DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
Examiner acknowledges no foreign priority is claimed.
Current application is CIP of 17/484,176, filed 9/24/202.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement(s) (IDS) submitted on 2/26/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement(s) is/are being considered if signed and initialed by the Examiner.
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.
Claims 1-4 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the environment" in line 10 of claim 1. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not understood if “the environment” of line 10 in claim 1 same or different than “a common environment” of lines 3-4 of claim 1. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claims 3-4 depends on claim 1 and therefore are also rejected.
Claim 5 recites the limitation "the environment" in line 13 of claim 5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is not understood if “the environment” of line 13 in claim 5 same or different than “a common environment” of lines 4-5 of claim 5. The applicant needs to clarify.
Claims 6-8 depends on claim 5 and therefore are also rejected.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-8 of U.S. Patent No. (US 11,933,883) in view of Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1).
Current Application
(US 18/586,011)
Reference
Patent (US 11,933,883)
(17/484,176)
A system for relative navigation of a mobile vehicle within a network of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles,
comprising:
a plurality of navigation systems wherein each respective navigation system is hosted on one of a plurality of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles operating in common environment; and
a communication system operating between the respective navigation systems;
each navigation system comprising:
a transmitter;
a two-dimensional receiver array including at least three receivers, reflecting energy back to said at least three receivers,
said at least three receivers capturing and digitizing said reflected energy;
and
a digital processing unit in communication with said transmitter and said two-dimensional receiver array,
for each navigation system,
said digital processing unit creating a coherent two-dimensional interferograms from a plurality of pair-wise combinations of said created coherent tow-dimensional images,
each of said plurality of navigation systems further processing
the plurality of two-dimensional interferograms to produce estimates of error of the position and orientation of the mobile vehicle relative to the expected system position and orientation and incorporating said errors into a navigation solution of said mobile vehicle.
A mobile vehicle mounted system for determining positioning and orientation of said mobile vehicle within an environment, comprising:
a transmitter;
a two-dimensional receiver array including at least three receivers,
said transmitter directing energy at an environment, said environment reflecting energy back to said at least three receivers,
said at least three receivers capturing and digitizing said reflected energy; and
a digital processing unit in communication with said transmitter and said two- dimensional receiver array,
said digital processing unit creating a coherent two-dimensional image from the digitized reflected energy captured by each of said three receivers and comparing producing a plurality of two-dimensional interferograms from a plurality of pair- wise combinations of said created coherent two-dimensional images on a pairwise basis to produce interferograms,
said digital processing unit further processing
the plurality of two-dimensional interferograms to produce estimates of error of the position and orientation of the mobile vehicle relative to the expected system position and orientation and incorporating said errors into a navigation solution of said mobile vehicle.
Claim 1 of the instant application (US 18/586,011) is disclosed by claim 1 of patent (US 11,933,883) /Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1).
The system of claim 1, wherein said system continuously producing said two-dimensional interferograms in pair-wise combinations, continuously producing error estimates and continuously incorporating said errors into successive navigation solutions for said mobile vehicle as a position of said mobile vehicle changes.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein said system is continuously creating and processing said two-dimensional coherent images, continuously producing said two-dimensional interferograms in pair-wise combinations, continuously producing error estimates and continuously incorporating said errors into successive navigation solutions for said mobile vehicle as a position of said mobile vehicle changes.
Claim 2 of the instant application (US 18/586,011) is disclosed by claim 2 of patent (US 11,933,883) /Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1)).
The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of navigation systems
further comprises: an inertial measuring unit positioned in fixed position relative to said two-dimensional receiver array and in communication with said digital processing unit, said inertial measuring unit detecting acceleration and rotation rate information relating to the expected position and orientation of the system and transmitting
said information to the digital processing unit.
3.The system of claim 1,
further comprising: an inertial measuring unit positioned in fixed position relative to said two-dimensional receiver array and in communication with said digital processing unit, said inertial measuring unit detecting acceleration and rotation rate information relating to the expected position and orientation of the system and transmitting said information to the digital processing unit.
Claim 3 of the instant application (US 18/586,011) is disclosed by claim 3 of patent (US 11,933,883) /Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1).
4.The system of claim 3,
wherein said digital processing unit uses said interferograms to produce an estimate of the
error in system position and orientation relative to the system position and orientation
reported by said inertial measurement unit, and wherein said estimates of position and orientation error are applied to the said position and
orientation reported by the inertial measurement unit to precisely update the system position and orientation within the environment.
