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 .
DETAILED ACTION
This office action is in response to communication filed 11/30/25.
Response to Amendment
The examiner acknowledges the amendment of claims 1,12 and the cancellation of claims 10-11.
Response to Arguments
Regarding applicant’s argument regarding the container, it is the examiner’s position that the reference of Godoi teaches at least one camera configured to capture one or more images of any given items of inventory that is removed from the container or placed into the container (paragraph 021-025,046,060-061) and teaches the use of a scale configured to measure a weight of each item of inventory (paragraph 033). The reference of Shah teaches the container comprises a communication module allowing for wireless communication and transmission of data between the locking mechanism and other components associated with the vending container and the asset management platform (paragraph 059).
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.
Claim(s) 1-2 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Godoi et al. US Patent Application Publication 20220130216.
Regarding claim 1, Godoi et al. teaches a portable vending container for providing on-site storage and vending services, the vending container comprising:
an enclosure for housing a plurality of items of inventory within (fig. 1, paragraph 037);
at least one camera configured to capture one or more images of any given items of inventory that is removed from the container or placed into the container (paragraph 021-025,046,060-061);
and at least a locking mechanism configured to transition between a locked state, in which the plurality of items of inventory are inaccessible, and an unlocked state, in which one or more the items of inventory are accessible and can be removed from the enclosure (paragraph 010-011,022,042),
wherein the locking mechanism is configured to communicate and transmit data, over a network (paragraph 043), with an internet-based asset management platform (306), and transition from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to transmission of transactional data associated with a user purchasing or renting one or more items of inventory based on user interaction with an interface on said user’s computing device provided via the asset management platform (paragraph 010,042,075). Godoi et al. teaches the use of a scale configured to measure a weight of each item of inventory (paragraph 033).
Regarding claim 2 the interface is provided via a software application installed on the user’s computing device (paragraph 06, 043).
Claim(s) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Shah US Patent Application Publication 20210326948.
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.
Claim(s) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shah US Patent Application Publication 20210326948 in view of Godoi et al. US Patent Application Publication 20220130216.
Regarding claim 1, Shah teaches a portable vending container for providing on-site storage and vending services, the vending container comprising:
an enclosure for housing a plurality of items of inventory within (Fig. 1, paragraph 047); and
at least a locking mechanism configured to transition between a locked state, in which the plurality of items of inventory are inaccessible, and an unlocked state, in which one or more the items of inventory are accessible and can be removed from the enclosure (paragraph 048,060),
wherein the locking mechanism is configured to communicate and transmit data, over a network (paragraph 061-062), with an internet-based asset management platform (304,paragraph 061-062 ), and transition from the locked state to the unlocked state in response to transmission of transactional data associated with a user purchasing or renting one or more items of inventory based on user interaction with an interface on said user’s computing device provided via the asset management platform (paragraph 058,061-062, 0106). Shah is silent on teaching a camera configured to capture one or more images of any given item and a scale configured to measure a weight of each item of inventory. Godoi et al in an analogous art teaches at least one camera configured to capture one or more images of any given items of inventory that is removed from the container or placed into the container (paragraph 021-025,046,060-061) and teaches Godoi et al. teaches the use of a scale configured to measure a weight of each item of inventory (paragraph 033).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the system of Shah as disclosed by Godoi because such modification represents an improvement over the system of Shah by providing additional means for maintaining an accurate inventory of the items stored in the container and further improve the security of the container.
Regarding claim 2, Shah teaches the interface is provided via a software application installed on the user’s computing device (paragraph 061-062,095).
Regarding claim 3, Shah teaches a user interaction with the software application on their computing device allows the user to perform one or more transactions associated with the plurality of items of inventory, the one or more transactions selected from the group consisting of: purchasing of one or more items, renting of one or more items, and returning of one or more items (paragraph 062).
Regarding claim 4, Shah teaches the container comprises a communication module allowing for wireless communication and transmission of data between the locking mechanism and other components associated with the vending container and the asset management platform (paragraph 059).
Claim(s) 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shah US Patent Application Publication 20210326948 in view of Godoi et al. US Patent Application Publication 20220130216 and further in view of Davis US Patent 8600899.
