DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Status of Claims
2. This office action is in response to application number 19/023,438 filed on 01/16/2025, in
which the amendments and arguments filed on 06/25/2026.
Claims 1-3 and 5 have been amended.
Claims 6-8 have been added.
Claim 4 has been cancelled.
Priority
3. Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. JP2024-079707 filed on 05/15/2024.
Information Disclosure Statement
4. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 01/16/2025 has been received
but has been considered.
Response to Amendment
5. Applicant' s amendments to the Claims have overcome the objection and rejection(s) previously set forth in the Non-Final Office Action mailed 03/31/2026. Applicants arguments, see page 6-9 filed on 06/25/2026, with respect to claim interpretation regarding claim 1-4, 35 USC 112(b) rejection regarding claim 1, and the rejection of claim(s) 1-5 under 35 USC 103 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. A new grounds for rejection is made under 35 USC 102 as necessitated by amendment being clearly anticipated by Song (JP 2007068972 A).
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.
6. Claims 1-3 and 5 are rejected under 35 USC §102(a)(1) as being clearly anticipated by Song (JP 2007068972 A).
Regarding claim 1, Song discloses A management device that manages an autonomous mobile robot, and a plurality of accessory units that enables the autonomous mobile robot to execute a plurality of different services when used in combination with the autonomous mobile robot, the management device comprising a processor configured to: (Song Page 6, Paragraph 8: “The mobile robot 40 selectively couples any one of the plurality of work modules 10 (11 to 14) from the module station 20 according to the type of work to be performed, and performs the work while running on its own.”) (Song Page 8, Paragraph 1: “The robot transmission / reception unit 48 receives a signal from the robot control unit 46 and transmits the signal to the outside. The robot transmission / reception unit 48 receives a signal transmitted from a remote control device (not shown) or the station transmission / reception unit 39 and transmits the signal to the robot control unit 46. The robot control unit 46 controls the mobile robot 40 in accordance with a command received from the remote control device, and performs the instructed work.”) acquire and store first combination information on a combination of a first accessory unit of the accessory units and the autonomous mobile robot; (Song Page 8, Paragraph 8: “Subsequently, the robot control unit 46 confirms the position of the first module fixing unit 31 of the module station 20 to which the cleaning module 11 is fixed, and calculates an optimal movement path for the mobile robot 40 to be coupled with the cleaning module 11. To do. Then, the drive unit 42 is controlled, and the module docking unit 43 of the mobile robot 40 is inserted into the docked unit 57 of the cleaning module 11.”) (Song Page 9, Paragraph 5: “In the mobile robot system 1 having a plurality of replaceable work modules, the robot controller 46 of the mobile robot 40 receives the work command and selects the work module 10 to be used for the instructed work (S10). Then, it is determined whether the work module 10 is coupled to the mobile robot 40 (S11). When the work module 10 is not coupled, the robot control unit 46 couples with the work module 10 used for the mobile robot 40 (S40).”) (Note: First accessory unit=cleaning module 11) acquire and store second combination information on a combination of a second accessory unit of the accessory units and the autonomous mobile robot; (Song Page 8, Paragraph 6: “First, the robot control unit 46 separates the coupled air purification module 13 and confirms the position of the third module fixing unit 33 of the module station 20 to be fixed. When the robot control unit 46 fixes the air cleaning module 13, if the position of the third module fixing unit 33 is stored, the movement path from the current position to the third module fixing unit 33 is calculated.”) (Note: the position of the module units are stored based on the above paragraph) (Song Page 9, Paragraph 2: “When the cleaning operation is completed and the cleaning cloth is cleaned, the robot controller 46 separates the cleaning module 11 and fixes the cleaning module 11 to the first module fixing section 31 of the module station 20, thereby coupling the cleaning cloth module 12. In addition, since the process in which the robot controller 46 replaces the cleaning module 11 with the water rag module 12 is similar to the above-described description, detailed description thereof is omitted.”) (Note: Second accessory unit=cleaning cloth module 12) and generate a control signal for causing at least one of the first accessory unit and the autonomous mobile robot to physically move closer to the other and physically combine based on the first combination information to form a combined robot, wherein: the autonomous mobile robot and the first accessory unit are physically separated from one another and unconnected before the autonomous mobile robot and the first accessory unit form the combined robot. (Song Page 8, Paragraph 8: “Subsequently, the robot control unit 46 confirms the position of the first module fixing unit 31 of the module station 20 to which the cleaning module 11 is fixed, and calculates an optimal movement path for the mobile robot 40 to be coupled with the cleaning module 11. To do. Then, the drive unit 42 is controlled, and the module docking unit 43 of the mobile robot 40 is inserted into the docked unit 57 of the cleaning module 11.”)
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Regarding claim 2, Song discloses The management device according to claim 1, wherein the first combination information includes instructions for generating the control signal to cause the first accessory unit and the autonomous mobile robot to physically connect. (Song Page 3, Paragraph 1: “A robot control unit that controls the driving unit to connect the module docking unit, the electrical connection unit, and the signal connection unit to one of the plurality of work modules.”) (Song Page 8, Paragraph 1: “The robot transmission / reception unit 48 receives a signal from the robot control unit 46 and transmits the signal to the outside. The robot transmission / reception unit 48 receives a signal transmitted from a remote control device (not shown) or the station transmission / reception unit 39 and transmits the signal to the robot control unit 46. The robot control unit 46 controls the mobile robot 40 in accordance with a command received from the remote control device, and performs the instructed work.”) (Song Page 8, Paragraph 8: “Subsequently, the robot control unit 46 confirms the position of the first module fixing unit 31 of the module station 20 to which the cleaning module 11 is fixed, and calculates an optimal movement path for the mobile robot 40 to be coupled with the cleaning module 11. To do. Then, the drive unit 42 is controlled, and the module docking unit 43 of the mobile robot 40 is inserted into the docked unit 57 of the cleaning module 11.”)
