Detailed Action
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claims 1-20 are pending in the application.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on February 14, 2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97, and accordingly, the IDS has been considered by the examiner.
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 conflicting claims 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); 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 nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
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Claim 1-6, 9-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-2, 5-8, 14-17 of U.S. Patent No. 12,255,934 (“Patent ‘934”) in view of Mesters et al. US Patent No. 10,110,522 (“Mesters”).
Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims are substantially disclosed by claims of Patent ‘934 with the differences being obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.
Instant Application
US Patent No. 12,255,934
1. A method comprising:
causing display of a selectable element on a first user interface of an email-based communication system, the first user interface displaying an email message and the selectable element being selectable to transmit or share the email message to a group-based communication system that is different than the email-based communication system;
1. A method for transmitting a communication resource between an external communications system to a group-based communication system that is different than the external communications system, comprising:
causing display of a first sharing user interface element on a first user interface of the external communications system, the first user interface configured to display an email message and the first sharing user interface element being selectable to transmit the email message to the group-based communication system;
receiving, via the first user interface, a user selection of the selectable element;
causing display, via the first user interface or a second user interface and based at least in part on the user selection, of one or more options associated with transmitting or sharing the email message from the email-based communication system to the group-based communication system;
responsive to a first selection of the first sharing user interface element, causing display of a visual representation, on the first user interface, for transmitting the email message to the group-based communication system,
wherein the visual representation comprises a plurality of settings for configuring display of the email message in the group-based communication system,
wherein at least one setting of the plurality of settings is determined based in part on the email message, wherein at least one further setting of the plurality of settings is set to a recommended value based in part on the email message;
receiving, via the first user interface or the second user interface, input associated with at least one of a virtual space identifier associated with the group-based communication system, one or more user identifiers associated with one or more users of the group-based communication system, or a group identifier associated with a group of users of the group-based communication system; and
causing, based at least in part on the input, the email message to be transmitted or shared from the email-based communication system for display in the group-based communication system, the email message being associated with message data that identifies at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier.
transmitting, from the external communications system, the email message for display in the group-based communication system based on the plurality of settings,
wherein transmitting the email message comprises transmitting message data that includes a virtual space identifier corresponding to a virtual space at which the email message is to be displayed and a group identifier corresponding to a group of users that are authorized to access the virtual space, wherein the virtual space is inaccessible to users that are absent from the group of users;
parsing the email message and the message data to identify the virtual space identifier and the group identifier; and based at least in part on parsing the email message and the message data to identify the virtual space identifier and the group identifier, causing the email message to be displayed in the virtual space.
Claims of Patent ‘934 do not teach “receiving, via the first user interface or the second user interface, input associated with at least one of a virtual space identifier associated with the group-based communication system, one or more user identifiers associated with one or more users of the group-based communication system, or a group identifier associated with a group of users of the group-based communication system.”
Mesters discloses receiving, via a first user interface or the second user interface, input associated with at least one of a virtual space identifier associated with a group-based communication system, one or more user identifiers associated with one or more users of the group-based communication system, or a group identifier associated with a group of users of the group-based communication system (col. 2, lines 23-26. sharing service can also be referred to as a “collaboration service,” since at least some embodiments of the sharing service can allow users to work together on a document. col. 9, lines 41-47. UI 500 is an example of a sharing option interface that includes an access settings UI element 505A, a feedback settings UI element 505B, and an expiration settings UI element 505C. col. 9, lines 49-58. access settings UI element 505A includes options to specify the users that may access the file specified to be shared in the message. access settings UI element 505A includes an option to allow only specified recipients of the electronic message to access the shared files stored by the sharing service. option to allow anyone that has access to the electronic message to access the shared files stored by the sharing service and an option to specify the users, such as a group of users). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have implemented Mesters’ disclosure of receiving, via an interface, input of one or more user identifiers associated with one or more users of the group-based communication system, or a group identifier associated with a group of users of the group-based communication system. Claim 1 of Patent ‘934 discloses “transmitting message data that includes a virtual space identifier corresponding to a virtual space at which the email message is to be displayed and a group identifier corresponding to a group of users that are authorized to access the virtual space.” As such, it would have been desirable for a user to be able to specify a destination of the email message for display in the communication system.
