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 .
Examiner’s suggestion of language use to parallel with the Specs and a remedy for a potential 35 USC § 101 rejection.
Claim 16 recites, “16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processors of a first computer system that is in communication with a display generation component, the one or more programs including instructions for:…
Claim 17. A first computer system that is in communication with a display generation component, comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for:..
Claim 11. The method of claim 9, wherein, in accordance with a determination that the second set of one or more criteria is satisfied and after forgoing changing the display location of the first representation of the media from the first location to the second location, displaying the first now playing user interface includes displaying a first transfer user interface object, that, when selected, causes the first computer system to transmit instructions to the third computer system that causes the transfer of the playback of the respective media.
Examiner suggests to add “computer-executable” in front of “instructions”, i.e, computer-executable instructions as shown in the Specs, [0147, 0163] to further clarify the recitation of “program(s)”. Program (alone), i.e, software, is not physical, but typically consists of disembodied data. To be patentable, disembodied structures must be organized and correlated in such a manner as to present a complete operative invention.
Please note: Examiner’s suggestion is one of plurality of methods to heal the deficiency and/or to further clarify the claim.
The amendment will not constitute new matter.
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) 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(1)(a) as anticipated by or, in the alternative, under 35 U.S.C. 103 as obvious over Graham et al (US 2020/0379711) and alternatively in view of Coffman et al (US 2018/0335903) OR Vega et al (US 2016/0062606).
Claims 1, 16 and 17, Graham teaches a method, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a first computer system comprising:
at a first computer system that is in communication with a display generation component (FIG. 6F-6L shows display user interface 614 and 618):
in accordance with a determination that a first set of one or more criteria is satisfied while a second computer system is outputting media, (Note that the device 600 is considered to comprise a media control sub system which is considered to qualify as second computing system) wherein the first set of one or more criteria includes a criterion that is satisfied when the first computer system is determined to be within a predefined distance from a third computer system (Since proximity condition range indicator 652 represents a physical proximity that satisfies the proximity condition, device 600 detects an indication that a physical proximity between the device 600 and device 650 satisfies the proximity condition, [0228]) while the second computer system is outputting media (FIG. 6F illustrates a scenario in which device 600 is not inside of proximity condition range indicator 652, device 600 is playing audio (as indicated by audio activity indicator 625), and device 650 is not playing audio", [0228]):
causing, the third computer system, to output the media (FIG. 6G, device 600 receives input 61 0d (e.g., a tap) corresponding to selection of media information affordance 616. In response to receiving input 61 0d, device 600 transmits an instruction to device 650 to initiate playback of the media item currently playing on device 600. As shown in FIG. 6H, in response to receiving input 61 0d, device 600 displays updated media information affordance 616a (e.g., replaces media information affordance 616 with a new affordance or maintains display of media information affordance 616, but changes at least a portion of the information displayed therein, [0233]); and
changing, via the display generation component, a display location of a first representation of the media from a first location to a second location, (See Fig. 6G, item 616-5), wherein the second location corresponds to a display location of a representation of the third computer system (see "information affordance 616" in figure 6G comprising item 616-1) and the first location does not correspond to a location of the display location of the first representation of the third computer system (See Fig. 6G); and
in accordance with a determination that a second set of one or more criteria is satisfied, wherein the second set of one or more criteria includes a criterion that is satisfied when the first computer system is determined to be within the predefined distance from the third computer system while the second computer system is outputting media: forgoing causing the third computer system to output respective media; and forgoing changing the display location of the first representation of the media from the first location to the second location. (Graham clearly presents a method/system which includes displaying a first media information affordance representing a first media item in response to detecting an indication that a physical proximity between an electronic device and an external device satisfies a proximity condition., [0218] and Figs. 6A-6P. Here Graham implicitly teaches that if the proximity condition is not met, the suggested action is not performed/taken.
Alternatively in view of:
Vega, [0047]: one or more playback zones in the environment of FIG. 1 may each be playing different audio content. For instance, the user may be grilling in the balcony zone and listening to hip hop music being played by the playback device 102 while another user may be preparing food in the kitchen zone and listening to classical music being played by the playback device 114. Here examiner reads that each zone has its own distinct music genre or interest and the hip hop in the balcony is not with the zone of kitchen, hence not outputting in the kitchen’s zone.
