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 .
Detailed Action
This Non-Final Office Action is in response to Applicant’s Transmittal of New Application filed 12/23/2024.
The effective filing date of the present application is 08/01/2013.
Claims 1 – 20 are pending.
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).
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Claims 1 – 20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 2, 4 – 11, 14 – 18, and 20, of U.S. Patent No. 12,211,093 (Application 18/205,044). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the instant application claims 1 – 20 are obvious variants described by the patent claims. Those claim elements within the application that are identical to the patent claims are listed (and highlighted) below.
Those certain items that are not patently distinct, but are nonetheless obvious include the following:
The instant applicant claims recite building code rules and information from a public database, while the patent claims recite building code rules as keep-out areas. However, one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that building code rules would reside within a publicly accessible database, managed perhaps by a governmental office for residents to know local regulations for building or modifying within the jurisdiction. Therefore, the building code rules and information from a public database within the instant application claims are obviously obtained from a public database listing local rules as recited by the patent claims.
A complete listing of all claims follows.
Application 18/999,929
Patent 12,211,093
(Application 18/205,044)
Claim 1
Claim 1
A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: providing an image mapping tool, the image mapping tool performing operations including:
causing display of a first view at a first angle of a physical structure on a graphical user interface;
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a tracing of a section of the physical structure on the first view;
causing display of a second view at a second angle of the physical structure on the graphical user interface;
positioning the tracing over the physical structure in the second view;
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a manipulation of the tracing to align points of the tracing with corresponding points of the physical structure in the second view;
and based on the tracing and manipulation, determining dimensions for the physical structure and generating a three-dimensional model of the physical structure.
A system comprising: one or more processors; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising: providing an image mapping tool, the image mapping tool performing operations including:
causing display of a first view at a first angle of a physical structure on a graphical user interface;
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a tracing of a section of the physical structure on the first view;
causing display of a second view at a second angle of the physical structure on the graphical user interface;
positioning the tracing over the physical structure in the second view;
and receiving, via the graphical user interface, a user interface manipulation of the tracing to align the tracing with the second view of the physical structure, the user interface manipulation comprising dragging of one or more points of the tracing to match corresponding points of the physical structure on the second view;
and based on the tracing and user interface manipulation, determining dimensions for the physical structure and generating a three-dimensional model of the physical structure.
Claim 2
Claim 1
The system of claim 1, wherein positioning the tracing comprises: receiving, via the graphical user interface, a drag instruction that positions the tracing over the physical structure in the second view.
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a drag instruction that positions the tracing over the physical structure in the second view;
Claim 3
Claim 1
The system of claim 1, wherein the manipulation comprises dragging of one or more points of the tracing to match corresponding points of the physical structure on the second view.
the user interface manipulation comprising dragging of one or more points of the tracing to match corresponding points of the physical structure on the second view;
Claim 4
Claim 5
The system of claim 3, wherein: the tracing of the section in the first view provides position of each point of the physical structure in two dimensions and the dragging provides a value for the points of the physical structure in a third dimension;
and the determining dimensions of the physical structure comprises determining mathematically a size based on the two dimensions and the third dimension.
The system of claim 1, wherein; the tracing of the section in the first view provides a position of each point in the tracing in two dimension; and the user interface manipulation of the one or more points of the tracing provides a value for each point in a third dimension.
Claim 11
determining dimensions for the physical structure
Claim 14
wherein: the tracing of the section in the first view provides a position of each point in the tracing in two dimension; and the user interface manipulation of the one or more points of the tracing provides a value for each point in a third dimension.
Claim 7
based on the tracing and user interface manipulation, determining a roof angle, size,
Claim 5
Claim 5
The system of claim 3, wherein: the tracing of the section in the first view provides position of each point of the physical structure in two dimensions and the dragging provides a value for the points of the physical structure in a third dimension;
and the operations further comprise determining one or more angles associated with the physical structure based on the two dimensions and the third dimension.
The system of claim 1, wherein; the tracing of the section in the first view provides a position of each point in the tracing in two dimension; and the user interface manipulation of the one or more points of the tracing provides a value for each point in a third dimension.
Claim 7
wherein the operations further comprise: based on the tracing and user interface manipulation, determining a roof angle
Claim 6
Claim 6
The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: based on the three-dimensional model, generating a solar panel layout and a map of solar energy potential production.
The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: based on the three-dimensional model, generating a solar panel layout and a map of solar energy potential production.
Claim 7
Claim 8
The system of claim 6, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving an indication of one or more locations of obstructions;
and determining positions of solar panels based on the three-dimensional model and the locations of the obstructions.