Regarding claim 5, Shah teaches the container comprises a wireless module (paragraph 059) but is silent on teaching a WiFi communication module. Davis in an analogous art teaches a vending container that the communication module is WiFi-enabled thereby allowing the container, including components associated therewith, to be connected to a wireless network (col. 4 lines 44-57).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the system of Shah in view of Godoi as disclosed by Davis because such modification represents the substitution of one type of communication module for anther and producing the predictable result of proving communication between the vending container and external devices. .
Claim(s) 6-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shah US Patent Application Publication 20210326948 in view of Godoi et al. US Patent Application Publication 20220130216 and further in view of Sergeeva et al. US Patent 11030601.
Regarding claims 6-8, Shah is silent on teaching the container comprises at least one radio- frequency identification (RFID) antenna and reader. Sergeeva et al. in an analogous art teaches the container comprises at least one radio- frequency identification (RFID) antenna and reader (col. 2 lines 26-33,col. 6 lines 1-26). Sergeeva teaches each item of inventory within the container comprises an RFID (col. 6 lines 48-56,col. 7 lines 28-45). Sergeeva et al. teaches the RFID reader is configured to communicate with an RFID tag of any given associated item of inventory tag thereby allowing for recognition of removal of a given item of inventory from the container and placement of a given item of inventory into the container (col. 7 lines 28-45).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the system of Shah in view of Godoi as disclosed by Sergeeva et al. because such modification represents an improvement over the system of Shah in view of Godoi as disclosed by Sergeeva et al. by providing the means to uniquely identify the objects stored within the vending container and further improve the process of inventorying the products stored in or removed from the vending container.
Regarding claim 9, Shah teaches a transaction is fully completed upon complete removal of one or more purchased and/or rented items from the container and/or upon complete placement of one or more returned items into the container (7b, paragraph 0105).
Claim(s) 12-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shah US Patent Application Publication 20210326948 in view of Godoi et al. US Patent Application Publication 20220130216 and further in view of Thachenko et al. US Patent Application Publication 20140316561.
Regarding claims 12-14, Shah is silent on teaching the container comprises a scale configured to measure a weight of each item of inventory. Thachenko et al. in an analogous teaches the container comprises a scale configured to measure a weight of each item of inventory (paragraph 065). Thachenko et al teaches a current total weight of all items of inventory within the container is determined prior to and after a transaction takes place (paragraph 065). Thachenko et al teaches upon complete removal of one or more purchased and/or rented items from the container, the scale is configured to determine an updated total weight of all items of inventory remaining with the container and the transaction is verified upon the updated total weight having a value that is the current total weight minus the weight of the purchased and/or rented items (paragraph 065,080). Thachenko et al teaches the scale is configured to determine an updated total weight of all items of inventory currently within the container the transaction is verified upon the updated total weight having a value that is the current total weight plus the weight of the replenishing items (paragraph 065,080).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the system of Shah in view of Godoi as disclosed by Thachenko because such modification represents a substitution of one identification means for another in order to identify the product added to the vending container. identification means used
Claim(s) 15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Shah US Patent Application Publication 20210326948 in view of Godoi et al. US Patent Application Publication 20220130216 and further in view of Aji US Patent Application Publication 20170278059.
Regarding claim 15, Shah teaches the container is configured to communicate and transmit inventory data with the asset management platform (fig. 9, paragraph 0107,0109), but is not explicit in teaching the inventory data associated with the number of any given item presently stored within the container and the asset management platform is configured to automatically order and deliver additional items to be stocked within the container. Aji in an analogous art teaches the inventory data associated with the number of any given item presently stored within the container and the asset management platform is configured to automatically order and deliver additional items to be stocked within the container (paragraph 040).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the system of Shah in view of Godoi as disclosed by Aji because such modification represents an improvement over the system of Shah by automatically reorder products when the inventory of the vending container is low and further ensuring that the inventory of the vending container is not depleted.
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VERNAL U BROWN whose telephone number is (571)272-3060. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM, EST.
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/VERNAL U BROWN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2686