DETAILED ACTION
This is the First Office Action on the Merits and is directed towards claims 1-20 as originally presented and filed on 12/12/2024.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
Priority is claimed as set forth below, accordingly the earliest effective filing date is December 13, 2023 (20231213).
The present application, effectively filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
This application is a non-provisional to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/609355, titled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A RETURN-TO-HOME MAP, filed on December 13, 2023 (20231213).
Claim Objections
Claim 10 is objected to because of the following informalities: the claim fails to end with a period “.”. For examination purposes the Examiner considers the claim to end with a period after the last limitations “the condition is met” to match similar claims 1 and 16. 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 1-20 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.
Claims 1, 10 and 16 are vague, indefinite and incomplete in what all is meant and encompassed by the limitations “for lossy optimization of a return-to-home route” as no apparent “route” is ever created or used by a vehicle.
When reading the preamble in the context of the entire claim, the recitation for lossy optimization of a return-to-home route is not limiting because the body of the claim describes a complete invention and the language recited solely in the preamble does not provide any distinct definition of any of the claimed invention’s limitations. Thus, the preamble of the claim(s) is not considered a limitation and is of no significance to claim construction. See Pitney Bowes, Inc. v. Hewlett-Packard Co., 182 F.3d 1298, 1305, 51 USPQ2d 1161, 1165 (Fed. Cir. 1999). See MPEP § 2111.02.
Those claims not cited above are rejected for depending from a rejected base claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
The claim(s) recite(s) a system in claims 1 and 10 and a method in claim 16 for lossy optimization of a return-to-home route, the system/method comprising:
a. a non-volatile memory;
b. a wireless transceiver;
c. a processor in communication with a non-volatile memory comprising a processor-readable media having thereon a set of executable instructions,
configured, when executed, to cause the processor to:
i. receive via the wireless transceiver of coordinate samples (kn) over a time interval, wherein each coordinate sample comprises at least two dimensional pairs (x, y) and a vehicle yaw, the two-dimensional pairs (x, y) indicative of a pilot-assisted vehicle path over the time interval;
ii. identify a first coordinate pair of interest (x0, y0) and yaw0, a subsequent second coordinate pair (x1, y1), and a third subsequent coordinate pair (x2,y2) and yaw2;
iii. calculate a first vector of interest V1 from the first coordinate pair of interest (x0, y0) and the subsequent second coordinate pair (x1, y1);
iv. calculate a candidate vector of interest V2 from the subsequent second coordinate pair (x1, y1) and the third subsequent coordinate pair (x2, y2);
v. calculate an angle of congruence a between the first vector of interest and the candidate vector of interest V2;
vi. determine whether the angle of congruence (alpha) is indicative of a large angle change;
1. discard the subsequent second coordinate pair (x1, y1);
2. discard the third subsequent coordinate pair (x2, y2) if the angle of congruence a is not indicative of the large angle change and storing the first coordinate pair of interest (x0, y0) as a last coordinate sample of interest and yaw0 as a last yaw of interest in the non-volatile memory; or
3. storing change in the non-volatile memory the third subsequent coordinate pair (x2, y2) as a last coordinate sample of interest and yaw2 as a last yaw of interest if the angle of congruence (alpha) is indicative of the large angle;
and vii. compare the last yaw of interest to a subsequent yawn associated with a subsequent coordinate pair of interest (xn,yn) to determine whether a yaw condition is met;
and1. discard the subsequent coordinate pair of interest (xn,yn) and subsequent yawn if the condition is not met and retrieve a subsequent yaw n+1 associated with a subsequent coordinate pair of interest or (xn+1, yn+1): or
2. store in the non-volatile memory the yawn associated with the subsequent coordinate pair of interest (xn, yn) as a new coordinate sample of interest and yawn as a new last yaw of interest if the condition is met.
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the generically recited computer elements do not add a meaningful limitation to the abstract idea because they amount to simply implementing the abstract idea on a computer; and the data gathering steps required to use the correlation do not add a meaningful limitation to the method as they are insignificant extra-solution activity.
The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because it merely collects data and then stores a result thereof akin to Gathering and analyzing information using conventional techniques and displaying the result, TLI Communications, 823 F.3d at 612-13, 118 USPQ2d at 1747-48.
