DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-19 are presented for consideration.
Response to Amendment
Applicant's request for reconsideration of the finality of the rejection of the last Office action is persuasive and, therefore, the finality of that action is withdrawn.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim(s) 1-4, 6, 7, 10-13, 15, 16, and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lerner et al. [ US Patent Application No 2015/0113631 ], in view of Gorsica, IV et al. [ US Patent Application No 2021/0204115 ].
As per claim 1, Lerner discloses the invention as claimed including an electronic device [ Figure 1; and paragraph 0022 ] comprising:
memory; and one or more processors coupled to the memory, the one or more processors [ Figure 1 ] configured to:
while operating in a first mode associated with a user account of the electronic device [ i.e. a new user has not started using the computing system, the same user profile is enabled for the user ] [ Figure 5A; and paragraphs 0072, and 0073 ]:
while access to a plurality of features is restricted, detect that one or more first criteria are satisfied [ i.e. identification component for identifying characteristics and authentication information of a user ] [ 114, Figure 1; and paragraphs 0041-0043, and 0065 ]; in accordance with detecting that the one or more first criteria are satisfied, allow access to the plurality of features [ i.e. each user profile includes settings, access to particular applications, emails, access to certain features ] [ paragraphs 0013, 0037, 0038, and 0056 ]; and
while configuring a second mode different from the first mode [ i.e. automatically switch to a guest user profile ] [ paragraphs 0014, and 0065 ], the second mode associated with a second user account different from the user account of the electronic device [ i.e. guest or new user or child ] [ paragraphs 0013, 0014, and 0047 ]; and
while operating in the second mode:
while access to the plurality of features is restricted, detect that one or more second criteria are satisfied [ i.e. require the user to input further authentication information such as password ] [ paragraphs 0035, 0043, 0051, and 0052 ]; and
in accordance with detecting that the one or more second criteria are satisfied, allow access to a first subset of the plurality of features while continuing to restrict access to a second subset of the plurality of features [ i.e. access to certain features may also configured or enable/disable for each user profile ] [ paragraphs 0013, 0038, and 0039 ].
Lerner does not specifically disclose
transmitting, to a second electronic device associated with the second user account, an authentication file for accessing the electronic device in the second mode; and
the one or more second criteria are satisfied including a criterion that is satisfied when the second electronic device has the authentication file and is within a threshold distance of the electronic device, the one or more second criteria different from the one or more first criteria
Gorsica discloses
transmitting, to a second electronic device associated with the second user account, an authentication file for accessing the electronic device in the second mode [ i.e. upon determining that the additional device is equipped to facilitate authentication of the user to the shareable device, the shareable device can communicate an authentication request 308 to the additional device 306 ] [ 308, Figure 3; and paragraph 0077, 0084, and 0086 ]; and
the one or more second criteria are satisfied including a criterion that is satisfied when the second electronic device has the authentication file and is within a threshold distance of the electronic device [ i.e. the shareable device and the additional device may be in close proximity to each other to facilitate authentication of the user ] [ paragraph 0075, 0076, and 0078 ], the one or more second criteria different from the one or more first criteria [ i.e. the additional device may perform the available authentication method to facilitate authentication of the user, capable of collect voice data ] [ paragraphs 0083-0088 ].
It would have been obvious to a person skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Lerner and Gorsica because the teaching of Gorsica would enable to deter theft of shareable devices, particularly shareable devices that are provided in a public shared context [ Gorsica, paragraph 0021 ].
As per claim 2, Lerner discloses while operating in the first mode associated with the user account of the electronic device: while allowing access to the plurality of features, detect one or more third criteria are satisfied, the one or more third criteria different from the one or more first criteria and different form the one or more second criteria; and in accordance with detecting that the one or more third criteria are satisfied, restrict access to the plurality of features without a delay of a predetermined time period [ i.e. automatically switch to a guest user profile without additional authentication ] [ paragraphs 0015, and 0096 ]; and while operating in the second mode associated with the second user account: while allowing access to the first subset of the plurality of features, detect the one or more third criteria are satisfied; and in accordance with detecting that the one or more third criteria are satisfied, restrict access to the first subset of the plurality of features after the delay of the predetermined time period [ i.e. continue to operate in the guest user profile until a time period has expired ] [ paragraphs 0015, and 0064 ].
As per claim 3, Lerner discloses one or more input devices, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to, while operating in the first mode associated with the user account of the electronic device: receive, using the one or more input devices, an input corresponding to a request to enable the second user account to access the electronic device in the second mode [ i.e. detecting an input associated with user profile ] [ Abstract; and paragraphs 0014, 0039, 0047, and 0048 ].
