`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313- 1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
`
` F ING DATE
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
`
`CONF {MATION NO.
`
`13/389,005
`
`02/06/2012
`
`Atsumi Inai
`
`MAT— 10541US
`
`9041
`
`EXAMINER
`RATNERPRESTIA —
`”M” —
`7590
`52473
`PO. BOX 980
`WEBER, JOYM
`VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482-0980
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2173
`
`
`
`
`NOT *ICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`12/26/2013
`
`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
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 13/389,005 INAI, ATSUMI
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`Joy Weber it?“ 2173
`
`-- 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 g MONTHS FROM THE MAILING DATE OF
`THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available under the provisions of 37 CFR1. 136( a).
`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).
`
`In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed
`
`Status
`
`1)IZI Responsive to communication(s) filed on 2/6/2012.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)|ZI This action is non-final.
`2a)|:l 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
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`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`4)|:| Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
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`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)IZI Claim(s) 1-10 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`is/are allowed.
`6)I:I Claim(s)
`7)|Z| Claim(s)_1-10 is/are rejected.
`8)|:I Claim(s)_ is/are objected to.
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`9)I:I Claim((s)
`* 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
`hit
`:/'I’vaIW.usnI‘.0. ovI’ atentS/init events/
`
`
`
`iindex.‘s or send an inquiry to PPI-iieedback{®usgtc.00v.
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Xl The drawing(s) filed on 2/6/2012 is/are: a)lX| 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)IXI Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)IZl All
`
`b)|:l Some” c)I:l None of the:
`
`1.IXI Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.|:l Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.|:| 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.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`
`
`3) D Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`1) E Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date.
`.
`.
`4) I:I Other'
`2) E InformatIon DIsclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mai| Date 2/6/2012.
`
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20131217
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 2
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`1.
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`This Office Action is sent in response to Applicant’s Communication received 06
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`February 2012, for application number 13/398,005. The Office hereby acknowledges
`
`receipt of the following and placed of record in file: Specification, Drawings, Abstract,
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`Oath/Declaration, and claims.
`
`2.
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`The present application is being examined under the pre-AlA first to invent
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`provisions.
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`3.
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`Claims 1-10 are presented for examination.
`
`Priority
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`4.
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`Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority under 35
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`U.S.C. 119(a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. 2009-
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`188870, filed on 08/18/2009 in Japan.
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`Drawings
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`5.
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`The drawings filed 02/06/2012 are deemed acceptable for examination
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`proceedings.
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`Title Objection
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`6.
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`The title of the invention is objected to because it is not descriptive. A new title is
`
`required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. The
`
`Examiner believes that the title of the invention is imprecise. A descriptive title indicative
`
`of the invention will help in proper indexing, classifying, searching, etc. See MPEP
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`606.01. However, the title of the invention should be limited to 500 characters.
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 3
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 1 12
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`7.
`
`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.
`
`8.
`
`Claims 1-10 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 pre-AlA the
`
`applicant regards as the invention.
`
`9.
`
`Regarding Claims 1-10, these claims recite a device or a method comprising
`
`various circuits. The term “circuit” is misused, as one of ordinary skill in the art would
`
`interpret a "circuit" as hardware, but according to the specification, each "circuit" is
`
`merely a software module and not a piece of hardware.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`10.
`
`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.
`
`11.
`
`Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Samada et al. (hereinafter, as Samada), United States Patent Application Publication
`
`2009/0167946 (as cited by Applicant in IDS), in view of Mifune et al. (hereinafter,
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 4
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`Mifune), United States Patent Application Publication 2006/0235766 (as cited by
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`Applicant in IDS).
`
`12.
