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 the Applicant’s arguments
The previous rejection is withdrawn. Applicant’s amendments are entered. Applicant’s remarks are also entered into the record. A new search was made necessitated by the applicant’s amendments.
A new reference was found. A new rejection is made herein.
Applicant’s arguments are now moot in view of the new rejection of the claims.
Claims 1 and 21 are amended to recite and the primary reference is silent but HASSAN teaches “… calculating a power supply capability time for the relief facility (see paragraph 67 where the location 112 has a deficit and needs power now) regarding the first vehicle based on a remaining battery amount of the first vehicle (see paragraph 10 where the battery of the vehicle is fully charged and is able to make it to the location 112 and provide power) and the power
consumption of the relief facility; and (see FIG. where the vehicle that is an electric vehicle is summoned to provide power to the facility 112 and see paragraph 69-72 where the user 112 communicates with a server to determine the needs of the user and can predict that the energy will be low and that power will be needed from the solar wind and the electric vehicles that can arrive and provide power)
determining the departure time of a second vehicle, (see paragraph 6-7 where a schedule for vehicles to arrive at the end user for charging can be computed) which is to arrive at the relief facility subsequent to the first vehicle, (see paragraph 23 where a first vehicle can arrive from 10 miles away and charge the end user 112 and then a second vehicle who is a 100 miles away can arrive after the first vehicle and provide power to the end user 112 in succession) by adding the power supply capability time of the first vehicle to the departure time of the first vehicle and subtracting a travel time of the
second vehicle to the relief facility”. (see claims 1-8 where the end user can include a surplus amount of power and does not need any and report this to a server but then can need power and can provide a request to the server and the server can call multiple vehicles to arrive at the end user 112 and provide a route from the current location to the end user node to commence charging and see paragraph 22-27 where a first vehicle can offer a first amount of power and the second vehicle can provide a second amount of power and a schedule can be provided for based on the distance the second and first vehicle are located to provide the desired amount of power to the end user home 112)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HASSAN with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HASSAN teaches that a charging facility112 can include an AI device for scheduling when there is a deficit of charge and when a charge is needed. The AI device can then schedule a number of electric vehicles to arrive and provide charging in succession. The device can provide a schedule for the charging and discharging of power to the end user based on the location of the vehicles and the departure time and the location of the second vehicle. This can provide charging to the end user 112 in succession when the ai forecasts that the power is required by the end user 112. See claims 1-8 and paragraph 22-27 and 40-44 of Hassan.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1, and 3-6 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. sec. 103 as being unpatentable as obvious in view of Japanese Patent Pub. No.: JP 2013-183521 to Takeuchi that was filed in 2012 and in view of Japanese Patent Pub. No.: JP 2013-027163 to Fujiwara and in view of United States Patent Application Pub. No.: US20110246252A1 to UESUGI that was filed in 2010 and in view of United States Patent Application Pub. No.: US20230347778A1 to HASSAN assigned to ADAPTR™ (hereafter “HASSAN”) filed on 1-21.
In regard to claim 1, 21, Takeuchi discloses “....Claim 1. (Original) A power source relief server comprising: processing circuity configured to
generate a relief plan for supplying power to a relief facility using a vehicle capable of power source relief on the basis of power consumption of the relief facility, (see FIG. 1-2 where FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the system according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, the system of this embodiment includes a power plant 11, a power system 12, a customer 13, a mobile power storage device 14, and a power supply control device 15.
The power plant 11 is a facility for generating power such as hydraulic power or thermal power, and normally, power from the power plant 11 is supplied to the customer 13 via the power system 12.
The mobile power storage device 14 is a power storage device that can move and can supply power to the outside. For example, an electric vehicle equipped with a power storage device and running on the electric power, or a power storage device mounted on a container vehicle and normally used in a renewable energy power plant corresponds to the mobile power storage device 14.
The power supply control device 15 controls the supply of electric power to the consumer in an emergency such that the electric power from the normal electric power supply source (the power plant 11) is not supplied to the consumer in addition to the normal time. In an emergency, the power supply control device 15 controls the system so that the mobile power storage device 14 supplies a desired amount of power to a desired power feeding position.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the power supply control device 15 according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, the power supply control device 15 includes an information acquisition unit 21, a suppliable power calculation unit 22, a request target determination unit 23, a power provision request unit 24, an average value calculation unit 25, a customer management unit 26, and A power allocation determination unit 27 is included.
The information acquisition unit 21 communicates with each mobile power storage device 14 by wireless communication, and acquires power storage device information including the current position of each mobile power storage device 14 and the remaining power storage.
