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 .
This application has been examined. Claims 1-20 are pending.
The Group and/or Art Unit location of your application in the PTO has changed. To aid in correlating any papers for this application, all further correspondence regarding this application should be directed to Group Art Unit 2175.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. § 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art t which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Kaufman (“Kaufman”) (US NO. 9,798,306) in view of Gregori et al. (“Gregori”) (US No. 6,998,977).
In order to expedite and avoid piecemeal prosecution, the following rejection is made to the extent that the claims are understood, by considering those elements which are understood and interpreting their function in a manner which is consistent with the recited goals of the claims, and then applying the best available art.
The examiner relies on the entire teachings of Kaufman and Gregori references; the applicant should carefully consider the entire teachings of the above-mentioned references to better understand the examiner’s position.
In regard to claim 1, Kaufman discloses a device for detecting fault conditions of an automatic access system, comprising: a housing comprising a power input configured to receive electricity from a power source and a power output configured to transmit at least a portion of the electricity to an operator component of the automatic access system (as shown in Fig. 1, which is reproduced below for ease of reference and convenience, Kaufman discloses Col. 1:36-67: discloses an industrial control system configured to detect fault conditions of an industrial automation component based on energy usage analysis that a device for detecting fault conditions of a powered mechanical component. Col. 5:540 thru col. 6:27; col. 7:3-52: industrial control system includes hardware components receiving power from a power source and distributing power to industrial automation components connected to the system. The control system acts as a power intermediary between the supply and the automation component);
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an energy metering component configured to collect energy usage data associated with an operation of the operator component (in Kaufman, Col. 3:59 thru col. 4:7: determining, using an industrial control system, energy usage associated with an industrial automation component over a period of time based at least in part on an operational parameter associated with the industrial automation component that expressly teaches an energy metering/measurement component collecting energy usage data during component operation. Col. 7:12-24: industrial control system uses sensors to measure operational parameters including energy usage of automation components); and a processor interfaced with the energy metering component and configured to: analyze the energy usage data to determine an energy usage over time associated with the operation of the operator component (in Kaufman, Col. 9:10-46: determining, using an industrial control system, energy usage associated with an industrial automation component over a period of time based at least in part on an operational parameter that verbatim teaching of analyzing energy data to determine energy usage over time), compare the energy usage over time to a baseline energy usage over time associated with the automatic access system (in Kaufman, Col. 15:56 thru col. 16:16: generating, using the industrial control system, an energy usage baseline associated with the industrial automation component based at least in part on the energy usage, wherein the energy usage baseline comprises an expected energy usage associated with the industrial automation component that expressly generates and uses a baseline for comparison), based on the comparing, determine that the energy usage over time differs from the baseline energy usage over time by at least a threshold amount (in Kaufman, Col. 26:30-62: the control system 22 may adjust the energy usage baseline over time (process block 188). More specifically, adjusting the energy usage baseline over time may enable gradual changes in the component 20 or components to be taken into account. The number of previous energy usage values to use may be adjusted to help differentiate between energy usage changes that result from gradual aging of components and energy usage changes that result from a faulty component. Claim 2 determines average and standard deviation of previous energy usage values to define the baseline range that upper and lower threshold limits relative to the baseline), and after determining that the energy usage over time differs from the baseline energy usage over time by at least the threshold amount, avail an electronic notification via a user electronic device associated with the automatic access system (in Kaufman, Col. 27:14-36: teaches instructing an electronic display to display a visual notification upon fault detection that availing a notification when energy usage exceeds the baseline. Claim 5 teaches displaying a graphical user interface on a display device indicating energy usage and potential fault condition that notification to a user-interfacing device). But Kaufman does not expressly disclose a physical housing with a power input configured to receive electricity from a power source and a power output configured to transmit power to an operator component of an automatic access system. In the same field of endeavor, Gregori expressly discloses a physical housing with a power input configured to receive electricity from a power source and a power output configured to transmit power to an operator component of an automatic access system (as shown in Fig. 1, which is reproduced below for ease of reference and convenience, Gregori discloses Col. 2:60 thru col. 3:19 (FIG. 2): power drive unit 20 receives power from an external power source and transmits power to the motor/drive components of the garage door operator that a housing with a power input receiving electricity and a power output transmitting electricity to the operator component (motor). Col. 3:4861 (FIG. 3): Network interface 36 is coupled to the controller 300 and power drive unit 20, a monitoring interface physically integrated with the power pathway of the movable barrier operator).
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It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to combine the teaching of Kaufman and Gregori to create a dedicated inline monitoring device specifically adapted for automatic access systems (such as garage doors, gates, or barriers), thereby enabling early detection of mechanical issues (e.g., binding, wear, or obstruction) through changes in energy consumption. This combination would yield predictable results with a reasonable expectation of success and would provide significant safety and maintenance benefits in automatic access systems.
In regard to claims 2, 8, 15, Kaufman discloses wherein the operator component is an access mechanism of the automatic access system (in Kaufman, Col. 6:16-55: industrial automation components include motors, drives, controllers, and mechanical actuators that perform automated mechanical operations that an access mechanism (motor/drive of a gate or door operator) is a specific type of industrial automation component. Claim 3 identifies the automation component based on type of operation that the type of access mechanism determines the expected energy usage baseline).
In regard to claims 3, 9, 16, Kaufman discloses wherein to compare the energy usage over time to the baseline energy usage over time, the processor is configured to: identify the baseline energy usage over time based on a type of the operation of the automatic access system, and compare the energy usage over time to the baseline energy usage over time (in Kaufman, col. 9:10-46 and claim 3 (verbatim): generating a plurality of energy usage baselines for the industrial automation component, wherein each energy usage baseline is generated based on one or more products being produced by the industrial automation component, a time of day the industrial automation component is in operation, one or more operators on duty, one or more environmental conditions, one or more materials being used, one or more operating setpoints, one or more control algorithms, or any combination thereof that identifying the baseline based on the type of operation is expressly taught).
