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 .
Status of the Claims
Claims 1, 2, 12, and 13 have been amended, claims 3 and 3 have been canceled, and no new claims have been added. Accordingly, claims 1-2, 4-14 are pending herein.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed on 02/03/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of the claims under 35 USC § 112(b) have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, filed on 02/03/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of the claims under 35 USC § 103 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 Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn.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 the amendments.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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.
Claims 1-2, 4-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Erko (US 2009/0216449) in view of Tanaka (US 2006/0235585) and Angle (US-20160282863-A1).
Regarding claims 1, 9, and 10, Erko teaches a method of obtaining measurement data for at least one parameter, based on at least one sensor, wherein the sensor is mounted on a robot type of device capable of moving within an area in order to carry out a first function ([0013]: “a portable machine performs a routine cleaning function”; [0017]: “a mobile floor cleaning device that transmits a radio frequency (‘RF’) signal and that has the ability to receive digital RF signals back from passive RFID tags”; Note: First function: floor cleaning), the method comprising:
activating the sensor in order to measure the parameter at least during a movement of the device within the area ([0023]: “the RFID reader is transported within a field of dispersed RFID tags as the cleaning equipment traverses a facility”, “information gathering can be performed simultaneously with a floor cleaning process”),
acquiring data, in a second function of the device that is distinct from the first function, in order to establish a map of the parameter in the area ([0006]: “a mapping engine acquires signals or related information from the dispersed tags”; [0023]: “the activity of floor cleaning can automatically create or update a map of the floor field during the cleaning process”; Note: second function: mapping the environment).
However, Erko does not explicitly state using the map to perform the first function nor wherein the parameter is one among: at least one wifi signal strength, a temperature, a humidity level, a pressure, and a light intensity.
On the other hand, Tanaka teaches using map data to perform the first function (Abstract: “a self-guided cleaning robot performs map cleaning in which the self-guided cleaning robot refers to cleaning region information (map) and travels.”; [0012]: “the first traveling control unit refers to the cleaning region information to control the traveling drive unit”).
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the TANAKA reference with a reasonable expectation of success. Using the map generated during operation of the cleaning machine in Erko to control robot operation as taught by TANAKA in order to improve navigation efficiency and coverage of the cleaning device.
Furthermore, Angle teaches the parameter is one among: at least one wifi signal strength, a temperature, a humidity level, a pressure, and a light intensity ([0023]-[0024]).
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the Angle reference with a reasonable expectation of success, to configure the sensor of the mobile cleaning device of Erko to measure an environmental parameter such as temperature or humidity. This allows obtaining spatially distributed environmental information while utilizing the existing mobility of the cleaning robot.
Regarding claim 2, Erko discloses the sensor is activated to measure the parameter while the device is moving within the area to carry out the first function ([0023]: “the RFID reader is transported within a field of dispersed RFID tags as the cleaning equipment traverses a facility.”, “information gathering can be performed simultaneously with a floor cleaning process.”).
Regarding claim 4, Erko discloses the acquisition of data in order to establish the map of the parameter uses topology data for the area from a previously saved digital map corresponding to a topology of the area ([0006]: “the mapping information obtained by this process can be stored in a location server associated with the portable machine”; [0007]: “the floor map may be communicated to a remote map server and be utilized by a second floor cleaning machine during a different floor cleaning process”; Note: The term “topology data” is given its broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the specification and as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Under this interpretation, topology data broadly refers to information describing the spatial layout, structure, or connectivity of an environment, such as information indicating positions of landmarks, nodes, or waypoints and the relationships or paths between them, which can be used to generate or represent a map of the area).
Regarding claim 5, Erko does not explicitly state a measurement of topology data for the area by determining distances traveled by the device between obstacles present in the area, in order to obtain a digital map of the area.
On the other hand, TANAKA discloses a measurement of topology data for the area by determining distances traveled by the device between obstacles present in the area, in order to obtain a digital map of the area ([0012]: “a distance detection unit for detecting a traveling distance of the main body”, “an angle detection unit for detecting an angle indicative of a moving direction of the main body.”; [0019]: “a mapping unit for mapping a cleaned partial region on the basis of information from the distance detection unit and the angle detection unit”).
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the TANAKA reference with a reasonable expectation of success. Using the map generated during operation of the cleaning machine in Erko to control robot operation as taught by TANAKA in order to improve navigation efficiency and coverage of the cleaning device.
Regarding claim 6, Erko does not explicitly state the device is reprogrammed to use the topology data for the area, for the purposes of a new function in the implementation of the first function.
On the other hand, TANAKA teaches the device is reprogrammed to use the topology data for the area, for the purposes of a new function in the implementation of the first function ([0012]: “the first traveling control unit refers to the cleaning region information to control the traveling drive unit”). ‘
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the TANAKA reference with a reasonable expectation of success. Using the map generated during operation of the cleaning machine in Erko to control robot operation as taught by TANAKA in order to improve navigation efficiency and coverage of the cleaning device.
Regarding claim 7, Erko does not explicitly state at least two sensors are mounted on the robot type of device, the method comprising: activating a first sensor mounted on the robot type of device for measuring a first parameter at a given location of the robot type of device during a predetermined time interval; activating a second sensor distinct from the first sensor and mounted on the robot type of device for measuring a second parameter at the location of the robot type of device during the predetermined time interval; and iterating the measurement of the first parameter and the second parameter, and determining an occurrence of an event or an absence of the event in the area, based on the measurements of the first parameter and the second parameter.
