PCT
`From the INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING AUTHORITY
`
` NOTIFICATION OF TRANSMITTAL OF
` Ho, Brian
`THE INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT AND
`DENTONS US LLP
`
`
`THE WRITTEN OPINION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
`
`
`SEARCHING AUTHORITY, OR THE DECLARATION
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Applicant's or agent's file reference
`P39307W01
`
`7
`FOR FURTHER ACTION
`
`See paragraphs 1 and 4betow
`
`(PCT Rule 44.1)
`
`Date of mailing
`(dayimcnmnraarj
`
`18 July 2019 {18-D7—20i9}
`
`PATENT COOPERATION TREATY
`
`4655 Executive Drive, suite 700
`San Diego CA 92121
`ETATSvUNlS D‘AMERlQUE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`‘ international filing date
`International application No
`29 March 2019 {29-03-2019)
`{daymonmwar}
`PCT’U32019’924792
`Applicant
`
`APPLE iNC.
`
`
`
`
`1.
`
`The applicant is hereby notified that the international search report and the written opinion of the International Searching
`Authority have been established and are transmitted herewith.
`Filing of amendments and statement under Article 19:
`The applicant is entitled, if he so wishes, to amend the claims of the International Application {see Rule 46):
`When? The time limit ior filing such amendments is normally two months from the date of transmittat of the
`international Search Report.
`
`How?
`
`Directly to the International Bureau of WIPO, 34 chemin des Cotombettes
`1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, Fasoimile No: (41 —22) 338.82.70
`For more detailed instructions, see POTAppiioanf's Guide, International Phase, paragraphs 9.004 - 9.011.
`
`2. I: The appiicant is hereby notified that no international search report will be established and that the declaration under
`Article 17(2](a) to that eifect and the written opinion of the International Searching Authority are transmitted herewith.
`
`3. ‘1 With regard to any protest against payment of (an) additional fee(s) under Flute 40.2, the applicant is notified that:
`
`D the protest together with the decision thereon has been transmitted to the International Bureau together with any
`applicant's request to forward the texts of both the protest and the decision thereon to the designated Oftices.
`
`D no decision has been made yet on the protest; the applicant witl be notified as soon as adecision is made.
`4. Reminders
`
`
`
`The applicant may submit comments on an informal basis on the written opinion of the international Searching Authority
`to the International Bureau. These comments will be made available to the public after international publication. The
`International Bureau will send a copy of such comments to all designated Offices unless an international preliminary
`examination repcit has been or is to be established.
`Shortly after the expiration of 18 months from the priority date, the international apptication will be published by the
`International Bureau. lithe applicant wishes to avoid or postpone publication, a notice of withdrawal of the international
`application, or of the priority claim, must reach the international Bureau belore the completion of the technical preparations for
`international publication (Rules 90bis.l and BONES).
`Within 19 months from the priority date, but only in respect of some designated Offices, a demand for international preliminary
`examination must be flied if the applicant wishesto postpone the entry into the national phase untit 30 months from the priority
`date (in some Offices even later); otherwise, the applicant must, within 20 months from the priority date, perform the
`prescribed acts for entry into the national phase before those designated Offices, In respect of other designated Offices, the
`time limit of 38 months (or later} Will apply even if no demand is flied within 19 months. For details about the applicable time
`limits, Office by Office, see wwwwipointfpctienitextsltimewiimits.html and the PGTAppi‘fcam's Guide, National Chapters.
`Within 22 months from the priority date, the applicant may request that a supplementary international search be carried
`out by a different International Searching Authority that offers this service (Rule 45bf5.1). The procedure for requesting
`supplementary international search is described in the POTAppIi'cant's Guide, International Phase, paragraphs BEDS-8.032.
`
`Name and mailing address of the Internationat Searching Authority
`European Patent Office, PB. 5818 Patentlaan 2
`NL~2280 av Fliiswijk
`, 0 Tel. (+3149) 3402040
`Fax: (131-70) 340-3016
`
`Authorized ctflcer
`;
`FILIP H
`arms 0’9
`'
`Tel. +4§ (0)89 2399-286?
`
`Form PCTI'tSAr’EZD (July 201?)
`
`