4.. The system of claim 3, wherein said digital processing unit uses said interferograms to produce an estimate of the error in system position and orientation relative to the system position and orientation reported by said inertial measurement unit, and wherein said estimates of position and orientation error are applied to the said position and orientation reported by the inertial measurement unit to precisely update the system position and orientation
within the environment.
Claim 4 of the instant application (US 18/586,011) is disclosed by claim 4 of US patent (US 11,933,883) /Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1).
5.A method for relative navigation of a mobile vehicle within a network of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles, comprising the steps of:
Providing
a plurality of navigation systems wherein each respective navigation system is hosted on one of a plurality of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles operating in a common environment,
each navigation system comprising:
a transmitter;
a two-dimensional receiver array including at least three receivers; and
a digital processing unit in communication with said transmitter and said two- dimensional receiver array;
providing a communication system operating between the respective navigation systems;
for each navigation system,
said transmitter directing energy at said common environment, said environment reflecting energy back to said at least three receivers,
said at least three receivers capturing and digitizing said reflected energy,
for each navigation system, said digital processing unit
creating a coherent two-dimensional image from the digitized reflected energy captured by each of said three receivers,
each of said plurality of navigation systems distributing said created two-dimensional
images to the other of said plurality of navigation systems,
each of said plurality of navigation systems
selectively producing a plurality of two-dimensional interferograms from a plurality of pair-wise combinations of said created coherent two-dimensional images, and
each of said plurality of navigation systems further
processing the plurality of two-
dimensional interferograms to produce estimates of error of the position and orientation of the
mobile vehicle relative to the expected system position and orientation and incorporating said errors into a navigation solution of said mobile vehicle.
5. A method of determining positioning and orientation of a mobile vehicle within an environment, comprising:
providing
a transmitter;
providing a two-dimensional transmitter/receiver array including a transmitter and at least three receivers; and
a digital processing unit in communication with said transmitter and said two-dimensional receiver array;
directing energy at an environment using said transmitter;
capturing a reflection of said energy reflected by said environment using said at least three receivers,
said at least three receivers capturing and digitizing said reflected energy;
transmitting said digitized reflected energy to said digital processing unit;
creating a coherent two-dimensional image from the digitized reflected energy captured by each of said three receivers and
comparing producing a plurality of two-dimensional interferograms from a plurality of pair-wise combinations of said created coherent two-dimensional images on a pairwise basis to produce interferograms,
said digital processing unit further
processing the plurality of two-dimensional interferograms to produce estimates of error of the position and orientation of the mobile vehicle relative to the expected system position and orientation and incorporating said errors into a navigation solution of said mobile vehicle.
Claim 5 of the instant US application (US 18/586,011) is disclosed by claim 5 of patent (US 11,933,883) /Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1).
6.The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of
continuously creating and processing said two-dimensional coherent images, continuously producing said two-dimensional
interferograms in pair-wise combinations, continuously producing error estimates and
continuously incorporating said errors into successive navigation solutions for said mobile vehicle as a position of said mobile vehicle changes.
6.The method of claim 5, wherein said transmitting digitized reflected energy,
said digital processing unit is
continuously creating and processing said two-dimensional coherent images, continuously producing said two-dimensional interferograms in pair-wise combinations, continuously producing error estimates and
continuously incorporating said errors into successive navigation solutions for said mobile vehicle as a position of said mobile vehicle changes.
Claim 6 of the instant application (US 18/586,011) is disclosed by claim 6 of US patent (US 11,933,883) /Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1).
7.The method of claim 5, wherein each navigation further comprises:
an inertial measuring unit positioned in fixed position relative to said two-dimensional receiver array and in communication with said digital processing unit,
and
wherein the method further comprises the steps of
detecting with said inertial measuring unit acceleration and rotation rate information relating to the expected position and orientation of the system and transmitting said information to the digital processing unit.
7.The method of claim 5, further comprising:
providing an inertial measuring unit positioned in fixed position relative to said two- dimensional receiver array and in communication with said digital processing unit,
said inertial measuring unit detecting acceleration and rotation rate information relating to the expected position and orientation of the system and transmitting said information to the digital processing unit.
Claim 7 of the instant application (US 18/586,011) is disclosed by claim 7 of patent (US 11,933,883) /Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1)).
