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
This Office Action is in response to the application 19/211,307 filed on 05/19/2025.
Claims 1-18 are presented for examination.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for domestic priority to which claims benefit of application which is a CIP of 18/048,856 10/24/2022 and Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application in TAIWAN 110147065 12/15/2021.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDSs) submitted on 05/19/2025, 07/03/2025 and 07/15/2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
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 § 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 nonstatutory 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 1-18 of present Application No. 19/211,307 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-5 of U.S. Patent No. 12,405,701 B2 of Application No. 18/048,856. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims of the instant application are merely obvious variations of the claims in the Patent No. 12,405,701 B2 of Application No. 18/048,856 as outlined in the table below:
Instant Application 19/211,307
Patent 12,405,701 B2
Claim 1
Claim 1
A video conference device comprising: a camera configured to capture a real-time video of a first location;
A video conference device comprising: a camera, configured to capture a real-time video of a first location, and
configured to capture a first biometric feature of a first user located at the first location with the video conference device as first authentication information;
a communication circuit configured to be communicatively connected to a remote server and a first electronic device,
a communication circuit configured to be communicatively connected to a remote server;
wherein the video conference device and the first electronic device are located at the first location,
the first electronic device is configured to join an online video conference on the remote server through the video conference device without directly communicating with the remote server;
4. The video conference device of claim 1, wherein the real-time conference screen includes a display screen region showing the real-time video captured at the first location.
and a processor configured to execute an online conference application, and configured to process the real-time video of the first location captured by the camera and real-time visual signals received from the remote server via the communication circuit;
and a processor configured to execute an online conference application, and configured to process the real-time video of the first location captured by the camera and real-time visual signals received from the remote server via the communication circuit;
wherein the processor executes the online conference application to establish or join the online video conference on the remote server, the processor obtains first authentication information from the first electronic device via the communication circuit and sends the first authentication information for identity authentication;
wherein the processor executes the online conference application to establish or join an online video conference on the remote server, the processor receives the first authentication information from the camera, and sends the first authentication information via the communication circuit for identity authentication;
wherein the processor receives first operation authorizations granted to the first electronic device by the remote server based on the first authentication information which is recognized as a first participant of the online video conference, the first operation authorizations enable the first electronic device to control a first representative cursor assigned to the first participant of the online video conference on a real-time conference screen;
herein the processor receives first operation authorizations granted to the first user by the remote server based on the first authentication information which is recognized as a first participant of the online video conference, the first operation authorizations enable the first user to control a first representative cursor assigned to the first participant of the online video conference on a real-time conference screen;
wherein the processor obtains a first operation instruction message from the first electronic device via the communication circuit and transmits the first operation instruction message to the remote server in real-time;
wherein the processor receives a specific gesture of the first user via the camera, recognizes the specific gesture to obtain a first operation instruction message, and transmits the first operation instruction message to the remote server in real time;
wherein the communication circuit transmits the processed real-time video of the first location to the remote server and receives the real-time visual signals of the online video conference from the remote server, the real-time visual signals of the online video conference provide images of the real-time conference screen which includes a real-time shared content screen
wherein the communication circuit transmits the processed real-time video of the first location to the remote server and receives the real-time visual signals of the online video conference from the remote server, the real-time visual signals of the online video conference provide images of the real-time conference screen which includes a real-time shared content screen;
wherein if the first operation instruction message includes a first operation instruction of moving the first representative cursor and the first operation instruction is valid based on the first operation authorizations and display settings of the online video conference, the real-time conference screen displays the first representative cursor positioned in the real-time shared content screen in response to the first operation instruction of moving the first representative cursor;
wherein if the first operation instruction message includes a first operation instruction of moving the first representative cursor and the first operation instruction is valid based on the first operation authorizations and display settings of the online video conference, the real-time conference screen displays the first representative cursor positioned in the real-time shared content screen in response to the first operation instruction of moving the first representative cursor;
wherein the processor further performs one or more of the following:
processing the captured real-time video of the first location to receive a second biometric feature of a second user as second authentication information; transmitting the second authentication information via the communication circuit for the identity authentication;
receiving second operation authorizations granted to the second user by the remote server based on the second authentication information, wherein the second authentication information is recognized as a second participant of the online video conference, wherein the second operation authorizations enable the second user to control a second representative cursor assigned to the second participant of the online video conference on the real-time conference screen;
wherein the processor receives a communication packet generated when the first electronic device is rotated via the communication circuit, and parses the communication packet to generate the first operation instruction message;
processing the captured real-time video of the first location to receive a specific gesture made by the second user, and recognizing the specific gesture to obtain a second operation instruction of moving the second representative cursor; and transmitting the second operation instruction to the remote server via the communication circuit if the second operation instruction is valid according to the second operation authorizations
wherein if the first operation instruction message comprises the first operation instruction, the first operation instruction comprises vertical movement information and horizontal movement information for moving the first representative cursor, and the processor generates the vertical movement information and the horizontal movement information according to rotating angles of the first electronic device.
