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`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/282,523
`
`02/22/2019
`
`Tatsuya MIYAZAKI
`
`HOKUTO-60554
`
`2740
`
`bese
`
`ORI
`PEA
`PEARNE & GORDON LLP
`1801 EAST 9TH STREET
`SUITE 1200
`CLEVELAND,OH 44114-3108
`
`BURGDORF,STEPHEN R
`
`2684
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/14/2020
`
`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):
`
`patdocket@ pearne.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-20 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`CC) Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) O Claim(s)___is/are objected to.
`C) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible 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 PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)M] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s)filed on 22-February-2019 is/are: a)f¥] 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) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`cc) None ofthe:
`b)LJ Some**
`a)Y) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.2 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.4) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin 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) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20191113
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/282,523
`MIYAZAKI et al.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`STEPHEN R BURGDORF
`2684
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom 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) MONTHSfrom 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, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s)filed on 22-February-2019.
`CO) A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)(J This action is FINAL. 2b))This action is non-final.
`3) An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\(Z 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 Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`America Invents Act
`
`1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Priority
`
`2. Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 USC §119(a)-(d), which
`
`papers have been placedof recordin the file.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`3. The information disclosure statement IDS#1 submitted on 22-February-2019
`
`has been considered by the Examiner and made ofrecord in the application file.
`
`Specification
`
`4. Thetitle of the invention is not descriptive. A newtitle is required that is clearly
`
`indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. The following title is
`
`suggested: “Carrier Stack State Detection, and Information Reset Based on
`
`Carrier Stack State’.
`
`Claim Objections
`
`5. Objection is made to claim 2 because of the following informalities:
`
`5.1. Claim 2 recites: “... another carrier configured to hold the transportation
`
`object...”, but presumedto be a different transportation object, and therefore should
`
`be “a transport object”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`5.2. Appropriate correction is required.
`
`Page 3
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC §103
`
`6. The following is a quotation of 35 USC §103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousnessrejections setforth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is
`notidentically disclosed as set forth in section 102 ofthis title, if the differences between the
`claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have
`been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary
`skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the
`manner in which the invention was made.
`
`The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that
`are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 USC §102 are
`summarized asfollows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents ofthe 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 presentin the application indicating obviousness or
`nonobviousness.
`
`This application currently namesjoint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the
`examiner presumesthat the subject matter of the various claims was commonly ownedasof the
`effectivefiling date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidenceto the contrary. Applicant is
`advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each
`claim that was not commonly ownedasofthe effectivefiling date of the later invention in order for the
`examiner to consider the applicability of 35 USC §102(b}(2)(C) for any potential 35 USC §102(a)(2)
`prior art against the later invention.
`
`6.1.Claims 1-5, 16 and 19 are rejected under 35 USC §103 as unpatentable over
`
`Joneset al. (United States Patent Application Publication # US 2018/0162433
`
`A1), hereinafter Jones33, in view of Joneset al. (United States Patent
`
`Application Publication # US 2017/0229903 A1), hereinafter Jones03.
`
`Consider claim 1: A carrier, Jones33 discloses systems and methodsfor tracking
`
`shopping carts (carriers) [Title; Abstract; Fig. 1; Para. 0015-0016]; comprising:
`
`a body configured to hold a transportation object; the cart comprising a basket
`
`portion (103) [Fig. 1; Para. 0016];
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 4
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`a storage section configured to store information; a control circuit (201)
`
`comprising a processor and memory (204) for storing program instructions
`
`and amount of [electric] charge added or removed over time [Fig. 2; Para.
`
`0027-0028];
`
`a stack sensor configured to detect occurrence of a stack state where the body
`
`and a detection target are stackedrelative to each other; a wired or wireless
`
`connection or connector (114) for transferring electrical energy and/or data
`
`[Fig. 1; Para. 0024]; and
`
`a controller configured to reset the information stored in the storage section when
`
`a reset condition is satisfied, the reset condition including detection of the
`
`occurrence of the stack state by the stack sensor; and: (a) that carts may be
`
`configured to be docked or stacked with other similar carts [Para. 0018], and
`
`(b), that the memory energy information record may be reset each time the
`
`shopping cart arrives at a POS point, a shopping cart carousel (stack point)
`
`and/or a retrieval area [Fig. 8 (705); Para. 0028].
