DETAILED ACTION
1. 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 §103
2. 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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lindley (Pub. No.: US 2015/0012591 A1; hereinafter Lindley) in view of Grant et al (Pub. No.: US 2008/0184122 A1; hereinafter Grant)
Consider claims 1, 8, and 15, Lindley clearly shows and discloses a non-transitory computer-readable medium, a system, and a method, comprising: generating, by a device, an asynchronous audio discussion forum, wherein a set of users has access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum (Each of the smartphones 1202-1210 comprises a downloadable mobile application 1214 having dynamic content (e.g., computer program product) of that is integrated into the smart phones and enables asynchronous audio and video communication over network 110; corporate network of communication devices is shown representing users across various businesses and or groups, he Admin 1202, also referred to herein as "moderator", creates an event or conference) (paragraphs: 0085, 0097 and fig. 11); receiving, by the device and at a first time, first voice data (Microphone 132 enables audio produced by a user to be recorded, processed and communicated by CPU 126. CPU 126 may be connected to video camera 142. Video camera 142 enables video produced or captured by user to be recorded; the chair 1228 can record a video message, interview or the like, which when complete, is automatically sent to the Admin 1202 for review. The Admin 1202 can then send the video message to a chosen group or groups 1302, 1304, and 1306; receiving permission from the first authorized user to transmit the event; storing, on a server, the first media upload; transmitting the first upload media to a second user in an authorized group of users upon request by the second user) (paragraphs: 0046, 0054, 0097, 0102, and claim 1); receiving, by the device and at a second time that is later than the first time, second voice data (a user of a group of users, for example, user 1204 (FIG. 12) may choose to respond, step 1428. If the user responds, the user may take a video message using his or her smartphone and upload it to the system; transmitting the first upload media to a second user in an authorized group of users upon request by the second user, wherein the transmission is permitted only for a first predetermined amount time; receiving, at the server, a second media upload from the second authorized user in response to the first media upload) (paragraphs: 0054,0104-0105); generating, by the device, a first voice entry based on the first voice data and a second voice entry based on the second voice data (the system is configured to aggregate the response for convenient review of the responses by the Admin for submission to the Chair. The Admin can quickly and conveniently click through each of the responses to choose the most relevant or engaging response to which the Chair can then respond to. These responses are submitted to the queue in data storage module for the Chair to review at step 1432) (paragraphs: 0106, and fig. 10- fig. 11); and providing, by the device and within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, the first voice entry and the second voice entry for playback by one or more users included in the set of users (a user on the event list, the user receives the video. At step 1424, the message is viewed by a user of a group of users at a time X. In this way, many members from a team that are located in many different times zones across the globe are able to view the Chair's meeting. However, in the method and systems of the present invention, the system facilitates asynchronous and controlled communication from team members back to the chair and to each other over a predetermined period of time, as will be further explained with reference to FIG. 14. For example, if a user in location A may view the video at time X, while a user in location B may view the video may view the video at time Y, while a user in location C may view the video at time Z) (paragraphs: 0104- 0106 and fig. 14B); however, Lindley does not disclose another illustration for generating, by a device, an asynchronous audio discussion forum, wherein a set of users has access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum.
In the same field of endeavor, Grant clearly specifically discloses another illustration for generating, by a device, an asynchronous audio discussion forum, wherein a set of users has access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum (paragraphs: 0002, 0006, 0022 and abstract).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to incorporate the teaching of Grant into teaching of Lindley for the purpose of providing another illustration for asynchronous audio discussion forum.
Consider claim 2, Lindley and Grant clearly show the method, further comprising: receiving, by the device and at a third time that is later than the second time, third voice data; generating, by the device, a third voice entry based on the third voice data; and providing, by the device and within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, the third voice entry for the playback by the one or more users included in the set of users, wherein the third voice entry is responsive to at least one of: the first voice entry, or the second voice entry (Lindley: paragraphs: 0036-0037, and 0104; Grant: paragraphs: 0032, 0035, 0037, 0044).
Consider claim 3, Lindley and Grant clearly show the method, wherein generating, by the device, the asynchronous audio discussion forum comprises: receiving, by the device, a request to generate the asynchronous audio discussion forum, wherein the request includes an indication of the set of users with the access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum (Lindley: paragraphs: 0037, 0111 - 0112 and fig. 15D).
Consider claim 4, Lindley and Grant clearly show the method, further comprising: assigning, by the device, a speaker permission status to a first subset of users, included in the set of users, and a listener permission status to a second subset of users, included in the set of users, wherein the first subset of users are authorized to provide voice data for the asynchronous audio discussion forum, and wherein the second subset of users are not authorized to provide the voice data for the asynchronous audio discussion forum (Lindley: paragraphs: 0036 – 0037, 0097, and 0113; Grant: paragraphs: 0042).
Consider claim 5, Lindley and Grant clearly show the method, further comprising: identifying, by the device and within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, a duration of at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry (Lindley: paragraphs: 0054,0104-0105 and claim 1).
Consider claim 6, Lindley and Grant clearly show the method, further comprising: receiving, by the device, a playback request to playback at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; and causing, by the device and based on the playback request, the at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry to begin playback; and identifying, by the device, a current playback position of the at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry (Grant: paragraphs: 0016, 0048, 0052, 0060, 0061, 0065).
