DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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.
Claim(s) (1-20) is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a-1) as being anticipated by Chong (9670696).
Regarding claim 1: Chong discloses an electronic lock (as depicted in figure 1 of Chong and see associated descriptions for details), comprising:
a processing unit (col. 5, lines 64-65 of Chong);
a memory device storing instructions defining a plurality of presentation modes (col. 9, lines 18-21 of Chong); and
a keypad (as depicted in figure 1 of Chong and see associated descriptions for detail) comprising:
a plurality of predefined keypad regions, each predefined keypad region (col. 4, lines 25-42 of Chong) including:
one or more lighting elements, wherein in response to a signal from the processing unit, the one or more lighting elements illuminate the predefined keypad region in any of a plurality of colors in accordance with a selected one of the plurality of presentation modes (col. 4, line 59 to col. 5, line 7 of Chong). Thus, Chong disclosed electronic lock with colored keypad for different modes.
Regarding claim 2:wherein the selected one of the plurality of presentation modes is selected by the processing unit (col. 6, lines 2-5 of Chong).
Regarding claim 3: wherein the processing unit initiates one of the plurality of presentation modes based on detection of a user proximate to the keypad are considered inherent wireless remote electronic lock features.
Regarding claim 4: wherein the processing unit initiates one of the plurality of presentation modes based on input at the keypad (col. 9, lines 5-23 of Chong).
Regarding claim 5: wherein the selected one of the plurality of presentation modes is a status message presentation mode (col. 9, lines 5-23 of Chong).
Regarding claim 6: wherein, in the status message presentation mode, the one or more lighting elements illuminate the plurality of predefined keypad regions to display an indication of a battery level of the electronic lock (col.9, lines 5-23 of Chong).
Regarding claim 7: wherein, in the status presentation mode, the one or more lighting elements illuminate the plurality of predefined keypad regions to display an indication that an actuation passcode entered at the keypad is valid (col. 9, lines 5-23 of Chong).
Regarding claim 8: wherein the selected one of the plurality of presentation modes is a passcode input presentation mode, wherein, in the passcode input presentation mode, the one or more lighting elements illuminate the predefined keypad region to display a plurality of colors associated with a plurality of numbers, and wherein the association of the plurality of colors and the plurality of numbers is random (col. 9, lines 5-23 of Chong).
Regarding claim 9: figure 24 of Chong shows wherein the selected one of the plurality of presentation modes is an ornamental presentation mode (see associated descriptions for details).
Regarding claim 10: wherein the predefined keypad regions comprise predefined regions of a touch interface (col. 4, lines 29-32 of Chong).
Regarding claim 11: wherein the plurality of presentation modes is customizable by a user, wherein a definition of one or more of the plurality of presentation modes is received from a mobile device at the electronic lock via a wireless communication interface, and wherein the selected one of the plurality of presentation modes is selected by the user at the mobile device communicatively connected to the electronic lock (col. 5, lines 1-11 of Chong).
Regarding claim 12: wherein the one or more lighting elements further illuminate the predefined keypad region in a pattern in accordance with the selected one of the plurality of presentation modes (col. 4, lines 59-67 of Chong).
Regarding claim 13: wherein the signal from the processing unit is received by the one or more lighting elements through a chain of lighting elements are considered inherent in features of color LEDs (col. 4, lines 59-67 of Chong).
Regarding claim 14: Chong discloses a procedural method for illuminating a keypad having a plurality of predefined keypad regions, the method comprising: selecting a presentation mode from among a plurality of stored presentation modes; sending one or more signals from a processing unit to one or more lighting elements based on the selected presentation mode; and illuminating one or more predefined keypad regions of the plurality of predefined keypad regions in any of a plurality of colors with the one or more lighting elements based on the received one or more signals (see discussions above).
Regarding claim 15: wherein one or more signals are further based on a status of an electronic lock (see discussions of claim 5 above).
Regarding claim 16: wherein the status of the electronic lock is a battery level of the electronic lock (see discussions of claim 6 above).
Regarding claim 17: wherein selecting the presentation mode from the plurality of stored presentation modes includes: detecting a user proximate to the keypad; and selecting a presentation mode based on detecting the user proximate to the keypad (see discussion of claim 3 above).
Regarding claim 18: wherein selecting the presentation mode from the plurality of stored presentation modes includes: receiving an input at the keypad; and selecting a presentation mode based on the received input (see discussions of claim 8 above).
Regarding claim 19: Chong disclosed a system for managing electronic lock settings, the system comprising: an electronic lock, including: a processing unit; a memory device storing instructions defining a plurality of presentation modes; and a keypad comprising: a plurality of predefined keypad regions, each predefined keypad region including: one or more lighting elements, wherein in response to a signal from the processing unit, the one or more lighting elements illuminate the predefined keypad region in any of a plurality of colors in accordance with a selected one of the plurality of presentation modes; and a computing device, including: a processor; and a memory device storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computing device to execute an electronic lock application, wherein the electronic lock application includes options for customizing at least one of the plurality of presentation modes (see discussions of claims 1-16 above).
Regarding claim 20: wherein the computing device is a mobile device having a wireless communication interface and the electronic lock has a wireless communication interface, and wherein the electronic lock application is a mobile application (see discussions of claim 11 above).
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Almomani (9691207), Imanuel (11893850), Imanuel et al (WO2017/184507A1), Magee et al (10489760), Zabala Zabaleta et al (2018/0291650), Zabala Zabaleta et al (AU2016341463B2), Pasma et al (11948415) are cited for colored keypad with statuses.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to K. Wong whose telephone number is (571) 272-7566.
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, D. Goins can be reached at (571) 272-2957. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/K. WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2689
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