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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 30 January 2026 has been entered. Claims 1, 10, and 19 have been amended.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 30 January 2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of amended claim(s) 1, 10, and 19 under U.S.C. 103 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 Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn.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 Lee et al. (U.S. Patent Publication 2013/0014023). The new rejection is detailed below.
Claim Objections
Claims 1, 10, and 19 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 1 (and similarly claims 10 and 19) recites the limitation “the collaboration” in line 14. It appears this should recite “the defined collaboration”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Pearl et al. (U.S. Patent Publication 2017/0048285), hereinafter Pearl, in view of Smith et al. (U.S. Patent Publication 2021/0271495), hereinafter Smith, in view of Lee et al. (U.S. Patent Publication 2013/0014023), hereinafter Lee.
Regarding claim 1, Pearl shows
A method for curating access-only content items of user groups in a cloud-based collaboration environment, the method comprising: ([0166]; [0214-0215]; i.e. A method performed by a content management server/host server comprising processor, memory and instructions to perform the method.)
creating, by a processor of a collaboration server, (Fig. 16A, 1610; Fig. 1, 100; i.e. content management server/host server) a content hub (i.e. workspace) in the cloud-based collaboration environment, (Fig. 16) the content hub comprising a logical representation (Fig. 16A, 1617; i.e. object visualization) of a collection of content items ([0048]; i.e. work items) stored in a repository (Fig. 16A, 1620; i.e. 1, 130; i.e. storage device/repository) maintained by the collaboration server; ([0061]; [0165-0166]; [0168]; [0009])
populating, by the processor of the collaboration server, the content hub with hub information (i.e. object relationships – files and folders/user access permissions/etc.) defining the content hub; ([0168])
adding, (i.e. uploading) by the processor of the collaboration server, one or more selected content items (i.e. work item/document) of the content items stored in the repository maintained by the collaboration server to the content hub; and ([0050])
publishing, (i.e. presenting) by the processor of the collaboration server, the content hub (Fig. 16A, 1606-1) in the cloud-based collaboration environment, wherein the selected content items added to the content hub are available for access only to a plurality of users ([0062]; i.e. collaborators) of the collaboration server based on a defined collaboration for the content hub, ([0168]; [0063])
However, Pearl fails to show
adding, by the processor of the collaboration server, one or more selected content items of the content items stored in the repository maintained by the collaboration server to the content hub; and
Smith shows
adding, by the processor of the collaboration server, (Fig. 1, 112; server) one or more selected content items of the content items stored in the repository (Fig. 1, 114; i.e. data store) maintained by the collaboration server to the content hub; (i.e. workspace) and ([0036]; [0030-0031])
Smith and Pearl are considered analogous art because they involve workspaces comprised of documents. Pearl shows that a collaborator may upload a document to the workspace. Smith shows that a user may add a document to the workspace that already exists in the repository. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pearl to incorporate the teachings of Smith wherein adding, by the processor of the collaboration server, one or more selected content items of the content items stored in the repository maintained by the collaboration server to the content hub. Doing so provides that shared documents may be stored in the cloud storage.
However, Pearl in view of Smith fails to show
wherein the collaboration for the content hub is defined separate from any collaborations between the plurality of users defined in workspaces of the cloud-based collaboration environment.
Lee shows
publishing the content hub (Fig. 4, 410; Fig. 14; i.e. files and folders workspace) in the cloud-based collaboration environment, (Fig. 4; [0065]) wherein the selected content items added to the content hub are available for access only to a plurality of users of the collaboration server based on a defined collaboration for the content hub, ([0042-0043]) wherein the collaboration for the content hub is defined separate from any collaborations between the plurality of users defined in workspaces (i.e. discussion workspaces) of the cloud-based collaboration environment. ([0044]; i.e. Separate discussion permission for the users from that of the linked files/folders workspace may be assigned.)
