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 § 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 1-20 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Specifically to Claim 1, recites, in part,
"receiving communication confirming vehicle control and interface system of the aircraft are approved on the preflight checklist."
This limitation is indefinite because it is unclear what is meant by "vehicle control and interface system ... are approved on the preflight checklist." Specifically, the claim fails to clearly identify whether the approval applies to (1) the vehicle control system, (2) the interface system, (3) the aircraft, or (4) one or more checklist items associated with these systems. Additionally, the phrase "approved on the preflight checklist" does not reasonably apprise one of ordinary skill in the art of the scope of the claimed subject matter because it is unclear what constitutes approval, who or what performs the approval, and what criteria must be satisfied for such approval.
Additionally, the phrase "based on environment conditions" is indefinite because the claim fails to specify what environmental conditions are being evaluated or how such conditions affect the initiation of the processing system. The scope of this limitation cannot be determined with reasonable certainty.
Similar limitations are also recited in the independent claims 8 AND 15 and also rejected for the same reasons stated above.
Dependent claims are rejected based on the dependency of the claims.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MASUD AHMED whose telephone number is (571)270-1315. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00-8:30 PM PST with IFP.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Abby Lin can be reached at 571 270 3976. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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MASUD . AHMED
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3657A
/MASUD AHMED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3657
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