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 .
This is a Non-Final Office Action Correspondence in response to U.S. Application No. 19/184,056 filed on 04/21/2025.
Claims 1-20 are pending. Claims 1, 13 and 19 are independent claims.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 04/21/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter.
Claim 1 recites a platform comprising a profile-management module, a system-mapping module, a contextual-data module, a prediction module, a share-visibility module, and a function-execution module. The specification is silent as to whether these modules comprise a necessary hardware component. Thus, under the broadest reasonable interpretation, the recited platform can be interpreted as software per se. Software is not one of the four categories of invention and therefore this claim is not statutory. Software is not a series of steps or acts and thus is not a process. Software is not a physical article or object and as such is not a machine or manufacture. Software is not a combination of substances and therefore not a composition of matter. Therefore, claim 1 is non-statutory under 35 U.S.C. 101.
As to dependent claims 2-12, the claims depend directly or indirectly upon claim 1 and are still directed to software. Therefore, they are similarly rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 1, the claim recites A platform but not defining whether the platform comprises any physical structures. Further, the claim limitations recite only modules that are also not defined in the specification as including any specific physical structures; these modules have been interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because they use a generic placeholder “modules” coupled with functional language “configured to”. However, in order to successfully invoke the sixth paragraph, a three-prong test must be met. Namely, (1) the claim must use means-plus-function language or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder; (2) the phrase “means” or the substitute term is modified by functional language; and (3) the phrase “means” or the substitute term is not modified by sufficient structure or material for performing the claimed function. While the above claims pass the first two prongs of the three prong test, they do not pass the third prong. There is no explicit recitation in the specification of any corresponding physical structures, material, or acts for the claimed function. The only "structure" for performing the functions in the above claims appears to be modules and units (i.e. virtual structure, not physical structure). Therefore, 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph has not been successfully invoked. For that reason, claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor.
Claims 2-12 are also rejected under the same rationale as being dependent from claim 1.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step for”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim element is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) (pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph). The presumption that 35 U.S.C. 112(f) (pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph) is not invoked is rebutted when the claim element recites function but fails to recite sufficiently definite structure, material or acts to perform that function.
In claim 1, the claim limitations, a profile-management module configured to …, a system-mapping module configured to…, a contextual -data module configured to …, a prediction module configured to …, a shared-visibility module configured to …, a function-execution module configured to …, have been interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), sixth paragraph, because they use a generis placeholder “modules” coupled with functional language “configured to” without reciting sufficient structure to achieve the function. Since this claim limitation invokes 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), sixth paragraph, claim 1 has been interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification that achieves the claimed function, and equivalents thereof (e.g. Fig. 7).
If applicant wishes to provide further explanation or dispute the examiner’s interpretation of the corresponding structure, applicant must identify the corresponding structure with reference to the specification by page and line number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters in response to this Office action.
If applicant does not wish to have the claim limitation treated under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), sixth paragraph, applicant may amend the claim so that it will clearly not invoke 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), sixth paragraph, or present a sufficient showing that the claim recites sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function to preclude application of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), sixth paragraph.
For more information, see MPEP § 2173 et seq. and Supplementary Examination Guidelines for Determining Compliance with 35 U.S.C. § 112 and for Treatment of Related Issues in Patent Applications, 76 FR 7162, 7167 (Feb. 9, 2011).
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 §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) 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).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) 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 www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,425,514 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because they are claiming the same subject matter.
Claims 1-20 of the instant application are claiming the same subject matter that are recited in claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,425,514 B2 as follows:
Instant Application
US Patent No. 12,425,514 B2
1. A platform configured to interface between a plurality of systems that are mapped to one another, the platform comprising: a profile-management module configured to: transmit, to a first system, a request for profile data that is configured to characterize a first group of users that are associated with the first system, the profile data spanning a plurality of dimensions, and
in response to receiving the profile data with respect to at least a first subset of the plurality of dimensions, generate and associate a system profile with the first system; a system-mapping module configured to define a mapping between the first system and a second system based on detecting a relationship between the first group of users and a second group of users associated with the second system; a contextual-data module configured to retrieve, from one or more external data systems, location- based contextual data related to the profile data with respect to a second subset of the plurality of dimensions; a prediction module configured to generate a predicted system profile that is configured to characterize the first group of users at a future point in time based at least on the system profile and the location-based contextual data; a shared-visibility module configured to provide coordinated display interfaces at each of the first system and the second system according to the mapping defined by the system-mapping module, wherein each coordinated display interface includes the predicted system profile for the first system, wherein a first coordinated display interface provided at the first system includes a first set of user functions for which the first group of users are authorized, wherein a second coordinated display interface provided at the second system includes a second set of user functions for which the second group of users are authorized, and wherein both the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface include a third set of user functions for which both the first group of users and the second group of users are authorized; and a function-execution module configured to execute a selected user function based on detecting user interaction with one of the first coordinated display interface at the first system or the second coordinated display interface at the second system.
