`
`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 22313-1450
`www.uspto.gov
`
`APPLICATION NO.
`
`
`
`
` FILING DATE
`
`
`FIRST NAMED INVENTOR
`
`ATTORNEY DOCKET NO.
`
`
`
`
` CONFIRMATIONNO.
`
`
`09/259,957
`
`03/01/1999
`
`RAYMOND ANTHONY JOAO
`
`RJO20
`
`5908
`
`7590
`RAYMOND A JOAO
`122 BELLEVUE PLACE
`YONKERS, NY 10703
`
`02/12/2009
`
`LEE, Y YOUNG
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`PAPER
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2621
`
`MAIL DATE
`
`02/12/2009
`
`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.
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Application No.
`
`Applicant(s)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`09/259,957
`Examiner
`
`JOAO, RAYMOND ANTHONY
`Art Unit
`
`2621
`
`-- 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 MONTH(S) OR THIRTY (30) DAYS,
`WHICHEVER IS LONGER, 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 be timelyfiled
`after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`If NO period forreply 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 replywill, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133).
`Any reply received by the Office later than three monthsafter the mailing date of this communication, even if timely filed, may reduce any
`eamed patent term adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1)X] Responsive to communication(s) filed on 05 November 2008.
`2a)L] This action is FINAL.
`2b)X] This action is non-final.
`3)L] Sincethis application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Ex parte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`Disposition of Claims
`
`4)X] Claim(s) 41-50, 55, 57,58, 60-69, 74, 76-79 and 96-124 is/are pending in the application.
`4a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`5)L] Claim(s)____ is/are allowed.
`6)X] Claim(s) 41-50,55, 57,58, 60-69, 74,76-79 and 96-124 is/are rejected.
`7)L] Claim(s)__ is/are objectedto.
`8)L] Claim(s)____ are subject to restriction and/or election requirement.
`
`6) C] Other: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`Application Papers
`
`9)L] The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`10)L] The drawing(s) filed on
`is/are: a)[_] accepted or b)[_] objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121(d).
`11)] The oath or declaration is objected to by the Examiner. Note the attached Office Action or form PTO-152.
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`
`12)L] Acknowledgmentis made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) or(f).
`a)LJAll b)L_] Some*c)L] Noneof:
`
`1.L] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.L] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.L] Copies ofthe 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 foralist of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`1) C] Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`2) [1] Notice of Draftsperson’s Patent Drawing Review (PTO-948)
`3) [J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`.
`
`4) C] Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date. _
`5) L] Noticeof Informal Patent Application
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 08-06)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20090209
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 09/259,957
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Interview Summary
`
`1.
`
`Applicant telephoned Examiner’s supervisor and requested a new office action to be
`
`mailed. Therefore, the last office action is hereby vacated. A newoffice action follows.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`2.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which formsthe basisforall
`
`obviousnessrejections set forth in this Office action:
`
`(a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in
`section 102 ofthistitle, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and theprior art are
`such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obviousat the time the invention was madeto a person
`having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the
`manner in which the invention was made.
`
`3.
`
`Claims 41-50, 55, 57, 58, 60-69, 74, 76-79, and 96-124 are rejected under 35 U.S.C.
`
`103(a) as being unpatentable over Jordan et al (6,249,241) for substantially the same reasons as
`
`set forth in the previousoffice action. In particular, the newly amended limitations are
`
`incorporated in the rejection.
