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 Objections
Claims 19 and 20 are objected to because of the following informalities: claims 19 and 20 are currently depend from claim 1. However, claims 19 and 20 are system claims, which should depend from claim 11. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zografos (US 2026/0038276).
Regarding claim 1:
Zografos discloses a method for vehicle identification and cargo tracking, the method comprising:
at a bridge associated with a location (see Figs. 1A-1B and paragraphs [0027]-[0028]; monitoring station corresponds to a bridge):
receiving a first video stream containing a first plurality of images of a vehicle entering an access point associated with the location (see Figs. 1A, 6A, and paragraph [0045]);
determining a vehicle signature for the vehicle entering the access point (see Fig. 1B and paragraph [0038]; unique features include a vehicle signature)
determining that the vehicle entering the access point comprises a tractor entering the access point (see Fig. 1B, container number and/or chassis number);
receiving a second video stream, wherein the second video stream contains a second plurality of images of the tractor entering the access point (see Fig. 6A; second or another camera captures addition images of the tractor entering the access point);
determining tractor registration information for the tractor entering the access point from the second video stream (see paragraph [0039]; the features extracted includes tractor registration information); and
communicating the vehicle signature and the tractor registration information for the tractor entering the access point to a data center (see paragraphs [0039] and [0046]; the location where the database is located is a data center),
wherein the data center performs:
receiving the vehicle signature and the tractor registration information for the tractor entering the access point (see Fig. 8; location of the cloud AI server);
adding the tractor to a census of tractors located at the location (see paragraph [0030]; vehicle-assets information which includes tractor information is stored to the database);
determining a transportation entity associated with the tractor (see Fig. 1B and paragraph [0039]); and
determining a cargo associated with the transportation entity (see paragraph [0035]; the report includes information regarding the cargo associated with the transportation entity).
Regarding claim 2:
Zografos discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the first video stream is received from a first camera oriented to capture the first video stream relative to a front of the vehicle entering the access point (see Fig. 1B; the entry location of the facility includes a camera that captures the front of the truck as shown in S100A).
Regarding claim 3:
Zografos discloses the method of claim 2, wherein the second video stream is received from a second camera oriented to capture the second video stream relative to a side of the tractor entering the access point (see Fig. 1B; a second camera is capable of capturing images of the side of the tractor as shown by the image with chassis number).
Regarding claim 4:
Zografos discloses the method of claim 3, wherein the second camera is oriented to capture the second video stream relative to a door of the tractor entering the access point (see Fig. 1B; the second camera is capable of capturing images of the door of the tractor as shown by the image with container number).
Regarding claim 5:
Zografos discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the tractor registration information comprises a Department of Transportation (DOT) number (see Fig. 4; USDOT No.).
Regarding claim 6:
Zografos discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising:
at the bridge:
receiving a third video stream containing a plurality of images of the tractor entering the access point (see Fig. 6A; the monitoring station includes at least a third camera for capturing images of the truck/trailer entering the facility);
determining the tractor entering the access point is connected to a trailer (see Fig. 6B; the track includes a trailer entering the facility);
determining a first trailer signature for the first trailer (see Fig. 1B; the camera is capable of detecting unique features which includes a first trailer signature);
determining first trailer license plate information from a license plate on the first trailer (see Fig. 1B and 4);
communicating the first trailer signature and the first trailer license plate information to the data center (see Fig. 8 and paragraphs [0039] and [0046]),
wherein the data center performs:
receiving the first trailer signature and the first trailer license plate information (see Fig. 8 and paragraph [0051]);
adding the first trailer to a census of trailers located at the location (see paragraph [0030] and [0039]; vehicle-assets information which includes tractor information is stored to the database);
determining a cargo entity associated with the first trailer (see Fig. 4 and paragraph [0035]-[0039]; the report includes information of cargo entity associated with the first trailer); and
determining a cargo associated with the cargo entity (see Fig. 4 and paragraph [0035]-[0039]; the report includes information of cargo associated with the cargo entity).
