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 .
Double Patenting
2. The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the "right to exclude" granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. See In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and, In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321 (c) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent is shown to be commonly owned with this application. See 37 CFR 1.130(b). Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
Claims 1-20 rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over independent claims of the following: U.S. Patent No. 12,155,794. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because independent claims of U.S. Patent No. 12,155,794, and independent claims of the present application share the following:
Pending Application 18/932,373
U.S. Patent No. 12,155,794
A computer-implemented method for handling out-of-sequence caller dialog with an intelligent voice interface, wherein the intelligent voice interface is configured to lead callers through pathways of an algorithmic dialog that includes a plurality of available voice prompts for requesting different types of caller information, the computer-implemented method comprising, during a voice communication with a caller via a caller device:
generating, by the one or more processors implementing the intelligent voice interface, the algorithmic dialog that includes the plurality of available voice prompts for requesting a plurality of different types of caller information;
receiving from the caller device, by the one or more processors, caller input data indicative of a voice input of the caller;
determining, by the one or more processors processing the caller input data, that the voice input includes a first type of caller information corresponding to a first voice prompt of the plurality of available voice prompts without having provided the first voice prompt to the caller device;
after determining that the voice input includes the caller information of the first type, bypassing, by the one or more processors, the first voice prompt, of the plurality of available voice prompts, that requests the first type of caller information;
and providing, by the one or more processors, a second voice prompt of the plurality of available voice prompts that requests a second type of caller information.
A computer-implemented method for handling out-of- sequence caller dialog with an intelligent voice interface, wherein the intelligent voice interface is configured to lead callers through pathways of an algorithmic dialog that includes a plurality of available voice prompts for requesting different types of caller information, the computer- implemented method comprising, during a voice communication with a caller via a caller device:
receiving from the caller device, by one or more processors implementing the intelligent voice interface, first caller input data indicative of a first voice input of the caller;
determining, by the one or more processors processing the first caller input data, an intent of the caller from the first voice input; generating, by the one or more processors, the algorithmic dialog corresponding to the intent of the caller that includes the plurality of available voice prompts for requesting a plurality of different types of caller information; receiving from the caller device, by the one or more processors implementing the intelligent voice interface and without having first provided to the caller device any voice prompt that requests a first type of caller information, second caller input data indicative of a second voice input of the caller;
determining, by the one or more processors processing the second caller input data, that the second voice input includes acaller information of the first type of caller information corresponding to a first voice prompt of the plurality of available voice prompts without having provided the first voice prompt to the caller device;
and after determining that the second voice input includes the caller information of the first type, bypassing, by the one or more processors, the first one or more voice prompts, of the plurality of available voice prompts, that requests the first type of caller information; and
providing, by the one or more processors, a second voice prompt of the plurality of available voice prompts that requests a second type of caller information
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Amal Zenati whose telephone number is 571-270-1947. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:00 -5:00 M-F.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ahmad Matar can be reached on 571- 272- 7488. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571- 273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
/AMAL S ZENATI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2693
Prosecution Insights