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 .
EXAMINER’S COMMENTS
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 10-12 are allowed.
4. Regarding claims 3-9 and 15-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. Claim(s) 1-2 and 13-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipate by Yoon et al. (Hereinafter Yoon) US-PG-PUB No. 2010/0142735.
Regarding claim 1, Yoon teaches
An audio system (Fig. 1 shows an audio system 100) comprising:
a mobile device (Fig. 1 shows an external apparatus or portable audio calibration device 200….Para. [0065], Lines 3-6) programmed to transmit calibration data (The external apparatus 200 may then perform predetermined signal processing on the audio signal, to generate a calibration audio signal…..Para. [0064], Lines 5-7); and
a hub controller device (Fig. 1 shows a main body, or main unit, 110) programmed to:
receive an audio input signal indicative of desired audio to be played back in an establishment (the main body 110 and the sound output unit 130 may have wireless communication elements to transmit and receive signals corresponding to sound to be reproduced from the speakers…..Para. [0060], Lines 1-7);
process the audio input signal based on the calibration data to generate an audio output signal for playback in the establishment (A main unit of an audio system may comprise a controller to receive a first audio signal and to receive a calibration audio signal corresponding to a sound produced using the first audio signal, the controller to calibrate a second audio signal using the calibration audio signal…..Para. [0025], Lines 1-8);
transmit the audio output signal to at least one of a wireless loudspeaker and wireless headphones to playback the audio output signal in the establishment (As illustrated in FIG. 1, the audio system 100 includes a main body, or main unit, 110 and a sound output unit 130. The main body 110 includes elements to control the overall operations of the audio system 100. The sound output unit 130 may include a left front speaker 131, a right front speaker 133, a center speaker 135, a left rear speaker 137, a right rear speaker 138, and a subwoofer 139…..Para. [0059], Lines 1-7); and
transmit the audio output signal, via a wired connection, to a hardwired based loudspeaker device to playback the audio output signal in the establishment (The main body 110 may be connected via at least one wire to the sound output unit 130, and may output audio signals to the sound output unit 130….Para. [0060], Lines 1-3).
Regarding claim 2, Yoon teaches
The audio system of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is further programmed to transmit a first command to the hub controller device to initiate a calibration process (A main unit of an audio system may comprise a controller to receive a first audio signal and to receive a calibration audio signal corresponding to a sound produced using the first audio signal, the controller to calibrate a second audio signal using the calibration audio signal; a transceiver to wirelessly receive the calibration audio signal; and terminals to output the first audio signal and the calibrated audio signal…..Para. [0025], Lines 1-8).
Regarding claim 13, this claim is rejected for the same reason as the apparatus of claim 1 because the method steps of claim 13 can be perform by the apparatus of claim 1.
Regarding claim 14, Yoon teaches
The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving a first command, at the hub controller device, to initiate a calibration process (A main unit of an audio system may comprise a controller to receive a first audio signal and to receive a calibration audio signal corresponding to a sound produced using the first audio signal, the controller to calibrate a second audio signal using the calibration audio signal; a transceiver to wirelessly receive the calibration audio signal; and terminals to output the first audio signal and the calibrated audio signal…..Para. [0025], Lines 1-8).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
disclosure.
Igoe, US-PAT No. 8,935,733, Data Presentation Using A Wireless Home Entertainment Hub, Fig. 1 shows a calibration of the HES 100, a wireless calibration device 116 may be placed at a typical viewing and/or listening position 121 (e.g., near or on a chair or couch that a user 120 would sit to view the television) of the HES 100 by the user 120 (see FIG. 1). For audio calibration, the WHEH 102 could direct a calibration signal to each audio device in sequence or in combination, or each audio device could be directed to generate its own calibration program.
9. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANGELICA M MCKINNEY whose telephone number is (571)270-3321. The examiner can normally be reached 7AM-3PM EST M-F. 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, Fan Tsang can be reached on (571)-272-7574. 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.
/ANGELICA M MCKINNEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2694
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