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 . Claims 1-20 filed on 12/20/2024 have been reviewed and considered by this office action.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. CN202410095957.2, filed on 1/24/2024.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement filed on 1/6/2025 has been reviewed and considered by this office action.
Drawings
The drawings filed on 12/20/2024 have been reviewed and are considered acceptable.
Specification
The specification filed on 12/20/2024 has been reviewed and is considered acceptable.
Double Patenting
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. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); 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); 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) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1, 2, 4, 7, 9, 11-15, 17, and 19 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14, 15, and 17 of U.S. Patent No. 12,216,482. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other as shown in the table below:
Application 18/988,984
Patent 12,216,482
Claim 1:
A method for adjusting a gas flow, wherein the method is executed by a smart gas device management platform of a smart gas Internet of Things (IoT) system, the smart gas Internet of Things (IoT) system includes a smart gas user platform, a smart gas service platform, a smart gas sensing network platform, and a smart gas object platform,
wherein the smart gas user platform is a platform for interacting with a user, and the smart gas user platform is configured as a terminal device;
the smart gas service platform is a platform for communicating a demand of the user and control information, and
the smart gas service platform is configured to obtain information from the smart gas device management platform and send the information to the smart gas user platform;
the smart gas device management platform is a platform that coordinates and harmonizes connections and collaborations among the platforms, aggregates all information of the smart gas IoT system, and provides perception management and control management functions for an operation of the smart gas IoT system;
the smart gas device management platform includes a smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform, and a smart gas data center;
the smart gas sensing network platform is a functional platform that manages sensing communications; and
the smart gas object platform is a platform for sensing information generation and controlling information execution; and
the method comprises: obtaining, through the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a water valve adjustment history record of an industrial user who uses a hot water supply device stored in the smart gas data center; the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform determining a target temperature data table for the industrial user based on the water valve adjustment history record and sending the target temperature data table to the smart gas object platform corresponding to the industrial user,
wherein the target temperature data table includes at least one water valve scale and at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale;
in response to determining that the industrial user uses the hot water supply device, the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform obtaining current water valve data of the hot water supply device through a rotary encoder of the smart gas object platform and
storing the current water valve data in the smart gas data center; the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining a target temperature range of the industrial user based on the current water valve data and the target temperature data table;
the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining a temperature rise demand based on the current water valve data and the target temperature range of the industrial user; and the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining a gas flow parameter based on the temperature rise demand and water tank information, wherein the gas flow parameter includes an adjustment sequence of the industrial gas flow.
Claim 1:
A method for automatic control of an industrial gas flow, wherein the method is executed by a smart gas device management platform of a smart gas Internet of Things (IoT) system, the smart gas IoT system further includes a smart gas user platform, a smart gas service platform, a smart gas sensing network platform, and a smart gas object platform;
wherein the smart gas user platform is a platform for interacting with a user, and the smart gas user platform is configured as a terminal device;
the smart gas service platform is a platform for communicating user demand and control information;
the smart gas service platform is configured to obtain information from the smart gas device management platform and send the information to the smart gas user platform;
the smart gas device management platform is a platform that coordinates and harmonizes connections and collaborations among various platforms, aggregates all information of the smart gas IoT system, and provides perception management and control management functions for operation of the smart gas IoT system,
the smart gas device management platform includes a smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform, and a smart gas data center;
the smart gas sensing network platform is a platform that manages sensing communication; and
the smart gas object platform is a platform for sensing information generation and controlling information execution;
the method comprising: obtaining, by the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a water valve adjustment history record of an industrial user who uses a hot water supply device stored in the smart gas data center; determining, by the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a target temperature data table for the industrial user based on the water valve adjustment history record, and sending, by the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, the target temperature data table to the smart gas object platform corresponding to the industrial user;
wherein the target temperature data table includes at least one water valve scale and at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale;
obtaining, by the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, based on the water valve adjustment history record, a historical water valve adjustment characteristic of the industrial user through a predetermined time sequence, wherein the predetermined time sequence is a time sequence that includes time points corresponding to a current season, and the predetermined time sequence is determined based on seasonal information and gas consumption information of the industrial user; determining, by the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, based on the historical water valve adjustment characteristic, the at least one water valve scale and the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale; determining, by the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, the target temperature data table based on the at least one water valve scale and the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale;
obtaining, by the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, current water valve data of the hot water supply device through a rotary encoder of the smart gas object platform in response to determining that the industrial user uses the hot water supply device; and
storing the current water valve data in the smart gas data center; determining, by the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform, a corresponding target temperature range in the target temperature data table based on the current water valve data stored in the smart gas data center, and
determining a gas flow parameter by querying a preset table, wherein the gas flow parameter includes an adjustment sequence of the industrial gas flow; and
sending, by the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform, the gas flow parameter to the smart gas object platform via the smart gas sensing network platform, and adjusting, by the smart gas object platform, the industrial gas flow based on the gas flow parameter.
