`
`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
`
`NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE AND FEE(S) DUE
`
`52473
`
`7590
`
`09/25/2013
`
`RATNERPRESTIA
`PO. BOX 980
`VALLEY FORGE. PA 19482-0980
`
`VUONG, QUOCHIEN B
`
`2648
`
`DATE MAILED: 09/25/2013
`
`08/01/2012
`13/576,435
`TITLE OF INVENTION: AUDIO APPARATUS
`
`Takafumi Noguchi
`
`MFA—148US
`
`6611
`
`
`
`
`
`APPLN. TYPE
`
`ENTITY STATUS
`
`ISSUE FEE DUE
`
`PUBLICATION FEE DUE
`
`PREV. PAID ISSUE FEE
`
`TOTAL FEE(S) DUE
`
`DATE DUE
`
`nonprovisional
`
`UNDISCOUNTED
`
`$ 1780
`
`$300
`
`$0
`
`$2080
`
`12/26/2013
`
`THE APPLICATION IDENTIFIED ABOVE HAS BEEN EXAMINED AND IS ALLOWED FOR ISSUANCE AS A PATENT.
`PROSECUTION ON THE MERITS IS CLOSED. THIS NOTICE OF ALLOWANCE IS NOT A GRANT OF PATENT RIGHTS.
`THIS APPLICATION IS SUBJECT TO WITHDRAWAL FROM ISSUE AT THE INITIATIVE OF THE OFFICE OR UPON
`PETITION BY THE APPLICANT. SEE 37 CFR 1.313 AND MPEP 1308.
`
`THE ISSUE FEE AND PUBLICATION FEE (IF REQUIRED) MUST BE PAID WITHIN THREE MONTHS FROM THE
`MAILING DATE OF THIS NOTICE OR THIS APPLICATION SHALL BE REGARDED AS ABANDONED.
`THIS
`STATUTORY PERIOD CANNOT BE EXTENDED.
`SEE 35 U.S.C. 151. THE ISSUE FEE DUE INDICATED ABOVE DOES
`NOT REFLECT A CREDIT FOR ANY PREVIOUSLY PAID ISSUE FEE IN THIS APPLICATION.
`IF AN ISSUE FEE HAS
`PREVIOUSLY BEEN PAID IN THIS APPLICATION (AS SHOWN ABOVE), THE RETURN OF PART B OF THIS FORM
`WILL BE CONSIDERED A REQUEST TO REAPPLY THE PREVIOUSLY PAID ISSUE FEE TOWARD THE ISSUE FEE NOW
`DUE.
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`HOW TO REPLY TO THIS NOTICE:
`
`I. Review the ENTITY STATUS shown above. If the ENTITY STATUS is shown as SMALL or MICRO, verify whether entitlement to that
`entity status still applies.
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`If the ENTITY STATUS is the same as shown above, pay the TOTAL FEE(S) DUE shown above.
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`
`II. PART B - FEE(S) TRANSMITTAL, or its equivalent, must be completed and returned to the United States Patent and Trademark Office
`(USPTO) with your ISSUE FEE and PUBLICATION FEE (if required). If you are charging the fee(s) to your deposit account, section "4b"
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`IMPORTANT REMINDER: Utility patents issuing on applications filed on or after Dec. 12, 1980 may require payment of
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`
`PTOL—85 (Rev. 02/11)
`
`Page 1 of 4
`
`