In regard to claims 4, 10, 17, Kaufman discloses wherein to compare the energy usage over time to the baseline energy usage over time, the processor is configured to: calculate, at multiple points in time, multiple differences between the energy usage over time and the baseline energy usage over time (in Kaufman, Claim 2: determining an average of two or more previous energy usage values associated with the industrial automation component; and determining a standard deviation of the previous energy usage values that requires computing energy usage values and their deviations at multiple points in time. Col. 3:59 thru col. 4:7: the industrial control system continuously monitors energy usage over time and generates a baseline based on multiple measurements that implicitly calculating differences between current usage and baseline at multiple time points).
In regard to claims 5, 11, 18, Kaufman discloses wherein to determine that the energy usage over time differs from the baseline energy usage over time by at least the threshold amount, the processor is configured to: calculate, based on the multiple differences, an overall difference between the energy usage over time and the baseline energy usage over time, and determine that the overall difference at least meets the threshold amount (in Kaufman, claim 2: generating baseline by determining average and standard deviation of energy usage values that the standard deviation defines the threshold amount, and comparison against it determines whether overall deviation meets the threshold. Claim 4: determining a probability that the industrial automation component is experiencing the fault based at least in part on a degree of certainty associated with the energy usage that calculating an overall deviation metric from multiple differences to determine whether the threshold is met).
In regard to claims 6, 12 19, Gregori discloses wherein to avail the electronic notification, the processor is configured to: generate the electronic notification to identify a potential fault condition associated with the automatic access system, and transmit the electronic notification to the user electronic device (in Gregori, Col. 1:55-67; col. 3:47-61: network interface 36 sends status of movable barrier over the network to a requesting device (personal computer 108, PDA 112, cellular telephone 110) that transmitting a notification to a user electronic device). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to combine the teaching of Kaufman and Gregori to create a dedicated inline monitoring device specifically adapted for automatic access systems (such as garage doors, gates, or barriers), thereby enabling early detection of mechanical issues (e.g., binding, wear, or obstruction) through changes in energy consumption. This combination would yield predictable results with a reasonable expectation of success and would provide significant safety and maintenance benefits in automatic access systems.
In regard to claim 20, Gregori discloses wherein the processor associated with a server computer that is remote from the energy metering component, and wherein analyzing the energy usage data comprises: receiving, by the processor from the energy metering component, the energy usage data; and analyzing, by a processor, the energy usage data to determine the energy usage over time associated with the operation of the automatic access system (in Gregori, Col. 3:48-61 (FIG. 3): network interface 36 (transceiver) transmits barrier data over internet to remote computer/server. Micro-controller 304 transmits data via TCP/IP stack over ethernet to remote requesting device (server/computer). A user connecting to the network interface 36 over a web-enabled cellular telephone 110 or PDA 112 will also be able to view the status that remote server receives and processes data from the monitoring device). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to combine the teaching of Kaufman and Gregori to create a dedicated inline monitoring device specifically adapted for automatic access systems (such as garage doors, gates, or barriers), thereby enabling early detection of mechanical issues (e.g., binding, wear, or obstruction) through changes in energy consumption. This combination would yield predictable results with a reasonable expectation of success and would provide significant safety and maintenance benefits in automatic access systems.
Independent claims 7 (system) and 14 (computer-implemented method) recite the same operative limitations as method claim 1 in system and medium form respectively. The device/method/system distinction does not impart patentability where the underlying operative steps are the same. See MPEP § 2114.
Therefore, claims 7 and 14 are rejected on the same basis and mapping as claim 1 above.
Examiner's note:
Examiner has cited particular columns and line numbers in the references applied to the claims above for the convenience of the Applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings of the art and are applied to specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested from the Applicant in preparing responses, to fully consider the references in entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passages as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the Examiner.
Conclusion
All claims are rejected.
The prior arts made of record and not relied upon are considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Miles (US No. 10,060,982) discloses a controller system is configured to measure power applied to the DC-link, integrate the power over time to yield energy consumed, and to determine energy that accumulates in operation over time. The controller is further configured to detect a fault condition when the energy that accumulates in operation is less than expected based on the energy consumed.
Baumann et al. (US Pub No. 2017/0343990) disclose a server enables exchange of the data between the automation component and control device connected using a network. A display displays the machine readable code provided with a dynamic barcode (36) and quick response code. The server provides the troubleshooting instructions for the component of the automation system.
Kaufman (US Pub No. 2016/0147242) discloses the industrial control system comprises a computer readable medium for storing instructions to determine (236) multiple operating strategies associated with an industrial automation component. The expected energy usage cost is determined (238) that is associated with the industrial automation component. The expected value added associated with the industrial automation component is determined (240). The operating strategy is selected (242) for operating the industrial automation component.
Kaufman (US Pub No. 2016/0147241) discloses a method involves determining energy usage associated with an industrial automation component over period of time based on operational parameter associated with industrial automation component using an industrial control system (22,22A). An energy usage baseline associated with component is generated based on energy usage. A notification sends to a display of the industrial control system.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to examiner Raymond Phan, whose telephone number is (571) 272-3630. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 6:30AM- 3:00PM. The Group Fax No. (571) 273-8300.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Andrew Jung can be reached at (571) 270-3779. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/RAYMOND N PHAN/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2175
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