`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313- 1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
`
`13/ 147,463
`
`08/02/201 1
`
`Fumihiko Taguchi
`
`MAT—10478US
`
`3516
`
`EXAMINER
`RATNERPRESTIA —
`05’0”“ —
`7590
`52473
`PO. BOX 980
`SUN, LIP
`VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482-0980
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2176
`
`
`
` NOT *ICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`05/09/2013
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above—indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e—mail address(es):
`
`ptocorrespondence @ratnerprestia.c0m
`sparodi @ ratnerprestia.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 13/147,463 TAGUCHI, FUMIHIKO
`
`
`AIA (First Inventorto File)
`Art Unit
`Examiner
`Office Action Summary
`
`
`Li Sun its“ 2176
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLY IS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTH(S) OR THIRTY (30) DAYS,
`WHICHEVER IS LONGER, FROM THE MAILING DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`In no event however may a reply be timely filed
`after SIX () MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing date of this communication.
`Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`earned patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`-
`-
`
`Status
`
`1)IXI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 1 March 2013.
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|:| This action is non-final.
`a)IXl This action is FINAL.
`3)I:I An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`
`
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:I Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under EX parte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`5)|XI Claim(s) His/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`6)|:l Claim(s) _ is/are allowed.
`7)IZ| Claim(s)_1-7is/are rejected.
`8)I:I Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`9)|:l Claim((s)
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`htt
`://www.usoto. ov/ atents/init events"
`
`
`
`h/inciex.‘s or send an inquiry to PF"I-iieedback{<‘buspto.qov.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:I The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|:I The drawing(s) filed on _ is/are: a)I:I accepted or b)I:I objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)I:I Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`b)I:I Some * c)I:I None of the:
`a)I:I AII
`1.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.I:I Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|:I Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in this National Stage
`
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Interim copies:
`
`a)|:l AII
`
`b)I:I Some
`
`c)I:I None of the:
`
`Interim copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`3) I] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`
`Paper NOISIIMa” Date —
`PTO/SB/08
`t
`St t
`I
`D'
`t'
`f
`2 I:l I
`)
`4) I:I Other:
`a emen (s)(
`Isc osure
`n orma Ion
`)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 03-13)
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20130423
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`This action is responsive to the Amendment filed on 03/01/2013. Claims 1-7 are
`
`pending in the case.
`
`This action is FINAL.
`
`Applicant’s Response
`
`In Applicant’s response dated 03/01/2013, Applicant amended Claims 1, 2 and 6;
`
`added new Claim 7; amended the Title of the Invention; and argued against all
`
`objections and rejections previously set forth in the Office Action dated 12/04/2012.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 1 12
`
`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.
`
`Claim 1 is 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
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`subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AlA the applicant regards
`
`as the invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`Claim 1:
`
`The amended Claim 1 recites “attribute data corresponding at least to a plurality
`
`of functions which the objective device is capable of performing” in line 7-8. This
`
`limitation is indefinite because the Specification expressly describes the “attribute data”
`
`as: “The attribute data contains the presence or absence of an objective device to be
`
`controlled connected to network 102, and the type of the objective device to be
`
`controlled” (see Specification, page 7, line 23-25). It is unclear to Examiner how and in
`
`what way the recited “attribute data” corresponds to a plurality of functions. Thus, the
`
`intended scope of the recited limitation is indefinite. For the purpose of the examination,
`
`Examiner will interpret the recited "attribute data" as any data/information related to or
`
`describes the objective device.
`
`Further, Claim 1 recites “a plurality of functions which the control the objective
`
`device is capable of performing” in line 8, and “an other plurality of functions which the
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`control device is capable of performing” in line 11. This limitation in indefinite because
`
`some device can only perform a single function, thus, the recited “a plurality of
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`functions”, which requires two or more functions, does not appear to be a valid
`
`requirement. For the purpose of the examination, Examiner will interpret the recited “a
`
`plurality of functions” as one or more functions.
