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 .
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 1-3 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea (a judicial exception) without significantly more.
Regarding claim 1:
This independent claim recites “[an] emission estimator [that] determines an estimated value of CO2 emissions from an image forming apparatus, using an estimation model as a formula for estimating the emissions, wherein when a number of sheets subjected to a particular job on the image forming apparatus in a specified period is 1 or more, the emissions estimator determines an estimated value of the emissions in the specified period using a first estimation model as the estimation model, and wherein when the number of sheets subjected to the particular job on the image forming apparatus in the specified period falls short of 1, the emissions estimator determines an estimated value of the emissions in the specified period using as the estimation model a second estimation model different from the first estimation model”. The broadest reasonable interpretation of the claim as a whole is a mental process performed by a person (i.e., the process performed by the emission estimator), which is an abstract idea (the judicial exception). There is nothing recited in the judicial exception (emission estimation) that could not be performed mentally, and there is no application or use of the judicial exception in some other meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment (i.e., computing, printing).
The claim recites the additional element: “[a] CO2 emissions estimation system comprising a control device that includes a processor and functions, through the processor executing a CO2 emissions estimation program, as an emissions estimator”. However, this is merely a generic computer component recited to apply the exception and does not integrate the exception into a practical application. Looking at the claims as a whole, there are no other elements or combination of elements in the claim that integrates the exception into a practical application of the exception. That is, the claim does not recite any element or combination of elements that are a particular or specific improvement to the functioning of the computer, use of the printing apparatus, or any other technology, or that are particular or specific factors indicative of integration of the exception into a practical application (see MPEP 2106.05). And the claim does not include any additional elements in combination with the processor that are indicative of an inventive concept or that amount to significantly more than the judicial exception that are an inventive concept.
Regarding claim 2:
This dependent claim recites the additional element: “a display device, wherein the emissions estimator allows the display device to display a graph indicating changes in the estimated value of CO2 emissions on a basis of a predetermined specified period”. However, this is insignificant extra-solution activity (i.e., to display information produced by the emissions estimator), and does not integrate the exception into a practical application. Looking at the claims as a whole, there are no other elements or combination of elements in the claim that integrates the exception into a practical application of the exception. The claim does not recite any particular or specific improvement to the functioning of the display or how the displayed information is used to improve use of the printing apparatus that are indicative of integration of the exception into a practical application (see MPEP 2106.05). And the claim does not include any additional elements in combination with the display device that are indicative of an inventive concept or that amount to significantly more than the judicial exception that are indicative of an inventive concept.
Regarding claim 3:
This independent claim, under the broadest reasonable interpretation of the claim as a whole, recites the same mental process performed by a person (i.e., the process performed by the emission estimator), which is an abstract idea (the judicial exception). There is nothing recited in the judicial exception (emission estimation) that could not be performed mentally, and there is no application or use of the judicial exception in some other meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment (i.e., computing, printing).
The claim recites the additional element: “[a] non-transitory computer-readable recording medium with a CO2 emission estimation program stored thereon, wherein the CO2 emission estimation program allows a computer to realize an emissions estimator”. However, this is merely a generic computer component recited to apply the exception and does not integrate the exception into a practical application. Looking at the claims as a whole, there are no other elements or combination of elements in the claim that integrates the exception into a practical application of the exception. That is, the claim does not recite any element or combination of elements that are a particular or specific improvement to the functioning of the computer, use of the printing apparatus, or any other technology, or that are particular or specific factors indicative of integration of the exception into a practical application (see MPEP 2106.05). And the claim does not include any additional elements in combination with the processor that are indicative of an inventive concept or that amount to significantly more than the judicial exception that are an inventive concept.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 23 December 2024 was filed in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98. Accordingly, the statement(s) (has / have) been considered by the examiner.
Applicant has not provided an explanation of relevance of cited documents summarized below.
Hozumi (JP 2009058749 A) discloses a device that has a carbon dioxide conversion type parameter storage area (213) for storing conversion information for converting consumption energy required for multiple operations and consumption resources into greenhouse gas e.g. carbon dioxide, discharge amount. An information gathering module (205) collects information of the energy consumption accompanying the operations and consumption resources. A carbon dioxide conversion counter calculation module converts consumption energy and consumption resources into the carbon dioxide discharge amount. The device enables a user to effectively read an image in advance and correctly calculate the toner consumption in advance, thus allowing the user to know prediction of carbon dioxide discharge amount in an accurate manner. The power consumption of the device is reduced such that the energy efficiency is improved.
Maeyama et al (JP 2006021414 A) disclose a formation aspect determination unit that calculates usage amount of color material, type of sheet used for document and electric energy while forming document with data showing job information. An environmental impact value calculation unit calculates the environmental impact value showing environmental impact produced based on calculated values. An output unit outputs calculated environmental impact value. The load to the environment produced during image formation is ascertained easily and reliably, so that load dosage can be informed easily.