The suppliable power calculation unit 22 is based on the current position and the remaining amount of power storage of each mobile power storage device 14 acquired by the information acquisition unit 21 and the power supply position where power should be supplied in an emergency. Moves to the power supply location, and calculates the suppliable power that is the power that can be supplied there.
For example, when the mobile power storage device 14 is an electric vehicle that uses the electric power stored in its own device for movement, the suppliable power calculation unit 22 determines the electric vehicle based on the current position and the feeding position of the electric vehicle. Calculates the power consumption that is consumed to move from the current position to the power supply position, and subtracts the movement power consumption from the current remaining power storage amount to calculate the suppliable power. The suppliable power calculation unit 22 holds map data, searches for a route from the current position of the electric vehicle to the power feeding position, and may use the power consumed when traveling on the route as the mobile power consumption. )
a relief request time of the relief facility, and power source relief capability information indicating relief capability power of the vehicle; and (see FIG. 2-3 where The request target determining unit 23 determines the mobile power storage device 14 that is a target for requesting power supply based on the suppliable power of each mobile power storage device 14. The mobile power storage device 14 that is a target for requesting power supply is selected so that the total amount of power that can be supplied exceeds a predetermined total required power.
The power supply request unit 24 wirelessly communicates with the requested mobile power storage device 14 determined by the request target determination unit 23 and requests movement to the power supply position and power supply.
According to the present embodiment, the mobile power storage device 14 that moves to a desired power supply location, acquires the power that can be supplied there for each mobile power storage device 14, and determines the mobile power storage device 14 that requests power supply based on the power. Therefore, a desired amount of power can be supplied to a desired power supply location.
In the present embodiment, the mobile power storage device 14 may include a container-mounted power storage device used in a renewable energy power plant. The container-mounted power storage device can be moved in a container car. By using such a large-capacity container-mounted power storage device, relatively large supply power can be secured.
Returning to FIG. 2, the consumer management unit 26 calculates the normal power consumption when the power is normally supplied from the power plant 11 and the power system 12 in each customer 13 that receives the supply of power from the power supply position. Measure continuously.
The average value calculation unit 25 calculates an instantaneous average value of the power to be supplied to the power feeding position based on the normal power consumption of each customer 13 measured by the customer management unit 26.
As a process that uses the instantaneous average value, the request target determination unit 23 described above calculates the total required power by multiplying the instantaneous average value by a predetermined provision request time, and the total required power and the mobile power storage device 14. The mobile power storage device to be requested may be determined based on the suppliable power. Since the power to be supplied in an emergency is determined based on the power consumption measured during normal times, an appropriate provision amount can be set.
The power allocation determination unit 27 determines a power allocation amount that can be consumed by each of the consumers 13 while power is supplied by the mobile power storage device 14 based on normal power consumption.)
Fujiwara teaches “...notify the vehicle or a vehicle manager of the relief plan”. ( Then, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above, the control unit 3 of the charging support control device 2 charges the facility control device 11 of the facility 10 where the charging plan operation has ended based on the determined charging plan (car scheduling) by the car. Notifying that the planned operation has been completed, and transmitting the charging plan result. Thereby, the control unit 19 of the facility-side control device 11 receives the completion of the charging plan operation and displays the charging plan result as shown in FIG. 5D on the output unit 35 (step S4). ). Specifically, the charging plan result includes the scheduled arrival time of the automobile 30, the automobile ID of the automobile 30, the chargeable amount of the backup storage battery 12, and the charging time of the automobile 30.)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of FUJIWARA with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since FUJIWARA teaches that a hospital can include a power supply failure due to a hurricane. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and a priority order of each of the electric vehicles can \be provided to provide power based on the order of the closest electric vehicles. Once the charging is complete a notification is provided. Then, returning to the flowchart of FIG. 4 described above, the control unit 3 of the charging support control device 2 charges the facility control device 11 of the facility 10 where the charging plan operation has ended based on the determined charging plan (car scheduling) by the car. Notifying that the planned operation has been completed, and transmitting the charging plan result. Thereby, the control unit 19 of the facility-side control device 11 receives the completion of the charging plan operation and displays the charging plan result as shown in FIG. 5D on the output unit 35 (step S4). ). Specifically, the charging plan result includes the scheduled arrival time of the automobile 30, the automobile ID of the automobile 30, the chargeable amount of the backup storage battery 12, and the charging time of the automobile 30. This message can provide that they have some power back for the emergency from the vehicle.
