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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 1-7, 9-15, 17 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
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 of this title, 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 1-7, 9-15, 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nakayama et al. (U.S. Patent Application Number: 2011/0216361) in view of Kawaguchi (U.S. Patent Application Number: 2017/0339735).
Consider claim 1; Nakayama discloses a method that is performed by executing an application of an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:
causing the information processing apparatus to perform a search for a printing apparatus [“Upon accepting the selection of the search execute button 310, the settings acceptance unit 120 requests the printer search unit 130 to execute a search process for printers that can be used by the host computer 1.” (par. 45, lines 1-4)];
causing the information processing apparatus to display identification information of at least one printing apparatus found by the search [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 obtains the search results from the printer search unit 130 and displays those results in the search result display region 320.” (par. 46, lines 2-5)];
causing the information processing apparatus to transmit print data to a printing apparatus of which identification information is selected from among the identification information of the at least one printing apparatus found by the search [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 specifies a printer corresponding to the entry selected in the search result display region 320 as the printer that is to execute printing (that is, the port through which print data is outputted). The print data generation unit 140 is then instructed to send the print data to the specified printer.” (par. 49, lines 2-7)].
Nakayama discloses the claimed invention except: causing the information processing apparatus to obtain a Service Set Identifier of an access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected; and
causing the information processing apparatus to display guidance information for a wireless communication between the information processing apparatus and another printing apparatus which has not been found by the search, the guidance information including the obtained Service Set Identifier and information about operation to be performed by a user for the wireless communication using the Service Set Identifier;
wherein the Service Set Identifier is obtained from an operating system of the information processing apparatus,
wherein the guidance information further includes information allowing a user to recognize that the obtained Service Set Identifier is that of the access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected, and
wherein the information about the operation includes information indicating an operation to be performed by the user for configuring the another printing apparatus to use the obtained Service Set Identifier for the wireless communication.
In an analogous art Kawaguchi discloses causing the information processing apparatus to obtain a Service Set Identifier of an access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)]; and
causing the information processing apparatus to display guidance information for a wireless communication between the information processing apparatus and another printing apparatus which has not been found by the search [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)], the guidance information including the obtained Service Set Identifier [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)] and information about operation to be performed by a user for the wireless communication using the Service Set Identifier [“When the MFP 100 is set with the direct connection mode, the SSID of the MFP is displayed on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420…” (par. 62, lines 1-3) “When the terminal apparatus 200 is directly connected to the MFP 100, a check mark indicating the direct connection is displayed at the left side of the connected apparatus… (par. 62, lines 9-12) “When the user selects to-be-printed data…from the print data selection screen 440…a preview screen 450…is displayed. When the user taps a print button 451 on the preview screen 450… the print job of the selected data is transmitted to the MFP 100.” (par. 63, lines 8-14)];
wherein the Service Set Identifier is obtained from an operating system of the information processing apparatus [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7)],
wherein the guidance information further includes information allowing a user to recognize that the obtained Service Set Identifier is that of the access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7) “When the MFP 100 is set with the direct connection mode, the SSID of the MFP 100 is displayed on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420…” (par. 62, lines 1-3)], and
wherein the information about the operation includes information indicating an operation to be performed by the user for configuring the another printing apparatus to use the obtained Service Set Identifier for the wireless communication [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7)].
It is an object of Nakayama’s invention to provide a method of searching out printing apparatuses. It is an object of Kawaguchi’s invention to provide a method of connecting printing apparatuses. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Nakayama by including a SSID, as taught by Kawaguchi, for the purpose of efficiently providing services in a telecommunications network.
Consider claim 2, as applied in claim 1; Nakayama discloses the search is performed in accordance with selection of a search object [“Upon accepting the selection of the search execute button 310, the settings acceptance unit 120 requests the printer search unit 130 to execute a search process for printers that can be used by the host computer 1.” (par. 45, lines 1-4)].