Claim 2:
The method according to claim 1, wherein the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining a gas flow parameter based on the temperature rise demand and water tank information includes: the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining the gas flow parameter based on the water tank information, the temperature rise demand, and the target temperature range of the industrial user through a flow parameter model, wherein the flow parameter model is a machine learning model.
Claim 5:
The method according to claim 3, wherein the determining the gas flow parameter based on the temperature rise demand and water tank information includes: determining the gas flow parameter based on the water tank information, the temperature rise demand, and the target temperature range of the industrial user through a flow parameter model, wherein the flow parameter model is a machine learning model; wherein an input of the flow parameter model includes an initial water temperature, the temperature rise demand, the target temperature range, and a water volume, and an output of the flow parameter model includes the gas flow parameter.
Claim 4:
The method according to claim 1, wherein the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining a temperature rise demand based on the current water valve data and the target temperature range of the industrial user includes: the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform evaluating a water temperature adjustment accuracy requirement corresponding to the current water valve data based on the target temperature range of the industrial user or a target temperature limit; and the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining the temperature rise demand based on the water temperature adjustment accuracy requirement.
Claim 4:
The method according to claim 3, wherein the determining a temperature rise demand based on the current water valve data and the target temperature range includes: evaluating a water temperature adjustment accuracy requirement corresponding to the current water valve data based on the target temperature range of the industrial user and/or a target temperature limit; and determining the temperature rise demand based on the water temperature adjustment accuracy requirement.
Claim 7:
The method according to claim 6, wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform determining, based on the historical water valve adjustment characteristic, the at least one water valve scale and the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale includes: the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform determining, based on the historical water valve adjustment characteristic, the at least one water valve scale and the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale through a temperature determination model, wherein the temperature determination model is a machine learning model.
Claim 12:
The method according to claim 1, wherein the determining the at least one water valve scale and the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale based on the historical water valve adjustment characteristic includes: determining, based on the historical water valve adjustment characteristic, the at least one water valve scale and the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale through a temperature determination model, wherein the temperature determination model is a machine learning model; wherein an input of the temperature determination model includes the water valve scale, a plurality of stabilized water temperatures, a plurality of historical water valve adjustment characteristics, a target temperature limit, and climate information, and an output of the temperature determination model includes the target temperature range corresponding to the water valve scale.
Claim 9:
The method according to claim 6, further comprising: the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform dynamically updating the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale in the target temperature data table based on the water valve adjustment history record, wherein the dynamically updating includes: obtaining water valve secondary adjustment data during a reference time period; determining, based on the water valve secondary adjustment data, water temperature demand change information for the industrial user; and updating the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale based on the water temperature demand change information.
Claim 2:
The method according to claim 1, further comprising: dynamically updating the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale in the target temperature data table based on the water valve adjustment history record, wherein the dynamically updating includes: obtaining water valve secondary adjustment data during a reference time period; determining, based on the water valve secondary adjustment data, water temperature demand change information for the industrial user; and updating the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale based on the water temperature demand change information.
Claim 11:
The method according to claim 1, wherein the smart gas user platform includes a gas user sub-platform, a government user sub-platform, and a supervisory user sub-platform; the smart gas service platform includes a smart gas consumption service sub-platform, a smart operation service sub-platform, and a smart supervision service sub-platform; the smart gas sensing network platform includes a smart gas indoor device sensing network sub-platform and a smart gas pipeline network device sensing network sub-platform; the smart gas object platform includes a smart gas indoor device object sub-platform and a smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform; and the method further comprises: the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform being configured to determine the gas flow parameter based on the current water valve data and the target temperature data table, and send the gas flow parameter to the smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform through the smart gas pipeline network device sensing network sub-platform; the smart gas indoor device sensing network sub-platform and the smart gas pipeline network device sensing network sub-platform being respectively configured to obtain operation information of an indoor device and operation information of a gas pipeline network device; and the smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform being configured to adjust an industrial gas flow according to the gas flow parameter.