PNG
media_image1.png
634
952
media_image1.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image2.png
820
580
media_image2.png
Greyscale
PNG
media_image3.png
770
512
media_image3.png
Greyscale
Claim 1 is amended to recite and the primary reference is silent but UESUGI teaches “...among a plurality of vehicles....wherein the processing circuitry is configured to set a departure time of each of the plurality vehicles (see FIG. 16 where the battery amount of the vehicles is determined and the amount of time to travel is determined and the working time for the worker is also considered in blocks 31-36 to formulate a reservation and receive a charging schedule and a reservation)
PNG
media_image4.png
826
720
media_image4.png
Greyscale
by setting a time of immediate departure for a first vehicle and set departure times for second and subsequent vehicles (see FIG. 14 where the vehicle can be allocated for a schedule when the first vehicle is done charging and a message is provided however if the vehicle is too far away or needs to work this can be allocated to a new vehicle or the first vehicle can he charged more and a new location schedule can be provided in blocks 11-15 and see claim 6 where the plan is provided based on 1. Travel conditions 2. Weather, 3. Device construction or 4 travel route ) (see paragraph 22 based on the travel route the optimal schedule to allocate charging can be provided so no vehicles wait; Fig. 17-20 where the server and charging station will determine if the vehicle has a reservation or not and if so they will charge the vehicle for a predetermined time and estimate a time for the vehicle to be done and if there is a waiting used in block 86 then the charging time can be indicated and a schedule can be changed to accommodate all waiting users and see paragraph 180 where if all vehicles are charged and no user is waiting in a successive manner)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of UESUGI with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since UESUGI teaches that a charging facility can include a scheduling to allocate a time of charging via a reservation. This can provide that one vehicle is charged and then a second vehicle is charged and a third vehicle is charged in order based on the reservations. The server can also reduce the amount of charging if a second vehicle that needs a charge is close or increase the amount of charging for the first vehicle if the second vehicle is far out. See paragraph 205. Subsequently, the vehicle charging allocation managing server 23 creates the vehicle charging allocation schedule on the basis of the obtained working schedule in consideration of a working vacant time and a rest time of each crewmember which correspond to a working schedule of crewmembers, a vehicle status (during working, during checking or the like) (step S22) and the distance. See paragraph 122-126
PNG
media_image5.png
862
1398
media_image5.png
Greyscale
Claims 1 and 21 are amended to recite and the primary reference is silent but HASSAN teaches “… calculating a power supply capability time for the relief facility (see paragraph 67 where the location 112 has a deficit and needs power now) regarding the first vehicle based on a remaining battery amount of the first vehicle (see paragraph 10 where the battery of the vehicle is fully charged and is able to make it to the location 112 and provide power) and the power
consumption of the relief facility; and (see FIG. where the vehicle that is an electric vehicle is summoned to provide power to the facility 112 and see paragraph 69-72 where the user 112 communicates with a server to determine the needs of the user and can predict that the energy will be low and that power will be needed from the solar wind and the electric vehicles that can arrive and provide power)
determining the departure time of a second vehicle, (see paragraph 6-7 where a schedule for vehicles to arrive at the end user for charging can be computed) which is to arrive at the relief facility subsequent to the first vehicle, (see paragraph 23 where a first vehicle can arrive from 10 miles away and charge the end user 112 and then a second vehicle who is a 100 miles away can arrive after the first vehicle and provide power to the end user 112 in succession) by adding the power supply capability time of the first vehicle to the departure time of the first vehicle and subtracting a travel time of the
second vehicle to the relief facility”. (see claims 1-8 where the end user can include a surplus amount of power and does not need any and report this to a server but then can need power and can provide a request to the server and the server can call multiple vehicles to arrive at the end user 112 and provide a route from the current location to the end user node to commence charging and see paragraph 22-27 where a first vehicle can offer a first amount of power and the second vehicle can provide a second amount of power and a schedule can be provided for based on the distance the second and first vehicle are located to provide the desired amount of power to the end user home 112)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HASSAN with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HASSAN teaches that a charging facility112 can include an AI device for scheduling when there is a deficit of charge and when a charge is needed. The AI device can then schedule a number of electric vehicles to arrive and provide charging in succession. The device can provide a schedule for the charging and discharging of power to the end user based on the location of the vehicles and the departure time and the location of the second vehicle. This can provide charging to the end user 112 in succession when the ai forecasts that the power is required by the end user 112. See claims 1-8 and paragraph 22-27 and 40-44 of Hassan.
Claim 2 is cancelled.
