`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMIVHSSIONER FOR PATENTS
`PO. Box 1450
`Alexandria1 Virginia 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`
`
`
`
`14/102,168
`
`12/10/2013
`
`Hiroshi Tsuji
`
`732256.417
`
`7030
`
`Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC
`701 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`HAILE’BENYAM
`
`PAPER NUIVIBER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2681
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`08/19/2015
`
`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):
`
`patentinfo @ seedip.c0m
`
`PTOL—90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Applicant(s)
`Application No.
` 14/102,168 TSUJI ET AL.
`
`Examiner
`Art Unit
`AIA (First Inventor to File)
`Office Action Summary
`
`BENYAM HAILE if?“ 2681
`
`-- 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 12/10/2013.
`El A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2b)IZI 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
`
`; 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
`
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`
`5)IZI Claim(s) 1-21 is/are pending in the application.
`5a) Of the above cIaim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`is/are allowed.
`6)I:I Claim(s)
`
`7)|Z| Claim(s 1-10 12 and 15-21 is/are rejected.
`)
`8)|Z| Claim(s) 11,13 and 14 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
`
`
`
`:/'I’\WIIW.LIsnto. ovI’ atentS/init events/
`h/‘indexfis orsend an inquiryto PPI-iieedbackf,c‘bLIsgtc.00v.
`
`hit
`
`Application Papers
`
`10)I:l The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)|Xl The drawing(s) filed on 12/10/2014 is/are: a)IXI accepted or b)|:l 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
`US. Patent and Trademark Office
`PTOL—326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20150728
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 2
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`1.
`
`The present application is being examined under the pre—AIA first to invent provisions.
`
`2.
`
`Claims 1-21 are pending.
`
`Status of Claims
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
`
`3.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 USC. 112(b):
`
`(b) CONCLUSION.7The 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 USC. 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.
`
`4.
`
`Claim 4 is rejected under 35 USC. 112(b) or 35 USC. 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—AIA the applicant regards as the
`
`invention.
`
`5.
`
`The term "most recently" in claim 4 is a relative term which renders the claim indefinite.
`
`The term "most recently" is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a
`
`standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be
`
`reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. The term used to define the amount of time
`
`elapsed after the last normal response is not explicitly defined and the degree to how far back
`
`“most recently” go is not definite.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 3
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`6.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 USC.
`
`102 and 103 (or as subject to pre—AIA 35 USC. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the
`
`statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art
`
`relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
`
`(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.
`
`7.
`
`Claim 20 is rejected under pre—AIA 35 USC. 102(b) as being anticipated by Menard et
`
`al. [Menard, US 2002/0169539].
`
`As to claim 20. Menard discloses A locator, [fig 12] comprising:
`
`a radio communication section, (110A) that performs communication with a mobile
`
`information terminal, (300), using a near field radio communication protocol, as described
`
`in [par. 83]; and
`
`a notification section that generates a confirmation sound, (170), wherein
`
`upon reception of a calling signal transmitted from the mobile information terminal,
`
`the radio communication section transmits a response signal to the mobile information
`
`terminal in response to the calling signal, as illustrated in [fig 6].
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`8.
`
`The following is a quotation of pre—AIA 35 USC. 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
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/ 102,168
`
`Page 4
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`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.
`
`9.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere C0., 383 US. 1, 148 USPQ 459
`
`(1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under pre—
`
`AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) are summarized as follows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`10.
`
`Claims 1-3, 5-7 are rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Menard et al. [Menard, US 2002/0169539] in View of Nabeshima et al. [Nabeshima, JP 2002-
`
`223478 A] English machine translation attached.