`
`Jones33 discloses that a cart may be stacked, electrically coupled to other carts,
`
`and that recorded information may be reset when it arrives a stacking point,
`
`but does not explicitly disclose a sensor detecting the stacked condition.
`
`Jones03, however, discloses analogous stackable shopping carts for generating
`
`electrical energy [JonesO3: Title; Abstract; Fig. 1, 7; Para. 0016-0017] and
`
`specifically a sensor device that detects when the cart is docked with another
`
`cart and/or a discharge device [Jones03: Fig. 8; Para. 0032].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 5
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of effectivefiling for the invention to provide a specific sensor to detect when
`
`a cart is stacked or docked with another cart or docking device as taught by
`
`Jones03 and applied to a tracked shopping cart as taught by Jones33, in
`
`order that a cart can be informed that a shopping visit is completed and that
`
`the cart may be reset for a new user.
`
`Consider claim 2 and as applied to claim 1: The carrier according to claim 1,
`
`wherein the detection target includes another carrier configured to hold the
`
`transportation object.
`
`Jones33 discloses a connector (114) for connecting to similar (other) carts
`
`[Jones33: Para. 0024], and
`
`Jones03 discloses that the sensor device detects docking with another cart
`
`[Jones03: Para. 0032].
`
`Consider claim 3 and as applied to claim 1: The carrier according to claim 1,
`
`further comprising a secondary battery configured to be charged with charging
`
`electric power supplied from a power supply apparatus, wherein the detection
`
`target includes the power supply apparatus. Jones33 discloses that a cart may
`
`generate, store and consume electrical energy [Jones33: Fig. 2-3; Para. 0022-
`
`0023], and also that a cart may receive or provide energy to another cart
`
`(detection target) through the connector (114/213) [Jones33: Para. 0035-0038].
`
`Consider claim 4 and as applied to claim 1: The carrier according to claim 1,
`
`wherein the stack sensoris configured to detect a presence or absenceof the
`
`stack state with reference to a presence or absence of an electrical connection
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 6
`
`between a connection terminal provided to the body and a counter terminal
`
`provided to the detection target. Jones03 discloses that the [stacking condition]
`
`sensor may comprise a current or voltage sensor [Jones0O3: Para. 0032]
`
`therefore detecting an electrical connection between the cart and external device
`
`(cart or docking device) (counter terminal).
`
`Consider claim 5 and as applied to claim 1: The carrier according to claim 1,
`
`wherein
`
`the stack state includes a first stack state where the body is stacked on the
`
`detection target and a second stack state where the detection targetis
`
`stacked on the body, and
`
`the controller is configured to determine that the occurrence of the stack state is
`
`detected by the stack sensor when the stack sensor detects eitherthe first
`
`stack state or the secondstack state.
`
`Jones33 discloses that a cart may generate, store and consume electrical energy
`
`[Jones33: Fig. 2-3; Para. 0022-0023], and also that a cart may receive or
`
`provide energy to another cart (detection target) through the connector
`
`(114/213) [Jones33: Para. 0035-0038]. Jones also discloses that electric and
`
`data may be transferred through a chain of carts and connectors.
`
`It would
`
`have therefore been obvious to the artisan that a cart may communicate or
`
`transfer energy to another cart, or a docking device, independent of a position
`
`in a stack of carts (first state, second state, or both).
`
`Consider claim 16 and as applied to claim 1: The carrier according to claim 1,
`
`wherein the controller is configured to perform a preliminary process before
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 7
`
`resetting the information after the reset condition is satisfied, the preliminary
`
`process varying depending on whether or not the information stored in the
`
`storage section has been output. Jones33 discloses that in various embodiments
`
`when arriving at a carrousel (docking/stacking point) a stored record in the cart
`
`may be provided to a central computer system and/or reset (erased) and whereit
`
`would have been obvious to an artisan that the providing to the central computer
`
`must be preliminary to the resetting, and that outputting would only be necessary
`
`(depend on) if the information had not already been output.