`

`PATENT COOPERATION TREATY
`
`PCT
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`(PCT Article 18 and Rules 43 and 44)
`
`i
`‘
`it
`t‘
`.t'
`A l'
`pp ICEP s or argon 3 la is erence
`P39307WC'1
`
`FOR FURTHER
`A0110”
`
`see Form PCTIISAIEEO
`as wait as, where applicable, item 5 below.
`
`International appiioation No.
`
`International filing date {dayrhionWyean
`
`(Earnest) Priority Bate (dayflnonrhxyear)
`
`PCTIUS2019!024792
`Applicant
`
`APPLE ENC.
`
`29 March 2019 (294332019)
`
`3 June 2018 (03-06—2018)
`
`This international search report h as been prepared by this international Searching Authority and is transmitted to the applicant
`according to Article 18. A copy is being transmitted to the lnternationai Bureau.
`
`sheets.
`4
`This international search report conSists of a total of
`It is aiso accompanied by a copy of each prior art document cited in this report.
`
`1. Basis of the report
`a. With regard to the ianguage, the international search was carried out on the basis of:
`the international application in the language in which it was filed
`
`, which is the language
`a translation of the international application into
`of a transiation furnished for the purposes of international search (Rules 12.3(a) and 231(1)»
`
`b. E]
`
`This international search report has been established taking into account the rectification of an obvious mistake
`authorized by or notified to this Authority under Flule 91 (Rule 43.8bf5(a)).
`
`With regard to any nucleotide andi’or amino acid sequence disclosed in the international application, see Box No. l.
`
`
`
`Certain claims were found unsearchahie {See Box No. it)
`
`Unity of invention is tacking {see Box No in)
`
`4. With regard to the title,
`the text is approved as submitted by the applicant
`
`El
`
`the text has been established by this Authority to read as follows:
`
`5. With regard to the abstract,
`
`E]
`
`the text is approved as submitted by the applicant
`the text has been established, according to Rule 38.2, bythis Authority as it appears in Box No. IV, The applicant
`may, within one month from the date of matting of this internationai search report, submit comments to this Authority
`
`6. With regard to the drawings,
`a.
`the rigors ofthe drawings to be published with the abstract is Figure No.
`
`{SE
`
`B as suggested by the applicant
`as seieoted by this Authority, because the applicant failed to suggest a figure
`
`D as selected by this Authority, because this figure better characterizes the invention
`'3 none of the figures is to be published with the abstract
`
`to.
`
`Form PGTllSA/Qi i) {first sheet) (January 2015)
`
`

`

`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
`
`
`
`International application No.
`PCT/US201QJO24 792
`
`Box No. iV Text of the abstract (Continuation of item 5 of the first sheet)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`The present disciosure generaliy reiates to managing network
`
`
`connection settings of external devices. in some embodiments. an
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`electronic device with a display and one or more wireiess antennas,
`
`while the eiectronic device is connected, via the one or more wireless
`
`antennas, to a first local area network, dispiays a first externai
`
`device management interface, wherein: the first externai device
`
`management interface is associated with a first externai device that
`
`is not connected to the first local area network; and the first external
`
`device management interface includes a first affordance (620A). The
`electronic device receives a user input Corresponding to selection
`
`of the first affordance (620A) and, in response to receiving the user
`
`input corresponding to selection of the first affordance (620A), causes
`the first external device to connect to the first local area network.
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Form PCT/18334210 (continuation of first sheet (3‘)) (JulvEC-UQ)
`
`

