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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 6-8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by YAMAMOTO (U.S. Pub No. 2020/0395998 A1)
1, YAMAMOTO teaches a relay device comprising: a first communication section configured to establish wireless communication with one or more external measurement devices and an external setting device according to a predetermined wireless communication standard [fig 1, par 0037, 0038, The relay device 100 according to the present exemplary embodiment has a function of relaying communication between a terminal apparatus 200 and an information management apparatus 300, and includes a communication A module 105, a communication B module 110, a storage module 115, and a control module 120, as illustrated in the example of FIG. 1. The communication A module 105 is connected to the storage module 115 and the control module 120, and is connected to the information management apparatus 300 via Internet communication 355 and the firewall 350].
the one or more external measurement devices being configured to transmit measurement data [par 0062, 0139, 0140, The control module 120 may communicate with the information management apparatus 300 at periodic times using the communication A module 105, acquire information for identifying the terminal apparatus 200 and mode instruction information from the information management apparatus. ] In a case where the information management apparatus 300 analyzes detailed data transmitted from the terminal apparatus 200 via the relay device 100 and the Internet 360, and detects health abnormalities of the user. Conversely, in a case where the information management apparatus 300 determines that the measurement data of the user 400 is normal, the information management apparatus 300 instructs the terminal apparatus 200 to change from the second mode to the first mode],
the external setting device being configured to transmit communication setting data relating to communication conditions [par 0138, In accordance with this instruction, the terminal apparatus 200 is set to the second mode, detects detailed data, establishes communication by the near field communication 155 with the relay device 100, and transmits the detailed data to the information management apparatus 300 via the relay device 100. That is, the Internet communication 355 is used for a large amount of data or continuous transmission of data when the situation changes];
a second communication section configured to transmit the measurement data received from the one or more external measurement devices to an external device according to another wireless communication standard different from the predetermined wireless communication standard for the first communication section [fig 1, par 0040, 0184, The communication B module 110 is connected to the control module 120, and is connected to the terminal apparatus 200 via the near field communication 155. The communication B module 110 performs near field communication 155 with the terminal apparatus 200. Examples of near field communication 155 include Bluetooth (registered trademark), Wi-Fi, and the like. Specifically, there are Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE, for short), Wi-Fi-Direct, and the like.
As described above, this transmission may be performed from the information management apparatus 300 to the terminal apparatus 200 via the long-range wireless communication 255, or in a case where the relay device 100 has accessed the information management apparatus 300, in response to this access, data may be transmitted to the relay device 100 via the Internet communication 355, and the relay device 100 may transmit data to the target terminal apparatus 200 via the near field communication 155. In the latter case, Further, the communication path may be varied according to the mode change. For example, in a case of changing from the normal mode to the detailed mode, the Internet communication 355 may be used, and in a case of changing from the detailed mode to the normal mode, the long-range wireless communication 255 may be used. Conversely, in a case of changing from the detailed mode to the normal mode, the long-range wireless communication 255 may be used, and in a case of changing from the detailed mode to the normal mode, the Internet communication 355 may be used];
a storage configured to store the measurement data and the communication setting data [par 0041, the storage module 115 is connected to the communication A module 105 and the control module 120. The storage module 115 stores information for identifying the terminal apparatus 200 and mode instruction information that is instruction information indicating that the operation is to be performed in the second mode for acquiring data having a larger data amount than in the first mode. For example, it may be a table that stores the identification information of the terminal apparatus 200 and the mode instruction information in association with each other];
and a communication controller configured to control the wireless communication by the first communication section and the second communication section based on the communication setting data stored in the storage [fig 1, par 0043, 0042, The control module 120 is connected to the communication A module 105, the communication B module 110, and the storage module 115. In a case where the terminal apparatus 200 connected using the communication B module 110 is a terminal apparatus that needs to operate in the second mode, the control module 120 performs control so as to transmit to the terminal apparatus 200, mode instruction information for instructing the operation in the second mode. the control module 120 performs control so as to transmit the data acquired from the terminal apparatus 200 using the communication B module 110 to the information management apparatus 300 using the communication A module 105].
