throbber
UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 2231371450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`16/299,440
`
`03/12/2019
`
`Noritaka IGUCHI
`
`2019-0447
`
`7300
`
`11/04/2019
`- 759°
`”5044
`Wenderoth, L1nd & Ponack, L.L.P.
`1025 Connecticut Avenue, NW
`Suite 500
`
`Washington DC 20036
`
`ALCON' FERNANDO
`
`2425
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`11/04/2019
`
`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
`
`following e—mail address(es):
`eoa @ wenderoth. com
`kmiller @ wenderothcom
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`0/7709 A0170” Summary
`
`Application No.
`16/299,440
`Examiner
`FERNAN DO ALCON
`
`Applicant(s)
`IGUCHI et al.
`Art Unit
`2425
`
`AIA (FITF) 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 3/12/2019.
`[:1 A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/were filed on
`
`2a)D This action is FINAL.
`
`2b)
`
`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)
`
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`
`E] Claim(s)
`
`is/are allowed.
`
`Claim(s) fl is/are rejected.
`
`[:1 Claim(s) _ is/are objected to.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`6 7
`
`8
`
`
`
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`[j Claim(s)
`9
`* If any claims have been determined aflowabie. 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 3/12/2019 is/are: a). accepted or b)E] 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). All
`
`b)D Some**
`
`C)D None of the:
`
`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 20190812
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 2
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
`
`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Double Parenting
`
`The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created
`
`doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the
`
`unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent
`
`and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double
`
`patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at
`
`least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference
`
`claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have
`
`been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46
`
`USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed.
`
`Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum,
`
`686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619
`
`(CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
`
`A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321 (c) or 1.321 (d)
`
`may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory
`
`double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be
`
`commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a
`
`result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See
`
`MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 3
`
`provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(I)(1) -
`
`706.02(I)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file
`
`provisions of the AIA. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR
`
`1.321 (b).
`
`The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be
`
`used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The filing date of the application
`
`in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26,
`
`PTO/AlA/25, or PTO/AlA/26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may
`
`be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets
`
`all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For
`
`more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to
`
`www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-l.jsp.
`
`Claims 1-10 rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being
`
`unpatentable over claims 1-11 of U.S. Patent No. 10,277,931. Although the claims at
`
`issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the
`
`claims of the present application are anticipated by the corresponding narrower claim
`
`features of the parent application.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 4
`
`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.
`
`The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that
`
`form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
`
`A person shall be entitled to a patent unless —
`
`(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use,
`on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed
`invention.
`
`Claim(s) 1-7 and 9-10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being
`
`anticipated by Kitahara et al. (WO 2013/099101), hereinafter Kitahara. Kitahara et al.
`
`(US 2014/0344884) will be cited and relied upon as the English translation.
`
`Regarding claim 1, 9, and 10, Kitahara discloses a reception method in a
`
`broadcast and broadband cooperation service, the reception method comprising:
`
`A receiver receiving broadcast content transmitted through the broadcast from a
`
`broadcast transmitter (See [0034] information processing apparatus is a receiver for
`
`receiving broadcast, such as ground or satellite waves, AV stream data and see [0040]
`
`for displaying the AV data on a display. See also [0093-0094]);
`
`receiving broadband content transmitted through the broadband from a
`
`broadband transmitter (See [0043-0045] application data acquired from server );
`
`receiving acquisition information transmitted through the broadcast,
`
`the acquisition information being information on acquisition of the broadband content,
`
`the acquisition information being information used to play back the broadband content
`
`while the broadband content is synchronized with the broadcast content (See [0087]
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 5
`
`receiver transmits download request for an application to the service organization server
`
`based on the information in the broadcast. See [0100-108] application activated based
`
`on AIT delivered with the AV broadcast content. See [0111] AIT indicates location of
`
`application. See [0112-0119] Application content displaying in cooperation with the
`
`progress of the program, read synchronized.); and
`
`acquiring the broadband content based on the acquisition information (See
`
`[0124] and [0138] calculating time to request application from application server based
`
`on the AIT information and receiving the application).
`
`wherein the acquisition information is information indicating timing relating to start
`
`of the acquisition of the broadband content in order to synchronously playback the
`
`broadband content and the broadcast content (See [0120] calculating a timing of the
`
`transmission of the acquisition request and Fig 14).
`
`Regarding claim 2, Kitahara further discloses he reception method according to
`
`claim 1,wherein the acquisition information is information indicating timing relating to
`
`the acquisition of the broadband content (See [0054-0056] randomized latency
`
`descriptor indicates time range at which access to the application server is distributed.
`
`See [0057] the range and distribution number correspond to first information, which is to
`
`calculate a random timing for each request for acquiring from the server, and application
`
`that can be processed together with broadcast content.).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 6
`
`Regarding claim 2, Kitahara further discloses the reception method of claim 1,
`
`wherein the acquisition information is information indicating timing relating to completion
`
`of the acquisition of the broadband content in order to synchronously playback the
`
`broadband content and the broadcast content (See [0120] randomized latency
`
`descriptor describes an absolute time at which the distribution of the access is ended.
`
`If
`
`an absolute time has elapses).
`
`Regarding claim 3, Kitahara further discloses the method of claim 2, wherein the
`
`acquisition information is information indicating timing relating to start of the playback of
`
`the broadband content in order to synchronously play back the broadband content and
`
`the broadcast content (See [0116-0120] timing information is related to the start of
`
`playback of broadband content. Under the broadest reasonable interpretation the AIT
`
`information is related to a start of playback of broadband content, i.e., tuning/receiving
`
`the broadband stream and extracting AIT.).
`
`Regarding claim 4, Kitahara further discloses the method according to claim 2,
`
`wherein the acquisition information is information providing notification about timing
`
`relating to the acquisition of the broadband content so as to indicate that the broadband
`
`content can be acquired at and after the timing (See [0116-0120] absolute time is
`
`indicative of a times at which the application can be acquired, i.e., times before and
`
`after).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 7
`
`Regarding claim 5, Kitahara further discloses the method according to claim 4
`
`further comprising calculating timing relating to start of the acquisition of the broadband
`
`content based on acquisition information; and starting the acquisition of the broadband
`
`content at the calculated timing (See [0116-0120] and [0121-0122] calculating a time to
`
`request acquisition of application).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Kitahara further discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the
`
`acquisition information is information indicating a state in which the broadband content
`
`can be acquired (See [0096-0099] “autostart” indicated in AIT).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Kitahara further discloses playing back the broadband
`
`content while the broadband content is synchronized with the broadcast content (See
`
`[0042] and Fig 12, displaying the acquired application simultaneously with the broadcast
`
`content).
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35
`
`U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 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.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed
`invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the
`claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 8
`
`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 U.S.C. 103 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.
`
`Claim 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kitahara
`
`et al. (WO 2013/099101) in view of Kitahara et al. (WO 2013/065274), hereinafter
`
`Kitahara (‘274), Kitahara (US 2014/0201800) relied upon for citation/translation.
`
`Regarding claim 8, Kitahara further discloses the method according to claim 1,
`
`but does not explicitly disclose the broadcast content in the broadcast content and the
`
`broadband content is played back when the broadband content is unsuccessfully
`
`acquired.
`
`Kitahara (‘274) discloses it was known to display the broadcast content when the
`
`broadband content is unsuccessfully acquired (See Fig 7 displaying the broadcast
`
`content and see [0063] failure to acquire the application content results in error
`
`processing).
`
`Prior to the invention being made it would have been obvious to one ordinary skill
`
`in the art to modify the known system of Kitahara with the known methods of Kitahara
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 9
`
`(‘274) predictably resulting in the broadcast content in the broadcast content and the
`
`broadband content is played back when the broadband content is unsuccessfully
`
`acquired by applying the court recognized rational of applying a known technique to a
`
`known device (method, or product) ready for improvement to yield predictable results.
`
`The modification would have the benefit of allowing a user to continue to view content
`
`even when an application acquisition fails.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to FERNANDO ALCON whose telephone number is
`
`(571)270-5668. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday, 9:00am-
`
`7:00pm.
`
`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 USPTO Automated Interview Request
`
`(AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`lf attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Brian Pendleton can be reached on (571)272-7527. The fax phone number
`
`for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/299,440
`Art Unit: 2425
`
`Page 10
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the
`
`Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for
`
`published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR.
`
`Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only.
`
`For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic
`
`Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a
`
`USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information
`
`system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571 -272-1 000.
`
`FERNANDO . ALCON
`
`Examiner
`
`Art Unit 2425
`
`/FERNANDO ALCON/
`
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2425
`
`

