www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`
`15/403,484
`
`01/11/2017
`
`TETSUSHI OOHORI
`
`PIPMM-57105
`
`2069
`
`759°
`52°“
`PEARNE & GORDON LLP
`
`01’1“”
`
`1801 EAST 9TH STREET
`SUITE 1200
`
`CLEVELAND, OH 44114-3108
`
`EIN~ KATHERINE Y
`
`2113
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`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`01/ 14/2019
`
`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
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`following e—mail address(es):
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`patdoeket@pearne.eom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`Off/09 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`15/403,484
`Examiner
`KATHERINE LIN
`
`Applicant(s)
`OOHORI et al.
`Art Unit
`2113
`
`AIA Status
`Yes
`
`- The MAILING DA TE of this communication appears on the cover sheet wit/7 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 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply be timely filed after SIX (6) MONTHS from the mailing
`date of this communication.
`|f 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). Responsive to communication(s) filed on 1—11—2017.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
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`2a)D This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)
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`This action is non-final.
`
`3)[:] 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 Expat/7e Quay/e, 1935 CD. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`5)
`Claim(s)
`
`1—10 is/are pending in the application.
`
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
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`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
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`E] Claim(s)
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`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
`
`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
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`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabte. 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
`
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPeredback@uspto.gov.
`
`Application Papers
`10)[:] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`
`11). The drawing(s) filed on 1—11—2017 is/are: a). accepted or b)[:] 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)[:] Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`
`a)I:I All
`
`b)D Some”
`
`C)D None of the:
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`1.[:] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`
`2.[:] 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)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date_
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) CI Other-
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mai| Date 20181212
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AIA orAIA Status
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined underthe first
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`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
`
`Claim Rejections- 35 USC § 101
`
`Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or
`composition of matter, or any new and useful improvementthereof, mayobtain a patent
`therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements ofthis title.
`
`Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to
`
`non-statutory subject matter. The Claim(s) does/do not fall within at least one of the four categories of
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`patent eligible subject matter because the Claim(s) is/are drawn to software per s e.
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`Claim(s) 1 recites a system including a component mounting line and a management device, and
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`comprising a remote operation control unit, an error type determination unit, and a notification unit. The
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`Spec does not have a special definition. In addition, a “management device”, as commonly used in the
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`art, can be software. As such, the noted Claim(s) is/are drawn to software per se.
`
`35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
`
`Whoever invents or discovers anynew and useful process, machine, manufacture, or
`composition of matter, or any new and useful improvementthereof, mayobtain a patent
`therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements ofthis title.
`
`Claim(s) 6-8, 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to
`
`a judicial exception (Le, a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly
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`more. Claim(s) 6 is/are directed to "an idea ‘of itself". In FairWarning v. latric, the courts determined the
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`concepts of collecting and analyzing information to detect misuse and notifying a userwhen misuse is
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`detected to be abstract ideas. In analyzing Claim(s) 6, the examiner respectfully asserts that the instant
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`application also claims abstract ideas as follows:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
`
`Page 3
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`.
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`determining a type of an error, that is, whether or not an error occurring in the one or more
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`processing devices is a remote response error, the remote response error being an error of a
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`target responded to by the remote operation by the management device -- collecting and
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`analyzing information to detect misuse in FairWarning v. latric
`
`.
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`performing notification in a first notification pattern in a case where the type of the error is the
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`remote response error and performing notification in a second notification pattern in a case where
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`the type of the error is not the remote response error, the notification in the first notification
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`pattern and the notification in the second notification pattern being performed based on a result of
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`the error type determination -- notifying a userwhen misuse is detected in FairWarning v. latric
`
`Furthermore, the additional elements recited, when considered both individually and in
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`combination, do not amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. The claimed “processing
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`devices” is/are not meaningful claimed limitation(s) that transform the abstract idea into a patent-
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`eligible application because merely adding generic computer components to perform the method is not
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`sufficient. (MPEP §2106.05(f))
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`Likewise, dependent Claim(s) 7-8, 10 recite no additional limitations that would amount to
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`significantly more than the abstract ideas defined in their respective independent claim(s).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 1 12
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`(b) CONCLUSION—The specification shall concludewith one or more claims particularly
`pointing out and distinctlyclaiming the subject matterwhich the inventoror a joint inventor
`regards as the invention.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph:
`The specifications hall conclude with one or more claims particularlypointing outand distinctly
`claiming the subject matterwhich the applicant regards as his invention.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
`
`Page 4
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`Claim(s) 1 and 6 is/are rejected under35 U.S.C. 112(b) or35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second
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`paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter
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`which the inventor or ajoint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
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`Claim(s) 1 and 6 recite the limitation “the remote response error being an error of a target
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`responded to by the remote operation by the management device”. It is not clear what a target is. An error
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`of a target is interpreted as an error, in view of prior art.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections
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`set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention maynotbe obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identicallydisclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences
`between the claimed invention and the priorartare such that the claimed invention as awhole
`would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person
`having ordinaryskill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentabilitys hall not
`be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
`
`Claim(s) 1, 4-6, 9-10 is/a re rejected under 35 U.S.C.103 as being unpatentable over
`
`KITAMURA (U320170064101A1) in View of Foreman et al. (US 20050077639 A1 ).
