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
Claims 1-20 are presenting for examination.
The non-statutory 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 non-statutory 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 non-statutory 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 § 2146 et seq. 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 filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a non-statutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of non-statutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19 of U.S. Patent No. 12,316,689. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the patent 689 anticipates the claimed invention as been shown in the table below.
19/194,429
12,316,689
A method, comprising: providing for virtual interaction between plural participants within a first room of plural rooms, the plural rooms being included within a virtual space for virtual interaction; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button, the user- selectable button for requesting that the participant automatically follow another participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; receiving a first indication of a user selection, by a first participant of the plural participants, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a second participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the first indication, a second indication that the second participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms;
In response to receiving the second indication, storing the second indication, and updating a follower list for the first participant to include the second participant, the follower list indicating names of the plural participants that automatically follow the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; providing, based on the stored second indication, for the second participant to automatically follow the first participant from the first room to the second room.
1. A method, comprising: providing for virtual conferencing between plural participants within a first room of plural rooms, the plural rooms being included within a virtual space for virtual conferencing, each room of the plural rooms having a respective design for background and elements within the room; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button, the user-selectable button for requesting that the participant automatically follow another participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a list of the plural rooms, the list of plural rooms representing all available rooms within the virtual space, each listed room within the list of plural rooms being user-selectable to navigate to the listed room in order to switch between the plural rooms; receiving a first indication of a user selection, by a first participant of the plural participants, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a second participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the first indication, a second indication that the second participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; in response to receiving the second indication, storing the second indication, and updating a follower list for the first participant to include the second participant, the follower list indicating names of the plural participants that automatically follow the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; receiving a third indication of user input, provided by the first participant via the list of plural rooms, selecting a second room of the plural rooms; and providing, based on the stored second indication and the third indication, for the second participant to automatically follow the first participant from the first room to the second room, the first room and the second room having different backgrounds and elements.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending, prior to receiving the second indication, a request to a device associated with the second participant, the request for the second participant to authorize automatically following the first participant.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending, prior to receiving the second indication, a request to a device associated with the second participant, the request for the second participant to authorize automatically following the first participant.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a third indication for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant; and providing, in response to receiving the third indication, for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a fourth indication for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant; and providing, in response to receiving the fourth indication, for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the third indication is based on a request received from the first participant.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the fourth indication is based on a request received from the first participant.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the third indication is based on a request received from the second participant.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the fourth indication is based on a request received from the second participant.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a third indication of a user selection, by the first participant, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a third participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the third indication, a third indication that the third participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; and providing, in response to receiving the third indication, for the third participant to automatically follow the first participant, such that both the second participant and the third participant automatically follow the first participant navigating between the plural rooms of the virtual space.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a fourth indication of a user selection, by the first participant, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a third participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the fourth indication, a fourth indication that the third participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; and providing, in response to receiving the fourth indication, for the third participant to automatically follow the first participant, such that both the second participant and the third participant automatically follow the first participant navigating between the plural rooms of the virtual space.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the plural participants, the participant video element includes a video feed for the participant.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein for each of the plural participants, the participant video element includes a video feed for the participant.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein each name in the follower list is presented with a respective button which is user-selectable by the first participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein each name in the follower list is presented with a respective button which is user-selectable by the first participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
9. A system comprising: at least one processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, configure the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: providing for virtual interaction between plural participants within a first room of plural rooms, the plural rooms being included within a virtual space for virtual interaction; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button, the user- selectable button for requesting that the participant automatically follow another participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; receiving a first indication of a user selection, by a first participant of the plural participants, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a second participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the first indication, a second indication that the second participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; in response to receiving the second indication, storing the second indication, and updating a follower list for the first participant to include the second participant, the follower list indicating names of the plural participants that automatically follow the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; providing, based on the stored second indication, for the second participant to automatically follow the first participant from the first room to the second room.
9. A system comprising: a processor; and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the processor to perform operations comprising: providing for virtual conferencing between plural participants within a first room of plural rooms, the plural rooms being included within a virtual space for virtual conferencing, each room of the plural rooms having a respective design for background and elements within the room; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button, the user-selectable button for requesting that the participant automatically follow another participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a list of the plural rooms, the list of plural rooms representing all available rooms within the virtual space, each listed room within the list of plural rooms being user-selectable to navigate to the listed room in order to switch between the plural rooms; receiving a first indication of a user selection, by a first participant of the plural participants, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a second participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the first indication, a second indication that the second participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; in response to receiving the second indication, storing the second indication, and updating a follower list for the first participant to include the second participant, the follower list indicating names of the plural participants that automatically follow the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; receiving a third indication of user input, provided by the first participant via the list of plural rooms, selecting a second room of the plural rooms; and providing, based on the stored second indication and the third indication, for the second participant to automatically follow the first participant from the first room to the second room, the first room and the second room having different backgrounds and elements.
10. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising: sending, prior to receiving the second indication, a request to a device associated with the second participant, the request for the second participant to authorize automatically following the first participant.
10. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising: sending, prior to receiving the second indication, a request to a device associated with the second participant, the request for the second participant to authorize automatically following the first participant.
11. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising: receiving a third indication for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant; and providing, in response to receiving the third indication, for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
16. The system of claim 9, wherein each name in the follower list is presented with a respective button which is user-selectable by the first participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
11. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising: receiving a fourth indication for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant; and providing, in response to receiving the fourth indication, for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the third indication is based on a request received from the first participant.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein the fourth indication is based on a request received from the first participant.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the third indication is based on a request received from the second participant.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein the fourth indication is based on a request received from the second participant.
14. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising: receiving a third indication of a user selection, by the first participant, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a third participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the third indication, a third indication that the third participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; and providing, in response to receiving the third indication, for the third participant to automatically follow the first participant, such that both the second participant and the third participant automatically follow the first participant navigating between the plural rooms of the virtual space.
14. The system of claim 9, the operations further comprising: receiving a fourth indication of a user selection, by the first participant, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a third participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the fourth indication, a fourth indication that the third participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; and providing, in response to receiving the fourth indication, for the third participant to automatically follow the first participant, such that both the second participant and the third participant automatically follow the first participant navigating between the plural rooms of the virtual space.
15. The system of claim 9, wherein for each of the plural participants, the participant video element includes a video feed for the participant.
15. The system of claim 9, wherein for each of the plural participants, the participant video element includes a video feed for the participant.
17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising: providing for virtual interaction between plural participants within a first room of plural rooms, the plural rooms being included within a virtual space for virtual interaction; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button, the user- selectable button for requesting that the participant automatically follow another participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; receiving a first indication of a user selection, by a first participant of the plural participants, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a second participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the first indication, a second indication that the second participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; in response to receiving the second indication, storing the second indication, and updating a follower list for the first participant to include the second participant, the follower list indicating names of the plural participants that automatically follow the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; providing, based on the stored second indication, for the second participant to automatically follow the first participant from the first room to the second room.
16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, the computer-readable storage medium including instructions that when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising: providing for virtual conferencing between plural participants within a first room of plural rooms, the plural rooms being included within a virtual space for virtual conferencing, each room of the plural rooms having a respective design for background and elements within the room; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a participant video element which corresponds to the participant and which includes a user-selectable button, the user-selectable button for requesting that the participant automatically follow another participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; providing, for each of the plural participants in the first room, display of a list of the plural rooms, the list of plural rooms representing all available rooms within the virtual space, each listed room within the list of plural rooms being user-selectable to navigate to the listed room in order to switch between the plural rooms; receiving a first indication of a user selection, by a first participant of the plural participants, of the user-selectable button corresponding to a second participant of the plural participants; receiving, in response to receiving the first indication, a second indication that the second participant authorizes automatically following the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms; in response to receiving the second indication, storing the second indication, and updating a follower list for the first participant to include the second participant, the follower list indicating names of the plural participants that automatically follow the first participant with respect to navigating between the plural rooms: receiving a third indication of user input, provided by the first participant via the list of plural rooms, selecting a second room of the plural rooms; and providing, based on the stored second indication and the third indication, for the second participant to automatically follow the first participant from the first room to the second room, the first room and the second room having different backgrounds and elements.
18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising: sending, prior to receiving the second indication, a request to a device associated with the second participant, the request for the second participant to authorize automatically following the first participant.
17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the instructions further configure the computer to: sending, prior to receiving the second indication, a request to a device associated with the second participant, the request for the second participant to authorize following the first participant
19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising: receiving a third indication for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant; and providing, in response to receiving the third indication, for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the operations further comprising: receiving a fourth indication for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant; and providing, in response to receiving the fourth indication, for the second participant to discontinue automatically following the first participant.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the third indication is based on a request received from the first participant.
19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the fourth indication is based on a request received from the first participant.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Moustafa M Meky whose telephone number is (571)272-4005. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM.
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MOUSTAFA M. MEKY
Primary Patent Examiner
Art Unit 2457
/MOUSTAFA M MEKY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2457
07/202/2026
Prosecution Insights