Lee and Pearl in view of Smith are considered analogous art because they involve shared workspaces. Pearl shows a shared workspace that includes files and folders. Lee shows that a separate discussion workspace may also be created. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pearl in view of Smith to incorporate the teachings of Lee wherein the collaboration for the content hub is defined separate from any collaborations between the plurality of users defined in workspaces of the cloud-based collaboration environment. Doing so provides for more control of the discussions of the workspaces.
Regarding claim 2, Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee shows all of the features with respect to claim 1 as outlined above. Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee further shows
The method of claim 1, wherein creating the content hub in the cloud-based collaboration environment comprises:
creating a Content Application Object (CAO) (Pearl: Fig. 16A, 1617; i.e. object visualization) for the content hub; and (Pearl: [0168])
associating the created CAO with the content hub. (Pearl: [0168]; i.e. The object visualization is presented in the workspace thereby being associate with the workspace.)
Regarding claim 3, Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee shows all of the features with respect to claim 1 as outlined above. Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee further shows
The method of claim 2, wherein populating the content hub comprises adding the hub information to the CAO, the hub information comprising one or more of a name for the content hub, a description of the content hub, (i.e. folders and files and their relationships) or one or more sections (i.e. folders) within the content hub. (Pearl: Fig. 16A, 1606-1; [0168])
Regarding claim 4, Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee shows all of the features with respect to claim 1 as outlined above. Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee further shows
The method of claim 2, wherein adding one or more content items to the content hub comprises:
confirming each editor of the added one or more content items has access to the one or more content items within the content hub; and (Pearl: [0049] and Smith: [0031]; i.e. Before a user may edit a document, the ACL/permissions would be checked to verify that user is permitted for editing.)
adding an Access Only Collaboration (AOC) to the added one or more content items, the AOC defining the collaboration for the content hub. (Pearl: [0049] and Smith: [0031]; i.e. metadata with ACL for each document)
Regarding claim 5, Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee shows all of the features with respect to claim 1 as outlined above. Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee further shows
The method of claim 4, wherein publishing the content hub in the cloud-based collaboration environment comprises:
adding an association (i.e. object relationship) of each of the added one or more content items to the CAO; (Pearl: [0168]; Fig. 16A, 1616)
adding an AOC collaboration (i.e. permissions) for each of one or more viewers of the added one or more content items; and (Pearl: [0049])
adding searchable text (i.e. title) to the CAO, (Smith: Fig. 2A, 225; i.e. visual representation) the searchable text describing the content hub or content items added to the content hub. (Smith: [0037-0038])
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pearl to incorporate the teachings of Smith wherein adding searchable text to the CAO, the searchable text describing the content hub or content items added to the content hub to provide a more descriptive view of the workspace.
Regarding claim 6, Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee shows all of the features with respect to claim 1 as outlined above. Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee further shows
The method of claim 2, further comprising updating (i.e. adding a document) the content hub, (i.e. workspace) wherein updating the content hub comprises: (Smith: [0055])
one or more of changing the hub information (i.e. set of documents) for the content hub adding one or more content items to the content hub, or removing one or more content items from the content hub; and (Smith: [0052]; [0055])
publishing the content hub with the changed hub information, without the removed one or more content items or with the added one or more content items. (Smith: [0055])
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pearl to incorporate the teachings of Smith wherein updating the content hub comprises: one or more of changing the hub information for the content hub adding one or more content items to the content hub, or removing one or more content items from the content hub and publishing the content hub with the changed hub information, without the removed one or more content items or with the added one or more content items to ensure that the workspace remains current.
Regarding claim 7, Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee shows all of the features with respect to claim 1 as outlined above. Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee further shows
The method of claim 6, wherein changing the hub information for the content hub comprises saving the changed hub information for the content hub. (Smith: [0055]; i.e. The metadata of the workspace is modified/saved.)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pearl to incorporate the teachings of Smith wherein changing the hub information for the content hub comprises saving the changed hub information for the content hub for the same motivation as detailed in claim 6.