Takeuchi discloses “...Claim 3. (Currently Amended) The power source relief server according to claim 1-eF 2, wherein processing circuitry determines the vehicle which is able to be dispatched on the basis of the power consumption, the relief request time, and the power source relief capability information for management target vehicles, and generates a relief plan for the vehicle”. (see specification that recites FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the power supply control device 15 according to the first embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, the power supply control device 15 includes an information acquisition unit 21, a suppliable power calculation unit 22, a request target determination unit 23, a power provision request unit 24, an average value calculation unit 25, a customer management unit 26, and A power allocation determination unit 27 is included.
The information acquisition unit 21 communicates with each mobile power storage device 14 by wireless communication, and acquires power storage device information including the current position of each mobile power storage device 14 and the remaining power storage.
The suppliable power calculation unit 22 is based on the current position and the remaining amount of power storage of each mobile power storage device 14 acquired by the information acquisition unit 21 and the power supply position where power should be supplied in an emergency. Moves to the power supply location, and calculates the suppliable power that is the power that can be supplied there.
For example, when the mobile power storage device 14 is an electric vehicle that uses the electric power stored in its own device for movement, the suppliable power calculation unit 22 determines the electric vehicle based on the current position and the feeding position of the electric vehicle. Calculates the power consumption that is consumed to move from the current position to the power supply position, and subtracts the movement power consumption from the current remaining power storage amount to calculate the suppliable power. The suppliable power calculation unit 22 holds map data, searches for a route from the current position of the electric vehicle to the power feeding position, and may use the power consumed when traveling on the route as the mobile power consumption.
The request target determining unit 23 determines the mobile power storage device 14 that is a target for requesting power supply based on the suppliable power of each mobile power storage device 14. The mobile power storage device 14 that is a target for requesting power supply is selected so that the total amount of power that can be supplied exceeds a predetermined total required power.
The power supply request unit 24 wirelessly communicates with the requested mobile power storage device 14 determined by the request target determination unit 23 and requests movement to the power supply position and power supply.
According to the present embodiment, the mobile power storage device 14 that moves to a desired power supply location, acquires the power that can be supplied there for each mobile power storage device 14, and determines the mobile power storage device 14 that requests power supply based on the power. Therefore, a desired amount of power can be supplied to a desired power supply location.)
Fujiwara teaches “...Claim 4. (Currently Amended) The power source relief server according to claim 1 , wherein the processing circuity is configured to acquire vehicle information including remaining battery amount information of a storage battery for power supply of each management target vehicle in management target vehicles including the vehicle and a position of each management target vehicle,
wherein the processing circuity is determines the vehicle from among the management target vehicles on the basis of a position of the relief facility and the vehicle information”. (see specification that recites The control unit 19 is connected to a communication unit 20, and the communication unit 20 exchanges information with the charging support control device 2 through a network 21 such as the Internet. Thereby, when the power failure of the said facility 10 generate | occur | produces, while the control part 19 supplies electric power to the backup apparatus installed in the said facility 10 from the backup storage battery 12, the information regarding a power failure generation to the charge assistance control apparatus 2, The facility power outage information including information on the remaining battery level of the backup storage battery 12 of the current facility 10 is transmitted. Further, in response to a request for the remaining battery amount information of the backup storage battery 12 from the charging support control device 2, the control unit 19 transmits the remaining battery amount information at that time.
The electric vehicle 30 has an in-vehicle storage battery 32 composed of a large-capacity power storage device as a drive source and can supply electric power from the in-vehicle storage battery 32 to the outside. As an example, PHV (plug-in hybrid vehicle) or EV ( Electric vehicles) will be adopted. The PHV converts the direct current of the in-vehicle storage battery 32 into alternating current by an inverter, supplies appropriate power to the drive motor and the generator at the time of engine start, and supplies the electric power obtained by the regenerative brake via the charging circuit 33. The storage battery 32 is charged. The EV converts the direct current of the in-vehicle storage battery 32 into alternating current by an inverter, supplies appropriate power to the drive motor, and charges the in-vehicle storage battery 32 from an external charger via the charging circuit 33.
The in-vehicle storage battery 32 is connected to an automobile control device 31 that controls charging / discharging of the in-vehicle storage battery 32. The vehicle control device 31 is configured by a general-purpose microcomputer and includes a control unit 34, a display unit 35, and a communication unit 36. The control unit 34 and the display unit 35 construct a general navigation system. Therefore, the control unit 34 has a GPS interface for acquiring the current position of the vehicle, a program for navigation, and the display unit 35 is a route from the current position of the vehicle to the target position, a required time, and the like. Is displayed.