Cited Art
The prior art and other references made of record and not relied upon are considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Tanaka et al (US 9237245 B2) disclose an environmental contribution supporting apparatus provided for a system including a printing apparatus and an erasing apparatus includes a duplex-reduction calculating unit, an aggregation-reduction calculating unit, a sheet-reduction-ratio calculating unit, a printing-state-character selecting unit, a sheet-reuse-ratio calculating unit, a reuse-state-character selecting unit, a sheet-reduction-message selecting unit, a sheet-reuse-message selecting unit, an advice setting unit, and a report creating unit configured to edit a character selected by the printing-state-character selecting unit, a character selected by the reuse-state-character selecting unit, and a message set by the advice setting unit into a predetermined form. The eco report 40 includes a printing status area 41 that displays a printing status for a predetermined period. The printing status area 41 displays the reduction rate as numerical values and graphs, respectively. The printing status area 41 further displays the reduced number of printed sheets and the CO2 emission reduction amount converted into the reduced number of printed sheets.
Itogawa (US 9596364 B2) discloses an information processing apparatus includes a receiver configured to receive an output instruction to output data; a calculator configured to calculate an index value indicating a cost or an environmental burden when data subjected to output are output in a first output condition specified by the output instruction, and the index value when the data are output in a second output condition differing from the first output condition; and a display controller configured to display a screen to display a calculation result obtained by the calculator and to receive an output instruction based on one of the first and the second output conditions.
Yasuda (US 20110317196 A1) discloses print/copy control system including a processing unit which includes a first unit that receives a set of print/copy conditions selected by a user, a second unit that receives a standard set of print/copy conditions of an image forming device designated by the user, a third unit that receives other selectable sets of print/copy conditions of the image forming device, and a display unit that displays a listing of each of the standard set of print/copy conditions of the image forming device, the set of print/copy conditions selected by the user, and the other selectable sets of print/copy conditions of the image forming device for comparison, including CO2 emissions and reductions.
Kato (US 20120053885 A1) discloses an information processing apparatus counts as a result the number of sheets output by an image forming apparatus with reference to collected job history information and obtains the amount of electric power consumed by the image forming apparatus based on the job history information. When the information processing apparatus generates display data required to display a screen indicating an emission amount of greenhouse effect gases, the information processing apparatus analyzes the number of sheets that is output if a saving setting is applied to a job corresponding to a history included in the job history information. The information processing apparatus generates the display data required to display the screen in such a way as to indicate an emission amount of the greenhouse effect gas obtained based on the analyzed number of sheets.
Tomita et al (US 20130314722 A1) disclose a computer performs the following processing: calculating a probability that a machine fails in work applied to a printed matter; calculating, as a production environmental load value, a value including a printing environmental load value, a paper environmental load value, a product of the probability and a re-printing environmental load value, and a product of the probability and the paper environmental load value, the printing environmental load value representing a degree of load put on the environment resulting from printing onto paper used for the printed matter, the paper environment load value representing a degree of load put on an environment resulting from production of the paper, the re-printing environmental load value representing a degree of load put on the environment until the printing unit has conducted printing again since the machine failed in the work; and displaying the production environmental load value on the display.
Matsushima et al (US 20250013400 A1) disclose a system for calculating CO2 emissions, that includes circuitry that acquires, from a first terminal, order information including processing conditions of one or more processes for producing a product; registers in a memory first job information based on the order information; transmits the first job information to one or more management apparatuses that manage execution of the one or more processes; acquires result information indicating a result of executing the one or more processes; calculates, based on the result information, an actual value of carbon dioxide emissions for a first job corresponding to the first job information; and in a case that second job information is registered, calculates a predicted value of carbon dioxide emissions for a second job corresponding to the second job information, based on the actual value of carbon dioxide emissions for the first job. A second calculation unit calculates a predicted value of carbon dioxide emissions by providing second job information registered by the registration unit as input to a learning model generated by learning using teacher data in which first job information is labeled with an actual value of the activity amount of the process, and using a predicted value of the activity amount obtained as an output of the learning model.
Takeuchi et al (US 20250028272 A1), filed by Applicant, disclose a CO2 emission estimation system includes a CO2 emission estimator. The CO2 emission estimator calculates an estimated value of CO2 emissions from an image forming apparatus when performing a job, using a CO2 emission estimation model as a formula for estimating the CO2 emissions and settings for the job. The CO2 emission estimation model is a formula where a multiple regression expression for determining an estimated value of a power consumption of the image forming apparatus when performing the job is multiplied by a CO2 emission factor. The CO2 emission estimation model has a plurality of explanatory variables each according to a different type of setting for the job.