`

`PART B - FEE(S) TRANSMITTAL
`
`Complete and send this form, together with applicable fee(s), to: Mail Mail Stop ISSUE FEE
`Commissioner for Patents
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`or m (571)-273-2885
`
`through 5 should be completed where
`INSTRUCTIONS: This form should be used for transmitting the ISSUE FEE and PUBLICATION FEE (if required). Blocks 1
`ap ropriate. All further correspondence including the Patent, advance orders and notification of maintenance fees will be mailed to the current correspondence address as
`indicated unless corrected below or directed otherwise in Block 1, by (a) specifying a new correspondence address; and/or (b) indicating a separate "FEE ADDRESS" for
`maintenance fee notifications.
`
`CURRENT CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS (Note: Use Block 1 for any change ofaddFESS)
`
`7590
`52473
`RATNERPRESTIA
`P 0 BOX 980
`VALLEY FORGE, PA 19482-0980
`
`09/25/2013
`
`Note: A certificate of mailin can only be used for domestic mailings of the
`Fee(s) Transmittal. This certi icate cannot be used for any other accompanying
`apers. Each additional paper, such as an assignment or formal drawing, must
`gave its own certificate of mailing or transmission.
`Certificate of Mailing or Transmission
`I hereby certify that this Fee(s) Transmittal is being deposited with the United
`States Postal Service with sufficient postage for first class mail in an envelope
`addressed to the Mail Stop ISSUE FEE address above, or being facsimile
`transmitted to the USPTO (571) 273—2885, on the date indicated below.
`(Depositor's name)
`(Signature)
`
`(Date)
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`08/01/2012
`13/576,435
`TITLE OF INVENTION: AUDIO APPARATUS
`
`
`
`
`
` F {ST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`CONFIRMATION NO.
`
`Takafumi Noguchi
`
`MFA—148US
`
`6611
`
`APPLN. TYPE
`
`ENTITY STATUS
`
`ISSUE FEE DUE
`
`PUBLICATION FEE DUE
`
`PREV. PAID ISSUE FEE
`
`TOTAL FEE(S) DUE
`
`DATE DUE
`
`nonprovisional
`
`UNDISCOUNTED
`
`$ 1780
`
`$3 00
`
`$0
`
`$2080
`
`12/26/2013
`
`VUONG, QUOCHIEN B
`
`2648
`
`455— 154100
`
`1. Change of correspondence address or indication of "Fee Address" (37
`CFR 1.363).
`
`3 Chan e of correspondence address (or Change of Correspondence
`Address orm PTO/SB/ 122) attached.
`
`3 "Fee Address" indication (or "Fee Address" Indication form
`PTO/SB/47; Rev 03—02 or more recent) attached. Use of a Customer
`Vumber is required.
`
`
`
`2. For printing on the patent front page, list
`(1) the names of up to 3 registered patent attorneys
`or agents OR, alternatively,
`(2) the name of a single firm (having as a member a
`registered attorney or agent) and the names of up to
`2 registered patent attorneys or agents. If no name is
`listed, no name will be printed.
`
`
`
`
`
`2
`
`3
`
`3. ASSIGNEE NAME AND RESIDENCE DATA TO BE PRINTED ON THE PATENT (print or type)
`If an assignee is identified below, the document has been filed for
`PLEASE NOTE: Unless an assignee is identified below, no assignee data will appear on the patent.
`recordation as set forth in 37 CFR 3.11. Completion of this form is NOT a substitute for filing an assignment.
`(A) NAME OF ASSIGNEE
`(B) RESIDENCE: (CITY and STATE OR COUNTRY)
`
`Please check the appropriate assignee category or categories (will not be printed on the patent) :
`
`'3 Individual
`
`'3 Corporation or other private group entity '3 Government
`
`4a. The following fee(s) are submitted:
`3 Issue Fee
`
`
`
`3 Publication Fee (No small entity discount permitted)
`3 Advance Order — # of Copies
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`3 A check is enclosed.
`
`3 Payment by credit card. Form PTO—2038 is attached.
`3 The Director is hereby authorized to charge the required fee(s), any deficiency, or credit any
`overpayment, to Deposit Account Number
`(enclose an extra copy of this form).
`
`
`
`PTOL—85 (Rev. 02/11)
`
`Page 2 of 4
`
`

`

`5. Change in Entity Status (from status indicated above)
`3 Applicant certifying micro entity status. See 37 CFR 1.29
`
`3 Applicant asserting small entity status. See 37 CFR 1.27
`
` 3 Applicant changing to regular undiscounted fee status.
`
`NOTE: Absent a valid certification of Micro Entity Status (see form PTO/SB/ 15A and 15B), issue
`fee payment in the micro entity amount will not be accepted at the risk of application abandonment.
`NOTE: If the application was previously under micro entity status, checking this box will be taken
`to be a notification of loss of entitlement to micro entity status.
`NOTE: Checking this box will be taken to be a notification of loss of entitlement to small or micro
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`
`NOTE: The Issue Fee and Publication Fee (if required) will not be accepted from anyone other than the applicant; a registered attorney or agent; or the assignee or other party in
`interest as shown by the records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
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`Authorized Signature
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`Typed or printed name
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`Date
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`Registration No.
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`This collection of information1s required by 37 CFR 1. 311. The information1s re uired to obtain or retain a benefit by the public which1s to file (and by the USPTO to process)
`an application. Confidentiality1s governedby 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1. 14.Tl1is collection1s estimated to take 12 minutes to complete including gathering, prepar1ng, and
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`eendin upon the individual case. Any comments on the amount of time you require to complete
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`eC ief In ormation Officer U.S. Patent and Trademark Office U.S. Department of Commerce P.O.
`Box 1450 Alexandgria, Virg1nia 22313— 1450. DO NOT SEND FEES OR COMPLETED FORMS TO THIS ADDRESS. SEND TO: Commissioner for Patents P.O. Box 14,50
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313— 1450.
`Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB control number.
`
`PTOL—85 (Rev. 02/11) Approved for use through 08/31/2013.
`
`OMB 0651—0033
`
`US. Patent and Trademark Office; US. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`
`Page 3 of 4
`
`