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said digital processing unit uses said interferograms to produce an estimate of the error in position and orientation relative to the position and orientation reported by said inertial measurement unit, and wherein said estimates of position and orientation error are applied to the said position
and orientation reported by the inertial measurement unit to precisely update the position and orientation of the two-dimensional array within the environment.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein said digital processing unit uses said interferograms to produce an estimate of the error in position and orientation relative to the position and orientation reported by said inertial measurement unit, and wherein said estimates of position and orientation error are applied to the said position and orientation reported by the inertial measurement unit to precisely update the position and orientation of the two-dimensional array within the environment.
Claim 8 of the instant application (US 18/586,011) is disclosed by claim 8 of patent (US 11,933,883) /Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1).
Regarding claim 1 of instant application, Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 1] discloses all the claimed invention as shown above, except for “relative navigation of a mobile vehicle within a network of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles,
comprising: a plurality of navigation systems wherein each respective navigation system is hosted on one of a plurality of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles operating in common environment; and a communication system operating between the respective navigation systems.”
Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) relates to systems and methods for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle control, including data analysis, route determination, and automatic adjustment of autonomous operation features. Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) teaches “relative navigation of a mobile vehicle within a network of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles, comprising: a plurality of navigation systems wherein each respective navigation system is hosted on one of a plurality of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles operating in common environment; and a communication system operating between the respective navigation systems (paragraph 47: FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary autonomous vehicle monitoring system 180 on which the exemplary methods described herein may be implemented…system 180 may include a network 130, N number of vehicles 182.1-182.N and respective mobile computing devices 184.1-184.N, an external computing device 186, and/or a smart infrastructure component 188. In one aspect, mobile computing devices 184 may be an implementation of mobile computing device 110, while vehicles 182 may be an implementation of vehicle 108. The vehicles 182 may include a plurality of vehicles 108 having autonomous operation features, as well as a plurality of other vehicles not having autonomous operation features. As illustrated, the vehicle 182.1 may include a vehicle controller 181.1, which may be an on-board computer 114…each of vehicles 182.1 and 182.2 may be configured for wireless inter-vehicle communication, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless communication and/or data transmission via the communication component 122, directly via the mobile computing devices 184, or otherwise).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill-in-the-art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Patent (US 11,933,883) with the teaching of Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) ensuring safe operation of mobile vehicles in a common environment (Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) – paragraph 5). In addition, both of the prior art references, (Patent (US 11,933,883) and Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1)) teach features that are directed to analogous art and they are directed to the same field of endeavor, such as, processing radar signals for navigation systems mounted on vehicles.
Regarding claim 2 (instant application), which is dependent on independent claim 1 (instant application), Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 1]/Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) discloses all the claimed invention. Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 2] further discloses claim 2 (instant application), as shown above in the table.
Regarding claim 3 (instant application), which is dependent on independent claim 1 (instant application), Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 1]/Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) discloses all the claimed invention. Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 3] further discloses claim 3 (instant application), as shown above in the table.
Regarding claim 4 (instant application), which is dependent on claim 3 (instant application), Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 1]/Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) discloses all the claimed invention. Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 4] further discloses claim 4 (instant application), as shown above in the table.
Regarding claim 5 of instant application, Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 1] discloses all the claimed invention as shown above, except for “relative navigation of a mobile vehicle within a network of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of navigation systems wherein each respective navigation system is hosted on one of a plurality of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles operating in a common environment”, “providing a communication system operating between the respective navigation systems”, “each of said plurality of navigation systems distributing said created two-dimensional images to the other of said plurality of navigation systems.”
Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) relates to systems and methods for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle control, including data analysis, route determination, and automatic adjustment of autonomous operation features. Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) teaches “relative navigation of a mobile vehicle within a network of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of navigation systems wherein each respective navigation system is hosted on one of a plurality of independently maneuvering mobile vehicles operating in a common environment”, “providing a communication system operating between the respective navigation systems”, “each of said plurality of navigation systems distributing said created two-dimensional images to the other of said plurality of navigation systems (paragraph 47: FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary autonomous vehicle monitoring system 180 on which the exemplary methods described herein may be implemented…system 180 may include a network 130, N number of vehicles 182.1-182.N and respective mobile computing devices 184.1-184.N, an external computing device 186, and/or a smart infrastructure component 188. In one aspect, mobile computing devices 184 may be an implementation of mobile computing device 110, while vehicles 182 may be an implementation of vehicle 108. The vehicles 182 may include a plurality of vehicles 108 having autonomous operation features, as well as a plurality of other vehicles not having autonomous operation features. As illustrated, the vehicle 182.1 may include a vehicle controller 181.1, which may be an on-board computer 114…each of vehicles 182.1 and 182.2 may be configured for wireless inter-vehicle communication, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless communication and/or data transmission via the communication component 122, directly via the mobile computing devices 184, or otherwise).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill-in-the-art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Patent (US 11,933,883) with the teaching of Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) ensuring safe operation of mobile vehicles in a common environment (Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) – paragraph 5). In addition, both of the prior art references, (Patent (US 11,933,883) and Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1)) teach features that are directed to analogous art and they are directed to the same field of endeavor, such as, processing radar signals for navigation systems mounted on vehicles.