Miyamoto et al (US 20250211685 A1), filed by Applicant, disclose a CO2 emissions estimation system includes a control device including a processor and functioning, through the processor executing a CO2 emissions estimation program, as an emissions estimator. The emissions estimator determines an estimated value of CO2 emissions from an image forming apparatus, using a first estimation model as a formula for estimating the emissions, a setting value for the image forming apparatus, and job execution information as information related to execution of a job by the image forming apparatus. The first estimation model is a formula where a multiple regression expression for determining an estimated value of a power consumption of the image forming apparatus is multiplied by a CO2 emissions factor. The first estimation model has an explanatory variable according to a different type of the setting value and/or an explanatory variable according to a different type of the job execution information.
Yagane et al (US 20260241336 A1), filed by Applicant, disclose an electronic apparatus that includes a carbon dioxide emission estimator that obtains an estimated value of carbon dioxide emissions caused when the electronic apparatus executes a job, using a carbon dioxide emission estimating model represented by a formula used to estimate the carbon dioxide emissions, and a setting for the job. Data used to generate the carbon dioxide emission estimating model is categorized into groups on the basis of attributes. The carbon dioxide emission estimating model is generated for each group. The carbon dioxide emission estimator uses the carbon dioxide emission estimating model generated for the group related to an attribute of the electronic apparatus. The carbon dioxide emission estimating model is represented by the formula in which an expression corresponding to a multiple regression formula used to obtain an estimated value of power consumption caused when the electronic apparatus executes the job, is multiplied by a carbon-dioxide-emission coefficient.
Yagane et al (US 20260244134 A1), filed by Applicant, disclose estimating system includes an estimator that obtains an estimated value of power consumption caused when an electronic apparatus executes a job, using a power consumption estimating model that is a regression model used to estimate the power consumption. The regression model is created by a decision tree algorithm. A target variable of the regression model represents the power consumption. An explanatory variable of the regression model represents execution information regarding execution of a job, set-value information regarding a set value for a state of the electronic apparatus, and time information regarding a time taken for the job or duration of the state. There exists a plurality of the explanatory variables of the regression model depending on a type of a setting for the job or the state of the electronic apparatus. A carbon dioxide emission estimating model using the power consumption estimating model. From the operation illustrated in FIG. 6, the estimator 18a displays totals of estimated values of carbon dioxide emissions of the image forming apparatus 10 that are obtained for all of periods of time in times past.
Shibata (US 20260244144 A1) discloses an information processing apparatus is configured to receive a job history from an image forming apparatus that performs a job to form an image on a recording medium. The job history includes information on a printing job that has been normally completed and information on a related job related to the normally completed printing job. The information processing apparatus calculates a first amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated when the normally completed printing job is performed and a second amount of carbon dioxide emissions generated when the related job is performed. The information processing apparatus adds up the first and second amounts of carbon dioxide emissions and stores the sum of the first and second amounts as a total amount of carbon dioxide emissions associated with the normally completed printing job.
Ito et al (JP 200206696 A) disclose a CO2 emission calculation method and a CO2 emission management system that make it easy to grasp the actual state of CO2 emission, and a recommended mode for reducing the CO2 emission, and make an improvement prediction using an image forming apparatus is provided. The value of power consumption consumed in a specific period by using the image forming apparatus is converted into a CO2 emission amount, and the consumption of consumables consumed in the specific period by using the image forming apparatus. The amount of CO2 emission is obtained by obtaining the amount, the emission amounts are added, and this is output as the CO2 emission amount of the image forming apparatus in a specific period.
Miyazawa et al (JP 2008015748 A) disclose a power monitoring apparatus or a power monitoring network system that achieves a power reduction target without reducing the usage conditions of a customer. The operation state of the image forming apparatus for a certain period is monitored, each operation mode time is stored (S10), and the power consumption of the current image forming apparatus for a certain period is calculated and stored based on the state of the certain period. (S11). A plurality of alternative machines having the same degree as the currently used image forming apparatus are extracted from the database (S12), and it is confirmed whether the energy saving mode transition time of the extracted image forming apparatus is the same as that of the image forming apparatus (S13). In the same case, the power consumption when the operation pattern for a certain period of the image forming apparatus is executed by the extracted device is calculated (S14). A power reduction amount is calculated and stored from the power consumption of the image forming apparatus and the power consumption of the extraction device (S16). If there is an extractor that can achieve the power reduction target, the product name of the extractor that can achieve the reduction target is displayed (S19). A CO 2 amount is input as an emissions reduction target, and the CO 2 emission amount is converted into electric energy to simulate that electric energy as the electric power reduction target.