Consider claim 3, as applied in claim 1; Nakayama discloses causing a user to select [“The settings acceptance unit 120 accepts, through user operations, the selection of one of the entries in the printer list displayed in the search result display region 320 as described above. The selection of an entry can be carried out by moving a cursor…” (par. 48, lines 1-5)], from among the identification information of the at least one printing apparatus found by the search [“The settings acceptance unit 120 accepts, through user operations, the selection of one of the entries in the printer list displayed in the search result display region 320 as described above. The selection of an entry can be carried out by moving a cursor…” (par. 48, lines 1-5)], identification information of a printing apparatus as a destination to which the print data is transmitted [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 specifies a printer corresponding to the entry selected in the search result display region 320 as the printer that is to execute printing (that is, the port through which print data is outputted). The print data generation unit 140 is then instructed to send the print data to the specified printer.” (par. 49, lines 2-7)].
Consider claim 4, as applied in claim 1; Kawaguchi discloses the information about the operation is information about a wireless setting of the printing apparatus [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7) “When the MFP 100 is set with the direct connection mode, the SSID of the MFP is displayed on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420…” (par. 62, lines 1-3)].
Consider claim 5, as applied in claim 1; Nakayama discloses causing, in case where no printing apparatus is found by the search, the information processing apparatus to display information indicating that no printing apparatus is found and an object for causing the information processing apparatus to display the Service Set Identifier [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 obtains the search results from the printer search unit 130 and displays those results in the search result display region 320.” (par. 46, lines 2-5)].
Consider claim 6, as applied in claim 1; Kawaguchi discloses an object for causing the information processing apparatus to display manual information about a wireless setting of the printing apparatus is displayed [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)].
Consider claim 7, as applied in claim 1; Kawaguchi discloses causing the information processing apparatus to display an error in a case where an operation for causing the information processing apparatus to display the Service Set Identifier is received and the information processing apparatus connects to no access point [“…the information processing apparatus such as the MFP 100 can be used as the group owner…” (par. 30, lines 5-7) “…the group owner can be … any apparatus not connected to the network N or unconnectable to the network N…” (par. 30, lines 9-12) “When the user selects a connection apparatus switching setting unit 232 of the application control unit 230 calls the network switching unit 242 of the OS unit 240. Then, the network switching unit 242 displays a Wi-Fi setting screen 420…by using the UI unit 231.” (par. 59, lines 10-15) “…”pre-connect=OFF” means that the MFP 100 is a stand-alone apparatus, which means the MFP 100 is not connected to the network.” (par. 100, lines 6-8)].
Consider claim 9; Nakayama discloses a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing an application that, when executed, causes an information processing apparatus [“… The printer driver program may also be read from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM by the media reading device 16 or read from a storage medium such as a flash ROM or the like by the USB interface 15, an installed in the host computer 1 or updated.” (par. 31 lines 4-8)] to:
perform a search for a printing apparatus [“Upon accepting the selection of the search execute button 310, the settings acceptance unit 120 requests the printer search unit 130 to execute a search process for printers that can be used by the host computer 1.” (par. 45, lines 1-4)];
display identification information of at least one printing apparatus found by the search [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 obtains the search results from the printer search unit 130 and displays those results in the search result display region 320.” (par. 46, lines 2-5)];
transmit print data to a printing apparatus of which identification information is selected from among the identification information of the at least one printing apparatus found by the search [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 specifies a printer corresponding to the entry selected in the search result display region 320 as the printer that is to execute printing (that is, the port through which print data is outputted). The print data generation unit 140 is then instructed to send the print data to the specified printer.” (par. 49, lines 2-7)].
Nakayama discloses the claimed invention except: obtain a Service Set Identifier of an access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected; and
display guidance information for a wireless communication between the information processing apparatus and another printing apparatus which has not been found by the search, the guidance information including the obtained Service Set Identifier and information about operation to be performed by a user for the wireless communication using the Service Set Identifier;
wherein the Service Set Identifier is obtained from an operating system of the information processing apparatus,
wherein the guidance information further includes information allowing a user to recognize that the obtained Service Set Identifier is that of the access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected, and
wherein the information about the operation includes information indicating an operation to be performed by the user for configuring the another printing apparatus to use the obtained Service Set Identifier for the wireless communication.