`
`Regarding Claim 1, Samada discloses a GUI (Graphical User Interface) device
`
`(an image display device, Abstract, and a user interface screen, Para 11) comprising:
`
`a function detecting circuit for detecting whether a plurality of functions is valid or
`
`invalid (a determination unit for determining if an external apparatus is in an active state
`
`and if it is connected to the device, and then results are communicated to the display
`
`controller, Para 17, and the Examiner interprets “valid” and “invalid” equivalent to active
`
`and connected versus inactive or not connected, respectively);
`
`a controller (controller, Para 51) for changing a display style of icons
`
`corresponding to the functions (input selection of the connection, Para 11, where
`
`Examiner interprets the input selection as the corresponding function) and a display
`
`style of an icon corresponding to a function group (connection type, Para 11) based on
`
`a result of the detection by the function detecting circuit (The Examiner interprets an
`
`icon as equivalent to a displayed indicator, and the indicators are displayed and
`
`changed according to connection mode, such as the image’s concentration, hue, or
`
`shape, Para 20, Figures 15A-18);
`
`an OSD (On Screen Display) creating circuit for creating the icons corresponding
`
`to the functions and the icon corresponding to the function group according to a
`
`command of the controller (the display controller displays the connection mode and
`
`status on the display, Para 17); and
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 5
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`a display section for displaying the icons created by the OSD creating circuit
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`(display panel 113 for displaying, Para 20, 50, 58, Figure 14),
`
`wherein the controller displays the icons corresponding to the individual functions
`
`on one-to-one basis when the functions are valid (for active and connected external
`
`devices connected to the image display device, the display controller displays connector
`
`indications selectable with the user operation unit by bringing together connector
`
`indications in a predetermined range, Para 16, Figure 15A), and displays icons
`
`representing the function group in a display style indicating invalidity when one of the
`
`functions is invalid (the presence or absence of the connection of the external apparatus
`
`in an active state is verified on the screen according to the displayed indicators, Para
`
`20, and the display controller may be configured not to display a connector indication
`
`indicating the connector which is not connected with the cable, on the display panel,
`
`and this removes an unnecessary connector indication from the display panel, so that
`
`the connector indication indicating a selectable connector can be easily viewed, Para
`
`16, Figure 168, and indicators of function groups are displayed with a different hue or
`
`shape for indicating a connector that is not connected as provided for “Video 3,”
`
`“Component 2,” “HDMI 3,” and others, Para 124, Figure 158).
`
`Samada does not explicitly disclose: displays a single icon representing the
`
`function group indicating invalidity.
`
`Mifune teaches in the same field of endeavor, displays a single icon representing
`
`the function group indicating invalidity (image forming apparatuses connected to the PC
`
`1 on the network have an individual icon shown as icons 121 through 123, and image
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 6
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`forming apparatuses which are not connected to the PC 1 on the same network are
`
`displayed in a single “generic icon 124” representing a group of image forming
`
`apparatuses, Para 37, Figures 4 and 7).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art, having the teachings of
`
`Samada and Mifune before him at the time of invention was made, to modify the
`
`displays of icons representing the function group indicating invalidity as disclosed by
`
`Samada to include a single generic icon as taught by Mifune in order to represent the
`
`function group indicating invalidity.
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to modify the displays to
`
`include a generic icon representing the function group indicating invalidity in order to
`
`provide a graphical arrangement that enables a display of connected states of an
`
`information processing apparatus to peripheral apparatuses in a simplified manner
`
`(Mifune, Para 5).
`
`13.
`
`Regarding Claim 2, Samada and Mifune teach the GUI device according to claim
`
`1. Mifune further teaches, wherein the controller displays any of a guiding sentence and
`
`a graphic illustration to teach a user how to make the function group valid when the user
`
`has selected the icon representing the invalid function group (a list is displayed when
`
`the user selects the generic icon and the list “L” displays image forming apparatuses in
`
`association with the generic icon, Para 48, Figure 7, and the user may designate one of
`
`the list apparatuses to display as an individual icon, Para 50, Figure 9).
`
`14.
`
`Regarding Claim 3, Samada and Mifune teach the GUI device according to claim
`
`1. Samada further teaches, further comprising an external medium intake port through
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 7
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`which a recording medium is loaded (DVD recorders 173 and 174 are connected to the
`
`image forming apparatus through port 101 b and blue-ray disc recorder 171 is connected
`
`to the image forming apparatus through port 101a, Para 120, Figure 14, and the
`
`Examiner interprets connectors for connecting peripheral devices to the image display
`
`device as ports, including the input received by an antenna terminal as indicated by
`
`Para 49), wherein the function detecting circuit transmits information to the controller
`
`about loading or unloading of the recording medium into the external medium intake
`
`port (the controller connects to the connected apparatus through moving the cursor
`
`“CA” to the desired position and a display operation of the connected apparatus is
`
`provided, Para 133, Figure 18, and the image display device will display a video signal
`
`that is transmitted, or loaded, from the selected connected and active peripheral device,
`
`Paras 55, 60, 137).
`
`15.
