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 .
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 8/25/2025 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Objections
Claims 3, 6 and 7 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 3 recites “wherein the management apparatus determines the timing to make the request, based on the predicted time”. However this limitation appears redundant to that in claim 2, since claim 2 recites “wherein the management apparatus...determines a timing to make the request, based on the predicted time.”
Claims 6 and 7 recite “the money handling apparatus, which has been notified by the management apparatus...”. It appears that this language should be “each of the determined money handling apparatus, which has been notified by the management apparatus...” since the lines above recite “notifies each of the determined money handling apparatuses”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“money handling apparatuses configured to perform money handling” in claims 1 and 11
“management apparatus...configured to acquire, from each money handling apparatus, information on an inventory quantity for each kind of money in the apparatus” in claim 1
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
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 6-10 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 6 recites “determines...the kinds and the quantity for each kind of money to be discharged”. It is unclear what the applicant means by “determines the kinds for each kind of money...”. More specifically, what is “kinds” for each kind of money? Does the applicant merely intend “determines...each kind of money”? Please clarify. Additionally, it is not clear if “the quantity” is the same as “the inventory quantity” since the inventory quantity in claim 1 appears to be a quantity of money in each money handling apparatus, and not a quantity to be discharged. Please clarify.
Claim 7 recites “determines... and the kinds and quantity for each kind of money to be stored”. It is unclear what the applicant means by “determines the kinds for each kind of money...”. More specifically, what is “kinds” for each kind of money? Does the applicant merely intend “determines...each kind of money”? Please clarify. Additionally, it is not clear if “the quantity” is the same as “the inventory quantity” since the inventory quantity in claim 1 appears to be a quantity of money in each money handling apparatus, and not a quantity that is to be stored. Please clarify.
Claims 8 and 10 recite the limitation "the determined contents”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear what “determined contents” the applicant is referring to. Please clarify.
Claims 8 and 10 recite “determines...the kinds and the quantity for each kind of money to be discharged...and the kinds and quantity for each kind of money to be stored”. It is unclear what the applicant means by “determines the kinds for each kind of money...”. More specifically, what is “kinds” for each kind of money? Does the applicant merely intend “determines...each kind of money”? Please clarify. Additionally, it is not clear if “the quantity” is the same as “the inventory quantity” since the inventory quantity in claim 1 appears to be a quantity of money in each money handling apparatus. Please clarify
Claim 9 recites “the management apparatus determines the kinds and the quantity for each kind of money for replenishment or collection”. It is unclear if “the quantity” is the same as, or different than, “the inventory quantity” in claim 1. Additionally is unclear what the applicant means by “determines the kinds for each kind of money...”. More specifically, what is “kinds” for each kind of money? Does the applicant mean “the management apparatus determines the inventory quantity for each kind of money for replenishment or collection”? Or did the applicant intend “the management apparatus determines each kind of money for replenishment or collection and determines the inventory quantity for the determined each kind of money”? Please clarify. It is not clear if “the quantity” is the same as “the inventory quantity” since the inventory quantity in claim 1 appears to be a quantity of money in each money handling apparatus, and not a quantity for replenishment or collection. Please clarify.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1, 2 and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kimura (JP 2018-26010).
With respect to claims 1 and 11, Kimura discloses a money handling system comprising:
a plurality of money handling apparatuses configured to perform money handling ([0015]); and
a management apparatus communicably connected to the plurality of money handling apparatuses and configured to acquire, from each money handling apparatus, information on an inventory quantity (remaining amount) for each kind (denomination) of money in the apparatus ([0015], [0016]), wherein
the plurality of money handling apparatuses are separated into a plurality of groups (stores), and the management apparatus manages an inventory quantity for each kind of money by group ([0016]), and
makes a request for replenishment or collection of money for each money handling apparatus, based on a threshold (lower limit money amount/upper limit money amount) for each kind of money set for each group in addition to an inventory quantity for each kind of money in each money handling apparatus ([0017]).
The method is inherent to the system.
With respect to claim 2, Kimura discloses the management apparatus predicts a time until an inventory quantity of money in a group reaches the threshold, and determines a timing to make the request, based on the predicted time (determines that replenishment must be made before day Td and collect money before the day Tu) ([0017]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-5 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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/SUEZU ELLIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2876