`
`Consider claim 19: A contro! method ofa carrier; Jones33 discloses systems and
`
`methods for tracking shopping carts (carriers) [Title; Abstract; Fig. 1; Para. 0015-
`
`0016]; including
`
`a body configured to hold a transportation object, the cart comprising a basket
`
`portion (103) [Fig. 1; Para. 0016];
`
`a storage section configured to store information, a control circuit (201)
`
`comprising a processor and memory (204) for storing program instructions
`
`and amount of [electric] charge added or removed over time [Fig. 2; Para.
`
`0027-0028]; and
`
`a stack sensor configured to detect occurrence of a stack state where the body
`
`and a detection target are stackedrelative to each other, a wired or wireless
`
`connection or connector (114) for transferring electrical energy and/or data
`
`[Fig. 1; Para. 0024];
`
`the control method comprising:
`
`resetting the information stored in the storage section when a reset condition
`
`is satisfied, the reset condition including detection of the occurrence of the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 8
`
`stack state by the stack sensor; wherein: (a) carts may be configured to be
`
`dockedor stacked with other similar carts [Para. 0018], and (b), the
`
`memory energy information record may be reset each time the shopping
`
`cart arrives at a POS point, a shopping cart carousel (stack point) and/or a
`
`retrieval area [Fig. 8 (705); Para. 0028].
`
`Jones33 discloses that a cart may be stacked, electrically coupled to other carts,
`
`and that recorded information may be reset when it arrives a stacking point,
`
`but does not explicitly disclose a sensor detecting the stacked condition.
`
`Jones03, however, discloses analogous stackable shopping carts for generating
`
`electrical energy [JonesO3: Title; Abstract; Fig. 1, 7; Para. 0016-0017] and
`
`specifically a sensor device that detects when the cart is docked with another
`
`cart and/or a discharge device [Jones03: Fig. 8; Para. 0032].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of effectivefiling for the invention to provide a specific sensor to detect when
`
`a cart is stacked or docked with another cart or docking device as taught by
`
`Jones03 and applied to a tracked shopping cart control method as taught by
`
`Jones33, in order that a cart can be informed that a shopping visit is
`
`completed, to ensure that a previous shopper information is kept private, and
`
`to prepare the cart for a next shopper.
`
`6.2.Claims 6, 8 and 20 are rejected under 35 USC §103 as unpatentable over
`
`Joneset al. (United States Patent Application Publication # US 2018/0162433
`
`A1), hereinafter Jones33, and Jonesetal. (United States Patent Application
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 9
`
`Publication # US 2017/0229903 A1), hereinafter Jones03, in view of Barneset
`
`al. (United States Patent Application Publication # US 2016/0180675 A1),
`
`hereinafter Barnes.
`
`Consider claim 6 and as applied to claim 1: The carrier according to claim 1,
`
`further comprising an electric circuit having at least two operation modes which
`
`are a normal mode and a power saving mode in which power consumptionis
`
`less than in the normal mode, wherein the controller is configured to switch the
`
`operation modeofthe electric circuit from the normal mode to the power saving
`
`mode whenthe stack sensor detects the occurrenceof the stack state.
`
`Neither Jones33 nor Jones03 discloses a power saving mode. This is known in
`
`the art, however, and for example:
`
`Barnes discloses a method and system for power management of non-statutory
`
`assets [Barnes: Title; Abstract; Fig. 1-3; Para. 0001, 0005] and in particular
`
`an embodiment in which the asset is a shopping cart in which the cart
`
`conserves power when parked (docked/stacked) by reducing
`
`communications, and enters an in-motion state when used by a customer
`
`(undocked/unstacked), allowing tracking of the cart around the store [Barnes:
`
`Fig. 5, Para. 0089 (also Para. 0080-0087)].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of effectivefiling for the invention for a shopping cart to enter a power saving
`
`mode in which communication is reduced while stacked/nested/docked
`
`(parked) and to enter a normal communication mode when in motion
`
`(unparked) as taught by Barnes, where a parked/stacked/nested/docked
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 10
`
`condition by be detected by a number of sensors as taught by JonesO3 and
`
`applied to a tracked shopping cart control method as taught by Jones33 as
`
`modified by JonesO3, in order that use of power and communication are
`
`reduced and conserved when possible, improving efficiency and reducing
`
`interference.
`
`Consider claim 8 and as applied to claim 6: The carrier according to claim 6,
`
`wherein the controller is configured to switch the operation mode of the electric
`
`circuit from the power saving mode to the normal mode when the stack sensor
`
`no longerdetects of the stack state.