`

`INTERNATIONAL SEARCH REPORT
`
` International application No
`
`A. CLASSIFICATION OF SUBJECT MATTER
`
`PCT/U52019/824792
`
`HG4M1/725
`INV.
`AGD. H04N8/00
`
`HG4W84/12
`
`HG4N4/80
`
`HG4W12/06
`
`606F3/048
`
`According to International Patent Cicssification (IPG) or to both nationai classification and lPO
`B. FIELDS SEARCHED
`Minimum documentation searched (classification syatiem fotlowed by clasu iticutiorl symbols)
`HG4M H04w GG6F
`
`Documentation searched otherthan minimum documentation tattle extentthot such documents are included in the fields searched
`
`Eieotrcnic data base consulted during the international search (name of data base and, where practicable, search terms used)
`
`EPOeInternai, NPI Data
`
`C. DOCUMENTS CONSIDERED TO BE RELEVANT
`
`Category“
`
`Citation of document, with indication, where engropriate, of the relevant passages
`
`Relevant to ctoim No.
`
`‘
`
`
`
`(KORTEK IND PTY LTD
`WO 2015/861831 A1
`[AU}) 7 May 2015 (2015~85~07)
`paragraphs [0098]
`-
`[0102]; figure 4
`
`US 2013/223279 A1 (TINNAKORNSRISUPHAP
`PEERAPOL {USJ ET AL)
`29 August 2013 (2013-08-29)
`paragraphs [0016],
`[@019],
`[@052]; figures 1,2,5
`
`[@020],
`
`INT PTE LTD
`(HUANEI
`ND 2018/084802 A1
`[56]) 11 May 2818 (2818—05-11)
`pages 1,2,11; figures 1,3,6
`
`D Further documents are listed in the continuation of Box 0.
`* Special categories of cited documents :
`
`"A" document defining the general state of the art which is not considered
`to be of particular relevance
`"E“ eartier application or patent but published on or after the international
`filing date
`“L" document which may throw doubts on priority claim(s) crwhich is
`cited to establish the publication date of another citation or other
`special reason (as specified)
`“0" document referring to an era! disclosure, use, exhibition or other
`means
`
`“P“ document published priorto the internaticnat tiling date but later than
`the priority date claimed
`
`See patent family annex.
`
`“T" later document pubiished otter the international fiiing date or priority
`date and not in conflict with the appticetion butcited to understand
`the principie or theory underiying the invention
`
`"X" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot he
`considered novei or cannot be considered to involve an inventive
`step when the document is taken atone
`"Y" document of particular relevance; the claimed invention cannot he
`considered to invotve an inventive step when the document is
`combined with one or more other such documents, such combination
`being obvious to a person skilled in the art
`
`“8t“ document member of the same patent famiiy
`
`Date of the actual completion of the international search
`
`Date of maiting of the intern\ tionsi search report
`
`3 July 2019
`Name and mailing address oithe ISA!
`European Patent foice, PB 5818 Potentiaan ’2
`NL — 2280 HV Rijswijk
`Tel. (+31-?0) 340-2040.
`Fax: (+3130) 3406016
`
`Form PC-l'llSAfliO {second sheet) (lion! 2005)
`
`18/07/2819
`Authorized officer
`
`Dcmingos, Luis
`
`

`

`INTERNANONALSEARCHREPORT
`Sniormation on patent family members
`
`Patent document
`cited in search report
`
`W0 2015061831
`
`
`
`
`
`Publication
`date
`
`A1
`
`07-05-2015
`
`
`
`
`international application No
`
`PCT/032019/024792
`
`Publication
`date
`
`Patent family
`member{s)
`
`
`
`
`
`
`AU
`2014344788 A1
`26—05~2016
`CA
`2928625 A1
`07—05—2015
`
`
`CN
`105849655 A
`10*08-2016
`EP
`3063594 A1
`07-09-2016
`
`
`JP
`2017504982 A
`99-92-2317
`2015061831
`07-05—2015
`
`
`
`US 2013223279
`A1
`29—08-2013
`104137480
`05-11-2014
`
`2817919 A2
`31~l2-2014
`EP
`
`
`6211011 02
`11—10~2017
`JP
`JP
`2015515048 A
`21—05~2015
`
`
`KR
`20140127895 A
`04-11-2014
`US
`2013223279 Al
`29-08-2013
`
`
`US
`2015327304 A1
`12«11~2015
`
`
`2013126731
`29-08-2013
`
`
`
`
`W0 2018084802
`A1
`11-05-2018
`109923830
`
`
`
`80 10201609247Y A
`28—06-2018
`2018084802
`11~05~2018
`————————————Hmma-----—-—-—-—_———-————----‘-------——---—-—--_—_—--------
`
`
`
`
`
`Farm F’Cl‘flSAiHlC (patent himily annex) (Aplil 2005;
`
`