Takei et al (JP 2015228195 A) disclose an environmental load evaluation apparatus for easily calculating an environmental load amount of a product is provided. An environmental load evaluation device 1 is based on specification values (Xk (i)) and environmental load amounts (Yk (i)) of a plurality of evaluated products belonging to the same category as a product to be evaluated for environmental loads. By performing regression analysis, the function setting unit 101 that sets a model function having the product specification value (X) as an explanatory variable and the environmental load of the product as an objective variable (Y) is set by the function setting unit. An environmental load amount calculation unit 102 that calculates the environmental load amount (Yu) of the evaluation target product based on the model function (Y = f (X)) and the specification value (Xu) of the evaluation target product.
Mima (JP 201587483 A) discloses a printing apparatus that adjusts the fixing temperature for each page when fixing toner based on print data, the power consumption based on the temperature adjustment for each page cannot be managed. An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus that controls the temperature of a fixing unit for each page constituting the print data when performing print processing of the print data, the fixing temperature information for each page Collecting means for collecting job history information from the image forming apparatus, holding means for holding power consumption information defined according to the fixing temperature for each image forming apparatus, and collecting means And calculating means for calculating the amount of power consumed by the image forming apparatus from the job history information and the information held by the holding means, and the calculating means includes the job history information. The amount of power consumed by execution of the printing process indicated by the job history information is calculated from the fixing temperature information for each page included.
Kimura (JP 5065146 B2) discloses a power consumption calculation server that can calculate power consumption based on usage conditions of a user in a manner to compare between different image forming apparatus models. The server also calculates a difference in CO2 emission amount between a first and second image forming apparatuses during a predetermined period taking into account a number of printed sheets.
Funane (JP 5832228 B2) discloses controlling an information processing apparatus to provide information capable of determining a recommended print setting for achieving a reduction target of resources (environmental cost) consumed by an image forming apparatus such as CO2 emission amount and power consumption amount. The information processing apparatus 110, a communication unit 113 acquires history information of a print job executed by a device 120, and a calculation unit 112 saves selected savings for all print jobs corresponding to the history information. Compared to the case where the print setting 402 is not applied, the CO2 emission amount (CO2 emission amount of 100% saving print) reduced when the saving print setting 402 is applied to all print jobs is obtained, and the saving printing 100% Of CO2 emissions actually reduced with respect to the amount of CO2 emissions (actual reduction rate 408) and the ratio of the amount of resource consumption required to achieve the target value 404 (reduction rate 409 required to achieve the target value). And the IF 111 displays the reduction rate 408 of the actual result and the reduction rate 409 necessary for achieving the target value in an identifiable manner. The information processing apparatus 110 holds, for each paper type, the CO2 emission amount per sheet that is discharged to create the paper, and calculates the CO2 emission amount due to the paper from the information on the number of papers in the printing results. More specifically, the CO2 emission amount by the sheet is calculated by multiplying the sheet number information for each sheet type in the printing results by the CO2 emission amount per sheet for each sheet type. Further, the information processing apparatus 110 holds information for converting the amount of power consumption per sheet and the amount of power consumption for each device model and printing content into CO2 emissions, and from the job information, the CO2 emissions due to the amount of power consumption. Is calculated. Specifically, the combination of the device model and the paper content is obtained by multiplying the number of prints for each combination of the device model and the paper content in the job information by the power consumption per sheet for each combination of the device model and the paper content. The amount of power consumption for each device is calculated, and the CO2 emission amount for each combination of device model and paper content is calculated using a conversion formula for each combination of device model and paper content. Further, the power consumption amount and the CO2 emission amount for each combination of the device model and the paper content are added together to calculate the CO2 emission amount based on the power consumption amount and the power consumption amount.
Nishimura et al (JP 5914008 B2) disclose a printing apparatus capable of improving user convenience regarding calculation of greenhouse gas emissions. A printing apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 3 for producing a printed material by performing printing on paper, and a CO 2 emission calculation unit 33 for calculating the CO 2 emissions from the use of the printing apparatus 1, CO 2 The emission amount calculation unit 33 can select a calculation target item for calculating the CO 2 emission amount by using the printing apparatus 1 from a plurality of items. In the printing apparatus 1, the CO 2 emission amount calculation unit 33 is for reducing the CO 2 emission amount based on the comparison result between the CO .sub.2 emission amount and the target value due to the use of the printing apparatus 1 in a predetermined counting period.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Scott Rogers whose telephone number is 571-272-7467. The examiner can normally be reached 8 am to 7 pm flex.
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, Abderrahim Merouan can be reached on 571-270-5254. 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 the Patent Center. Unpublished application information in the Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in the Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about the 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.
/Scott A Rogers/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2683
29 September 2026
Prosecution Insights