2. The platform of claim 1, wherein the system-mapping module is configured to generate a mapping network in which a plurality of mappings between the second system and a plurality of other systems are defined.
3. The platform of claim 1, wherein the contextual-data module is configured to generate and transmit an application programming interface (API) query to the one or more external data systems to retrieve the location-based contextual data.
4. The platform of claim 1, wherein the location-based contextual data includes respective system profiles associated with one or more other systems located within a pre-determined distance away from the first system.
5. The platform of claim 1, wherein the second coordinated display interface provided at the second system indicates the predicted system profile for the first system in response to a selection of the first system in a listing of a plurality of systems mapped to the second system.
6. The platform of claim 1, wherein the third set of user functions includes causing display of a comparison of the predicted system profile and respective system profiles associated with one or more other systems located within a pre-determined distance away from the first system.
7. The platform of claim 1, wherein the first set of user functions includes: identifying one or more other systems that are located within a pre-determined distance away from the first system and that are associated with respective system profiles that are correlated with the predicted system profile based on performing a profile matching operation; transmitting an invitation request to a third system of the one or more other systems; and defining a second mapping between the first system and the third system in response to detecting user input accepting the invitation request at the third system.
8. The platform of claim 1, further comprising a trigger module configured to automatically cause indication of an alert at each of the first system and the second system in response to the predicted system profile for the first system satisfying a pre-determined threshold with respect to a particular dimension of the plurality of dimensions.
9. The platform of claim 1, wherein the prediction module is further configured to associate a priority measure with the predicted system profile for the first system, and wherein the priority measure associated with the predicted system profile is indicated via the second coordinated display interface to the second group of users
10. The platform of claim 9, wherein the first coordinated display interface is prevented from indicating the priority measure associated with the predicted system profile for the first system.
11. The platform of claim 1, wherein the relationship between the first group of users and the second group of users is detected based on a request that is transmitted from the first system to the second system and that identifies the second group of users
12. The platform of claim 1, wherein the relationship between the first group of users and the second group of users is detected based on parsing a text-based document that indicates the relationship between the first group of users and the second group of users
13. A computing system comprising at least one data processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one data processor, cause the computing system to: transmit, to a first device, a request for profile data that is configured to characterize a first group of users associated with the first device, the profile data spanning a plurality of dimensions in response to receiving the profile data with respect to at least a first subset of the plurality of dimensions, generate and associate a device profile with the first device; define a mapping between the first device and a second device based on detecting a relationship between the first group of users and a second group of users associated with the second device; retrieve, from one or more external data systems, location-based contextual data related to the profile data with respect to a second subset of the plurality of dimensions; generate a predicted device profile that is configured to characterize the first group of users at a future point in time based at least on the device profile and the location-based contextual data; cause display of a first coordinated display interface at the first device and a second coordinated display interface at the second device according to the mapping, wherein each of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface indicates the predicted device profile for the first device, wherein the first coordinated display interface includes a first set of user functions that are authorized for the first group of users at the first device, wherein the second coordinated display interface includes a second set of user functions that are authorized for the second group of users at the second device, and wherein both of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface include a third set of user functions that are authorized for both the first group of users and the second group of users at respective devices; and execute a selected user function based on detecting user interaction with one of the first coordinated display interface at the first device or the second coordinated display interface at the second device.
14. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the computing system to generate a mapping network in which a plurality of mappings between the second device and a plurality of other devices are defined.
15. The computing system of claim 13, wherein retrieving the location-based contextual data includes generating and transmitting an application programming interface (API) query to the one or more external data systems.
16. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the location-based contextual data includes respective device profiles associated with one or more other devices located within a pre- determined distance away from the first device.
17. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the second coordinated display interface provided at the second device indicates the predicted device profile for the first device in response to a selection of the first device in a listing of a plurality of device mapped to the second device.
18. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the first set of user functions includes performing a matching operation between of the predicted device profile for the first device and respective device profiles associated with one or more other devices located within a pre-determined distance away from the first device.
19. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable code that, when executed by at least one data processor, cause the at least one data processor to: transmit, to a first device, a request for profile data that is configured to characterize a first group of users associated with the first device, the profile data spanning a plurality of dimensions in response to receiving the profile data with respect to at least a first subset of the plurality of dimensions, generate and associate a device profile with the first device; define a mapping between the first device and a second device based on detecting a relationship between the first group of users and a second group of users associated with the second device; retrieve, from one or more external data systems, location-based contextual data related to the profile data with respect to a second subset of the plurality of dimensions generate a predicted device profile that is configured to characterize the first group of users at a future point in time based at least on the device profile and the location-based contextual data; cause display of a first coordinated display interface at the first device and a second coordinated display interface at the second device according to the mapping, wherein each of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface indicates the predicted device profile for the first device, wherein the first coordinated display interface includes a first set of user functions that are authorized for the first group of users at the first device, wherein the second coordinated display interface includes a second set of user functions that are authorized for the second group of users at the second device, and wherein both of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface include a third set of user functions that are authorized for both the first group of users and the second group of users at respective devices; and execute a selected user function based on detecting user interaction with one of the first coordinated display interface at the first device or the second coordinated display interface at the second device.
20. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the location-based contextual data includes respective device profiles associated with one or more other devices located within a pre-determined distance away from the first device.
9. A computer-implemented method for interfacing between a plurality of devices that are mapped to one another,
the method comprising
transmitting, by at least one processor of a system, a request for profile data to a first device, the profile data configured to characterize a first group of users associated with the first device and spanning a plurality of dimensions;
in response to receiving the profile data with respect to at least a first subset of the plurality of dimensions, generating and associating, by the at least one processor, a device profile with the first device; defining, by the at least one processor, a mapping between the first device and a second device based on detecting a relationship between the first group of users and a second group of users associated with the second device; retrieving, by the at least one processor from one or more external data systems, location-based contextual data related to the profile data with respect to a second subset of the plurality of dimensions; generating, by the at least one processor, a predicted device profile that is configured to characterize the first group of users at a future point in time based at least on the device profile and the location-based contextual data; causing, by the at least one processor, display of a first coordinated display interface at the first device and a second coordinated display interface at the second device according to the mapping, wherein each of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface indicates the predicted device profile for the first device, wherein the first coordinated display interface includes a first set of user functions that are authorized for the first group of users at the first device, wherein the second coordinated display interface includes a second set of user functions that are authorized for the second group of users at the second device, and wherein both of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface include a third set of user functions that are authorized for both the first group of users and the second group of users at respective devices; and executing, by the at least one processor, a selected user function based on detecting user interaction with one of the first coordinated display interface at the first device or the second coordinated display interface at the second device.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising: generating a mapping network in which a plurality of mappings between the second device and a plurality of other device are defined.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising: generating and transmitting an application programming interface (API) query to the one or more external data systems to retrieve the location-based contextual data.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the location-based contextual data includes respective device profiles associated with one or more other devices located within a pre-determined distance away from the first device.
13. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the second coordinated display interface provided at the second device indicates the predicted device profile for the first device in response to a selection of the first device in a listing of a plurality of devices mapped to the second device.
14. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the third set of user functions includes causing display of a comparison of the predicted device profile and respective device profiles associated with one or more other devices located within a pre-determined distance away from the first device.
15. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the first set of user functions includes: identifying one or more other devices that are located within a pre-determined distance away from the first device and that are associated with respective device profiles that are correlated with the predicted device profile based on performing a profile matching operation; transmitting an invitation request to a third device of the one or more other devices; and defining a second mapping between the first device and the third device in response to detecting user input accepting the invitation request at the third device.
16. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising automatically causing indication of an alert at each of the first device and the second device in response to the predicted device profile for the first device satisfying a pre-determined threshold with respect to a particular dimension of the plurality of dimensions.
17. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, further comprising associating a priority measure with the predicted device profile for the first device, and wherein the priority measure associated with the predicted device profile is indicated via the second coordinated display interface to the second group of users.
18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the first coordinated display interface is prevented from indicating the priority measure associated with the predicted device profile for the first device.
19. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the relationship between the first group of users and the second group of users is detected based on a request that is transmitted from the first device to the second device and that identifies the second group of users.
20. The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the relationship between the first group of users and the second group of users is detected based on parsing a text-based document that indicates the relationship between the first group of users and the second group of users.
1. A computing system comprising at least one data processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one data processor, cause the computing system to: transmit, to a first device, a request for profile data that is configured to characterize a first group of users associated with the first device, the profile data spanning a plurality of dimensions; in response to receiving the profile data with respect to at least a first subset of the plurality of dimensions, generate and associate a device profile with the first device; define a mapping between the first device and a second device based on detecting a relationship between the first group of users and a second group of users associated with the second device; retrieve, from one or more external data systems, location-based contextual data related to the profile data with respect to a second subset of the plurality of dimensions; generate a predicted device profile that is configured to characterize the first group of users at a future point in time based at least on the device profile and the location-based contextual data; cause display of a first coordinated display interface at the first device and a second coordinated display interface at the second device according to the mapping, wherein each of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface indicates the predicted device profile for the first device, wherein the first coordinated display interface includes a first set of user functions that are authorized for the first group of users at the first device, wherein the second coordinated display interface includes a second set of user functions that are authorized for the second group of users at the second device, and wherein both of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface include a third set of user functions that are authorized for both the first group of users and the second group of users at respective devices; and execute a selected user function based on detecting user interaction with one of the first coordinated display interface at the first device or the second coordinated display interface at the second device.
2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the computing system to generate a mapping network in which a plurality of mappings between the second device and a plurality of other devices are defined.
3. The computing system of claim 1, wherein retrieving the location-based contextual data includes generating and transmitting an application programming interface (API) query to the one or more external data systems.
4. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the location-based contextual data includes respective device profiles associated with one or more other devices located within a pre-determined distance away from the first device.
5. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the second coordinated display interface provided at the second device indicates the predicted device profile for the first device in response to a selection of the first device in a listing of a plurality of devices mapped to the second device.
6. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the first set of user functions includes performing a matching operation between of the predicted device profile for the first device and respective device profiles associated with one or more other devices located within a pre-determined distance away from the first device.
7. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable code that, when executed by at least one data processor, cause the at least one data processor to: transmit, to a first device, a request for profile data that is configured to characterize a first group of users associated with the first device, the profile data spanning a plurality of dimensions; in response to receiving the profile data with respect to at least a first subset of the plurality of dimensions, generate and associate a device profile with the first device; define a mapping between the first device and a second device based on detecting a relationship between the first group of users and a second group of users associated with the second device; retrieve, from one or more external data systems, location-based contextual data related to the profile data with respect to a second subset of the plurality of dimensions; generate a predicted device profile that is configured to characterize the first group of users at a future point in time based at least on the device profile and the location-based contextual data; cause display of a first coordinated display interface at the first device and a second coordinated display interface at the second device according to the mapping, wherein each of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface indicates the predicted device profile for the first device, wherein the first coordinated display interface includes a first set of user functions that are authorized for the first group of users at the first device, wherein the second coordinated display interface includes a second set of user functions that are authorized for the second group of users at the second device, and wherein both of the first coordinated display interface and the second coordinated display interface include a third set of user functions that are authorized for both the first group of users and the second group of users at respective devices; and execute a selected user function based on detecting user interaction with one of the first coordinated display interface at the first device or the second coordinated display interface at the second device.
8. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the location-based contextual data includes respective device profiles associated with one or more other devices located within a pre-determined distance away from the first device.
As to claims 1-20, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have derived their claim limitations from claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,425,514 B2 since they are claiming the same subject matter and are substantially similar in scope.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See Form PTO-892.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALEXANDER KHONG whose telephone number is (571)270-7127. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8am-5pm EST.
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, Charles Rones can be reached on (571)272-4085. 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.
/ALEXANDER KHONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2168