The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: receiving, via the graphical user interface, an indication of one or more locations of obstructions;
and determining positions of solar panels based on the three-dimensional model and the locations of the obstructions.
Claim 8
Claim 9
The system of claim 1, wherein the physical structure is a roof and the operations further comprise: causing display of a grid overlaid over each section of the roof, a size of each grid being equivalent to a size of a solar panel.
The system of claim 1, wherein the physical structure is a roof and the operations further comprise: causing display of a grid overlaid over each section of the roof, a size of each grid being equivalent to a size of a solar panel; and receiving an adjustment to a position of the grid.
Claim 9
Claim 10
The system of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise: overlaying building code rules as keep-out areas; and
receiving an adjustment to a position of the grid,
wherein the adjustment is restricted by the building code rules.
The system of claim 9, wherein the operations further comprise: overlaying building code rules as keep-out areas,
wherein the adjustment is restricted by the building code rules.
Claim 9
receiving an adjustment to a position of the grid.
Claim 10
wherein the adjustment is restricted by the building code rules.
Claim 10
Claim 2
The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: determining structure specifications for the physical structure;
and verifying the structure specifications with information from a public database.
The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: determining structure specifications for the physical structure;
Claim 10
overlaying building code rules as keep-out areas.
Claim 11
Claim 2
The system of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise:
transmitting the structure specifications for the physical structure to a plurality of bidders;
receiving a modification to the structure specifications from a first bidder of the plurality of bidders;
transmitting the modified structure specifications to the plurality of bidders other than the first bidder;
and receiving one or more bids in accordance with the modified structure specifications from one or more of the plurality of bidders.
The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise: determining structure specifications for the physical structure; transmitting the structure specifications for the physical structure to a plurality of bidders; and
receiving a modification to the structure specifications from a first bidder of the plurality of bidders.
Claim 4
The system of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise: transmitting the modified structure specifications to the plurality of bidders other than the first bidder;
and receiving bids in accordance with the modified structure specifications from each of the plurality of bidders other than the first bidder.
Claim 12
Claim 11
A method comprising: providing an image mapping tool, the image mapping tool performing operations including: causing display of a first view at a first angle of a physical structure on a graphical user interface;
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a tracing of a section of the physical structure on the first view;
causing display of a second view at a second angle of the physical structure on the graphical user interface;
positioning the tracing over the physical structure in the second view;
and receiving, via the graphical user interface, a manipulation of the tracing to align points of the tracing with corresponding points of the physical structure in the second view;
and based on the tracing and manipulation, determining dimensions for the physical structure and generating a three-dimensional model of the physical structure.
A method comprising: providing an image mapping tool, the image mapping tool performing operations including: causing display of a first view at a first angle of a physical structure on a graphical user interface;
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a tracing of a section of the physical structure on the first view;
causing display of a second view at a second angle of the physical structure on the graphical user interface;
positioning the tracing over the physical structure in the second view;
and receiving, via the graphical user interface, a user interface manipulation of the tracing to align the tracing with the second view of the physical structure, the user interface manipulation comprising dragging of one or more points of the tracing to match corresponding points of the physical structure on the second view;
and based on the tracing and user interface manipulation, determining dimensions for the physical structure and generating a three-dimensional model of the physical structure.
Claim 13
Claim 11
The method of claim 12, wherein positioning the tracing comprises: receiving, via the graphical user interface, a drag instruction that positions the tracing over the physical structure in the second view.
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a drag instruction that positions the tracing over the physical structure in the second view; in response to receiving the drag instruction,
Claim 14
Claim 11
The method of claim 12, wherein the manipulation comprises dragging of one or more points of the tracing to match corresponding points of the physical structure on the second view.
the user interface manipulation comprising dragging of one or more points of the tracing to match corresponding points of the physical structure on the second view;
Claim 15
Claim 14
The method of claim 14, wherein: the tracing of the section in the first view provides position of each point of the physical structure in two dimensions and the dragging provides a value for the points of the physical structure in a third dimension;
and the determining dimensions of the physical structure comprises determining mathematically a size based on the two dimensions and the third dimension.
The method of claim 11, wherein: the tracing of the section in the first view provides a position of each point in the tracing in two dimension; and the user interface manipulation of the one or more points of the tracing provides a value for each point in a third dimension.
Claim 16
further comprising: based on the tracing and user interface manipulation, determining a roof angle, size, and shape
Claim 11
determining dimensions for the physical structure
Claim 16
Claim 14
The method of claim 14, wherein: the tracing of the section in the first view provides position of each point of the physical structure in two dimensions and the dragging provides a value for the points of the physical structure in a third dimension;
and the method further comprises determining one or more angles associated with the physical structure based on the two dimensions and the third dimension.