In an analogous art Kawaguchi discloses obtain a Service Set Identifier of an access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)]; and
display guidance information for a wireless communication between the information processing apparatus and another printing apparatus which has not been found by the search [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)], the guidance information including the obtained Service Set Identifier [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)] and information about operation to be performed by a user for the wireless communication using the Service Set Identifier [“When the MFP 100 is set with the direct connection mode, the SSID of the MFP is displayed on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420…” (par. 62, lines 1-3) “When the terminal apparatus 200 is directly connected to the MFP 100, a check mark indicating the direct connection is displayed at the left side of the connected apparatus… (par. 62, lines 9-12) “When the user selects to-be-printed data…from the print data selection screen 440…a preview screen 450…is displayed. When the user taps a print button 451 on the preview screen 450… the print job of the selected data is transmitted to the MFP 100.” (par. 63, lines 8-14)];
wherein the Service Set Identifier is obtained from an operating system of the information processing apparatus [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7)],
wherein the guidance information further includes information allowing a user to recognize that the obtained Service Set Identifier is that of the access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7) “When the MFP 100 is set with the direct connection mode, the SSID of the MFP 100 is displayed on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420…” (par. 62, lines 1-3)], and
wherein the information about the operation includes information indicating an operation to be performed by the user for configuring the another printing apparatus to use the obtained Service Set Identifier for the wireless communication [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7)].
It is an object of Nakayama’s invention to provide a method of searching out printing apparatuses. It is an object of Kawaguchi’s invention to provide a method of connecting printing apparatuses. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Nakayama by including a SSID, as taught by Kawaguchi, for the purpose of efficiently providing services in a telecommunications network.
Consider claim 10, as applied in claim 9; Nakayama discloses the search is performed in accordance with selection of a search object [“Upon accepting the selection of the search execute button 310, the settings acceptance unit 120 requests the printer search unit 130 to execute a search process for printers that can be used by the host computer 1.” (par. 45, lines 1-4)].
Consider claim 11, as applied in claim 9; Nakayama discloses causing a user to select [“The settings acceptance unit 120 accepts, through user operations, the selection of one of the entries in the printer list displayed in the search result display region 320 as described above. The selection of an entry can be carried out by moving a cursor…” (par. 48, lines 1-5)], from among the identification information of the at least one printing apparatus found by the search [“The settings acceptance unit 120 accepts, through user operations, the selection of one of the entries in the printer list displayed in the search result display region 320 as described above. The selection of an entry can be carried out by moving a cursor…” (par. 48, lines 1-5)], identification information of a printing apparatus as a destination to which the print data is transmitted [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 specifies a printer corresponding to the entry selected in the search result display region 320 as the printer that is to execute printing (that is, the port through which print data is outputted). The print data generation unit 140 is then instructed to send the print data to the specified printer.” (par. 49, lines 2-7)].
Consider claim 12, as applied in claim 9; Kawaguchi discloses the information about the operation is information about a wireless setting of the printing apparatus [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7) “When the MFP 100 is set with the direct connection mode, the SSID of the MFP is displayed on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420…” (par. 62, lines 1-3)].
Consider claim 13, as applied in claim 9; Nakayama discloses display, in case where no printing apparatus is found by the search, the information processing apparatus to display information indicating that no printing apparatus is found and an object for causing the information processing apparatus to display the Service Set Identifier [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 obtains the search results from the printer search unit 130 and displays those results in the search result display region 320.” (par. 46, lines 2-5)].
Consider claim 14, as applied in claim 9; Kawaguchi discloses an object for causing the information processing apparatus to display manual information about a wireless setting of the printing apparatus is displayed [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)].
Consider claim 15, as applied in claim 9; Kawaguchi discloses display an error in a case where an operation for causing the information processing apparatus to display the Service Set Identifier is received and the information processing apparatus connects to no access point [“…the information processing apparatus such as the MFP 100 can be used as the group owner…” (par. 30, lines 5-7) “…the group owner can be … any apparatus not connected to the network N or unconnectable to the network N…” (par. 30, lines 9-12) “When the user selects a connection apparatus switching setting unit 232 of the application control unit 230 calls the network switching unit 242 of the OS unit 240. Then, the network switching unit 242 displays a Wi-Fi setting screen 420…by using the UI unit 231.” (par. 59, lines 10-15) “…“pre-connect=OFF” means that the MFP 100 is a stand-alone apparatus, which means the MFP 100 is not connected to the network.” (par. 100, lines 6-8)].
