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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Keirstead (US 20150359075) in view of Reckler (US 20150296599).
Regarding claim 1, A sentry device, comprising: a beacon module; (Load Controller, Keirstead: figure 2)
a detecting module configured to perform a detecting operation and generate a detecting signal; (“The remote switch device 110 may instead comprise a sensor device for detecting a state of another fixture or an entrance (e.g., a contact or contactless sensor detecting whether a door or window is opened or closed), or detecting environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, moisture, ambient light level), which may be used to control operation of an electrically-controlled fixture or appliance, such as a light fixture, entertainment system, humidifier, air conditioner, and the like. The sensor device would then transmit state or condition data to a load controller associated with the fixture or appliance for action, or else will process the detected state or condition to identify a command to be sent to the load controller.” Keirstead: column 73)
and a processing module configured to generate a beacon signal upon receiving the detecting signal, and transmit the beacon signal to a lighting device via the beacon module; wherein the processing module generates a check value based on a serial number representing the detecting operation, a group identifier, a sentry identifier and a random code, and further generates the beacon signal comprising the serial number, the group identifier, the sentry identifier and the check value, (“The association table 340 includes, for each remote switch device 200 with which the load controller 300 is paired, a switch identifier 342, a device key 344, and a rolling code 346. The data stored in the association table 340 thus mirrors select data stored in the paired remote switch device(s) 200, although as explained below, the rolling code 228 and 346 may not be synchronized at all times. Also, as further explained below, the device key 344 and the rolling code 346 are used to provide a level of security to the wireless light switch system 100. However, it is sufficient, albeit less secure, for the association table 340 to store only the switch identifiers 342 for the paired remote switch devices 200.” Keirstead: paragraph 80)
whereby the lighting device operates according to the beacon signal. (“Each remote switch device 110 is paired with, and can be operated to control, one or more corresponding load controllers 120 over the home area network 150. Each load controller 120 in turn controls one or more lighting devices, represented schematically as loads 10a-10n. In this embodiment, each load controller 120 is wired to its corresponding load or loads 10a-10n; thus, in the example of FIG. 1, controller 120a is wired to a single light fixture 10a comprising a single light source; controller 120b is wired to a single light fixture 10b comprising multiple light sources; and controller 120n is wired to multiple light fixtures 10n” Keirstead: paragraph 66)
The claimed so as to detect a moving object is not specifically disclosed by Keirstead. Reckler discloses a system for controlling lighting that teaches using a motion sensor for detecting movement and activating lighting in response (“The first system may include three motion sensor battery powered LED spotlights and three motion sensor battery powered LED path lights. The second system may include two motion sensor battery powered LED spotlights and two light bulbs. When motion is detected by any of the spotlights or path lights in the group, a message is sent to all lights in the group to turn ON almost simultaneously” Reckler: paragraph 33). Modifying the sensors of Keirstead to include motion detection would increase the overall functionality of the system. Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to modify Keirstead according to Reckler.
Regarding claim 2, The sentry device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing module periodically transmits the beacon signal to the lighting device several times. (“As long as motion is detected by any light in the group, a message will be sent periodically keeping all lights in the group ON” Reckler: paragraph 33)
Regarding claim 3, The sentry device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the processing module enters a sleep state after the beacon signal is transmitted. (“At 610, after a timeout period following initialization, the remote switch device 110 enters a sleep mode while it awaits a user input, in order to conserve power” Keirstead: paragraph 89)
Regarding claim 4, The sentry device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing module generates the random code according to the serial number. (“The association table 340 includes, for each remote switch device 200 with which the load controller 300 is paired, a switch identifier 342, a device key 344, and a rolling code 346. The data stored in the association table 340 thus mirrors select data stored in the paired remote switch device(s) 200, although as explained below, the rolling code 228 and 346 may not be synchronized at all times. Also, as further explained below, the device key 344 and the rolling code 346 are used to provide a level of security to the wireless light switch system 100. However, it is sufficient, albeit less secure, for the association table 340 to store only the switch identifiers 342 for the paired remote switch devices 200.” Keirstead: paragraph 80)
Regarding claim 5, The sentry device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the beacon signal further comprises a customized beacon value and an organization identifier. (“The association table 340 includes, for each remote switch device 200 with which the load controller 300 is paired, a switch identifier 342, a device key 344, and a rolling code 346. The data stored in the association table 340 thus mirrors select data stored in the paired remote switch device(s) 200, although as explained below, the rolling code 228 and 346 may not be synchronized at all times. Also, as further explained below, the device key 344 and the rolling code 346 are used to provide a level of security to the wireless light switch system 100. However, it is sufficient, albeit less secure, for the association table 340 to store only the switch identifiers 342 for the paired remote switch devices 200.” Keirstead: paragraph 80)
Regarding claim 6, the claim is interpreted and rejected as claim 1 stated above.
Regarding claim 7, the claim is interpreted and rejected as claim 2 stated above.
Regarding claim 8, the claim is interpreted and rejected as claim 3 stated above.
Regarding claim 9, the claim is interpreted and rejected as claim 4 stated above.
Regarding claim 10, the claim is interpreted and rejected as claim 5 stated above.
Conclusion
Related Art:
US 11523488 B1 – wireless control of lighting with motion detection
US 20170055333 A1 – wireless control of lighting with motion detection
US 20120086560 A1 – wireless control of lighting with motion detection
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRAVIS R HUNNINGS whose telephone number is (571)272-3118. The examiner can normally be reached M: 6-7:30a, 9:30a-4:45p, 8:30-10p; T: 6-7:30a, 12-4p, 7:30p-12a; W: 6-7:30a, 9:30a-4:45p; H: 6-7:30a, 8:15a-4:45p; F: 12:00-4:45p.
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, Davetta 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.
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.
/TRAVIS R HUNNINGS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2689
Prosecution Insights