DETAILED ACTION
713.09 Interviews Between Final Rejection and Notice of Appeal [R-08.2017]
Normally, one interview after final rejection is permitted in order to place the application in condition for allowance or to resolve issues prior to appeal. However, prior to the interview, the intended purpose and content of the interview should be presented briefly, preferably in writing. Such an interview may be granted if the examiner is convinced that disposal or clarification for appeal may be accomplished with only nominal further consideration. Interviews merely to restate arguments of record or to discuss new limitations which would require more than nominal reconsideration or new search should be denied. See MPEP § 714.13.
Interviews may be held after the expiration of the shortened statutory period and prior to the maximum permitted statutory period of 6 months without an extension of time. See MPEP § 706.07(f).
A second or further interview after a final rejection may be held if the examiner is convinced that it will expedite the issues for appeal or disposal of the application.
For interviews after notice of appeal, see MPEP § 1204.03.
Interview time will be revised to a limit of 1 hour per new application or RCE (utility)/CPA (design), when during prosecution, the examiner conducts an interview. When more than one interview is needed in an application supervisors will have the flexibility to approve additional time and ensure that the interviews are being used to advance prosecution.
Authorization for Internet Communications
The examiner encourages Applicant to submit an authorization to communicate with the examiner via the Internet by making the following statement (from MPEP 502.03):
“Recognizing that Internet communications are not secure, I hereby authorize the USPTO to communicate with the undersigned and practitioners in accordance with 37 CFR 1.33 and 37 CFR 1.34 concerning any subject matter of this application by video conferencing, instant messaging, or electronic mail. I understand that a copy of these communications will be made of record in the application file.”
Please note that the above statement can only be submitted via Central Fax (not Examiner's Fax), Regular postal mail, or EFS Web using PTO/SB/439.
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 .
Response to Amendment
In response to the amendment to the specification filed 03/31/2026, the specification objection has been withdrawn.
In response to the claims amendment, in view of the Remarks filed 03/31/2026, the claims objection have been withdrawn.
In response to the claims amendment, in view of the Remarks, the 101 rejection have been withdrawn.
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 – 3, 6 – 10, 13 – 17 and 20 - 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by the prior art of record, Lagerstedt et a., (US 2015/0187151 A1) (submitted by the applicant via IDS filed 09/23/2024).
Lagerstedt discloses;
Regarding claim 1, an access control system (ACS) [i.e., access control system (page 1, para 0001), (see ref. 100 of figure 1), (page 2, para 0023)] configured to control access to a secure asset [i.e., “method of access control with cascading access level 500” (see figure 5), (page 6, para 0071)], wherein the secure asset is organized within a secure asset structure including a plurality of secure assets, the ACS comprising:
an electronic memory [i.e., memory 208 (see figure 2)];
a processor [i.e., processor 204 (see figure 2)], operatively coupled to the electronic memory, configured to:
electronically receive a command from a user to access the secure asset structure [i.e., Guest presents card to room Access Control Module (see ref. 520 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0073) Note; presenting the credential constitutes an electronic request/command to access the room];
determine whether the user meets a first general authentication [i.e., cascading access levels 500 (page 6, para 0071), (page 1, para 0005), (see figure 5)] based on privacy protection for the secure asset structure [i.e., Access Control Module reads access information and determines access privileges (see ref. 530 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0074)];
based on meeting the first general authentication, grant access to the user to the secure asset structure [i.e., upon successful authentication, the Access Control Module will allow access to the room (page 7, para 0075), (see figure 7)] by electronically providing information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets to the user [i.e., after room authentication, the user gains access to the room that contains secured assets. The room access control module may encode additional access information onto the credentials for in-room access control, including the safe (page 4, para 047) Note; the “information concerning” limitation is satisfied under BRI by providing access information identifying or enabling access to in-room secured assets];
in response to electronically providing the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality secure assets to the user, electronically receive a command from the user to access the secure asset [i.e., the guest subsequently presents the credential to the safe access module (see ref. 610 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0078) Note; constituting an electronic request to access the safe];
determine whether the user meets a second general authentication [i.e., cascading access levels 500 (page 6, para 0071), (page 1, para 0005), (see figure 5) i.e., the access control module will allow, a housekeepers, access to the room but will not complete additional procedure to active access to safe (page 1, para 0006), (page 7, para 0075)] for the secure asset based on access rights of the user [i.e., check if safe access allowed (see ref. 540 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0075), (see ref. 630 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0080)]; and
based on meeting the second general authentication, grant access to the user for the secure asset [i.e., if access to safe is determined to be allowed, access to safe is activated (see ref. 540 – 541 of figure 5), (see ref. 630 – 631 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0076 and 0080)].