`
`Barnes discloses a change to the normal state when used by a customer and in
`
`therefore in motion.
`
`In order for the cart to no longer be in a stackedstateit
`
`must be moved, and therefore a motion detection is a detection that the cart
`
`is no longer stacked.
`
`Consider claim 20 and as applied to claim 19: The control method of the carrier
`
`according to claim 19, wherein
`
`the carrier further includes an electric circuit having at least two operation modes
`
`which are a normal mode and a power saving mode in which power
`
`consumption is less than in the normal mode, and
`
`the control method includes switching the operation modeof the electric circuit
`
`from the normal modeto the power saving mode when the occurrence ofthe
`
`stack state is detected by the stack sensor.
`
`Neither Jones33 nor Jones03 discloses a power saving mode. This is known in
`
`the art, however, and for example:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 11
`
`Barnes discloses a method and system for power management of non-statutory
`
`assets [Barnes: Title; Abstract; Fig. 1-3; Para. 0001, 0005] and in particular
`
`an embodiment in which the asset is a shopping cart in which the cart
`
`conserves power when parked (docked/stacked) by reducing
`
`communications, and enters an in-motion state when used by a customer
`
`(undocked/unstacked), allowing tracking of the cart around the store [Barnes:
`
`Fig. 5, Para. 0089 (also Para. 0080-0087)].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of effectivefiling for the invention for a shopping cart to enter a power saving
`
`mode in which communication is reduced while stacked/nested/docked
`
`(parked) and to enter a normal communication mode when in motion
`
`(unparked) as taught by Barnes, where a parked/stacked/nested/docked
`
`condition by be detected by a number of sensors as taught by JonesO3 and
`
`applied to a tracked shopping cart control method as taught by Jones33 as
`
`modified by JonesO3, in order that power resources and communication are
`
`reduced and conserved when unnecessary, improving efficiency and reducing
`
`interference.
`
`6.3. Claims 7, 9, 10, 12 and 13 are rejected under 35 USC §103 as unpatentable
`
`over Joneset al. (United States Patent Application Publication # US
`
`2018/0162433 A1), hereinafter Jones33, Joneset al. (United States Patent
`
`Application Publication # US 2017/0229903 A1), hereinafter Jones03, and
`
`Barneset al. (United States Patent Application Publication # US 2016/0180675
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 12
`
`A1), hereinafter Barnes, in view of Van Taunay (United States Patent
`
`Application Publication # US 2015/0153443 A1).
`
`Consider claim 7 and as applied to claim 6: The carrier according to claim 6,
`
`further comprising:
`
`a secondary battery; Jones33 discloses that a shopping cart (200) comprises a
`
`battery (power storage) (230), [Jones33: Fig. 2], and
`
`a charging circuit configured to charge the secondary battery,
`
`wherein the charging circuit is configured to charge the secondary battery at least
`
`when the operation modeofthe electric circuit is the power saving mode.
`
`Jones33 does not specifically disclose a power saving mode, a battery charging
`
`circuit, or charging of the battery while docked.
`
`Barnes discloses a power saving mode while docked/nested/stacked (See
`
`citations and analysis presented for claim 6 previously.)
`
`Van Taunay disclose a system for determining distances, and as may berelated
`
`to a shopping cart [Van Taunay: Title; Abstract; Fig. 14; Para. 0141-0142] and
`
`in particular that a locking mechanism (docking station) (71) may act as a
`
`charger, wherein when the cart is docked/nested, at least the cart positioning
`
`device (70) comprising a battery and changing system, maygo into sleep
`
`mode and the battery charged [Van Taunay: Fig. 14; Para. 0143].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of effectivefiling for the invention for a shopping cart to enter a power saving
`
`mode in which communication is reduced and a cart battery charged while
`
`stacked/nested/docked (parked) as taught by Barnes and Van Taunay, and
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 13
`
`applied to a tracked shopping cart control method as taught by Jones33 as
`
`modified by JonesO3 and Barnes, in order that the cart be fully charged and
`
`ready for a next shopper to use.
