`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/378,427
`
`07/16/2021
`
`Renji Honda
`
`083710-3353
`
`4087
`
`McDermott Will and Emery LLP
`The McDermott Building
`500 North Capitol Street, N.W.
`Washington, DC 20001
`
`YASHARPOUR,EMILY HANNAH
`
`1714
`
`05/17/2023
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`Thetime 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):
`
`mweipdocket@mwe.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`
`
`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-6 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`Cj} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-6 is/are rejected.
`1) Claim(s)__is/are objectedto.
`Cj) 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://Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J 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)1) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a)C All
`1... Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1) Certified copies of the priority documents have beenreceived in Application No.
`3.1.) 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)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`4) (J Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20230509
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/378 ,427
`Hondaetal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`EMILY H YASHARPOUR
`1714
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this 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 03/21/2023.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)[¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J This action is non-final.
`3)02 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)\0) 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: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
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`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Response to Amendment
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`The amendmentfiled on 03/21/2023 has been entered. Claims 1-6 remain pendingin the
`
`application. Applicant’s amendmentsto the claims are acknowledged.
`
`Claim Interpretation
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
`
`(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. — An element ina claim for a combination may be expressed as
`a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts
`in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material,
`or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
`
`The following is a quotation of pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
`
`An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a
`specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim
`shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the
`specification and equivalents thereof.
`
`The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain
`
`meaningof the claim languagein light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary
`
`skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as
`
`a Claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlA 35
`
`U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph,is invoked.
`
`As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong
`
`test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 3
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`(A)
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`the claim limitation uses the term “means”or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means”
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`that is a generic placeholder(also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no
`
`specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
`
`(B)
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`the term “means”or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language,
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`typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking
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`word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
`
`(C)
`
`the term “means”or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure,
`
`material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
`
`Use of the word “means”(or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable
`
`presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlA 35
`
`U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C.
`
`112(f) or pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient
`
`structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
`
`Absence of the word “means”(or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the
`
`claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth
`
`paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-
`
`AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without
`
`reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
`
`Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted
`
`under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an
`
`Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means”(or
`
`“step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph,
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`except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
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`
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`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
`
`Page 4
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`This application includes one or moreclaim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but
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`are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph,
`
`because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language
`
`withoutreciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not
`
`preceded bya structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: "target person acquisition unit that
`
`displays options representing a plurality of target persons on the display unit” in claims 1 and 6.
`
`Becausethis/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlA
`
`35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph,it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure
`
`described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
`
`If applicant does not intend to havethis/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or
`
`pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may:
`
`(1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them
`
`being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting
`
`sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim
`
`limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being
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`interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AlIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
`
`Regarding a "target person acquisition unit that displays options representing a plurality of
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`target persons on thedisplay unit" in claim 1, applicant appears to have met the limitations set forth in
`
`MPEP § 2181, and examiner has turned to the specification for clarification. In the specification,
`
`applicant discloses that the “Terminal device 120 includes... target person acquisition unit 126... as
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`processing units implemented by executing programs in a processor (notillustrated) included in
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`terminal controller 129” (See Specification, Page 10, Lines 4-8) and that “target person acquisition unit
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`126 maydisplay options representing a plurality of types of target persons on display unit 161 using
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`graphical user interface (GUI) 162 or the like” (See Specification, Page 14, Lines 10-12) as comprising a
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`dedicated software for interpreting information received by the vacuum cleaner. Equivalent structures
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`
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`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 5
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`may include thosethat perform the function specified in the claim, structures that are not excluded by
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`any specific definition provided in the specification for an equivalent, or is a structural equivalent of the
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`corresponding elementdisclosed in the specification. See MPEP 2183.
