DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1, 8, 15 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 6 and 11 of U. S. Patent No. 12081809. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claim 1 of Patent 12081809 teaches all the limitations of claim 1 of the instant application except for “determining, by the search module, at least one partial search string associated with the media content metadata; partial search string determined to be associated with the media content metadata”. However, Volkert (US 2015/0213140) teaches “determining, by the search module, at least one partial search string associated with the media content metadata <subset of search string can be provided para 0008-0010>; partial search string determined to be associated with the media content metadata” <subset of search hints can be used para 0011-0013>. It would have been obvious before the effective filing date to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Volkert, Agarwal IUS 2018/0239741) and Prilepov (US 2014/0281943) him/her before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify claim 1 of patent 12081809 to include teachings of Volkert to obtain claim 1 of the instant application which helps searching media with ease as a need identified and solved by Volkert (see Background). Likewise claims 8 and 15 of the instant application are rejected over claims 6 and 11 of the patent 12081809.
Dependent claims 2, 9, 16 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 6, 1 1 of U. S. Patent No. 12081809.
Dependent claims 3, 10 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 6 of U. S. Patent No. 12081809.
Dependent claims 4, 11, 17 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 2, 7, 12 of U. S. Patent No. 12081809.
Dependent claims 5, 12, 18 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 3, 8, 1 3 of U. S. Patent No. 12081809.
Dependent claims 6, 13, 19 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 4, 9, 14 of U. S. Patent No. 12081809.
Dependent claims 7, 14, 20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 5, 10, 15 of U. S. Patent No. 12081809.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record (see PTO-892) and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANIL K BHARGAVA whose telephone number is (571)270-3278. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Adam Queler can be reached at 571-272-4140. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANIL K BHARGAVA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2172
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