Consider claim 17; Nakayama discloses an information processing apparatus that has an application, comprising:
a controller [“The printing system 3 includes a host computer 1 that functions as a printing control apparatus…” (par. 23, lines 1-2)] that perform a search for a printing apparatus [“Upon accepting the selection of the search execute button 310, the settings acceptance unit 120 requests the printer search unit 130 to execute a search process for printers that can be used by the host computer 1.” (par. 45, lines 1-4)];
a display [“a display device 17, such as an LCD or the like, that displays user interface (UI) windows and the like…” (par. 25, lines 12-14)],
wherein the display identification information of at least one printing apparatus found by the search [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 obtains the search results from the printer search unit 130 and displays those results in the search result display region 320.” (par. 46, lines 2-5)],
wherein the information processing apparatus to transmit print data to a printing apparatus of which identification information is selected from among the identification information of the at least one printing apparatus found by the search [“…the settings acceptance unit 120 specifies a printer corresponding to the entry selected in the search result display region 320 as the printer that is to execute printing (that is, the port through which print data is outputted). The print data generation unit 140 is then instructed to send the print data to the specified printer.” (par. 49, lines 2-7)].
Nakayama discloses the claimed invention except: wherein the information processing apparatus obtains a Service Set Identifier of an access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected; and
wherein the information processing apparatus displays guidance information for a wireless communication between the information processing apparatus and another printing apparatus which has not been found by the search, the guidance information including the obtained Service Set Identifier and information about operation to be performed by a user for the wireless communication using the Service Set Identifier;
wherein the Service Set Identifier is obtained from an operating system of the information processing apparatus,
wherein the guidance information further includes information allowing a user to recognize that the obtained Service Set Identifier is that of the access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected, and
wherein the information about the operation includes information indicating an operation to be performed by the user for configuring the another printing apparatus to use the obtained Service Set Identifier for the wireless communication.
In an analogous art Kawaguchi discloses the information processing apparatus obtains a Service Set Identifier of an access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)]; and
wherein the information processing apparatus displays guidance information for a wireless communication between the information processing apparatus and another printing apparatus which has not been found by the search [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)], the guidance information including the obtained Service Set Identifier [“When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420.” (par. 61, lines 3-7)] and information about operation to be performed by a user for the wireless communication using the Service Set Identifier [“When the MFP 100 is set with the direct connection mode, the SSID of the MFP is displayed on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420…” (par. 62, lines 1-3) “When the terminal apparatus 200 is directly connected to the MFP 100, a check mark indicating the direct connection is displayed at the left side of the connected apparatus… (par. 62, lines 9-12) “When the user selects to-be-printed data…from the print data selection screen 440…a preview screen 450…is displayed. When the user taps a print button 451 on the preview screen 450… the print job of the selected data is transmitted to the MFP 100.” (par. 63, lines 8-14)];
wherein the Service Set Identifier is obtained from an operating system of the information processing apparatus [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7)],
wherein the guidance information further includes information allowing a user to recognize that the obtained Service Set Identifier is that of the access point to which the information processing apparatus is connected [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7) “When the MFP 100 is set with the direct connection mode, the SSID of the MFP 100 is displayed on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420…” (par. 62, lines 1-3)], and
wherein the information about the operation includes information indicating an operation to be performed by the user for configuring the another printing apparatus to use the obtained Service Set Identifier for the wireless communication [“…the application calls a network setting screen managed by OS to display the network setting screen managed by the OS to display the network setting screen managed by using the UI unit 231…” (par. 58, lines 4-6) “When Wi-Fi is set “ON,” the network switching unit 242 searches a connectable network (e.g. access point) in the Wi-Fi setting screen 420, and displays a SSID of the connectable network (e.g. access point) on the Wi-Fi setting screen 420 (par. 61, lines 3-7)].
It is an object of Nakayama’s invention to provide a method of searching out printing apparatuses. It is an object of Kawaguchi’s invention to provide a method of connecting printing apparatuses. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Nakayama by including a SSID, as taught by Kawaguchi, for the purpose of efficiently providing services in a telecommunications network.
Yokoyama is another reference that discloses the inventive concept.
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
extension fee 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 date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
Examiner should be directed to Joel Ajayi whose telephone number is (571) 270-1091. The Examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday from 7:30am to 5:00pm and Friday 7:30am to 4:00 pm.
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/JOEL AJAYI/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2646
Prosecution Insights