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
Status of Application
This Office Action is a response to Applicant’s communication (or preliminary’s amendment) filed on 01/15/2025. In virtue of this communication, claim 1 is currently presented in the instant application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement(s) (IDS) submitted on 01/17/2025 and 07/21/2025 in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is considered by the examiner.
If applicant is aware of any prior art or any other co-pending application not already of record, he/she is reminded of his/her duty under 37 CFR 1.97 to disclose the same.
Drawings
The drawing submitted on 01/15/2025 is accepted as part of the formal application.
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 to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rozbicki (US 20110148218 of record), hereinafter Rozbicki.
Regarding claim 1,
Rozbicki discloses a building communications network (a wireless power transmission network; paragraph [0011]), comprising:
an internal communications network (a wireless power transmission network 201, Fig 2B);
a first antenna structure (an antennae, Fig 1; paragraph [0028]) disposed on a component of a window (a frame F of a window assembly 130, Fig 1), wherein the window comprises one or more lites (Fig 1), each of the one or more lites having regions that are at least partially transparent at optical wavelengths (Fig 1); and
an access point (a receiver 135, Fig 1) coupled to the first antenna structure and configured to bring about transmission and reception of signals to and from the internal communications network.
Rozbicki does not explicitly teach the internal communications network disposed in a building.
However, Rozbicki discloses EC windows in a building (paragraph [0004]), and depending on the building or need, one or more, several nodes are used to form a network of power nodes (paragraph [0011]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to use an internal communications network disposed in a building in Rozbicki, in order to provide wireless power transmission for low-defectivity, highly-reliable EC windows.
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Double Patenting
Nonstatutory 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 claims at issue 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); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO internet Web site contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit http://www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application will determine what form should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Non Provisional Rejection, Nonstatutory Double Patenting - No Secondary Reference(s)
Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12278419.
US Application 19021594
Claim 1, A building communications network, comprising:
an internal communications network disposed in a building;
a first antenna structure disposed on a component of a window in the building, wherein the window comprises one or more lites, each of the one or more lites having regions that are at least partially transparent at optical wavelengths; and
an access point coupled to the first antenna structure and configured to bring about transmission and reception of signals to and from the internal communications network disposed in the building.
US Patent 12278419
Claim 1, A building communications network, comprising:
an internal communications network disposed in a building;
a antenna structure disposed on a component of a window in the building, wherein the window comprises one or more lites, each of the one or more lites having regions that are at least partially transparent at optical wavelengths;
an electrochromic device disposed on one of the lites of the window, wherein the antenna structure utilizes a conductive layer of the electrochromic device to block reception of wireless signals from one or more regions external to the building; and
an access point coupled to the antenna structure and configured to bring about transmission and reception of signals to and from the internal communications network disposed in the building.
Conclusion
The Examiner has pointed out particular references contained in the prior art of record within the body of this action for the convenience of the Applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings in the art and are applied to the specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply.
Applicant, in preparing the response, should consider fully the entire reference aspotentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of thepassage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the Examiner.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Hai Tran whose telephone number is (571) 270-7650. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dimary Lopez can be reached on (571) 270-7893. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/HAI V TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2845
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