`
`KITAMURA discloses:
`
`1. A component mounting system including a component mounting line in which one or more
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`processing devices are connected to constitute the component mounting line and a management device
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`connected to the component mounting line by a network, the component mounting system comprising:
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`a remote operation control unit (fig 2: remote operation terminal 300) allowing each of the one or more
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`processing devices (fig 1: image forming apparatuses 100) to be remotely operated via the network (fig 1:
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`a network 500) by an input unit (fig 2: operation panel 330) of the management device (fig 2: remote
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`operation terminal 300); (par 45: a user inputs a remote operation request to the image forming apparatus
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`100 through the operation panel 330 of the remote operation terminal 300.)
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
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`Page 5
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`an error type determination unit (image forming apparatuses 100; control part 110) determining a type of
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`an error occurring in the one or more processing devices (100); and (par 24: The control part 110 is
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`provided with a remote-operation response process part 110a, a iob-status transmission response
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`process part 110b; par 53: When the authentication of the user ID is ends in failure, orwhen the operation
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`request from the remote operation terminal 300 is determined not to be acceptable, the remote operation
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`response processor 1 10a transmits a predetermined error message to the SIP server 200; par 69: The
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`job-status transmission response process part 110 b executes a job status transmission response
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`process for responding to ajob status transmission request from the remote operation terminal 300; par
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`115: check all sorts of statuses detectable by the image forming apparatus 100, such as a failure status
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`indicating whether a failure is occurred in the image forming apparatus 100)
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`a notification unit (control part 110) notifying the occurrence of the error in the one or more processing
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`devices based on a result of the determination by the error type determination unit (image forming
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`apparatuses 100; control part 110), (par 24: The control part 110 is provided with a remote-operation
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`response process part 1 10a, a job-status transmission response process part 110b; par 69: Mo—b-
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`status trans mission response process part 1 10 b executes a iob status transmission response process for
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`responding to ajob status transmission request from the remote operation terminal 300; par 115: check
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`all sorts of statuses detectable by the image forming apparatus 100, such as a failure status indicating
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`whether a failure is occurred in the image forming apparatus 100)
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`wherein the error type determination unit (image forming apparatuses 100; control part 110) determines
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`whether or not the error (failure) occurring in the one or more processing devices (fig 3: P40: User Login
`
`at image forming apparatuses 100) is a remote response error (the remote operation response processor
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`110a transmits a predetermined error message), the remote response error. .
`
`. ., and (par 24: The control
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`part 110 is provided with a remote-operation response process part 110a, a iob-status transmission
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`response process part 110b; par 29: A user ID to identify a remote operation terminal 300 whose
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`operation is to be permitted is stored in the user information storage area 120 a; par 53: The
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`authentication of the user ID is carried out by determining whether the user ID set in the user information
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
`
`Page 6
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`is stored in the user information storage area 120 a ..... When the authentication of the user ID is ends in
`
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`failure, .
`
`.
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`. .the remote operation response processor 1 1 0a transmits a predetermined error message to the
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`SIP server 200)
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`wherein the notification unit (control part 110) performs the notification in a first notification pattern
`
`(remote-operation response process part 110a) in a case where the error is the remote response error
`
`(par 53: When the authentication of the user ID is ends in failure, orwhen the operation request from the
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`remote operation terminal 300 is determined not to be acceptable, the remote operation response
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`processor 1 1 0a transmits a predetermined error message to the SIP server 200) and performs the
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`notification in a second notification pattern (job-status transmission response process part 110b) in a case
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`where the error is not the remote response error (par 69: The iob-status transmission response process
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`part 110 b executes a iob status transmission response process for responding to ajob status
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`transmission request from the remote operation terminal 300; par 115: check all sorts of statuses
`
`detectable by the image forming apparatus 100, such as a failure status indicating whether a failure is
`
`occurred in the image forming apparatus 100). (par 24: The control part 110 is provided with a remote-
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`operation response process part 110a, a iob-status transmission response process part 110b)
`
`However, KITAMURA does not explicitly disclose, while Foreman teaches:
`
`...being an error of a target (do not match valid entries) responded to by the remote operation by
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`the management device (par 449: a computer system located remotely at a client site) (par 477: order
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`submitted by the user may be sent to a receiver computer..... If any of the entries do not match valid
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`entries, GUI 2230 may display an error message to the user. .
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`. .GUI 2230 may also be configured to allow
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`a user to alter the invalid entry; par 474: GUI 2230 may be displayed on a controller computer, a receiver
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`computer, and/or a client computer system)
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the
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`claimed invention to combine a remote operation of KITAMURA with remote Iogin by a client computer
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
`
`Page 7
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`system of Foreman. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so in order for a user
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`to fix an error. (Foreman: par 477)
`
`KITAMURA in view of Foreman discloses:
`
`4.