`

`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`FILING DATE
`
`
`
`
`F {ST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`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
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`CONFIRMATION NO.
`
`13/576,435
`
`08/01/2012
`
`Takafumi Noguchi
`
`MFA—148US
`
`6611
`
`52473
`
`7590
`
`09/25/2013
`
`RATNERPRESTIA
`PO. BOX 980
`VALLEYFORGE,FA19482-0980
`
`VUONG, QUOCHIEN B
`
`2648
`
`DATE MAILED: 09/25/2013
`
`Determination of Patent Term Adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154 (b)
`
`(application filed on or after May 29, 2000)
`
`The Patent Term Adjustment to date is 0 day(s). If the issue fee is paid on the date that is three months after the
`mailing date of this notice and the patent issues on the Tuesday before the date that is 28 weeks (six and a half
`months) after the mailing date of this notice, the Patent Term Adjustment will be 0 day(s).
`
`If a Continued Prosecution Application (CPA) was filed in the above—identified application, the filing date that
`determines Patent Term Adjustment is the filing date of the most recent CPA.
`
`Applicant will be able to obtain more detailed information by accessing the Patent Application Information Retrieval
`(PAIR) WEB site (http://pair.uspto.g0V).
`
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`Patent Legal Administration at (571)—272—7702. Questions relating to issue and publication fee payments should be
`directed to the Customer Service Center of the Office of Patent Publication at 1—(888)—786—0101 or (571)—272—4200.
`
`PTOL—85 (Rev. 02/11)
`
`Page 4 0f 4
`
`

`

`Privacy Act Statement
`
`The Privacy Act of 1974 (PL. 93-579) requires that you be given certain information in connection with
`your submission of the attached form related to a patent application or patent. Accordingly, pursuant to
`the requirements of the Act, please be advised that: (l) the general authority for the collection of this
`information is 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2); (2) furnishing of the information solicited is voluntary; and (3) the
`principal purpose for which the information is used by the US. Patent and Trademark Office is to process
`and/or examine your submission related to a patent application or patent. If you do not furnish the
`requested information, the US. Patent and Trademark Office may not be able to process and/or examine
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`expiration of the patent.
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`The information provided by you in this form will be subject to the following routine uses:
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`1. The information on this form will be treated confidentially to the extent allowed under the Freedom
`of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552) and the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C 552a). Records from this system of
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`A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, in the course of presenting
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`U.S.C. 552a(m).
`. A record related to an International Application filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in this
`system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the International Bureau of the World
`Intellectual Property Organization, pursuant to the Patent Cooperation Treaty.
`. A record in this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to another federal agency for
`purposes of National Security review (35 U.S.C. 181) and for review pursuant to the Atomic Energy
`Act (42 U.S.C. 218(c)).
`to the Administrator,
`. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use,
`General Services, or his/her designee, during an inspection of records conducted by GSA as part of
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`individuals.
`
`. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to the public after either
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`U.S.C. 151. Further, a record may be disclosed, subject to the limitations of 37 CFR 1.14, as a
`routine use, to the public if the record was filed in an application which became abandoned or in
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`application, an application open to public inspection or an issued patent.
`. A record from this system of records may be disclosed, as a routine use, to a Federal, State, or local
`law enforcement agency, if the USPTO becomes aware of a violation or potential violation of law or
`regulation.
`
`