`
`As to claim 1. Menard discloses A locator system comprising:
`
`a mobile information terminal, (300), that includes a public radio communication
`
`section performing radio communication with a public radio network, (325) as illustrated in
`
`[fig. 11] and described in [par. 45, 82], that the second device communicates through a public
`
`communication network, (200), and that includes a near field radio communication section,
`
`(330), performing communication with a specific apparatus using a near field radio
`
`communication protocol, as described in [par. 146], the tag (100) is tracked by the device (300)
`
`using short range, bi—directional communication; and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/ 102,168
`
`Page 5
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`a radio communication section that communicates with the mobile information
`
`terminal using a near field radio communication protocol, (100) as described in [par. 46,
`
`146] and illustrated in [fig. 14], wherein:
`
`the mobile information terminal transmits a locator calling signal used for
`
`calling a locator regularly and waits for a response signal when the mobile
`
`information terminal is set in a locator monitoring mode, [par. 77] that the mobile
`
`device can be put in a “set” mode which allows subsequent location information to be
`
`transferred, the response signal being transmitted from the locator, as illustrated in
`
`[fig. 5, 6] and described in [par. 57—63] that the second mobile device sends a request for
`
`a location information and the mobile device (100) responds with the location
`
`information wherein the request can be a scheduled periodic query, [par. 76];
`
`when a state in which the mobile information terminal does not receive the
`
`response signal in a normal way continues for a predetermined time, the response
`
`signal being transmitted from the locator in response to the locator calling signal,
`
`[par. 130] teaches that when the range is exceeded, the communication RF range is
`
`increased and communication is re—established wherein the preset range is associated
`
`with the signal strength, [par. 131].
`
`Menard fails to specifically disclose, in the same embodiment, that the mobile terminal
`
`generates a confirmation sound when it does not receive a response signal.
`
`Nabeshima teaches a mobile terminal service wherein the system comprises a portable
`
`terminal (2) able to track a slave unit (6) wherein when the signal received from the slave unit (6)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 6
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`is below a predetermined level, the terminal generates a notification sound as described in [par.
`
`19].
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
`
`to understand that the device of Menard can lose communication with the device (100) when
`
`range is exceeded due to having the range set based on the RF signal strength that will trigger the
`
`alarm sound to be generated.
`
`As to claim 2. Menard discloses The locator system according to claim 1, wherein:
`
`radio communication protocol is a communication protocol compliant with a time division
`
`multiple access (TDMA)/time division duplex (TDD) standard in which one frame is
`
`divided into N slots; and when transmitting the locator calling signal, the mobile
`
`information terminal, first, performs consecutive transmission of a calling signal, waits for
`
`the response signal to be transmitted from the locator regularly during the consecutive
`
`transmission, stops the consecutive transmission of the calling signal by being triggered
`
`upon reception of the response signal and transmits a calling signal corresponding to one
`
`slot at a predetermined period and receives a response signal corresponding to one slot at a
`
`timing shifted from a timing of the transmission of the calling signal after the consecutive
`
`transmission stops, [par. 92, 95] that both the first and second mobile device incorporate a
`
`communication section (325, 135A), that implements a Digital Enhanced Cordless
`
`telecommunications (DECT) as a long range communication module.
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art can easily understand that DECT uses TDMA/TDD
`
`communication protocol that divides the frames into multiple slots wherein the transmission is
`
`done using predetermined time slots and waiting a consecutive, wait time to avoid collision and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 7
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`responding with the next transmission as a well—known and standard way of implementing a
`
`TDMA communication scheme.
`
`Menard fails to disclose that the DECT is used as near field communication protocol.
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art can easily understand that DECT is widely used as
`
`communication means for a cordless phone to establish connection between the cordless phone
`
`and the base station. The implementation is used in a short distance communication between the
`
`cordless telephone and the base station in a house or around the vicinity of the base station.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
`
`to use the DECT communication system of Menard as the short range communication scheme as
`
`it is widely used and saves implementation time and cost for the system.
`
`As to claim 3. Menard discloses The locator system according to claim 1, wherein,
`
`when detecting that a reception level of the signal transmitted from the locator is lower
`
`than a predetermined threshold level, the mobile information terminal operates while
`
`regarding that a normal response is not transmitted from the locator, [par. 130, 131] teaches
`
`that when the predetermined range is exceeded, which is set based on the RF signal strength, the
`
`mobile device re—establishes communication.
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art can understand that the mobile device re—establishes
`
`communication, when the communication is dropped and normal communication cannot be
`
`continued or when the device determines that the normal communication under the previous
`
`condition cannot be reliable.
`
`As to claim 5. Menard discloses The locator system according to claim 1, wherein the
`
`period of the operation of calling the locator is controlled to be shortened in accordance
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 8
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`with an instruction transmitted from outside of the locator system through the public radio
`
`network, as illustrated in [fig. 9] and described in [par. 66] that the device (100) transmits the
`
`location information shortened to within the set time period (605) which is set by a user or
`
`software through the network (200).
`
`As to claim 6. Menard fails to disclose The locator system according to claim 1,
`
`wherein: the mobile information terminal includes an input key switch, ; and when a
`
`normal response is not transmitted from the locator for an operation of calling the locator,
`
`the mobile information terminal permits an emergency notification using the input key
`
`switch.
