DETAILED ACTION
The Office Action is responsive to the communication filed on 6/22/2026.
Claims 1-12 are pending.
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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 6/22/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding claims 1-12, the applicant argues that the cited references do not teach or suggest the claim limitations with respect to independent claim 1 below. Independent claim 12 is substantially similar to independent claim 1. Dependent claims 2-11 depend, directly or indirectly, from independent claim 1. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The cited prior art describe the claim limitations as briefly outlined below and as described in the rejection of claims 1 and 12 below.
the terminal is connected to one or the one or more heat source-side devices;
Applicant’s arguments are directed to Fujimoto not teaching or suggesting a terminal connected to a heat source-side device. Examiner respectfully disagrees. Fujimoto describing capturing data of the outdoor unit 10 by the tablet terminal as illustrated in figure 17 and as described in paragraph 0128. In other words, the tablet terminal connects via a photo with the outdoor unit 10. If Applicant intends for the terminal to have a particular type of connection with the heat source-side device, Examiner recommends amending the claims to state the same (e.g., the terminal is electrically connected for power to one of the one or more heat source-side devices as described in paragraph 0088 of the patent publication).
Fujimoto: see the capturing of data about the indoor unit 20b and the outdoor unit 10 by the CPU 91 of the tablet terminal (i.e., connection) as illustrated in figure 17 and as described in paragraph 0128; “FIG. 17 illustrates an image of devices to be installed, which is captured by the reading device 96. In FIG. 17, a captured image of an outdoor unit 10 and a package 29 of an indoor unit 20b is illustrated.” Paragraph 0128; see the tablet terminal 90 as illustrated in figure 14; “For example, a smartphone 200 illustrated in FIG. 12 has installed therein an application for exercising the remote control function of the indoor units 20b. In this case, also when connection is established between the smartphone 200 and a short-range wireless communication unit connected to the indoor units 20b via, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Zigbee (registered trademark), the connection can be automatically established at the site in a way similar to that for the establishment of the wireless LAN connection.” Paragraph 0108
Accordingly, applicant’s arguments are not persuasive since the cited prior art describe the limitations in these claims.
For at least these reasons, the rejection of the claims is maintained.
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 3 is 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 3, the metes and bounds of the limitation “wherein the air conditioner includes a heat source-side device and a use-side device connected to the heat source-side device” is unclear. Is the heat source-side device and use-side device in claim 3 the same or different from the one or more heat source-side devices and the one or more use-side devices in claim 1? For examination purposes, Examiner assumes that the heat source-side device and the use-side device in claim 3 are the same as the respective devices in claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1-4, 6-7, and 9-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being unpatentable by
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0394278 (Fujimoto).
Claim 1:
The cited prior art describes a system, comprising: (Fujimoto: see the installation in structure 112 as illustrated in figure 12; “An equipment installation support system for supporting installation of pieces of equipment in a building” paragraph 0002)
an air conditioner; (Fujimoto: see the indoor units 20b and outdoor unit 10 as illustrated in figure 12)
a terminal connected to the air conditioner; and (Fujimoto: see the tablet terminal 90 as illustrated in figure 14; “For example, a smartphone 200 illustrated in FIG. 12 has installed therein an application for exercising the remote control function of the indoor units 20b. In this case, also when connection is established between the smartphone 200 and a short-range wireless communication unit connected to the indoor units 20b via, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Zigbee (registered trademark), the connection can be automatically established at the site in a way similar to that for the establishment of the wireless LAN connection.” Paragraph 0108)
a server, (Fujimoto: see the server 30 as illustrated in figure 12)
wherein the air conditioner includes (Fujimoto: see the indoor units 20b and outdoor unit 10 as illustrated in figure 12)
one or more heat source-side devices and (Fujimoto: see the outdoor unit 10 as illustrated in figure 12)
one or more use-side devices connected to the one or more heat source-side devices; (Fujimoto: see the indoor units 20b connected to the outdoor unit 10 via connection pipes 11 as illustrated in figure 12)
the terminal is connected to one or the one or more heat source-side devices; (Fujimoto: see the capturing of data about the indoor unit 20b and the outdoor unit 10 by the CPU 91 of the tablet terminal (i.e., connection) as illustrated in figure 17 and as described in paragraph 0128; “FIG. 17 illustrates an image of devices to be installed, which is captured by the reading device 96. In FIG. 17, a captured image of an outdoor unit 10 and a package 29 of an indoor unit 20b is illustrated.” Paragraph 0128; see the tablet terminal 90 as illustrated in figure 14; “For example, a smartphone 200 illustrated in FIG. 12 has installed therein an application for exercising the remote control function of the indoor units 20b. In this case, also when connection is established between the smartphone 200 and a short-range wireless communication unit connected to the indoor units 20b via, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) or Zigbee (registered trademark), the connection can be automatically established at the site in a way similar to that for the establishment of the wireless LAN connection.” Paragraph 0108)
a control unit of the terminal is configured to (Fujimoto: see the CPU 91 of the tablet terminal 90 as illustrated in figure 14)
acquire first information regarding the air conditioner, and (Fujimoto: “The equipment installation support system 1 may further be configured such that the server 30 has an image recognition function and the tablet terminal 90 has a GPS function, such that an image captured by the camera 98 and the position of capturing the image are transmitted from the tablet terminal 90 to the server 30 to allow the server 30 to examine whether the indoor unit 20b has been installed at the correct position by using the device information and the first installation information.” Paragraph 0077)