Regarding claim 8, Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee shows all of the features with respect to claim 1 as outlined above. Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee further shows
The method of claim 6, wherein adding one or more content items to the content hub comprises:
confirming editors for the added one or more content items have access to the added content items within the content hub; and (Pearl: [0049] and Smith: [0031]; i.e. Before a user may edit a document, the ACL/permissions would be checked to verify that user is permitted for editing.)
adding an Access Only Collaboration (AOC) to the added content items. (Pearl: [0049] and Smith: [0031]; i.e. metadata with ACL for each document)
Regarding claim 9, Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee shows all of the features with respect to claim 1 as outlined above. Pearl in view of Smith in view of Lee further shows
The method of claim 6, wherein publishing the content hub comprises:
adding content item associations on the CAO (Pearl: object visualization and Smith: Fig. 2A, 225; [0052]; i.e. visual representation of the workspace) associated with the content hub for any added content items; (Pearl: [0064]; Fig. 16A; [0168]; i.e. Work items/file may be added. The object visualization would inherently be updated. and Smith [0054-0055])
removing content item associations on the CAO associated with the content hub for any removed content items; (Pearl: [0064]; Fig. 16A; [0168]; i.e. Work items/file may be deleted. The object visualization would inherently be updated.)
updating searchable text (i.e. metadata of document or workspace to add the document to the workspace) for the content hub; and (Smith: [0056]; [0074]; [0052]; i.e. The metadata is considered searchable text at least because it would inherently be used to search/find documents in workspace that overlaps with active documents. Also, the metadata would be used to display messages in the workspace.)
updating a status for the content hub. (Smith: [0026]; [0030]; [0052]; i.e. The status may be updated to active or archived. Also, a status of the content hub may be updated to show the current list of objects/files.)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pearl to incorporate the teachings of Smith wherein updating searchable text for the content hub and updating a status for the content hub to properly maintain the content hub.
Regarding claim 10, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 1 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 11, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 2 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 12, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 3 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 13, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 4 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 14, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 5 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 15, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 6 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 16, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 7 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 17, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 8 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 18, this system claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claim 9 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Regarding claim 19, Pearl shows
A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising a set of instructions stored therein which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to curate access-only content items of user groups in a cloud-based collaboration environment by: ([0166]; [0214-0215]; i.e. A method performed by a content management server/host server comprising processor, memory and instructions to perform the method.)
creating a content hub (i.e. workspace) in the cloud-based collaboration environment, (Fig. 16) the content hub comprising a logical representation (Fig. 16A, 1617; i.e. object visualization) of a collection of content items ([0048]; i.e. work items) stored in a repository (Fig. 16A, 1620; i.e. 1, 130; i.e. storage device/repository) maintained by the collaboration server, ([0061]; [0165-0166]; [0168]; [0009])
wherein creating the content hub in the cloud-based collaboration environment comprises creating a Content Application Object (CAO) (Pearl: Fig. 16A, 1617; i.e. object visualization) for the content hub and (Pearl: [0168]) associating the created CAO with the content hub. (Pearl: [0168]; i.e. The object visualization is presented in the workspace thereby being associate with the workspace.)
populating the content hub with hub information (i.e. object relationships – files and folders/user access permissions/etc.) defining the content hub ([0168]) wherein populating the content hub comprises adding the hub information to the CAO, the hub information comprising one or more of a name for the content hub, a description of the content hub, (i.e. folders and files and their relationships) or one or more sections (i.e. folders) within the content hub; (Pearl: Fig. 16A, 1606-1; [0168])
adding, (i.e. uploading) one or more selected content items (i.e. work item/document) of the content items stored in the repository maintained by the collaboration server to the content hub; and ([0050]) wherein adding one or more content items to the content hub comprises confirming each editor of the added one or more content items has access to the one or more content items within the content hub and (Pearl: [0049]; i.e. Before a user may edit a document, the permissions would be checked to verify that user is permitted for editing.) adding an Access Only Collaboration (AOC) to the added one or more content items, the AOC defining a collaboration between a plurality of users for the content hub, (Pearl: [0049]) wherein the collaboration for the content hub (Fig. 16A; i.e. workspace 1606-1) is separate from other collaborations (Fig. 16A; i.e. workspace 1606-2) between the plurality of users defined in the cloud-based collaboration environment. (i.e. All collaborators may interact with more than one workspace. ([0166]) Therefore, all of the collaborators of workspace 1606-1 may also collaborate in workspace 1606-2.)