`
`The interpretation of (1) “an object information acquisition unit that acquires object information
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`based on a sensor included in the vacuum cleaner” in claims 1 and 6, (2) “a danger determination unit
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`that determines danger of the object based on the acquired object information”in claims 1, 2, 4, and 6,
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`(3) “a map acquisition unit that acquires a map of an area where the vacuum cleaner runs” in claims 1
`
`and 6, (4) “a dangerous position display unit that causes the display unit to display the danger of the
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`object determined by the danger determination unit and the acquired position of the object on the map
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`in association with each other” in claims 1, 5, and 6, (5) “a danger managementunit that acquires
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`danger managementinformation in which a type of the danger and a danger degreethatis a degree of
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`the danger are associated with the object information, wherein the danger determination unit
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`determines the danger of the object based on the acquired danger managementinformation”in claim 4
`
`in the previous office action are maintained.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
`
`The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a
`
`prior Office action.
`
`Claims 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is
`
`directed to an abstract idea withoutsignificantly more.
`
`Claim 1 recites “an object information acquisition unit that acquires object information based
`
`ona sensor included in the vacuum cleaner ... a danger determination unit that determines danger of
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`the object/person based on the acquired object information or target information acquired by the
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`target person acquisition unit; a map acquisition unit that acquires a map of an area where the vacuum
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`cleaner runs; a dangerousposition display unit that causes the display unit to display the danger of the
`
`
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`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 6
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`object determined by the danger determination unit and the acquired position of the object on the map
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`in association with each other, and a target person acquisition unit that displays options representing a
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`plurality of target persons on the display unit, wherein the danger determination unit determines the
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`dangerbased on the target information acquired by the target person acquisition unit”. Specifically, the
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`steps describe a process for detecting and recording information about an obstacle (human or
`
`inanimate) and displaying it on a display unit it in a manner to convey which obstacles are more
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`“dangerous”.
`
`The limitations of acquiring object information and assessing it to determine whether an object
`
`or person is “dangerous” and compiling information to create a map, underits broadest reasonable
`
`interpretation, covers performance of the limitations in the mind but for the recitation of an “an object
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`information acquisition unit”, “target person acquisition unit”, “danger determination unit”, a “map
`
`acquisition unit”, and a “a dangerous position display unit” that comprises such executable instructions,
`
`nothing in the claim element precludesthe limitations from being practically performed in the mind. For
`
`example, “acquir[ing] object information based on a sensor”is a step that can be performedin the
`
`mind, but for the limitation specifying the presence of a “an object information acquisition unit” in
`
`whichinstructions for the step are stored. Similarly, the step of “determin[ing] danger of the object
`
`based on the acquired object information”is a step that can be performedin the mind, but for the
`
`limitation specifying the presence of a “danger determination unit” in which instructions for the step are
`
`stored. The step of “acquir[ing] a map of an area where the vacuum cleaner runs”is a step that can be
`
`performedin the mind, but for the limitation specifying the presence of a “map acquisition unit” in
`
`whichinstructions for the step are stored. The step of “caus[ing] the display unit to display the danger of
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`the object determined by the danger determination unit and the acquired position of the object on the
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`map in association with each other”is a step that recites the function of a generic computer component.
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`The step of “display[ing] options representing a plurality of target persons on the display unit” is a step
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 7
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`that recites the function of a generic computer component. While the claims recite hardware elements,
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`these limitations are not sufficient to qualify as being “significantly more” than the abstract idea. The
`
`“terminal” that the “target person acquisition unit”, “object information acquisition unit”, “danger
`
`determination unit”, a “map acquisition unit”, and a “a dangerous position display unit” is storedin is
`
`understood to be merely conventional computer component, commonly knownin industry. (See
`
`Specification, Page 10, Lines 4-8)
`
`If a claim limitation, under its broadest reasonable interpretation,
`
`covers performance of the limitation in the mind but for the recitation of generic computer
`
`components, then it falls within the “Mental Processes” grouping of abstract ideas. Accordingly, the
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`claim recites an abstract idea.
