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 § 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) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102()a(1) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Goldstein et al (US 2020/0236480) and if necessary in view of Kumar et al (US 2014/0201635).
(Please note the entire previous action is reproduced for the current Final Rejection and the newly amended section will be addressed by Kumar).
Claims 1, 12 and 20, Goldstein teaches a methos, a medium and computing system comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions that are executable by the at least one processor such that the computing system is configured to:
store an association between a media playback system and a first location identifier, wherein the media playback system comprises at least a first playback device and a second playback device connected to a first local area network; (the playback device 200 may be configured to receive audio content over the data network from one or more other playback devices in communication with the playback device 200, network devices within a local area network, [0038]; the PBDs 532, 534, 536, and 538 may be dynamically bonded, grouped, unbonded, and ungrouped. Communication path 544 may comprise one or more types of networks, such as a WAN including the Internet, LAN, and/or PAN, among other possibilities, [0073]);
detect a split of the media playback system into a first partition (Playback device control commands such as volume control and audio playback control may also be communicated from the control device 300 to a playback device via the network interface 306…for separating one or more playback devices from a bonded or consolidated player, among others, [0052]. Either or both of PBDs 708 and 710 can detect the DHCP change, [0127]) comprising at least the first playback device connected to the first local area network and a second partition comprising at least the second playback device connected to a second local area network; (media playback system 100 comprising of zones where each zone may be given a name according to a different room or space such as an office, bathroom, master bedroom, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, living room, and/or balcony. In one case, a single playback zone may include multiple rooms or spaces. In another case, a single room or space may include multiple playback zones, [0044-0047] where different playback zones of the media playback system 100 may be dynamically combined into zone groups or split up into individual playback zones, [0048]. See Goldstein’s claim 10 for the media playback system is configured to include media playback devices connected to one or more of the first local area network and a second local area network);
cause the media playback system to provide an indication of the split via a user interface of the media playback system (PBDs 708 and 710 send a re-registration message to computing system 702. The re-registration message includes parameters including the same system identifier, subsystem identifier, and user identifier, but may include a different location identifier, [0127]; Computing system 702 sends queries 812 and 822 in response to receiving a registration message from a newly connected media playback device or from an existing media playback device connected to a new location., [0110]), [[wherein the indication comprises a request for user input indicating whether the second partition is to remain associated with the first location identifier or be dissociated from the first location identifier = X1]]; and
based on an input received via the user interface [[indicating that the second partition is to be dissociated from the first location identifier = X2]] (Computing system 702 sends queries 812 and 822 in response to receiving a registration message from a newly connected media playback device or from an existing media playback device connected to a new location., [0110]. If the combination of system identifier, user identifier, and location identifier does not already exist on another media playback device, then computing system 702 sends a configuration message to PBD 708 that contains a new subsystem identifier. If the combination of system identifier, user identifier, and location identifier does exist on another media playback device, then computing system 702 sends a configuration message to PBD 708 that contains a subsystem identifier that is the same as the other media playback device that has the same combination, [0099].
Now I examiner wishes to address X1 and X2 together as examiner would like to present:
Kumar who teaches, “[0094] In practice, the control device receiving the input indicating the selection within the active region 614 may involve the control device receiving an indication of an input movement from the inactive region 616 to the active region 614. For example, a user may be interacting with the second representation of the media item 612 somewhere in the inactive region 616, for instance, by moving a cursor about the inactive region 612. At some point, the user may move the cursor from the inactive region 616 to the active region 614. In this respect, the second graphical interface may be configured to allow a user to navigate within particular areas of the second graphical interface without causing the control device to receive an indication of a selection”. Here examiner notices that via fig. 1 “Each zone may be given a name according to a different room or space such as an office, bathroom, master bedroom, bedroom, kitchen, dining room, living room, and/or balcony. In one case, a single playback zone may include multiple rooms or spaces. In another case, a single room or space may include multiple playback zones, [0043] wherein the balcony, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, office, and bedroom zones each have one playback device, while the living room and master bedroom zones each have multiple playback devices. In the living room zone, playback devices 104, 106, 108, and 110 may be configured to play audio content in synchrony as individual playback devices, as one or more bonded playback devices, as one or more consolidated playback devices, or any combination thereof. Similarly, in the case of the master bedroom, playback devices 122 and 124 may be configured to play audio content in synchrony as individual playback devices, as a bonded playback device, or as a consolidated playback device, [0094]. Clearly each zone or each playback device has its own identifier and a playback device if in the INACTICE zone will be dissociated and move to the ACTIVE zone.
