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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 –
Claims 1, 4-11, 13, 14, 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Malhortra et al [US 2016/0189532].
Claim 1. (Original) A method comprising: identifying, by a device, a first operation mode of a security system associated with a location, the security system comprising a plurality of sensors and detectors positioned in and around the location (the automatic security system 100 comprising sensors 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 and/or 310, see abstract, Figs. 1-3), each sensor operating in accordance with parameters dictated by the first operation mode (each of the sensors 210, 220, 230, 240, 250 and/or 310 is controlled by the mode selection 130 to operate a first mode, see abstract, Fig. 4, para [0004, 0031, 0032, 0062]);
detecting, by the device, via at least one of the plurality of sensors, activity related to an
entry point of the location (the motion sensors 212, 222, the camera 224, the microphone 226 and the entryway sensors 242 are for detecting and monitoring activities or motions at the door or entrance, see Figs. 1-5, 7, para [0029-0032, 0083, 0094, 0096-0098]);
analyzing, by the device, activity, and determining, based on the analysis, event
information, the event information comprising data related to an involve user and movements of the user in relation to the entry point (the computing device 100 with processor 64 receives and analyzes of the detected data information to determine an event related to the door or entrance, see Figs. 1-4, 6, para [0080-0082]);
determining, by the device, based on the event information, to change the first operation
mode to a second operation mode; and automatically switching, by the device, the security system from the first operation mode to the second operation mode based on the change determination (the computing device 100 and processor 64 determines of automatically changing from the first mode to the second mode based on the sensed data information, environment and/or rules, see Figs. 1-5, abstract, para [0005, 0010-0014, 0016, 0029, 0032, 0040-0044, 0052-0054, 0057, 0062-0065, 0070-0077]).
Claim 4. (Original) The method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting, after switching to the second operation mode, additional activity related to the entry point (see para [0042, 0044, 0096, 0097]);
determining, by the device, based on the event information, to change the second
operation mode to a third operation mode (the automatic mode selector 130 can change from home mode to armed/away mode or combination mode (as the third operation mode). The "stay" mode, wherein at least an interior motion detector is disarmed and the remained of the sensors are armed in a combination mode, certain sensors in the environment may be armed, while other sensors may be disarmed. For example, in a home mode, sensors monitoring external entryways may be armed, while sensors monitoring internal entryways and motion may be disarmed. The armed mode, wherein arming the sensors 310 may include any combination of changing the state of the sensors 310 and changing the way in which the hub computing device 100 interprets signals from the sensors 310. The controls 320 may also have their states changed, for example with the lock 326 changing from unlocked to locked when the security system is changed from an unarmed mode to an armed mode. If the security system is changed to a combination mode (as the third operation mode), for example, where some aspects of the security system are armed and other are unarmed, the mode selector 130 may arm the appropriate sensors while leaving other sensors unarmed. See Figs. 3, 5, para [0032, 0063, 0073]); and
automatically switching, by the device, the security system to the third operation mode (see para [0063]).
Claim 5. (Original) The method of claim 4, wherein the third operation mode corresponds to a "stay" mode, wherein at least an interior motion detector is disarmed and the remained of the sensors are armed (in a combination mode, certain sensors in the environment may be armed, while other sensors may be disarmed. For example, in a home mode, sensors monitoring external entryways may be armed, while sensors monitoring internal entryways and motion may be disarmed. See Fig. 3, para 0032]).
Claim 6. (Original) The method of claim 1, wherein the activity corresponds to a user attempting to enter the location (the person’s approaching to a location, see Fig. 7, para [0094]).
Claim 7. (Original) The method of claim 1, wherein the activity correspond to a user attempting to exit the location (the person’s departure from a location, see Fig. 7, para [0094]).
Claim 8. (Original) The method of claim 7, further comprising: detecting, via at least one of the plurality of sensors, occupancy data after the user exits the location, occupancy data corresponding to detected activity of other users in the location (as cited in respect to claim 1 above, see Figs. 2, 3, 7, para [0094, 0096]); and
automatically switching the security system to "stay" mode based on the occupancy data (as cited in respect to claim 1 above).