`
`Regarding Claim 4, Samada and Mifune teach the GUI device according to claim
`
`1. Samada further teaches, further comprising an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia
`
`Interface) port to be connected with an external device, wherein the function detecting
`
`circuit has a function of coordinating the external device connected to the HDMI port
`
`and transmits information to the controller about availability of the external device (the
`
`external apparatus or source apparatus, connects to the HDMI connectors 101a to 101c
`
`on the image display device, Para 53, Figure 14, and connections are detected with a
`
`hot plug detect (HPD) which is regulated by the HDMI, Para 8).
`
`16.
`
`Regarding Claim 5, Samada and Mifune teach the GUI device according to claim
`
`1. Mifune further teaches, further comprises a network connecting port for connecting
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 8
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`to a network (the information processing apparatus connects to peripheral apparatuses,
`
`Para 5, through a network, Para 11, Figure 1), wherein the function detecting circuit
`
`transmits information to the controller about a connection status with the network and a
`
`connection status of a predetermined content server (the display format discriminator
`
`103 discriminates whether the targeted image forming apparatus is connected to the PC
`
`1 on the same network by comparing network address portions of the IP addresses of
`
`the PC 1 and the targeted image forming apparatus, Para 35, Figures 1 and 4, and the
`
`main controller controls an overall operation of the PC 1, Para 29, and the Examiner
`
`interprets a predetermined content server equivalent to a targeted image forming
`
`apparatus).
`
`17.
`
`Regarding Claim 6, Samada discloses a method (method, Title) for displaying
`
`GUI (Graphical User Interface), the method (an image display device, Abstract, and a
`
`user interface screen, Para 11, and a connector indication method, Para 3) comprising
`
`the steps of:
`
`detecting whether a plurality of functions is valid or invalid by using a function
`
`detecting circuit (a determination unit for determining if an external apparatus is in an
`
`active state and if it is connected to the device, and then results are communicated to
`
`the display controller, Para 17, and the Examiner interprets “valid” and “invalid”
`
`equivalent to active and connected versus inactive or not connected, respectively);
`
`changing a display style, by using a controller (controller, Para 51), of icons
`
`corresponding to the functions (input selection of the connection, Para 11, where
`
`Examiner interprets the input selection as the corresponding function) and an icon
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 9
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`corresponding to a function group (connection type, Para 11) based on a result of the
`
`detection by the function detecting circuit (The Examiner interprets an icon as
`
`equivalent to a displayed indicator, and the indicators are displayed and changed
`
`according to connection mode, such as the image’s concentration, hue, or shape, Para
`
`20, Figures 15A-18);
`
`creating the icons corresponding to the functions and the icon corresponding to
`
`the function group by using an OSD (On Screen Display) creating circuit according to a
`
`command of the controller (the display controller displays the connection mode and
`
`status on the display, Para 17);
`
`displaying the icons created by the OSD creating circuit on a display section
`
`(display panel 113 for displaying, Para 20, 50, 58, Figure 14); and
`
`displaying the icons corresponding to the functions on one-to-one basis when the
`
`functions are valid (for active and connected external devices connected to the image
`
`display device, the display controller displays connector indications selectable with the
`
`user operation unit by bringing together connector indications in a predetermined range,
`
`Para 16, Figure 15A), and displaying icons representing the function group in a display
`
`style indicating invalidity when one of the functions of the function group is invalid (the
`
`presence or absence of the connection of the external apparatus in an active state is
`
`verified on the screen according to the displayed indicators, Para 20, and the display
`
`controller may be configured not to display a connector indication indicating the
`
`connector which is not connected with the cable, on the display panel, and this removes
`
`an unnecessary connector indication from the display panel, so that the connector
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 10
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`indication indicating a selectable connector can be easily viewed, Para 16, Figure 168,
`
`and indicators of function groups are displayed with a different hue or shape for
`
`indicating a connector that is not connected as provided for “Video 3, Component 2,”
`
`“HDMI 3,” and others, Para 124, Figure 158).
`
`Samada does not explicitly disclose: displaying a single icon representing the
`
`function group indicating invalidity.
`
`Mifune teaches in the same field of endeavor, displaying a single icon
`
`representing the function group indicating invalidity (image forming apparatuses
`
`connected to the PC 1 on the network have an individual icon shown as icons 121
`
`through 123, and image forming apparatuses which are not connected to the PC 1 on
`
`the same network are displayed in a single “generic icon 124” representing a group of
`
`image forming apparatuses, Para 37, Figures 4 and 7).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art, having the teachings of
`
`Samada and Mifune before him at the time of invention was made, to modify the
`
`displays of icons representing the function group indicating invalidity as disclosed by
`
`Samada to include a single generic icon as taught by Mifune in order to represent the
`
`function group indicating invalidity.