`
`Jordan etal, in Figures 1-88, discloses a marine vesseltraffic system thatis
`
`substantially the same apparatus as specified in claims 41-50, 55, 57, 58, 60-69, 74, 76-79, and
`
`96-124 of the present invention, comprising a receiver 2 for receiving wherein the receiver
`
`receives a global vehicle positioning information GPS regarding a changeinafirst travel route
`
`(e.g. first leg) and a secondtravel route (e.g. second leg) traveled by the vehicle (ship), wherein
`
`the information is transmitted to the receiver 2 from a vehicle computer, wherein the vehicle
`
`computer is located at the vehicle, and further wherein the information contains information
`
`regarding a location of the vehicle and a destination (e.g. harbor); a processing device 43
`
`wherein the processing device processes the request for information, wherein the processing
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 09/259,957
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 3
`
`device determinesa first and second travel route, and further wherein the apparatus obtains video
`
`information from each ofa plurality of video cameras 3 located along or on the travel routes; a
`
`transmitter 1, wherein the transmitter sequentially transmits the video information obtained from
`
`at least one of the plurality of video camera 3 alongthe travel routes for each of a plurality of
`
`locations 3 along the travel routes to the computer 2 automatically, wherein the video
`
`information obtained from each ofthe plurality of video cameras3 is transmitted to the computer
`
`2 in a sequential manner 44; and a database VTSfor storing information for identifying at least
`
`onetravel route and a plurality of video camera 3 located along at least one travel route; wherein
`
`the apparatus providestraffic information along with the video information over a remotely
`
`accessible network.
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the database VTS stores information regardingthe first travel
`
`route (e.g. first leg) and the second travel route (e.g. second leg), location information forat least
`
`one video cameraofthefirst plurality of video cameras 3 and the secondplurality of video
`
`cameras 3, information regarding a link associated with at least one video cameraofthefirst
`
`plurality of video cameras and the second plurality of video cameras, and information (e.g.
`
`marine vesseltraffic) regarding at least one of a roadway, a highway, an expressway, a parkway,
`
`an entranceto or exit from at least one of a roadway, a highway, an expressway, a parkway, a
`
`bridge, a tunnel, a toll booth, a toll booth plaza, an entranceto or exit from at least one of a
`
`bridge, a tunnel, a toll booth, a toll booth plaza, and a parking lot for at least one of a shopping
`
`mall, a store, a beach, a sports facility, an arena, and an entertainmentfacility or center.
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the request contains vehicle position information (e.g. GPS)
`
`determined by a global positioning device located at the vehicle.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 09/259,957
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 4
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the video information obtained from each video cameraof the
`
`first plurality of video cameras, and the video information obtained from each video camera of
`
`the second plurality of video cameras, is transmitted to the vehicle computer in a sequential
`
`manner(e.g. various remotesites).
`
`Jordanet al also discloses video information regarding a plurality of locationsis
`
`transmitted to the vehicle computer for simultaneous viewing via the vehicle computer(e.g. split
`
`screen).
`
`Jordan et al also discloses at least one video cameraofthe first plurality of video cameras
`
`or at least one video cameraof the second plurality of video cameras, is located at a location for
`
`viewing at least one of a roadway, an entrance to a roadway, an exit from a roadway,a bridge, a
`
`bridge entrance, a bridge exit, a tunnel, an inside of a tunnel, a tunnel entrance, a tunnel exit, a
`
`toll booth, an entranceto a toll booth plaza, and a parkinglot (e.g. marine vesseltraffic).
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus transmitsat least one ofa traffic forecast, a
`
`forecasted traffic condition, a weather condition, a forecasted weather condition, weather
`
`information, a weather forecast, maintenance information, and a newsreport (e.g. marine vessel
`
`traffic).
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatusis at least one of a central processing computer
`
`and a server computer2.
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus controls at least one of a movement,a rotation,
`
`and a pivoting, of at least one video cameraofthe first plurality of video camerasorat least one
`
`video cameraofthe first plurality of video cameras3.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 09/259,957
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 5
`
`Jordan et al also discloses at least one video cameraofthe first plurality of video cameras
`
`or at least one video cameraof the second plurality of video camerasisat least one of stationed
`
`on at least one of a pole, a road sign, a building, an overpass, and a wall or structure, adjacent to
`
`or at a location for viewing at least one of a roadway,a highway, an expressway,a bridge, a
`
`tunnel, and a parking lot, and stationed along at least one of a roadway, a highway,an
`
`expressway,a bridge, a tunnel, and a parkinglot (e.g. marine vesseltraffic).