`
`Examiner’s Comments Concerning the Recited Claims and 35 USC § 101
`
`Claim 7 recites a “control device”. (see Claim 7).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`Based upon the description of the recited “control device” in the Specification and
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`the Drawings, the examiner interprets the “control device” to necessarily comprise
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`hardware components. For example, see Fig. 2; page 7, line 4-page 9, line 3.
`
`If the recited “control device” is intended to include an embodiment that includes
`
`only computer software components, then Applicant should expressly state that in the
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`Response to this Office Action.
`
`In that instance, Claim 7 will be interpreted as being
`
`non-statutory and rejections under 35 U.S.C. 101 will be forthcoming.
`
`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 —
`
`(b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in
`public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application for patent in
`the United States.
`
`Claims 1, 2, 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(b) as being anticipated by
`
`Mortensen, US Publication 2009/0154933 A1 (hereinafter Mortensen).
`
`Claim 1:
`
`Mortensen discloses a control device (see DTV 12 in Fig. 1) connected to an
`
`objective device (see IR controlled (IRC) devices 30 and 1394 devices 40 in Fig. 1) to
`
`be controlled via a network (see [0045], Mortensen discloses this limitation in that the
`
`home theater network system (HTNS) 10, as depicted in Fig. 1, includes a plurality of IR
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`controlled (IRC) devices 30 and 1394 devices 40 interconnected to the DTV 12 and one
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`another), the control device comprising:
`
`an operation control unit (see IR detector/receiver 103 in Fig. 5) for
`
`acquiring a request input by a user to display a device list screen (see
`
`[0063]; [0049], Mortensen discloses this limitation in that as shown in Fig.
`
`5, the IR detector 103 receives and amplifies the IR signal sent from a
`
`remote control device 20 to show a device selection menu 52 as illustrated
`
`in Figs. 2A-2F);
`
`a communication control unit (see AV connection module (AVCM) 112 in
`
`Fig. 5) for acquiring attribute data of the objective device to be controlled
`
`via the network (see [0068], line 1-6, Mortensen discloses this limitation in
`
`that the function of the AVCM 112 is to determine the current state of the
`
`HTNS 10 by querying the device management system (DMS) 116, TV
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`control module (TVCM) 140 and the TV micro 105 as to devices
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`connected to the system, active “in-use” device connections, active AV
`
`switching within devices and current TV operating parameters);
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`a first holding unit (see device container list (DCL) 117, and device
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`interconnect list (DIL) in Fig. 5) for holding the attribute data corresponding
`
`at least to a plurality of functions which the objective device is capable of
`
`performing (see [0070], line 9-22; [0075], line 1-2, Mortensen discloses
`
`this limitation in that the DCL 117 is a list, or database, of all the supported
`
`devices that make up the HTNS 10; information about each device is
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`placed into a device container object (DCO); the DIL 118 is a list, or
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`database, of all the physical device connections in the HTNS 10);
`
`.
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`a second holding unit (see TVCM 140 in Fig. 5) for holding function
`
`information corresponding at least to an other plurality of functions which
`
`the control device is capable of performing (see [0068], line 1-6,
`
`Mortensen discloses this limitation in that AVCM 112 queries the device
`
`management system (DMS) 116, TV control module (TVCM) 140 and the
`
`TV micro 105 as to devices connected to the system, active “in-use”
`
`device connections, active AV switching within devices and current TV
`
`operating parameters);
`
`.
`
`a determination unit for detecting a presence of at least one function (e.g.,
`
`audio output) from the plurality of functions of the objective device (e.g.,
`
`AVR 1082 in Fig. 2F) that is executable by at least the control device (e.g.,
`
`DTV) independent of the objective device, based on the attribute data held
`
`by the first holding unit and the function information held by the second
`
`holding unit (see window 80 in Fig. 2A, and 1801 in Fig. 2F; [0051], line
`
`12-15; [0052], line 1-9; [0054]-[0055], Mortensen discloses this limitation in
`
`that in the device selection menu 52, icons corresponding to the audio
`
`sink or audio output devices, such as the TV audio icon 82, an IRC AVR
`
`icon 84 and a 1394 AVR icon 86 are displayed in the audio window, as
`
`shown in Fig. 2A, and the TV audio icon and AVR icon displayed in audio
`
`selection window 1080, as shown in Fig. 2F; this intuitive, on-screen,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`head-up, real-time visual recognition system visually communicates to the
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`user U the current system state including active "in-use" connections,
`
`input device options, audio output options, and etc.. Playing audio through
`
`either the TV audio or AVR is considered executing a function
`
`independent of the other device, e.g., if user selects to play audio through
`
`AVR, it would not interfere with the function of the TV, and vice versa);
`
`.
