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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on July 15, 2025 is being considered by the examiner.
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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation "the time" in line 11. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
Claim 11 recites the limitation "the step" in line 6. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
As per claims 1 and 11, applicant is required to clarify how the security threat alarm system tracking said security threat as said security threat continues in real time?
Claims 2-10 and 12-20 should have been rejected for the same reason for their dependency.
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.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual 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/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,361,817. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because both the patent and current application having the same limitations of transmit a notification of a location to a first responder in response to detect a security threat in a building.
The double patenting is as below:
Application No. 19/269,942
Patent No. 12,361,817
1. A security threat alarm system for determining and providing notification
of location of a security threat and tracking said security threat as said security threat continues in real time, comprising:
a plurality of alarm actuation devices, said plurality of alarm actuation devices being located in a building, said plurality of alarm actuation devices comprising an alarm actuation device and a smart actuation device, wherein said smart actuation device is automatically actuated upon an existence of a security threat, wherein upon actuation, said smart actuation device transmits a location signal indicating a location in the
building of the smart actuation device that has been actuated;
said smart actuation device comprises automatic sensors, said automatic sensors configured to provide the location signal of the automatic sensor at the time of the actuation and to track said security threat as said security threat continues in real time;
a controller, said controller coupled to said smart actuation device, said controller configured to receive said location signal from said smart actuation device upon actuation and for determining the location of said smart actuation device that has been
actuated; and
a transmitter, said transmitter coupled to said controller, said transmitter
configured to transmit said location received from said controller upon actuation of said smart actuation device; and
wherein upon actuation of said smart actuation device, a location signal is transmitted to said controller, said controller determines the location of said smart actuation device that has been actuated, and said controller instructs the transmitter to transmit a notification of the location of said smart actuation device that has been actuated to a first responders, thereby informing said first responder of the location in the building that said smart actuation device has been actuated and tracking said security threat as said security threat continues in real time.
1. A security threat alarm system for determining and providing a location of a security threat in real time, comprising:
a plurality of alarm actuation devices, said plurality of alarm actuation devices being located in a building, said plurality of alarm actuation devices comprising a smart actuation device, wherein said smart actuation device is automatically actuated upon an existence of a security threat, wherein upon actuation, said smart actuation device transmits a location in the building where the smart actuation device that has been actuated;
said smart actuation device comprises automatic sensors, said automatic sensors configured to provide the location of the automatic sensor in real time;
a controller, said controller coupled to said smart actuation device, said controller receives said location from said smart actuation device upon actuation and transmits said location; and
wherein upon actuation of said smart actuation device, a location is transmitted to said controller and said controller transmits a location of said smart actuation device that has been actuated to a first responders, thereby informing said first responder of the location in the building that said smart actuation device has been actuated in real time.
2. The security threat alarm system of claim 1, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera and a microphone.
2. The security threat alarm system of claim 1, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera and a microphone.
3. The security threat alarm system of claim 2, wherein said system is configured to utilize an input from said camera and said microphone along with artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time.
3. The security threat alarm system of claim 2, wherein said system utilizes an input from said camera and said microphone to identify an assailant as the security threat in real time.
4. The security threat alarm system of claim 1, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera, a microphone and a gunshot sensor.
4. The security threat alarm system of claim 1, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera, a microphone and a gunshot sensor.
5.The security threat alarm system of claim 4, wherein said system is configured to utilize an input from said camera, said microphone and said gunshot sensor along with artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's
movement as the security threat continues in real time.
5. The security threat alarm system of claim 4, wherein said system utilizes an input from said camera, said microphone and said gunshot sensor to identify an assailant as the security threat in real time.
6. The security threat alarm system of claim 1, wherein, said smart actuation
device comprises a camera, a microphone and a broken glass sensor.
6. The security threat alarm system of claim 1, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera, a microphone and a broken glass sensor.
