CTNF 18/967,342 CTNF 90921 DETAILED ACTION 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Claims 1-20 are pending and have been examined. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 07-30-02 AIA 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. 07-34-01 AIA Claim s 3 and 13 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 pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Regarding claims 3 and 13; these claims are indefinite for the following reason: 07-35-01 The claims contains the trademark/trade name “QR code”. Where a trademark or trade name is used in a claim as a limitation to identify or describe a particular material or product, the claim does not comply with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph. See Ex parte Simpson , 218 USPQ 1020 (Bd. App. 1982). The claim scope is uncertain since the trademark or trade name cannot be used properly to identify any particular material or product. A trademark or trade name is used to identify a source of goods, and not the goods themselves. Thus, a trademark or trade name does not identify or describe the goods associated with the trademark or trade name. In the present case, the trademark/trade name is used to identify/describe a multidimensional barcode and, accordingly, the identification/description is indefinite. Prior Art Examiner has conducted a prior art search in view of the new claims and cannot provide an art rejection at this time. Claims 1, 2, 4-12, and 14-20 are in condition for allowance. Claims 3 and 13 are currently rejected. Examiner would like to cite but not rely upon the following references which teach the general state of the art at the time of filing. CN 106374553 A GONZALES, DAVID DAVID et al. EP 4446840 B1 LUTHMAN, Trisha, M. et al. US 10336206 B2 Uyeki; Robert et al. US 10762490 B2 Marathe; Nikhil S. et al. US 20120158213 A1 Talty; Timothy J. et al. US 20190205842 A1 Starns; Alexander Thomas US 20200148068 A1 Melatti; Anthony et al. US 20200262305 A1 CHAKRABORTY; Prabuddha et al. US 20210284043 A1 WANG; Shuo et al. US 20220092575 A1 ZHENG; Yijun et al. US 20220304082 A1 Kopchinsky; Scott et al. US 20230072024 A1 Tremblay; Martin US 20230219446 A1 Lu; Norman et al. US 20240083453 A1 Caveney; Derek S. US 20250100585 A1 Yeung; Peter US 20250159735 A1 Kopchinsky; Scott et al. US 20260118891 A1 Lombardo; David et al. US 20260131809 A1 Sehra; Suman A. et al. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL J WARDEN whose telephone number is (571)272-9602. The examiner can normally be reached M-F; 9-6 CDT. 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, Bennett M Sigmond can be reached at 303-297-4411. 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. /MICHAEL J. WARDEN/ Examiner Art Unit 3694 /BENNETT M SIGMOND/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3694 Application/Control Number: 18/967,342 Page 2 Art Unit: 3694 Application/Control Number: 18/967,342 Page 3 Art Unit: 3694 Application/Control Number: 18/967,342 Page 4 Art Unit: 3694 Application/Control Number: 18/967,342 Page 5 Art Unit: 3694
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