`
`a display control unit (see graphical Ul 114 in Fig. 5) for displaying the
`
`device list screen (see window 80 in Fig. 2A, and 1801 in Fig. 2F)
`
`provided with information indicating the presence of the at least one
`
`function determined by the determination unit (see [0051], line 12-15;
`
`[0052], line 1-9, Mortensen discloses this limitation in that in the device
`
`selection menu 52, icons corresponding to the audio sink or audio output
`
`devices, such as the TV audio icon 82, an IRC AVR icon 84 and a 1394
`
`AVR icon 86, are displayed in the audio window; this intuitive, on-screen,
`
`head-up, real-time visual recognition system visually communicates to the
`
`user U the current system state including active "in-use" connections,
`
`input device options, audio output options, and etc.); and
`
`.
`
`a control unit (see inter-processor communication module (IPC) 107 in
`
`Fig. 5) for, when the operation control unit has acquired the request to
`
`display the device list screen, making the communication control unit
`
`acquire the attribute data, making the determination unit detect the at least
`
`one functions that is executable by the control device independent of the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`objective device, and making the display control unit display the device list
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`screen (see [0067], line 2-8, Mortensen discloses this limitation in that an
`
`inter-processor communication module (IPC) 107 enables
`
`communications between the DM 110 and the software or other
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`programmable logic of the TV micro 105, a user interface module (UIM)
`
`111, a 1394 control module 120, a 1394 driver module 124, a IR control
`
`module 130, an IR blaster control module 134, and a TV control (TVC)
`
`module 140).
`
`Claim 2:
`
`Mortensen discloses the control device according to claim 1, wherein the
`
`determination unit detects the presence of the at least one function based on a plurality
`
`of pieces of the attribute data held by the first holding unit (see window 80 in Fig. 2A,
`
`and 1801 in Fig. 2F; [0051], line 12-15; [0052], line 1-9, Mortensen discloses this
`
`limitation in that in the device selection menu 52, icons corresponding to the audio sink
`
`or audio output devices, such as the TV audio icon 82, an IRC AVR icon 84 and a 1394
`
`AVR icon 86, are displayed in the audio window; this intuitive, on-screen, head-up, real-
`
`time visual recognition system visually communicates to the user U the current system
`
`state including active "in-use" connections, input device options, audio output options,
`
`and etc.; audio output information for TV, IRC AVR, and 1394 AVR is considered a
`
`plurality of pieces of attribute data).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 9
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`Claim 6:
`
`Claim 6 merely recites a control method of using the control device recited in
`
`Claim 1. Mortensen discloses a control method (see Claim 1). Thus, Mortensen
`
`discloses every limitation of Claim 6, as indicated in the above rejection for Claim 1.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set
`forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and
`the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the
`invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains.
`Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Mortensen in view of Yui et al., US Patent No. 7,613,922 B2 (hereinafter Yui).
`
`Claim 3:
`
`Mortensen discloses every element of Claim 1. Additionally, Mortensen teaches
`
`that the device selection menu 52 is customizable and can include any number of
`
`windows (see Figs. 2A-2F; [0050], e.g., in Fig. 2E, the audio window is not displayed).
`
`Mortensen fails to expressly disclose/teach: further comprising:
`
`.
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`a third holding unit for storing a usage history of a predetermined function
`
`contained in the function information of the control device; and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 10
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`.
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`a suppression unit for outputting a suppression request to suppress the
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`predetermined function based on the usage history held by the third
`
`holding unit,
`
`wherein upon receiving the suppression request from the suppression unit, the
`
`display control unit displays the device list screen not containing the information
`
`indicating the presence of the different functions detected by the determination unit.
