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 .
Compact prosecution
Examiner reached out to applicant and attempted compact prosecution with a proposed examiners amendments to amend the claim to exclude the limitation on “in a case” as per MPEP 2111.04(II) and no agreement was reached.
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 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) as being anticipated by Chang et al. (US 20220360687 A1).
With respect to Claim 1, Chang’687 shows a method of controlling an information processing apparatus operable to manage a color to be printed by a printer based on measurement data of color patches arranged on a chart printed by the printer (paragraph [0029] using calibration print jobs and quality checks from color management server 106, the printing devices may provide data and information to color management server 106 so that it may manage color printing operations within system 100), the method comprising:
setting a specification of a color inspection print job necessitating measurement for managing color (paragraph [0031] color management server 106 allows for inspection, calibration, and profiling for management of color print jobs );
generating a color inspection job based on the set specification of the color inspection print job (paragraphs [0029] Printing devices 104, 140, and 142 may receive print jobs from other devices within system 100. They also may receive calibration print jobs and quality checks from color management server 106. Test chart 116 may be generated to perform calibrations);
in a case where there are a plurality of charts corresponding to a plurality of color inspection jobs (paragraph [0029] Printing devices 104, 140, and 142 may receive print jobs from other devices within system 100. They also may receive calibration print jobs and quality checks from color management server 106. Test chart 116 may be generated to perform calibrations), each chart having been printed by the printer based on a respective color inspection job (paragraph [0033] Test charts 116 may use colorant ramps for each colorant. Test chart 116 is forwarded to printing device 104, which prints it out on the indicated paper/media type ), generating a measurement job in which the plurality of charts are collectively designated as measurement targets (paragraph [0034] Using the measured data, color management server 106 generates calibration tone reproduction curves (TRCs) 156 using calibration settings that may be set by the operator or system 100. Calibration settings may include end point targets and aims for the colors. Once the calibration TRCs 156 are created, they are downloaded to the printing device or devices);
obtaining a measurement result for the chart for each of the plurality of color inspection jobs designated as the measurement target, and outputting the measurement result as appropriate for each color inspection job (paragraph [0034] The operator or printing device measures calibration chart 116 after it is printed out at the printing device. Measurement data 122 is captured by measuring the color patches and the printed colors associated therewith. The data is provided back to color management server 106 for analysis); and
performing processing for managing the color based on the measurement result and the specification of the color inspection print job (paragraph [0034] Using the measured data, color management server 106 generates calibration tone reproduction curves (TRCs) 156 using calibration settings that may be set by the operator or system 100. Calibration settings may include end point targets and aims for the colors. Once the calibration TRCs 156 are created, they are downloaded to the printing device or devices).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-13 and 15 are allowed.
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: none of the references either singularly or in combination teach or fairly suggest an information processing apparatus operable to manage a color to be printed by a printer based on measurement data of color patches arranged on a chart printed by the printer, the apparatus comprising: one or more controllers including one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more controllers configured to: set a specification of a color inspection print job necessitating measurement for managing color; generate a color inspection job based on the set specification of the color inspection print job; in a case where there are a plurality of charts corresponding to a plurality of color inspection jobs, each chart having been printed by the printer based on a respective color inspection job, generate a measurement job in which the plurality of charts are collectively designated as measurement targets; obtain a measurement result for the chart for each of the plurality of color inspection jobs designated as the measurement target, and output the measurement result as appropriate for each color inspection job; and perform processing for managing the color based on the measurement result and the specification of the color inspection print job.
Chang et al. (US 2022/0360687 A1): shows in paragraphs [0028]-[0033] a color management system with plurality of printers that receive calibration print jobs and quality checks from color management server wherein test charts 116 may be generated to perform calibration. Color management server 106 receives calibration request 103 within system 100. Color management server 106 generates a test chart 116 to obtain measurement data for the paper at printing device 104. Test chart 116 includes color patches used to perform calibration operations. Test charts 116 may use colorant ramps for each colorant. Test chart 116 is forwarded to printing device 104, which prints it out on the indicated paper/media type. An operator takes test chart 116. The operator may use color measurement tool 108 to measure the color patches on test chart 116 to obtain measurement data 122. Alternatively, printing device 104 may include inline measurement tools that automatically measure the color patches within test chart 116. Chang do not include all the detailed combined limitations included in the claim including manage a color to be printed by a printer based on measurement data of color patches arranged on a chart printed by the printer, the apparatus comprising: one or more controllers including one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more controllers configured to: set a specification of a color inspection print job necessitating measurement for managing color; generate a color inspection job based on the set specification of the color inspection print job; in a case where there are a plurality of charts corresponding to a plurality of color inspection jobs, each chart having been printed by the printer based on a respective color inspection job, generate a measurement job in which the plurality of charts are collectively designated as measurement targets; obtain a measurement result for the chart for each of the plurality of color inspection jobs designated as the measurement target, and output the measurement result as appropriate for each color inspection job; and perform processing for managing the color based on the measurement result and the specification of the color inspection print job, therefore this claim is allowable.
Morales (US 2022/0294932 A1): shows in paragraph [0027]-[0030] shows color management service generates a calibration chart to obtain calibration data for the paper at printing device. Calibration chart includes color patches used to perform calibration operations. Calibration chart is forwarded to printing device, which prints it out on the indicated paper/media type. An operator takes calibration chart. The operator may use color measurement tool to measure the color patches on calibration chart to obtain calibration data the operator may measure the color patches on calibration chart by moving color measurement tool over the appropriate parts of the sheet. Morales do not include all the detailed combined limitations included in the claim including manage a color to be printed by a printer based on measurement data of color patches arranged on a chart printed by the printer, the apparatus comprising: one or more controllers including one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more controllers configured to: set a specification of a color inspection print job necessitating measurement for managing color; generate a color inspection job based on the set specification of the color inspection print job; in a case where there are a plurality of charts corresponding to a plurality of color inspection jobs, each chart having been printed by the printer based on a respective color inspection job, generate a measurement job in which the plurality of charts are collectively designated as measurement targets; obtain a measurement result for the chart for each of the plurality of color inspection jobs designated as the measurement target, and output the measurement result as appropriate for each color inspection job; and perform processing for managing the color based on the measurement result and the specification of the color inspection print job, therefore this claim is allowable.
Ito et al. (US 2019/0387133 A1): shows in paragraph [0089] a print measurement button is pressed, the color management unit creates a print job for printing the color patch chart and printing and measurement processing of the color patch chart is started. Ito do not include all the detailed combined limitations included in the claim including manage a color to be printed by a printer based on measurement data of color patches arranged on a chart printed by the printer, the apparatus comprising: one or more controllers including one or more processors and one or more memories, the one or more controllers configured to: set a specification of a color inspection print job necessitating measurement for managing color; generate a color inspection job based on the set specification of the color inspection print job; in a case where there are a plurality of charts corresponding to a plurality of color inspection jobs, each chart having been printed by the printer based on a respective color inspection job, generate a measurement job in which the plurality of charts are collectively designated as measurement targets; obtain a measurement result for the chart for each of the plurality of color inspection jobs designated as the measurement target, and output the measurement result as appropriate for each color inspection job; and perform processing for managing the color based on the measurement result and the specification of the color inspection print job, therefore this claim is allowable.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to IRIANA CRUZ whose telephone number is (571)270-3246. The examiner can normally be reached 10-6.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Akwasi M. Sarpong can be reached at (571) 270-3438. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/IRIANA CRUZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2681