Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to all claims have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection (see below).
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 – 3, 9, 14, 16, 17 and 21 – 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yu et al. (US Pub. No. 2016/0349989 A1) in view of Kim et al. (US Pub. No. 2016/0345048 A1).
As to claims 1, 22 and 23, Yu shows an electronic device 100 (Fig. 1 and para. 24), non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs (inherently associated with processing unit 130, Fig. 1 and para. 27) and associated methodology comprising: at an electronic device 100 (Figs. 1 and 2 and paras. 24 and 28) with a touch-sensitive surface 120 (Figs. 1, 2, 11A and 11C and paras. 24, 28 and 75 – 77): detecting a touch input in a touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface of the electronic device (i.e. F312/F303, for example, Figs. 11A, 13A and 13B and paras. 77 and 87); in response to detecting the touch input in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface: in accordance with a determination that the touch input was detected at a first location in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface (i.e. F312, for example, Fig. 13A and para. 87), selecting a first area in the touch navigation region as a primary touch navigation area (i.e. to provide user input functionality to left side of the display area D403, for example, Fig. 13A and para. 87), wherein the first area is a subset of the touch navigation region that excludes a first auxiliary portion of the touch navigation region (i.e. the auxiliary area being F303 which is separate from area F312, Figs. 11A and 13A and paras. 77 and 87), and the first area is selected so as to include the first location (Figs. 11A and 13A and paras. 77 and 87); and in accordance with a determination that the touch input was detected at a second location in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface (i.e. area F303, for example, Figs. 11A and 13B and paras. 77 and 88), selecting a second area in the touch navigation region as the primary touch navigation area (i.e. to provide user input functionality to another area of the left side area D403, for example, Fig. 13B and para. 88), wherein the second area is a subset of the touch navigation region that excludes a second auxiliary portion of the touch navigation region (the auxiliary area being F312, for example, Figs. 11A, 13A and 13B and paras. 77, 87 and 88), the second area is selected so as to include the second location (Figs. 11A, 13A and 13B and paras. 77, 87 and 88), and the second area is different from the first area (Figs. 11A, 13A and 13B and paras. 77, 87 and 88).
Yu does not show the method of performing a first operation corresponding to the touch input in the first area and performing the first operation corresponding to the touch input in the second area.
Kim shows the method of performing a first operation corresponding to a touch input in the first area (i.e. highlighting a key on a virtual keyboard, for example, Figs. 8 and 9 and paras. 97 – 101), and performing the first operation corresponding to the touch input in the second area (i.e. highlighting a key on a virtual keyboard, for example, Figs. 8 and 9 and paras. 97 – 101).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify the teachings of Yu with those of Kim because designing the system in this way allows the device to provide enhanced ease of use (para. 34)
As to claim 2, Yu shows that the second location at which the touch input was detected is in the first auxiliary portion of the touch navigation region (Figs. 11A, 13A and 13B and paras. 77, 87 and 88), and the first location at which the touch input was detected is in the second auxiliary portion of the touch navigation region (Figs. 11A, 13A and 13B and paras. 77, 87 and 88).
As to claim 3, Yu shows that the first area in the touch navigation region includes at least a portion of the second auxiliary portion of the touch navigation region (Figs. 11A, 13A and 13B and paras. 77, 87 and 88), and the second area in the touch navigation region includes at least a portion of the first auxiliary portion of the touch navigation region (Figs. 11A, 13A and 13B and paras. 77, 87 and 88).
As to claim 9, Yu shows that the primary touch navigation area is selected so that a location of the touch input in the primary touch navigation area corresponds to a location of the touch input in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface (Fig. 13A and para. 87).
As to claim 14, Yu shows that the touch navigation region includes a plurality of predefined regions at a plurality of predefined locations in the touch navigation region (Figs. 11A – 11C and para. 77), independent of a location of the primary touch navigation area in the touch navigation region (Figs. 11A – 11C and para. 77), the plurality of predefined regions corresponding to predetermined navigational inputs (Figs. 13A – 13F).
As to claim 16, Yu shows that the touch input comprises touchdown of a contact (para. 27), and the method further comprises: after selecting the primary touch navigation area in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface, detecting movement of the contact relative to the primary touch navigation area (Fig. 13A and para. 87); and in response to detecting the movement of the contact, initiating an operation to perform a navigational action at a second electronic device in accordance with the movement of the contact relative to the primary touch navigation area (Fig. 13A and para. 87).
As to claim 17, Yu shows that the navigational action comprises scrolling content displayed by the second electronic device in accordance with the movement of the contact relative to the primary touch navigation area (para. 85).
