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 .
Drawings
[The Drawings section is divided into three parts, I., II., and III., below:]
I. The drawings were received on 15 January 2025. These drawings are tentatively acceptable to the examiner, pending correction of the informalities in parts II. and III. below.
II. The drawings are objected to because i) in FIG. 5, the scale is not sufficient to allow the mechanism/text to be shown/deciphered without crowding (37 CFR 1.84(k)), and iii) in FIGS. 4 to 7, the character of the lines, numbers, and text is not sufficiently dense and dark, and uniformly thick and well-defined (37 CFR 1.84(l)). Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
III. The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the target object, the region(s), the activity trajectories, and the deployment position(s) must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
INFORMATION ON HOW TO EFFECT DRAWING CHANGES
Replacement Drawing Sheets
Drawing changes must be made by presenting replacement sheets which incorporate the desired changes and which comply with 37 CFR 1.84. An explanation of the changes made must be presented either in the drawing amendments section, or remarks, section of the amendment paper. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). A replacement sheet must include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of the amended drawing(s) must not be labeled as “amended.” If the changes to the drawing figure(s) are not accepted by the examiner, applicant will be notified of any required corrective action in the next Office action. No further drawing submission will be required, unless applicant is notified.
Identifying indicia, if provided, should include the title of the invention, inventor’s name, and application number, or docket number (if any) if an application number has not been assigned to the application. If this information is provided, it must be placed on the front of each sheet and within the top margin.
Annotated Drawing Sheets
A marked-up copy of any amended drawing figure, including annotations indicating the changes made, may be submitted or required by the examiner. The annotated drawing sheet(s) must be clearly labeled as “Annotated Sheet” and must be presented in the amendment or remarks section that explains the change(s) to the drawings.
Timing of Corrections
Applicant is required to submit acceptable corrected drawings within the time period set in the Office action. See 37 CFR 1.85(a). Failure to take corrective action within the set period will result in ABANDONMENT of the application.
If corrected drawings are required in a Notice of Allowability (PTOL-37), the new drawings MUST be filed within the THREE MONTH shortened statutory period set for reply in the “Notice of Allowability.” Extensions of time may NOT be obtained under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136 for filing the corrected drawings after the mailing of a Notice of Allowability.
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: the self-moving device in claims 1, 10, and 11, which performs the function of moving to the deployment position (see e.g., published paragraph [0069] for corresponding structure).
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.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 3 to 8, 13 to 18, 20, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Regarding claims 3, 13, and 20, applicant has apparently not described, in sufficient detail, by what algorithm(s)1, or by what steps or procedure, he screened from all preset time intervals in the each time period within the continuous time period according to the activity trajectories, so as to obtain target time intervals and extracted, from the activity trajectories, a target activity trajectory of the target object in the region within each target time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period. Accordingly, the examiner believes that applicant has not evidenced, to those skilled in the art, possession of the full scope2 of the claimed invention, but has only (if anything) described a desired result.
In this respect, regarding the claimed screening, it is undescribed by what algorithm(s) the target time intervals were obtained, by applicant, by screening all preset time intervals. For example, published paragraph [0120] of the specification indicates:
[0120] Step 403, all preset time intervals in each time period within the continuous time period are screened according to the activity trajectories, so as to obtain target time intervals.
Published paragraph [0130] indicates this, in part:
[0130] . . . Then, all preset time intervals in each time period within the continuous time period are screened according to the activity trajectories, so as to obtain target time intervals. . . .
Moreover, published paragraph [0158] and Steps 507, 509, etc. in FIG. 5 indicate that by deleting “target preset time intervals” from “all preset time intervals”, “remaining time intervals” may be obtained, and the “remaining time intervals” may then be determined as the “target time intervals”. But any algorithm(s) encompassed in this process is/are not described in sufficient detail, since it is undescribed how the “target preset time intervals” which are deleted might be different from and lead to (by their deletion, and in a “screening” process) the obtaining of the “target time intervals”, in the manner claimed.
Similarly, any algorithm(s) that may be described in Steps 511 to 513 in FIG. 5, see published paragraphs [0162] to [0164], is/are not described in sufficient detail, to evidence possession of the full scope of the claimed invention by applicant.
Accordingly, these passages do not apparently describe, in sufficient detail, by what algorithm(s) all preset time intervals were screened, by applicant, so as to obtain target time intervals, and the examiner believes that applicant has not evidenced, to those skilled in the art, possession of the full scope of the claimed invention and in particular what might constitute the claimed screening, but has only (if anything) described/claimed a desired result.
Regarding the claimed extracting, it is undescribed by what algorithm(s) the target activity trajectory within each target time interval was extracted from the activity trajectories. For example, published paragraphs [0121] and [0174] indicate:
[0121] Step 404, a target activity trajectory of the target object in the region within each target time interval in each time period within the continuous time period is extracted from the activity trajectories.
[0174] Step 514, a target activity trajectory of the target object in the region within each target time interval in each time period within the continuous time period is extracted from the activity trajectories.
However, these passages do not apparently describe, in sufficient detail, by what algorithm(s) the target activity trajectory within each target time interval was extracted from the activity trajectories. Accordingly, the examiner believes that applicant has not evidenced, to those skilled in the art, possession of the full scope of the claimed invention and in particular what might constitute the claimed extracting, but has only (if anything) described/claimed a desired result.
In this respect, see e.g., MPEP 2161.01, I., which indicates, “[O]riginal claims may lack written description when the claims define the invention in functional language specifying a desired result but the specification does not sufficiently describe how the function is performed or the result is achieved. For software, this can occur when the algorithm or steps/procedure for performing the computer function are not explained at all or are not explained in sufficient detail (simply restating the function recited in the claim is not necessarily sufficient). In other words, the algorithm or steps/procedure taken to perform the function must be described with sufficient detail so that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand how the inventor intended the function to be performed. See MPEP §§ 2163.02 and 2181, subsection IV.”
See also e.g., MPEP 2163, I., A. which indicates, “However, as discussed in subsection I, supra, issues of adequate written description may arise even for original claims, for example, when an aspect of the claimed invention has not been described with sufficient particularity such that one skilled in the art would recognize that the inventor had possession of the claimed invention at the time of filing. . . . An invention described solely in terms of a method of making and/or its function may lack written descriptive support where there is no described or art-recognized correlation between the disclosed function and the structure(s) responsible for the function.”
