DETAILED ACTION
Claims 18-37 are pending. Claims 1-17 are cancelled.
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 .
Priority
Acknowledgement is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d) to Chinese Patent Application No. 202310071880.0, filed on 1/30/2023.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(B) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
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(s) 26 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 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 inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
With regard to claim 26, this claim recites ‘the user instruction for the clothes treatment device’ that lacks an antecedent basis.
In addition, claim 26 recites ‘the prompt information being used for prompting the user to issue the user instruction for the clothes treatment device’ and it is not clear if this is merely an intended use.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 33 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Lee U.S. Patent Publication No. 20220347862 (hereinafter Lee).
Regarding claim 33, Lee discloses a cleaning and treatment apparatus [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device); 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room] comprising:
a first device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000]; and a second device communicatively connected to the first device [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0084 — the home appliances of the second group 4200 may directly transmit a call command to the cleaning robot 1000; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 (second device) may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area];
wherein: the first device is configured to: acquire a user instruction for a second device [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area];
generate an operation instruction for the second device based on the user instruction [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area]; and send the operation instruction to the second device [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0084 — the home appliances of the second group 4200 may directly transmit a call command to the cleaning robot 1000; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area];
the second device is configured to: acquire the operation instruction sent by the first device; and perform a corresponding target operation based on the operation instruction [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0084 — the home appliances of the second group 4200 may directly transmit a call command to the cleaning robot 1000; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area];
wherein the first device is one of a clothes treatment device and a floor cleaning device, and the second device is another one of the clothes treatment device and the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device); 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room].
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 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 of this title, 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.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 18-21, 27-31 and 34-37 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee.
Regarding claim 18, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches an electric appliance [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine, a dryer, a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like] configured to:
acquire a user instruction for a second device [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area];
generate an operation instruction for the second device based on the user instruction [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area]; and
send the operation instruction to the second device to control the second device to perform a corresponding target operation [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0084 — the home appliances of the second group 4200 may directly transmit a call command to the cleaning robot 1000; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area];
wherein the first device is one of a clothes treatment device and a floor cleaning device, and the second device is another one of the clothes treatment device and the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device); 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room].
Lee does not clearly specify an appliance comprising: a memory storing instructions; and a processor configured to call and execute the instructions to control a first device.
However, Lee teaches that an appliance comprises: a memory storing instructions; and a processor configured to call and execute the instructions to control a first device [0398-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200, a memory 1300… processor 1200 may generally control the overall operation of the cleaning robot 1000. The processor 1200 may control the sensing unit 1100, the output interface 1400, the communication interface 1500, the driving unit 1600, and the power supply unit 1700 by executing programs stored in a storage unit 160.].
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to simply substitute the known appliance with a processor/memory control system of Lee for the known electric appliance of Lee for the predictable result of an electric appliance with a processor/memory control system configured to perform the claimed process.
Regarding claim 19, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the processor [0398-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] is further configured to control the first device to: acquire current status data sent by the second device; generate information to be communicated based on the current status data [0236-0258, Fig. 16 — the cleaning robot 1000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit an operation execution result to the intermediate terminal 1610… In operation S1611, the intermediate terminal 1610 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the operation execution result of the cleaning robot 1000 to the fourth home appliance 4004… home appliance 4004 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may store the operation execution result of the cleaning robot 1000. For example, the fourth home appliance 4004 may have information such as whether the cleaning of the vicinity of the fourth home appliance 4004 is completed or whether the cleaning is stopped due to an obstacle or the like]
Further, Lee teaches present communicated information being used for notifying a user [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed.; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000].
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to present the information to be communicated, the information to be communicated being used for notifying a user of a current status of the second device.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification to keep a user informed as to task execution, as taught by Lee [0107].
Regarding claim 20, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the second device is the floor cleaning device, and the current status data includes at least one of an alarm status, a cleaning progress [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000], a dust cup status, or a water volume status; or the second device is the clothes treatment device, and the current status data includes at least one of a clothes treatment progress, remaining treatment time, or an alarm status.