This document is available on Docket Alarm but you must sign up to view it.


Or .

Accessing this document will incur an additional charge of $.

After purchase, you can access this document again without charge.

Accept $ Charge
throbber

Still Working On It

This document is taking longer than usual to download. This can happen if we need to contact the court directly to obtain the document and their servers are running slowly.

Give it another minute or two to complete, and then try the refresh button.

throbber

A few More Minutes ... Still Working

It can take up to 5 minutes for us to download a document if the court servers are running slowly.

Thank you for your continued patience.

This document could not be displayed.

We could not find this document within its docket. Please go back to the docket page and check the link. If that does not work, go back to the docket and refresh it to pull the newest information.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

You need a Paid Account to view this document. Click here to change your account type.

Your account does not support viewing this document.

Set your membership status to view this document.

With a Docket Alarm membership, you'll get a whole lot more, including:

  • Up-to-date information for this case.
  • Email alerts whenever there is an update.
  • Full text search for other cases.
  • Get email alerts whenever a new case matches your search.

Become a Member

One Moment Please

The filing “” is large (MB) and is being downloaded.

Please refresh this page in a few minutes to see if the filing has been downloaded. The filing will also be emailed to you when the download completes.

Your document is on its way!

If you do not receive the document in five minutes, contact support at support@docketalarm.com.

Sealed Document

We are unable to display this document, it may be under a court ordered seal.

If you have proper credentials to access the file, you may proceed directly to the court's system using your government issued username and password.


Access Government Site

We are redirecting you
to a mobile optimized page.





Document Unreadable or Corrupt

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket

We are unable to display this document.

Refresh this Document
Go to the Docket