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
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
1. This action is responsive to communications: Application filed on March 8, 2024, and Drawings filed on March 8, 2024.
2. Claims 1–20 are pending in this case. Claim 1, 8, 15 are independent claims.
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 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.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 20 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Double Patenting
1. 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 1-19 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over and anticipated by claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 of U.S. Patent 11934637B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-19 under examination are anticipated, respectively, by claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 of the reference patent. Every limitation in the application under examination claims is recited in the conflicting reference patent claims, and the differences between the claims are highlighted below by bolding all limitations that differ, italicizing additional limitations, and underlining limitations that will be addressed below.
Instant Application
11934637B2
1. A method for operating a server node including a processor, the method comprising:
providing, to a client node, data to allow the client node to display a local client canvas having a location in a first virtual workspace;
and providing, to the client node, data, including information regarding markers representing canvases within both the first virtual workspace and a second virtual workspace, that allows the client node to display a user interface to: display markers representing the canvases within both the first virtual workspace and the second virtual workspace, the canvases defining an area in the first virtual workspace and an area in the second virtual workspace;
and respond to an input indicating a selected marker from the displayed markers to:
update the location of the local client canvas to a location in the second virtual workspace of the canvas represented by the selected marker.
1. A method for operating a server node including a processor, the method comprising:
providing, to a client node, data to allow the client node to display a local client canvas having a location in a first virtual workspace, the data including locations of identified objects within the first virtual workspace;
and providing, to the client node, data, including information regarding markers representing predefined canvases within both the first virtual workspace and a second virtual workspace, that allows the client node to display a user interface to: display a list of markers, the list including markers representing the predefined canvases within both the first virtual workspace and the second virtual workspace, the predefined canvases defining an area in the first virtual workspace and an area in the second virtual workspace;
and respond to an input indicating a selected marker from the list of displayed markers to:
update the location of the local client canvas to match a location in the second virtual workspace of the predefined canvas represented by the selected marker; and display an object having a location within the updated local client canvas.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: storing metadata associated with a particular canvas.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing metadata associated with a particular canvas of the predefined canvases within the second virtual workspace.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the metadata includes an access list identifying users that are permitted to display objects having locations within the particular canvas; and the method further includes prohibiting displaying of the objects having locations within the particular canvas when a user is not identified by the access list.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the metadata includes an access list identifying users that are permitted to display objects having locations within the particular canvas; and the method further includes prohibiting displaying of the objects having locations within the particular canvas when a user is not identified by the access list.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein: the metadata identifies one or more contextual menu items associated with the particular canvas; and the method further includes providing data to allow displaying, by the client node, of the one or more contextual menu items associated with the particular canvas.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein: the metadata identifies one or more contextual menu items associated with the particular canvas; and the method further includes providing data to allow displaying, by the client node, of the one or more contextual menu items associated with the particular canvas.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein: the metadata includes a zoom-in indicator; and the method further includes providing data to allow displaying of objects included in the particular canvas using a zoom-in level while still allowing the displayed objects to remain displayed by the client node in their entirety.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein: the metadata includes a zoom-in indicator; and the method further includes providing data to allow displaying of objects included in the particular canvas using a zoom-in level while still allowing the displayed objects to remain displayed by the client node in their entirety.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the metadata includes information that links the particular canvas to a different canvas that is within the second virtual workspace and that is associated with the particular canvas.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein the metadata includes information that links the particular canvas to a different canvas that is within the second virtual workspace and that is associated with the particular canvas.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
creating a new canvas by: obtaining information identifying an area in the second virtual workspace that includes one or more displayed objects and defines the new canvas;
and storing data representing the canvas of the second virtual workspace, the stored data including metadata identifying a location and dimensions of the area within the second virtual workspace that defines the new canvas;
creating a marker associated with the new canvas; and transmitting a message to other nodes, the transmitted message including the stored data representing the new canvas and the marker associated with the new canvas.
16. The server node of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured with logic to implement operations comprising:
creating a canvas by: obtaining information identifying an area in the second virtual workspace that includes one or more displayed objects and defines the canvas;
and storing data representing the canvas, the stored data including metadata identifying a location and dimensions of the area within the second virtual workspace that defines the canvas;
creating a marker associated with the canvas; and transmitting a message to other nodes, the transmitted message including the stored data representing the canvas and the marker.
