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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Claim Status
1. This is in response to application filed on 9/25/2024 in which claims 1-20 are presented for examination.
Information Disclosure Statement
2. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
3. 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 for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 3-11 and 13-20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Daoura et al. (US 9,961,523), (hereinafter, Daoura).
Regarding claim 1, Daoura discloses a system (= adhoc network consist of host devices, see col. 18, lines 36-48 and lines 56-64; and col. 19, line 60-col. 20, line 9), comprising:
a first electronic device having a first sensor configured to determine electronic device positions in a building (= each host receives proximate beacon broadcasts and relay any information in the broadcasts to the internet, including the GPS location of the host device, see col. 18, lines 36-46);
a second electronic device in wireless communication with the first electronic device and having a second sensor (= beacons would be attached to laptop or tablet computer, see col. 17, lines 24-33; and col. 19, lines 49-54); and
a third electronic device in wireless communication with the first electronic device and having a third sensor(= beacons would be attached to laptop or tablet computer, see col. 17, lines 24-33; and col. 19, lines 49-54),
wherein the first electronic device is configured to select the first sensor or the second sensor to gather sensor data on an object in the building based on the electronic device positions (= any network alerts are conveyed or may be shared with a second smartphone 503, see col. 16, lines 58-66; col. 17, lines 1-23 and col. 23, lines 15-25).
Regarding claim 3, as mentioned in claim 1, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first sensor comprises an image sensor (see, col. 24, lines 13-25 and col. 19, lines 49-54).
Regarding claim 4, as mentioned in claim 1, Daoura discloses system, wherein the second and third sensors comprise three-dimensional image sensors (see, col. 24, lines 13-25).
Regarding claim 5, as mentioned in claim 1, Daoura discloses system, wherein the second and third sensors comprise microphones (see, col. 24, lines 13-25).
Regarding claim 6, as mentioned in claim 1, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first sensor comprises a radio-frequency sensor (see, col. 24, lines 13-25 and col, 20, lines 15-27).
Regarding claim 7, as mentioned in claim 1, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first electronic device comprises a display configured to adjust display content based on the sensor data on the object (see, col. 24, lines 13-25).
Regarding claim 8, as mentioned in claim 1, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first sensor is configured to determine a first distance between the object and second electronic device and a second distance between the object and the third electronic device (see, col. 19, lines 51-59).
Regarding claim 9, as mentioned in claim 8, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first electronic device is configured to use the second or third sensor to gather the sensor data based on the first and second distances (see, col. 19, lines 51-59).
Regarding claim 10, as mentioned in claim 1, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first electronic device is configured to select the second or third sensor based on a signal quality factor associated with the second and third sensors. (see, col. 24, lines 13-25 and col, 20, lines 15-27).
Regarding claim 11, Daoura discloses a system (= adhoc network consist of host devices, see col. 18, lines 36-48 and lines 56-64; and col. 19, line 60-col. 20, line 9), comprising:
a first electronic device having an image sensor and configured to determine device positions within a building using the image sensor (= host device takes a picture, see col. 20, lines 44-56);
a second electronic device having a first sensor (= host device takes a picture, see col. 20, lines 44-56; and other host devices, see col. 18, lines 36-55); and
a third electronic device having a second sensor (= host device takes a picture, see col. 20, lines 44-56; and other host devices, see col. 18, lines 36-55), wherein the first electronic device is configured to use the first sensor or the second sensor to gather sensor data on an object in building based on the device positions
(= any network alerts are conveyed or may be shared with a second smartphone 503, see col. 16, lines 58-66; col. 17, lines 1-23 and col. 23, lines 15-25).
Regarding claim 13, as mentioned in claim 11, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first and second sensors comprise microphones (see, col. 24, lines 13-25).
Regarding claim 14, as mentioned in claim 11, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first electronic device is configured to select the first or second sensor based on a signal quality factor associated with the first and second sensors (see, col. 24, lines 13-25; and col. 18, lines 36-55 and col. 24, lines 14-21).
Regarding claim 15, as mentioned in claim 11, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first electronic device comprises a display configured to adjust visual content based on the sensor data on the object (see, col. 20, lines 44-55).
Regarding claim 16, Daoura discloses a system (= adhoc network consist of host devices, see col. 18, lines 36-48 and lines 56-64; and col. 19, line 60-col. 20, line 9), comprising:
a first electronic device having a sensor configured to determine device positions within a building (= each host receives proximate beacon broadcasts and relay any information in the broadcasts to the internet, including the GPS location of the host device, see col. 18, lines 36-46; and col. 20, lines 44-55);
a second electronic device having a first microphone(= other host devices, see col. 18, lines 36-55 and col. 24, lines 14-21), and
a third electronic device having a second microphone, wherein the first electronic device is configured to receive measured sound from the first or second microphone based on the device positions (= any network alerts are conveyed or may be shared with a second smartphone 503, see col. 16, lines 58-66; col. 17, lines 1-23 and col. 23, lines 15-25; other host devices, see col. 18, lines 36-55 and col. 24, lines 14-21).
Regarding claim 17, as mentioned in claim 16, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first electronic device is configured to select the first or second microphone based on a signal quality factor associated with the first and second microphones (see, col. 24, lines 13-25; and col. 18, lines 36-55 and col. 24, lines 14-21).
Regarding claim 18, as mentioned in claim 16, Daoura discloses system, wherein the first electronic device comprises a speaker configured to play the sound (see, col. 24, lines 13-25; and col. 18, lines 36-55 and col. 24, lines 14-21).
Regarding claim 19, as mentioned in claim 16, Daoura discloses system wherein the sensor comprises a radio-frequency sensor (see, col. 24, lines 13-25; and col. 18, lines 36-55 and col. 24, lines 14-21).
Regarding claim 20, as mentioned in claim 16, Daoura discloses system wherein the second and third electronic devices are selected from the group consisting of: a cellular telephone, a tablet computer, a wristwatch device, and a laptop (= other host devices, see, col. 24, lines 13-25; and col. 18, lines 36-55 and col. 24, lines 14-21).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
4. In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 2 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Zhang et in view of Lee et al., (US 2019/0331914), (hereinafter, Lee).
Regarding claim 2, as mentioned in claim 1, Daoura explicitly fails to disclose the system wherein the first electronic device comprises a head-mounted device.
However, Lee which is an analogous art equivalently discloses the system wherein the first electronic device comprises a head-mounted device (see, [0093 and 0101]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined the teaching of Willey with Daoura for the benefit of achieving a communication system that includes sharing mechanism that reduces the sharer’s processing load.
Regarding claim 12, as mentioned in claim 11, Daoura explicitly fails to disclose the system wherein the first electronic device comprises a head-mounted device and the image sensor comprises a three-dimensional image sensor.
However, Willey which is an analogous art equivalently discloses the system wherein the first electronic device comprises a head-mounted device and the image sensor comprises a three-dimensional image sensor (see, [0043]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined the teaching of Willey with Daoura for the benefit of achieving a communication system that includes sharing mechanism that reduces the sharer’s processing load.
CONCLUSION
5. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KWASI KARIKARI whose telephone number is (571)272-8566. The examiner can normally be reached M-Sat: 6am-10pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Charles Appiah can be reached on 571-272-7904. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/Kwasi Karikari/
Primary Examiner: Art Unit 2641.
Prosecution Insights