Regarding claim 7:
Zografos discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising:
at the bridge:
receiving a fourth video stream containing a plurality of images of a vehicle exiting the access point (see Fig. 1B; the monitoring station 100 is capable of capture image of truck leaving the facility);
determining a vehicle signature for the vehicle exiting the access point (see Fig. 1B and paragraph [0038]);
determining, based on the vehicle signature, that the vehicle exiting the access point comprises a tractor (see Fig. 1B, container number and/or chassis number);
determining tractor registration information for the tractor exiting the access point (see paragraph [0039]; the features extracted includes tractor registration information); and
communicating one or more of the tractor signature and the tractor registration information for the tractor exiting the access point to the data center (see Fig. 8 and paragraphs [0039] and [0046]; the report is updated in real-time; so when the tractor is leaving the facility, the information associated with the tractor is being communicated to the data center to be updated),
wherein the data center performs:
receiving one or more of the tractor signature and the tractor registration information for the tractor exiting the access point (see Fig. 8 and paragraphs [0039] and [0046]; the tractor leaving the facility is being detected and information relating to the tractor is received by the data center to update the report); and
removing the tractor exiting the access point from the census of tractors located at the location (see Fig. 8 and paragraphs [0039] and [0046]; the tractor left the facility can be removed from the list such that information regarding the status or location of the tractor can be updated).
Regarding claim 8:
Zografos discloses the method of claim 7, further comprising:
at the bridge:
receiving a fifth video stream containing a plurality of images of a second trailer connected to the tractor exiting the access point (see Fig. 1B and paragraph [0030]; the monitoring station is capable of receiving images of a second trailer connected to the tractor exiting the facility);
determining a second trailer signature for the second trailer (see Fig. 1B and paragraph [0038]); and
determining second trailer license plate information from a license plate on the second trailer (see Fig. 1B and paragraph [0038]); and
communicating one or more of the second trailer signature and the second trailer license plate information to the data center (see Fig. 8, paragraphs [0039] and [0046]; the report is updated in real-time; so when the second trailer is leaving the facility, the information associated with the second trailer is being communicated to the data center to be updated),
wherein the data center performs:
receiving the second trailer signature and the second trailer license plate information (see Fig. 8 and paragraphs [0039] and [0046]; the second trailer leaving the facility is being detected and information relating to the second trailer is received by the data center to update the report); and
removing the second trailer from the census of trailers located at the location (see Fig. 8 and paragraphs [0039] and [0046]; the second trailer left the facility can be removed from the list such that information regarding the status or location of the second trailer can be updated).
Regarding claim 9:
Zografos discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining tractor license plate information from a license plate on the truck entering the access point, wherein determining that the vehicle entering the access point comprises a tractor entering the access point is based on one or more of the vehicle signature and the tractor license plate information (see Figs. 1B, 4 and paragraphs [0032] and [0039]).
Regarding claim 10:
Zograpos discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining tractor license plate information from a license plate on the truck exiting the access point, wherein determining that the vehicle exiting the access point comprises a tractor entering the access point is based on one or more of the vehicle signature and the tractor license plate information (see Fig. 1B, 4, and paragraphs [0032] and [0039]).
Regarding claims 11-20:
Claims 11-20 recite similar limitations as in claims 1-10. Hence, claims 11-20 are rejected under the same reasons as discussed above in claims 1-10, respectively.
In addition, Zograpos further discloses a system for vehicle identification and cargo tracking (see Figs. 1A, 1B, 5 and 8), the system comprising:
a bridge communicatively coupled to a plurality of cameras associated with a location (see Fig. 6A and paragraph [0045]), wherein the bridge comprises:
a bridge memory storing a set of bridge instructions (see Fig. 5; main memory 506, static memory 508, and/or hard disk drive 504); and
a bridge processor configured to execute the set of bridge instructions (see Fig. 5; processor 502).
a data center having a plurality of servers (see Fig. 8 and paragraph [0046]); each server comprising:
a server memory storing a set of server instructions (see paragraph [0046]; the server includes memory); and
a server processor configured to execute the set of server instructions (see paragraph [0046]; the server includes processor).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Harris et al. (US 12,406,575) discloses a system and method for automated vehicle recognition at service facilities.
Lett et al. (US 12,307,409) discloses a tractor-trailer ID methods and system.
Jatt et al. (US 2023/0123587) discloses a system and operation s of transfer hubs for autonomous trucking systems.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LIXI CHOW SIMPSON whose telephone number is (571)272-7571. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 7:00am-3:00pm.
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/LIXI C SIMPSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2625
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