`

`Information on Search Strategy - Pilot phase (see DJ 2015, A86)
`Thet
`eof information oonta‘ied in this sheet ma chan edunn the iiotforim rovin
`“egocentricnewts”.
`y
`9
`g
`P
`P
`9
`
`App'ica‘m“ "mm
`PCT/U520191024792
`
`TITLE: USER INTERFACES FOR UPDATING NETWORK CONNECTION SETTINGS OF EXTERNAL
`DEVICES
`
`APNLICANT: APPLE INC.
`
`IPC CLASSIFICATION: HO4M1/725, HO4W8/OG, H04N84/12, HO4N4/80, HO4N12/06,
`GOGF3/O48
`
`EXAMINER: Domingos, Luis
`
`CONSULTED DATABASES: NPL, NP]
`
`CLASSIFICATION SYMBOLS DEFINING EXTENT OF THE SEARCH:
`
`IPC:
`
`CPC: HO4N1/7253, HO4M1/Y2533, HO4N8/OOS, HO4N84/12, HO4N4/80, H04N12/06,
`GOEF3/048
`
`FI/F-TERMS:
`
`KEYWORDS OR OTHER ELEMENTS FEATURING THE INVENTION:
`CONTEXT: graphical user interface for configuration of wireiess connections of
`IoT peripherai devices (e. g., home appliances such as wireiess speakers and
`Iamps) by a mobiie device;
`PROBLEM:
`the task of connecting a piuraiity of home appiiances to the home NLAN
`is particuiariy chaiienging due to the iimited dispiay capabiiities of
`peripherai devices (e. 9.,
`IoT devices);
`SOLUTION (fig.6E): a mobiie device connected to the home NLAN connects to the
`appliances (e. g., NFC, biuetooth, BLE, WiFi—direct)
`in its proximity and
`provides a graphicai user interface aiiowing the user to select sharing the
`NLAN settings with the appiiance by pressing a button (“affordance”),
`thus,
`avoiding making a user navigate various menus attempting to estabiish or access
`communication between a personal device and a periperai device;
`DETAILS:
`threshoid distance for triggering the mobiie device to present the
`graphicai user interface; user interface indicates the vicinity of devices
`
`non—connected to the NLAN.
`
`
`
`
`
`.OFORMPMAIIZ
`
`

`

`PATENT COOPERATION TREATY
`
`From the
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING AUTHORITY
`
`see I‘m" PCT/'SAggo
`
`WRiTTEN OPINION OF THE
`iNTERNATIONAL SEARCHING AUTHORITY
`
`(PCT Rule 43bis. 1)
`
`l
`Date of mailing; ““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““““I
`{dayhionth/year}
`see ton-n PCT/ISAIQID (second sheet)
`
`
`
`,
`”lemme
`FOR FURTHER ACTION
`
`see form PCT/ISAIQQD
`See paragraph 2 beiow
`
`mgiiegtiamai""'"'"""'"'""""g"’s’ietateiai’tiIt;eateriitaeiiiigej‘
`PCTIUS20191024792
`29.03.2019
`
`
`Priority date (day/inonthiyear) """""""""""""""""""
`03.06.2018
`
`i
`
`Appiicant
`‘ APPLE INC.
`
`
`
`
`
`Box No.
`
`Box No.
`
`l
`
`II
`
`El
`
`I] Box No. I“
`III
`Box No. IV
`El
`Box NO. V
`
`[3 Box No. Vi
`
`Basis of the opinion
`
`Priority
`
`Non—establishment of opinion with regard to novelty, inventive step and industrial appiicabiiity
`Lack of unity of invention
`Fieasoned statement under Ruie 43bis.“:(a}(i) with regard to noveltin inventive step and industrial
`appticahility; citations and explanations supporting such statement
`Certain documents cited
`
`Certain defects in the international application
`IZI Box No. VII
`Box No. VIII Certain observations on the international appiication
`
`2.
`
`FURTHER ACTION
`
`If a demand for international preliminary examination is made, this opinion will usually be considered to be a
`written opinion of the International Preliminary Examining Authority ("IPEA") except that this does not apply where
`the applicant chooses an Authority other than this one to be the IPEA and the chosen tPEA has notifed the
`lnternationai Bureau under Rule 66.1bis(b) that written opinions of this international Searching Authority
`wilt not be so considered.
`
`If this opinion is. as provided above. considered to be a written opinion of the IPEA, the applicant is invited to
`submit to the IPEA a written reply together, where appropriate, with amendments, before the expiration of 3 months
`from the date of mailing of Form PCTIISAIEEO or before the expiration of 22 months from the priority data.
`
`whichever expires later.
`
`For further options see Form PCTHSAtflO.
`
`l
`
`i
`
`I
`
`,
`
`l II
`
`I|
`
`§
`
` Iwriéi—‘h‘ééfiéEtais};5&8€55;Biin;EAEiTiiiiiiii“WWW“
`this opinion
`Q European Patent Office
`see form
`.
`r’
`)) vat
`__ 0450298 Munich
`PCT’ISAEIO
`Domingos. LUIS
`i 0 §
`Tet. +49 89 2399 ~ 0
`Telephone No, +49 39 2399-0
`mum»:
`Fax: +49 89 2399 - 4465
`'
`
`I
`
`I
`
`Form PCT/ISABS‘? (Cover Sheet} (January 2015)
`
`

