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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: the Specification filed on 04/23/2025, page 1, paragraph [0001], there is missing a new U.S. Patent Number 12,312,105.
Appropriate correction is required.
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 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly more. Claim 1 are directed to “a processor and memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor cause the processor to:”. The claims do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judiciary exception because the generally cited computer elements do not add a meaningful limitation to the abstract idea because they would be routine in any computer implementation.
Please also note that much of the language following certain terms, such as “for remedying”, “for preventing”, “for implementing”, “to determine”, or “to perform”, would be interpreted as intended use. Additionally, the term “computer-readable medium” is normally preferred to be listed as a “non-transitory computer-readable medium”, so that it would clearly be identified as a tangible device or tangible computer or tangible processor.
In the specification filed on 04/23/2025, paragraphs 0241 and 0242 discloses of “does not include a transitory” or npn-transitory and “tangible unit”.
Double Patenting
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. US 12,312,105 and US application Number US 2020/0231054. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims of U.S Patent No. 12,312,105 fully encompass, and therefore anticipate the independent claim 17 accordingly.
Claim 1 of application, the claim “a processor and memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor cause the processor to: receive a first signal that the drone has landed; cause the one or more mechanical pushers to push the drone to the reference location; receive a second signal that the alignment sensor determines that the drone is in alignment; and cause, in response to the second signal, the gripper to secure the drone.”
Claim 1 of US 2020/0231054 claimed that “ A base station apparatus comprising: a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store executable programmed modules; a processor communicatively coupled with the non-transitory computer readable medium configured to execute programmed modules stored therein; a power generator configured to generate electrical energy; an energy storage system configured to store electrical energy; a charging system configured to receive electrical energy from the power generator or a portable energy storage system and transfer electrical energy from the power generator or a portable energy storage system to the energy storage system; a communication system configured to wirelessly communicate with one or more drone apparatuses and communication with one or more control center servers via a wired or wireless network; a drone coupling system configured to support one or more drone apparatuses during execution of a takeoff or landing maneuver by the one or more drone apparatuses; a drone charging system electrically coupled to one or more drone apparatuses via the drone coupling system and configured to provide electrical energy to one or more electrically coupled drone apparatuses; and a plurality of pusher assemblies configured to position a drone apparatus on the drone coupling system for charging by the drone charging system, wherein a first pusher assembly and a second pusher assembly form a first opposing pair of pusher assemblies, wherein the first pusher assembly moves in a first direction and the second pusher assembly moves in a second direction opposite the first direction and the combined movement of the first pusher assembly and the second pusher assembly presses the drone apparatus into a desired position for charging.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to add, modify and/or implement the base station apparatus comprising: a non-transitory computer readable medium configured to store executable programmed modules; a processor communicatively coupled with the non-transitory computer readable medium configured to execute programmed modules stored therein of US 2020/0231054 to the “processor and memory storing instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor cause the processor to:” of the application for processing and carrying out operation functions of a drone being landed on a parking precisely and securely onto a base station parking plate for charging the battery.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Canoy et al discloses the methods for controlling landings of a UAV in a landing zone including a plurality of landing bays. Various embodiments include a method implemented on a computing device for receiving continuous real-time sensor data from a transceiver and from sensors onboard the UAV, and detecting a target landing bay within the plurality of landing bays within the landing zone that is available for landing based on the continuous real-time sensor data. Orientation and position coordinates for landing in the target landing bay may be calculated based on the continuous real-time sensor data. Information regarding positions and flight vectors of a plurality of autonomous UAVs may be obtained, and a flight plan for landing in the target landing bay may be generated based on the orientation and the position coordinates, positions and flight vectors of the plurality of autonomous UAVs and a current orientation and position of the UAV. [US 2017/0045894]
Resnick discloses the systems and methods for drone implemented border patrol. In one embodiment, the system comprises plural drones, plural base stations and plural control centers. Each drone is equipped with a visible light camera, thermal imaging camera, two-way audio system, and a deterrent module. They are capable of seeking out, verbally communicating with, and when necessary discharging a nonlethal deterrent to immobilize or incapacitate intruders until border agents arrive.
[US 2020/0231054]
Cevacins et al discloses the Landing pads for a drone. One of the landing pads can include a landing station configured to mount onto a non-horizontal surface; a landing area i) connected to the landing station and ii) with a first surface configured to receive a second surface of a landing gear of a drone; a fixed member i) connected to the landing station and that ii) includes a third surface near an end of the landing area and iii) is configured to contact an end of the landing gear of the drone; a moveable member i) connected to the landing station and ii) that is configured to a) move the landing gear across the first surface of the landing area and b) secure the landing gear of the drone substantially in place between the first surface of the landing area and the third surface of the fixed member. [US 2023/0044050]
Infanti et al discloses the Systems and methods related to landing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are provided. In one example, a method includes receiving a UAV on a surface of a landing platform. The method may further include operating a positioning device disposed under the surface to locate the UAV. The method may further include operating the positioning device to move the UAV to a location and/or an orientation on the surface. The UAV may comprise landing gear having a plurality of legs, where each leg comprises a shock absorption system. The method may further include operating the shock absorption system during the receiving operation to reduce force received at stress areas of the UAV, and after the receiving operation, operating the shock absorption system to dampen movement by the UAV. [US 2023/0140387]
Fehler et al discloses the robotic arm configured to load and unload one or more payloads from a drone, the robotic arm comprising: a central body portion; one or more arm sections configured to rotate with respect to the central body portion; one or more end effectors attached to respective end portions of the one or more arm sections; one or more unlocking mechanisms configured to unlock the one or more payloads from the drone; and at least one mechanism configured to remove the one or more payloads from the drone. [US 2023/0348122]
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/VAN T TRIEU/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2685
07/09/2026
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