`
`Yui teaches an electronic device controlling system for controlling electronic
`
`devices without requiring tedious operations (see Col. 1, line 36-41), further comprising:
`
`.
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`a third holding unit (see personal profile information in Fig. 27) for storing
`
`a usage history of a predetermined function (see electronic device usage
`
`history information in Fig. 27) contained in the function information of the
`
`control device (see Col. 28, line 25-40, Yui discloses this limitation in that
`
`as shown in Fig. 27, electronic device usage history information is
`
`recorded as part of personal profile information in the family information
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`memory 105; the electronic device usage history information may be
`
`constituted by the history of remote controller operations performed
`
`illustratively during the past month; the monitor control unit 1 derives each
`
`user's tastes and preferences from that history of remote controller
`
`operations); and
`
`.
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`a suppression unit for outputting a suppression request to suppress the
`
`predetermined function based on the usage history held by the third
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 11
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`holding unit (see Col. 28, line 35-42, Yui discloses this limitation in that the
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`historical information allows the monitor control unit 1 to determine that a
`
`particular user likes watching TV or listening to audio program and control
`
`the electronic devices accordingly, e.g., turn on TV directly instead of
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`other audio program based on user preference. In this example, other
`
`audio program is considered suppressed based on preference),
`
`wherein upon receiving the suppression request from the suppression unit, the
`
`display control unit displays the device list screen not containing the information
`
`indicating the presence of the different functions detected by the determination unit (see
`
`Col. 28, line 35-42, Yui discloses this limitation in that the historical information allows
`
`the monitor control unit 1 to determine that a particular user likes watching TV or
`
`listening to audio program and control the electronic devices accordingly, e.g., turn on
`
`TV directly instead of other audio program based on user preference. In this example,
`
`the TV is turned on directly for user to watching TV programs without the need to
`
`display additional option menus asking user to manually turn on the TV or other
`
`devices),
`
`for the purpose of controlling electronic devices without requiring tedious
`
`operation to save time (see Col. 1, line 36-41).
`
`Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at
`
`the time of the invention was made to modify the control device, disclosed in Mortensen,
`
`to include:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 12
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`.
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`a third holding unit for storing a usage history of a predetermined function
`
`contained in the function information of the control device; and
`
`.
`
`a suppression unit for outputting a suppression request to suppress the
`
`predetermined function based on the usage history held by the third
`
`holding unit,
`
`wherein upon receiving the suppression request from the suppression unit, the
`
`display control unit displays the device list screen not containing the information
`
`indicating the presence of the different functions detected by the determination unit,
`
`for the purpose of controlling electronic devices without requiring tedious
`
`operation to save time, as taught by Yui.
`
`Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Mortensen in view of Kang et al., US Publication 2006l0140499 A1 (hereinafter Kang).
`
`Claim 4:
`
`Mortensen discloses every element of Claim 1.
`
`Mortensen fails to expressly disclose/teach: wherein the network uses HDMI
`
`(High-Definition Multimedia Interface); and the communication control unit acquires the
`
`attribute data as a response to an HDMI extension command.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 13
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`Kang teaches apparatuses and methods for data processing which enables input
`
`data to be processed in an optimum data processing environment by making data
`
`processing apparatus share information (see [0003]), wherein the network uses HDMI
`
`(High-Definition Multimedia Interface); and the communication control unit acquires the
`
`attribute data as a response to an HDMI extension command (see Figs. 5, and 8; [049];
`
`[0084], Kang discloses this limitation in that as shown in Fig. 5, attributes for electronic
`
`devices, e.g., a DVD player, a set-top box, and a TV set are retrieved; as shown in Fig.
`
`8, the interface units 820 and 850 corresponding to DVDP 810 and TV set 840 are
`
`connected using DVl/HDMI; the control unit 846 set as the master control unit
`
`determines an optimum condition for enhancing image quality bases on attribute
`
`information stored in the lookup table 818 of the DVDP 810).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use the known
`
`technique of HDMI to connect electronic devices in a network, as taught by Kang, to
`
`improve a similar electronic device network, disclosed in Mortensen, to increase
`
`efficiency for sharing data/information among electronic devices in the same manner as
`
`set forth in Kang.