See also MPEP 2163.03, V. which indicates, “An original claim may lack written description support when (1) the claim defines the invention in functional language specifying a desired result but the disclosure fails to sufficiently identify how the function is performed or the result is achieved or (2) a broad genus claim is presented but the disclosure only describes a narrow species with no evidence that the genus is contemplated. See Ariad Pharms., Inc. v. Eli Lilly & Co., 598 F.3d 1336, 1349-50 (Fed. Cir. 2010) (en banc). The written description requirement is not necessarily met when the claim language appears in ipsis verbis in the specification. "Even if a claim is supported by the specification, the language of the specification, to the extent possible, must describe the claimed invention so that one skilled in the art can recognize what is claimed. The appearance of mere indistinct words in a specification or a claim, even an original claim, does not necessarily satisfy that requirement." Enzo Biochem, Inc. v. Gen-Probe, Inc., 323 F.3d 956, 968, 63 USPQ2d 1609, 1616 (Fed. Cir. 2002).”
Claims 1 to 8 and 10 to 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In claim 1, line 2, in claim 10, line 5, and in claim 11, line 5, “in each region” is indefinite and not reasonably certain3, with indeterminate metes and bounds (e.g., each region of what particularly, region defined particularly how, and “each”4 in what respect, since plural regions are not apparently specified by the claim?)
In claim 1, line 3, in claim 10, line 6, and in claim 11, line 6, “an activity trajectory . . . in each region” is unclear, e.g., because it is unclear what an activity trajectory (of the target object) in each region would be. In this respect, it is also unclear what the difference would be between a “trajectory” and an “activity trajectory”, e.g., from the teachings of the specification.
In claim 1, lines 5ff, in claim 10, lines 8ff, and in claim 11, lines 8ff, “[determining a deployment position] in each region according to the activity trajectory” is indefinite and unclear, with “the activity trajectory” also having insufficient antecedent basis since there are apparently (?) plural activity trajectories, e.g., one in each region.
In claim 1, line 7, in claim 10, line 10, and in claim 11, line 10, “the deployment position” (singular) apparently has insufficient antecedent basis, since deployment positions in each region have apparently been determined in the claim.
In claim 2, line 3, in claim 12, line 3, and in claim 19, line 3, “any region” is indefinite in the claim context5 and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., does this mean one region, some regions, or every region?)
In claim 2, lines 3ff, in claim 12, lines 3ff, and in claim 19, lines 3ff, “the region” is indefinite in the claim context with insufficient antecedent basis (e.g., which of the plural apparent regions, inferable from “each region”, is “the region” referring to?)
In claim 2, line 4, in claim 12, line 4, and in claim 19, line 4, “the region within each preset time interval” is fully indefinite (e.g., does “the region” cover “each region” or just one region, “each preset time interval” defined/delimited particularly how so as to have reasonably certain metes and bounds, and preset by whom or what in the claim, etc.?)
In claim 2, lines 7ff, in claim 12, lines 7ff, and in claim 19, lines 7ff, “in the region within the each preset time interval” is indefinite in the claim context (e.g., which region is being referred to by “the region”, what does “within the each preset time interval” mean, and how can something be “within each” of e.g., plural time intervals, etc.?)
In claim 2, lines 11ff, in claim 12, lines 11ff, and in claim 19, lines 11ff, “determining the deployment position . . . in the region within the each preset time interval” is indefinite in the claim context (e.g., which region is being referred to by “the region”, what does “the deployment position” mean and is this referring to determining a deployment position in each region and within each preset time interval, what does “within the each preset time interval” mean, and how can something be “within each” of e.g., plural time intervals, etc.?)
In claim 2, line 12, in claim 12, line 12, and in claim 19, line 12, “the activity trajectory” is indefinite with insufficient antecedent basis since there are apparently (?) plural activity trajectories, e.g., one in each region.
In claim 2, lines 14ff, in claim 12, lines 14ff, and in claim 19, lines 14ff, “before the each preset time interval” is indefinite and either ambiguous or impossible, e.g., how can the self-moving device move before the each (and every??) preset time interval when its deployment position is based on the activity trajectory “within the each preset time interval”? Additionally, “the each preset time interval” is indefinite and unclear
Claims 3 to 8, 13 to 18, 20, and 21 are unclear in their entireties.
For examples only, in claim 3, line 2, in claim 13, line 2, and in claim 20, line 2, “the any region” is indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., does this mean one region, some regions, or every region?)
In claim 3, line 4, in claim 13, line 4, and in claim 20, line 4, “with regard to the any region” is indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., what does “with regard to” signify, and does this mean one region, some regions, or every region?)
In claim 3, lines 5ff, in claim 13, lines 5ff, and in claim 20, lines 5ff, “within the each preset time interval in each time period within a continuous time period” is fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification, with the examiner being unable to even venture a guess or ask clarifying questions as to what this might mean (e.g., how is “each time period” in a “continuous time period” defined, what is the difference between the “time period” and the “continuous time period”, and what does it mean that a “time period” is “continuous”, since it appears to the examiner that all time periods must be continuous, e.g., over their duration, etc.?).
In claim 3, lines 9ff, in claim 13, lines 9ff, and in claim 20, lines 9ff, “within the each preset time interval in each time period within the continuous time period” is fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification, with the examiner being unable to even venture a guess or ask clarifying questions as to what this might mean.
In claim 3, lines 14ff, in claim 13, lines 14ff, and in claim 20, lines 14ff, “screening from all preset time intervals in the each time period within the continuous time period according to the activity trajectories, so as to obtain target time intervals” is fully indefinite, with all recited time intervals and periods in the claim being indefinite from the teachings of the specification, and with the “screening” and “target time [intervals]” also being indefinite and unclear (not reasonably certain) as well, e.g., from the teachings of the specification.
In claim 3, line 16, in claim 13, line 16, and in claim 20, line 16, “from the activity trajectories” is indefinite in the claim context (e.g., is this referring to plural activity trajectories in one region, plural activity trajectories in all regions/every region, or something else?)
In claim 3, lines 16ff, in claim 13, lines 16ff, and in claim 20, lines 16ff, “extracting . . . a target activity trajectory of the target object in the region within each target time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period” is fully indefinite, with the “extracting” being unclear, the “in the region” having insufficient antecedent basis (e.g., is this referring to the “each region” or something else?), with “a target activity trajectory” and “within each target time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period” also being vague and indefinite e.g., in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification.
