DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 05/19/2026 was filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed on 03/31/2026, has been received and made of record. In response to the Non-Final Office Action, dated on 01/23/2026. Claims 1-2, 4-8 and 10-15 are pending in the current application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed on 03/31/2026 have been fully considered.
In the Arguments/Remarks:
Re: Rejection of the Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 103
Upon further search and consideration, examiner submits that the applicant’s arguments are persuasive. In view of applicant’s amendments and arguments, the rejection of claims 1-2, 4-8 and 10-15 under 35 U.S.C. 103 have been withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Claim 10 claims dependency to cancelled claim 9. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Examiner notes that claim 10 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the current rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(d).
Allowable Subject Matter
The following is an examiner’s reasons for allowance: The instant invention is directed towards a method of performing a kitting operation. The instant invention differs from the prior art in that the method of performing a kitting operation in the context of the claims include “receiving one or more three-dimensional (3D) models associated with the object and the container, the one or more 3D models including a model of the container having markers identifying destination poses for the object within the container”. Menon (US 2020/0095001 A1) discloses a robotic kitting system that helps a robot pick items from a supply area and them, or otherwise make them easier for the robot to grasp. The system can keep adjusting items until a usable retrieval strategy exists. If the system still cannot proceed after several attempts, it can request human place them into boxes or kits. The system uses a conveyance structure, such as a ramp or conveyor belt, to move items toward a pick-up zone. help by teleoperation. The disclosure also covers a broader automated kitting line with robotic arms, moving shelves, cameras, and control software. Prior art Barajas (US 2015/0239127 A1) discloses a robotic system that helps a user “see” what a robot is planning to do before the robot actually does it. The system uses sensors to track the robot and nearby objects in real time. A controller GUI shows the markers, the selected future action, and allows the user to change the plan by moving or reshaping the markers. The user can adjust trajectories, target objects, or expected final positions in real time. The system is intended to make it easier to debug robotic tasks, especially when the environment changes or the robot’s plan is not correct builds a simulated view of the workspace and displays visual markers on a screen. Barajas further discloses producing and output marker models or visual markers (arrow 62) associated with the actions of the robot 12 shown in FIG. 1. When inserted into the Simulator Module (SIM) 70, the visual markers (arrow 62) provide a graphical indicator, e.g., an icon, picture, or cartoon representation of, current and future actions of the robot 12. The visual markers (arrow 62) may be associated with specific objects that the robot 12 is or will be attending to, and indicate attributes of the object related to a planned action of the robot 12. Marker attributes can indicate, for example, the position of the robot 12 or a position, orientation, or trajectory of an object such as object 21 or 23 of FIG. 1 in a current or future state. However, the prior art fails to disclose and fully teach in the context of the claim “receiving one or more three-dimensional (3D) models associated with the object and the container, the one or more 3D models including a model of the container having markers identifying destination poses for the object within the container”. The references fail to disclose and teach all of the features AND a suitable motivation to combine and add these missing features. Therefore, when combined together and with the other limitations, provide a more efficient and novel robot system. Accordingly, the claims are allowable over the prior art.
Conclusion
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 MOHAMMED YOUSEF ABUELHAWA whose telephone number is (571)272-3219. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30-5:00 with flex.
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, Wade Miles can be reached at 571-270-7777. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MOHAMMED YOUSEF ABUELHAWA/Examiner, Art Unit 3656
/WADE MILES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3656
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