Claim 7:
The method according to claim 1, wherein the smart gas user platform includes a gas user sub-platform, a government user sub-platform, and a supervisory user sub-platform; the smart gas service platform includes a smart gas consumption service sub-platform, a smart operation service sub-platform, and a smart supervision service sub-platform; the smart gas sensing network platform includes a smart gas indoor device sensing network sub-platform and a smart gas pipeline network device sensing network sub-platform; and the smart gas object platform includes a smart gas indoor device object sub-platform and a smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform; wherein the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform is configured to determine the gas flow parameterh based on the current water valve data and the target temperature data table, and send the gas flow parameter to the smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform via the smart gas pipeline network device sensing network sub-platform; the smart gas indoor device sensing network sub-platform and the smart gas pipeline network device sensing network sub-platform are configured to obtain operation information of an indoor device and a gas pipeline network device, respectively; and the smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform is configured to adjust the industrial gas flow based on the gas flow parameter.
Claim 12:
The method according to claim 11, wherein the water valve adjustment history record is relevant historical data of the industrial user using the hot water supply device; the water valve adjustment history record includes a water stop scale and an adjustment amplitude of a water valve each time the industrial user uses the hot water supply device to adjust the water valve within a historical time period; wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain the water stop scale and the adjustment amplitude of the water valve from the rotary encoder; wherein the rotary encoder is installed on the water valve, and the water stop scale and the adjustment amplitude of the water valve are determined by reading a rotation angle of the water valve, wherein the rotary encoder is configured as a sensor for measuring rotational motion of the water valve.
Claim 8:
The method according to claim 7, wherein the water valve adjustment history record is historical data related to use of the hot water supply device by the industrial user; and the water valve adjustment history record includes a stopping scale of a water valve and an adjustment amplitude of the water valve when the water valve is adjusted by the industrial user who uses the hot water supply device for each time during a historical time period; wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain the stopping scale of the water valve and the adjustment amplitude of the water valve from the rotary encoder of the smart gas object platform; wherein the rotary encoder is installed on the water valve, and the stopping scale of the water valve and the adjustment amplitude of the water valve are determined by reading a rotation angle of the water valve, wherein the rotary encoder is a sensor that is used to measure a rotational motion of the water valve.
Claim 13:
The method according to claim 12, wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain a time corresponding to the water valve adjustment history record according to a transmission signal.
Claim 9:
The method according to claim 8, wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain a time for obtaining the water valve adjustment history record based on a condition of a transmission signal.
Claim 14:
The method according to claim 11, wherein the water valve adjustment history record includes a water temperature change situation each time the industrial user who uses the hot water supply device adjusts a water valve within a historical time period; wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain a water temperature change from a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is disposed in a water storage device of the hot water supply device.
Claim 10:
The method according to claim 7, wherein the water valve adjustment history record includes a change in a water temperature when the water valve is adjusted by the industrial user who uses the hot water supply device for each time during a historical time period; wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain the change in the water temperature from a temperature sensor, and the temperature sensor is disposed in a water storage device of the hot water supply device.
Claim 15:
A smart gas Internet of Things (IoT) system for adjusting a gas flow, comprising a smart gas user platform, a smart gas service platform, a smart gas device management platform, a smart gas sensing network platform, and a smart gas object platform, wherein the smart gas user platform is a platform for interacting with a user, and the smart gas user platform is configured as a terminal device;
the smart gas service platform is a platform for communicating a demand of the user and control information, and the smart gas service platform is configured to obtain information from the smart gas device management platform and send the information to the smart gas user platform;
the smart gas device management platform is a platform that coordinates and harmonizes connections and collaborations among the platforms, aggregates all information of the smart gas IoT system, and provides perception management and control management functions for an operation of the smart gas IoT system;
the smart gas device management platform includes a smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform, and a smart gas data center;
the smart gas sensing network platform is a functional platform that manages sensing communications; and
the smart gas object platform is a platform for sensing information generation and controlling information execution;
the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain a water valve adjustment history record of an industrial user who uses a hot water supply device stored in the smart gas data center; the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to:
determine a target temperature data table for the industrial user based on the water valve adjustment history record and send the target temperature data table to the smart gas object platform corresponding to the industrial user, wherein the target temperature data table includes at least one water valve scale and at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale; and
in response to determining that the industrial user uses the hot water supply device, obtain current water valve data of the hot water supply device through a rotary encoder of the smart gas object platform and store the current water valve data in the smart gas data center; and
the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform is configured to: determine a target temperature range of the industrial user based on the current water valve data and the target temperature data table; determine a temperature rise demand based on the current water valve data and the target temperature range of the industrial user; and
determine a gas flow parameter based on the temperature rise demand and water tank information, wherein the gas flow parameter includes an adjustment sequence of the industrial gas flow.