As per claim 4, Lerner in view of Gorsica discloses the electronic device of claim 1, furthermore, Lerner discloses wherein the one or more first criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when the user account is authenticated using a first authentication modality [ paragraphs 0014, 0035, and 0039 ], and Gorsica discloses the one or more second criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when the second user account is authenticated using a second authentication modality different from the first authentication modality [ i.e. authentication data ] [ paragraph 0077, 0084, and 0086 ].
As per claim 6, Gorsica discloses while operating in the second mode associated with the second user account: while connected to an internet connection, allow access to the first subset of the plurality of features [ i.e. detect that the user is within a threshold distance proximate the shareable device, and in response, display the previously obscured personalized content so that the user can continue the interactive session ] [ paragraph 0046 ]; and in accordance with detecting that the internet connection is disconnected, restrict access to the first subset of the plurality of features [ i.e. move away and is no longer within a distance threshold proximate to the shareable device, obscure the personalized content of the user ] [ paragraphs 0018, and 0050 ].
As per claim 7, Gorsica discloses while operating in the second mode associated with the second user account, transmit, to a second electronic device associated with a user account, an indication that the second user is accessing the electronic device in the second mode [ i.e. display the previously obscured personalized content ] [ paragraphs 0046, and 0108 ].
10. As per claims 10-13, they are rejected for similar reasons as stated above in claims 1-4.
11. As per claims 15, and 16, they are rejected for similar reasons as stated above in claims 6, and 7.
12. As per claim 19, it is rejected for similar reasons as stated above in claim 1.
Claim(s) 5, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lerner et al. [ US Patent Application No 2015/0113631 ], in view of Gorsica, IV et al. [ US Patent Application No 2021/0204115 ], and further in view of Pitschel et al. [ US Patent Application No 2016/0232336 ].
As per claim 5, Lerner in view of Gorsica does not specifically disclose while operating in the second mode associated with the second user account: while access to the first subset of the plurality of features is enabled, receive, from a second electronic device associated with the user account of the electronic device, an indication corresponding to a request to restrict access to the first subset of the plurality of features; and in response to receiving the indication from the second electronic device, restrict access to the first subset of the plurality of features. Pitschel discloses while operating in the second mode associated with the second user account: while access to the first subset of the plurality of features is enabled, receive, from a second electronic device associated with the user account of the electronic device, an indication corresponding to a request to restrict access to the first subset of the plurality of features; and in response to receiving the indication from the second electronic device, restrict access to the first subset of the plurality of features [ i.e. selection by supervisor ] [ Figures 3.6 -3.8; and paragraphs 0143-0153 ]. It would have been obvious to a person skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Lerner, Gorsica and Pitschel because the teaching of Pitschel would enable to operate electronic devices in restricted and unrestricted modes, and to manage of restricted mode by remotely located authorization devices [ Pitschel, paragraph 0003 ].
15. As per claim 14, it is rejected for similar reasons as stated above in claim 5.
Claim(s) 8, 9, 17, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lerner et al. [ US Patent Application No 2015/0113631 ], in view of Gorsica, IV et al. [ US Patent Application No 2021/0204115 ], and further in view of Goyal [ US Patent Application No 2016/0269376 ].
As per claim 8, Lerner does not specifically disclose wherein the one or more second criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when a mobile device associated with the second user account is in communication with the electronic device, wherein the mobile device associated with the second user account is a smartphone or a wearable device that does not include a head-mounted display. Gorsica discloses wherein the one or more second criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when a mobile device associated with the second user account is in communication with the electronic device, wherein the mobile device associated with the second user account is a smartphone or a wearable device that does not include a head-mounted display [ i.e. wearable device ] [ 144, Figure 1; and paragraphs 0043, 0094, and 0101 ]. It would have been obvious to a person skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Lerner and Gorsica because the teaching of Gorsica would enable to deter theft of shareable devices, particularly shareable devices that are provided in a public shared context [ Gorsica, paragraph 0021 ]. Lerner in view of Gorsica does not specifically disclose a head-mounted display. Goyal discloses a head-mounted display [ 304, Figure 3 ], It would have been obvious to a person skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Lerner, Gorsica, and Goyal because the teaching of Goyal would enable to provide access to secure content by mobile device users irrespective of the security of the environment in which the content is being consumed [ Goyal, paragraph 0001 ].
18. As per claim 9, Gorsica disclose wherein the mobile device is the wearable device, and the one or more second criteria include a criterion that is satisfied when a second user is wearing the wearable device and is not satisfied when the second user is not wearing the wearable device [ i.e. smartwatch or other device that collects unique user biometric which can be used to authenticate a user ] [ 144, Figure 1; and paragraphs 0043, 0094, and 0101 ].
19. As per claims 17, and 18, they are rejected for similar reasons as stated above in claims 8, and 9.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 05/28/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-19 under Lerner in view of Goyal have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Lerner and Gorsica.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Nair [ US Patent Application No 2019/0347431 ] discloses limiting device functionality based on data detection and processing
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/DUSTIN NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2446
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