send the first information regarding the air conditioner to the server; (Fujimoto: “The equipment installation support system 1 may further be configured such that the server 30 has an image recognition function and the tablet terminal 90 has a GPS function, such that an image captured by the camera 98 and the position of capturing the image are transmitted from the tablet terminal 90 to the server 30 to allow the server 30 to examine whether the indoor unit 20b has been installed at the correct position by using the device information and the first installation information.” Paragraph 0077)
a control unit of the server is configured to store second information regarding an air conditioner, which is scheduled to be connected to the terminal; and (Fujimoto: see the CPU 31 and installation database creation program 32d of the server 30 as illustrated in figure 4; “The CPU 31 activates an installation database creation program 32d stored in the memory 32 to construct the installation database 36 by using a building ID, a device ID, and installation information (step ST8). For example, the CPU 31 repeatedly writes a building ID, a device ID, and installation information, which are related to one another, in the same record (row) to create the table illustrated in FIG. 3 in accordance with the installation database creation program 32d.” paragraph 0047; “The first installation information is information indicating setting positions of the indoor units 20b (specific pieces of equipment) in the building 112 (specific building). The information indicating the setting positions is, for example, information indicating locations in a building, such as “locations each at a distance of 1 m from the north and south walls below the ceiling of room 501 on the fifth floor of Building X”. For example, the information indicating the setting positions may be written in characters or may be CAD (Computer Aided Design) information indicating the positions on a drawing of the building 112.” Paragraph 0045)
the control unit of the server is configured to determine whether the first information regarding the air conditioner, which is received from the terminal, and the second information regarding the air conditioner, which is stored, match each other or not. (Fujimoto: “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the indoor unit 20b has been installed at the correct position by using the first installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0077; “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation is correct by using the second installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0078; “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the attribute of the installation area of the indoor unit 20b is correct by using the third installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0079)
Claim 2:
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 1,
wherein the first and second information regarding the air conditioner each include (Fujimoto: see the installation database 36 as illustrated in figure 3; see the CPU 31 and installation database creation program 32d of the server 30 as illustrated in figure 4)
a name of a device type of the air conditioner and (Fujimoto: see the device ID CL2 as illustrated in figure 3; see the stickers 40 as illustrated in figure 17; “In the equipment installation support system 1, when the building 112 is a specific building, the sticker 40, which is a specific recording tool assigned to each of the indoor units 20b, which are specific pieces of equipment, at the time of shipment from the factory 101, has recorded thereon a building ID and a device ID, which are first identification information and second identification information, at the time of shipment from the factory 101.” Paragraph 0135)
a number of devices of the air conditioner that are provided. (Fujimoto: see the device No. in the particular installation and building ID providing for the number of devices in each location as illustrated in figure 3; see the images of the devices to be installed as illustrated in figure 17 and as described in paragraph 0128)
Claim 3:
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 1,
wherein the air conditioner includes a heat source-side device and a use-side device connected to the heat source-side device, and (Fujimoto: see the indoor units 20b and outdoor unit 10 as illustrated in figure 12)
the control unit of the terminal sends the first information regarding the heat source-side device and the first information regarding the use-side device to the server. (Fujimoto: see the capturing of data about the indoor unit 20b and the outdoor unit 10 by the CPU 91 of the tablet terminal (i.e., connection) as illustrated in figure 17 and as described in paragraph 0128; “FIG. 17 illustrates an image of devices to be installed, which is captured by the reading device 96. In FIG. 17, a captured image of an outdoor unit 10 and a package 29 of an indoor unit 20b is illustrated.” Paragraph 0128; “The equipment installation support system 1 may further be configured such that the server 30 has an image recognition function and the tablet terminal 90 has a GPS function, such that an image captured by the camera 98 and the position of capturing the image are transmitted from the tablet terminal 90 to the server 30 to allow the server 30 to examine whether the indoor unit 20b has been installed at the correct position by using the device information and the first installation information.” Paragraph 0077; “An outdoor unit 10 (see FIG. 12) included in an air conditioner is also registered and managed in the installation database 36 in a manner similar to that for the indoor units 20.” Paragraph 0062; “As illustrated in FIG. 12, the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor units 20b are installed at predetermined locations in the building 112 (step ST16), and the indoor units 20b are connected to the outdoor unit 10 by connection pipes 11 to form an air conditioner.” Paragraph 0063)
Claim 4:
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the first information regarding the air conditioner, which is received from the terminal, and the second information regarding the air conditioner, which is stored, mismatch each other, the control unit of the server notifies an error. (Fujimoto: “For example, when the installation area of the indoor unit 20b is displayed as a perimeter zone on the display screen 95, if the actual installation area is an interior zone, the installation worker can be made to find an installation error.” Paragraph 0079; “For example, when the room space whose air conditioning is performed by an indoor unit 20b is displayed as a guest room on the display screen 95, if the actual installation area is a meeting room, the installation worker can be made to find an installation error.” Paragraph 0080)
Claim 6:
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the first information regarding the air conditioner, which is received from the terminal, and the second information regarding the air conditioner, which is stored, mismatch each other, the control unit of the server determines that the second information regarding the air conditioner, which is stored, is correct, and notifies that the air conditioner is incorrectly installed. (Fujimoto: “For example, when the installation area of the indoor unit 20b is displayed as a perimeter zone on the display screen 95, if the actual installation area is an interior zone, the installation worker can be made to find an installation error.” Paragraph 0079; “For example, when the room space whose air conditioning is performed by an indoor unit 20b is displayed as a guest room on the display screen 95, if the actual installation area is a meeting room, the installation worker can be made to find an installation error.” Paragraph 0080)