Those claims not cited above are rejected for depending from a rejected base claim.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure as teaching, inter alia, the state of the art of return home systems at the time of the invention. For example:
Regarding claims 1, 10 and 16 Merz teaches in for example the Figure(s) reproduced immediately below:
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and associated descriptive texts a system and method for lossy optimization of a return-to-home route, the system comprising:
a non-volatile memory (as shown in fig. 2 and explained in for example para:
[0202] An example of a suitable flight computer 200 of the unmanned aerial vehicle system 100 will now be described with regard to FIG. 2. As mentioned above, the flight computer 200 will typically include one or more processing systems 210 having at least one processor and memory, along with a number of interfaces for allowing the flight computer 200 to interface with other elements of the vehicle 110, with the processing systems 210 and equipment being interconnected via a bus 220 as shown.”);
b. a wireless transceiver (see fig. 2, communication interface 260 as explained in para:
“[0207] A remote controller communications interface 260 for allowing the processing systems 210 to communicate with the remote controller 130; and, ”);
c. a processor in communication with a non-volatile memory comprising a processor-readable media having thereon a set of executable instructions,
configured, when executed, to cause the processor to (as shown in fig. 2 processing systems 210 as explained in para [0202] above):
receive via the wireless transceiver of coordinate samples (kn) over a time interval, wherein each coordinate sample comprises at least two dimensional pairs (x, y) and a vehicle yaw, the two-dimensional pairs (x, y) indicative of a pilot-assisted vehicle path over the time interval (as explained in for example para:
“[0198] The system 100 may optionally include a remote controller 130 which allows a user, typically designated as a pilot, to have full manual control over the flight of the vehicle 110. In some cases the pilot may be one of the aforementioned observers. The remote controller 130 will typically be of conventional configuration commonly used for controlling remote controlled aircraft and the like. Alternatively, the remote controller 130 may be provided using any suitable computer system capable of communicating with the vehicle 110 during its flight. For instance, the remote controller 130 may be implemented using application software executed on a mobile device in wireless communication with the vehicle 110. It is noted that a number of commercially available unmanned aerial vehicles are configured for control using a software application on a touch-screen enabled mobile device.”);
Merz does not appear to expressly disclose ii. identify a first coordinate pair of interest (x0, y0) and yaw0, a subsequent second coordinate pair (x1, y1), and a third subsequent coordinate pair (x2,y2) and yaw2;
iii. calculate a first vector of interest V1 from the first coordinate pair of interest (x0, y0) and the subsequent second coordinate pair (x1, y1);
iv. calculate a candidate vector of interest V2 from the subsequent second coordinate pair (x1, y1) and the third subsequent coordinate pair (x2, y2);
v. calculate an angle of congruence a between the first vector of interest and the candidate vector of interest V2;
vi. determine whether the angle of congruence (alpha) is indicative of a large angle change;
1. discard the subsequent second coordinate pair (x1, y1);
2. discard the third subsequent coordinate pair (x2, y2) if the angle of congruence a is not indicative of the large angle change and storing the first coordinate pair of interest (x0, y0) as a last coordinate sample of interest and yaw0 as a last yaw of interest in the non-volatile memory; or
3. storing change in the non-volatile memory the third subsequent coordinate pair (x2, y2) as a last coordinate sample of interest and yaw2 as a last yaw of interest if the angle of congruence (alpha) is indicative of the large angle;
and vii. compare the last yaw of interest to a subsequent yawn associated with a subsequent coordinate pair of interest (xn,yn) to determine whether a yaw condition is met;
and1. discard the subsequent coordinate pair of interest (xn,yn) and subsequent yawn if the condition is not met and retrieve a subsequent yaw n+1 associated with a subsequent coordinate pair of interest or (xn+1, yn+1): or
2. store in the non-volatile memory the yawn associated with the subsequent coordinate pair of interest (xn, yn) as a new coordinate sample of interest and yawn as a new last yaw of interest if the condition is met.