`

`WRITTEN OPINION OF THE
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING AUTHORITY
`
`international application No.
`PCT/U820191024792
`
`Box No. l Basis of the opinion
`
`1. With regard to the language, this opinion has been established on the basis oi:
`
`lZl
`
`the international application in the language in which it was filed.
`
`E a translation of the international application into t which is the language of a translation furnished for the
`purposes of international search (Rules 12.3(a) and 23.1 (b)).
`
`2.
`
`[It This opinion has been established taking into account the rectification of an obvious mistake authorized
`by or notified to this Authority under Rule 91 (Rule 43bis.t (a)}
`
`3. El With regard to any nucteotide andior amino acid sequence disclosed in the international apptication, this
`opinion has been established on the basis of a sequence listing:
`
`a. Cl
`
`forming part of the international application as filed:
`
`[II
`
`in the form of an Annex CrSTZS text tile.
`
`E] on paper or in the form of an image file.
`
`b. D furnished together with the international application under PCT Rule 13ier.1(a) for the purposes of
`international search oniy in the form of an Annex 0/8125 text file.
`
`c.
`
`it furnished subsequent to the international filing date for the purposes of international search only:
`
`CE in the form of an Annex CBTES text file (Rule 13ter.1(a)).
`
`El on paper or in the form of an image fiie (Rule 13ter.‘l(b) and Administrative instructions. Section
`713).
`
`4. E]
`
`In addition! in the case that more than one version or copy oi a sequence listing has been filed or furnished,
`the required statements that the information in the subsequent or additional copies is identical to that
`forming part of the application as filed or does not go beyond the application as filed. as appropriate, were
`furnished.
`
`5. Additional comments:
`
`Form PCT/153N237 (January 2015)
`
`

`

`International application No.
`WRITTEN OPINION OF THE
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING AUTHORITY PCTAJ82019I024792
`
`Box No. V Reasonecl statement under Flute 43bis.1(a)(i) with regard to novelty, inventive step or
`industrial applicability; citations and exptanations supporting such statement
`
`1. Statement
`
`Novelty (N)
`
`Inventive step {IS}
`
`Industrial applicability (IA)
`
`I“ Citations and explanations
`
`see separate sheet
`
`2-11
`Yes: Claims
`No:
`Claims M
`
`Yes: Claims
`No:
`Claims
`
`Yes: Claims
`No:
`Claims
`
`1—17
`
`1 -17
`
`
`
`Box No. Vll Certain defects in the international application
`
`The following defects in the form or contents of the international application have been noted:
`
`see separate sheet
`
`Box No. VIII Certain observations on the international application
`
`The following observations on the clarity of the claims, description, and drawings or on the question whether the
`Claims are fully supported by the description, are made:
`
`see separate sheet
`
`Form PCTflSA/Zg-Z (January 2015)
`
`