`
`This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because Federal Register,
`
`Vol. 84, page 55 details that the considerations for a “practical application” are: The claim fails to recite
`
`any improvements to another technology or technical field, improvements to the functioning of the
`
`computer itself, use of a particular machine, effecting a transformation or reduction of a particular
`
`article to a different state or thing, and/or an additional element applies or uses the judicial exception in
`
`some other meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular
`
`technological environment, such that the claim as a whole is more than a drafting effort designed to
`
`monopolize the exception. See 84 Fed. Reg. 55. The claim does not improve any technology, or have a
`
`technological improvement. Moreover, limitations that are “not” indicative of integration into a
`
`practical application include adding the words “apply it’, or mere instructions to implement an abstract
`
`idea on a computer (See MPEP 2106.05(f)). Accordingly, the additional elements do not integrate the
`
`abstract idea into a practical application because it does not impose any meaningful limits on practicing
`
`the abstract idea, and thereis still no improvement to a technology or using the judicial in some
`
`“meaning way beyond linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological
`
`environment.” The claim is directed to an abstract idea.
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
`
`Page 8
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`The claim doesnotinclude additional elements that are sufficient to amountto significantly
`
`more than the judicial exception. The claims recite “a dangerous position display unit that causes the
`
`display unit to display the danger of the object or person determined by the danger determination unit
`
`and the acquired position of the object on the map in association with each other” which is understood
`
`to be a screen that displays the map information. However, this application is well-known, routine, and
`
`conventional. The claim fails to recite any improvements to another technology or technical field,
`
`improvements to the functioning of the computer itself, use of a particular machine, effecting a
`
`transformation or reduction of a particular article to a different state or thing, adding unconventional
`
`steps that confine the claim to a particular useful application, and/or meaningful limitations beyond
`
`generally linking the use of an abstract idea to a particular environment. See 79 Fed. Reg. 74624.
`
`Therefore, since there are no limitations in the claims that transform the exception into a patenteligible
`
`application such that the claim amountsto significantly more than the exception itself, the claims are
`
`rejected under 35 USC 101 as being directed to non-statutory subject matter.
`
`Claims 3, 5, and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 for the same reasons as claim 1 because
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`claims 3, 5, and 6 merely recite further parameter details of the operation of the “object information
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`acquisition unit”, “danger determination unit”, and “map acquisition unit”. Claims 3, 5, and 6 do not
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`include additional elements that are sufficient to amountto significantly more than the judicial
`
`exception. It is well-understood, routine, and conventional that parameter details can be programmed
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`into a cleaning machine’s “terminal device”.
`
`Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract
`
`idea without significantly more. The claim recites “a danger managementunit that acquires danger
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`managementinformation in which a type of the danger and a danger degree that is a degree of the
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`dangerare associated with the object information, wherein the danger determination unit determines
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`the danger of the object based on the acquired danger managementinformation”, essentially a piece of
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`
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`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 9
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`software that determines and categorizes features of an obstacle that an autonomous vacuum cleaner
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`encounters.
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`That is, other than reciting “the danger management unit,” nothing in the claim element
`
`precludes the step from practically being performed in the mind. For example, but for the “danger
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`determination unit” feature, “acquires” and “determines” in the context of this claim encompasses the
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`user manually analyzing and keeping track of obstacle information. The “terminal” that the “danger
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`managementunit” is stored in is understood to be merely conventional computer component,
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`commonly knownin industry. (See Specification, Page 10, Lines 4-8) Under its broadest reasonable
`
`interpretation, the limitation covers performance that maybe carried out in the mind but for the
`
`recitation of generic computer components. If a claim limitation, under its broadest reasonable
`
`interpretation, covers performanceof the limitation in the mind but for the recitation of generic
`
`computer components,thenit falls within the “Mental Processes” grouping of abstract ideas.
`
`Accordingly, the claim recites an abstract idea.