Regarding claim 2, the access control system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to: based on meeting the first general authentication enable the user to electronically provide command to access the secure asset [i.e., after room authentication, the user gains access to the room that contains secured assets. The room access control module may encode additional access information onto the credentials for in-room access control, including the safe (page 4, para 047)].
Regarding claim 3, the access control system of claim 2, wherein the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets comprising an identifier of the secure asset [i.e., room number used to determine access privileges (page 4, para 0046 and 0056)].
Regarding claim 6, the access control system of claim 1, wherein the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets comprises at least one of metadata relating to the secure asset or an identifier of the secure asset [i.e., room number used to determine access privileges (para 0056)].
Regarding claim 7, the access control system of claim 1, wherein the access rights are at least one of write authority or read authority [i.e., next, the access control module reads the credential access information and determines access privileges 530. The access control module is capable of making access permission decision based on the credential access information (para 0074)].
Regarding claim 8, a method of controlling access to a secure asset secured by an access control system (ACS) device, wherein the secure asset is organized within a secure asset structure including a plurality of secure assets [i.e., method of access control with cascading access level (see ref 500 of figure 5), (page 6, para 0071)], the method comprising:
electronically receiving, at the ACS device, a command from a user to access the secure asset structure [i.e., Guest presents card to room Access Control Module (see ref. 520 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0073) Note; presenting the credential constitutes an electronic request/command to access the room];
determining, by the ACS device, whether the user meets a first general authentication [i.e., cascading access levels 500 (page 6, para 0071), (page 1, para 0005), (see figure 5)] based on privacy protection for the secure asset structure [i.e., Access Control Module reads access information and determines access privileges (see ref. 530 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0074)];
based on meeting the first general authentication, grant access to the user to the secure asset structure [i.e., upon successful authentication, the Access Control Module will allow access to the room (page 7, para 0075), (see figure 7)] by electronically providing, by the ACS device, information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets to the user [i.e., after room authentication, the user gains access to the room that contains secured assets. The room access control module may encode additional access information onto the credentials for in-room access control, including the safe (page 4, para 047) Note; the “information concerning” limitation is satisfied under BRI by providing access information identifying or enabling access to in-room secured assets];
in response to electronically providing the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality secure assets to the user, electronically receiving, at the ACS device, a command from the user to access the secure asset [i.e., the guest subsequently presents the credential to the safe access module (see ref. 610 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0078) Note; constituting an electronic request to access the safe];
determining, by the ACS device, whether the user meets a second general authentication [i.e., cascading access levels 500 (page 6, para 0071), (page 1, para 0005), (see figure 5) i.e., the access control module will allow, a housekeepers, access to the room but will not complete additional procedure to active access to safe (page 1, para 0006), (page 7, para 0075)] for the secure asset based on access rights of the user [i.e., check if safe access allowed (see ref. 540 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0075), (see ref. 630 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0080)]; and
based on meeting the second general authentication, granting access, by the ACS device, to the user for the secure asset [i.e., if access to safe is determined to be allowed, access to safe is activated (see ref. 540 – 541 of figure 5), (see ref. 630 – 631 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0076 and 0080)].
Regarding claim 9, the method of claim 8, further comprising, based on meeting the first general authentication, enabling the user to electronically provide the command to access the secure asset [i.e., after room authentication, the user gains access to the room that contains secured assets. The room access control module may encode additional access information onto the credentials for in-room access control, including the safe (page 4, para 047)].