8. A server node, the server node comprising:
a processor configured with logic to implement operations comprising: providing, to a client node, data to allow the client node to display a local client canvas having a location in a first virtual workspace;
and providing, to the client node, data, including information regarding markers representing canvases within both the first virtual workspace and a second virtual workspace, that allows the client node to display a user interface to:
display markers representing the canvases within both the first virtual workspace and the second virtual workspace, the canvases defining at least an area in the first virtual workspace and an area in the second virtual workspace;
and respond to an input indicating a selected marker from the displayed markers to: update the location of the local client canvas to a location in the second virtual workspace of the canvas represented by the selected marker.
8. A server node, the server node comprising:
a processor configured with logic to implement operations comprising: providing, to a client node, data to allow the client node to display a local client canvas having a location in a first virtual workspace, the data including locations of identified objects within the first virtual workspace;
and providing, to the client node, data, including information regarding markers representing predefined canvases within both the first virtual workspace and a second virtual workspace, that allows the client node to display a user interface to:
display a list of markers, the list including markers representing the predefined canvases within both the first virtual workspace and the second virtual workspace, the predefined canvases defining at least an area in the first virtual workspace and an area in the second virtual workspace;
and respond to an input indicating a selected marker from the list of displayed markers to: update the location of the local client canvas to match a location in the second virtual workspace of the predefined canvas represented by the selected marker; and display an object having a location within the updated local client canvas.
9. The server node of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured with logic to implement operations comprising: receiving metadata associated with a particular canvas.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing metadata associated with a particular canvas of the predefined canvases within the second virtual workspace.
10. The server node of claim 9, wherein: the metadata includes an access list identifying users that are permitted to display objects having locations within the particular canvas; and the operations further include prohibiting displaying of the objects having locations within the particular canvas when a user of the client node is not identified by the access list.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the metadata includes an access list identifying users that are permitted to display objects having locations within the particular canvas; and the method further includes prohibiting displaying of the objects having locations within the particular canvas when a user is not identified by the access list.
11. The server node of claim 9, wherein: the metadata includes a title of the particular canvas; and the operations further include providing data to allow the title of the particular canvas to be displayed along with the displayed markers.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein: the metadata includes a title of the particular canvas; and the method further includes providing data to allow the title of the particular canvas to be included in the list of displayed markers.
12. The server node of claim 9, wherein: the metadata identifies a color corresponding to the particular canvas; and the operations further include providing data to allow display of a marker representing the particular canvas in the color identified by the metadata.
12. The server node of claim 9, wherein: the metadata identifies a color corresponding to the particular canvas; and the operations further include providing data to allow display of a marker representing the particular canvas in the color identified by the metadata.
13. The server node of claim 9, wherein: the metadata includes information that links the particular canvas to a different canvas that is within the virtual workspace and that is associated with the particular canvas.
15. The server node of claim 9, wherein: the metadata includes information that links the particular canvas to a different canvas that is within the virtual workspace and that is associated with the particular canvas.
14. The server node of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured with logic to implement operations comprising: creating a new canvas by:
obtaining information identifying an area in the second virtual workspace that includes one or more displayed objects and defines the new canvas;
and storing data representing the canvas of the second virtual workspace, the stored data including metadata identifying a location and dimensions of the area within the second virtual workspace that defines the new canvas;
creating a marker associated with the new canvas; and transmitting a message to other nodes, the transmitted message including the stored data representing the new canvas and the marker associated with the new canvas.
16. The server node of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured with logic to implement operations comprising: creating a canvas by:
obtaining information identifying an area in the second virtual workspace that includes one or more displayed objects and defines the canvas;
and storing data representing the canvas, the stored data including metadata identifying a location and dimensions of the area within the second virtual workspace that defines the canvas;
creating a marker associated with the canvas; and transmitting a message to other nodes, the transmitted message including the stored data representing the canvas and the marker.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon, the program, when executed by a server node including a processor, causing the server node to perform operations comprising:
providing, to a client node, data to allow the client node to display a local client canvas having a location in a first virtual workspace;
and providing, to the client node, data, including information regarding markers representing canvases within both the first virtual workspace and a second virtual workspace, that allows the client node to display a user interface to:
display markers representing the canvases within both the first virtual workspace and the second virtual workspace, the canvases defining an area in the first virtual workspace and an area in the second virtual workspace; and respond to an input indicating a selected marker from the displayed markers to:
update the location of the local client canvas to a location in the second virtual workspace of the canvas represented by the selected marker.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded thereon, the program, when executed by a server node including a processor, causing the server node to perform operations comprising:
providing, to a client node, data to allow the client node to display a local client canvas having a location in a first virtual workspace, the data including locations of identified objects within the first virtual workspace;
and providing, to the client node, data, including information regarding markers representing predefined canvases within both the first virtual workspace and a second virtual workspace, that allows the client node to display a user interface to:
display a list of markers, the list including markers representing the predefined canvases within both the first virtual workspace and the second virtual workspace, the predefined canvases defining an area in the first virtual workspace and an area in the second virtual workspace; and respond to an input indicating a selected marker from the list of displayed markers to:
update the location of the local client canvas to match a location in the second virtual workspace of the predefined canvas represented by the selected marker; and display an object having a location within the updated local client canvas.
16. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise:
storing metadata associated with a particular canvas within the second virtual workspace.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing metadata associated with a particular canvas of the predefined canvases within the second virtual workspace.
17. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 16,
wherein: the metadata includes an access list identifying users that are permitted to display objects having locations within the particular canvas; and the operations further include prohibiting displaying of the objects having locations within the particular canvas when a user is not identified by the access list.
3. The method of claim 2,
wherein: the metadata includes an access list identifying users that are permitted to display objects having locations within the particular canvas; and the method further includes prohibiting displaying of the objects having locations within the particular canvas when a user is not identified by the access list.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 16,
wherein: the metadata includes a zoom-in indicator; and the operations further include providing data to allow display of objects included in the particular canvas using a zoom-in level while still allowing the displayed objects to remain displayed by the client node in their entirety.
14. The server node of claim 9,
wherein: the metadata includes a zoom-in indicator; and the operations further include providing data to allow display of objects included in the particular canvas using a zoom-in level while still allowing the displayed objects to remain displayed by the client node in their entirety.
19. The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium of claim 16,
wherein: the metadata includes information that links the particular canvas to a different canvas that is within the virtual workspace and that is associated with the particular canvas.
7. The method of claim 2,
wherein the metadata includes information that links the particular canvas to a different canvas that is within the second virtual workspace and that is associated with the particular canvas.
As shown in the mapping above, claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 of the reference patent includes all the limitations of claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 of the instant application, while also reciting further limitations. Claim 7 of the instant application differs from claim 16 of the reference patent in that it recites an “the marker associated with the new canvas.” However, the limitation is just a clarification of the claim language. It is infer based on the prior claim limitations and specifications that the marker is associated with the new canvas in the reference patent.
Claim 1-19 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under double patenting.
Pertinent Arts
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Tse et al, Pub. No.: 20160142471 A1, Systems, devices, and methods are provided for providing interactive collaboration among computing devices. In some aspects, an interactive display device can display a graphical interface corresponding to a shared workspace. The interactive display device can communicate with multiple computing devices, each computing device associated with a virtual position. A processing device of the interactive display device can update the graphical interface to depict the respective virtual positions associated with each computing device. For each computing device, the interactive display device can also provide access to a respective portion of the shared workspace indicated by the respective virtual position associated with the computing devices. The processing device can trigger an action on the interactive display device based on determining that a subset of computing devices have performed a threshold activity.
Parker, Pub. No.: US 20160085381 A1: Several methods are described herein to allow users to manage and synchronize views in a multi-user application with canvas (infinite or otherwise) and limited or unlimited zoom. Without these synchronization methods, coordinating views is very difficult, and may lead to chaos as one or more of the users gets lost on the canvas. A “View Sync” method provides for many-to-one synchronization, where many users are automatically synchronized with one user. A “Sync View” method provides for one-to-one synchronization, where one user is synchronized to another user's view. Preferably, off-screen “activity indicators” also are used within the viewport to provide visual cues regarding where other users are drawing or creating content on the canvas. Tapping on an activity indicator preferably performs one-time Sync View with the selected other user.
Laukkanen, Pub. No.: 20140282229 A1: A computer program product for providing a graphical user interface for displaying of and enabling cooperative use of resources on a display of a computing device includes computer readable code means, the computer readable code means when executed by a processor device, being configured to provide an environment, the environment being configured to represent the resources on the display of the computing device, provide a first viewport to at least a portion of the environment on the display of the computing device, enable a resource to be added to the environment and be viewed within the first viewport and enable the resource to be acted upon within the first viewport.
Conclusion
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/DI XIAO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2178