`
`This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because Federal Register,
`
`Vol. 84, page 55 details that the considerations for a “practical application” are: The claim fails to recite
`
`any improvements to another technology or technical field, improvements to the functioning of the
`
`computer itself, use of a particular machine, effecting a transformation or reduction of a particular
`
`article to a different state or thing, and/or an additional element applies or uses the judicial exception in
`
`some other meaningful way beyond generally linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular
`
`technological environment, such that the claim as a whole is more than a drafting effort designed to
`
`monopolize the exception. See 84 Fed. Reg. 55. The claim does not improve any technology, or have a
`
`technological improvement. Moreover, limitations that are “not” indicative of integration into a
`
`practical application include adding the words “apply it’, or mere instructions to implement an abstract
`
`idea on a computer (See MPEP 2106.05(f)). Accordingly, the additional elements do not integrate the
`
`
`
`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 10
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`abstract idea into a practical application because it does not impose any meaningful limits on practicing
`
`the abstract idea, and thereis still no improvement to a technology or using the judicial in some
`
`“meaning way beyond linking the use of the judicial exception to a particular technological
`
`environment.” The claim is directed to an abstract idea.
`
`The claim doesnotinclude additional elements that are sufficient to amountto significantly
`
`more than the judicial exception. The “danger managementunit” only acquires and determines
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`parameters based on an obstacle which are then used to display information on a screen, according to
`
`the claims. However, this application is well-known, routine, and conventional. The claim fails to recite
`
`any improvements to another technologyor technical field, improvements to the functioning of the
`
`computer itself, use of a particular machine, effecting a transformation or reduction of a particular
`
`article to a different state or thing, adding unconventional steps that confine the claim to a particular
`
`useful application, and/or meaningful limitations beyond generally linking the use of an abstract idea to
`
`a particular environment. See 79 Fed. Reg. 74624. Therefore, since there are no limitations in the claims
`
`that transform the exception into a patent eligible application such that the claim amountsto
`
`significantly more than the exception itself, the claims are rejected under 35 USC 101 as being directed
`
`to non-statutory subject matter.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`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 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 for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C.
`
`103 are summarized as follows:
`
`
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`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 11
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`1. Determining the scope and contentsofthe prior art.
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`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
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`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
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`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousnessor
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`nonobviousness.
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`Claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`US20190332121A1 to Kim etal in view of JP2005216021Ato Takao etal.
`
`As to claim 1, Kim discloses a vacuum cleaner system including a vacuum cleaner that performs
`
`cleaning while autonomously running and a display unit that displays information acquired from the
`
`vacuum cleaner, (See Kim, Paragraph [0002], [0009], and [0091], Fig. 1, 5, ref. # 1 and 300, which
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`teaches an autonomous cleaning robot that carries out cleaning based on a map which maybe displayed
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`ona screen).
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`the system comprising: an object information acquisition unit that acquires object information
`
`based ona sensor included in the vacuum cleaner, the object information being information on an
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`object present around the vacuum cleaner; (See Kim, Paragraph [0009], [0059]-[0061], [0071], Fig. 3, ref.
`
`# 11, 100, 140 which teaches an object sensing unit which detects an obstacle from the image acquiring
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`unit, which possesses a digital camera, analogous to a sensor)
`
`a map acquisition unit that acquires a map of an area where the vacuum cleaner runs; (See Kim,
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`Paragraph [0009], [0086], [0097]-[0101], Fig. 5, ref. # 200, 220, which teaches that the map generating
`
`unit generates a map of the cleaning area)
`
`Kim further discloses a danger determination unit that determines danger of the object based
`
`on the acquired object information; and a dangerous position display unit that causes the display unit to
`
`display the danger of the object determined by the danger determination unit and the acquired position
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`of the object on the map in association with each other. Kim discloses that the obstacle recognition unit
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`
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`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 12
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`(read as a danger determination unit) determines the shape and height (analogous to danger) of the
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`obstacle (See Kim, Paragraph [0076]-[0081], [0091], [0095]-[0097], Fig. 5, ref. # 210, 220) and that the
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`map creator “displays obstacles larger than a predetermined size on a map and doesnotdisplay
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`obstacles smaller than the predetermined size” (read as a dangerous position display unit) on a screen.
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`Since the map changesthe size of certain obstacles on the map,this indicates that the map conveys
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`which objects are larger or more “dangerous”.
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`Kim fails to disclose a target person acquisition unit that displays options representing a plurality
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`of target persons on the display unit, wherein the danger determination unit determines the danger
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`based on the target information acquired by the target person acquisition unit.