Claims 2-4, 6, 10-13 are unpatentable over claims 1-2, 5-7 of Patent ‘934.
Regarding claim 5, claims of Patent ‘934 do not disclose the method as recited in claim 1, “further comprising, in response to transmitting or sharing the email message, causing a new virtual space to be created within the group-based communication system, the new virtual space being associated with the at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier.” Mesters discloses in response to transmitting or sharing a file, causing a new virtual space to be created within the group-based communication system, the new virtual space being associated with the at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier (col. 4, lines 55-59. controlling user access to files and other data stored in the file data store 107. col. 5, lines 34-47. first computing device 101A may transmit the file 113 for storage in the file data store 107 associated with the sharing service 115. sharing options 114). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have applied Mesters’ disclosure of creating a virtual space such that a new virtual space is created within the group-based communication system in response to transmitting or sharing of the email message. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so because it would have been desirable to provide a space to store and collaborate on the email message according to restrictions specified by the user.
Regarding claim 9, claims of Patent ‘934 do not disclose the method as recited in claim 1, “further comprising storing a copy of the email message in association with a virtual space of the group-based communication system that is associated with the at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier.” Mesters discloses storing a copy of a file in association with a virtual space of the group-based communication system that is associated with the at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier (col. 4, lines 55-59. controlling user access to files and other data stored in the file data store 107. col. 5, lines 34-37. the first computing device 101A may transmit the file 113 for storage in the file data store 107 associated with the sharing service 115). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have implemented Mesters’ disclosure of storing a copy of file such that a copy of the email message is stored because it would have been desirable to store the email message for access by other users of the group.
Claims 14-17 are unpatentable over claims 15-18 of Patent ‘934. The differences between the claims would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the reasons provided above with respect to claim 1.
Claims 18 and 20 are unpatentable over claim 8 of Patent ‘934. The differences between the claims would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art for the reasons provided above with respect to claim 1.
Regarding claim 19, claims of Patent ‘934 do not disclose the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media as recited in claim 18, “wherein the operations further comprise storing a copy of the email message in association with a virtual space of the group-based communication system that is associated with the at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier.” Mesters discloses storing a copy of a file in association with a virtual space of the group-based communication system that is associated with the at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier (col. 4, lines 55-59. controlling user access to files and other data stored in the file data store 107. col. 5, lines 34-37. first computing device 101A may transmit the file 113 for storage in the file data store 107 associated with the sharing service 115). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have implemented Mesters’ disclosure of storing a copy of file such that a copy of the email message is stored because it would have been desirable to store the email message for access by other users of the group.
Claims 7-8 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-2, 5-8 of U.S. Patent No. 12,255,934 (“Patent ‘934”) in view of Mesters and Bovet et al. US Patent Publication No. 2016/0196031 ("Bovet").
Regarding claim 7, claims of Patent ‘934 do not disclose the method as recited in claim 1, “further comprising, in response to transmitting or sharing the email message, causing a preview of the email message to be displayed within the group-based communication system.” Bovet discloses causing display of a preview of an email message in a group-based communication system (para. [0065] preview pane item may include one or more at least a portion of the body of the message). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have implemented Bovet's disclosure for a benefit of effectively using display area to convey information and convenient reading of messages.
Regarding claim 8, claim 1 of Patent ‘934 discloses the method as recited in claim 7, further comprising: causing the email message to be displayed in a virtual space of the group-based communication system that is associated with the at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier. Claims of Patent ‘934 do not disclose, “determining a second user selection of the preview to view the email message.” Bovet discloses responsive to a selection of the preview of the email message in the group-based communication system, causing display of the email message (para. [0065] selection of an item in preview pane 430 results in displaying a message or conversation in the message pane 425). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have implemented Bovet's disclosure for benefits of effectively using display area to convey information and convenient reading of messages.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 would be allowable if the double patenting rejection is overcome by amendment or the filing of a terminal disclaimer.