7. The security threat alarm system of claim 6, wherein said system is configured to utilize an input from said camera, said microphone and said broken glass sensor along
with artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time.
7. The security threat alarm system of claim 6, wherein said system to utilizes an input from said camera, said microphone and said broken glass sensor to identify an assailant as the security threat in real time.
8. The security threat alarm system of claim 1, wherein said transmitter transmits additional information received from said smart actuation device to said first responder as the security threat continues in real time.
8. The security threat alarm system of claim 1, wherein said controller transmits additional information received from said smart actuation device to said first responder in real time.
9. The security threat alarm system of claim 8, wherein said additional information is received from a camera and a microphone.
9. The security threat alarm system of claim 8, wherein said additional information is received from a camera and a microphone.
10. The security threat alarm system of claim 9, wherein said camera and said
microphone utilize artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time.
10. The security threat alarm system of claim 9, wherein said camera and said microphone utilize artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time.
11. A method of using a security threat alarm system for providing notification of location of a security threat and tracking said security threat as said security threat continues in real time, said security threat alarm system comprises a controller, a transmitter, an alarm actuation device and a smart actuation device, said smart actuation device configured to provide a location signal upon actuation, said method comprising the steps of:
a) installing a smart actuation device in a building;
b) monitoring said smart actuation device to determine if said smart actuation device has been actuated;
c) upon actuation, receiving a location signal from said smart actuation device that was actuated;
d) determining a location in the building that said smart actuation device has been actuated;
e) transmitting a notification of said location to a first responder; and
f) using said security threat alarm system to track said security threat as said security threat continues in real time.
11. A method of using a security threat alarm system for providing a location of a security threat in real time, said security threat alarm system comprises a controller, and a smart actuation device, said smart actuation device configured to provide a location upon actuation, said method comprising steps of:
a) installing a smart actuation device in a building;
b) monitoring said smart actuation device to determine if said smart actuation device has been actuated;
c) upon actuation, receiving a location from said smart actuation device that was actuated;
d) determining a location in the building that said smart actuation device has been actuated;
e) transmitting said location to a first responder; and
f) using said security threat alarm system to track said security threat in real time.
12. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 11, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera and a microphone.
12. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 11, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera and a microphone.
13. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 12, wherein said
system is configured to utilize an input from said camera and said microphone along with artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time.
13. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 12, wherein said system utilizes an input from said camera and said microphone to identify an assailant as the security threat in real time.
14. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 11, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera, a microphone and a gunshot sensor.
14. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 11, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera, a microphone and a gunshot sensor.
15. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 14, wherein said
system is configured to utilize an input from said camera, said microphone and said gunshot sensor along with artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time.
15. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 14, wherein said system utilizes an input from said camera, said microphone and said gunshot sensor to identify an assailant as the security threat in real time.
16. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 11, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera, a microphone and a broken glass sensor.
16. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 11, wherein, said smart actuation device comprises a camera, a microphone and a broken glass sensor.
17. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 16, wherein said
system is configured to utilize an input from said camera, said microphone and said broken glass sensor along with artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time.
17. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 16, wherein said system utilizes an input from said camera, said microphone and said broken glass sensor to identify an assailant as the security threat in real time.
18. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 11, wherein said
transmitter transmits additional information received from said smart actuation device to said first responder as the security threat continues in real time.
18. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 11, wherein said controller transmits additional information received from said smart actuation device to said first responder in real time.
19. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 18, wherein said
additional information is received from a camera and a microphone.
19. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 18, wherein said additional information is received from a camera and a microphone.
20. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 19, wherein said
camera and said microphone utilize artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time
20. The method of using a security threat alarm system of claim 19, wherein said camera and said microphone utilize artificial intelligence algorithms to identify an assailant and to track said assailant's movement as the security threat continues in real time.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TAI T. NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-2961. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri: 9am-6pm.
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, Quan-Zhen Wang can be reached at 571-272-3114. 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.
/TAI T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2685 October 6, 2026