The control unit 34 is connected to a communication unit 36, and the communication unit 36 exchanges information with the charging support control device 2 through the network 21 such as the Internet. Thereby, when a power failure occurs in any of the facilities 10 as will be described in detail later, in response to a request from the charging support control device 2, the vehicle information including the vehicle position information of the vehicle 30 is stored in the charging support control device. 2 to send.
The charging support control device 2 includes a general-purpose microcomputer, and includes a control unit 3, an input unit 4, a display unit 5, a communication unit 6, and a database 7. The control unit 3 is connected to the communication unit 6, and the communication unit 6 includes a facility control device 11 provided in each facility 10 and a vehicle control device 31 provided in each vehicle 30 via a network 21 such as the Internet. And exchange information with each other.
Thereby, when the facility power failure information is received from each facility control device 11, as will be described in detail later, the control unit 3 includes information on each backup storage battery 12 provided in each facility 10 held in the database 7 and Based on the information on the backup device provided in each facility 10, the information on the auxiliary power generation device 18, and the vehicle information received from each vehicle control device 31, the priority order of the backup storage batteries 12 to be charged is determined, The charging plan by the corresponding car 30 is performed according to the priority, and the guidance information to the charging facility where the backup storage battery 12 that performs the charging is provided is transmitted to the car control device 31 of the car 30.)
Fujiwara teaches “...Claim 5. (Original) The power source relief server according to claim 4, wherein the management target vehicle is an electric automobile that supplies power to the relief facility using a storage battery and is capable of self-propelling using the storage battery, and. (see specification that recites The control unit 19 is connected to a communication unit 20, and the communication unit 20 exchanges information with the charging support control device 2 through a network 21 such as the Internet. Thereby, when the power failure of the said facility 10 generate | occur | produces, while the control part 19 supplies electric power to the backup apparatus installed in the said facility 10 from the backup storage battery 12, the information regarding a power failure generation to the charge assistance control apparatus 2, The facility power outage information including information on the remaining battery level of the backup storage battery 12 of the current facility 10 is transmitted. Further, in response to a request for the remaining battery amount information of the backup storage battery 12 from the charging support control device 2, the control unit 19 transmits the remaining battery amount information at that time.
The electric vehicle 30 has an in-vehicle storage battery 32 composed of a large-capacity power storage device as a drive source and can supply electric power from the in-vehicle storage battery 32 to the outside. As an example, PHV (plug-in hybrid vehicle) or EV ( Electric vehicles) will be adopted. The PHV converts the direct current of the in-vehicle storage battery 32 into alternating current by an inverter, supplies appropriate power to the drive motor and the generator at the time of engine start, and supplies the electric power obtained by the regenerative brake via the charging circuit 33. The storage battery 32 is charged. The EV converts the direct current of the in-vehicle storage battery 32 into alternating current by an inverter, supplies appropriate power to the drive motor, and charges the in-vehicle storage battery 32 from an external charger via the charging circuit 33.
The in-vehicle storage battery 32 is connected to an automobile control device 31 that controls charging / discharging of the in-vehicle storage battery 32. The vehicle control device 31 is configured by a general-purpose microcomputer and includes a control unit 34, a display unit 35, and a communication unit 36. The control unit 34 and the display unit 35 construct a general navigation system. Therefore, the control unit 34 has a GPS interface for acquiring the current position of the vehicle, a program for navigation, and the display unit 35 is a route from the current position of the vehicle to the target position, a required time, and the like. Is displayed.
The control unit 34 is connected to a communication unit 36, and the communication unit 36 exchanges information with the charging support control device 2 through the network 21 such as the Internet. Thereby, when a power failure occurs in any of the facilities 10 as will be described in detail later, in response to a request from the charging support control device 2, the vehicle information including the vehicle position information of the vehicle 30 is stored in the charging support control device. 2 to send.
The charging support control device 2 includes a general-purpose microcomputer, and includes a control unit 3, an input unit 4, a display unit 5, a communication unit 6, and a database 7. The control unit 3 is connected to the communication unit 6, and the communication unit 6 includes a facility control device 11 provided in each facility 10 and a vehicle control device 31 provided in each vehicle 30 via a network 21 such as the Internet. And exchange information with each other.