2, YAMAMOTO discloses the relay device according to claim 1, further comprising: an operation section configured to receive an operation by a worker [par 0048, The “mode instruction information” may be instruction information indicating that the operation is to be performed in the first mode, or instruction information indicating that the operation is to be performed in the second mode. In either case, the state before this instruction is made is not defined. In other words, in the case of the instruction information indicating that the operation is to be performed in the first mode, the switching from the second mode to the first mode may be performed. For example, in a case where the mode is indefinite as in the terminal apparatus 200 immediately after power-on (so-called “blank state”), it may be set to operate in the first mode];
and a mode switching section configured to switch a mode of the relay device between a first mode and a second mode in accordance with the operation made on the operation section [par 0046, In either case, the state before this instruction is made is not defined. In other words, in the case of the instruction information indicating that the operation is to be performed in the first mode, the switching from the second mode to the first mode may be performed. For example, in a case where the mode is indefinite as in the terminal apparatus 200 immediately after power-on (so-called “blank state”), it may be set to operate in the first mode. Similarly, in the case of the instruction information indicating that the operation is to be performed in the second mode, the switching from the first mode to the second mode may be performed],
in the first mode the wireless communication being established between the one or more external measurement devices and the first communication section [par 0053, 0184, The information management apparatus 300 transmits the instruction information table 1100 to the terminal apparatus 200, in a case of changing from the normal mode to the detailed mode (or in a case of changing from the detailed mode to the normal mode). The instruction information table 1100 is an example of instruction information. As described above, this transmission may be performed from the information management apparatus 300 to the terminal apparatus 200 via the long-range wireless communication 255, or in a case where the relay device 100 has accessed the information management apparatus 300, in response to this access, data may be transmitted to the relay device 100 via the Internet communication 355, and the relay device 100 may transmit data to the target terminal apparatus 200 via the near field communication 155],
in the second mode the wireless communication being established between the external setting device and the first communication section [par 0053, That is, the communication B module 110 transmits the mode instruction information for switching to the first mode, to the terminal apparatus 200 that is to be switched from the second mode to the first mode. Of course, the terminal apparatus 200 receives the mode instruction information and sets itself to the first mode. Then, the communication B module 110 releases the connection with the terminal apparatus 200 because the relay device 100 does not need to relay communication between the terminal apparatus 200 and the information management apparatus 300].
6, YAMAMOTO illustrate the relay device according to claim 1, wherein the communication controller is configured to activate the first communication section and the second communication section at a predetermined time based on the communication setting data stored in the storage to establish the wireless communication between the one or more external measurement devices and the first communication section and between the external device and the second communication section [par 0062-0065, The control module 120 may communicate with the information management apparatus 300 at periodic times using the communication A module 105, acquire information for identifying the terminal apparatus 200 and mode instruction information from the information management apparatus 300, and store the acquired information in the storage module. Here, “before the near field communication 155 with the terminal apparatus 200 becomes possible” refers to the state where the terminal apparatus 200 cannot perform the near field communication 155 with the relay device 100. For example, it corresponds to a situation where a person wearing the wearable computer is not in the vicinity, such as before working time, in a case where the terminal apparatus 200 is a wearable computer].
7, YAMAMOTO discloses the relay device according to claim 2, wherein the communication controller is configured to activate the first communication section and the second communication section in accordance with the operation made on the operation section to establish the wireless communication between the one or more external measurement devices and the first communication section and between the external device and the second communication section [par 0043, 0044, The control module 120 is connected to the communication A module 105, the communication B module 110, and the storage module 115. In a case where the terminal apparatus 200 connected using the communication B module 110 is a terminal apparatus that needs to operate in the second mode, the control module 120 performs control so as to transmit to the terminal apparatus 200, mode instruction information for instructing the operation in the second mode. Then, the control module 120 performs control so as to transmit the data acquired from the terminal apparatus 200 using the communication B module 110 to the information management apparatus 300 using the communication A module 105].