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the vehicle is at least one of an automobile, a recreational
`
`vehicle, a motorcycle, a motor home, a mobile home, a commercial land vehicle, and a
`
`commercial equipment(e.g. marine vessel).
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the vehicle is at least one of an automobile, a motorcycle, a
`
`motor home, a mobile home, a land vehicle, and a commercial land vehicle, and further wherein
`
`the video information is transmitted to the vehicle computer on or overat least one of the
`
`Internet and the World Wide Web(e.g. WAN).
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus is programmed to automatically detect a
`
`departure of the vehicle from thefirst travel route or from the second travel route, and further
`
`wherein the processing device identifies a third travel route (e.g. third leg) in response to
`
`detecting the departure of the vehicle from first travel route or the second travel route, wherein
`
`the apparatus obtains video information from at least one video cameraofa third plurality of
`
`video camerasassociated with the third travel route, and further wherein the transmitter transmits
`
`the video information obtained from the at least one video camera ofthe third plurality of video
`
`cameras associated with the third travel route to the vehicle computer.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 09/259,957
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 6
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus transmits text information or audio information,
`
`regarding a traffic conditionor traffic information (e.g. marine vesseltraffic) on or associated
`
`with the first travel route or the secondtravel route, to the vehicle computer.
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus transmits text information or audio information,
`
`regardingatraffic forecast (e.g. marine traffic ahead) associated with the first travel route or the
`
`secondtravel route, to the vehicle computer.
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus transmits text information or audio information
`
`(e.g. weather channel), regarding a weather condition, weather information, or a forecasted
`
`weather condition or a weather forecast, on or associated with the first travel route or the second
`
`travel route, to the vehicle computer.
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus transmits text information or audio information,
`
`regarding maintenance information (e.g. DBS maintenance) associated with the first travel route
`
`or the secondtravel route, to the vehicle computer.
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus transmits text information or audio information
`
`regarding a newsreport (e.g. marinetraffic).
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus provides text information or audio information,
`
`regarding maintenance information (e.g. DBS maintenance log) associated with the first travel
`
`route or the secondtravel route, to the vehicle computer.
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus transmits text information or audio information
`
`regarding a newsreport (e.g. marinetraffic).
`
`Jordan et al also discloses the apparatus is programmed to automatically detect a
`
`departure of the vehicle from thefirst travel route (e.g. first leg) or from the second travel route
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 09/259,957
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 7
`
`(e.g. second leg), and further wherein the processing device identifies a third travel route (e.g.
`
`third leg) in response to detecting the departure of the vehicle from first travel route or the
`
`second travel route, wherein the apparatus obtains video information from at least one video
`
`cameraofa third plurality of video cameras 3 associated with the third travel route, and further
`
`wherein the transmitter transmits the video information obtained from the at least one video
`
`cameraofthe third plurality of video cameras associated with the third travel route to the vehicle
`
`computer2.
`
`It is noted Jordan etal differs from the present inventionin thatit fails to particularly
`
`disclose a land destination as specified in claims 41-50, 55, 57, 58, 60-69, 74, 76-79, and 96-124.
`
`However, for the same reasonsas stated in the previousoffice actions, it is considered obvious to
`
`one of ordinary skill in the art that the same travel information system of Jordan et al can be
`
`easily applied to marine and/or land travel since Internet access on land vehicle is also
`
`notoriously well knownintheart.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`4.
`
`Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 41-50, 55, 57, 58, 60-69, 74, 76-79, and 96-
`
`124 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection.
`
`Conclusion
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to Y. Lee whose telephone numberis (571) 272-7334. The
`
`examiner can normally be reached on (571) 272-7334.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 09/259,957
`Art Unit: 2621
`
`Page 8
`
`If attempts to reach the examinerby telephoneare unsuccessful, the examiner’s
`
`supervisor, Mehrdad Dastouri can be reached on (571) 272-7418. The fax phone numberfor the
`
`organization where this application or proceedingis assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`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
`
`applicationsis 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 571-272-1000.
`
`yl
`
`/Young Lee/
`Primary Examiner
`Art Unit 2621
`
`