Regarding claim 6 (instant application), which is dependent on independent claim 5 (instant application), Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 1]/Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) discloses all the claimed invention. Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 6] further discloses claim 6 (instant application), as shown above in the table.
Regarding claim 7 (instant application), which is dependent on independent claim 1 (instant application), Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 1]/Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) discloses all the claimed invention. Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 7] further discloses claim 7 (instant application), as shown above in the table.
Regarding claim 8 (instant application), which is dependent on claim 7 (instant application), Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 1]/Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) discloses all the claimed invention. Patent (US 11,933,883) [Claim 8] further discloses claim 8 (instant application), as shown above in the table.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 1 allowed if double patenting rejection is overcome.
Allowable subject matter:
“said digital processing unit creating a coherent two-dimensional interferograms from a plurality of pair-wise combinations of said created coherent tow-dimensional images, each of said plurality of navigation systems further processing the plurality of two-dimensional interferograms to produce estimates of error of the position and orientation of the mobile vehicle relative to the expected system position and orientation and incorporating said errors into a navigation solution of said mobile vehicle.”
Claims 2-4 depends on claim 1 and therefore, also allowable.
Claim 5 allowed if double patenting rejection is overcome.
Allowable subject matter:
“for each navigation system, said digital processing unit creating a coherent two-dimensional image from the digitized reflected energy captured by each of said three receivers, each of said plurality of navigation systems distributing said created two-dimensional images to the other of said plurality of navigation systems, each of said plurality of navigation systems selectively producing a plurality of two-dimensional interferograms from a plurality of pair-wise combinations of said created coherent two-dimensional images, and each of said plurality of navigation systems further processing the plurality of two-dimensional interferograms to produce estimates of error of the position and orientation of the mobile vehicle relative to the expected system position and orientation and incorporating said errors into a navigation solution of said mobile vehicle.”
Claims 6-8 depends on claim 5 and therefore, also allowable.
The closest prior art is found to be:
Carswell et al. (US 2018/0031695 A1) describes that Figure 2 shows another high level block diagram of the Path in radar system including the sub-arrays of the phased-array terrain-interferometer of Figure 1 (paragraph 73); when configured with two or more sub-arrays 200, the phased-array terrain-interferometer 100 applies interferometric processing methods to measure the height of the terrain at each pixel within the two-dimensional image…this enables it to form a three-dimensional image showing geolocated heights…such an image will be referred to herein as a “3D topographic image” of the forward scene topography (paragraph 100).
Rincon (US 9,523,768 B1) describes that multi-channel beamforming radar that allows the synthesis of two or more beams, either in a transmit mode or a receive mode, which in turn can yield pairs of SAR images to generate an interferogram (column 5 line 50- column 6 line 2).
Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) describes that FIG. 1B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary autonomous vehicle monitoring system 180 on which the exemplary methods described herein may be implemented…system 180 may include a network 130, N number of vehicles 182.1-182.N and respective mobile computing devices 184.1-184.N, an external computing device 186, and/or a smart infrastructure component 188. In one aspect, mobile computing devices 184 may be an implementation of mobile computing device 110, while vehicles 182 may be an implementation of vehicle 108. The vehicles 182 may include a plurality of vehicles 108 having autonomous operation features, as well as a plurality of other vehicles not having autonomous operation features. As illustrated, the vehicle 182.1 may include a vehicle controller 181.1, which may be an on-board computer 114…each of vehicles 182.1 and 182.2 may be configured for wireless inter-vehicle communication, such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless communication and/or data transmission via the communication component 122, directly via the mobile computing devices 184, or otherwise (paragraph 47).
The closest prior art, Carswell et al. (US 2018/0031695 A1), Rincon (US 9,523,768 B1) and Konrardy et al. (US 2021/0039513 A1) disclose conventional systems, either singularly or in combination, fail to anticipate or render the above claimed features obvious, and therefore the claims are allowable over the prior art.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NUZHAT PERVIN whose telephone number is (571)272-9795. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00AM-5:00PM.
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, William J Kelleher can be reached at 571-272-7753. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/NUZHAT PERVIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3648