DETAILED ACTION
This communication is responsive to the application filed on 03/24/2025.
Claim 1 has been cancelled.
Claims 2-14 have newly added.
Claims 2-14 are presented for examination.
References in applicant's IDS form 1449 received on 06/24/2025 have been considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 2-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. Specifically, claims 2-14 are directed to an abstract idea without additional elements amounting to significantly more than the abstract idea.
With respect to Step 2A Prong One of the framework, claim 1 recites an abstract idea. Claim 1 includes elements for “scanning, by a master node associated with a container, for advertising packets that are broadcasted from peripheral nodes using transmitting, by the master node, a request to ”
The limitations above recite an abstract idea. More particularly, the elements above recite certain methods of organizing human activity related to managing personal behavior or relationships or interactions between people because the elements describe master node associated with a container to communicated assets information. Further, the elements above recite mental processes because the elements describe observations or evaluations that could be practically performed in the mind or by using pen and paper. As a result, claim 1 recites an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One.
Claims 3-14 further describe the process for selecting and viewing organizational information and further recite certain methods of organizing human activity and/ mental processes for the same reasons as stated above. As a result, claims 3-14 recite an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One.
With respect to Step 2A Prong Two of the framework, claim 2 does not include additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application. Claim 2 includes additional elements that do not recite an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One. The additional elements include wireless communications system and server. When considered in view of the claim as a whole, the additional elements do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because the computing device amounts to no more than a general computing component that is used as a tool to perform the recited abstract idea, and the step for gathering information is an insignificant extra solution activity to the recited abstract idea. As a result, claim 2 does not include any additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application under Step 2A Prong Two.
Claims 3-14 do not include any additional elements beyond those included with respect to the claims from which claims 3-14 depend. As a result, claims 3-14 do not include any additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application under Step 2A Prong Two for the same reasons as stated above.
With respect to Step 2B of the framework, claim 2 does not include additional elements amounting to significantly more than the abstract idea. As noted above, claim 2 includes additional elements that do not recite an abstract idea under Step 2A Prong One. The additional elements include a computing device and a step for gathering information. The additional elements do not amount to significantly more than the recited abstract idea because the additional elements the computing device amounts to no more than a general computing component that is used as a tool to perform the recited abstract idea, and the step for gathering information is a well-understood, routine, and conventional computer function in view of MPEP 2105.06(d)(II). Further, looking at the additional elements as an ordered combination adds nothing that is not already present when considering the additional elements individually. As a result, claim 2 does not include any additional elements that amount to significantly more than the recited abstract idea under Step 2B.
Claims 3-14 do not include any additional elements beyond those included with respect to the claims from which claims 3-14 depend. As a result, claims 3-14 do not include any additional elements that amount to significantly more than the recited abstract idea under Step 2B for the same reasons as stated above.
Therefore, the claims are directed to an abstract idea without additional elements amounting to significantly more than the abstract idea. Accordingly, claims 2-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as being directed to non-statutory subject matter.
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 –
Claims 2-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Skaaksrud “US 2015/0349917 A1” (Skaaksrud).
Regarding Claim 2: A method comprising:
scanning, by a master node associated with a container, for advertising packets that are broadcasted from peripheral nodes using a first wireless communication system of the master node (at least see Skaaksrud Abstract; Figs. 1-2; [0016]-[0019]);
receiving, by the master node, a first advertising packet from a first peripheral node using the first wireless communication system (at least see Skaaksrud Abstract; Figs. 6-7; [0155] and [0925]; note : “[1138] A variety of enhanced embodiments may be achieved with a magnetically actuated node. While nodes communicate through their respective communication interfaces via conventional electronic (or electromagnetic waves) signals (such as with Bluetooth® enabled communications or NFC for short range communications and WiFi for medium/longer range communications) another medium of control and communication for a node relates to magnetic fields and, more specifically, to detecting a change in a magnetic field in the proximate environment of a node. In various embodiments disclosed below, a magnetic switch (e.g., a reed switch) may be deployed as part of a node's peripheral circuitry and may be used to alter the operation of a management function for the node.”);
determining, by the master node, a presence of a first asset in a vicinity of the container, the first asset associated with the first peripheral node based on the received first advertising packet (at least see Skaaksrud Abstract; Figs. 11-12; [0002]-[0003]);
transmitting, by the master node, a request to a server to associate the first peripheral node and the master node (at least see Skaaksrud Abstract; Figs. 5-6 and 59; [0135]).
