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
1. This action is responsive to: an original application filed on 4 March 2025.
2. Claims 1-20 are currently pending and rejected.
Information Disclosure Statement
3. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 23 July 2025. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Priority
4. Priority date claimed has been noted.
Drawings
5. The drawings filed on 4 March 2025. are accepted by the examiner.
Double Patenting
6. 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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under the grounds of non-statutory obviousness-type double patenting, as they are deemed unpatentable over claims 1-20 of US Patent application No. 18/330,181. Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are considered not patentably distinct from one another, as they convey the same inventive concept. Specifically, both sets of claims disclose a method for secure verification of an individual wireless broadcast by decrypting information. Furthermore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time of the invention’s filing, to employ this approach to prevent and protect unwanted individual to enter a secure place, thereby rendering the claims unpatentable.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
7. 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.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C §103 as being unpatentable over Bacco et al. (US Publication No. 20150221151), hereinafter Bacco and in view of Soyeon Yim (US Publication No. 20190392422), hereinafter Yim.
Regarding claim 1:
transmitting, from a first computing device, a beacon signal (Bacco, ¶39), wherein The wireless transceiver 313 may transmit signals such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, UHF-RFID, and/or the like that allow the mobile device location sensors 216 to detect the presence and location of the interactive mobile device 301. The wireless transceiver 313 may also form a data connection to the authentication system 202, through which the position reporting engine 310 may inform the authentication system 202 of the location of the interactive mobile device 301 as determined by the position determination engine 304.
receiving, by at the first computing device, a signal generated and broadcast by a second computing device in response to receiving the beacon signal from the first computing device, the signal including a value associated with the second computing device (Bacco, ¶128, ¶44), wherein, the mobile device location sensors 216 are able to passively obtain the unique identifiers of the mobile device 112 from the signals transmitted by the mobile device 112, such as a WiFi probe request, a response to a Bluetooth pairing request, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the mobile device location sensor 216 actively requests the identifiers from the mobile device 112, and/or the authentication engine 312 of the mobile device 301 actively transmits the identifiers from the mobile device 301 to the mobile device location sensor 216.
Bacco does not explicitly suggest, detecting a trigger condition associated with proximity and direction of movement of the second computing device relative to the first computing device based on the signal transmitted by the second computing device; however, in a same field of endeavor Yim discloses this limitation (Yim, ¶109, ¶95).
and based on detecting the trigger condition, decrypting the value from the signal using decryption information associated with the second computing device (Bacco, ¶58-59), wherein, the authentication control engine 208 receives an encrypted device identifier from the mobile computing device 112. The device identifiers are encrypted both to ensure that they are not exposed in transit, and to ensure the identity of both the mobile device 112 and the authentication system 202 (transmitting the encrypted device identifiers to a different or malicious system would not cause them to be exposed, because the malicious system would not have the private key needed to decrypt the encrypted identifier.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to include the method of determining device location using broadcasted signal of Bacco with the computing movement direction determination disclosed in Yim to improve security vulnerability, stated by Yim at ¶215.
Regarding claim 2:
wherein the second computing device is a portable device transportable by a user carrying the second computing device (Bacco, ¶44).
Regarding claim 3:
wherein detecting the trigger condition includes determining that the second computing device is within a threshold distance of the first computing device, the threshold distance being determined based on a configured transmission power of an antenna on the first computing device (Bacco, ¶54).
Regarding claim 4:
further comprising receiving, at the first computing device, a second signal generated and broadcast by the second computing device in response to receiving the beacon signal, and wherein detecting the trigger condition includes determining a change in position between the first computing device and the second computing device based on differences in signal characteristics between the signal and the second signal (Bacco, ¶39).
Regarding claim 5:
wherein transmitting the beacon signal includes one or more of: broadcasting the beacon signal to any of a number of computing devices within receiving distance of the first computing device: or broadcasting instances of the beacon signal at fixed intervals (Bacco, Fig.1B).
Regarding claim 6:
wherein detecting the trigger condition includes determining that the second computing device is both within a threshold distance of the first computing device and moving towards the first computing device (Bacco, ¶54).
Regarding claim 7:
further comprising receiving, at the first computing device, a second signal generated and broadcast by the second computing device in response to receiving the beacon signal, wherein detecting the trigger condition includes determining that a distance between the second computing device and the first computing device is decreasing based on differences in determined angles of arrival of the signal and the second signal transmitted by the second computing device (Bacco, ¶54, ¶43).
Regarding claim 8:
wherein the decryption information is received at the first computing device when registering the second computing device with the first computing device (Bacco, ¶56).
Regarding claim 9:
wherein the decryption information is received from a cloud computing system acting as a broker between the first computing device and the second computing device (Bacco, ¶43).
Regarding claim 10:
further comprising, in response to detecting the trigger condition, causing the second computing device to engage an active state in which the second computing device transmits a plurality of signals at an elevated frequency relative to a frequency in which signals are transmitted prior to detecting the trigger condition (Bacco, ¶44).
Regarding claim 11:
A system, comprising: a processor; memory in electronic communication with the processor; and instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable to: transmit, from a first computing device, a beacon signal (Bacco, ¶76).
receive, at the first computing device, a signal generated and broadcast by a second computing device in response to receiving the beacon signal from the first computing device, the signal including a value associated with the second computing device (Bacco, ¶128, ¶44), wherein, the mobile device location sensors 216 are able to passively obtain the unique identifiers of the mobile device 112 from the signals transmitted by the mobile device 112, such as a WiFi probe request, a response to a Bluetooth pairing request, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the mobile device location sensor 216 actively requests the identifiers from the mobile device 112, and/or the authentication engine 312 of the mobile device 301 actively transmits the identifiers from the mobile device 301 to the mobile device location sensor 216.