`

`WRITTEN OPINION OF THE
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING
`
`International application No.
`
`AUTHORITY (SEPARATE SHEET)
`
`PCT/US2019/024792
`
`1
`
`Re Item VIII
`
`Certain observations in the international application
`
`1.1
`
`The various definitions of the electronic device given in independent claims
`
`13, 14, 16, 17 and the non-transitory computer—readable storage medium
`
`given in independent claims 12, 15 are such that the claims as a whole are
`
`not concise, contrary to Article 6 PCT. Moreover, lack of clarity of the claims
`
`as a whole arises, since the plurality of independent claims makes it difficult, if
`
`not impossible, to determine the matter for which protection is sought, and
`
`places an undue burden on others seeking to establish the extent of the
`
`protection sought. Consequently, the claims should have been recast to
`
`include only the minimum necessary number of independent claims in any
`one category with dependent claims as appropriate, in accordance with Rule
`6.4 PCT.
`
`1.2
`
`The feature of all the independent claims ”first external device management
`
`interface is associated with a first external device" attempts to define the
`
`subject-matter therein sought for protection as a result to be achieved rather
`
`than by the technical means required to achieve that result (please refer to
`
`the guidelines, section 5.35).
`
`Similar to the above, the feature of all the independent claims "causing the
`
`first external device to connect to the first local area neiwor " also attempts to
`
`define the subject-matter therein sought for protection as a result to be
`
`achieved rather than by the technical means required to achieve that result
`
`(please refer to the guidelines, section 5.35).
`
`In fact, the features referred above merely describe the problem of how to
`
`configure an external device by an electronic device in abstract terms that
`
`resemble technical features, but which are more user requirements.
`
`On the contrary, some sort of technical means are surely reguired to enable a
`
`user interface of one device to "be associated" to another device, while some
`
`sort of other technical means are surely reguired to “cause" a device other
`
`than the one being actuated by the user to connect to a network. However,
`
`the skilled person is unable to associate the required technical features to the
`
`wording of the claims, which has as consequence that their scope of
`
`protection is not clearly defined (Article 5 PCT).
`
`1.3
`
`Furthermore, as the description only foresees the use of short range peer—to—
`
`peer wireless technologies such as bluetooth, NFC, peer-to-peer Wi—Fi or
`
`BLE to effect the "association”, as well as sending the SSID, token and
`
`Form PGT/iSAfQB? (Separate Sheet) (Sheet 1) lEPOaApril 2035-)
`
`

`

`WRITTEN OPINION OF THE
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING
`
`International application No.
`
`AUTHORITY (SEPARATE SHEET)
`
`PCTr’US2019/024792
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`password to the other device through the short range peer—to—peer wireless
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`connection to effect the ”causing", the level of generalizytion of the
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`independent claims also tacks support in the description (Article 6 PCT).
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`1.4
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`The definition of "affordance" in the Merriam~Webster online dictionary is "the
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`Quality or property of an object that defines its possible uses or makes clear
`how it can or should be used".
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`From the above, it can be derived that the term "affordance" represents an
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`informative property of an object, rather than the object itself (which appears
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`to be represented by the button 620A in figure 6E).
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`Consequently, it is not clear what is the technicai meaning of interface
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`includes a first affordance" and "selection of the first affordance". I. e, how
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`can a property (and not the object that exhibits this property) be selected and
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`included in an interface? Claims 1-17 therefore lack clarity (Article 6 PCT).
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`1.5
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`With respect to claim 2. the "local area network that the electronic device is
`connected to" has been defined in claim 1 as a ”first local area network". This
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`inconsistency in the use of terminology impairs clarity and places an undue
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`burden of the reader attempting to assess the scope of protection of the
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`claims (Article 6 PCT).
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`2
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`Re Item V
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`Reasoned statement with regard to novelty, inventive step or industrial
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`applicability; citations and explanations supporting such statement
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`Reference is made to the following documents:
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`D1
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`WO 2015/061831 At (KORTEK iND PTY LTD {AUD 7 May 2015
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`(2015—05-07)
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`[)2
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`us 201 3/223279 A1 (TINNAKORNSRISUPHAP PEERAPOL
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`[US] ET AL) 29 August 2013 (20t3-08—29)
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`03
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`WO 2018/084802 A1 (HUAWEI INT PTE LTD {SG}) 11 May 2018
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`(2018~05—11)
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`Form PCTfESAlZZS? (Separate Sheet} (Sheet 2) (EPQAprit 2605}
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`