Claim 9. (Original) The method of claim 1, wherein the entry point corresponds to a door, wherein the activity is detected via at least a sensor associated with the door (see Fig. 7, para [0094, 0096, 0097]).
Claim 10. (Original) The method of claim 1, wherein the entry point corresponds to a window, wherein the activity is detected via at least a sensor associated with the window (the windows, see Fig. 7, para [0096]).
Claim 11. (Original) A device comprising: at least one processor configured to:
identify a first operation mode of a security system associated with a location, the
security system comprising a plurality of sensors and detectors positioned in and around the location, each sensor operating in accordance with parameters dictated by the first operation mode; detect, via at least one of the plurality of sensors, activity related to an entry point of the location; analyze the activity, and determine, based on the analysis, event information, the event information comprising data related to an involve user and movements of the user in relation to the entry point; determine, based on the event information, to change the first operation mode to a second operation mode; and automatically switch, by the device, the security system from the first operation mode to the second operation mode based on the change determination (as discussed in respect to claim 1 above).
Claim 13. (Original) The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: detect, after switching to the second operation mode, additional activity related to the
entry point; determine based on the event information, to change the second operation mode to a third operation mode; and automatically switch the security system to the third operation mode (as cited in respect to claim 4 above).
Claim 14. (Original) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium tangibly encoded with computer-executable instructions (see para [0110]) that when executed by a device, perform a method comprising: identifying, by the device, a first operation mode of a security system associated with a location, the security system comprising a plurality of sensors and detectors positioned in and around the location, each sensor operating in accordance with parameters dictated by the first operation mode; detecting, by the device, via at least one of the plurality of sensors, activity related to an entry point of the location; analyzing, by the device, activity, and determining, based on the analysis, event information, the event information comprising data related to an involve user and movements of the user in relation to the entry point; determining, by the device, based on the event information, to change the first operation mode to a second operation mode; and automatically switching, by the device, the security system from the first operation mode to the second operation mode based on the change determination (as discussed in respect to claim 1 above).
Claim 16. (Original) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising: detecting, after switching to the second operation mode, additional activity related to the entry point (after switching to the armed mode. If the security system is changed to a combination mode, for example, where some aspects of the security system are armed and other are unarmed, the mode selector 130 may arm the appropriate sensors while leaving other sensors unarmed. See Figs. 3, 5, para [0063, 0073]);
determining, based on the event information, to change the second operation mode to a third operation mode; and automatically switching the security system to the third operation mode (as cited in respect to claim 4 above).
Claim 17. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the third operation mode corresponds to a "stay" mode, wherein at least an interior motion detector is disarmed and the remained of the sensors are armed (as cited in respect to claim 5 above).
Claim18. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the activity corresponds to a user attempting to enter the location (as cited in respect to claim 6 above).
Claim 19. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the activity correspond to a user attempting to exit the location (as cited in respect to claim 7 above).
Claim 20. (New) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising: detecting, via at least one of the plurality of sensors, occupancy data after the user exits the location, occupancy data corresponding to detected activity of other users in the location; and automatically switching the security system to "stay" mode based on the occupancy data (as cited in respect to claim 8 above).
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.