`
`Menard teaches that the system comprises a user controlled switch to place the mobile
`
`device in a mode which allows location information to be transferred using near field
`
`communication methods or other wireless technology, [par. 78]; wherein the system is disclosed
`
`to preferentially communicate using one form of communication at one time and switch to
`
`another form of communication at another time based on availability, [par. 94].
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art can easily understand that the system of Menard can
`
`utilize the user operated switch used to manipulate the mode of communication to switch from
`
`the normal mode of communication to an emergency communication.
`
`As to claim 7. Menard fails to disclose The locator system according to claim 6,
`
`wherein the emergency notification causes a predetermined call origination operation to be
`
`performed through the public radio network.
`
`Menard teaches that the system comprises a user controlled switch to place the mobile
`
`device in a mode which allows location information to be transferred using near field
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 9
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`communication methods or other wireless technology, [par. 78]; wherein the system is disclosed
`
`to preferentially communicate using one form of communication at one time and switch to
`
`another form of communication at another time based on availability, [par. 94].
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art can easily understand that the system of Menard can
`
`utilize the user operated switch used to manipulate the mode of communication to switch from
`
`the normal mode of communication to an emergency communication wherein the emergency
`
`communication mode can be set to be a public radio network.
`
`11.
`
`Claims 9, 10, 15, 18 and 21 are rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being
`
`unpatentable over Nabeshima in View of Menard.
`
`As to claim 9. Nabeshima discloses A locator system, [fig 2], comprising:
`
`a mobile information terminal, (2) which is described to be portable in [par. 23], that
`
`includes a public radio communication section performing radio communication with a
`
`public radio network and that includes a near field radio communication section
`
`performing communication with a specific apparatus using a near field radio
`
`communication protocol, as described in [par. 22] of the translated description; and
`
`a locator, (6), that includes a radio communication section performing
`
`communication with the mobile information terminal, and that includes a user operable
`
`switch, as described in [par. 29], wherein:
`
`the radio communication section of the locator performs an operation of
`
`searching for the mobile information terminal in accordance with a user operation
`
`of pressing the switch, as described in [par. 29] that when the report switch (7) on the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/ 102,168
`
`Page 10
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`tag (6) is operated, the slave unit (6) transmits a signal towards the portable terminal (2)
`
`to check the communication link with the portable terminal; and
`
`upon reception of a switch pressing message from the locator, the mobile
`
`information terminal generates a confirmation sound, wherein upon reception of the
`
`signal, the portable terminal generates a buzzing confirmation sound, [par. 24].
`
`Nabeshima fails to teach that the mobile terminal uses a near field radio
`
`communication protocol and transmits a response message representing the reception of
`
`the message.
`
`Menard teaches system and method for wireless tracking wherein while a request is
`
`received from one module, the receiving module transmits location information as reply, as
`
`illustrated in [fig. 6] and described in [par. 60] wherein the two systems use near field
`
`communication, as described in [par. 146], the tag (100) is tracked by the device (300) using
`
`short range, bi—directional communication.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
`
`to combine the teachings of Nabeshima with that of Menard so that by replying to the emergency
`
`request of the slave, the slave can be used to locate the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal
`
`is lost in the vicinity of the slave.
`
`As to claim 10. Nabeshima discloses The locator system according to claim 9, wherein
`
`the locator transmits a terminal calling signal having a signal intensity higher than that of a
`
`normal case using a channel receivable by the mobile information terminal when a
`
`terminal search mode starts in accordance with the user operation, as described in [par. 20]
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 11
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`the signal level is higher when the notification switch (7) is used by using the public network
`
`which is receivable by the mobile terminal as described in [par. 22].
`
`As to claim 15. Nabeshima discloses The locator system according to claim 9, wherein
`
`the mobile information terminal changes a pattern of a confirmation sound in accordance
`
`with the signal intensity of the terminal calling signal transmitted from the locator, [par. 12]
`
`that sound is used for higher signal level and light is used as notification for lower signal level.