In claim 3, line 20, in claim 13, line 20, and in claim 20, line 20, “[determining a deployment position] according to target activity trajectories” is dully indefinite (e.g., what are these plural “target activity trajectories” that the one deployment position is determined from, when only a single “target activity trajectory” was apparently extracted earlier in the claim?)
In claim 3, lines 21ff, in claim 13, lines 21ff, and in claim 20, lines 21ff, “before the each preset time interval” is indefinite and either ambiguous or impossible, e.g., how can the self-moving device move before the each preset time interval when its deployment position is based on the activity trajectory “within the each preset time interval”?
In claim 3, lines 23ff, in claim 13, lines 23ff, and in claim 20, lines 23ff, “before the target time interval” is indefinite and unclear, with “the target time interval” also apparently having insufficient antecedent basis (e.g., previously in the claim, plural “target time intervals” were obtained).
In claim 4, line 2, in claim 14, line 2, and in claim 21, lines 2ff, “each region” and “with regard to any region” are both indefinite and unclear with indeterminate metes and bounds (e.g., each/any region of what particularly, region defined particularly how, and “each”6 or “any”7 in what respect, since plural regions are not apparently specified by the claim?)
In claim 4, lines 3ff, in claim 14, lines 3ff, and in claim 21, lines 3ff, “in the region within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period” is fully indefinite in the claim context e.g., for reasons given above regarding the time interval and time periods.
In claim 4, lines 6ff, in claim 14, lines 6ff, and in claim 21, lines 6ff,” within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period” is fully indefinite in the claim context e.g., for reasons given above regarding the time interval and time periods.
In claim 5, lines 4ff, and in claim 15, lines 4ff, “determining, for the each time period within the continuous time period, an activity level of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in the time period according to the activity trajectory, wherein the activity level is the number of pieces of position information of the target object in the activity trajectory in the region within the each preset time interval in the time period” is fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification, e.g., for the reasons given above with respect to “the region”, the preset time interval, the time periods, etc., and with “the time period” also apparently having insufficient antecedent basis.
In claim 5, lines 9ff, and in claim 15, lines 9ff, “comparing the activity level of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in the time period with a preset activity level threshold” is fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification, e.g., for the reasons given above with respect to “the region”, the preset time interval, the time period, etc.
In claim 5, lines 11ff, and in claim 15, lines 11ff, “determining the all preset time intervals as the target time intervals in a case that all the activity levels of the target object in the region within the all preset time intervals in the time period are greater than or equal to the activity level threshold” is fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification, e.g., for the reasons given above with respect to “the region”, the preset time intervals, the time period, etc.
In claim 6, lines 4ff, and in claim 16, lines 4ff, “in a case that in the activity levels of the target object in the region within the all preset time intervals in the time period, there are target preset time intervals during which the activity levels of the target object in the region are less than the activity level threshold, deleting the target preset time intervals from the all preset time intervals, to obtain remaining time intervals of the time period” is fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification, e.g., for the reasons given above with respect to “the region”, the preset time intervals including the target preset time intervals that are unclear in claims 6 and 16 for the same reasons, the time period, etc.
In claim 6, lines 9ff, and in claim 16, lines 9ff, “determining whether there are continuous remaining time intervals in all the remaining time intervals in the time period; and determining all the remaining time intervals as the target time intervals in a case that there is no continuous remaining time interval in all the remaining time intervals in the time period;” is vague and fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification, e.g., for the reasons given above with respect to “the time period”, and because it is unclear what the “continuous remaining time interval[s]” and “remaining time intervals” in the time period are or represent (e.g., “continuous” in what respect, particularly, and remaining in what respect, particularly?)
In claim 7, lines 5ff, and in claim 17, lines 5ff, “in a case that there are the continuous remaining time intervals in all the remaining time intervals in the time period” is indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., “continuous” in what respect, particularly, and remaining in what respect, particularly?)
In claim 7, lines 7ff, and in claim 17, lines 7ff, “performing union processing on the continuous time intervals of the each time period within the continuous time period, to obtain a first time interval” is vague and fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., union processing defined particularly how, “continuous” in what respect, particularly, and remaining in what respect, particularly, “the each time period within the continuous time period” defined particularly how, first time interval defined particularly how, etc.?)
In claim 7, lines 9ff, and in claim 17, lines 9ff, “performing union processing on discontinuous remaining time intervals in all the remaining time intervals of the each time period within the continuous time period, to obtain a second time interval” is vague and fully indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., union processing defined particularly how, “discontinuous” in what respect, particularly, and remaining in what respect, particularly, “the each time period within the continuous time period” defined particularly how, second time interval defined particularly how, etc.?)
In claim 8, line 4, and in claim 18, line 4, “performing union processing on the target activity trajectories” is vague and indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., union processing defined particularly how?)
In claim 8, line 7, and in claim 18, line 7, “determining a volume range of the target object in each the target activity trajectory” is vague and indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., what is a volume rang and how is it determined “in each the target activity trajectory”, whatever that means?)
In claim 8, line 8, and in claim 18, line 8, “determining a distribution range of obstacles in the region” is indefinite in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification (e.g., “region” defined particularly how, and obstacle “distribution range” defined particularly how? See e.g., published paragraph [0185] of the specification.8)
In claim 8, lines 11ff, and in claim 18, lines 11ff, “as a deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the target time interval” is indefinite and unclear in the claim context and from the teachings of the specification, with it being unclear whether the “a deployment position” is the same as, different from, permissively the same as, permissively different from, necessarily the same as, necessarily different from, etc. the “a deployment position” in the independent claims, and with “the region” and “the target time interval” having insufficient antecedent basis, as detailed above.
In claim 12, line 1, and in claim 19, line 1, “wherein acquiring” is indefinite, since the independent claims recite no “acquiring”. The same phrase is similarly unclear in claim 13, lines 1 and 2, and in claim 20, lines 1 and 2.
In claims 13 and 20, it is unclear why applicant is (apparently?) reciting method steps in a device or medium claim. See MPEP 2173.05(p), II. This ambiguity carries through to the wherein clauses in lines 1ff of claims 15 to 18 (regarding details of the “screening” and “determining”) that depend from claim 13.
Claim(s) depending from claims expressly noted above are also rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112 by/for reason of their dependency from a noted claim that is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112, for the reasons given.
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 1, 10, and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo (China, 111338330; EPO machine translation attached) in view of Kitade et al. (Japan, 2014-168824; EPO machine translation attached).