Regarding claim 21, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the first device is the clothes treatment device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room] and the second device is the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device); 0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room]; and
the processor [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] is further configured to control the first device to: acquire feedback information of the floor cleaning device after receiving the operation instruction; and present, based on the feedback information, a status that the floor cleaning device has received the operation instruction [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000].
Regarding claim 27, Lee teaches an electric appliance [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine, a dryer, a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like] configured to:
acquire an operation instruction sent by a first device, the operation instruction being generated by the first device based on an acquired user instruction for the second device [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area]; and
perform a corresponding target operation based on the operation instruction [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0084 — the home appliances of the second group 4200 may directly transmit a call command to the cleaning robot 1000; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000… When the control command is received from the server device 2000, the cleaning robot 1000 may move to the vicinity of the first home appliance to complete cleaning of the first area];
wherein the first device is one of a clothes treatment device and a floor cleaning device, and the second device is another one of the clothes treatment device and the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device); 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room].
Lee does not clearly specify an appliance comprising: a memory storing instructions; and a processor configured to call and execute the instructions to control a first device.
However, Lee teaches that an appliance comprises: a memory storing instructions; and a processor configured to call and execute the instructions to control a first device [0398-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200, a memory 1300… processor 1200 may generally control the overall operation of the cleaning robot 1000. The processor 1200 may control the sensing unit 1100, the output interface 1400, the communication interface 1500, the driving unit 1600, and the power supply unit 1700 by executing programs stored in a storage unit 160.].
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to simply substitute the known appliance with a processor/memory control system of Lee for the known electric appliance of Lee for the predictable result of an electric appliance with a processor/memory control system configured to perform the claimed process.
Regarding claim 28, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the processor [398-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] is further configured to control the second device to: send current status data to the first device for the first device to generate information to be communicated [0236-0258, Fig. 16 — the cleaning robot 1000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit an operation execution result to the intermediate terminal 1610… In operation S1611, the intermediate terminal 1610 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the operation execution result of the cleaning robot 1000 to the fourth home appliance 4004… home appliance 4004 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may store the operation execution result of the cleaning robot 1000. For example, the fourth home appliance 4004 may have information such as whether the cleaning of the vicinity of the fourth home appliance 4004 is completed or whether the cleaning is stopped due to an obstacle or the like].
Further, Lee teaches information for presenting to a user, the information to be communicated being used for notifying the user of a current status [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed.; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000].
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to present information to be communicated for presenting to a user, the information to be communicated being used for notifying the user of a current status of the second device.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification to keep a user informed as to task execution, as taught by Lee [0107].
Regarding claim 29, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the second device is the floor cleaning device, and the current status data includes at least one of an alarm status, a cleaning progress [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000], a dust cup status, or a water volume status; or the second device is the clothes treatment device, and the current status data includes at least one of a clothes treatment progress, remaining treatment time, or an alarm status.
Regarding claim 30, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the second device is the floor cleaning device, and the target operation includes at least one of sweeping, vacuuming, water spraying, brushing, blotting, or polishing [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device); 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room; 0418 — driving unit 1600 may include component used for driving (operating) of the cleaning robot 1000 and operations of devices inside the cleaning robot 1000… a brush capable of sweeping out dust from a corner ]; or the second device is the clothes treatment device, and the target operation includes at least one of washing, rinsing, spin-drying, drying, or self-cleaning.
Regarding claim 31, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the first device is the clothes treatment device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room] and the second device is the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device); 0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room]; and
the processor [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] is further configured to control the second device to: send, in response to acquiring the operation instruction, feedback information to the clothes treatment device for the clothes treatment device to present a status that the operation instruction has been received by the floor treatment device [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000].
Regarding claim 34, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches first device is further configured to: acquire current status data sent by the second device; generate information to be communicated based on the current status data [0236-0258, Fig. 16 — the cleaning robot 1000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit an operation execution result to the intermediate terminal 1610… In operation S1611, the intermediate terminal 1610 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the operation execution result of the cleaning robot 1000 to the fourth home appliance 4004… home appliance 4004 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may store the operation execution result of the cleaning robot 1000. For example, the fourth home appliance 4004 may have information such as whether the cleaning of the vicinity of the fourth home appliance 4004 is completed or whether the cleaning is stopped due to an obstacle or the like].
