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 Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: operation unit, first control unit, second control unit, authentication unit, management unit, first providing unit, second providing unit in claims 1-10.
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
In the published specification in paragraphs [0041]-[0042] and [0050] shows The CPU 202 performs overall control of respective devices connected to a system bus 212.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1-3 and 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Asano (US 2006/0195495 A1).
With respect to Claim 1, Asano’495 shows an image processing apparatus (multifunction peripheral 10c described in paragraph [0116] as a printer, the plurality of embodiments of the peripheral will generally be referred to as 10) comprising: at least one memory (figure 3 115, 116, and/or 117) storing executable instructions (paragraph [0079] describes multifunction peripheral 10a (figure 2) to comprise memory used by CPU 114 to execute programs); and at least one processor (114) that is configured, upon execution of the stored instructions ([0079]),
to operate as a first server (Figure 10 10c comprises display screen sharing client to connect with external device personal computer 20c display screen sharing server 22 housed in the external device 20c as described in figure 5 and paragraphs [0073] and [0090] to share the display screen via authentication. Figure 27 and paragraphs [0205]-[0206] describes the alternative where the display sharing server is housed in the image processing apparatus. Additionally, figure 32 depicts terminal server 187 housed in multifunction peripheral/image processing apparatus operated in accordance with figures 33-34. The office action will utilize figure 32 and 34 for description of the first server.) configured to
provide a screen information (figure 33 S182 [0246]) corresponding to an operation screen displayed on an operation unit (figure 3 111) of the image processing apparatus (10) to an external apparatus (20) connected to the image processing apparatus (10) via a network (30) and
receive from, the external apparatus (20) that uses the screen information and is displaying a screen corresponding to the operation screen, operation information (S183 and S185) corresponding to an operation performed on the screen ([0246]-[0247] to display operations performed at the operation panel or remote computer); and
a second server (Figure 10 web server 52) that is configured to provide a function of operating the image processing apparatus (10) from the external apparatus (20) and is different from the first server (187) ([0116]-[0117] activates a process/function in response to a HTTP based request with a specified URL which is different from the display sharing operation of the first server 187),
wherein the first server (187) provides identification information ([0090]-[0091] display screen sharing can use authentication) to the external apparatus (20) which is used for calling up, from the second server (52), a function that performs an alternative operation ([0116]-[0117]) which corresponds to an operation available on the operation screen (111) provided by the first server (187) to the external apparatus (20).
With respect to Claim 2, Asano’495 shows the image processing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the first server (187) is a VNC server (paragraph [0093] complying with VNC), wherein the second server (52) is a Web server (52), and wherein the identification information is a URL for causing the Web server to perform processing that performs the alternative operation (paragraphs [0116]-[0118] proxy print service using URL).
With respect to Claim 3, Asano’495 shows the image processing apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein execution of the stored instructions further configures the at least one processor to: perform user authentication; and manage a login session of an authorized user, wherein the first server adds information that identifies a managed login session to the identification information (paragraphs [0090]-[0091], S12).
With respect to Claims 10-11, rejection analogous to those presented for claim 1, are applicable.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 4-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Asano (US 2006/0195495 A1) in view of Ohtsuka (US 2007/0130251 A1).
With respect to Claim 4, Asano’495 system (Figure 10 information processing system 1c, paragraph [0115] describes figure 10 to be similar to figure 2 with the addition of the proxy print service 50) comprising:
an image processing apparatus (multifunction peripheral 10c described in paragraph [0116] as a printer, the plurality of embodiments of the peripheral will generally be referred to as 10); and
an external apparatus (figure 10 personal computer 20c, but will generally be referred to as 20), wherein the image processing apparatus (10) and the external apparatus (20) communicate (30) with each other (Paragraph [0127] describes 10 and 20 to be provided on network 30 (describing communication)),
the image processing apparatus (10) including, at least one memory (figure 3 115, 116, and/or 117) storing executable instructions (paragraph [0079] describes multifunction peripheral 10a (figure 2) to comprise memory used by CPU 114 to execute programs); and
at least one processor (114) that is configured, upon execution of the stored instructions ([0079]), to operate as
a first server (Figure 10 10c comprises display screen sharing client to connect with external device personal computer 20c display screen sharing server 22 housed in the external device 20c as described in figure 5 and paragraphs [0073] and [0090] to share the display screen via authentication. Figure 27 and paragraphs [0205]-[0206] describes the alternative where the display sharing server is housed in the image processing apparatus. Additionally, figure 32 depicts terminal server 187 housed in multifunction peripheral/image processing apparatus operated in accordance with figures 33-34. The office action will utilize figure 32 and 34 for description of the first server.) configured to
provide a screen information (figure 33 S182 [0246]) corresponding to an operation screen displayed on an operation unit (figure 3 111) of the image processing apparatus (10) to an external apparatus (20) connected to the image processing apparatus (10) via a network (30) and
receive from, the external apparatus (20) that uses the screen information and is displaying a screen corresponding to the operation screen, operation information (S183 and S185) corresponding to an operation performed on the screen ([0246]-[0247] to display operations performed at the operation panel or remote computer); and
a second server (Figure 10 web server 52) that is configured to provide a function of operating the image processing apparatus (10) from the external apparatus (20) and is different from the first server (187) ([0116]-[0117] activates a process/function in response to a HTTP based request with a specified URL which is different from the display sharing operation of the first server 187),
wherein the first server (187) provides identification information ([0090]-[0091] display screen sharing can use authentication) to the external apparatus (20) which is used for calling up, from the second server (52), a function that performs an alternative operation ([0116]-[0117]) which corresponds to an operation available on the operation screen (111) provided by the first server (187) to the external apparatus (20),
the external apparatus (figure 4 20) including,
at least one memory (201, 202, and/or 203) storing executable instructions ([0085]); and
at least one processor (204) that is configured, upon execution of the stored instructions ([0086]), to operate as
a first control unit (206) configured to display an operation screen ([0087]) based on the screen information provided by the first server (187) and transmit, in response to an operation performed on the operation screen (figure 34 S183), an operation request (S186 or S187) based on the operation to the first server (187),
a second control unit (21) configured to call up a function of the second server (52) to enable an operation ([0116]-[0117] a process in response to an HTTP request from a client/external computer 20 specified URL) of the image processing apparatus (10), [ ],
the second control unit (21) being further configured to call up a function ([0116]-[0117]) of the second server (52) [with the notified identification information].