Guo (CN, ‘330) reveals:
per claim 1, a method for deploying a self-moving device [e.g., the cleaning robot or air purifier of paragraph [0026], as the self-moving device (FIG. 3)], the method comprising:
acquiring position information of a target object in each region [e.g., paragraph [0090], “laser rangefinders, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors” on the self-moving device (paragraph [0090]) that “can detect the movement of movable objects in their working environment in real time and mark the locations of the movable objects on the environmental map”, where the movable objects are different from the self-moving object and may include “a user or other intelligent devices that can move autonomously” (paragraph [0035]) or “people around the work location (paragraph [0089])];
determining an [e.g., as shown by the trajectory maps of the home environment in FIGS. 2A and 2B representing trajectories of movable objects; and for other environments such as shopping malls, supermarkets, conference venues, airports, etc. (paragraphs [0081], [0085], etc.)];
determining a deployment position of the self-moving device in each region according to the activity trajectory [e.g., at 103 in FIG. 1, where the job location is determined e.g., to be the candidate areas (e.g., for a service robot) or other than the candidate areas (e.g., for the air purifier); e.g., paragraphs [0034], [0037], [0038], etc.]; and
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position [e.g., claim 13, “[m]ove from the current position to the work position and start executing the work task from the work position”];
It may be alleged that the trajectories shown in e.g., the trajectory maps of FIGS. 2A and 2B in Guo (CN, ‘330), showing trajectories of movable objects, are not activity trajectories, e.g., in each region.
However, in the context/field of providing robotic control e.g., in shopping malls, company floors, museums, or amusement parks (paragraph [0033]), Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824) teaches that laser range finders (LRFs) 12a, 12b, etc. may be installed in a variety of spaces in order to detect the positions of persons moving within e.g., the public spaces by converting angle/radius (or range) measurements from each of the LRFs (FIG. 5) into a person’s position in a detection area expressed as x-y coordinates (FIG. 6 and paragraph [0067]), in order to record each person’s “movement trajectory” moving through the space (FIG. 10), whereby from the traffic volume of the movement trajectories calculated over a predetermined time period (paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc. and FIGS. 9, 19, etc.) and a visibility map (FIG. 12), suitable waiting places (FIGS. 14(C) and (D)) are determined (e.g., by the search algorithm shown in FIG. 23) for the robot that are both i) closest to the robot and ii) are less likely to disturb other people in the surrounding area based on traffic volume and visibility, thereby making it easier for the user to find the waiting robot e.g., after shopping in a store.
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement or modify the Guo (CN, ‘330) robot and operation position determining method so that laser range finders (LRFs) in the environment would have been used to determine the movement trajectories of people in the environment, in the manner taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), in order to determine traffic volume as shown in FIG. 10, and so that, when it was desired for the robot to wait for a user at a waiting place, a place that was both closest to the robot and less likely to disturb other people (e.g., based on previously determined traffic volume/flow and visibility) would have been determined, as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), in order that the movement trajectories of the people in the environment would have been determined with conventional LRFs in the environment, in order to make it easier for the user to find the waiting robot, e.g., after shopping in a store, with a reasonable expectation of success, and e.g., as a use of a known technique to improve similar devices (methods, or products) in the same way.
As such, the implemented or modified Guo (CN, ‘330) robot and operation position determining method would have rendered obvious:
per claim 1, a method for deploying a self-moving device [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), the cleaning robot or air purifier of paragraph [0026], as the self-moving device (FIG. 3)], the method comprising:
acquiring position information of a target object in each region [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), paragraph [0090], “laser rangefinders, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors” on the self-moving device (paragraph [0090]) that “can detect the movement of movable objects in their working environment in real time and mark the locations of the movable objects on the environmental map”, where the movable objects are different from the self-moving object and may include “a user or other intelligent devices that can move autonomously” (paragraph [0035]) or “people around the work location (paragraph [0089])];
determining an activity trajectory of the target object [e.g. the movement trajectories of the people in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), FIGS. 9 and 10, recorded using the LRFs 12a, 12b (laser range finders)] in each region [e.g., FIGS. 10, and 12 to 14 in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); and FIGS. 2A and 2B in Guo et al. (CN, ‘330)] according to the position information [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), as shown by the trajectory maps of the home environment in FIGS. 2A and 2B representing trajectories of movable objects; and for other environments such as shopping malls, supermarkets, conference venues, airports, etc. (paragraphs [0081], [0085], etc.)];
determining a deployment position of the self-moving device in each region according to the activity trajectory [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), at 103 in FIG. 1, where the job location is determined e.g., to be the candidate areas (e.g., for a service robot) or other than the candidate areas (e.g., for the air purifier); e.g., paragraphs [0034], [0037], [0038], etc.]; and
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), paragraphs [0070], [0072], [0089], etc. and claim 13, “[m]ove from the current position to the work position and start executing the work task from the work position”];
per claim 10, an electronic device [e.g., FIGS. 3 and 4 in Guo (CN, ‘330)], comprising: a processor and a memory [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), processors 301, 402, memories 302, 403, etc.] wherein the processor is used for executing a program for deploying a self-moving device [e.g., the self-moving device or robot in Guo (CN, ‘330)] stored in the memory, so as to:
acquire position information of a target object in each region [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), paragraph [0090], “laser rangefinders, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors” on the self-moving device (paragraph [0090]) that “can detect the movement of movable objects in their working environment in real time and mark the locations of the movable objects on the environmental map”, where the movable objects are different from the self-moving object and may include “a user or other intelligent devices that can move autonomously” (paragraph [0035]) or “people around the work location (paragraph [0089])];
determine an activity trajectory of the target object [e.g. the movement trajectories of the people in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), FIGS. 9 and 10, recorded using the LRFs 12a, 12b (laser range finders)] in each region [e.g., FIGS. 10, and 12 to 14 in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); and FIGS. 2A and 2B in Guo et al. (CN, ‘330)] according to the position information [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), as shown by the trajectory maps of the home environment in FIGS. 2A and 2B representing trajectories of movable objects; and for other environments such as shopping malls, supermarkets, conference venues, airports, etc. (paragraphs [0081], [0085], etc.);
determine a deployment position of the self-moving device in each region according to the activity trajectory [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), at 103 in FIG. 1, where the job location is determined e.g., to be the candidate areas (e.g., for a service robot) or other than the candidate areas (e.g., for the air purifier); e.g., paragraphs [0034], [0037], [0038], etc.]; and
control the self-moving device to move to the deployment position [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), paragraphs [0070], [0072], [0089], etc. and claim 13, “[m]ove from the current position to the work position and start executing the work task from the work position”];
per claim 11, a non-transitory storage medium [e.g., the computer-readable storage medium storing computer instructions in paragraph [0120] in Guo (CN, ‘330)], wherein the non-transitory storage medium stores one or more programs, and the one or more programs may be executed by one or more processors [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), processors 301, 402], so as to:
acquire position information of a target object in each region [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), paragraph [0090], “laser rangefinders, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors” on the self-moving device (paragraph [0090]) that “can detect the movement of movable objects in their working environment in real time and mark the locations of the movable objects on the environmental map”, where the movable objects are different from the self-moving object and may include “a user or other intelligent devices that can move autonomously” (paragraph [0035]) or “people around the work location (paragraph [0089])];
determine an activity trajectory of the target object [e.g. the movement trajectories of the people in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), FIGS. 9 and 10, recorded using the LRFs 12a, 12b (laser range finders)] in each region [e.g., FIGS. 10, and 12 to 14 in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); and FIGS. 2A and 2B in Guo et al. (CN, ‘330)] according to the position information [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), as shown by the trajectory maps of the home environment in FIGS. 2A and 2B representing trajectories of movable objects; and for other environments such as shopping malls, supermarkets, conference venues, airports, etc. (paragraphs [0081], [0085], etc.);
