DETAILED ACTION
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
1. 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 04/06/26 has been entered.
Specification
2. The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: on the first line of paragraph [0007] of the instant specification, --is disclosed-- should be inserted after the word "device", and also in this paragraph, on line 6 thereof, --may be-- should be inserted after the word "controller".
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
3. Claims 1-19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
On line 2 of claim 1, the word --configured-- should be inserted after "circuitry".
On line 3 of claim 1, the first occurrence of "a" should be deleted (note lines 3-4 of claim 10 for the proper grammatical form of "communications interface circuitry").
On line 4 of claim 1, the word "instruction" should be changed to --command--, i.e., in order to provide consistency between what is indicated in the specification and what is recited in the claims. Alternatively, if applicant desires to use the word "instruction" in the claims, then paragraphs [0023] and [0037] of the instant specification should be amended so as to recite --or instruction(s)-- wherever reference is made to the word "command" or "commands", i.e., in order to provide consistency between what is indicated in the specification and what is recited in the claims.
On line 3 of claim 2, --is further configured-- should be inserted after the word "circuitry", i.e., in order to provide consistency with what is recited on the second line of claim 1.
On line 4 of claim 3, "to further" should be changed to --is further configured to--, again in order to provide consistency with what is recited on the second line of claim 1.
On line 3 of claim 4, --is further configured-- should be inserted after the word "circuitry", again in order to provide consistency with what is recited on the second line of claim 1, and also in order to provide consistency with what is recited on line 4 of claim 3.
On line 4 of claim 5, "to further" should be changed to --is further configured to--, again in order to provide consistency with what is recited on the second line of claim 1, and also in order to provide consistency with what is recited on line 4 of claim 3, and on line 3 of claim 4.
On line 3 of claim 6, --is further configured-- should be inserted after the word "circuitry", again in order to provide consistency with what is recited on the second line of claim 1, on line 4 of claim 3, on line 3 of claim 4, and on line 4 of claim 5.
On line 3 of claim 7, --is further configured-- should be inserted after the word "circuitry", again in order to provide consistency with what is recited on the second line of claim 1, and on line 4 of claim 3.
On line 3 of claim 8, --is further configured-- should be inserted after the word "circuitry", again in order to provide consistency with what is recited on the second line of claim 1, on line 4 of claim 3, and on line 3 of claim 7.
On line 4 of claim 9, --is further configured-- should be inserted after the word "circuitry", again in order to provide consistency with what is recited on the second line of claim 1, on line 4 of claim 3, on line 3 of claim 7, and on line 3 of claim 8.
On the last line of claim 10, the word "of" should be deleted.
On line 3 of claim 11, the word "further" should be deleted, the reason being that the step of causing the first adjustment of the operating parameter of the operatively coupled electric load device has not been previously recited as "comprising" anything, and therefore to recite in claim 11 that this step "further comprises" anything is improper because it lacks antecedent basis.
On line 3 of claim 12, the word "further" should again be deleted, the reason being that the step of receiving the first message that includes the first instruction and the data representative of the identifier associated with the first device has not been previously recited as "comprising" anything, and therefore to recite in claim 12 that this step "further comprises" anything is improper because it lacks antecedent basis.
On line 3 of claim 13, the word "further" should again be deleted, for the same reason noted above in the objections to claims 11 and 12.
On line 3 of claim 14, the word "further" should again be deleted, for the same reason noted above in the objections to claims 11-13.
On line 3 of claim 15, the word "further" should again be deleted, for the same reason noted above in the objections to claims 11-14.
On line 2 of claim 16, the word "further" should again be deleted, for the same reason noted above in the objections to claims 11-15.
On line 3 of claim 17, the word "further" should again be deleted, for the same reason noted above in the objections to claims 11-16.
On line 3 of claim 18, the word "further" should again be deleted, for the same reason noted above in the objections to claims 11-17.
On line 19 of claim 19, "of an" should be deleted.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
4. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 19 is rejected under 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 applicant, regards as the invention.
On line 6 of claim 19, "the electric load controller" lacks antecedent basis.
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claims 1-18 are allowed.
Claim 19 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: none of the prior art of record discloses or suggests an electric load controller comprising electric load control circuitry configured to perform the functions recited on lines 3-22 of claim 1, nor does any of the prior art of record disclose or suggest a method to control an electric load device disposed in an electric load controller, wherein the method comprises the steps recited on lines 3-22 of claim 10, nor does any of prior art of record disclose or suggest a non-transitory machine-readable storage device that includes instructions that, when executed by electric load control circuitry, cause the electric load control circuitry to perform the functions recited on lines 3-22 of claim 19.
Conclusion
6. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KENNETH B WELLS whose telephone number is (571)272-1757. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, REGIS J BETSCH, can be reached at (571)270-7101. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/KENNETH B WELLS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2836 April 22, 2026