Bacco does not explicitly suggest, detecting a trigger condition associated with proximity and direction of movement of the second computing device relative to the first computing device based on the signal transmitted by the second computing device; however, in a same field of endeavor Yim discloses this limitation (Yim, ¶109, ¶95).
and based on detecting the trigger condition, decrypt the value from the signal using decryption information associated with the second computing device (Bacco, ¶58-59), wherein, the authentication control engine 208 receives an encrypted device identifier from the mobile computing device 112. The device identifiers are encrypted both to ensure that they are not exposed in transit, and to ensure the identity of both the mobile device 112 and the authentication system 202 (transmitting the encrypted device identifiers to a different or malicious system would not cause them to be exposed, because the malicious system would not have the private key needed to decrypt the encrypted identifier.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to include the method of determining device location using broadcasted signal of Bacco with the computing movement direction determination disclosed in Yim to improve security vulnerability, stated by Yim at ¶215.
Regarding claim 2:
wherein the second computing device is a portable device transportable by a user carrying the second computing device (Bacco, ¶44).
Regarding claim 13:
wherein detecting the trigger condition includes determining that the second computing device is within a threshold distance of the first computing device, the threshold distance being determined based on a configured transmission power of an antenna on the first computing device (Bacco, ¶54).
Regarding claim 14:
further comprising instructions being executable to receive, at the first computing device, a second signal generated and broadcast by the second computing device in response to receiving the beacon signal, and wherein detecting the trigger condition includes determining a change in position between the first computing device and the second computing device based on differences in signal characteristics between the signal and the second signal (Bacco, ¶39).
Regarding claim 15:
wherein transmitting the beacon signal includes one or more of: broadcasting the beacon signal to any of a number of computing devices within receiving distance of the first computing device: or broadcasting instances of the beacon signal at fixed intervals (Bacco, Fig.1B).
Regarding claim 16:
wherein detecting the trigger condition includes determining that the second computing device is both within a threshold distance of the first computing device and moving towards the first computing device (Bacco, ¶54).
Regarding claim 17:
further comprising instructions being executable to receive, at the first computing device, a second signal generated and broadcast by the second computing device in response to receiving the beacon signal, wherein detecting the trigger condition includes determining that a distance between the second computing device and the first computing device is decreasing based on differences in determined angles of arrival of the signal and the second signal transmitted by the second computing device (Bacco, ¶54, ¶43).
Regarding claim 18:
wherein the decryption information is received at the first computing device when registering the second computing device with the first computing device, and wherein the decryption information is received from a cloud computing system acting as a broker between the first computing device and the second computing device (Bacco, ¶43).
Regarding claim 19:
further comprising instructions being executable to, in response to detecting the trigger condition, cause the second computing device to engage an active state in which the second computing device transmits a plurality of signals at an elevated frequency relative to a frequency in which signals are transmitted prior to detecting the trigger condition (Bacco, ¶44).
Regarding claim 20:
transmit, from a first computing device, a beacon signal (Bacco, ¶39), wherein The wireless transceiver 313 may transmit signals such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, RFID, UHF-RFID, and/or the like that allow the mobile device location sensors 216 to detect the presence and location of the interactive mobile device 301. The wireless transceiver 313 may also form a data connection to the authentication system 202, through which the position reporting engine 310 may inform the authentication system 202 of the location of the interactive mobile device 301 as determined by the position determination engine 304.
receive, by at the first computing device, a signal generated and broadcast by a second computing device in response to receiving the beacon signal from the first computing device, the signal including a value associated with the second computing device (Bacco, ¶128, ¶44), wherein, the mobile device location sensors 216 are able to passively obtain the unique identifiers of the mobile device 112 from the signals transmitted by the mobile device 112, such as a WiFi probe request, a response to a Bluetooth pairing request, and/or the like. In some embodiments, the mobile device location sensor 216 actively requests the identifiers from the mobile device 112, and/or the authentication engine 312 of the mobile device 301 actively transmits the identifiers from the mobile device 301 to the mobile device location sensor 216.
Bacco does not explicitly suggest, detect a trigger condition associated with proximity and direction of movement of the second computing device relative to the first computing device based on the signal transmitted by the second computing device; however, in a same field of endeavor Yim discloses this limitation (Yim, ¶109, ¶95).
and based on the trigger condition, decrypt the value from the signal using decryption information associated with the second computing device (Bacco, ¶58-59), wherein, the authentication control engine 208 receives an encrypted device identifier from the mobile computing device 112. The device identifiers are encrypted both to ensure that they are not exposed in transit, and to ensure the identity of both the mobile device 112 and the authentication system 202 (transmitting the encrypted device identifiers to a different or malicious system would not cause them to be exposed, because the malicious system would not have the private key needed to decrypt the encrypted identifier.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to include the method of determining device location using broadcasted signal of Bacco with the computing movement direction determination disclosed in Yim to improve security vulnerability, stated by Yim at ¶215.
Conclusion
8. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Monjour Rahim whose telephone number is (571)270-3890.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Shewaye Gelagay can be reached on 571-272-4219. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Monjur Rahim/
Patent Examiner
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Art Unit: 2436; Phone: 571.270.3890
E-mail: monjur.rahim@uspto.gov
Fax: 571.270.4890
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