`
`Consider claim 9 and as applied to claim 6: The carrier according to claim 6,
`
`further comprising a second sensor configured to detect occurrence of an event
`
`which is prescribed, the second sensor being different from a first sensor which is
`
`the stack sensor,
`
`wherein the operation mode ofthe electric circuit further has a second power
`
`saving mode in which power consumption is less than in the normal mode,
`
`the second power saving mode being different from a first power saving mode
`
`which is the power saving mode, and
`
`the controller is configured to switch the operation modeofthe electric circuit
`
`from the normal mode to the second power saving mode when the second
`
`sensor detects the occurrence of the event.
`
`Jones33 discloses various (first) sensors for determining a stacking or docking
`
`condition, and in particular a voltage or current with respect to a connector
`
`(114) to detect docking. Neither Jones33 nor Jones03, however, discloses a
`
`power saving mode.
`
`Barnes discloses that the cart may have a plurality of sensors which maytrigger
`
`various modes of operation, including: a (second) motion sensor which may
`
`trigger a reduced power state when the cart is motionless for a period of time,
`
`and a location sensor such that the cart enters a locked wheel state when
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 14
`
`determined to haveleft the store [Barnes: Fig. 5, Para. 0089 (also Para.
`
`0080-0087)].
`
`Van Taunay disclose a system for determining distances, and as may berelated
`
`to a shopping cart [Van Taunay: Title; Abstract; Fig. 14; Para. 0141-0142] and
`
`in particular that: (a) if the cart has stored information and is nested, the
`
`information may be downloaded(first power saving mode) and/or a charging
`
`state, and (b) that if motionless for a period, the cart may enter a sleep
`
`(second power saving mode). [Van Taunay: Fig. 14; Para. 0148].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of effectivefiling for the invention for a shopping cart to enter a first power
`
`saving mode in which stored information is downloaded and/or a cart battery
`
`charged when a docked/stacked/nested/docked state is detected and
`
`triggered as taught by Van Taunay, and to enter another (second) sleep
`
`mode when lack of motion is detected for a period of time as taught by
`
`Barnes and Van Taunay and applied to a tracked shopping cart control
`
`method as taught by Jones33 as modified by Jones03 and Barnes, suchthat
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`power use is minimized for each state and mode commensurate with cart
`
`functions performed in each of thosestates.
`
`Consider claim 10 and as applied to claim 9: The carrier according to claim 9,
`
`wherein the event is that a movementstate of the body satisfies a prescribed
`
`determination condition. Barnes and Van Taunay both disclose modes triggered
`
`by an absence of motion for a predetermined period [Barnes: Fig. 5, Para. 0089;
`
`Van Taunay: Para. 0143].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 15
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`Consider claim 12 and as applied to claim 1: The carrier according to claim 1,
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`further comprising:
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`a second sensor configured to detect occurrence of an event which is prescribed,
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`the second sensorbeing different from a first sensor which is the stack
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`sensor; and
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`an electric circuit having at least two operation modes which are a normal mode
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`and a power saving mode in which power consumptionis less than in the
`
`normal mode, wherein
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`the controller is configured to reset the information and switch the operation
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`modeofthe electric circuit from the normal mode to the power saving mode
`
`when the reset condition is satisfied, and
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`the controller is configured to forgo resetting the information and switch the
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`operation modeofthe electric circuit from the normal mode to the power
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`saving mode when the second sensor detects the occurrence of the event.
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`Jones33 discloses various (first) sensors for determining a stacking or docking
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`condition, and in particular a voltage or current with respect to a connector
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`(114) to detect docking, and where a memory reset may be performed based
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`on a dockedstate. Neither Jones33 nor Jones03, however, discloses a power
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`saving mode.
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`Barnes discloses a method and system for power management of non-statutory
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`assets [Barnes: Title; Abstract; Fig. 1-3; Para. 0001, 0005] and in particular
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`that the cart may have a plurality of sensors which maytrigger various modes
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`of operation, including: a (second) motion sensor which maytrigger a reduced
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 16
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`power state when the cart is motionless for a period of time, and a location
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`sensor such that the cart enters a locked wheel state when determined to
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`have left the store [Barnes: Fig. 5, Para. 0089 (also Para. 0080-0087)].
`
`Van Taunay disclose a system for determining distances, and as may berelated
`
`to a shopping cart [Van Taunay: Title; Abstract; Fig. 14; Para. 0141-0142] and
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`in particular that: (a) if the cart has stored information and is nested, the
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`information may be downloaded(first power saving mode) and/or a charging
`
`state, and (b) that if motionless for a period, the cart may enter a sleep
`
`(second power saving mode). [Van Taunay: Fig. 14; Para. 0148].
