DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Status
Claims 1 is the only claim filed and is currently being examined.
Specification
The Specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification. MPEP § 608.01
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hill (US Patent Application Publication No. 2003/0065629).
With respect to independent Claim 1, Hill discloses the limitations of independent Claim 1 as follows:
A mailing system comprising:
a first computer programmed to generate a handling information for a mail item recipient associated with a mail item; and (See Pars. 0036-0040, 0043: Figs. 1-3, 7; Ref. Numerals 10(first computer), 30(handling information), 32(mail recipient), "hardcopy mail"(mail item)
a mailing mechanism configured to process the handling information to transmit the mail item. (See Pars. 0047-0049, 0053; Figs. 1-3, 7; Ref. Numerals 10(first computer), 30(handling information), 32(mail recipient), 36(mailing mechanism), "hardcopy mail"(mail item)
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure because the prior art references contain subject matter that relates to one or more of Applicant’s claim limitations.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Thomas Randazzo whose telephone number is 313-446-4903. The examiner can normally be reached between 9:00am and 4:00pm ET Monday through Thursday and between 9:00am and 11:00am ET on Friday.
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/THOMAS RANDAZZO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3655 July 23, 2026