publishing, (i.e. presenting) the content hub (Fig. 16A, 1606-1) in the cloud-based collaboration environment, wherein the selected content items added to the content hub are available for access only to one or more users of the collaboration server based on a defined collaboration for the content hub, ([0168]; [0063]) (i.e. object relationship) of each of the added one or more content items to the CAO, (Pearl: [0168]; Fig. 16A, 1616) adding an AOC collaboration (i.e. permissions) for each of one or more viewers of the added one or more content items and (Pearl: [0049]) adding searchable text to the CAO, the searchable text describing the content hub or content items added to the content hub.
However, Pearl fails to show
adding one or more selected content items of the content items stored in the repository maintained by the collaboration server to the content hub; and
adding searchable text to the CAO, the searchable text describing the content hub or content items added to the content hub.
Smith shows
adding one or more selected content items of the content items stored in the repository (Fig. 1, 114; i.e. data store) maintained by the collaboration server to the content hub; (i.e. workspace) and ([0036]; [0030-0031])
adding searchable text (i.e. title) to the CAO, (Smith: Fig. 2A, 225; i.e. visual representation) the searchable text describing the content hub or content items added to the content hub. (Smith: [0037-0038])
Smith and Pearl are considered analogous art because they involve workspaces comprised of documents. Pearl shows that a collaborator may upload a document to the workspace. Smith shows that a user may add a document to the workspace that already exists in the repository and add a title to the workspace. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pearl to incorporate the teachings of Smith wherein adding one or more selected content items of the content items stored in the repository maintained by the collaboration server to the content hub and adding searchable text to the CAO, the searchable text describing the content hub or content items added to the content hub. Doing so provides that shared documents may be stored in the cloud storage and provides a more descriptive view of the workspace.
However, Pearl in view of Smith fails to show
wherein the collaboration for the content hub is defined separate from any collaborations between the plurality of users defined in workspaces of the cloud-based collaboration environment,
Lee shows
publishing, the content hub (Fig. 4, 410; Fig. 14; i.e. files and folders workspace) in the cloud-based collaboration environment, (Fig. 4; [0065]) wherein the selected content items added to the content hub are available for access only to one or more users of the collaboration server based on a defined collaboration for the content hub, ([0042-0043]) wherein the collaboration for the content hub is defined separate from any collaborations between the plurality of users defined in workspaces (i.e. discussion workspaces) of the cloud-based collaboration environment, ([0044]; i.e. Separate discussion permission for the users from that of the linked files/folders workspace may be assigned.)
Lee and Pearl in view of Smith are considered analogous art because they involve shared workspaces. Pearl shows a shared workspace that includes files and folders. Lee shows that a separate discussion workspace may also be created. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Pearl in view of Smith to incorporate the teachings of Lee wherein the collaboration for the content hub is defined separate from any collaborations between the plurality of users defined in workspaces of the cloud-based collaboration environment. Doing so provides for more control of the discussions of the workspaces.
Regarding claim 20, this medium claim comprises limitations substantially the same as those detailed in claims 6-9 above and is accordingly rejected on the same basis.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Yazganarikan (U.S. Patent Publication 2021/0357367) shows shared content hub including files and folders.
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/CAROLINE H JAHNIGE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2451