DETAILED ACTION
1. This is the first action on the merits relating to U.S. Application Serial No. 18/879,536 filed on December 27, 2024.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Preliminary Amendment
3. Receipt is acknowledged of the preliminary amendment filed on December 27, 2024. In the amendment, claims 1-17 were canceled, and claims 19-34 were newly added. Currently claims 18-34 remain in the examination.
Priority
4. Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
5. 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.
6. Claims 22, 26, and 29 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.
Regarding claim 22 lines 2-3: the phrase “"RFID Impinj E710/R2000" of the Impinj Inc. company in Seattle, United States of America” renders the claim vague and indefinite. Using a trademark as a part of the claim appears to be claiming a brand rather than the invention’s structure or function.
Claims 26 and 29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph on the same ground as claim 22.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. Claims 18-22, 24, 25, 27, 28, and 30-34 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by US 2013/0093591 A1 to Campero et al. (hereinafter “Campero”).
Regarding claim 18, Campero discloses an exhibitor 700 (see figure 7) comprising a frame 700 and one more shelves 738 (see paragraph 0062); a plurality of RFID reader antenna 710, 720, and 730 which detects items 716, 726, and 736 (see paragraphs 0063).
Regarding claim 19, the support fixture 700 has a vertical component and a shelf 837 and the wall on which the hooks 718 and clip 728 can be attached to can be interpreted as a shoulder recited in this claim.
Regarding claim 20, a host computer (see figure 9 and paragraphs 0066 and 0067) is a central device for the detection system.
Regarding claim 22, the host computer comprises RFID readers (see paragraphs 0069 and 0070 and figure 10), and the system can be implemented using HF or UHF (see paragraph 0095).
Regarding claim 24, the system of Campero include various network including a local area network (LAN) (see paragraph 0066, 0083 and others).
Regarding claim 25, the RIFD system is embodied with a short arrange in terms of signal strength (see paragraph 0003).
Regarding claim 27, the antenna 710, 720, and 730 is shown in figure 7, and the antenna can be installed on a shelf or shelves (see paragraph 0024).
Regarding claim 28, the items are tagged with RFID tag (see paragraph 0002); and the RFID tags may be High Frequency (HF) or UHF (see paragraph 0095).
Regarding claim 30, relying on figure 7, the items are arranged in several centimeters apart (se figure 7).
Regarding claims 31 and 32, the RFID data may be stored in a database (see paragraph 0066) which is on a computer, and the information may be displayed (see paragraph 0066).
Regarding claims 33 and 34, the shelf 738 and the fixture 700 make L shaped section, and the items can be arranged apart by some space due to packing and item arrangement (also see figures 1A-7).
Conclusion
The pertinent prior arts made of record but not relied are listed in the attached form PTO-892. These are considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. Applicant is respectfully suggested to carefully review these references.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Ahshik Kim whose telephone number is (571)272-2393. The examiner can normally be reached between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday thru Friday. Examiner’s fax phone number is (571)273-2393.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Michael G. Lee, can be reached on (571)272-2398. The fax phone number for this Group is (571)273-8300.
Communications via Internet e-mail regarding this application, other than those under 35 U.S.C. 132 or which otherwise require a signature, may be used by the applicant and should be addressed to [ahshik.kim@uspto.gov].
PTO employees do not engage in Internet communications where there exists a possibility that sensitive information could be identified or exchanged unless the record includes a properly signed express waiver of the confidentiality requirements of 35 U.S.C. 122. This is more clearly set forth in the Interim Internet Usage Policy published in the Official Gazette of the Patent and Trademark on February 25, 1997 at 1195 OG 89.
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/AHSHIK KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876
January 19, 2026