd process resource
2nd data bus
21
receive instruction
to initiate
matrix multiplication
1st set of registers
1st set of matrix data
shared local memory
1st process resource
1st data bus
2nd process. resource
2nd data bus
24, 29, 34
share
the 1st set of matrix data
between
1st process. resource and
2nd process. resource
allocate
1st portion of
1st set of matrix data to
1st process. resource and
2nd portion of
1st set of matrix data to
2nd process. resource
21
share
the 1st set of matrix data
between
1st process. resource and
2nd process. resource
allocate
1st portion of
1st set of matrix data to
1st process. resource and
2nd portion of
1st set of matrix data to
2nd process. resource
25, 30, 35
write
2nd set of matrix data into
2nd set of registers
generate a signal to
execute
matrix multiplication
using
1st process. resource and
2nd process. resource
includes
graphic processor
24
25
27
write
2nd set of matrix data into
2nd set of registers
generate a signal to
execute
matrix multiplication
with
1st process. resource and
2nd process. resource
Includes
Graphic processor
Therefore, claims 21, 23-28, 30-35, and 37-41 of the ‘229 anticipate(s) the instant application.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 21-23, 26-28, and 31-33 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under ODP; or with proper Terminal Disclaimer.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Hyun Nam whose telephone number is (571) 270-1725 and fax number is (571) 270-2725. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM EST. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jyoti Mehta can be reached on (571) 270-3995. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/HYUN NAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2183