Claims 2, 3, 12, 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Malhortra et al [US 2016/0189532] in view of Modi et al [US 2016/0189496]
Claim 2. Malhortra et al fails to disclose determining, based on the event information, to maintain the first operation mode of the security system, wherein the maintain determination is based on the event information comprising information indicating unsafe conditions for disarming at least a portion of the security system. However,
Malhortra et al teaches that the modes of the security system may be armed modes or disarmed modes, or combination modes. For example, the vacation mode may be an armed mode, while the home mode may be a disarmed mode, or a combination mode. When the security system is in an armed mode, the sensors in the environment may be considered armed. Signals from an armed sensor may be checked to determine if the sensor has been tripped. For example, an armed motion sensor may be tripped when it detects motion, and an armed entryway sensor may be tripped when the monitored entryway is opened or otherwise disturbed. The tripping of an armed sensor may result in the generation of an alarm, alert, or other such notification, as the tripping may indicate the presence of an unauthorized person or other intruder in the environment. Sensors that are disarmed may not be tripped. In a combination mode, certain sensors in the environment may be armed, while other sensors may be disarmed. For example, in a home mode, sensors monitoring external entryways may be armed, while sensors monitoring internal entryways and motion may be disarmed. This may allow, for example, alarms to be generated when someone tries to enter a home, while not having alarms set off by motion within the home. (See Figs. 2, 3, para [0032]).
Modi et al suggests that the security system is set to an away mode (as the first mode) then if a suitable criteria event is detected then the system will not output an alarm and/or notification message or don’t sound the alarm (as a portion of the security system). See Figs. 1A-1C, para [0033, 0039, 0048]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify or implement the security system’s away mode does not output an alarm or notification message when it detected of a criteria event of Modi et al to the security system first mode having some sensors are armed and other sensors are disarmed of Malhortra et al for minimizing of false alarm such as when a door, entryway or window being opened by an owner or authorized person while the security system is armed in the first mode.
Claim 3. (Original) The method of claim 2, wherein the unsafe conditions correspond to at least an unknown entity positioned on opposite side of the entry point (as discussed between Malhotra et al and Modi et al in respect to claim 2 above, wherein the intruder or unauthorized person opened the door/entryway from outside, see Malhotra et al, para [0032]).
Claim 12. (Original) The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine, based on the event information, to maintain the first operation mode of the security system, wherein the maintain determination is based on the event information comprising information indicating unsafe conditions for disarming at least a portion of the security system (as discussed between Malhotra et al and Modi et al in respect to claim 2 above).
Claim 15. (Original) The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising: determining, based on the event information, to maintain the first operation mode of the security system, wherein the maintain determination is based on the event information comprising information indicating unsafe conditions for disarming at least a portion of the security system (as discussed between Malhotra et al and Modi et al in respect to claim 2 above).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Cohn et al discloses the SMA devices within home domain 110 can include a variety of RF or wireless sensors 130 whose signals are received and interpreted by SMA controller 120. RF sensors 130 can include, for example, door or window sensors, motion detectors, smoke detectors, glass break detectors, inertial detectors, water detectors, carbon dioxide detectors, and key fob devices. SMA controller 120 can be configured to react to a change in state of any of these detectors. In addition to acting and reacting to changes in state of RF sensors 130, SMA controller 120 also can be coupled to a previously-installed legacy security system 135. SMA controller 120 can automatically gather configuration information from legacy security system 135 and maintain that configuration information in memory to interpret signals received from sensors coupled to the legacy security system. The SMA controller 120 can also provide the event information to a remote server 165 in operator domain 160 for further action such as display to a remote user or, if the SMA controller is armed, relay to a central station 190. In addition, the SMA controller can sound an alarm in response to the sensor state change, if armed. [US 10,657,794]
Henrie discloses the security and automation system comprising: a sensor, at a premises, configured to generate alarm condition messages in response to alarm conditions; a control unit, at the premises, communicatively coupled to the sensor and to at least one indicator, the control unit configured to: receive an alarm condition message from the sensor based on the sensor detecting an alarm condition; determine a location of the alarm condition within the premises based at least in part on the alarm condition message; validate the alarm condition message, validating the alarm condition comprising confirming both (a) the security and automation system is armed and (b) the alarm condition includes at least one of a door of the premises opening, a window of the premises opening, a motion sensor of the premises being triggered, and a glass break sensor detecting glass breaking at the premises. [US 2017/0018152]
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from 99number is (571) 2722972. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Mr. Wang Quan-Zhen can be reached on (571) 272-3114.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, 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.
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.
/VAN T TRIEU/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2685
08/03/2026
Prosecution Insights