Consider claim 7, Lindley and Grant clearly show the method, further comprising: generating, by the device, a first transcription based on the first voice entry and a second transcription based on the second voice entry; and providing, by the device and within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, the first transcription proximate the first voice entry and the second transcription proximate the second voice entry (Grant: paragraphs: 0086).
Consider claim 9, Lindley and Grant clearly show the system, the one or more processors, to provide the set of users with the access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum, are configured to: receive a request to generate the asynchronous audio discussion forum, wherein the request indicates the set of users with the access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum; generate, based on the request, the asynchronous audio discussion forum; and provide a notification to the set of users indicating that the asynchronous audio discussion forum has been generated and that the set of users have been provided with the access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum (Lindley: claims: 7 and 8, 0104- 0106 and fig. 14B; Grant: paragraphs: 0031, 0034, and 0042).
Consider claim 10, Consider claim 8, Lindley and Grant clearly show the system, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive a playback request for at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; enable, based on the playback request, playback of the at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; receive third voice data; generate a third voice entry based on the third voice data, wherein the third voice entry is responsive to the at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; and provide, within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, the third voice entry for the playback by the one or more users included in the set of users (Lindley: paragraphs: 0036 – 0037, 0097, and 0113; Grant: paragraphs: 0042). :
Consider claim 11, Lindley and Grant clearly show the system, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: provide a notification to the set of users that the first voice entry and the second voice entry have been provided within the asynchronous audio discussion forum for playback (Lindley: claims: 7 and 8, 0104- 0106 and fig. 14B; Grant: paragraphs: 0031, 0034, and 0042).
Consider claim 12, Lindley and Grant clearly show the system, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: assign a speaker permission status to a first subset of users, included in the set of users, and a listener permission status to a second subset of users, included in the set of users, wherein the first subset of users are authorized to provide voice data for the asynchronous audio discussion forum and are authorized to playback at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; and wherein the second subset of users are not authorized to provide the voice data for the asynchronous audio discussion forum but are authorized to listen to the at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry (Lindley: paragraphs: 0036 – 0037, 0097, and 0113; Grant: paragraphs: 0042)
Consider claims 13, Lindley and Grant clearly show the system, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: identify, within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, users, included in the set of users, that provided the first voice data for the first voice entry and the second voice data for the second voice entry (Lindley: paragraphs: 0080, 0082 and fig. 11).
Consider claim 14, Lindley and Grant clearly show the system, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: identify, within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, a current status of the set of users (Lindley: paragraphs: 0023 and 0080; Grant: paragraphs: 0028, 0029).
Consider claim 16, Lindley and Grant clearly show the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the one or more instructions, that cause the asynchronous audio discussion system to provide the set of users with the access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum, cause the asynchronous audio discussion system to: receive a request to generate the asynchronous audio discussion forum, wherein the request indicates the set of users with the access to the asynchronous audio discussion forum; generate, based on the request, the asynchronous audio discussion forum; and provide a notification to the set of users indicating that the asynchronous audio discussion forum has been generated and that the set of users have been provided with the access to the asynchronous audio discussion forumrs (Lindley: claims: 7 and 8, 0104- 0106 and fig. 14B; Grant: paragraphs: 0031, 0034, and 0042).
Consider claim 17, Lindley and Grant clearly show the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the one or more instructions cause the asynchronous audio discussion system to: receive a playback request for at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; enable, based on the playback request, playback of the at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; receive third voice data; generate a third voice entry based on the third voice data, wherein the third voice entry is responsive to the at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; and provide, within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, the third voice entry for the playback by the one or more users included in the set of users (Lindley: paragraphs: 0036, and 0107 and claim 10; Grant: paragraphs: 0042).
Consider claim 18, Lindley and Grant clearly show the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the one or more instructions cause the asynchronous audio discussion system to: provide a notification to the set of users that the first voice entry and the second voice entry have been provided within the asynchronous audio discussion forum for playback (Lindley: claims: 7 and 8; Grant: paragraphs: 0031 and 0034).
Consider claim 19, Lindley and Grant clearly show the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the one or more instructions cause the asynchronous audio discussion system to: assign a speaker permission status to a first subset of users, included in the set of users, and a listener permission status to a second subset of users, included in the set of users, wherein the first subset of users are authorized to provide voice data for the asynchronous audio discussion forum and are authorized to playback at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry; and wherein the second subset of users are not authorized to provide the voice data for the asynchronous audio discussion forum but are authorized to listen to the at least one of the first voice entry or the second voice entry (Lindley: paragraphs: 0036 – 0037, and 0113; Grant: paragraphs: 0042).
Consider claim 20, Lindley and Grant clearly show the non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the one or more instructions cause the asynchronous audio discussion system to: identify, within the asynchronous audio discussion forum, users, included in the set of users, that provided the first voice data for the first voice entry and the second voice data for the second voice entry (Grant: paragraphs: 0061).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Amal Zenati whose telephone number is 571-270-1947. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:00 -5:00 M-F.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ahmad Matar can be reached on 571- 272- 7488. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571- 273-8300.
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/AMAL S ZENATI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2693