determine a deployment position of the self-moving device in each region according to the activity trajectory [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), at 103 in FIG. 1, where the job location is determined e.g., to be the candidate areas (e.g., for a service robot) or other than the candidate areas (e.g., for the air purifier); e.g., paragraphs [0034], [0037], [0038], etc.]; and
control the self-moving device to move to the deployment position [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), paragraphs [0070], [0072], [0089], etc. and claim 13, “[m]ove from the current position to the work position and start executing the work task from the work position”];
Claims 2 to 4, 12 to 14, and 19 to 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo (China, 111338330; EPO machine translation attached) in view of Kitade et al. (Japan, 2014-168824; EPO machine translation attached).as applied to claims 1, 10, and 11 above, and further in view of Yang (2019/0224843).
Guo (CN, ‘824) as implemented or modified in view of Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824) has been described above.
The implemented or modified Guo (CN, ‘330) robot and operation position determining method may not expressly reveal that the self-moving device is controlled to move to the deployment position before the each preset time interval, although the examiner believes this would have been obvious from the teachings of Guo (CN, ‘330) even without further teachings, when the self-moving device/robot would have obviously started moving to the work/operation position (for performing the work job/task) before the time that the work job/task was scheduled to be performed, such as a care task to be performed at 8:00 PM (paragraph [0076]), in order that the self-moving device/robot would not have been late in performing the scheduled task, e.g., when the self-moving device/robot was obviously initially positioned relatively far from the work/operation position of the scheduled task and time would have been needed to arrive at the work/operation position.
However, in the context/field of an airport robot that provides services to users, Yang (‘843) teaches e.g., at paragraphs [0100], etc. that the robot may move to a departure location between 30 minutes and 1 hour before an estimated departure time, in order to efficiently dispose the robot(s) within the airport to provide e.g., informational services to users e.g., who might arrive at different times.
It would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement or modify the Guo (CN, ‘330) robot and operation position determining method so that the self-moving device/robot would have been moved to the work/operation position where services were to be provided a predetermined time period (such as 30 minutes or 1 hour) before the services should be performed and/or completed, as taught by Yang (‘843), in order to efficiently dispose the robot(s) within the airport to provide e.g., informational services to users who might arrive at different times, as taught by Yang (‘843), with a reasonable expectation of success, and e.g., as a use of a known technique to improve similar devices (methods, or products) in the same way.
As such, the implemented or further modified Guo (CN, ‘330) robot and operation position determining method would have rendered obvious:
per claim 2, depending from claim 1, wherein acquiring the position information of the target object in each region, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to any region, position information of the target object in the region [e.g., in Guo et al. (CN, ‘330) the trajectory information obviously detected with the laser rangefinders, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors at paragraph [0090]; and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the laser range finders (LRFs) 12a, 12b installed in the environment, obviously in each region, and used to obtain the movement trajectories (FIG. 10)] within each preset time interval [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]); and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours), paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.];
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in each region according to the position information, comprises:
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval according to the position information [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.];
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the each region according to the activity trajectory, comprises:
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each preset time interval according to the activity trajectory [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), when the user sends the work instruction to the home care robot to perform a care task at 8:00 pm (paragraph [0076]), and the robot moves to the room 2 (paragraph [0077], [0108], etc.) where the family members frequently appear; or for a task at 7:00 AM, the robot stays in the bedroom (room 3) to perform the task; or moving the robot to the painting place in FIGS. 14(C) and 14(D) in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)]; and
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position, comprises:
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the each preset time interval [e.g., to move obviously 30 minutes or 1 hour before the services should be performed/completed (at a scheduled time, as desired by Guo (CN, ‘330)), as taught by Yang (‘843), in order to efficiently dispose the robot(s) within the airport to provide e.g., informational services to users who might arrive at different times; and/or obviously moving to the work position before the (e.g., scheduled) task time in/for claim 13 and paragraphs [0070], [0072], [0089], etc. in Guo (CN, ‘330), so that the robot will perform the job/task at the proper/desired position and the proper/desired time];
per claim 3, depending from claim 2, wherein
acquiring, with regard to the any region, the position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to the any region, the position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in each time period within a continuous time period [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]); and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours), paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.]; where all times in Guo (CN, ‘330) and Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824) are within a continuous/ongoing time period (e.g., the present)];
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval according to the position information, comprises:
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period according to the position information [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc. ; where all times in Guo (CN, ‘330) and Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824) are within a continuous/ongoing time period (e.g., the present)];
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each preset time interval according to the activity trajectory, comprises:
screening from all preset time intervals in the each time period within the continuous time period according to the activity trajectories, so as to obtain target time intervals [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), the target time interval (or the task/job time) is (per paragraph [0070]) either the current time (2 PM), or a time scheduled in the future (4 PM to 5 PM), and the robot would have obviously screened all present/future times to determine at which time (present or future) it should start executing/performing the task for the job];
extracting, from the activity trajectories, a target activity trajectory of the target object in the region within each target time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period [e.g., paragraph [0051] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “Optionally, it could be the trajectory information of movable objects that appeared in the work environment within a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction.”]; and
determining a deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each target time interval according to target activity trajectories [e.g., paragraph [0072] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “based on the correspondence between the trajectory information of the movable object recorded in the local trajectory map corresponding to each area and the time period, it determines the candidate area where the frequency of the movable object appearing within the time period to which the work time belongs is greater than a second threshold (e.g., relatively high); from the candidate area, it determines the work position when performing the work task, and then moves to the work position to perform the work task”; see also paragraph [0073], “For example, for any region, the time recorded by each grid in the local trajectory map corresponding to that region when a movable object passes through the corresponding grid can be counted, the grids whose time belongs to the time period of the operation can be obtained, and the number of times the movable object passes through these grids can be added together. Then, regions whose sum of occurrences is greater than a second threshold are selected as candidate regions, which are regions where the object appears more frequently. Subsequently, the self-moving device can use any of the methods described in b1-b4 above to determine the job location from the candidate area when performing the job task”; and see also paragraphs [0103], [0104], etc.]; and
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the each preset time interval, comprises:
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the target time interval [e.g., paragraph [0072] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “it determines the candidate area where the frequency of the movable object appearing within the time period to which the work time belongs is greater than a second threshold (e.g., relatively high); from the candidate area, it determines the work position when performing the work task, and then moves to the work position to perform the work task”; see also paragraph [0081], “it can determine the area with a large flow of people at the current time, such as the boarding gate of an airport, and then move to the vicinity of the boarding gate to monitor the flow of people in the boarding gate area”; see also paragraphs [0086], etc.];
