Obviousness

Obviousness Analysis of US Patent 9,123,186 Under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis determines whether the claimed invention of US Patent 9,123,186 would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSA) at the time of the invention, considering the existing prior art. The independent claims, Claim 1 (method) and Claim 10 (system), focus on personalizing vehicle settings based on occupant recognition and the vehicle's current location.

Independent Claims of US 9,123,186

Claim 1 (Method):
A method comprising:

1. Receiving data from one or more sensors positioned within a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the data indicating presence of a person in the passenger compartment.
2. Identifying the person based on the received data.
3. Determining a current location of the vehicle.
4. Retrieving one or more preference settings associated with the identified person and the current location from a memory storage.
5. Controlling one or more electronic devices associated with the vehicle based on the retrieved preference settings.

Claim 10 (System):
A system comprising:

1. One or more sensors configured to be positioned within a passenger compartment of a vehicle and to detect presence of a person in the passenger compartment and to generate data therefrom.
2. A location-determining component configured to determine a current location of the vehicle.
3. A processor communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, the location-determining component, and one or more electronic devices associated with the vehicle.
4. A memory storage communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storage storing programming instructions executable by the processor to:
   a. Identify the person based on the generated data.
   b. Determine the current location of the vehicle.
   c. Retrieve one or more preference settings associated with the identified person and the current location.
   d. Control the one or more electronic devices associated with the vehicle based on the retrieved preference settings.

Identification of Prior Art

The following patent applications, from which US 9,123,186 claims priority, serve as relevant prior art:

• US20130241720A1 (Ricci et al.): Titled "Managing user profiles in a vehicle."
• US8979159B2 (Ricci et al.): Titled "Vehicle system with user identification and preference configuration."
• US20130293452A1 (Ricci et al.): Titled "Context-aware vehicle configuration."

These documents represent the state of the art developed by the same inventors/assignees prior to the filing of US 9,123,186.

Obviousness Analysis

A Person Having Ordinary Skill in the Art (POSA) in automotive electronics or in-vehicle infotainment systems, as of the priority date of US 9,123,186 (March 14, 2012), would have been familiar with systems for personalizing vehicle settings and with widely available location-sensing technologies.

Combination of US20130241720A1 and General Knowledge of Vehicle Location Systems

US20130241720A1 discloses a method and system for personalizing vehicle functions based on user identification. Specifically, it teaches:

• Receiving input from sensors to detect the presence of a user in a vehicle.
• Identifying the user based on this input.
• Selecting a profile containing one or more user preferences based on the identified user.
• Controlling various vehicle functions (e.g., entertainment, communication, navigation, climate control, seat, mirror, and steering wheel settings) based on the selected user profile.

Similarly, US8979159B2 also describes identifying a user via sensor input and controlling vehicle electronic devices according to their preferences.

The primary distinguishing feature of US 9,123,186 over these prior art references is the explicit integration of the vehicle's "current location" as a criterion for retrieving specific user preference settings. However, vehicle location determination technologies, such as GPS, were well-established and commonly integrated into vehicles for navigation, telematics, and other location-based services by 2012. Such systems fall under classifications like G01C21/00 (Navigation) and G01S19/00 (Satellite radio beacon positioning systems).

Motivation for Combination:

It would have been obvious to a POSA to combine the user-specific personalization taught by US20130241720A1 or US8979159B2 with the known capability of determining a vehicle's location. The motivation for such a combination stems from several readily apparent benefits:

1. Enhanced User Experience and Granular Personalization: A POSA would recognize that users often desire different vehicle configurations depending on their location or specific driving context. For instance, a user might prefer specific audio settings for city driving versus highway driving, or require automatic activation of a particular navigation route when in a certain geographic area (e.g., starting the route to work when leaving home). Integrating location data allows for a richer and more context-aware personalization experience beyond just user identity. This aligns with the broader concept of context-aware systems, which US20130293452A1 implicitly supports by disclosing control of vehicle functions based on "context."
2. Increased Convenience and Automation: By linking preferences to both user identity and location, the system can provide a more seamless and intuitive experience, reducing the need for manual adjustments. For example, a vehicle could automatically adjust climate settings, mirror positions, or even activate specific driving modes upon entering or exiting predefined geographical zones, tailored to the identified driver's known preferences for those locations.
3. Application of Known Technology: The integration of location-based triggers for actions is a common design principle in various technological domains. Applying established GPS technology to enhance existing user-preference systems in vehicles represents a logical and straightforward engineering advancement rather than an inventive leap. The capability of modern vehicles to collect and utilize precise location data was well-understood in the automotive industry.

Conclusion:

Given that prior art references like US20130241720A1 and US8979159B2 clearly disclose systems for identifying vehicle occupants and applying their personalized preferences to control vehicle devices, and given the widespread knowledge and availability of vehicle location technologies (e.g., GPS) by the priority date, it would have been obvious for a POSA to combine these elements. The motivation would be to provide a more sophisticated and convenient user experience through location-aware personalization of vehicle settings. This combination would merely be an obvious adaptation of existing technologies to achieve a predictable improvement, thereby rendering claims 1 and 10 of US 9,123,186 obvious under 35 U.S.C. § 103.