Claim 7:
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 6,
wherein a plurality of terminals are set in one landed property, each of the plurality of terminals being the terminal, and (Fujimoto: “Next, the construction of a research database for effective use in research and development will be described. FIG. 23 illustrates indoor units manufactured in a variety of factories, for example, indoor units 20x (first specific piece of equipment) manufactured in a factory 102 located in Japan and intended to be installed in a building 116 (first specific building) constructed in a predetermined location Lo1 in New Zealand, indoor units 20y (second specific piece of equipment) manufactured in the factory 102 and intended to be installed in a building 117 (second specific building) constructed in a predetermined location Lo2 in Japan, and indoor units 20z manufactured in a factory 103 located in Europe and intended to be installed in a building 118 constructed in a predetermined location Lo3 in Europe.” Paragraph 0081)
the control unit of the server determines whether the air conditioner is correctly installed or not for each of the terminals. (Fujimoto: “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the indoor unit 20b has been installed at the correct position by using the first installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0077; “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation is correct by using the second installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0078; “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the attribute of the installation area of the indoor unit 20b is correct by using the third installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0079)
Claim 9:
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 1, wherein in the second information regarding the air conditioner, which is stored, a landed property and the terminal are associated with each other, and the terminal and a name of a device type of the air conditioner are associated with each other. (Fujimoto: see the wi-fi access points 70c, 70d, the wif-fi units 80c, 80d, the tablet terminals 90, and the indoor units 20x1, 20y1 at the buildings 116, 117 as illustrated in figure 26; see the SSID with the building IDs, device IDs, and installation location as illustrated in figure 3; “After installation, the indoor units 20x1 and 10y1 and the tablet terminal 90 connect to the server 30 by using the server connection information stored in the server connection information storage areas 22e and 92c, and transmit data to the server 30 (step ST24). Then, the server 30 collects the data sent from the indoor units 20x1 and 10y1 and the tablet terminal 90 by using the data collection program 32f, and stores the data in the memory 32 (step ST25).” Paragraph 0087)
Claim 10:
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 1, wherein the first information regarding the air conditioner, which is received from the terminal, includes information regarding a part attached to the air conditioner. (Fujimoto: “For example, some of the indoor units 20b embedded in the ceiling are of a type having a decorative panel with a substantially square shape when viewed from the bottom and having blow-out ports in four directions. In some cases, it is difficult to determine the direction in which such indoor units 20b are oriented. The equipment installation support system 1 may be configured such that the server 30 has an image recognition function, such that an image of each of the indoor units 20b, which is captured by the camera 98 of the tablet terminal 90, is sent to the server 30 to examine whether the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation based on the second installation information and the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation determined by image recognition match. Further, the equipment installation support system 1 may be configured to, for example, allow a person who stands on the extension of the line of a specific blow-out port of the indoor unit 20b in the blow-out direction while carrying the tablet terminal 90 to obtain position information of the indoor unit 20b by using the GPS function and to match the position information against the second installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b via communication between the tablet terminal 90 and the indoor unit 20b. The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation is correct by using the second installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0078)
Claim 11:
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 10, wherein the control unit of the server determines whether the part attached to the air conditioner is correct or not. (Fujimoto: “For example, some of the indoor units 20b embedded in the ceiling are of a type having a decorative panel with a substantially square shape when viewed from the bottom and having blow-out ports in four directions. In some cases, it is difficult to determine the direction in which such indoor units 20b are oriented. The equipment installation support system 1 may be configured such that the server 30 has an image recognition function, such that an image of each of the indoor units 20b, which is captured by the camera 98 of the tablet terminal 90, is sent to the server 30 to examine whether the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation based on the second installation information and the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation determined by image recognition match. Further, the equipment installation support system 1 may be configured to, for example, allow a person who stands on the extension of the line of a specific blow-out port of the indoor unit 20b in the blow-out direction while carrying the tablet terminal 90 to obtain position information of the indoor unit 20b by using the GPS function and to match the position information against the second installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b via communication between the tablet terminal 90 and the indoor unit 20b. The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation is correct by using the second installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0078)
Claim 12:
Claim 12 is substantially similar to claim 1 and is rejected based on the same reasons and rationale.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries 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 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0394278 (Fujimoto) in view of
JP 2021-96031A (citations to US equivalent U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0307717 (cited by Applicant)) (Ueda)
Claim 5:
Fujimoto does not explicitly describe overwriting as described below. However, Ueda teaches the overwriting as described below.