Similarly, Coffman: [0888]: FIG. 27C illustrates an exemplary scenario in which the physical positioning of a device (e.g., 2702) does not satisfy a permissive condition. As shown, for example, device 2702 is not within proximity zone 2704 of device 2700, which is the permissive condition in this example. Thus, in response to receiving voice input “Do I have any appointments today?”, device 2700 does not output the dictation shown in FIG. 27B. In some embodiments, a device (e.g., 2700) outputs an indication of how to satisfy the permissive condition. As shown, device 2700 outputs the dictation 2708 “Please move your phone closer”. Here similarly, examiner reads that a device, i.e., 2702 does not meet/satisfy the proximity zone requirement, i.e., zone 2704, there is not communication until the user move the phone closer to the designated zone.
It would have been obvious to the ordinary artisan before the effective filing date to incorporate the teaching of Coffman or Vega into the teaching of Graham for the purpose of explicitly providing the conditions required for outputting media at a specific location/zone/proximity and not at other location/zone/proximity when condition is not met.
Claim 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of one or more criteria includes a criterion that is satisfied when the third computer system is determined to be not outputting media. (All the references used independent claims details the use of playback systems set up for multiple locations/devices, Vega, for example, a media playback system may include a living room zone, a dining room zone, a kitchen zone, an office zone, and/or a bedroom zone, in which playback devices of the different zones are located in the living room, dining room, kitchen, office, and/or bedroom, respectively. Here the criteria is set not just for the one device, i.e., computer system, but for all devices/all computer systems. So device in the kitchen is set up for kitchen zone and it would not satisfy the proximity zone for other rooms. Graham specifically discusses if power is off, by obviousness, no audio output in any zone, [0061, 0155]. Coffman, power is off, [0166].
Claim 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second set of one or more criteria includes a criterion that is satisfied when the third computer system is determined to be outputting media. (See the independent claims and also claim 2).
Claim 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in accordance with a determination that the first set of one or more criteria is satisfied while the second computer system is outputting media, causing the second computer system to cease the output of the media. (See the independent claims and also claim 2).
Claim 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in accordance with a determination that a third set of one or more criteria is satisfied, wherein the third set of one or more criteria includes a criterion that is satisfied when the first computer system is determined to be within a second predefined distance from the third computer system but not within the predefined distance from the third computer system, displaying, via the display generation component, a user interface indicating that the first computer system is not within the predefined distance from the third computer system. (See the independent claims and also claim 2. Also see Coffman, [0018-0027] for proximity indication for all devices and see FIGS. 6A-6AR illustrating exemplary user interfaces for accessing media playback status of a plurality of available playback devices, in accordance with some embodiments. The user interfaces in these figures are used to illustrate the processes described below, including the processes in FIGS. 7A-7D, [0319]).
Claim 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first computer system is in communication with a fourth computer system different from the first computer system, the method further comprising: in accordance with a determination that a fourth set of one or more criteria is satisfied while the fourth computer system outputs a second media item, wherein the fourth set of one or more criteria includes a criterion that is satisfied when the first computer system is determined to be within the predefined distance from the third computer system: causing the third computer system to initiate output of the second media item. (See the independent claims and also claims 2 and 5).
Claim 7. The method of claim 1, wherein changing the display location of the first representation of the media from the first location to the second location includes displaying the first representation of the media as overlaid on the first representation of the third computer system. (Vega: different playback zones of the media playback system 100 may be dynamically combined into zone groups or split up into individual playback zones. For instance, the dining room zone and the kitchen zone 114 may be combined into a zone group for a dinner party such that playback devices 112 and 114 may render audio content in synchrony. On the other hand, the living room zone may be split into a television zone including playback device 104, and a listening zone including playback devices 106, 108, and 110, [0049] OR When playback zones or zone groups are “grouped” or “ungrouped,” playback queues associated with the affected playback zones or zone groups may be cleared or re-associated. For example, if a first playback zone including a first playback queue is grouped with a second playback zone including a second playback queue, the established zone group may have an associated playback queue that is initially empty, that contains audio items from the first playback queue (such as if the second playback zone was added to the first playback zone), that contains audio items from the second playback queue (such as if the first playback zone was added to the second playback zone), or a combination of audio items from both the first and second playback queues. Subsequently, if the established zone group is ungrouped, the resulting first playback zone may be re-associated with the previous first playback queue, or be associated with a new playback queue that is empty or contains audio items from the playback queue associated with the established zone group before the established zone group was ungrouped. Similarly, the resulting second playback zone may be re-associated with the previous second playback queue, or be associated with a new playback queue that is empty, or contains audio items from the playback queue associated with the established zone group before the established zone group was ungrouped, [0061]).
