DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-4 are currently pending and have been examined in this application. This communication is the first action on the merits.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 4/4/25 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an application filed in PCT/JP2023/034953 on Sep 9 2023. It is noted, however, that applicant has not filed a certified copy of the application as required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more.
The claims are either directed to a system or method, which is one of the statutory categories of invention. (Step 1: YES).
The Examiner has identified system Claim 1 as the claim that represents the claimed invention for analysis. Claim 1 recites the limitations of (additional elements emphasized in bold and are considered to be parsed from the remaining abstract idea):
A battery manager comprising: processing circuitry configured to manage data on batteries to be used in battery- replaceable vehicles, the batteries comprising a first battery and a second battery, the battery- replaceable vehicles comprising a first vehicle and a second vehicle to each of which the battery manager is to be applied, the processing circuitry being configured to determine whether the first battery of the first vehicle scheduled for battery replacement in a first battery station is usable in the second vehicle, based on a remaining state of charge of the first battery before the battery replacement; and communication circuitry configured to transmit, to the second vehicle, a notification indicating that the second battery of the second vehicle is replaceable with the first battery in the first battery station, when the first battery is usable in the second vehicle, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to check whether a second battery station is available for the battery replacement for the first vehicle, when the second battery station is available, the communication circuitry is configured to request the first vehicle to change a battery replacement location from the first battery station to the second battery station, the communication circuitry is configured to receive a notification indicating acceptance of changing the battery replacement location from the first vehicle, and when receiving the notification indicating the acceptance of changing the battery replacement location from the first vehicle, the communication circuitry is configured to transmit, to the second vehicle, a notification indicating that the second battery is replaceable with the first battery in the second battery station.
which is a process that, under its broadest reasonable interpretation, covers performance of the limitation(s) as a Certain method of organizing human activity (fundamental economic practice-mitigating risk) of managing/directing the replacement of vehicle batteries.
If a claim limitation, under its broadest reasonable interpretation (BRI), covers performance of the limitation as a certain method of a fundamental economic practice, then it falls within the “Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity” grouping of abstract ideas.
Accordingly, the claim recites an abstract idea. (Step 2A-Prong 1: YES. The claims are abstract)
This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application. Limitations that are not indicative of integration into a practical application include: (1) Adding the words “apply it” (or an equivalent) with the judicial exception, or mere instructions to implement an abstract idea on a computer, or merely uses a computer as a tool to perform an abstract idea (MPEP 2106.05.f), (2) Adding insignificant extra-solution activity to the judicial exception (MPEP 2106.05.g), (3) Generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use (MPEP 2106.05.h). The battery manager, processing circuitry, circuitry in Claim 1 are just using generic computer components and the batteries, battery stations and vehicle are generally linking the use of a judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use. The computer hardware is recited at a high-level of generality (i.e., as a generic processor performing a generic computer function) such that it amounts to no more than mere instructions to implement an abstract idea by adding the words “apply it” (or an equivalent) with the judicial exception. Accordingly, these additional elements, when considered separately and as an ordered combination, do not integrate the abstract idea into a practical application because they do not impose any meaningful limits on practicing the abstract idea. Therefore claim 1 is directed to an abstract idea without a practical application. (Step 2A-Prong 2: NO. The additional claimed elements are not integrated into a practical application)
The claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because, when considered separately and as an ordered combination, they do not add significantly more (also known as an “inventive concept”) to the exception. As discussed above with respect to integration of the abstract idea into a practical application, the additional element of using computer hardware amounts to no more than mere instructions to implement an abstract idea by adding the words “apply it” (or an equivalent) with the judicial exception, and further the additional elements of a vehicle, batteries and battery station are no more than generally linking the use of a judicial exception to a particular technological environment or field of use. Mere instructions to implement an abstract idea on or with the use of generic computer components, cannot provide an inventive concept - rendering the claim patent ineligible. Thus claim 1 is not patent eligible. (Step 2B: NO. The claims do not provide significantly more)
The dependent claims further define the abstract idea that is present in their respective independent claims and hence are abstract for at least the reasons presented above. The dependent claims do not include any additional elements that integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception when considered both individually and as an ordered combination. Therefore, the dependent claims are directed to an abstract idea. Thus, the aforementioned claims are not patent-eligible.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-4 (the claimed invention) would potentially be allowable if the 101 rejection is overcome.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art fails to teach or suggest the limitations of the claimed invention.
The closest prior art of record, Takatsuka (US 20180253788), teaches the following limitations of Claim 1:
A battery manager comprising: processing circuitry configured to
(Takatsuka – [0128] battery reservation device 10 in this embodiment acquires information such as the charging speed of the charger 31 and the remaining charge of the battery packs 1 that are scheduled to be returned and for which a reservation has been accepted, and performs processing to accept the next rental reservation and at a stage prior to their return.)
manage data on batteries to be used in battery-replaceable vehicles, the batteries comprising a first battery and a second battery, the battery-replaceable vehicles comprising a first vehicle and a second vehicle to each of which the battery manager is to be applied,
(Takatsuka – [0062] The battery reservation device 10 pertaining to this embodiment accepts a reservation for the exchange (rental) of battery packs 1 installed in an exchangeable state in a vehicle 20 such as the electric motorcycle shown in FIG. 1.; [0074] The battery reservation device 10 is a device that accepts exchange reservations for battery packs 1 that are charged or being charged and are stored in the plurality of battery stations 30a to 30c, and is installed in each of the battery stations 30a to 30c; Fig. 3; [0125] Consequently, by adding reservation information before unreturned battery packs are actually returned to the battery station 30 a, etc., reservation information can be presented to the next person reserving the rental of the battery packs 1 in a state of increased options. [0174] one battery pack or three or more battery packs may be installed in the power consumption element.),
PNG
media_image1.png
421
650
media_image1.png
Greyscale
Examiner Note: battery pack 1 corresponds to the first battery and/or second battery mounted on a mobile device 20 corresponding to the first vehicle and/or the second vehicle. It would have been obvious for a second vehicle 20 to follow the same steps involved with Fig. 3.