Mesters et al. US Patent No. 10,110,522 discloses causing display of a selectable element on a first user interface of an email-based communication system, the first user interface displaying an email message and the selectable element being selectable to transmit or share a file to a group-based communication system that is different than the email-based communication system; and receiving, via the first user interface or a second user interface, input associated with at least one of a virtual space identifier associated with a group-based communication system, one or more user identifiers associated with one or more users of the group-based communication system, or a group identifier associated with a group of users of the group-based communication system (col. 2, lines 23-26. sharing service can also be referred to as a “collaboration service,” since at least some embodiments of the sharing service can allow users to work together on a document. col. 9, lines 41-47. UI 500 is an example of a sharing option interface that includes an access settings UI element 505A, a feedback settings UI element 505B, and an expiration settings UI element 505C. col. 9, lines 49-58. access settings UI element 505A includes options to specify the users that may access the file specified to be shared in the message. As illustrated, the access settings UI element 505A includes an option to allow only specified recipients of the electronic message to access the shared files stored by the sharing service. option to allow anyone that has access to the electronic message to access the shared files stored by the sharing service and an option to specify the users, such as a group of users).
Namioka US Patent Publication No. 2013/0326393 discloses receiving, via a first user interface or the second user interface, input associated with at least one of a virtual space identifier associated with a group-based communication system, one or more user identifiers associated with one or more users of the group-based communication system, or a group identifier associated with a group of users of the group-based communication system (para. [0079] the user can input all of the destination addresses of the destination group only by selecting among the destination groups displayed by the destination input processing unit 103).
Robertson US Patent Publication No. 2005/0228864 discloses a method for transmitting a communication resource between an external communications system to a group-based communication system, comprising: causing display of a first sharing user interface element on a first user interface, the first user interface configured to display an email message (para. [0052] message is composed on the mobile device 38 using UIs 62); causing display of a visual representation, on the first user interface, for transmitting the email message to the group-based communication system, wherein the visual representation comprises a plurality of settings for configuring display of the email message in the group-based communication system (para. [0050] messaging settings field 82 preferably includes a group of messaging settings to be used to control the characteristics of any messages sent to the contact. para. [0056] messaging settings may be established for a contact, by manually configuring settings using a UI 62); and causing, based at least in part on the input, the email message to be transmitted or shared from the email-based communication for display (para. [0067] message is prepared under the control of the messaging settings and sent to any addressed recipients).
Byrne et al. US Patent Publication No. 2014/0289868 teaches displaying a first user interface on a first computing device, the first interface comprising a first visual representation of an external communication resource (para. [0077] content item browser page, action to share the selected file. para. [0078] select a content item for sharing); and responsive to a first selection of the first sharing user interface element, causing display of a visual representation (fig. 7; para. [0082] specify restrictions. para. [0084]-[0088] type of access, when, how often, etc… para. [0110] team members are permitted to share Team content items).
Korycki et al. US Patent Publication No. 2017/0068904 discloses transmitting an email message for display in a group-based communication system, wherein transmitting the email message comprises transmitting message data that includes an identifier corresponding to a virtual space at which the email message is to be displayed; and based on parsing the message data, causing the email message to be displayed in the virtual space (para. [0005] “channel” is a term used herein to refer to any definition directly or indirectly mapping to one or more recipients, e.g. a group such as a chat room or forum used by the recipients. para. [0007] directing messages to channels in communication systems such as IM (instant messaging) chat systems, video messaging systems or email systems. para. [0025] compose a message and a specify a definition of a destination for the message. para. [0027] information defining a respective destination of the message. identifier of a group (e.g. of a chat session, chat room or forum. para. [0029] routing information consists of an identifier of a chat room to which the message is to be posted).
The prior art of record does not teach: causing display of a selectable element on a first user interface of an email-based communication system, the first user interface displaying an email message and the selectable element being selectable to transmit or share the email message to a group-based communication system that is different than the email-based communication system; receiving, via the first user interface, a user selection of the selectable element; causing display, via the first user interface or a second user interface and based at least in part on the user selection, of one or more options associated with transmitting or sharing the email message from the email-based communication system to the group-based communication system; receiving, via the first user interface or the second user interface, input associated with at least one of a virtual space identifier associated with the group-based communication system, one or more user identifiers associated with one or more users of the group-based communication system, or a group identifier associated with a group of users of the group-based communication system; and causing, based at least in part on the input, the email message to be transmitted or shared from the email-based communication system for display in the group-based communication system, the email message being associated with message data that identifies at least one of the virtual space identifier, the one or more user identifiers, or the group identifier.
Conclusion
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/JOSHUA JOO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2445
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