Regarding claim 3, Song discloses The management device according to claim 2, wherein the first combination information includes instructions for generating the control signal to cause the autonomous mobile robot to move relative to the first accessory unit. (Song Page 8, Paragraph 1: “The robot transmission / reception unit 48 receives a signal from the robot control unit 46 and transmits the signal to the outside. The robot transmission / reception unit 48 receives a signal transmitted from a remote control device (not shown) or the station transmission / reception unit 39 and transmits the signal to the robot control unit 46. The robot control unit 46 controls the mobile robot 40 in accordance with a command received from the remote control device, and performs the instructed work.”) (Song Page 8, Paragraph 8: “Subsequently, the robot control unit 46 confirms the position of the first module fixing unit 31 of the module station 20 to which the cleaning module 11 is fixed, and calculates an optimal movement path for the mobile robot 40 to be coupled with the cleaning module 11. To do. Then, the drive unit 42 is controlled, and the module docking unit 43 of the mobile robot 40 is inserted into the docked unit 57 of the cleaning module 11.”)
Regarding claim 5, Song discloses A management method of managing an autonomous mobile robot, and a plurality of accessory units that enables the autonomous mobile robot to execute a plurality of different services when used in combination with the autonomous mobile robot, the management method comprising: (Song Page 4, Paragraph 4: “According to the mobile robot system having a plurality of replaceable work modules and the control method thereof according to the present invention,”) (Song Page 6, Paragraph 8: “The mobile robot 40 selectively couples any one of the plurality of work modules 10 (11 to 14) from the module station 20 according to the type of work to be performed, and performs the work while running on its own.”) (Song Page 8, Paragraph 1: “The robot transmission / reception unit 48 receives a signal from the robot control unit 46 and transmits the signal to the outside. The robot transmission / reception unit 48 receives a signal transmitted from a remote control device (not shown) or the station transmission / reception unit 39 and transmits the signal to the robot control unit 46. The robot control unit 46 controls the mobile robot 40 in accordance with a command received from the remote control device, and performs the instructed work.”) acquiring and storing first combination information on a combination of a first accessory unit of the accessory units and the autonomous mobile robot; (Song Page 8, Paragraph 8: “Subsequently, the robot control unit 46 confirms the position of the first module fixing unit 31 of the module station 20 to which the cleaning module 11 is fixed, and calculates an optimal movement path for the mobile robot 40 to be coupled with the cleaning module 11. To do. Then, the drive unit 42 is controlled, and the module docking unit 43 of the mobile robot 40 is inserted into the docked unit 57 of the cleaning module 11.”) (Song Page 9, Paragraph 5: “In the mobile robot system 1 having a plurality of replaceable work modules, the robot controller 46 of the mobile robot 40 receives the work command and selects the work module 10 to be used for the instructed work (S10). Then, it is determined whether the work module 10 is coupled to the mobile robot 40 (S11). When the work module 10 is not coupled, the robot control unit 46 couples with the work module 10 used for the mobile robot 40 (S40).”) (Note: First accessory unit=cleaning module 11) acquiring and storing second combination information of a combination of a second accessory unit of the accessory units and the autonomous mobile robot; (Song Page 8, Paragraph 6: “First, the robot control unit 46 separates the coupled air purification module 13 and confirms the position of the third module fixing unit 33 of the module station 20 to be fixed. When the robot control unit 46 fixes the air cleaning module 13, if the position of the third module fixing unit 33 is stored, the movement path from the current position to the third module fixing unit 33 is calculated.”) (Note: the position of the module units are stored based on the above paragraph) (Song Page 9, Paragraph 2: “When the cleaning operation is completed and the cleaning cloth is cleaned, the robot controller 46 separates the cleaning module 11 and fixes the cleaning module 11 to the first module fixing section 31 of the module station 20, thereby coupling the cleaning cloth module 12. In addition, since the process in which the robot controller 46 replaces the cleaning module 11 with the water rag module 12 is similar to the above-described description, detailed description thereof is omitted.”) (Note: Second accessory unit=cleaning cloth module 12) and generating a control signal for causing at least one of the first accessory unit and the autonomous mobile robot to physically move closer to the other and physically combine based on the first combination information to form a combined robot, wherein: the autonomous mobile robot and the first accessory unit are physically separated from one another and unconnected before the autonomous mobile robot and the first accessory unit form the combined robot. (Song Page 8, Paragraph 8: “Subsequently, the robot control unit 46 confirms the position of the first module fixing unit 31 of the module station 20 to which the cleaning module 11 is fixed, and calculates an optimal movement path for the mobile robot 40 to be coupled with the cleaning module 11. To do. Then, the drive unit 42 is controlled, and the module docking unit 43 of the mobile robot 40 is inserted into the docked unit 57 of the cleaning module 11.”)
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Allowable Subject Matter
7. Claim 6-8 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KEVIN J HARVEY whose telephone number is 571-272-5327. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00AM-5:00PM M-Th, 8:00AM-4:00PM F.
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/K.J.H./Junior Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3664
/KITO R ROBINSON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3664
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