It would have been obvious to the ordinary artisan before the effective filing date to incorporate the teaching of Kumar into the teaching of Goldstein for the purpose of explicitly requesting an actively identified playback device in the INACTIVE area/zone into an ACTIVE or new zone/area as user wishes to listen to music in the living room space while another user wishes to watch television.
Claims 2-3 and 13-14. The computing system of claim 1 wherein: the first partition is associated with a first set of attributes; the second partition is associated with a second set of attributes; and the first set of attributes and the second set of attributes comprise at least one common attribute which is common to both sets of attributes and at least one different attribute which is different for each set of attributes; wherein: the at least one common attribute comprises one or more of: a user identifier or a system identifier; and the at least one different attribute comprises one or more of: a partition identifier, a device identifier, or a network identifier. (if a user makes a configuration change on the first media playback device, the computing system (i) sends a command to implement the change to all other media playback devices that have been assigned the first subsystem identifier, and subsequently (ii) send a command to implement the change to all other media playback devices that have been assigned the second subsystem identifier. 0027. Zone/group configuration, [0047, 0051, 0052], microphone device configuration, [0084]; Configuration message 718 contains a subsystem identifier identical to the subsystem identifier in configuration message 714 (e.g., the first subsystem identifier), [0103, 0106]).
Claims 4 and 15. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the association between the media playback system and the first location identifier comprises a mapping of the first location identifier to at least one characteristic of the media playback system. (devices that are in a particular location (e.g., devices that have a particular subsystem identifier), [0006-0007]).
Claims 5 and 16 The computing system of claim 4, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a media playback system identifier. (devices that are in a particular location (e.g., devices that have a particular subsystem identifier), [0006-0007]).
Claims 6 and 17. The computing system of claim 4, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a first device identifier of the first playback device and a second device identifier of the second playback device. (The first subsystem identifier is associated with the system identifier. Later, after the first media playback device disconnects from the first network, the first media playback device connects to a second network. After connecting to the second network, the first media playback device transmits, to the computing system, a second registration message. After transmitting the second registration message, the first media playback device then receives, from the computing system, a second subsystem identifier. The second subsystem identifier is associated with the system identifier. [0008].
Claims 7 and 18. The computing system of claim 4, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises a characteristic corresponding to a corresponding local area network to which the first playback device and the second playback device are connected. (the playback device 200 may be configured to receive audio content over the data network from one or more other playback devices in communication with the playback device 200, network devices within a local area network, [0038]).
Claim 8 and 19. The computing system of claim 1, wherein detecting the split comprises determining that the second playback device is connected to the second local area network which is different from the first local area network. (CR 522 may communicate with NMD 512 over Bluetooth™, and communicate with PBD 534 over another local area network. In another example, NMD 514 may communicate with CR 522 over another local area network, and communicate with PBD 536 over Bluetooth™, [0079] OR Goldstein’s claim 10 (media playback devices connected to one or more of the first local area network and a second local area network).
Claim 9. The computing system of claim 8, wherein determining that the second playback device is connected to the second local area network comprises receiving, from the second playback device, data identifying the second local area network. (See Goldstein’s claims 10-14)
Claims 10-11. The computing system of claim 1, wherein associating the second partition with the second location identifier comprises: generating the second location identifier; and storing a mapping of the second location identifier to at least one characteristic of the second partition; wherein at least one characteristic of the second partition comprises a partition identifier of the second partition. (See Goldstein’s claims 10-14…).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) filed 5/29/26 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Applicant argues that “Goldstein does not disclose causing the media playback system to provide an indication of the detected split via a user interface, where the indication comprises a request for user input indicating whether the second partition is to remain associated with the first location identifier or be dissociated from the first location identifier. Nor does Goldstein disclose dissociating the second partition from the first location identifier and associating it with a second location identifier based on an input received via the user interface indicating that the second partition is to be dissociated from the first location identifier. Goldstein describes, for example, assigning a second subsystem identifier when a media playback device is determined to be connected to a second network”.
Examiner respectfully disagrees as examiner has produced additional reference addressing the amendment.
Conclusion
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.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PHUNG-HOANG J. NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-1949. The examiner can normally be reached Reg. Sched. 6:00-3:00.
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/PHUNG-HOANG J NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2691
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