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 .
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.
(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) 1-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Tanaka et al. (WO 2022/249482, a corresponding U.S. Patent App. No. 2025/0083551 is used for this action).
Re claim 1: Tanaka teaches a charging system (fig. 1) comprising a storage section (170) that stores a planned charge amount which is a charge amount while an operation plan for a plurality of vehicles is being carried out, while associating the planned charge amount with progress of the operation plan (paragraph 0034); an obtaining section (110) that obtains progress information regarding the operation plan and a remaining charge from at least one of the plurality of vehicles that are carrying out the operation plan (paragraphs 0034, 0039); and a notification section (150) that performs certain notification when a difference between the obtained planned charge amount and the remaining charge exceeds a threshold (paragraphs 0043-0044) (see figs. 1-5; paragraphs 0024-0050).
Re claim 2: Wherein the notification section presents a result of comparison between the planned charge amount and the remaining charge or an estimated value of a future remaining charge (paragraph 0043).
Re claim 3: The charging system further comprising a correction section (160) that corrects a planned charge amount in a future operation plan based on a degree of deviation between the obtained planned charge amount and the remaining charge (paragraphs 0047-0052).
Re claim 4: Wherein the correction section adjusts a charging period or a charging time in accordance with a number, weight, or type of a package or packages (i.e., the correction unit (160) can correct necessary charging time according to the actual distance, paragraph 0050).
Re claim 5: Wherein the correction section adjusts a charging period or a charging time in accordance with a skill level of a driver or use history (paragraph 0048).
Re claim 6: The charging system further comprising a setting section that obtains a scheduled departure time and a loading work time for each of the plurality of vehicles and that sets a charging plan such that both charging and preparation work for the plurality of vehicles are completed by the scheduled departure time; and a control section that performs the charging in accordance with the charging plan (i.e., a charging schedule creation unit (130) creating a charging schedule according to departure time, paragraphs 0076-0078).
Re claim 7: Tanaka teaches a charging and discharging management device (100) serving as a management terminal connectable to the charging system (fig. 1) according to claim 1, the management terminal comprising a computer (fig. 5) serving as a function section that presents a scheduled departure time, a target level of charge, or a preparation work time of at least one of the plurality of vehicles to the charging system or a function section that obtains, from the charging system, a charge amount of at least one of the plurality of vehicles or a scheduled connection time at which at least one of the plurality of vehicles is scheduled to be connected to the charging system, and a scheduled charging end time of at least one of the plurality of vehicles in the charging plan (figs. 1, 5; paragraphs 0093-0115).
Re claim 8: Tanaka teaches a vehicle (20-1) connectable to the charging system (fig. 1) according to claim 1, the vehicle comprising a display section (not particularly disclosed) that displays a percentage of a charge amount with respect to a full charge or a percentage indicating the charge amount with respect to a target level of charge (i.e., the notification unit (150) notifies the user of the EV that the charging is completed (paragraph 0087), and it is well-known in the art that such notification is also displayed on the display device of the EV).
Re claim 9: Tanaka teaches a charging method comprising storing a planned charge amount which is a charge amount while an operation plan for a plurality of vehicles is being carried out, while associating the planned charge amount with progress of the operation plan (paragraph 0034); obtaining progress information regarding the operation plan and a remaining charge from at least one of the plurality of vehicles that are carrying out the operation plan (paragraphs 0034, 0039); and performing certain notification when a difference between the obtained planned charge amount and the remaining charge exceeds a threshold (paragraphs 0043-0044) (see figs. 1-5; paragraphs 0024-0050).
Re claim 10: Tanaka teaches a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium (1003) storing therein a program causing a computer (fig. 5) to perform a process comprising storing a planned charge amount which is charge amount while an operation plan for a plurality of vehicles is being carried out, while associating the planned charge amount with progress of the operation plan (paragraph 0034); obtaining progress information regarding the operation plan and a remaining charge from at least one of the plurality of vehicles that are carrying out the operation plan (paragraphs 0034, 0039); and performing certain notification when a difference between the obtained planned charge amount and the remaining charge exceeds a threshold (paragraphs 0043-0044) (see figs. 1-5; paragraphs 0024-0050, 0091-0115).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Mannepalli (US 12083920), Kiessling et al. (US 2021/0086647), and Ohta et al. (US 2021/0011486) teach charging management systems
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEUNG H LEE whose telephone number is (571)272-2401. The examiner can normally be reached 7-4:00PM.
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, Steven Paik can be reached at 571-272-2404. 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.
/SEUNG H LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
Prosecution Insights