Regarding Claim 3: The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving, by the master node, a second advertising packet from a second peripheral node using the first wireless communication system; determining, by the master node, a presence of a second asset in a vicinity of the container, the second asset associated with the second peripheral node based on the received second advertising packet; transmitting, by the master node, a request to a server to associate the second peripheral node and the master node (at least see Skaaksrud Abstract; Fig. 7; [0180]).
Regarding Claim 4: The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving, by the master node, a first authorization from the server to associate the first peripheral node with the second peripheral node with a first group; and associating, by the master node, the first peripheral node and the second peripheral node with the first group (at least see Skaaksrud Abstract; Figs. 1-2; [0016]-[0019]).
Regarding Claim 5: The method of claim 4, wherein the server registers a first group identifier to the master node, the first peripheral node, and the second peripheral node (at least see Skaaksrud [0333]).
Regarding Claim 6: The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving, by the master node, a third advertising packet from a third peripheral node using the first wireless communication system at a third time later than a time when the master node receives the first authorization from the server; determining, by the master node, a presence of a third asset in a vicinity of the container, the third asset associated with the third peripheral node based on the received third advertising packet; transmitting, by the master node, a request to a server to associate the third peripheral node and the master node (at least see Skaaksrud [0342]).
Regarding Claim 7: The method of claim 6, further comprising: receiving, by the master node, a second authorization from the server to associate the third peripheral node with the first group; and associating, by the master node, the third peripheral node with the first group (at least see Skaaksrud [0426]).
Regarding Claim 8: The method of claim 4, wherein the first authorization is transmitted by the server in response to the server determining that the first asset and the second asset are intended to be shipped together (at least see Skaaksrud [1322]).
Regarding Claim 9: The method of claim 1, wherein the server authorizes the container and the first asset to be shipped (at least see Skaaksrud [0219]).
Regarding Claim 10: The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining, by the master node, a location of the container based on geolocation data obtained using a second wireless communication system of the master node; and determining, by the master node, a location of the first asset and the master node based on a signal strength of advertising packets received from the first peripheral node and the determined location of the container; and transmitting, by the master node, the determined locations of the container and the first asset to the server (at least see Skaaksrud [0148]).
Regarding Claim 11: The method of claim 1, further comprising: collecting, by the master node, sensor data from the first peripheral node; and transmitting, by the master node, the collected sensor data to the server (at least see Skaaksrud Abstract; Figs. 61; [0162]).
Regarding Claim 12: The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the master node, sensor data; processing, by the master node, the received sensor data; and transmitting, by the master node, the processed sensor data to the server (at least see Skaaksrud Abstract; [0179]).
Regarding Claim 13: The method of claim 4, further comprising: detecting, by the master node, that the second asset has been physically separated from members of the first group; determining, by the master node, that the separation of the second asset from the first group was improper; and alerting, by the master node, the server that the second asset has been physically separated from the first group (at least see Skaaksrud [0136]).
Regarding Claim 14: The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving, by the master node, advertising packets from the first peripheral node indicating that the second asset has been physically separated from the first group; in response, monitoring, by the master node, signal strength of advertising packets from the second peripheral node; determining, by the master node, that the second asset has been physically separated from the first group, based on the monitored signal strength; and issuing, by the master node, an alert (at least see Skaaksrud Fig. 74; [1322]).
Relevant Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon, which is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure, are cited in the Notice of Reference Cited form (PT0-892).
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FATEH M OBAID whose telephone number is (571)270-7121. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M to 4:30 P.M.
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/FATEH M OBAID/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3627
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