Claim 14:
A smart gas Internet of Things (IoT) system for automatic control of an industrial gas flow, comprising a smart gas user platform, a smart gas service platform, a smart gas device management platform, a smart gas sensing network platform, and a smart gas object platform, wherein the smart gas user platform is a platform for interacting with a user, and the smart gas user platform is configured as a terminal device;
the smart gas service platform is a platform for communicating user demand and control information; the smart gas service platform is configured to obtain information from the smart gas device management platform and send the information to the smart gas user platform;
the smart gas device management platform is a platform that coordinates and harmonizes connections and collaborations among various platforms, aggregates all information of the smart gas IoT system, and provides perception management and control management functions for an operation of the smart gas IoT system,
the smart gas device management platform includes a smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform, and a smart gas data center;
the smart gas sensing network platform is a platform that manages sensing communication, and the smart gas sensing network platform includes a smart gas indoor device sensing network sub-platform and a smart gas pipeline network device sensing network sub-platform;
the smart gas object platform is a platform for sensing information generation and controlling information execution, and
the smart gas object platform includes a smart gas indoor device object sub-platform and a smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform; the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain a water valve adjustment history record of an industrial user who uses a hot water supply device, wherein the water valve adjustment history record is stored in the smart gas data center; the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to:
determine a target temperature data table for the industrial user based on the water valve adjustment history record, and send the target temperature data table to the smart gas object platform corresponding to the industrial user, wherein the target temperature data table is stored in the smart gas data center and the target temperature data table includes at least one water valve scale and at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale; obtain, based on the water valve adjustment history record, a historical water valve adjustment characteristic of the industrial user through a predetermined time sequence, wherein the predetermined time sequence is a time sequence that includes time points corresponding to a current season, and the predetermined time sequence is determined based on seasonal information and gas consumption information of the industrial user; determine, based on the historical water valve adjustment characteristic, the at least one water valve scale and the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale; and determine the target temperature data table based on the at least one water valve scale and the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale;
the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to obtain current water valve data of the hot water supply device through a rotary encoder of the smart gas object platform in response to determining that the industrial user uses the hot water supply device, and store the current water valve data is stored in the smart gas data center; and
the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform is configured to: determine a corresponding target temperature range in the target temperature data table based on the current water valve data stored in the smart gas data center, and
determine a gas flow parameter by querying a preset table, wherein the gas flow parameter includes an adjustment sequence of the industrial gas flow; and
send the gas flow parameter to the smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform via the smart gas sensing network platform; the smart gas pipeline network device object sub-platform is configured to adjust the industrial gas flow based on the gas flow parameter.
Claim 17:
The smart gas Internet of Things (IoT) system according to claim 15, wherein the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform is further configured to: evaluate a water temperature adjustment accuracy requirement corresponding to the current water valve data based on the target temperature range of the industrial user or a target temperature limit; and determine the temperature rise demand based on the water temperature adjustment accuracy requirement.
Claim 17:
The smart gas IoT system according to claim 16, wherein to determine the temperature rise demand based on the current water valve data and the target temperature range, the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform is further configured to: evaluate a water temperature adjustment accuracy requirement corresponding to the current water valve data based on the target temperature range of the industrial user or a target temperature limit; and determine the temperature rise demand based on the water temperature adjustment accuracy requirement.
Claim 19:
The smart gas Internet of Things (IoT) system according to claim 18, wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is further configured to: dynamically update the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale in the target temperature data table based on the water valve adjustment history record, wherein the dynamically updating includes: obtaining water valve secondary adjustment data during a reference time period; determining, based on the water valve secondary adjustment data, water temperature demand change information for the industrial user; and updating the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale based on the water temperature demand change information.
Claim 15:
The smart gas IoT system according to claim 14, wherein the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform is configured to dynamically update the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale in the target temperature data table based on the water valve adjustment history record, wherein the dynamically update includes operations including: obtaining water valve secondary adjustment data during a reference time period; determining, based on the water valve secondary adjustment data, water temperature demand change information for the industrial user; and updating the at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale based on the water temperature demand change information.
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 towards an abstract idea without significantly more. Claim 1 recites, “the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform determining a target temperature data table for the industrial user based on the water valve adjustment history record”, “the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining a target temperature range of the industrial user based on the current water valve data and the target temperature data table;”, “the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining a temperature rise demand based on the current water valve data and the target temperature range of the industrial user;”, and “the smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform determining a gas flow parameter based on the temperature rise demand and water tank information, wherein the gas flow parameter includes an adjustment sequence of the industrial gas flow.”, which analyzed under Step 2A Prong One, includes a plurality of steps of determining a plurality of values given specific information which are all limitations that can reasonably be performed in the human mind and thus, fall within the, “Mental Processes” grouping of abstract ideas.
