DETAILED ACTION
1. This is the first action on the merits relating to U.S. Application Serial No. 18/602,794 filed on March 12, 2024. Currently claims 1-20 remain in the examination.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Drawings
3. Drawings originally filed on March 12, 2024 are approved.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Claims 1-9 and 12-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2024/0140239 A1 to ANAND (hereinafter “ANAND”).
Regarding claim 1, ANAND discloses a method of monitoring charging of EV (see abstract) comprising a user initiating charging request by a an electronic device 102A (see figure 1 and paragraph 0020) and the transmission request includes vehicle location and SOC level and other vehicle related information (see paragraph 0026) and information regarding charging (see paragraph 0041); and the user receives location information for the charging station 104N (see paragraph 0029); and the estimated time for charging the vehicle (see paragraph 0031; also see figure 4A – Time Required to Service Request).
Regarding claims 2 and 17, as shown in figure 5A and 5B, the price information is shown to the user via electronic device (also see paragraph 0054 and thereafter).
Regarding claims 3 and 18, as shown in figure 4A, the electronic device T-2 shows the time to the charging station (Expected Vehicle Arrival Time) and time for the actual charging (see figure 4A and paragraph 0081).
Regarding claims 4 and 19, the second data includes type of charging – DC fast charging, DC normal charging, AC fast, or AC normal (see paragraph 0023).
Regarding claims 5 and 6, as shown in figure 4A, the time of reception of the request can be interpreted as request for a charging appointment (see paragraph 0041).
Regarding claim 7, users of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) pay a fee for charging the vehicle (see paragraph 0001). Also see figure 3 which shows the dollar amount for charging (see paragraph 0074). Also see figures 5A and 5B.
Regarding claim 8, see the description for claim 1 above. As shown in figure 1, the server 110 is a computing device functioning as a server (see paragraph 0032) which comprise a processor and a memory further comprising necessary software (see paragraphs 0035 and 0036)
Regarding claim 9, see the description for claim 2 above. The information displayed after the user’s request includes price information (see figure 3, 5A and 5B).
Regarding claim 12, each charging station shows the different types of chargers (see paragraph 0023), and the location for the charging station can be shown on the map (see figure 6).
Regarding claim 13, in showing the list of charging station, the user can remove stations based on a given threshold (see paragraph 0056), and the driver can choose the station from the active list of stations.
Regarding claim 14, in determining a charging station, whether the vehicle can get to the station is considered (see paragraph 004); and available timeslot is also visible to the user after the selection is considered (see figure 4A); and the price information is also shown as illustrated in figures 3, 5A, and 5B.
Regarding claim 15, in determining a charging station, whether the vehicle can get to the station is considered (see paragraph 004).
Regarding claim 16, ANAND also discloses a computer instructions (see paragraph 0005, 0060 and others) for performing the method on the server, and user’s device as shown in the figures.
Regarding claim 20, see the description for claim 13 above. User can use various threshold to select or unselect a group of stations for considerations.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
10. Claims 10 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 2024/0140239 A1 to ANAND in view of US 2025/0236198 A1 to HINDUJA et al. (hereinafter “HINDUJA”).
The teachings of ANAND have been discussed above.
ANAND, however, fails to disclose or suggest that the charging service device identifies a fastest charging station and a least expensive charging station.
HINDUJA discloses a smart charging recommendation system for an EV (see abstract), the system configured to use user’s parameter in charging the vehicle (see paragraph 0043 and 0082) wherein the users can chose fast charging facility and a cost of charging may be another parameter (see paragraph 0039 and 0097)
In view of NINDJUA’s disclosure, it would have been obvious to one ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention was made to customize the system so that the users can choose a charging station based on a criteria that can be controlled by the user parameter. Customizing a system for a wide range of users and varying driving pattern, and selecting a charging station that suis the user’s preference is well within one ordinary skill in the art would contemplated.
Conclusion
The pertinent prior arts made of record but not relied are listed in the attached form PTO-892. These are considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. Applicant is respectfully suggested to carefully review these references.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Ahshik Kim whose telephone number is (571)272-2393. The examiner can normally be reached between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday thru Friday. Examiner’s fax phone number is (571)273-2393.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Thomas Pham, can be reached on (571)272-3689. The fax phone number for this Group is (571)273-8300.
Communications via Internet e-mail regarding this application, other than those under 35 U.S.C. 132 or which otherwise require a signature, may be used by the applicant and should be addressed to [ahshik.kim@uspto.gov].
PTO employees do not engage in Internet communications where there exists a possibility that sensitive information could be identified or exchanged unless the record includes a properly signed express waiver of the confidentiality requirements of 35 U.S.C. 122. This is more clearly set forth in the Interim Internet Usage Policy published in the Official Gazette of the Patent and Trademark on February 25, 1997 at 1195 OG 89.
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/AHSHIK KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
October 14, 2026
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