`
`Claim 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Mortensen in view of Doumuki et al., US Publication 2007/0101024 A1 (hereinafter
`
`Doumuki).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 14
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`Claim 5:
`
`Mortensen discloses every element of Claim 1.
`
`Mortensen fails to expressly disclose/teach: wherein the network uses DLNA
`
`(Digital Living Network Alliance); and the communication control unit acquires the
`
`attribute data contained in DDD (Device Description Document) information of DLNA.
`
`Doumuki teaches system and method providing interoperability between IEEE
`
`1394 network devices and universal plug-and-play (UPnP) network devices in a home
`
`network (see [0007]), wherein the network uses DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance)
`
`(see [0004], Doumuki discloses this limitation in that lP-based network protocols are
`
`increasingly adopted by consumer electronics in light of the direction of the Digital Living
`
`Network Alliance (DLNA)); and the communication control unit acquires the attribute
`
`data contained in DDD (Device Description Document) information of DLNA (see
`
`[0039], Doumuki discloses this limitation in that when a control point (CP) is added to
`
`network, it sends a “ssdp:search” message to search other devices; a “ssdp:alive” or a
`
`response to “ssdp:search” includes a URL to the device description document which
`
`includes detailed information of the device and a URL of the service description
`
`document).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to use the known
`
`technique of utilize DLNA in a home network, as taught by Doumuki, to improve a
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
`
`Page 15
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`similar electronic device network, disclosed in Mortensen, to achieve interoperability in a
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`home network in the same manner as set forth in Doumuki.
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`Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
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`“Transfering photos from your digital camera”, HP, 12/30/2008 (hereinafter HP) in view
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`of “Autopay in Windows XP: Automatically Detect and React to New Devices on a
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`System”, Stephane St-Michel and Brian Aust, MSDN Magzine, 11/2001 (hereinafter
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`Autoplay).
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`Claim 7:
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`HP discloses a control device (computer) connected to an objective device
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`(digital camera) to be controlled via a network (see page 1-2, under heading “Connect
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`your digital camera directly to a computer with a USB cable”, HP discloses this limitation
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`in that when connecting a digital camera to a computer with a USB cable, user can see
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`the digital camera as a hard drive on the computer and moving photos from camera to
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`computer), wherein the function (e.g., view photos) is executable by the control device
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`(computer) independent of the objective device (digital camera) upon transferring the
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`physical medium (memory card) from the objective device to the control device (see
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`page 4, under heading “Copy or print digital photos from a memory card”, HP discloses
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`this limitation in that digital photos are stored on camera's memory card, user can
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`remove the card and insert it into a card reader slot on the front of the computer, so the
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`photos can be viewed on the computer without the camera).
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`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 16
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`HP fails to expressly disclose/teach: wherein the control device detects a function
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`common to both the control and the objective device according to a physical medium
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`holding a content.
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`Autoplay teaches providing a software response to hardware actions initiated by
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`user on computer (see page 1, 2nd paragraph), wherein the control device (computer
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`running Windows XP) detects a function (e.g., function to play media content) common
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`to both the control and the objective device according to a physical medium holding a
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`content (see Figure 2; heading "Autoplay V2 on Volume-based Devices", Autoplay
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`discloses this limitation in that Volume Autoplay V2 relies on sniffing the content of
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`volumes as they arrive (e.g., a camera contains photos is plugged in), whether they're
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`media for removable media drives or removable hard disks; the sniffing consists of
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`scanning the first four levels of folders from the root of the volume and looking for
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`multimedia content types: music, graphics, and video; when an event occurs (e.g., a
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`camera contains photos is plugged in), Windows determines which action to perform
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`based on the intersection of the applications registered on a per-content type basis and
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`the content types found on the volume through sniffing; if user did not yet specify any
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`preferences, Windows prompts the user to choose one of the applications, as illustrated
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`in Figure 2. The Autoplay event prompt when a volume-based device, e.g., digital
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`camera, is connected, as shown in Figure 2, is considered detecting a function (e.g.