Asano’495 does not specifically disclose the first control unit being further configured to notify the second control unit of identification information received from the first server, the second control unit being further configured to call up a function of the second server with the notified identification information.
Ohtsuka’251 discloses the first control unit being further configured to notify the second control unit of identification information received from the first server, the second control unit being further configured to call up a function of the second server with the notified identification information (Paragraph [0111] describes an authenticating processes, figure 3, is performed between a client terminal (corresponding to Asano 20) and a server 11a (corresponding to Asano 10 comprising server 187) for steps S1-S4; when a command for making a connection with another server 11n (Asano 52) for executing an application (call up a function), an authentication request is not transmitted because of the same network 10 (Asano 30) and the another server unit 11n may receive the stored authentication information).
At the time of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claim invention to modify Asano’495 to include the first control unit being further configured to notify the second control unit of identification information received from the first server, the second control unit being further configured to call up a function of the second server with the notified identification information method taught by Ohtsuka’251. The suggestion/motivation for doing so would have been to improve the system’s ability to be able to allow notifying the second control unit of identification information received from the first server, the second control unit being further configured to call up a function of the second server with the notified identification information yielding the predictable results of reducing authentication requests when switching servers (paragraph [0111]).
With respect to Claim 5, the combination of Asano’495 and Ohtsuka’251 shows the system according to claim 4, wherein the first control unit (in Asano’495: 206) displays identification information (in Asano’495: paragraphs [0090]-[0091] authentication information to be displayed on client) received from the first server (in Asano’495: 187) (in Ohtsuka’251: paragraph [111]) and notifies the second control unit (in Asano’495: 21) of the identification information in response to a user instruction for the identification information (in Asano’495: paragraphs [0090]-[0091] user inputs password for authentication).
With respect to Claim 6, the combination of Asano’495 and Ohtsuka’251 shows the system according to claim 4, wherein the first server (in Asano’495: 187) is a VNC server (in Asano’495: paragraph [0093] complying with VNC), wherein the second server is a Web server (in Asano’495: 52), wherein the identification information is a URL for causing the Web server to perform processing that performs the alternative operation (in Asano’495: paragraphs [0116]-[0118] proxy print service using URL), wherein the first control unit is a VNC client (in Asano’495: figures 27-29), and wherein the second server is a Web browser (in Asano’495: paragraph [0117]-[0118]).
With respect to Claim 7, the combination of Asano’495 and Ohtsuka’251 shows the system according to claim 6, wherein the first control unit is provided by an application executed on the Web browser (in Asano’495: a client of the proxy print service specifies the URL of a proxy print service (application) by use of a Web browser to utilize the service).
With respect to Claim 8, the combination of Asano’495 and Ohtsuka’251 shows the system according to any one of claims 4, wherein execution of the stored instructions further configures the image processing apparatus to operate as an authentication unit configured to perform user authentication and a management unit configured to manage a login session of a user authorized by the authentication unit, and wherein the first server adds information for identifying a login session managed by the management unit to the identification information (in Asano’495: paragraphs [0090]-[0091], S12).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Kitahashi et al. (US 2022/0279090 A1): in paragraphs [0007] and [0009].
Ban (US 2022/0174171 A1) shows in figures 1, 5 and 8 and paragraphs [0082]-[0089] and [0103] redirect URL 56 corresponds to the first URL information, the redirect server 4 corresponds to the first external apparatus, the application URLs 76 and 77 correspond to the second URL information, and the application server 5 corresponds to the second external apparatus.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to IRIANA CRUZ whose telephone number is (571)270-3246. The examiner can normally be reached 10-6.
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, Akwasi M. Sarpong can be reached at (571) 270-3438. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/IRIANA CRUZ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2681
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