`

`
`
`.
`.
`.
`Notice of Allowability
`
`Application No.
`13/576,435
`'
`53333;ng B. vuONG
`
`Applicant(s)
`NOGUCHI, TAKAFUMI
`'
`AIA (First Inventor to
`3a?"
`File) Status
`No
`
`-- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address--
`All claims being allowable, PROSECUTION ON THE MERITS IS (OR REMAINS) CLOSED in this application.
`If not included
`herewith (or previously mailed), a Notice of Allowance (PTOL-85) or other appropriate communication will be mailed in due course. THIS
`NOTICE OF ALLOWABILITY IS NOT A GRANT OF PATENT RIGHTS. This application is subject to withdrawal from issue at the initiative
`of the Office or upon petition by the applicant. See 37 CFR 1.313 and MPEP 1308.
`
`1. IX This communication is responsive to 08/01/2012.
`
`[I A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2. I] An election was made by the applicant in response to a restriction requirement set forth during the interview on
`requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`
`; the restriction
`
`3. IX The allowed claim(s) is/are L5. As a result of the allowed claim(s), you may be eligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution
`I».
`Highway program at a participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`
`hit? ://www.us'to. ov/ atents/init events/r h/index.'$' or send an inquiry to PPeredback us f0.CfOV.
`
`4. IX Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`
`Certified copies:
`
`a) IX AII
`
`b) [I Some
`
`*c) D None of the:
`
`1. [Z Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2. I] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`
`
`
`3. El 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)).
`
`* Certified copies not received:
`
`Applicant has THREE MONTHS FROM THE “MAILING DATE” of this communication to file a reply complying with the requirements
`noted below. Failure to timely comply will result in ABANDONMENT of this application.
`THIS THREE-MONTH PERIOD IS NOT EXTENDABLE.
`
`5. I] CORRECTED DRAWINGS ( as “replacement sheets”) must be submitted.
`
`I] including changes required by the attached Examiner’s Amendment / Comment or in the Office action of
`Paper No./Mai| Date
`.
`Identifying indicia such as the application number (see 37 CFR 1.84(c)) should be written on the drawings in the front (not the back) of
`each sheet. Replacement sheet(s) should be labeled as such in the header according to 37 CFR 1.121(d).
`
`6. I] DEPOSIT OF and/or INFORMATION about the deposit of BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL must be submitted. Note the
`attached Examiner’s comment regarding REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEPOSIT OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL.
`
`Attachment(s)
`1. IXI Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2. IXI Information Disclosure Statements (PTO/SB/08),
`
`Paper No./Mai| Date 08/01/12 01/21/13
`3. I] Examiner‘s Comment Regarding Requirement for Deposit
`of Biological Material
`4. I] Interview Summary (PTO-413),
`Paper No./Mai| Date
`
`5. El Examiner‘s Amendment/Comment
`
`6. [Z Examiner‘s Statement of Reasons for Allowance
`
`7. I] Other
`
`.
`
`
`
`
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`PTOL-37 (Rev. 08-13)
`
`Notice of Allowability
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20130920
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/576,435
`
`Page 2
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent
`
`provisions.
`
`Reasons for Allowance
`
`Claims 1-5 are allowed over the cited prior art.
`
`The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
`
`Regarding independent claim 1, Srail (EP 18554OOA1) discloses an audio
`
`apparatus (figures 1 and 2) comprising: a radio receiver that receives a radio broadcast;
`
`an internal memory that stores the number of times that is counted for every
`
`broadcasting stations by a control section, categorizing subjects of the broadcast station
`
`as a broadcasting station management table; and a display section that displays
`
`contents of the broadcasting station management table stored in the internal memory
`
`(paragraphs [0006]-[OOO7]). However, Srail fails to disclose the audio apparatus above
`
`wherein the radio broadcast with music identification information indicative of
`
`identification of a music represented by a currently broadcasted audio signal; the audio
`
`apparatus further comprising an operation section that instructs to acquire the music
`
`identification information; a control section that counts a number of times acquisition of
`
`the music identification information was instructed by the operation section.
`
`Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later
`
`than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably
`
`accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on
`
`Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/576,435
`
`Page 3
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Priority
`
`Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C.
`
`119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 08/01/2012 and
`
`01/21/2013 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the
`
`information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to QUOCHIEN B. VUONG whose telephone number is
`
`(571 )272-7902. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9:30-18:00.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Nay Maung can be reached on (571) 272-7882. The fax phone number for
`
`the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571 -273-8300.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 13/576,435
`
`Page 4
`
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`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
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
`
`/QUOCHIEN B VUONG/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2648
`
`