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`view photo using a computer application) common to both the control and objective
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`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 17
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`device (both computer and digital camera can be used to view photos) according to a
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`physical medium (memory of digital camera) holding a content (photos)), for the
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`purpose of enhancing the Autoplay feature of Windows to handle the dramatic growth in
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`digital multimedia content and an increasing number of devices generating such content
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`(see heading “SUMMARY”).
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`Accordingly, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the
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`time of the invention to modify the control device, disclosed in HP, to include: wherein
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`the control device detects a function common to both the control and the objective
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`device according to a physical medium holding a content, for the purpose of enhancing
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`the Autoplay feature of Windows to handle the dramatic growth in digital multimedia
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`content and an increasing number of devices generating such content, as taught by
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`Autoplay.
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`Response to Arguments
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`Examiner acknowledges Applicant’s amendment to the Title of the Invention to
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`cure minor informalities.
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`In response to this amendment, the objection to the Title of the
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`Invention is respectfully withdrawn.
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`Applicant’s prior art arguments with respect to the pending claims have been
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`considered but they are not persuasive.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 18
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`Arguments for Claim 1:
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`Regarding the amended Claim 1, Applicant argues that Mortensen does not
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`disclose “a determination unit for detecting a presence of at least one function from the
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`plurality of functions of the objective device that is executable by at least the control
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`device independent of the objective device”, because Mortensen discloses different
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`audio output devices among other lR controlled devices, connected to a digital
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`television DTV 12, are displayed (and navigated) in the audio window (included in the UI
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`50) of the DTV. Particularly, Mortensen's Ul 50 and digital module (DM) 110 are
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`responsible for directing AV signals from external devices and internal devices to the
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`DTV 12 or to other devices connected within the HTNS 10; Mortensen fails to disclose a
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`determination unit that can detect a function that is common to both the control device
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`and the objective device, and particularly, the detected function can be executed by the
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`control device independent of the objective device. (See Applicant’s REMARKS, page
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`7, 3rd paragraph)
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`Examiner respectfully disagrees.
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`Examiner would like to note that the limitation “functions of the objective device
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`that is executable by. . .the control device independent of the objective device”, as
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`claimed, is very broad. Based on the broadest reasonable interpretation, as long as a
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`function, e.g., play music, can be performed on one device without interfering with the
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`other device, it meets the recited limitation. As indicated in the above office action,
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`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 19
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`Mortensen clearly teaches a determination unit for detecting a presence of at least one
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`function (e.g., audio output) from the plurality of functions of the objective device (e.g.,
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`AVR 1082 in Fig. 2F) that is executable by at least the control device (e.g., DTV)
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`independent of the objective device (see window 80 in Fig. 2A, and 1801 in Fig. 2F;
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`[0051], line 12-15; [0052], line 1-9; [0054]-[0055], Mortensen discloses this limitation in
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`that in the device selection menu 52, icons corresponding to the audio sink or audio
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`output devices, such as the TV audio icon 82, an IRC AVR icon 84 and a 1394 AVR
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`icon 86 are displayed in the audio window, as shown in Fig. 2A, and the TV audio icon
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`and AVR icon displayed in audio selection window 1080, as shown in Fig. 2F; this
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`intuitive, on-screen, head-up, real-time visual recognition system visually communicates
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`to the user U the current system state including active "in-use" connections, input
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`device options, audio output options, and etc.. Playing audio through either the TV
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`audio or AVR is considered executing a function independent of the other device, e.g., if
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`user selects to play audio through AVR, it would not interfere with the function of the TV,
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`and vice versa).
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`Accordingly, Mortensen teaches this limitation.
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`For new Claim 7, please see above office action for details.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/147,463
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`Page 20
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`Art Unit: 2176
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`Conclusion
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`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time
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`policy as set forth in 37 CFR1.136(a).
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`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE
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`MONTHS from the mailing date of this action.
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`In the event a first reply is filed within
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`TWO MONTHS of the mailing dat