`
`The component mounting system of Claim 1,
`
`....in the second notification pattern (job-status transmission response process part 110b)
`
`....the remote response error (par 53: the remote operation response processor 1 10a transmits a
`
`predetermined error message)
`
`the remote operation by the management device (remote operation terminal 300)
`
`....in the first notification pattern (remote-operation response process part 110a)
`
`However, KITAMURA does not explicitly disclose, while Foreman teaches:
`
`wherein the notification unit performs the notification.... (error messages may be displayed) in a case
`
`where the error is ....(par 144: When the machine encounters an error in these areas, the following error
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`messages may be displayed) and the error is not eliminated even after. .
`
`. .is terminated (par 144: the
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`problem continues after a system restart) after the notification. . .(error messages may be displayed).
`
`KITAMURA in view of Foreman discloses:
`
`5.
`
`The component mounting system of Claim 1,
`
`....in the second notification pattern (job-status transmission response process part 110b)
`
`....the remote response error (par 53: the remote operation response processor 1 10a transmits a
`
`predetermined error message)
`
`However, KITAMURA does not explicitly disclose, while Foreman teaches:
`
`wherein the notification is performed... (may display an error message) in a case where the error (do not
`
`match valid entries) is....and an input unit of the one or more processing devices (par 449: by using an
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`user input device such as a keyboard coupled to a receiver computer) is in a state of operation during the
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`occurrence of the error (allow a user to alter the invalid entry). (par 477: If any of the entries do not match
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`valid entries, GUI 2230 may display an error message to the user... .GUI 2230 may also be configured to
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
`
`Page 8
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`allow a user to alter the invalid entry; par 474: GUI 2230 may be displayed on a controller computer, a
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`receiver computer, and/or a client computer system.)
`
`Claim(s) 6, 9-10 is/are rejected as being the method implemented by the system of claim(s) 1, 4-5, and
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`is/are rejected on the same grounds.
`
`Claim(s) 2-3, 7-8 is/a re rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KITAMURA
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`(U320170064101A1) in view of Foreman et al. (US 20050077639 A1), and further in view of Meinck
`
`(Master Class: The Ultimate Guide to Using the Messages App for iPhone).
`
`KITAMURA in view of Foreman discloses:
`
`2.
`
`The component mounting system of Claim 1,
`
`the notification unit (fig 2: 110) being disposed in each of the one or more processing devices (fig 2: 100),
`
`in the first notification pattern (remote-operation response process part 110a)
`
`in the second notification pattern (job-status transmission response process part 110b)
`
`However, KITAMURA in view of Foreman does not explicitly disclose, while Meinckteaches:
`
`wherein the notification unit (Messages app) includes at least a first notification unit (p11: text tone)
`
`performing sound-based notification (p 10: message tone) and a second notification unit (p 12: Messages
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`app) performing visual expression-based notification (p 12: incoming messages),...
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`wherein, .
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`. ., the notification by the second notification unit is performed without the notification by the first
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`notification unit being performed, and (p 23: mute in messages)
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`wherein the notification is performed by each of the first notification unit and the second notification
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`unit ..... (p 10 and 12: incoming messages with message tones)
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the
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`claimed invention to combine a remote operation of KITAMURA in view of Foreman with notifications of
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`Meinck. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to do so in order to receive
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`notifications in a variety of ways. (Meinck: par 2-3)
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
`
`KITAMURA in view of Foreman discloses:
`
`3.
`
`The component mounting system of Claim 1,
`
`Page 9
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`in the first notification pattern (remote-operation response process part 110a)
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`in the second notification pattern (job-status transmission response process part 110b)
`
`However, KITAMURA in view of Foreman does not explicitly disclose, while Meinck teaches:
`
`wherein the notification unit (Messages app) further includes a third notification unit (p11: text tone)
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`performing sound-based notification (p 10: message tone) and a fourth notification unit (p 12: Messages
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`app) performing visual expression-based notification (p 12: incoming messages), the notification unit
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`(Messages app) being disposed in the management device (iPhone), (p 2: The Messages app on iPhone)
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`wherein the notification is performed by each ofthe third notification unit and the fourth notification unit....,
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`and (p 10 and 12: incoming messages with message tones)
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`wherein both the third notification unit and the fourth notification unit perform no notification..... (p 31:
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`block text messages)
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`Claim(s) 7-8 is/are rejected as being the method implemented by the system of claim(s) 2-3, and is/are
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`rejected on the same grounds.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should
`
`be directed to KATHERINE LIN whose telephone number is (571)431-0706. The examiner can normally
`
`be reached on Monday-Friday; 8 am. - 5 pm. EST.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a
`
`USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use
`
`the US PTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner bytelephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor,
`
`Bryce Bonzo can be reached on (571) 272-3655. The fax phone number for the organization where this
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`application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 15/403,484
`Art Unit: 2113
`
`Page 10
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`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)
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`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.
`
`/KATHERINE LIN/
`Examiner, Art Unit2113
`
`