`
`As to claim 18. Nabeshima discloses A mobile information terminal, (2) comprising:
`
`a public radio communication section that performs radio communication with a
`
`public radio network; radio communication section that performs communication with a
`
`specific apparatus using a communication protocol; an operation display section, (13) that
`
`is used for receiving various operations and performing various display operations, as
`
`described in [par. 22];
`
`a notification section that generates a sound, 914); and
`
`a control section, (10) wherein
`
`when the mobile information, [par. 23] that it operates in sleep mode and normal state,
`
`terminal is set in a locator monitoring mode, the control section controls the radio
`
`communication section to transmit a locator calling signal used for calling the locator
`
`regularly, as described in [par. 23], and waits for a response signal transmitted from the
`
`locator, and the control section controls the notification section to generate a confirmation
`
`sound when a state in which a response signal transmitted from the locator in response to
`
`the locator calling signal is not received in a normal way continues for a predetermined
`
`time, as describe in [par. 24].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/ 102,168
`
`Page 12
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`Nabeshima fails to teach that the mobile terminal uses a near field radio
`
`communication protocol to communicate with the locator.
`
`Menard teaches system and method for wireless tracking wherein while a request is
`
`received from one module, the receiving module transmits location information as reply, as
`
`illustrated in [fig. 6] and described in [par. 60] wherein the two systems use near field
`
`communication, as described in [par. 146], the tag (100) is tracked by the device (300) using
`
`short range, bi—directional communication.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
`
`to combine the teachings of Nabeshima with that of Menard so that by replying to the emergency
`
`request of the slave, the slave can be used to locate the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal
`
`is lost in the vicinity of the slave.
`
`As to claim 21. Nabeshima discloses A locator, (6) comprising:
`
`a radio communication section, (110A) that performs communication with a mobile
`
`information terminal and a key switch that is operable by a user, as described in [par. 29],
`
`wherein:
`
`the radio communication section performs an operation of searching for the
`
`mobile information terminal by operating the key switch, as described in [par. 29]
`
`that when the report switch (7) on the tag (6) is operated, the slave unit (6) transmits a
`
`signal towards the portable terminal (2) to check the communication link with the
`
`portable terminal; and
`
`upon reception of a response from the mobile information terminal, the
`
`locator transmits a switch pressing message to the mobile information terminal,
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/ 102,168
`
`Page 13
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`wherein upon reception of the signal, the portable terminal generates a buzzing
`
`confirmation sound, [par. 24].
`
`Nabeshima fails to teach that the mobile terminal uses a near field radio
`
`communication protocol and comprises a notification section that generates confirmation
`
`sound.
`
`Menard teaches system and method for wireless tracking wherein the system comprises a
`
`locator (100) with an alarm module (170) wherein while a request is received from one module,
`
`the receiving module transmits location information as reply, as illustrated in [fig. 6] and
`
`described in [par. 60] wherein the two systems use near field communication, as described in
`
`[par. 146], the tag (100) is tracked by the device (300) using short range, bi—directional
`
`communication.
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
`
`to combine the teachings of Nabeshima with that of Menard so that by replying to the emergency
`
`request of the slave, the slave can be used to locate the mobile terminal when the mobile terminal
`
`is lost in the vicinity of the slave.
`
`12.
`
`Claim 16 is rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Nabeshima.
`
`As to claim 16. Nabeshima discloses A locator system comprising:
`
`a mobile information terminal, (2), that includes a public radio communication
`
`section performing radio communication with a public radio network, that includes a near
`
`field radio communication section performing communication with a specific apparatus
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 14
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`using a near field radio communication protocol, and that includes an operation display
`
`section used for receiving various operations and performing various display operations, as
`
`described in [par. 22]; and
`
`a locator, (6), that includes a radio communication section communicating with the
`
`mobile information terminal using a near field radio communication protocol and that
`
`includes a key switch operable by a user, as described in [par. 29], wherein:
`
`the locator performs an operation of searching for the mobile information
`
`terminal by starting the radio communication section by operating the key switch,
`
`and upon reception of a response from the mobile information terminal, the locator
`
`transmits a switch pressing message to the mobile information terminal, as described
`
`in [par. 29] that when the report switch (7) on the tag (6) is operated, the slave unit (6)
`
`transmits a signal towards the portable terminal (2) to check the communication link with
`
`the portable terminal;
`
`the mobile information terminal sounds a voice signal operation on the
`
`operation display section for allowing a user intention to be inputted, upon
`
`reception of the switch pressing message from the locator, wherein upon reception of
`
`the signal, the portable terminal generates a buzzing confirmation sound, [par. 24]; and
`
`the mobile information terminal automatically performs an operation of
`
`originating a call toward an emergency notification destination when a
`
`predetermined operation is performed by the user or when no user input operation
`
`is performed within a predetermined time after the display operation is performed,
`
`as described in [par. 24].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 15
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`Nabeshima fails to disclose that the mobile terminal performs a display operation upon
`
`receiving a switch pressing message from the locator.