per claim 4, depending from claim 3, wherein an electromagnetic wave device is provided in each region [e.g., LRFs 12a, 12b, etc. in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)]; and
acquiring, with regard to any region, position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to any region [e.g., the places where the LRFs 12a, 12b are obviously installed in the environment, in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)], initial position information of the target object in the region collected by the electromagnetic wave device within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the positions and trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories from their positions, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.], wherein the initial position information is relative coordinates of the target object in a coordinate system of the electromagnetic wave device [e.g., the range/radius and angle (e.g., as obvious relative polar coordinated) of the LRF scan in FIG. 5 of Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); see e.g., paragraphs [0039], etc.]; and
transforming the initial position information into the position information [e.g., the positions of the people/traffic volume in the grid map coordinates of the two-dimensional (x-y) array representing the environment, as described in paragraphs [0067], [0070], [0072], FIG. 6, etc. in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); see e.g., paragraph [0091], “the program for operating the central control unit 10 also includes a program for converting the distance obtained by the LRF 12 into position (coordinate) data.”], wherein the position information is absolute coordinates of the target object in a regional coordinate system [e.g., paragraph [0067] in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), “Furthermore, the detection area is defined by x-y coordinates, and the location data of a person can be expressed using (x, y) coordinates.”];
per claim 12, depending from claim 10, wherein acquiring the position information of the target object in each region, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to any region, position information of the target object in the region [e.g., in Guo et al. (CN, ‘330) the trajectory information obviously detected with the laser rangefinders, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors at paragraph [0090]; and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the laser range finders (LRFs) 12a, 12b installed in the environment, obviously in each region, and used to obtain the movement trajectories (FIG. 10)] within each preset time interval [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]); and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours), paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.];
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in each region according to the position information, comprises:
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval according to the position information [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.];
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the each region according to the activity trajectory, comprises:
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each preset time interval according to the activity trajectory [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), when the user sends the work instruction to the home care robot to perform a care task at 8:00 pm (paragraph [0076]), and the robot moves to the room 2 (paragraph [0077], [0108], etc.) where the family members frequently appear; or for a task at 7:00 AM, the robot stays in the bedroom (room 3) to perform the task; or moving the robot to the painting place in FIGS. 14(C) and 14(D) in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)]; and
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position, comprises:
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the each preset time interval [e.g., to move obviously 30 minutes or 1 hour before the services should be performed/completed (at a scheduled time, as desired by Guo (CN, ‘330)), as taught by Yang (‘843), in order to efficiently dispose the robot(s) within the airport to provide e.g., informational services to users who might arrive at different times; and/or obviously moving to the work position before the (e.g., scheduled) task time in/for claim 13 and paragraphs [0070], [0072], [0089], etc. in Guo (CN, ‘330), so that the robot will perform the job/task at the proper/desired position and the proper/desired time];
per claim 13, depending from claim 12, wherein
acquiring, with regard to the any region, the position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to the any region, the position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in each time period within a continuous time period [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]); and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours), paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.]; where all times in Guo (CN, ‘330) and Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824) are within a continuous/ongoing time period (e.g., the present)];
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval according to the position information, comprises:
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period according to the position information [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc. ; where all times in Guo (CN, ‘330) and Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824) are within a continuous/ongoing time period (e.g., the present)];
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each preset time interval according to the activity trajectory, comprises:
screening from all preset time intervals in the each time period within the continuous time period according to the activity trajectories, so as to obtain target time intervals [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), the target time interval (or the task/job time) is (per paragraph [0070]) either the current time (2 PM), or a time scheduled in the future (4 PM to 5 PM), and the robot would have obviously screened all present/future times to determine at which time (present or future) it should start executing/performing the task for the job];
extracting, from the activity trajectories, a target activity trajectory of the target object in the region within each target time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period [e.g., paragraph [0051] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “Optionally, it could be the trajectory information of movable objects that appeared in the work environment within a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction.”]; and
determining a deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each target time interval according to target activity trajectories [e.g., paragraph [0072] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “based on the correspondence between the trajectory information of the movable object recorded in the local trajectory map corresponding to each area and the time period, it determines the candidate area where the frequency of the movable object appearing within the time period to which the work time belongs is greater than a second threshold (e.g., relatively high); from the candidate area, it determines the work position when performing the work task, and then moves to the work position to perform the work task”; see also paragraph [0073], “For example, for any region, the time recorded by each grid in the local trajectory map corresponding to that region when a movable object passes through the corresponding grid can be counted, the grids whose time belongs to the time period of the operation can be obtained, and the number of times the movable object passes through these grids can be added together. Then, regions whose sum of occurrences is greater than a second threshold are selected as candidate regions, which are regions where the object appears more frequently. Subsequently, the self-moving device can use any of the methods described in b1-b4 above to determine the job location from the candidate area when performing the job task”; and see also paragraphs [0103], [0104], etc.]; and
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the each preset time interval, comprises:
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the target time interval [e.g., paragraph [0072] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “it determines the candidate area where the frequency of the movable object appearing within the time period to which the work time belongs is greater than a second threshold (e.g., relatively high); from the candidate area, it determines the work position when performing the work task, and then moves to the work position to perform the work task”; see also paragraph [0081], “it can determine the area with a large flow of people at the current time, such as the boarding gate of an airport, and then move to the vicinity of the boarding gate to monitor the flow of people in the boarding gate area”; see also paragraphs [0086], etc.];
per claim 14, depending from claim 13, wherein an electromagnetic wave device is provided in each region [e.g., LRFs 12a, 12b, etc. in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)]; and
acquiring, with regard to any region, position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to any region [e.g., the places where the LRFs 12a, 12b are obviously installed in the environment, in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)], initial position information of the target object in the region collected by the electromagnetic wave device within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the positions and trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories from their positions, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.], wherein the initial position information is relative coordinates of the target object in a coordinate system of the electromagnetic wave device [e.g., the range/radius and angle (e.g., as obvious relative polar coordinated) of the LRF scan in FIG. 5 of Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); see e.g., paragraphs [0039], etc.]; and