`
`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
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`of effectivefiling for the invention for a shopping cart to enter a first power
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`saving mode in which stored information is downloaded and/or a cart battery
`
`charged when a docked/stacked/nested/docked state is detected and
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`triggered as taught by Van Taunay, and to enter another (second) sleep
`
`mode when lack of motion is detected for a period of time (at other locations
`
`within the store or outside the store and without data transfer connection) as
`
`taught by Barnes and Van Taunay and applied to a tracked shopping cart
`
`control method as taught by Jones33 as modified by Jones0O3 and Barnes,
`
`such that power use is minimized for each state and mode commensurate
`
`with cart functions performed in each of thosestates.
`
`Consider claim 13 and as applied to claim 12: A carrier according to claim 12,
`
`wherein the event is that a movementstate of the body satisfies a prescribed
`
`determination condition. Barnes and Van Taunay both disclose modes triggered
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 17
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`by an absence of motion for a predetermined period [Barnes: Fig. 5, Para. 0089;
`
`Van Taunay: Para. 0143].
`
`6.4.Claim 11 is rejected under 35 USC §103 as unpatentable over Jonesetal.
`
`(United States Patent Application Publication # US 2018/0162433 A1),
`
`hereinafter Jones33, Jonesetal. (United States Patent Application Publication
`
`# US 2017/0229903 A1), hereinafter Jones03, and Barnesetal. (United States
`
`Patent Application Publication # US 2016/0180675 A1), hereinafter Barnes,in
`
`view of Stawaret al. (United States Patent Application Publication # US
`
`2008/0237339 A1), hereinafter Stawar.
`
`Consider claim 11 and as applied to claim 6: The carrier according to claim 6,
`
`wherein
`
`the transportation object is an item of goods,
`
`the electric circuit includes a reading unit configured to read goods information on
`
`the item of goods, and
`
`the electric circuit is configured to stop supplying powerto the reading unit in the
`
`power.
`
`Jones33, Jones03 and Barnes all disclose a shopping cart for transporting
`
`consumer goods, but do not specifically disclose a reader for identifying those
`
`goods. This is known in the art however, and for example:
`
`Stawardiscloses media enabled shopping systemsa cart with a read component
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`for reading and identifying proximate goods [Stawar: Title; Abstract; Fig. 1, 4;
`
`Para. 0004, 0051, 0084], and also motion sensors [Stawar: Para. 0069-70]
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 18
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`and particular embodiments in which the RFID reader may be powered off or
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`enter hibernation mode based on detected cart motion or lack of motion.
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`Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time
`
`of invention to remove power from a reader at times when the cart is
`
`motionless for a period of time as taught by Stawar, particularly when the cart
`
`state changes to a reduced power mode astaught by Barnes and applied to a
`
`tracked shopping cart control method as taught by Jones33 as modified by
`
`Jones03 and Barnes, in order to reduce unnecessary power consumption,
`
`and at locations without proximate goods to scan.
`
`6.5.Claims 14 and 15 are rejected under 35 USC §103 as unpatentable over
`
`Joneset al. (United States Patent Application Publication # US 2018/0162433
`
`A1), hereinafter Jones33, and Jonesetal. (United States Patent Application
`
`Publication # US 2017/0229903 A1), hereinafter Jones03, in view of Jonesetal.
`
`(United States Patent Application Publication # US 2018/0099185 A1),
`
`hereinafter Jones85
`
`Consider claim 14 and as applied to claim 1: The carrier according to claim 1,
`
`wherein the reset condition includes continuation of the stack state over a stand-
`
`by time.
`
`Neither Jones33 nor Jones03 discloses the reset condition to be basedat least in
`
`part that the cart is empty. This is knownin the art, however, and for
`
`example:
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/282,523
`Art Unit: 2684
`
`Page 19
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`Jones85 discloses analogous retail shopping systems and methods [Jones85:
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`Title; Abstract; Fig. 2B, 3; Para. 0014] and in particular that a cart operating
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`mode maybe reset based on a number of conditions including: detecting that
`
`the cart has passed the POS system,