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the first information regarding the air conditioner, which is received from the terminal, and the second information regarding the air conditioner, which is stored, mismatch each other, the control unit of the server determines that the first information regarding the air conditioner, which is received from the terminal, is correct, and overwrites the first information regarding the air conditioner, which is stored, with the information regarding the air conditioner, which is received from the terminal. (Ueda: “In this case, the operator confirms that the actuator 14 of the air conditioner 10 “different” from the selected air conditioner 10 is driven, and inputs information indicating that the setting is incorrect via the display 53 of the mobile terminal 50 in step ST7 (step ST11). In step ST11, when information indicating that the setting is incorrect is input, the processing proceeds to step ST15.” Paragraph 0064; “In step ST16, the control calculation unit 41 of the server 40 stores (updates) the identification information received in step ST15 in the storage 42.” Paragraph 0066) (Fujimoto: “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the indoor unit 20b has been installed at the correct position by using the first installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0077; “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the direction of the indoor unit 20b after the installation is correct by using the second installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0078; “The equipment installation support system 1 having the configuration described above allows the server 30 or the tablet terminal 90 to examine whether the attribute of the installation area of the indoor unit 20b is correct by using the third installation information stored in the indoor unit 20b.” paragraph 0079)
One of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that applying the known technique of Fujimoto, namely, HVAC equipment installation support system, with the known techniques of Ueda, namely, HVAC installation support system, would have yielded predictable results and resulted in an improved system. Accordingly, applying the teachings of Fujimoto to verify HVAC installation data with server data with the teachings of Ueda to verify HVAC installation data would have been recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art as resulting in an improved HVAC installation system (i.e., the combination of references provides for a HVAC installation system that updates server data based on the teachings of a HVAC installation system in Fujimoto and the teachings of the teachings of updating server data during HVAC installation in Ueda).
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0394278 (Fujimoto) in view of
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2017/0292725 (Conley).
Claim 8:
Fujimoto does not explicitly describe notifies a name as described below. However, Conley teaches the notifies a name as described below.
The cited prior art describes the system according to claim 6, wherein the control unit of the server notifies a name of a device type of the air conditioner that is incorrectly installed. (Conley: “At step 384, the monitoring client 336 prompts system sensor testing and displays the results (FIGS. 10, 18A). During the sensor testing, the monitoring client 336 may display that one or more sensors are connected and one or more sensors are disconnected. If the monitoring client 336 is installed on an installer's device, when one or more sensors are disconnected, the installer is prompted to fix the disconnected sensor(s) and check the sensor testing again. If the monitoring client 336 is installed on an end-user device, the end-user may be prompted to contact the contractor or installer to fix the sensors.” Paragraph 0202)
One of ordinary skill in the art would have recognized that applying the known technique of Fujimoto, namely, HVAC equipment installation support system, with the known techniques of Conley, namely, HVAC installation support system, would have yielded predictable results and resulted in an improved system. Accordingly, applying the teachings of Fujimoto to verify HVAC installation data with server data with the teachings of Conley to display HVAC installation data would have been recognized by those of ordinary skill in the art as resulting in an improved HVAC installation system (i.e., the combination of references provides for a HVAC installation system that displays installation data based on the teachings of a HVAC installation system in Fujimoto and the teachings of the teachings of displaying HVAC data during HVAC installation in Conley).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0262134 describes a remote monitoring and diagnosis for a HVAC system.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0158715 describes failure detection for a HVAC system.
U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014/0200718 describes a HVAC system with diagnostic testing.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER E EVERETT whose telephone number is (571)272-2851. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Pacific).
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, Robert Fennema can be reached at 571-272-2748. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Christopher E. Everett/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2117
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