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 .
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 (i.e., a descriptive title that distinguishes the invention and is not a generic or general description). The new title should take into account any amendments to the claims to best indicate the claimed invention.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 1/9/25 follows the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Murayama (US 2023/0195319).
Regarding claim 1, Murayama teaches an operation information generating apparatus comprising a hardware processor configured to (information processing system 100; ¶¶ 0056-0067, Figs. 3-4)
obtain operation state history information on an operation state of an image forming apparatus and maintenance history information on maintenance performed on an image former of the image forming apparatus (server 101 detects, receives, and stores job information, error information, maintenance information, and setting change information; ¶¶ 0098-0102, Fig. 7),
generate operation information in which the operation state history information and the maintenance history information are shown on a timeline (timeline screen 500 with job row 501 and maintenance row 503; ¶¶ 0033-036, ¶¶ 0051-0053 Figs. 1-2), and
output the generated operation information to a terminal apparatus (display timeline screen; ¶ 0107, Fig. 9).
Regarding claim 2, Murayama teaches the operation information generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenance included in the operation information is performed at a predetermined cycle (maintenance schedule; ¶ 0082).
Regarding claim 3, Murayama teaches the operation information generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the operation state of the image forming apparatus includes a state in which the image forming apparatus is forming an image (print job; ¶ 0051 and ¶ 0080, Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 4, Murayama teaches the operation information generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation information includes information on a cumulative usage amount of an image forming medium used for image formation by the image former at a predetermined time point on the timeline (No. of Prints: 1500 sheets; ¶ 0051, Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 5, Murayama teaches the operation information generating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the operation information includes information on a cumulative number of sheets printed by the image former at a predetermined time point on the timeline (No. of Prints: 1500 sheets; ¶ 0051, Fig. 2).
Regarding claim 6, Murayama teaches the operation information generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation information includes information on a mark indicating a timing in a past at which the maintenance should have been performed (maintenance execution result information indicating whether the maintenance work stored in the scheduler has been performed may be displayed; ¶ 0100).
Regarding claim 7, Murayama teaches the operation information generating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the operation information includes information on a mark indicating a recommended timing of the next maintenance (schedule maintenance; ¶ 0082).
Claim 8 is a method claim that corresponds to the apparatus of claim 1 thus, arguments similar to that presented above for claim 1 are equally applicable to claim 8.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Chiba et al. (US 2024/0210927) teaches a visualization system that displays a timeline including operation state and maintenance information.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KENT YIP whose telephone number is (571)270-5244. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00-5:00 PM PST.
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, Akwasi M. Sarpong can be reached at (571) 270-3438. 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.
/KENT YIP/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2681
Prosecution Insights