Thereby, when the facility power failure information is received from each facility control device 11, as will be described in detail later, the control unit 3 includes information on each backup storage battery 12 provided in each facility 10 held in the database 7 and Based on the information on the backup device provided in each facility 10, the information on the auxiliary power generation device 18, and the vehicle information received from each vehicle control device 31, the priority order of the backup storage batteries 12 to be charged is determined, The charging plan by the corresponding car 30 is performed according to the priority, and the guidance information to the charging facility where the backup storage battery 12 that performs the charging is provided is transmitted to the car control device 31 of the car 30.)
wherein the processing circuity is calculates travel power consumption information of each of the management target vehicles on the basis of a position of each of the management target vehicles and a position of the relief facility, adjusts the power source relief capability information with the travel power consumption information, and determines the vehicle which is able to be dispatched on the basis of the adjusted power source relief capability information”. (see claims 1-9)
Fujiwara teaches “...Claim 6. (Original) The power source relief server according to claim 5, wherein the processing circuity is obtains a travel distance from the relief facility to the storage location on the basis of a storage location of the management target vehicle, and calculates the travel power consumption information inclusive of the travel distance”. (see claims 1-9 where the charging distance to the vehicles can be determined and the vehicle that is closest has the highest priority moves back first to the charging facility)
Claims 7-10 and 13-16 and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. sec. 103 as being unpatentable as obvious in view of Japanese Patent Pub. No.: JP 2013-183521 to Takeuchi that was filed in 2012 and in view of Japanese Patent Pub. No.: JP 2013-027163 to Fujiwara and in view of Japanese Patent Pub. No.: JP2020114051A to HIRANO that was filed in 2019 and in view of United States Patent Application Pub. No.: US20110246252A1 to UESUGI that was filed in 2010 and Hassan.
The primary reference is silent but HIRANO teaches “...Claim 7. (Currently Amended) The power source relief server according to claim 5 wherein the processing circuity obtains the power source relief capability information on the basis of discharge lower limit information in the storage battery for power supply of the management target vehicle”. (see claims 1-7 where based on the disaster level a number of electric vehicles are provided with a total number of electric power remaining to provide this to the facilitate to discharge the bower based on the power consumption speed)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
The primary reference is silent but HIRANO teaches “...Claim 8. (Currently Amended) The power source relief server according to claim 5, wherein the processing circuity is determines the vehicle which is able to be dispatched on the basis of a travel time obtained on the basis of the position of each of the vehicles and the position of the relief facility. (see specification where the disaster may provide that the vehicle cannot get to an area and then is dispatched to another shelter area; If the alternative route cannot be searched (No in step S204), the automatic driving control unit 55 changes the destination to another evacuation center 12 (S205). As shown in FIG. 9, when the route to the shelter 12 is already inaccessible, another shelter 12' is determined as the destination. The evacuation center 12 ′ may be delivered from the vehicle allocation server 22 in advance. That is, the vehicle allocation server 22 allocates a plurality of shelters to the electric vehicle 13 in advance. The second and subsequent shelters may be, for example, the shelters closest to the assigned shelter 12. Alternatively, a new shelter may be requested from the vehicle allocation server 22 at the time of changing the destination to another shelter 12'. Alternatively, the destination setting unit 52 may determine the next closest shelter 12 from one or more shelters registered in advance in the electric vehicle 13.)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
The primary reference is silent but HIRANO teaches “...Claim 9. (Currently Amended) The power source relief server according to according to claim 5 wherein the processing circuity generates a relief plan of each of the vehicles on the basis of the power supply capability time”. (see specification where the disaster may provide that the vehicle cannot get to an area and then is dispatched to another shelter area; If the alternative route cannot be searched (No in step S204), the automatic driving control unit 55 changes the destination to another evacuation center 12 (S205). As shown in FIG. 9, when the route to the shelter 12 is already inaccessible, another shelter 12' is determined as the destination. The evacuation center 12 ′ may be delivered from the vehicle allocation server 22 in advance. That is, the vehicle allocation server 22 allocates a plurality of shelters to the electric vehicle 13 in advance. The second and subsequent shelters may be, for example, the shelters closest to the assigned shelter 12. Alternatively, a new shelter may be requested from the vehicle allocation server 22 at the time of changing the destination to another shelter 12'. Alternatively, the destination setting unit 52 may determine the next closest shelter 12 from one or more shelters registered in advance in the electric vehicle 13.)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Hirano teaches “..Claim 10. (Currently Amended) The power source relief server according to claim 1 wherein, in a case where there are a plurality of relief facilities, priorities are allocated to the relief facilities, and (FIG. 11 is an example of a flowchart showing a procedure in which the vehicle allocation server 22 allocates the vehicle allocation according to the remaining power amount of the electric vehicle 13 of each shelter 12.