Claim 8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in accordance with a determination that the second set of one or more criteria is satisfied, displaying a second representation of the respective media as overlaid on a second representation of the third computer system. (Vega: Analogously, a “group” icon may be provided within a graphical representation of a zone group. In this case, the “group” icon may be selectable to bring up options to deselect one or more zones in the zone group to be removed from the zone group. Other interactions and implementations for grouping and ungrouping zones via a user interface such as the user interface 400 are also possible. The representations of playback zones in the playback zone region 420 may be dynamically updated as playback zone or zone group configurations are modified, [0057]).
Claim 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in accordance with a determination that the first set of one or more criteria is satisfied, after causing the third computer system to output the media, displaying, via the display generation component, a first now playing user interface that includes a third representation of the media; and in accordance with a determination that the second set of one or more criteria is satisfied, while the second computer system is outputting the media, displaying, via the display generation component, the first now playing user interface that includes the third representation of the media. (See the independent claims and claims 7 and 8).
Claim 10. The method of claim 9, wherein: after changing the display location of the first representation of the media from the first location to the second location and in accordance with a determination that the first set of one or more criteria is satisfied, the third representation of the media is displayed at a first position of the first now playing user interface; and in accordance with a determination that the second set of one or more criteria is satisfied, the third representation the media is displayed at a second position of the first now playing user interface. (See the independent claims and claims 7 and 8).
Claim 11. The method of claim 9, wherein, in accordance with a determination that the second set of one or more criteria is satisfied and after forgoing changing the display location of the first representation of the media from the first location to the second location, displaying the first now playing user interface includes displaying a first transfer user interface object, that, when selected, causes the first computer system to transmit instructions to the third computer system that causes the transfer of the playback of the respective media. (See the independent claims and claims 7 and 8).
Claim 12. The method of claim 11, wherein, in accordance with a determination that the first set of one or more criteria is satisfied, the first now playing user interface does not include the first transfer user interface object. (Vega: different playback zones of the media playback system 100 may be dynamically combined into zone groups or split up into individual playback zones. For instance, the dining room zone and the kitchen zone 114 may be combined into a zone group for a dinner party such that playback devices 112 and 114 may render audio content in synchrony. On the other hand, the living room zone may be split into a television zone including playback device 104, and a listening zone including playback devices 106, 108, and 110, [0049]).
Claim 13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first now playing user interface continues to be displayed without respect to a distance between the first computer system and the third computer system. (Vega: different playback zones of the media playback system 100 may be dynamically combined into zone groups or split up into individual playback zones. For instance, the dining room zone and the kitchen zone 114 may be combined into a zone group for a dinner party such that playback devices 112 and 114 may render audio content in synchrony, [0049]).
Claims14-15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: in accordance with a determination that a third set of one or more criteria is satisfied, wherein the third set of one or more criteria includes a criterion that is satisfied when the first computer system is determined to be within the predefined distance from the third computer system while the third computer system is outputting media, displaying, via the display generation component, a second transfer user interface object and further comprising: in accordance with a determination that a third set of one or more criteria is satisfied, displaying a third representation of the third computer system concurrently with the second transfer user interface object. (See the independent claims, specifically on Graham teaching multiple criteria as Graham presents a method/system for audio playback control, i.e., volume control, [0060, 0155]; set of intensity threshold, [0080, 0194]; a set of conditions has been met without requiring further user input enhances the operability of the device and makes the user-device interface more efficient (e.g., by helping the user to provide proper inputs and reducing user mistakes when operating/interacting with the device) which, additionally, reduces power usage and improves battery life of the device by enabling the user to use the device more quickly and efficiently, [0252], one of which condition is proper proximity).
Inquiry
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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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Duc Nguyen can be reached at 571-272-7503. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/PHUNG-HOANG J NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2691