Further, Lee teaches information for presenting to a user, the information to be communicated being used for notifying the user of a current status [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed.; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000].
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to present the information to be communicated, the information to be communicated being used for notifying a user of a current status of the second device.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification to keep a user informed as to task execution, as taught by Lee [0107].
Regarding claim 35, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the second device is the floor cleaning device, and the current status data includes at least one of an alarm status, a cleaning progress [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000], a dust cup status, or a water volume status; or the second device is the clothes treatment device, and the current status data includes at least one of a clothes treatment progress, remaining treatment time, or an alarm status.
Regarding claim 36, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the first device is the clothes treatment device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room] and the second device is the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device); 0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus, a TV, a dishwasher, an oven, a microwave oven, an air fryer, and an automatic feeder for pets, a water purifier, a lighting device, a bidet, and the like; 0140 — when the user watching the TV 700 discovers dust on the floor of the living room, the user may press the home key of the TV remote controller 710 for 3 seconds or longer to call the cleaning robot 1000 cleaning around an air conditioner in a master bedroom to the living room]; and
the first device is further configured to: acquire feedback information of the floor cleaning device after receiving the operation instruction; and present, based on the feedback information, a status that the floor cleaning device has received the operation instruction [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000].
Regarding claim 37, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the second device is further configured to send current status data to the first device; and the first device is further configured to generate information to be communicated [0236-0258, Fig. 16 — the cleaning robot 1000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit an operation execution result to the intermediate terminal 1610… In operation S1611, the intermediate terminal 1610 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the operation execution result of the cleaning robot 1000 to the fourth home appliance 4004… home appliance 4004 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may store the operation execution result of the cleaning robot 1000. For example, the fourth home appliance 4004 may have information such as whether the cleaning of the vicinity of the fourth home appliance 4004 is completed or whether the cleaning is stopped due to an obstacle or the like]
Further, Lee teaches information to be communicated for presenting to a user, the information to be communicated being used for notifying the user [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed.; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000].
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to present information to be communicated for presenting to a user, the information to be communicated being used for notifying the user of a current status of the second device.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification to keep a user informed as to task execution, as taught by Lee [0107].
Claim(s) 22 and 32 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Haldavnekar et al. U.S. Patent Publication No. 20050071879 (hereinafter Haldavnekar).
Regarding claim 22, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the processor [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] and the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device)].
But Lee fails to clearly specify prior to acquiring the current status data sent by the second device: acquire an inquiry instruction of the user regarding the current status of the device; and send a request to the device for the current status based on the inquiry instruction.
However, Haldavnekar teaches prior to acquiring the current status data sent by the second device: acquire an inquiry instruction of the user regarding the current status of the device; and send a request to the device for the current status based on the inquiry instruction [0071-0073, Fig. 6 — In step 610, the mobile computing device can receive a user input for a user status inquiry about the controlled appliance… In step 625, the appliance signal can be conveyed to the controlled appliance].
Lee and Haldavnekar are analogous art. They relate to appliance control and communication systems.
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above appliance, as taught by Lee, by incorporating the above limitations, as taught by Haldavnekar.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to enable a user to determine a state of a remote appliance, as suggested by Haldavnekar [0071-0073].
Regarding claim 32, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the processor [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] and the second device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device)] and receive a request sent by the clothes treatment device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus] for feedback of a current status; and generate the current status data [0107, Fig. 16 — The user may also select a notification icon 413 to receive a notification related to the execution of scenario A 410. For example, the cleaning robot 1000 or the display device 3000 (e.g., a mobile terminal of the user) may be set to output a voice guide of ‘The cleaning robot 1000 is moving to the vicinity of the air conditioner’, when scenario A 410 is performed; 0102 — server device 2000 may output a message indicating that the cleaning of the first area is completed, to the user through the display device 3000].
But Lee fails to clearly specify control the second device to, prior to sending the current status data to the first device: receive a request sent by the device for feedback of a current status; and generate the current status data in response to the request.
However, Haldavnekar teaches control the second device to, prior to sending the current status data to the first device: receive a request sent by the device for feedback of a current status; and generate the current status data in response to the request [0071-0073, Fig. 6 — In step 610, the mobile computing device can receive a user input for a user status inquiry about the controlled appliance… In step 625, the appliance signal can be conveyed to the controlled appliance].