First, the vehicle communication unit 37 of the vehicle allocation server 22 determines whether or not it has received a return message (S401). If the determination in step S401 is Yes, the vehicle allocation unit 33 allocates the electric vehicle 13 to the shelter 12 (S402). Since the electric vehicle 13 transmits the position information, the shelter 12 can be easily specified. The electric vehicle 13 may be assigned in the same manner as in FIG. 7, and the electric vehicle 13 having a large remaining power amount is selected while giving priority to the distance. Since charging is already in progress, it is easy to select the electric vehicle 13 near the evacuation center 12.)
wherein the processing circuity generates a relief plan in accordance with the priority of each of the plurality of relief facilities. (see specification where the disaster may provide that the vehicle cannot get to an area and then is dispatched to another shelter area; If the alternative route cannot be searched (No in step S204), the automatic driving control unit 55 changes the destination to another evacuation center 12 (S205). As shown in FIG. 9, when the route to the shelter 12 is already inaccessible, another shelter 12' is determined as the destination. The evacuation center 12 ′ may be delivered from the vehicle allocation server 22 in advance. That is, the vehicle allocation server 22 allocates a plurality of shelters to the electric vehicle 13 in advance. The second and subsequent shelters may be, for example, the shelters closest to the assigned shelter 12. Alternatively, a new shelter may be requested from the vehicle allocation server 22 at the time of changing the destination to another shelter 12'. Alternatively, the destination setting unit 52 may determine the next closest shelter 12 from one or more shelters registered in advance in the electric vehicle 13.)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Claim 11 and 12 are cancelled.
Hirano teaches “...Claim 13 (New) The power source relief server according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuity is configured to acquire vehicle information including remaining battery amount information of a storage battery for power supply of each management target vehicle in management target vehicles including the vehicle and a position of each management target vehicle,
wherein the relief plan generation unit determines the vehicle from among the management target vehicles on the basis of a position of the relief facility and the vehicle information. (See claims 1-12 where the vehicle can determine it has power and there is a disaster and then can provide a message to move to the facility where the disaster occurred and now there are larger disaster and more vehicles are required and a first vehicle can provide a message it has no power and it can summon a new vehicle for discharging)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Hirano teaches “...Claim 14 (New) The power source relief server according to claim 6, wherein the processing circuity obtains the power source relief capability information on the basis of discharge lower limit information in the storage battery for power supply of the management target vehicle. (See claims 1-12 where the vehicle can determine it has power and there is a disaster and then can provide a message to move to the facility where the disaster occurred and now there are larger disaster and more vehicles are required and a first vehicle can provide a message it has no power and it can summon a new vehicle for discharging)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Hiran teaches “...Claim 15 (New) The power source relief server according to claim 6, wherein the processing circuity determines the vehicle which is able to be dispatched on the basis of a travel time obtained on the basis of the position of each of the vehicles and the position of the relief facility”. (See specification that recites automatic driving control unit 55 appropriately determines whether or not there is an inaccessible portion on the route (S203). A supplementary description will be given with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B of places that cannot be passed along the route. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating some examples of places that cannot be passed along the route. FIG. 9A shows a state where the route to the shelter 12 is closed due to flooding of the river. FIG. 9B shows a state where the route to the shelter 12 is flooded. FIG. 9C shows a state in which a landslide has occurred on the route to the shelter 12.
In these cases, the automatic driving control unit 55 determines that the sensor unit 64 cannot pass the route. In addition to the determination by the sensor unit 64, the determination may be made by receiving the road closure information from the vehicle allocation server 22.
Returning to FIG. 8, when the determination in step S203 is Yes, the route search unit 54 searches for a detour route and determines whether or not the detour route could be searched (S204). The detour route may be acquired from the vehicle allocation server 22.
When the detour route can be searched (Yes in step S204), the automatic driving control unit 55 starts moving on the detour route (S209).
If the alternative route cannot be searched (No in step S204), the automatic driving control unit 55 changes the destination to another evacuation center 12 (S205). As shown in FIG. 9, when the route to the shelter 12 is already inaccessible, another shelter 12' is determined as the destination. The evacuation center 12 ′ may be delivered from the vehicle allocation server 22 in advance. That is, the vehicle allocation server 22 allocates a plurality of shelters to the electric vehicle 13 in advance. The second and subsequent shelters may be, for example, the shelters closest to the assigned shelter 12. Alternatively, a new shelter may be requested from the vehicle allocation server 22 at the time of changing the destination to another shelter 12'. Alternatively, the destination setting unit 52 may determine the next closest shelter 12 from one or more shelters registered in advance in the electric vehicle 13.