The method of claim 11, wherein: the tracing of the section in the first view provides a position of each point in the tracing in two dimension; and the user interface manipulation of the one or more points of the tracing provides a value for each point in a third dimension.
Claim 16
further comprising: based on the tracing and user interface manipulation, determining a roof angle, size, and shape
Claim 17
Claim 15
The method of claim 12, further comprising: based on the three-dimensional model, generating a solar panel layout and a map of solar energy potential production.
The method of claim 11, further comprising: based on the three-dimensional model, generating a solar panel layout and a map of solar energy potential production.
Claim 18
Claim 17
The method of claim 17, further comprising: receiving an indication of one or more locations of obstructions;
and determining positions of solar panels based on the three-dimensional model and the locations of the obstructions.
The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, via the graphical user interface, an indication of one or more locations of obstructions;
and determining positions of solar panels based on the three-dimensional model and the locations of the obstructions.
Claim 19
Claim 18
The method of claim 12, wherein the physical structure is a roof and the method further comprises: causing display of a grid overlaid over each section of the roof, a size of each grid being equivalent to a size of a solar panel.
The method of claim 11, wherein the physical structure is a roof and the method further comprises: causing display of a grid overlaid over each section of the roof, a size of each grid being equivalent to a size of a solar panel;
Claim 20
Claim 20
A non-transitory machine storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: providing an image mapping tool, the image mapping tool performing operations including: causing display of a first view at a first angle of a physical structure on a graphical user interface;
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a tracing of a section of the physical structure on the first view;
causing display of a second view at a second angle of the physical structure on the graphical user interface;
positioning the tracing over the physical structure in the second view; and
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a manipulation of the tracing to align points of the tracing with corresponding points of the physical structure in the second view; and
based on the tracing and manipulation, determining dimensions for the physical structure and generating a three-dimensional model of the physical structure.
A non-transitory machine storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising: providing an image mapping tool, the image mapping tool performing operations including: causing display of a first view at a first angle of a physical structure on a graphical user interface;
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a tracing of a section of the physical structure on the first view;
causing display of a second view at a second angle of the physical structure on the graphical user interface;
positioning the tracing over the physical structure in the second view; and
receiving, via the graphical user interface, a user interface manipulation of the tracing to align the tracing with the second view of the physical structure, and
based on the tracing and user interface manipulation, determining dimensions for the physical structure and generating a three-dimensional model of the physical structure.
Claims Distinguished Over Prior Art
Regarding claims 1 - 20, the prior art does not teach nor suggest a system or method as currently claimed. The most relevant art is (Kennedy), which discloses a method and system for provisioning energy systems. However, (Kennedy) does not teach the user manipulation of tracings to produce a three-dimensional model, which includes determining dimensions. (Hochart) teaches a method for solar mapping, determining a useable are for solar energy production and/or providing solar information. However, this reference has the same shortcoming.
Particularly, the prior art of record does not disclose the following claimed elements, either alone, or in combination, within claims 1, 12, and 20; receiving, via the graphical user interface, a tracing of a section of the physical structure on the first view; causing display of a second view at a second angle of the physical structure on the graphical user interface; positioning the tracing over the physical structure in the second view; and receiving, via the graphical user interface, a manipulation of the tracing to align points of the tracing with corresponding points of the physical structure in the second view; and based on the tracing and manipulation, determining dimensions for the physical structure and generating a three-dimensional model of the physical structure. Accordingly, the current claim set is distinguished over the prior art.
Conclusion
For analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 101, The claims do not recite limitations that fall within the groupings of abstract ideas enumerated in MPEP 2106.04(a)(2). Independent claims 1, 12, and 20, recite an image mapping tool causing a first and second display of views and a graphical user interface for receiving manipulation instructions to create a three-dimensional model and determining physical structure dimensions. These steps do not describe a mathematical concept, a certain method of organizing human activity, and cannot be performed in the human mind as a mental process. Therefore, the independent claims do not recite a judicial exception and qualify as eligible subject matter under 35 U.S.C. § 101.
The dependent claims recite further manipulations of the image mapping views using the user interface, and allow for generating panel sizing and layouts and locating of obstructions. They further depend to eligible subject matter in claims 1 and 12. Accordingly, the dependent claims also contain eligible subject matter.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Aggarwal discusses energy systems to be installed on properties. Pershing discloses aerial roof estimation systems and methods. Wayne details automated solar collector installation design. The NPL document discusses rooftop solar panels on homes.
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DONALD J. EDMONDS
Examiner
Art Unit 3629
/SARAH M MONFELDT/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3629