Lee and Haldavnekar are analogous art. They relate to appliance control and communication systems.
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above appliance, as taught by Lee, by incorporating the above limitations, as taught by Haldavnekar.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to enable a user to determine a state of a remote appliance, as suggested by Haldavnekar [0071-0073].
Claim(s) 23 and 24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of Bae et al. U.S. Patent Publication No. 20030076240 (hereinafter Bae).
Regarding claim 23, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the first device is the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device)] and the second device is the clothes treatment device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus], and the floor cleaning device moves within a predetermined spatial range [0100 — the control command transmitted to the cleaning robot 1000 may include a command to clean a first area within a preset distance from the first home appliance]; and the processor [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] is further configured to control the first device to: send the operation instruction to the clothes treatment device and/or acquire the current status data sent by the clothes treatment device [0064 — the cleaning robot 1000 may receive a control command from the server device 2000 and perform a cleaning operation according to the control command. Here, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the cleaning operation of the cleaning robot 1000 may be matched to an input related to an idle button of a home appliance; 0084 — the home appliances of the second group 4200 may directly transmit a call command to the cleaning robot 1000; 0087-0103, Figs. 2-3 — In operation S210, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may receive a first user input related to the cleaning robot through a first home appliance. For example, when the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000, the first home appliance may notify the server device 2000 that the first home appliance has received the first user input related to the cleaning robot 1000. In this case, the server device 2000 may receive information about the first user input (e.g., an input type, an input time, etc.) from the first home appliance, thereby receiving the first user input through the first home appliance… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a first scenario corresponding to the first user input from a scenario list… server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may identify a control command including movement position information indicating a destination of the cleaning robot 1000, based on the first scenario… In operation S240, the server device 2000 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may transmit the control command to the cleaning robot 1000 — It would be obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art to simply substitute the known cleaning robot appliance for the known washing machine appliance and substitute the known washing machine appliance for the known cleaning robot appliance, as taught by Lee, for the predictable result of a washing machine appliance control method utilizing a cleaning robot appliance as input.].
But Lee fails to clearly specify acquire a communication status between the device and the other device; and in response to a communication connection being established between the device and the other device, send the operation instruction to the other device and/or acquire the current status data sent by the other device.
However, Bae teaches acquire a communication status between the device and the other device; and in response to a communication connection being established between the device and the other device, send the operation instruction to the other device and/or acquire the current status data sent by the other device [0087-0098, Fig. 6 — it is determined whether the terminal normally receives the information related to the appliance transmitted from the appliance (step S205)… The transformed control code is wirelessly transmitted to the terminal so that the user controls the corresponding function of the appliance which is wanted by the user (step S211).].
Lee and Bae are analogous art. They relate to appliance control and communication systems.
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above appliance, as taught by Lee, by incorporating the above limitations, as taught by Bae.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to confirm communication with the appliance before sending operating instructions, as suggested by Bae [0087-0098], thus ensuring the appliance is being controlled as intended.
Regarding claim 24, the combination of Lee and Bae teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the processor [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] is further configured to control the first device [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] and the first device is the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device)] and the second device is the clothes treatment device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus].
Further, Bae teaches the first device to acquire a distance between a current position of the first device and the second device; and the communication connection between the first device and the second device is established in response to the distance being shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold [0012 — a method of remotely controlling a plurality of home appliances using one mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of: setting a network connection between the appliance and the terminal, when the terminal approaches within a certain distance from the appliance; 0087-0098, Fig. 6 — It is determined whether the terminal approaches the appliance (step S203). If the terminal approaches the appliance, the terminal downloads the information related to the appliance transmitted from the appliance (step S204). In other words, it is determined whether the terminal normally receives the information related to the appliance transmitted from the appliance (step S205).].
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above appliance, as taught by the combination of Lee and Bae, by incorporating the above limitations, as taught by Bae.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to communicate with a specific appliance that the user wants to control, as suggested by Bae [0087-0098], and also to reduce power consumption and improve communication accuracy by only communicating with appliances within a reasonable communication range.