transforming the initial position information into the position information [e.g., the positions of the people/traffic volume in the grid map coordinates of the two-dimensional (x-y) array representing the environment, as described in paragraphs [0067], [0070], [0072], FIG. 6, etc. in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); see e.g., paragraph [0091], “the program for operating the central control unit 10 also includes a program for converting the distance obtained by the LRF 12 into position (coordinate) data.”], wherein the position information is absolute coordinates of the target object in a regional coordinate system [e.g., paragraph [0067] in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), “Furthermore, the detection area is defined by x-y coordinates, and the location data of a person can be expressed using (x, y) coordinates.”];
per claim 19, depending from claim 11, wherein acquiring the position information of the target object in each region, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to any region, position information of the target object in the region [e.g., in Guo et al. (CN, ‘330) the trajectory information obviously detected with the laser rangefinders, cameras, and ultrasonic sensors at paragraph [0090]; and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the laser range finders (LRFs) 12a, 12b installed in the environment, obviously in each region, and used to obtain the movement trajectories (FIG. 10)] within each preset time interval [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]); and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours), paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.];
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in each region according to the position information, comprises:
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval according to the position information [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.];
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the each region according to the activity trajectory, comprises:
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each preset time interval according to the activity trajectory [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), when the user sends the work instruction to the home care robot to perform a care task at 8:00 pm (paragraph [0076]), and the robot moves to the room 2 (paragraph [0077], [0108], etc.) where the family members frequently appear; or for a task at 7:00 AM, the robot stays in the bedroom (room 3) to perform the task; or moving the robot to the painting place in FIGS. 14(C) and 14(D) in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)]; and
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position, comprises:
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the each preset time interval [e.g., to move obviously 30 minutes or 1 hour before the services should be performed/completed (at a scheduled time, as desired by Guo (CN, ‘330)), as taught by Yang (‘843), in order to efficiently dispose the robot(s) within the airport to provide e.g., informational services to users who might arrive at different times; and/or obviously moving to the work position before the (e.g., scheduled) task time in/for claim 13 and paragraphs [0070], [0072], [0089], etc. in Guo (CN, ‘330), so that the robot will perform the job/task at the proper/desired position and the proper/desired time];
per claim 20, depending from claim 19, wherein
acquiring, with regard to the any region, the position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to the any region, the position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in each time period within a continuous time period [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]); and in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours), paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.]; where all times in Guo (CN, ‘330) and Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824) are within a continuous/ongoing time period (e.g., the present)];
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval according to the position information, comprises:
determining the activity trajectory of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period according to the position information [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc. ; where all times in Guo (CN, ‘330) and Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824) are within a continuous/ongoing time period (e.g., the present)];
determining the deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each preset time interval according to the activity trajectory, comprises:
screening from all preset time intervals in the each time period within the continuous time period according to the activity trajectories, so as to obtain target time intervals [e.g., in Guo (CN, ‘330), the target time interval (or the task/job time) is (per paragraph [0070]) either the current time (2 PM), or a time scheduled in the future (4 PM to 5 PM), and the robot would have obviously screened all present/future times to determine at which time (present or future) it should start executing/performing the task for the job];
extracting, from the activity trajectories, a target activity trajectory of the target object in the region within each target time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period [e.g., paragraph [0051] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “Optionally, it could be the trajectory information of movable objects that appeared in the work environment within a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction.”]; and
determining a deployment position of the self-moving device in the region within the each target time interval according to target activity trajectories [e.g., paragraph [0072] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “based on the correspondence between the trajectory information of the movable object recorded in the local trajectory map corresponding to each area and the time period, it determines the candidate area where the frequency of the movable object appearing within the time period to which the work time belongs is greater than a second threshold (e.g., relatively high); from the candidate area, it determines the work position when performing the work task, and then moves to the work position to perform the work task”; see also paragraph [0073], “For example, for any region, the time recorded by each grid in the local trajectory map corresponding to that region when a movable object passes through the corresponding grid can be counted, the grids whose time belongs to the time period of the operation can be obtained, and the number of times the movable object passes through these grids can be added together. Then, regions whose sum of occurrences is greater than a second threshold are selected as candidate regions, which are regions where the object appears more frequently. Subsequently, the self-moving device can use any of the methods described in b1-b4 above to determine the job location from the candidate area when performing the job task”; and see also paragraphs [0103], [0104], etc.]; and
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the each preset time interval, comprises:
controlling the self-moving device to move to the deployment position before the target time interval [e.g., paragraph [0072] in Guo (CN, ‘330), “it determines the candidate area where the frequency of the movable object appearing within the time period to which the work time belongs is greater than a second threshold (e.g., relatively high); from the candidate area, it determines the work position when performing the work task, and then moves to the work position to perform the work task”; see also paragraph [0081], “it can determine the area with a large flow of people at the current time, such as the boarding gate of an airport, and then move to the vicinity of the boarding gate to monitor the flow of people in the boarding gate area”; see also paragraphs [0086], etc.];
per claim 21, depending from claim 20, wherein an electromagnetic wave device is provided in each region [e.g., LRFs 12a, 12b, etc. in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)]; and
acquiring, with regard to any region, position information of the target object in the region within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period, comprises:
acquiring, with regard to any region [e.g., the places where the LRFs 12a, 12b are obviously installed in the environment, in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824)], initial position information of the target object in the region collected by the electromagnetic wave device within the each preset time interval in the each time period within the continuous time period [e.g., as taught by Guo (CN, ‘330), “a certain period of time before the self-moving device received the work instruction” such as one month, one week, three days, or even shorter (paragraph [0051]), used for obtaining the positions and trajectory information of movable objects; and as taught by Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), the predetermined time T (for example 5 hours) used for obtaining the movement trajectories from their positions, paragraphs [0071], [0072], [0104] to [0110], etc.], wherein the initial position information is relative coordinates of the target object in a coordinate system of the electromagnetic wave device [e.g., the range/radius and angle (e.g., as obvious relative polar coordinated) of the LRF scan in FIG. 5 of Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); see e.g., paragraphs [0039], etc.]; and
transforming the initial position information into the position information [e.g., the positions of the people/traffic volume in the grid map coordinates of the two-dimensional (x-y) array representing the environment, as described in paragraphs [0067], [0070], [0072], FIG. 6, etc. in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824); see e.g., paragraph [0091], “the program for operating the central control unit 10 also includes a program for converting the distance obtained by the LRF 12 into position (coordinate) data.”], wherein the position information is absolute coordinates of the target object in a regional coordinate system [e.g., paragraph [0067] in Kitade et al. (JP, ‘824), “Furthermore, the detection area is defined by x-y coordinates, and the location data of a person can be expressed using (x, y) coordinates.”];
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to David A Testardi whose telephone number is (571)270-3528. The examiner can normally be reached Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 8:30am - 5:30pm E.T., and Friday, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm E.T.