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to modify the displays to
`
`include a generic icon representing the function group indicating invalidity in order to
`
`provide a graphical arrangement that enables a display of connected states of an
`
`information processing apparatus to peripheral apparatuses in a simplified manner
`
`(Mifune, Para 5).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 11
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`18.
`
`Regarding Claim 7, Samada and Mifune teach the method according to claim 6.
`
`Mifune further teaches, wherein when a user selects the icon indicating invalidity of the
`
`function group, the controller displays any of a guiding sentence and a graphic
`
`illustration for teaching the user how to make the function group valid (a list is displayed
`
`when the user selects the generic icon and the list “L” displays image forming
`
`apparatuses in association with the generic icon, Para 48, Figure 7, and the user may
`
`designate one of the list apparatuses to display as an individual icon, Para 50, Figure
`
`9).
`
`19.
`
`Regarding Claim 8, Samada and Mifune teach the method according to claim 6.
`
`Samada further teaches, wherein the function detecting circuit transmits information to
`
`the controller about loading or unloading of a recording medium (DVD recorders 173
`
`and 174 are connected to the image forming apparatus through port 101 b and blue-ray
`
`disc recorder 171 is connected to the image forming apparatus through port 101a, Para
`
`120, Figure 14, and the Examiner interprets connectors for connecting peripheral
`
`devices to the image display device as ports, including the input received by an antenna
`
`terminal as indicated by Para 49) into an external medium intake port (the controller
`
`connects to the connected apparatus through moving the cursor “CA” to the desired
`
`position and a display operation of the connected apparatus is provided, Para 133,
`
`Figure 18, and the image display device will display a video signal that is transmitted, or
`
`loaded, from the selected connected and active peripheral device, Paras 55, 60, 137).
`
`20.
`
`Regarding Claim 9, Samada and Mifune teach the method according to claim 6.
`
`Samada further teaches, wherein the function detecting circuit has a function of
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 12
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`coordinating an external device connected to an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia
`
`Interface) port, and transmits information to the controller about availability of the
`
`external device (the external apparatus or source apparatus, connects to the HDMI
`
`connectors 101a to 101c on the image display device, Para 53, Figure 14, and
`
`connections are detected with a hot plug detect (HPD) which is regulated by the HDMI,
`
`Para 8).
`
`21.
`
`Regarding Claim 10, Samada and Mifune teach the method according to claim 6.
`
`Mifune further teaches, wherein the function detecting circuit transmits information to
`
`the controller about a connection status with a network (the information processing
`
`apparatus connects to peripheral apparatuses, Para 5, through a network, Para 11,
`
`Figure 1) and a connection status of a predetermined content server (the display format
`
`discriminator 103 discriminates whether the targeted image forming apparatus is
`
`connected to the PC 1 on the same network by comparing network address portions of
`
`the IP addresses of the PC 1 and the targeted image forming apparatus, Para 35,
`
`Figures 1 and 4, and the main controller controls an overall operation of the PC 1, Para
`
`29, and the Examiner interprets a predetermined content server equivalent to a targeted
`
`image forming apparatus).
`
`Examiner’s Note
`
`22.
`
`The Examiner did not consider references submitted in IDS filed February 6,
`
`2012, two pages, because IDS is not the proper format and references were duplicated
`
`in the proper IDS submission, filed February 6, 2012, consisting of one page. However,
`
`all references were considered in the proper IDS format submission.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 13/389,005
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`Page 13
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`Art Unit: 2173
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`23.
`
`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to
`
`applicant's disclosure as follows. Applicant is reminded that in amending in response to
`
`a rejection of claims, the patentable novelty must be clearly shown in view of the estate
`
`of the art disclosed by the references cited and the objections made. Applicant must
`
`also show how the amendments avoid such references and objections. See 37 CFR §
`
`1.111(0).
`
`24.
`
`Simon et al. (United States Patent Application Publication 2007/0055390)
`
`discloses techniques required to manage home automation data content of actuals
`
`devices or networks.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to Joy Weber whose telephone number is (571 )270-5699.
`
`The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Thursday 8AM-5PM, EST.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Kieu Vu can be reached on 571 -272—4057. The fax phone number for the
`
`organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`