the processing circuitry being configured to determine whether the first battery of the first vehicle scheduled for battery replacement in a first battery station is usable in the second vehicle, based on a remaining state of charge of the first battery before the battery replacement; and
(Takatsuka – [0078] The battery state acquisition component 12 acquires the state of the battery packs 1 (the remaining battery charge of the current battery packs 1, etc.) installed in the vehicle 20 that accepted the reservation. More specifically, the battery state acquisition component 12 acquires, in addition to the remaining battery charge, a unique ID given to each battery pack 1, a unique ID given to each vehicle 20, history information about the remaining battery charge of the battery packs 1, voltage and current history information, temperature information, and the like. [0112] The display controller 18 controls the display component 23 of the vehicle 20 so as to display the reservation input screen S1 on which the reservation information is inputted. The display controller 18 also controls the display component 23 so as to present the battery station 30 a, etc., that holds battery packs 1 satisfying the conditions inputted via the reservation input screen S1 as a candidate for the reservation destination. [0125] Consequently, by adding reservation information before unreturned battery packs are actually returned to the battery station 30 a, etc., reservation information can be presented to the next person reserving the rental of the battery packs 1 in a state of increased options. [0128] battery reservation device 10 in this embodiment acquires information such as the charging speed of the charger 31 and the remaining charge of the battery packs 1 that are scheduled to be returned and for which a reservation has been accepted, and performs processing to accept the next rental reservation and at a stage prior to their return.)
Examiner Note: a display control unit 18 of the battery reservation device controls a display unit 23 of the vehicle 20 so as to present, as a reservation destination candidate, a battery station 30a or the like that holds a battery pack 1 that satisfies a condition such as the total power generation amount of the battery pack 1 required at the time of replacement, the condition thereof being input via a reservation input screen S1. Therefore, when the first battery satisfies a condition input by a reservation holder of a second vehicle, such as the total power generation amount of the battery pack 1 required at the time of replacement, the battery management device presents (corresponding to "notifies"), to the second vehicle and as a candidate for a reservation destination, the battery station 30 at which the first battery is scheduled to be returned.
communication circuitry configured to transmit, to the second vehicle, a notification indicating that the second battery of the second vehicle is replaceable with the first battery in the first battery station, when the first battery is usable in the second vehicle,
(Takatsuka - [0112] The display controller 18 controls the display component 23 of the vehicle 20 so as to display the reservation input screen S1 on which the reservation information is inputted. The display controller 18 also controls the display component 23 so as to present the battery station 30 a, etc., that holds battery packs 1 satisfying the conditions inputted via the reservation input screen S1 as a candidate for the reservation destination. [0125] Consequently, by adding reservation information before unreturned battery packs are actually returned to the battery station 30 a, etc., reservation information can be presented to the next person reserving the rental of the battery packs 1 in a state of increased options.)
wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to check whether a second battery station is available for the battery replacement for the first vehicle, when the second battery station is available,
(Takatsuka – [0069] Also, the display component 23 has a reservation input component 23 a to which reservation information for reserving battery exchange is inputted to the battery reservation device 10. The display component 23 then displays a reservation input screen for reserving the battery stations 30 a to 30 c, such as a reservation input screen S1 (see FIG. 3) (discussed below). [0070] The reservation input component 23 a then selects the battery stations 30 a to 30 c to be reserved by the person making the reservation via the reservation input screen S1 displayed on the display component 23. [0072] Also, although the number of battery stations 30 a to 30 c shown in FIG. 2 is three for the purpose of description, the number of battery stations that can be reserved with the battery reservation device 10 in this embodiment is not limited to this. [0125] Consequently, by adding reservation information before unreturned battery packs are actually returned to the battery station 30 a, etc., reservation information can be presented to the next person reserving the rental of the battery packs 1 in a state of increased options.; Fig. 4)
Examiner Note: This check can be performed at the onset of the reservation.
Based on prior art search results, the prior art of record neither anticipates nor renders obvious the claimed subject matter, as a whole or taken in combination in context of the other limitations, and does not teach:
the communication circuitry is configured to request the first vehicle to change a battery replacement location from the first battery station to the second battery station,
the communication circuitry is configured to receive a notification indicating acceptance of changing the battery replacement location from the first vehicle, and
when receiving the notification indicating the acceptance of changing the battery replacement location from the first vehicle, the communication circuitry is configured to transmit, to the second vehicle, a notification indicating that the second battery is replaceable with the first battery in the second battery station.
The remainder of the claims would be deemed allowable based on its dependency of the above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record, and not relied upon, considered pertinent to applicant' s disclosure or directed to the state of art is listed on the enclosed PTO-892.
The following is a brief description for relevant prior art that was cited but not applied:
Takechi (JP 2012005227) provides a charging management system capable of being constructed more easily.
Nakasone (JP 2015094695) provides a means for calculating the remaining capacity of a battery in an electric vehicle.
Qu (ID P202305259) provides a method and scheduling system of battery replacement and battery replacement stations
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ABDULMAJEED AZIZ whose telephone number is (571)270-5046. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7-3:00 PM.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, 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.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, ALLANA LEWIN BIDDER can be reached at (571) 272-5560. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ABDULMAJEED AZIZ/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2875
Prosecution Insights