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`However, Takao discloses an autonomous traveling robot cleaner comprising human body
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`detection sensors specifically, which displays sensor detection information to an information station
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`(See Takao, Paragraphs [0006]-[0007], [0021], Fig. 3, ref. # 23), which would cause the obstacle
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`recognition unit (read as a danger determination unit) to determine the shape and height (analogous to
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`danger) of the human obstacle. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to have
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`modified the vacuum cleaner of Kim with the human detection and display functionality of Takao in
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`orderto provide a mobile floor cleaning robot that may move autonomously even when a person is
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`detected and for detecting home intruders (See Takao, Paragraphs [0002]-[0005], [0021]).
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`As to claim 2, Kim discloses that the vacuum cleaner includes, as the sensor, at least a first
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`sensor that acquiresfirst object information that is one piece of the object information
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`and a second sensor that acquires second object information of a type different from a type of
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`the first object information, (See Kim, Paragraphs [0059]-[0061], Fig. 1, 5, ref. #150).
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`and the danger determination unit determines the danger of the object based on the first object
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`information and the second object information, (See Kim, Paragraph [0076]-[0081], [0115], and [0095]-
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`[0097], Fig. 5, ref. # 100, 150, and 220, which teaches that the map which displays the obstacle’s size
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`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 13
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`(danger) is created based on information received from the sensor unit, which possessesa plurality of
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`sensorsof different types).
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`The reference discloses multiple sensors can be used; therefore, although not explicitly
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`disclosed,it is reasonably expected that the map of Kim would display the map based on features
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`acquired by both sensors, if more than one is used. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been able
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`to modify the vacuum of Kim such that information obtained from both sensorsis used to assess
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`obstacle danger.
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`As to claim 3, Kim discloses an object detector that causes a running controller included in the
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`vacuum cleaner to execute information acquisition running for acquiring the object information (See
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`Kim, Paragraph [0076]-[0077], Fig. 5, ref. # 200, 240, 210, which teachesthat the control unit stores the
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`acquired image in the data unit and the obstacle recognition unit analyzes the image).
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`As to claim 4, Kim discloses that a danger managementunit that acquires danger management
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`information in which a type of the danger and a danger degree that is a degree of the danger are
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`associated with the object information, (See Kim, Paragraph [0076]-[0081] and [0096]-[0098], Fig. 5, ref.
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`# 210, which teaches that the obstacle recognition unit determines the size and shape of the obstacle
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`and can differentiate between a piece of furniture versus a small toy).
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`wherein the danger determination unit determines the danger of the object based on the
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`acquired danger management information. (See Kim, Paragraph [0076]-[0081], Fig. 5, ref. #150, 210,
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`which teaches that the obstacle recognition unit determines the size (danger) of the obstacle based on
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`information from the sensor unit, shown further in figure 5)
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`As to claim 6, Kim discloses a dangerous position posting method in a vacuum cleaner system
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`including a vacuum cleaner that performs cleaning while autonomously running and a display unit that
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`displays information acquired from the vacuum cleaner (See Kim, Paragraph [0017], [0091], Fig. 1, 5, ref.
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`# 1 and 300).
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`
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`Application/Control Number: 17/378,427
`Art Unit: 1714
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`Page 14
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`the method comprising: causing an object information acquisition unit to acquire object
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`information from the vacuum cleaner, the object information being information on an object present
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`around the vacuum cleaner; (See Kim, Paragraph [0017], [0009], [0059]-[0061], [0071], Fig. 3, ref. #11,
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`100, 140 which teaches an object sensing unit which detects an obstacle from the image acquiring unit)
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`causing a map acquisition unit to acquire a map of an area where the vacuum cleaner runs; (See
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`Kim, Paragraph [0009], [0086], [0097]-[0101], Fig. 5, ref. 200, 220, which teaches that the map
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`generating unit generates a map of the cleaning area)
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`Kim further discloses causing a danger determination unit to determine the danger of the object
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`based on the acquired object information; and causing a dangerous position display unit to cause a
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`display unit to display the danger of the object determined by the danger determination unit and the
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`acquired position