`
`Nabeshima teaches a mobile terminal (2) comprising a display (13) which is used as
`
`notification means and displaying various status of the terminal, as described in [par. 22].
`
`One of ordinary skill in the art can easily understand that the display module of the
`
`portable terminal can be used to display the notification to the user upon receiving a switch
`
`pressing message so that the user can be notified of the emergency incase the buzzer is
`
`malfunctioning as a second layer of notification.
`
`13.
`
`Claim 8 is rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Menard
`
`in view of Quinonez [US 6,838,987].
`
`As to claim 8. Menard fails to disclose The locator system according to claim 1,
`
`wherein the mobile information terminal further includes a reset operation section that
`
`allows a user to reset the mobile information terminal through an operation of the mobile
`
`information terminal.
`
`Quinonez teaches a vehicle locating system wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle
`
`transponder (20) that can receive a locate request from a handheld device (12) wherein the
`
`handheld device (12) comprises a reset button (42) to reset the operation of the handheld device,
`
`[col. 4, lines 15—20].
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
`
`to combine the teachings of Menard with that od Quinonez so that by having the reset button, the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/ 102,168
`
`Page 16
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`system can suspend the operation of the mobile device when the required operation is satisfied
`
`before the normal completion of the operation to save battery power.
`
`14.
`
`Claim 12 is rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Nabeshima in view of Menard as applied to claim 9 above, further in view of Right et al.
`
`[Right, US 5,959,528].
`
`As to claim 12. The combination of Nabeshima and Menard fails to disclose The locator
`
`system according to claim 9, wherein the locator is switched to a communication mode
`
`synchronized with the mobile information terminal upon reception of the response message
`
`from the mobile information terminal.
`
`Right teaches auto synchronous output module and system wherein a master unit
`
`controlling modules in a zone wherein when an active command is received at the modules, the
`
`devices are synchronized with the master module, as described in [claim 4].
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
`
`to combine the teachings of the combination of Nabeshima and Menard with that of Right so that
`
`by synchronizing the locator and the mobile module upon receiving a command, the two devices
`
`can communicate with a pre—established protocol.
`
`15.
`
`Claim 17 is rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Nabeshima in view of Gutierres et al. [Gutierres, US 2014/0173439].
`
`As to claim 17. Nabeshima fails to disclose The locator system according to claim 16,
`
`wherein the mobile information terminal displays at least a button icon that represents a
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 17
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`state of emergency or an operation error on the operation display section upon reception of
`
`the switch pressing message from the locator.
`
`Gutierres teaches a user interface for object tracking wherein the system uses a mobile
`
`device to track objects as illustrated in [fig. 3 and 11A] wherein when the object to be tracked
`
`activates a switch (137) to locate the mobile device or pair with the mobile device, [par. 98]
`
`wherein when receiving the pairing command, he mobile device notifies the user of the request
`
`wherein the system generates a user interface including a button for the user to complete the
`
`request, [par. 57, 58].
`
`It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention
`
`to combine the teachings of Nabeshima with that of Gutierres so that by having an
`
`acknowledgment button on the mobile device in response to the request from the locator, the user
`
`can be notified of the request and acknowledge the request.
`
`16.
`
`Claims 19 is rejected under pre—AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over
`
`Nabeshima in view of Menard as applied to claim 18 above, further in view of Sipila [US
`
`6,556,586].
`
`As to claim 19. The combination of Nabeshima and Menard fails to disclose The mobile
`
`information terminal according to claim 18, wherein: the near field radio communication
`
`protocol is a communication protocol compliant with a time division multiple access
`
`(TDMA)/time division duplex (TDD) standard in which one frame is divided into N slots;
`
`and an operation of transmitting the calling signal using (N-l) slots and then waiting for
`
`reception of the response signal using one slot is performed regularly.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 14/102,168
`
`Page 18
`
`Art Unit: 2681
`
`Sipila teaches a system for use the DECT protocol in which one frame is divided into N
`
`slots (column 1, lines 36-39, “DECT provides on the physical layer, in the frequency band
`
`of 1880-1900 MHz, 10 carriers each of which are carrying 24 TDMA slots”); and the
`
`contro