US 9661827 B1 to Shen; Yu et al. teaches, inter alia Systems and methods for walking pets in for example the ABSTRACT, Figures and/or Paragraphs below:
“Systems and methods are provided for guiding a target object with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in an environment. The UAV may be able to recognize and locate the target object. The UAV can be configured to communicate the actions and behavior of the target object to a user through a user device in communication with the UAV. The UAV can provide positive and negative stimuli to the target object to encourage an action or behavior. The UAV can be configured to recognize and manage waste generated by the target object.”.
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(53) In addition to or instead of defining boundaries that generate areas that are permissible and/or impermissible for the target object to travel, a user can also define a specific route along which the UAV can lead or guide a target object. A user can define a unique route or a user can pick from a plurality of routes that can be stored on a storage memory device on or off-board the UAV. The stored routes can originate from previous routes that a user has used. In some cases the stored routes can come from other users in the area that also use a UAV to guide their target object through a route sharing network. FIG. 5 shows a map 500 with possible routes that a UAV 501 can travel to guide a target object. A UAV can start a route with a target object at a home 502. The UAV can lead the target object along route R.sub.0. When the UAV reaches the midpoint 503 of the route the UAV can return to the home 502 along route R.sub.1 or route R.sub.2. A user can specify which route, R.sub.1 or route R.sub.2, should be taken by the UAV to return home 502. In some cases the user can specify the choice of R.sub.1 or route R.sub.2 in real time while the UAV is guiding the target object.
US 20180204469 A1 to Moster; Joseph et al. teaches, inter alia UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE VISUAL POINT CLOUD NAVIGATION in for example the ABSTRACT, Figures and/or Paragraphs below:
“Methods, systems and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media for unmanned aerial vehicle flight operations near physical structures or objects. In particular, a point cloud of the physical structure is generated using aerial images of the structure. The point cloud is then referenced to determine a flight path for the UAV to follow around the physical structure, determine whether a planned flight path to desired locations around the structure is possible, determine the fastest route to return home and land from a given position around the physical structure, determine possibility of inflight collision to surface represented in point cloud, or determine an orientation of a fixed or gimbaled camera given a position of the UAV relative the point cloud.
[0146] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example process 900 for determining a fastest route to return home and land from a given position around the physical structure. For convenience, the process 900 will be described as being performed by an unmanned aerial vehicle of one or more processors.”.
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WO-2013083208-A2 to GERECKE MARC et al. teaches, inter alia a DRIVE STABILISATION METHOD, DRIVE STABILISATION DEVICE AND RELATED VEHICLE in for example the ABSTRACT, Figures and/or Paragraphs below:
“The invention relates to a drive stabilisation method 24, 24', a drive stabilisation device 1 and a related vehicle 2, which is particularly a commercial vehicle. For the stabilisation 56, 92 of the vehicle 2, a steering angle ßVA, ßZA of at least one steered front axle VA and/or additional axle ZA of the vehicle 2 is changed 40, 42, 84 by automatic forced steering of this axle VA, ZA. Additional drive stabilisation is achieved with a feature a) and additionally or alternatively with a feature b). According to feature a), in response to a tilting tendency of vehicle 2 recognised by means of a tilt-stability control device 6 as being above a tilt limit value GKipp in addition to the initiation of a vehicle delay 38 for the reduction of this tilting tendency, an adjustment 48, 50 of a changed steering angle ßVA, ßZA of the steered front axle VA and or additional axle ZA is initiated in order to counteract 54 an understeering or oversteering influence 52 of this vehicle delay 38 on the vehicle 2. According to feature b) the direction of movement BZA in the wheel contact point CZA of an additional axle wheel RZA arranged on the steered additional axle ZA is determined 68 relative to the vehicle longitudinal axis 4 and the steering angle ßZA of the steered additional axle ZA is adjusted 86 depending on this respectively determined direction of movement BZA in order to reduce the drift angle aZA of the additional axle wheel RZA relative to its direction of movement BZA.”.
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL LAWSON GREENE JR whose telephone number is (571)272-6876. The examiner can normally be reached on MON-THUR 7-5:30PM (EST).
Examiner interviews are available via telephone 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, Hunter Lonsberry can be reached on (571) 272-7298. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DANIEL L GREENE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3665 20260513
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