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`WRITTEN OPINION OF THE
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`international application No.
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCHlNG
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` AUTHORITY (SEPARATE SHEET) PCT/U82019/O24792
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`2.1
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`The present appiication does not meet the requirements of Article 33 PCT,
`because the subject—matter of claim 1
`is not novei in the sense of Articie 33(2)
`PCT.
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`2.2
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`This can be seen with respect to document Di (references to D1 are provided
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`between brackets) that discloses according to all the features of claim 1:
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`A method (figure 4 and paragraphs 98—102) comprising :
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`at an electronic device with a display and one or more wireless antennas
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`(figure 4 reference sign 2 "memo“? :
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`while the electronic device is connected, via the one or more wireiess
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`antennas, to a first focal area network (figure 4 reference sign 2 '1l-comeciedl‘08
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`network accesspoini"), displaying a first external device management interface
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`(figure 4 reference sign 31 0) wherein:
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`the first external device management interface is associated with a first
`externai device that is not connected to the first iocal area network (figure 4
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`reference sign 308
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`new and uncanfigured...") ; and
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`the first external device management interface inciudes a first aifordance
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`(figure 4 reference sign 312 ".t. touchinput on smartphone screen") 1,
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`receiving a user input corresponding to selection of the first aftordance (figure
`4 reference Sign 312 "the user... confirm5m') ;
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`in response to receiving the user input corresponding to selection of the first
`affordance, causing the first external device to connect to the first local area
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`network (figure 4 reference signs 316-322) .
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`2.3
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`The attention of the applicant is drawn to the fact that document D2 (31 least
`paragraph 20, with reference to figure 1, or paragraph 52, with reference to figure 5, show ail steps of the
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`method of ciaim 1. Note that, in paragraph 20, the user is said to be prompted by a notification in the display
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`‘0 read the 0“ codr3) also anticipates ail features of claim 1.
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`2'4
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`Additionaily, document [)3 (aiready the background art in pages 1 and 2 discloses the method of
`claim 1, except for the "attordance" which would be straightforward in view of the user interiace mentioned
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`in Page”) renders the subject—matter of ciaim 1 obvious for the skilled person
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`(Article 33(3) PCT).
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`2.5
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`The subjectnmatter of independent claims 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 corresponds
`to that of ciaim 1. Therefore, an anaiogous argumentation to the one above
`provided for ciairn 1 would lead to the same objection under Articie 33(2) and
`(3) PCT for claims 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,17.
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`Form PCT/’iSAr’QST (Separate Sheet) (Sheet 3) (EPO-Aprii 2005)
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`

`

`WRITTEN OPINION OF THE
`
`INTERNATIONAL SEARCHING
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`international appiication No.
`
`AUTHORITY (SEPARATE SHEET)
`
`PCTi’U82019K024792
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`2.6
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`Dependent claims 2—11 do not contain any features which, in combination
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`with the features of any claim to which they refer, meet the requirements of
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`the PCT in respect of inventive step (Article 33(3) PCT) as their subject—
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`matter is immediately derivable from at least one of the disclosures of
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`documents [)1 —D3. The reasons therefor being as foilows:
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`Ciaims 2, 8 and 9 are rendered obvious by at least figure 4 reference sign
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`308 "beam“, of document Di or figure 2 reference sign 202 "beacoW'of
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`document D2;
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`ClaimB is directly derivabie from paragraph 77 of D1 or paragraph 52 of
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`document DE, and implicit in the "beacon" of both documents because the
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`beacon range already sets a distance threshold;
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`Claims 4—? represent trivial implementations in a graphics! user interface of
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`user requirements devoid of any technical significance. Surely, it might be
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`enlightening for the user to become aware of the MAC address of the external
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`device, or to become aware that other devices exist in range. However, once
`that user requirement has been handed over to the skiiled person for
`I
`implementation, it would be straightforward for a average skiiled programmer
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`to present in a display and provide buttons for a user to interact with these
`devices.
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`Re item VII
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`Certain defects in the international application
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`Documents D1-D3 appear to represent the most relevant prior-art. They
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`should therefore have been acknowiedged in the description, and differences
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`distinguishing the present appiication from the disclosed content should have
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`been pointed out (Ruie 5.1(a)(ii) PCT).
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`The features of the ciaims are not provided with reference signs referring to
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`the figures 6E and 7A placed in parentheses to increase the inteiiigibiiity of
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`the claims (Ruie 6.2(b) PCT). This appiies to both the preamble and the
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`characterizing portion.
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`The expression “incorporated by reference", found in paragraphs 48, 52, 53,
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`60, 62, 92, 133, and referring to documents which are neither meant for
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`translation nor essential to understand the invention, should be excised from
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`the description.
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`2.6.1
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`2.6.2
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`2.6.3
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`3.1
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`8.2
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`3.3
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`Form PCTfiSAi‘237 (Separate Sheet} (Sheet 4) {EPO-Aprli 2005)
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`