As to claim 21, Yu shows that the touch input comprises touchdown of a contact (para. 27), and the method further comprises: after selecting the primary touch navigation area in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface, detecting liftoff of the contact followed by a second touch input at a third location, different from the first and second locations (i.e. F313, for example), in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface (Fig. 11C and para. 76); and in response to detecting the second touch input at the third location in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface, selecting a third area, different from the first area and the second area, in the touch navigation region as the primary touch navigation area (Fig. 13F and para. 92), the third area selected so as to include the third location (Fig. 13F and para. 92).
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yu as combined above in view of Rehm (US Pub. No. 2006/0071915 A1).
As to claim 4, Yu does not show that the first area in the touch navigation region includes at least a portion of the second area in the touch navigation region.
Rehm shows that a first area 42 in a touch navigation region includes at least a portion of a second area 44 in the touch navigation region (Fig. 3 and para. 100).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to modify the teachings of Yu with those of Rehm because designing the system in this way allows the device to exhibit enhanced convenience (para. 100).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5 – 8, 10 – 13, 15 and 18 – 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Specifically, claim 5 recites that “…detecting the touch input includes detecting a contact on the touch-sensitive surface and the method further comprises: in response to detecting the touch input in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface, selecting an area outside of the primary touch navigation area in the touch navigation region as an auxiliary touch navigation area; after selecting the primary touch navigation area and the auxiliary touch navigation area, detecting a second touch input including a movement of the contact in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface of the electronic device that includes movement of the contact through a portion of the primary touch navigation area and a portion of the auxiliary touch navigation area; and in response to detecting the second touch input in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface, generating navigational input that includes a navigational-input magnitude of navigation that is based on a touch-movement magnitude of the movement of the contact in the touch navigation region, wherein movement of the contact in the primary touch navigation area results in a navigational input with a greater navigational-input magnitude than movement of the contact in the auxiliary touch navigation area.”
The prior art does not show this configuration; therefore this claim contains allowable subject matter.
Claims 6 – 8 contain allowable subject matter at least by virtue of their dependence on claim 5.
Claim 10 recites “…after selecting the primary touch navigation area, detecting a navigational input in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface of the electronic device that includes a contact and movement of the contact that starts inside of the primary touch navigation area of the touch-sensitive surface and moves into the auxiliary touch navigation area of the touch-sensitive surface; and in response to detecting the navigational input: while the contact is inside the primary touch navigation area, generating navigational input for performing a navigational action corresponding to the detected navigational input; and while the contact is in the auxiliary touch navigation area: in accordance with a determination that a speed of the movement of the contact is less than a threshold speed, continuing to generate the navigational input for performing the navigational action corresponding to the detected navigational input; and in accordance with a determination that the speed of the movement of the contact is greater than the threshold speed, ceasing the generation of the navigational input for performing the navigational action.”
The prior art does not show this configuration; therefore this claim contains allowable subject matter.
Claim 11 contains allowable subject matter at least by virtue of its dependence on claim 10.
Claim 12 recites that “…the electronic device is configured to provide input to a second electronic device, a dedicated remote control device is configured to provide input to the second electronic device, the dedicated remote control device having a touch-sensitive surface for providing input to the second electronic device, and a size of the primary touch navigation area in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface of the electronic device corresponds to a size of the touch-sensitive surface of the dedicated remote control device.”
The prior art does not show this configuration; therefore this claim contains allowable subject matter.
Claim 13 recites “…in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is a first device on which the touch navigation region has a first size, the primary touch navigation area has a respective size, and in accordance with a determination that the electronic device is a second device on which the touch navigation region has a second size, larger than the first size, the primary touch navigation area has the respective size.”
The prior art does not show this configuration; therefore this claim contains allowable subject matter.
Claim 15 recites that “…a dedicated remote control device is configured to provide input to a second electronic device, the dedicated remote control device having a touch-sensitive surface for providing input to the second electronic device, and the dedicated remote control device configured to provide, to the second electronic device, a command of a touch input type corresponding to a touch input detected on the touch-sensitive surface of the dedicated remote control device, and the method further comprises: in response to detecting the touch input in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface electronic device, providing, to the second electronic device, a command of the touch input type corresponding to the touch input detected in the touch navigation region of the touch-sensitive surface of the electronic device.
The prior art does not show this configuration; therefore this claim contains allowable subject matter.
Claim 18 recites that “… the navigational action comprises a directional action in a game displayed by the second electronic device in accordance with the movement of the contact relative to the primary touch navigation area.”
The prior art does not show this configuration; therefore this claim contains allowable subject matter.
Claim 19 recites that “… the navigational action comprises rotating an object displayed by the second electronic device in a simulated third dimension in accordance with the movement of the contact relative to the primary touch navigation area.”
The prior art does not show this configuration; therefore this claim contains allowable subject matter.
Claim 20 recites that “the navigational action comprises moving a current play position through content playing on the second electronic device in accordance with the movement of the contact relative to the primary touch navigation area.”
The prior art does not show this configuration; therefore this claim contains allowable subject matter.
CONCLUSION
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/CARL ADAMS/Examiner, Art Unit 2627