On the other hand, TANAKA teaches at least two sensors are mounted on the robot type of device ([0035]: “proximity sensors 12 to 17… sensing presence/absence of an obstacle and a distance to the obstacle”), the method comprising: activating a first sensor mounted on the robot type of device for measuring a first parameter at a given location of the robot type of device during a predetermined time interval; activating a second sensor distinct from the first sensor and mounted on the robot type of device for measuring a second parameter at the location of the robot type of device during the predetermined time interval; and iterating the measurement of the first parameter and the second parameter, and determining an occurrence of an event or an absence of the event in the area, based on the measurements of the first parameter and the second parameter ([0035]; [0042]; [0048]).
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the TANAKA reference with a reasonable expectation of success. Using the map generated during operation of the cleaning machine in Erko to control robot operation as taught by TANAKA in order to improve navigation efficiency and coverage of the cleaning device.
Regarding claim 8, Erko does not explicitly state wherein at least three sensors are mounted on the robot type of device, the method further comprising: activating a third sensor distinct from the first sensor and the second sensor and mounted on the robot type of device for measuring a third parameter at the location of the robot type of device during the predetermined time interval; and iterating the measurement of the first parameter, the second parameter and the third parameter, and determining an occurrence of an event or an absence of the event in the area, based on the measurements of the first parameter, the second parameter and the third parameter.
On the other hand, TANAKA teaches wherein at least three sensors are mounted on the robot type of device, the method further comprising: activating a third sensor distinct from the first sensor and the second sensor and mounted on the robot type of device for measuring a third parameter at the location of the robot type of device during the predetermined time interval; and iterating the measurement of the first parameter, the second parameter and the third parameter, and determining an occurrence of an event or an absence of the event in the area, based on the measurements of the first parameter, the second parameter and the third parameter ([0035]; [0042]; [0048]).
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the TANAKA reference with a reasonable expectation of success. Using the map generated during operation of the cleaning machine in Erko to control robot operation as taught by TANAKA in order to improve navigation efficiency and coverage of the cleaning device.
Regarding claim 11, Erko discloses an expansion module connected to the processing circuit and comprising: at least one sensor configured to be activated and to measure the parameter at least during a movement of the device within the area ([0006]: “a mapping engine acquires signals or related information from the dispersed tags”) and an acquisition interface configured to acquire data according to the second function of the device, in order to establish a map of the parameter in the area ([0023]: “the activity of floor cleaning can create or update a map of the floor field during the cleaning process”).
Regarding claim 12, Erko does not explicitly state the expansion module further comprises a position sensor configured to determine a location of the device when moving within the area.
On the other hand, TANAKA teaches the expansion module further comprises a position sensor configured to determine a location of the device when moving within the area ([0042]: “rotary encoders capable of detecting a traveling distance”; [0044]: “gyro sensor… detecting an angle indicative of a moving direction.”).
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the TANAKA reference with a reasonable expectation of success. Using the map generated during operation of the cleaning machine in Erko to control robot operation as taught by TANAKA in order to improve navigation efficiency and coverage of the cleaning device.
Regarding claim 13, Erko discloses an expansion module configured to be connected to a processing circuit of a device able to move about within an area in order to carry out a first function ([0013]), the expansion module comprising:
at least one sensor configured to be activated and to measure at least one parameter during a movement of the device within the area ([0023]); and
an acquisition interface configured to acquire data, according to a second function of the device that is distinct from the first function, in order to establish a map of the parameter in the area ([0006]),
wherein the data acquisition interface is connected to the processing circuit of the device in order to send mapping data for the parameter to the processing circuit ([0006]).
However, Erko does not explicitly state a connection interface configured to connect the expansion module to the processing circuit of the device and the processing circuit being programmed to be configured to use the mapping data in performing the first function nor the parameter is one among: at least one wifi signal strength, a temperature, a humidity level, a pressure, and a light intensity.
On the other hand, TANAKA teaches a connection interface configured to connect the expansion module to the processing circuit of the device ([0048]) and the processing circuit being programmed to be configured to use the mapping data in performing the first function ([0012]).
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the TANAKA reference with a reasonable expectation of success. Using the map generated during operation of the cleaning machine in Erko to control robot operation as taught by TANAKA in order to improve navigation efficiency and coverage of the cleaning device.
Furthermore, Angle teaches the parameter is one among: at least one wifi signal strength, a temperature, a humidity level, a pressure, and a light intensity ([0023]-[0024]).
It would have been obvious for someone with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the current application to modify the teachings of the Erko reference and include features from the Angle reference with a reasonable expectation of success, to configure the sensor of the mobile cleaning device of Erko to measure an environmental parameter such as temperature or humidity. This allows obtaining spatially distributed environmental information while utilizing the existing mobility of the cleaning robot.
Regarding claim 14, Erko discloses the data acquisition interface is connected to a remote server and is configured to transmit the acquired data to the remote server ([0007]: “the floor map may be communicated to a remote map server”; [0024]: “information can be transferred using a data cellphone connection to a file site on the Internet”).
Conclusion
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/SHAHIRA BAAJOUR/Examiner, Art Unit 3666