Regarding claim 10, the method of claim 9, wherein the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets comprising an identifier of the secure asset [i.e., room number used to determine access privileges (page 4, para 0046 and 0056)].
Regarding claim 13, the method of claim 8, wherein the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets comprises at least one of metadata relating to the secure asset or an identifier of the secure asset [i.e., room number used to determine access privileges (para 0056)].
Regarding claim 14, the method of claim 8, wherein the access rights are at least one of write authority or read authority [i.e., next, the access control module reads the credential access information and determines access privileges 530. The access control module is capable of making access permission decision based on the credential access information (para 0074)].
Regarding claim 15, a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for controlling access to a secure asset secured by an access control system (ACS) device [i.e., access control system (page 1, para 0001), (see ref. 100 of figure 1), (page 2, para 0023)], [i.e., memory 208 (see figure 2)], wherein the secure asset is organized within a secure asset structure including a plurality of secure assets, the instructions, when implemented by a processor of the ACS device, causing the processor to perform operations comprising [i.e., processor 204 (see figure 2)]:
electronically receiving, at the ACS device, a command from a user to access the secure asset structure [i.e., Guest presents card to room Access Control Module (see ref. 520 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0073) Note; presenting the credential constitutes an electronic request/command to access the room];
determining, by the ACS device, whether the user meets a first general authentication [i.e., cascading access levels 500 (page 6, para 0071), (page 1, para 0005), (see figure 5)] based on privacy protection for the secure asset structure [i.e., Access Control Module reads access information and determines access privileges (see ref. 530 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0074)];
based on meeting the first general authentication, granting access to the user to the secure asset structure [i.e., upon successful authentication, the Access Control Module will allow access to the room (page 7, para 0075), (see figure 7)] by electronically providing, by the ACS device, information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets to the user [i.e., after room authentication, the user gains access to the room that contains secured assets. The room access control module may encode additional access information onto the credentials for in-room access control, including the safe (page 4, para 047) Note; the “information concerning” limitation is satisfied under BRI by providing access information identifying or enabling access to in-room secured assets];
in response to electronically providing the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality secure assets to the user, electronically receiving, at the ACS device, a command from the user to access the secure asset [i.e., the guest subsequently presents the credential to the safe access module (see ref. 610 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0078) Note; constituting an electronic request to access the safe];
determining, by the ACS device, whether the user meets a second general authentication [i.e., cascading access levels 500 (page 6, para 0071), (page 1, para 0005), (see figure 5) i.e., the access control module will allow, a housekeepers, access to the room but will not complete additional procedure to active access to safe (page 1, para 0006), (page 7, para 0075)] for the secure asset based on access rights of the user [i.e., check if safe access allowed (see ref. 540 of figure 5), (page 7, para 0075), (see ref. 630 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0080)]; and
based on meeting the second general authentication, granting access, by the ACS device, to the user for the secure asset [i.e., if access to safe is determined to be allowed, access to safe is activated (see ref. 540 – 541 of figure 5), (see ref. 630 – 631 of figure 6), (page 7, para 0076 and 0080)].
Regarding claim 16, the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform an operation comprising:
based on meeting the first general authentication, enabling the user to electronically provide the command to access the secure asset [i.e., after room authentication, the user gains access to the room that contains secured assets. The room access control module may encode additional access information onto the credentials for in-room access control, including the safe (page 4, para 047)].
Regarding claim 17, the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 16, wherein the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets comprises an identifier of the secure asset [i.e., room number used to determine access privileges (page 4, para 0046 and 0056)].
Regarding claim 20, the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the information concerning at least a portion of the plurality of secure assets comprises at least one of metadata relating to the secure asset or an identifier of the secure asset [i.e., room number used to determine access privileges (para 0056)].
Regarding claim 21, the non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the access rights are at least one of write authority or read authority [i.e., next, the access control module reads the credential access information and determines access privileges 530. The access control module is capable of making access permission decision based on the credential access information (para 0074)].
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SYED A RONI whose telephone number is (571)270-7806. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-5:00 pm (EST).
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, Jeffrey L Nickerson can be reached at (469) 295-9235. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SYED A RONI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2432
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