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Claim 1 additionally recites, “obtaining, through the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a water valve adjustment history record of an industrial user who uses a hot water supply device stored in the smart gas data center;”, “sending the target temperature data table to the smart gas object platform corresponding to the industrial user, wherein the target temperature data table includes at least one water valve scale and at least one target temperature range corresponding to the at least one water valve scale;”, and “in response to determining that the industrial user uses the hot water supply device, the smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform obtaining current water valve data of the hot water supply device through a rotary encoder of the smart gas object platform and storing the current water valve data in the smart gas data center;”, which analyzed under Step 2A Prong Two, adds insignificant extra solution activity in the form of data gathering (see MPEP 2106.05(g)). Further claim 1 recites, “the smart gas user platform is a platform for interacting with a user, and the smart gas user platform is configured as a terminal device; the smart gas service platform is a platform for communicating a demand of the user and control information, and the smart gas service platform is configured to obtain information from the smart gas device management platform and send the information to the smart gas user platform; the smart gas device management platform is a platform that coordinates and harmonizes connections and collaborations among the platforms, aggregates all information of the smart gas IoT system, and provides perception management and control management functions for an operation of the smart gas IoT system; the smart gas device management platform includes a smart gas indoor device parameter management sub-platform, a smart gas pipeline network device parameter management sub-platform, and a smart gas data center; the smart gas sensing network platform is a functional platform that manages sensing communications; and the smart gas object platform is a platform for sensing information generation and controlling information execution;”, which analyzed under Step 2A Prong Two, includes a plurality of various programs and their descriptions that is operated by the smart gas device management platform which just generally links the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)).
The claim does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because as analyzed under Step 2B, the additional elements merely amount to gathering water valve adjustment and various water data and sending the data over a network. Analyzed under Berkheimer, the act of gathering and sending data over a network has been deemed as well-understood, routine, and conventional by the courts (see MPEP 2106.05(d)(II), “sending/receiving data over a network”).
Claim 15 is substantially similar to claim 1 and is thus rejected using the same rationale as provided above.
Dependent claims 2-10, 12-14, and 16-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 for being directed towards an abstract idea without significantly more. Claims 2, 4, 6-7, 9, and 17-18, each include further limitations of making determinations based on obtained data and further evaluating various parameters based on determined data, which analyzed under Step 2A Prong One, include limitations that can all reasonably be done in the human mind and thus, fall within the, “Mental Processes” grouping of abstract ideas.
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Claims 8-9 and 19, include limitations of margining data that include overlapping portions as well as updating temperature range values based on determinations made, which analyzed under Step 2A Prong Two, include limitations which merely adjust/update values which just merely applies the use of the judicial exception (see MPEP 2106.05(f)). Claims 6, 9, 13-14, and 18-19, each include limitations of obtaining, storing, or receiving data, which analyzed under Step 2A Prong Two, adds insignificant extra solution activity in the form of mere data gathering (see MPEP 2106.05(g)). Finally, claims 3, 5, 10, 12, 14, and 16, include limitations of stating the flow parameter model includes maximum gas flow rate, disclosing various variables used for making determinations, various parameters included in a reference time period, various parameters included in water valve adjustment history records, and parameters used to determine gas flow parameters, which analyzed under Step 2A Prong Two, includes limitations that just generally link the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)).
The claim does not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because as analyzed under Step 2B, the additional elements merely amount to gathering water valve adjustment and various water data and sending the data over a network. Analyzed under Berkheimer, the act of gathering and sending data over a network has been deemed as well-understood, routine, and conventional by the courts (see MPEP 2106.05(d)(II), “sending/receiving data over a network”).
***Examiner’s note: upon review of the dependent claims, it has been determined that both claims 11 and 20, if included in their entirety into independent form include limitations that would show significantly more than the abstract idea and thus overcome the current 101 rejection.***
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Deivasigmani et al. (US PGPUB 20140229022): disclose a water heater control system and method that takes into account a plurality of information including historical usage and demand of the water heater system, and utilizes this information to determine and control flow rates based on the historical information.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER W CARTER whose telephone number is (469)295-9262. The examiner can normally be reached 9-6:30.
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, Robert Fennema can be reached at (571) 272-2748. 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.
/CHRISTOPHER W CARTER/Examiner, Art Unit 2117
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