While moving, the automatic driving control unit 55 determines whether or not the user has arrived at the shelter 12 based on the position information (S206). Until the evacuation center 12 is reached (No in S206), the processes from step S203 are repeated. )
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Hirano teaches “..Claim 16 (New) The power source relief server according to claim 7, wherein the processing circuity determines the vehicle which is able to be dispatched on the basis of a travel time obtained on the basis of the position of each of the vehicles and the position of the relief facility”. (See specification that recites automatic driving control unit 55 appropriately determines whether or not there is an inaccessible portion on the route (S203). A supplementary description will be given with reference to FIGS. 9A and 9B of places that cannot be passed along the route. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating some examples of places that cannot be passed along the route. FIG. 9A shows a state where the route to the shelter 12 is closed due to flooding of the river. FIG. 9B shows a state where the route to the shelter 12 is flooded. FIG. 9C shows a state in which a landslide has occurred on the route to the shelter 12.
In these cases, the automatic driving control unit 55 determines that the sensor unit 64 cannot pass the route. In addition to the determination by the sensor unit 64, the determination may be made by receiving the road closure information from the vehicle allocation server 22.
Returning to FIG. 8, when the determination in step S203 is Yes, the route search unit 54 searches for a detour route and determines whether or not the detour route could be searched (S204). The detour route may be acquired from the vehicle allocation server 22.
When the detour route can be searched (Yes in step S204), the automatic driving control unit 55 starts moving on the detour route (S209).
If the alternative route cannot be searched (No in step S204), the automatic driving control unit 55 changes the destination to another evacuation center 12 (S205). As shown in FIG. 9, when the route to the shelter 12 is already inaccessible, another shelter 12' is determined as the destination. The evacuation center 12 ′ may be delivered from the vehicle allocation server 22 in advance. That is, the vehicle allocation server 22 allocates a plurality of shelters to the electric vehicle 13 in advance. The second and subsequent shelters may be, for example, the shelters closest to the assigned shelter 12. Alternatively, a new shelter may be requested from the vehicle allocation server 22 at the time of changing the destination to another shelter 12'. Alternatively, the destination setting unit 52 may determine the next closest shelter 12 from one or more shelters registered in advance in the electric vehicle 13.
While moving, the automatic driving control unit 55 determines whether or not the user has arrived at the shelter 12 based on the position information (S206). Until the evacuation center 12 is reached (No in S206), the processes from step S203 are repeated. )
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Claim 17 is cancelled.
Hirano teaches “’...Claim 18 (New) The power source relief server according to claim 3, wherein the processing circuity generates a relief plan of each of the vehicles on the basis of the power supply capability time. (see claims 1-12 where the vehicle can understand it has no more power and then summons a second vehicle to discharge and send to the plant and then more vehicles can be provided when the situation is more serious)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Hirano teaches “...Claim 19 (New) The power source relief server according to 4, wherein the processing circuity generates a relief plan of each of the vehicles on the basis of the power supply capability time. (see claims 1-12 where the vehicle can understand it has no more power and then summons a second vehicle to discharge and send to the plant and then more vehicles can be provided when the situation is more serious)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Hirano teaches “...Claim 20 (New) The power source relief server according to claim 5, wherein the processing circuity generates a relief plan of each of the vehicles on the basis of the power supply capability time. (see claims 1-12 where the vehicle can understand it has no more power and then summons a second vehicle to discharge and send to the plant and then more vehicles can be provided when the situation is more serious)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present disclosure to combine the teachings of HIRANO with the disclosure of TAKEUCHI with a reasonable expectation of success since HIRANO teaches that a facility can include a power supply failure due to an event. The electric vehicles can be summoned by the facility based on the power failure and some vehicle can acknowledge that they have low or no power. See claims 1-12. In this instance, the vehicle can order that another vehicle may 1. Have a lot of power 2 be close to the facility and 3. The first vehicle has a power below a lower limit. Then an order for the second vehicle to provide power and move to the emergency location. This can provide also other vehicles to move to the location also. See claims 1-12. This can provide a high amount of power for the facility when there is no other power to be found.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JEAN PAUL CASS whose telephone number is (571)270-1934. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 7 am to 7 pm; Saturday 10 am to 12 noon.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Scott A. Browne can be reached at 571-270-0151. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/JEAN PAUL CASS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3666
Prosecution Insights