The present Application claim 1 is merely a broader version of Patent claims 1 and 4. Patent claims 1 and 4 recite the similar limitations in present Application claim 1. It would have been obvious to broaden Patent claims 1 and 4 because omitting the limitation is obvious variation. However, Patent claims 1 and 4 further recite “wherein the processor further performs one or more of the following: processing the captured real-time video of the first location to receive a second biometric feature of a second user as second authentication information; transmitting the second authentication information via the communication circuit for the identity authentication; receiving second operation authorizations granted to the second user by the remote server based on the second authentication information, wherein the second authentication information is recognized as a second participant of the online video conference, wherein the second operation authorizations enable the second user to control a second representative cursor assigned to the second participant of the online video conference on the real-time conference screen;” which are not recited in present Application claim 1. Thus, it would have been obvious to broaden Patent claims 1 and 4 because omitting the limitation is obvious variation.
Instant Application Claims 2-5 recite substantially the same limitation as the patented claims 2-5 of U.S. Patent No. 12,405,701 B2 of Application No. 18/048,856, therefore the application claims 2-5 are anticipated by the patented claims 2-5.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-18 allowed over prior art.
Reasons for Allowance
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The primary reason for the allowance of the claims is the inclusion of the limitations: “wherein if the first operation instruction message comprises the first operation instruction, the first operation instruction comprises vertical movement information and horizontal movement information for moving the first representative cursor, and the processor generates the vertical movement information and the horizontal movement information according to rotating angles of the first electronic device.” presented in independent claims 1, 7 and 13 and not found in the prior art references.
For Instance, newly discovered prior art Thiel et al. (US 20230139813 A1, hereinafter “Thiel”) discloses providing video conferences between one or more video conference participants. Video conference module 171 may comprise part or all of the video communication platform 140 and/or processing engine 102. Video conference module 171 may host a video conference session that enables one or more participants to communicate over video. In some embodiments, video conference module 171 may require users to authenticate themselves to join a video conference, such as by providing credentials like a username and/or password. In some embodiments, video conference module 171 may allow guest users to join a video conference without authenticating themselves and may notify participants in the meeting that one or more unauthenticated participants are present (Thiel: [paragraph 0028-0029]).
For Instance, newly discovered prior art ROLIN et al. (US 2022/0247587 A1, hereinafter “ROLIN”) discloses a person (referred to as the “host” or “meeting host”) accesses the video conferencing system, creates a new meeting, and identifies one or more other people to invite to the meeting. In response to the host creating the meeting, the video conference system establishes the meeting by creating a meeting identifier and, optionally, a passcode or other access control information. The host can then send the meeting identifier (and access control information) to each of the invitees, such as by email (ROLIN: [paragraph 0015-0016]).
For Instance, newly discovered prior art WALKIN et al. (US 2021/0240332 A1, hereinafter “WALKIN”) discloses an optical sensor is located on the front of the device so that the user's image is, optionally, obtained for video conferencing while the user views the other video conference participants on the touch screen display. In some embodiments, the position of optical sensor 164 can be changed by the user (e.g., by rotating the lens and the sensor in the device housing) so that a single optical sensor 164 is used along with the touch screen display for both video conferencing and still and/or video image acquisition (WALKIN: [paragraph 0055-0056]).
The Thiel / ROLIN / WALKIN system fails to disclose “wherein if the first operation instruction message comprises the first operation instruction, the first operation instruction comprises vertical movement information and horizontal movement information for moving the first representative cursor, and the processor generates the vertical movement information and the horizontal movement information according to rotating angles of the first electronic device.” presented in independent claims 1, 7 and 13.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
- Norieda et al., US 2023/0056154 A1, The server device includes: a conference reservation database; a conference room management unit; and an authentication request processing unit.
- BRANDS et al. US 20190306164 A1, A system and method for sharing electronic data between participants of a phone conference, such as an online presentation.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MEHULKUMAR J SHAH whose telephone number is (571)272-1072. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri, 6:05 am-3:55 pm.
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/M.J.S/Examiner, Art Unit 2459 /SCHQUITA D GOODWIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2459
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