Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/120,606

PASSENGER GROUPING FOR ELEVATORS

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
Dec 14, 2020
Examiner
GLASS, ERICK DAVID
Art Unit
2846
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Otis Elevator Company
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
2y 5m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allow Rate
626 granted / 700 resolved
+21.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
23 currently pending
Career history
723
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
§103
39.0%
-1.0% vs TC avg
§102
46.1%
+6.1% vs TC avg
§112
12.1%
-27.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 700 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 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 Arguments Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 11/17/25, with respect to Fujitec (JP 6610671) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 102(a1) Rejection has been withdrawn. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows: Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. Claims 1-4, 7-14, and 17-20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim(s) recite(s) performing passenger grouping; receiving call request, receiving user data, calculating final exposure, assigning user. This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because calculating data is nothing more than mathematical calculations, which can be performed by any general computer/controller. The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because receiving a call request, receiving user data, calculating final exposure, assigning user an elevator does not put into a practical application. With respect to claim 1, the claim merely receiving call request, receiving user data, calculating final exposure, assigning user, which can be performed by any general computer/controller. With respect to claim 11, it recites additional elements of one or more sensor, an elevator, elevator controller and a user device, but general controller parts does not turn the abstract idea into practical application. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERICK DAVID GLASS whose telephone number is (571)272-8395. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri_8-5pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Eduardo Colon-Santana can be reached at 571-272-2060. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /ERICK D GLASS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2846
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 14, 2020
Application Filed
Aug 16, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §101
Nov 17, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §101 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
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2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12559343
EMERGENCY TERMINAL DECELERATION IN ELEVATOR SYSTEMS
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 24, 2026
Patent 12552647
HOIST APPARATUS COMPRISING A MONITORING DEVICE AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM USING THE HOIST APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent 12556114
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2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
89%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+7.0%)
2y 5m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 700 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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