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/DAVID A TESTARDI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3664
1 See the 2019 35 U.S.C. 112 Compliance Federal Register Notice (Federal Register, Vol. 84, No. 4, Monday, January 7, 2019, pages 57 to 63). See also http://ptoweb.uspto.gov/patents/exTrain/documents/2019-112-guidance-initiative.pptx . Quoting the FR Notice at pages 61 and 62, "The Federal Circuit emphasized that ‘‘[t]he written description requirement is not met if the specification merely describes a ‘desired result.’ ’’ Vasudevan, 782 F.3d at 682 (quoting Ariad, 598 F.3d at 1349). . . . When examining computer-implemented, software-related claims, examiners should determine whether the specification discloses the computer and the algorithm(s) that achieve the claimed function in sufficient detail that one of ordinary skill in the art can reasonably conclude that the inventor possessed the claimed subject matter at the time of filing. An algorithm is defined, for example, as 'a finite sequence of steps for solving a logical or mathematical problem or performing a task.' Microsoft Computer Dictionary (5th ed., 2002). Applicant may 'express that algorithm in any understandable terms including as a mathematical formula, in prose, or as a flow chart, or in any other manner that provides sufficient structure.' Finisar, 523 F.3d at 1340 (internal citation omitted). It is not enough that one skilled in the art could theoretically write a program to achieve the claimed function, rather the specification itself must explain how the claimed function is achieved to demonstrate that the applicant had possession of it. See, e.g., Vasudevan, 782 F.3d at 682–83. If the specification does not provide a disclosure of the computer and algorithm(s) in sufficient detail to demonstrate to one of ordinary skill in the art that the inventor possessed the invention that achieves the claimed result, a rejection under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) for lack of written description must be made. See MPEP § 2161.01, subsection I."
2 See MPEP 2161.01, I. and LizardTech Inc. v. Earth Resource Mapping Inc., 424 F.3d 1336, 1345 (Fed. Cir. 2005) cited therein ("Whether the flaw in the specification is regarded as a failure to demonstrate that the applicant possessed the full scope of the invention recited in [the claim] or a failure to enable the full breadth of that claim, the specification provides inadequate support for the claim under [§ 112(a)]").
3 See Nautilus, Inc. v. Biosig Instruments, Inc. (U.S. Supreme Court, 2014) which held, "A patent is invalid for indefiniteness if its claims, read in light of the patent’s specification and prosecution history, fail to inform, with reasonable certainty, those skilled in the art about the scope of the invention." See also In re Packard, 751 F.3d 1307 (Fed.Cir.2014)(“[A] claim is indefinite when it contains words or phrases whose meaning is unclear,” i.e., “ambiguous, vague, incoherent, opaque, or otherwise unclear in describing and defining the claimed invention.”) and Ex Parte McAward, Appeal No. 2015-006416 (PTAB, Aug. 25, 2017, Precedential) (“Applying the broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim, then, the Office establishes a prima facie case of indefiniteness with a rejection explaining how the metes and bounds of a pending claim are not clear because the claim contains words or phrases whose meaning is unclear.”)
4 each (ēch) adj.
Being one of two or more considered individually; every: Each person cast a vote. My technique improved with each lesson.
. . .
[From: American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Retrieved 23 May 2026.]
5 an·y (ĕn′ē) adj.
1. One or some; no matter which: Take any book you want. Do you have any information on ancient Roman architecture?
2.
a. No matter how many or how few; some: Are there any oranges left?
b. No matter how much or how little: Is there any milk left?
3. Every: Any dog likes meat.
4. Exceeding normal limits, as in size or duration: The patient cannot endure chemotherapy for any length of time.
[From: American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Retrieved 23 May 2026.]
6 each (ēch) adj.
Being one of two or more considered individually; every: Each person cast a vote. My technique improved with each lesson.
. . .
[From: American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Retrieved 23 May 2026.]
7 an·y (ĕn′ē) adj.
1. One or some; no matter which: Take any book you want. Do you have any information on ancient Roman architecture?
2.
a. No matter how many or how few; some: Are there any oranges left?
b. No matter how much or how little: Is there any milk left?
3. Every: Any dog likes meat.
4. Exceeding normal limits, as in size or duration: The patient cannot endure chemotherapy for any length of time.
[From: American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. Retrieved 23 May 2026.]
8 Quoting the specification, “. . . the obstacles may also occupy a part of distribution range in the region to which the obstacles belong. Therefore, an activity trajectory center of each target activity trajectory subjected to the union processing, the volume range of the target object in the activity trajectory, and the distribution range of the obstacles in each region can be determined.”
Prosecution Insights