DETAILED ACTION
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 .
This action is in response to the preliminary amendment filed on 12/2/2024. Claims 1-9, 23-32 are pending and have been considered below.
Claim Objections
Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 1 recites in line 1 “a device group”; and further in line 2, “a device group” is being recited. For consistency of claim language this should be changed to “the device group” in line 2 [and considered accordingly for examination purposes in this office action].
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
Claims 3, 24, 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.
Claim 3 recites the limitation " the received information on the first accessory device" in lines 4-5. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 24 recites the limitation " the received information on the first accessory device" in lines 5-6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 29 recites the limitation " the received information on the first accessory device" in lines 5-6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2,4-9, 23,25-28,30-32 are allowable over prior art of record.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The prior art references considered relevant disclose,
Chen (US 2020/0314926) discloses a system and method for automatic pairing of wireless devices with group of accessories comprising first and second accessory.
Mathews (US 2020/0097380) discloses a system and method for accessory communication control with accessory status transmission to controller.
Srivatsa et al. (US 2020/0008035) discloses a system and method for cloud based proximity pairing and switching of peer to peer devices.
Lovich (US 2024/0015516) discloses a system and method for automatically pairing accessory device with device using private and public keys.
The prior art references taken alone or in combination, fail to disclose or teach a system and method for pairing with a device group comprising, receiving from a first accessory device in the device group a pairing status, selectively pairing with the first accessory device based on the pairing status, sending to the first accessory device a request for information on accessory devices in the device group, the information including information on at least one accessory device that is proximate to the first accessory device in the device group, receiving information on a second accessory device in the device group, selectively sending to the second accessory device a continue pairing message if the second accessory device is proximate, and creating a device group profile with information on the accessory devices in the device group and received information on the second accessory device. Prior art further fails to disclose a method for facilitating pairing of a device group comprising determining by a first accessory device a status on proximity of a second accessory device in the device group, sending to a host device the status on proximity of the second accessory device in the device group, sending a handshake message to the second accessory device, receiving verifiable information from the second accessory device, and sending to the host device the verifiable information.
The prior art does not teach or disclose in combination with each and every limitation of the claims. The aspects as summarized above are neither anticipated nor obviated by the prior art of record.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HIRDEPAL SINGH whose telephone number is (571)270-1688. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00-5:00 M-F.
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/HIRDEPAL SINGH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2631
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