Claim(s) 25 and 26 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee in view of the English translation of Deng et al. Chinese Patent Publication No. 107219417A, published 2017, from Google Patents (hereinafter Deng).
Regarding claim 25, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the processor [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] is further configured to control the first device [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] and the first device is the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device)] and the second device is the clothes treatment device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus].
But Lee fails to clearly specify acquire a distance between a current position of the first device and the user; and present the information to be communicated in response to the distance being shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold.
However, Deng teaches acquire a distance between a current position of the first device and the user; and present the information to be communicated in response to the distance being shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold [pages 4-5 — Between current distance be less than default triggering distance threshold, then light the display screen of current electrical equipment, make the display screen display use Family operation interface, and current electrical equipment is sent into the prompt message of operable state in the form of voice broadcast…. The default triggering distance threshold less than distance threshold stated range minimum, such as it is 0.5m to preset triggering distance threshold, As user as triggering object close to current electrical equipment, and current distance between current electrical equipment is when being less than triggering distance threshold, The display screen of current electrical equipment is lit to show user interface, and the current electrical equipment of voice broadcast comes into operable state Prompt message, the user interface that user can show according to current electrical equipment display screen operates to current electrical equipment].
Lee and Deng are analogous art. They relate to appliance control and communication systems.
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above appliance, as taught by Lee, by incorporating the above limitations, as taught by Deng.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to only activate a user interface when a user is nearby, as suggested by Deng [pages 4-5], thus reducing the energy required to power the interface.
Regarding claim 26, Lee teaches all the limitations of the base claims as outlined above.
Further, Lee teaches the processor [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] is further configured to control the first device [98-0401, Fig. 30 — the cleaning robot 1000 (an appliance) may include a sensing unit 1100, a processor 1200] and the first device is the floor cleaning device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000… cleaning robot 1000 (floor cleaning device)] and the second device is the clothes treatment device [0059-0064, Fig. 1 — plurality of home appliances 4000; 0076 — the plurality of home appliances 4000 may include, but are not limited to, a refrigerator, an air purifier, an air conditioner, an audio device, an induction range, a washing machine (clothes treatment device), a dryer (clothes treatment device), a clothes care apparatus].
But Lee fails to clearly specify acquire a distance between a current position of the first device and the user; and present prompt information in response to the distance being shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold, the prompt information being used for prompting the user to issue the user instruction for the clothes treatment device.
However, Deng teaches present prompt information in response to the distance being shorter than or equal to a predetermined distance threshold, the prompt information being used for prompting the user to issue the user instruction for the clothes treatment device [pages 4-5 — Between current distance be less than default triggering distance threshold, then light the display screen of current electrical equipment, make the display screen display use Family operation interface, and current electrical equipment is sent into the prompt message of operable state in the form of voice broadcast…. The default triggering distance threshold less than distance threshold stated range minimum, such as it is 0.5m to preset triggering distance threshold, As user as triggering object close to current electrical equipment, and current distance between current electrical equipment is when being less than triggering distance threshold, The display screen of current electrical equipment is lit to show user interface, and the current electrical equipment of voice broadcast comes into operable state Prompt message, the user interface that user can show according to current electrical equipment display screen operates to current electrical equipment]. Note that ‘the prompt information being used for prompting the user to issue the user instruction for the clothes treatment device’ is merely interpreted as an intended use.
Lee and Deng are analogous art. They relate to appliance control and communication systems.
Therefore at the time the invention was made, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art to modify the above appliance, as taught by Lee, by incorporating the above limitations, as taught by Deng.
One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do this modification in order to only activate a user interface when a user is nearby, as suggested by Deng [pages 4-5], thus reducing the energy required to power the interface.
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Jeong et al. U.S. Patent Publication No. 20210297280 discloses an online system capable of pairing a first home appliance and a second home appliance.
Note that any citations to specific, pages, columns, lines, or figures in the prior art references and any interpretation of the reference should not be considered to be limiting in any way. A reference is relevant for all it contains and may be relied upon for all that it would have reasonably suggested to one having ordinary skill in the art. See MPEP 2123.
Conclusion
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/BERNARD G LINDSAY/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2119