8, YAMAMOTO illustrate a communication system comprising: the relay device according to claim 1; the one or more external measurement devices; and the external device [fig 1, par 0044, Then, the control module 120 performs control so as to transmit the data acquired from the terminal apparatus 200 using the communication B module 110 to the information management apparatus 300 using the communication A module 105. This control relays communication from the terminal apparatus 200 to the information management apparatus 300].
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.
Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over YAMAMOTO (U.S. Pub No. 2020/0395998 A1) in view of ISHINO (U.S. Pub No. 2018/0219939 A1).
3, YAMAMOTO discloses the relay device according to claim 2, YAMAMOTO fail to show further comprising: a mode display configured to display the mode set by the mode switching section.
In an analogous art ISHINO show further comprising: a mode display configured to display the mode set by the mode switching section [abstract, claim 1, A relay apparatus includes a storage, request data reception and transmission units, a mode data reception unit, a specified condition conversion unit, a content identifier reception unit, a generation unit, and a display data transmission unit. The mode data reception unit receives mode data specifying a client apparatus display format. The specified condition conversion unit converts the specified condition into a server format, A relay apparatus comprising: a processor connected to a memory and configured to: receive, from a client apparatus, a search query to a plurality storage services and a result display mode which are inputted by a user of the client apparatus];
Before the effective filing date it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine the teachings of YAMAMOTO and ISHINO because this generates display data indicating an instruction to display the content identifier received by the content identifier reception unit in the display format specified by the mode data received by the mode data reception unit. [ISHINO par 0004]
Claim(s) 4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over YAMAMOTO (U.S. Pub No. 2020/0395998 A1) in view of ISHINO (U.S. Pub No. 2018/0219939 A1) in further view of HORII (U.S. Pub No. 2022/0102100 A1).
4, YAMAMOTO and ISHINO demonstrate the relay device according to claim 3, YAMAMOTO and ISHINO fail to show wherein the mode display includes a plurality of display lamps.
In an analogous art HORII show wherein the mode display includes a plurality of display lamps [par 0025, the relay module (1) further includes LED indicators]
Before the effective filing date it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine the teachings of YAMAMOTO, ISHINO, and HORRII because this provides a relay module enabling reduction of the workload of a worker and realization of space saving for a relay terminal block. [HORII, par 0007]
7. Claim(s) 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over YAMAMOTO (U.S. Pub No. 2020/0395998 A1) in view of MCMENAMY (U.S. Pub No. 2024/0187085 A1).
5, YAMAMOTO reveals the relay device according to claim 1, YAMAMOTO fail to show wherein a plurality of the external measurement devices are provided, and the communication controller is configured to sequentially establish the wireless communication between each of the plurality of external measurement devices and the first communication section based on the communication setting data stored in the storage.
In an analogous art MCMENAMY to show wherein a plurality of the external measurement devices are provided, and the communication controller is configured to sequentially establish the wireless communication between each of the plurality of external measurement devices [par 0467, a scenario according to an embodiment according to which the repeater 184 is configured for simultaneously or sequentially connect to more than one base station 1621 and 1622, e.g., a number of at least 2, at least 3 or more, and to forward or relaying communication of the plurality of base stations 162.sub.1/162.sub.2 to the UE 194, e.g., to implement handovers or multi-connectivity].
Before the effective filing date it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine the teachings of YAMAMOTO and MCMENAY because need for improvements in a wireless communication system or a network operating repeaters. [MCMENAMY, par 0056]
YAMAMOTO show the first communication section based on the communication setting data stored in the storage [par 0053, in a case where the information acquired from the information management apparatus 300 does not include the identification information of the terminal apparatus 200 from which detailed data stored in the storage module 115 is to be acquired, the control module 120 may perform control to transmit to the target terminal apparatus 200, the mode instruction information which is instruction information indicating that the operation is to be performed in the first mode],
Conclusion
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/JASON A HARLEY/Examiner, Art Unit 2468
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