DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim (6) is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim (6) contains recitation “communication p with” as being indefinite for to particularly point out and distinctly the claimed subject matter. Correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) (1-17) is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a-1) as being anticipated by Batten et al (10682967, hereinafter- Batten).
Regarding claim 1: Batten discloses an electronic license plate (as depicted in figure 1 of Batten and see associated descriptions for details) a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has an active connection to a terminal of a user of the motor vehicle (as depicted in figure 3 of Batten and see associated descriptions for details), wherein the electronic license plate comprising:
an output configured to provide license plate information (col. 2, lines 36-39 of Batten);
a communication interface configured for wireless communication (col. 2, lines 55-64 of Batten);
a data processing device configured to operate the license plate (col. 2, lines 42-55 of Batten);
wherein the communication interface is configured to receive identification information from the terminal (col. 2, lines 45-55 of Batten); and
the data processing device is configured to determine the license plate information based at least in part on the identification information and to operate the output to output the license plate information (col. 3, lines 6-25 of Batten). Thus, Batten disclosed an electronic plate with wireless data links of the vehicle and registration driver.
Regarding claim 2: wherein the identification information includes a key assigned to the terminal or the user, and the data processing device is configured to match the key (col. 6, lines 46-51 of Batten).
Regarding claim 3: wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with an external server and to receive matching information, wherein the matching information is used by the data processing device to match the key (col. 9, lines 38-56 of Batten).
Regarding claim 4: wherein the data processing device is configured to process identification information associated with a number of different terminals, a number of different users, or a number of different terminals and users (col. 9, lines 33-41 of Batten).
Regarding claim 5: wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with an external server and to receive matching information, wherein the matching information is used by the data processing device to match the key (col. 9, lines 33-41 of Batten).
Regarding claim 6: wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate p with a motor vehicle control unit and to output at least one of the group consisting of a lock signal to lock a vehicle function and an unlock signal to unlock the vehicle function (col. 27, lines 49-65 of Batten).
Regarding claim 7: An electronic license plate as claimed in 1, wherein the data processing device is configured to process identification information associated with a number of different terminals, a number of different users, or a number of different terminals and users (col. 9, lines 33-41 of Batten).
Regarding claim 8: The electronic license plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with an external server and to receive matching information (col. 9, lines 33-41 of Batten).
Regarding claim 9: The electronic license plate as claimed in claim 8, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a motor vehicle control unit and to output at least one of the group consisting of a lock signal to lock a vehicle function and an unlock signal to unlock the vehicle function (col. 27, lines 49-65 of Batten).
Regarding claim 10: The electronic license plate as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication interface is configured to communicate with a motor vehicle control unit and to output at least one of the group consisting of a lock signal to lock a vehicle function and an unlock signal to unlock the vehicle function (col. 27, lines 49-65 of Batten and see discussion of claim 9).
Regarding claim 11: Batten discloses a procedure method for the operation of an electronic license plate for a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle has an active connection to a terminal of a user of the motor vehicle, wherein the method includes: receiving identification information from the terminal; determining license plate information based at least in part on the identification information; and causing output of the license plate information using an output of the electronic license plate (col. 2, lines 36-64 and col. 3, lines 6-25 of Batten).
Regarding claim 12: wherein the identification information includes a key assigned to the terminal or the user, and wherein determining the license plate information includes matching the key to a key associated with the electronic license plate (col. 6, lines 46-51 and col. 9, lines 33-56 of Batten).
Regarding claim 13: A non-transitory computer-readable medium, comprising instructions which, when executed by a data processing device, cause it to carry out the method as claimed in claim 11 (col. 40, lines 12-38 of Batten).
Regarding claim 14: Figure 11 of Batten shows a motor vehicle containing the electronic license plate as claimed in claim 1 (see associate descriptions for details).
Regarding claim 15: Figure 11 of Batten shows as claimed in claim 14 wherein the motor vehicle has an outer skin and an on-board electrical system, and the electronic license plate is integrated into the outer skin (see associate descriptions for details).
Regarding claim 16: Figure 11 of Batten shows as claimed in claim 15 wherein the electronic license plate can be operated by means of the on-board electrical system (see associate descriptions for details).
Regarding claim 17: Figure 11 of Batten shows as claimed in claim 14, wherein the motor vehicle has an on-board electrical system, and the electronic license plate can be operated by means of the on-board electrical system (see associated descriptions for details).
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Belegu (9663043), Chen (6027235), Cunningham (2012/0365479), Flick (6720868), Knafou et al (12045105), Koljonen (6868313) and Mayo (7210830) are cited for electronic plate with wireless for linking data of own.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to K. Wong whose telephone number is (571) 272-7566.
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, D. Goins can be reached at (571) 272-2957. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/K. WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2689
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