Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/632,781

FACTOR ESTIMATION SYSTEM AND FACTOR ESTIMATION METHOD

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Feb 03, 2022
Examiner
MUSTANSIR, ABID A
Art Unit
3791
Tech Center
3700 — Mechanical Engineering & Manufacturing
Assignee
Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
4-5
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allow Rate
342 granted / 441 resolved
+7.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+13.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
61 currently pending
Career history
502
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.7%
-29.3% vs TC avg
§103
35.9%
-4.1% vs TC avg
§102
20.0%
-20.0% vs TC avg
§112
25.6%
-14.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 441 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION 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 The action is in response to amendments filed on 10/22/2025. Claims 1, 2, and 9 have been amended. Claims 1-13 are pending and examined below. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 5-6, 12-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Regarding claim 5, the limitation “…wherein the estimating the two or more main components is performed…” lacks antecedent basis. As such the claim is indefinite. Regarding claim 6, the limitation “estimation result” lacks antecedent basis. As such the claim is indefinite. Regarding claims 5, 12, 13, the claims assume a fall risk, but not consider scenarios in which no fall risk is determined. As such the claim is indefinite. Regarding claims 12 and 13, the claim recites the limitation “a more appropriate suggestion”. However, the term “a more appropriate suggestion” does not appear to define how a certain suggestion is more appropriate than another suggestion. Even if one would know what is “more appropriate,” these claims do not seem to require a first suggestion to be made for a comparison to determine if another suggestion is more appropriate than that first suggestion or not. As such the claim is indefinite. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, filed 10/22/2025, with respect to the previous 35 USC 112(b) rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. The previous 35 USC 112(b) rejections have been withdrawn. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ABID A MUSTANSIR whose telephone number is (408)918-7647. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10 am to 6 pm Pacific Time. 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, Jason Sims can be reached at 571-272-7540. 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. /ABID A MUSTANSIR/Examiner, Art Unit 3791
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 03, 2022
Application Filed
Mar 18, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
May 23, 2025
Response Filed
Jun 04, 2025
Final Rejection — §112
Jul 03, 2025
Interview Requested
Jul 16, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Jul 16, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jul 25, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 31, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 23, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Oct 02, 2025
Interview Requested
Oct 17, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Oct 17, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Oct 22, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Apr 10, 2026
Interview Requested

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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Patent 12594033
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Patent 12588840
BLOOD OXYGEN CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENT DEVICE AND METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+13.5%)
3y 0m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 441 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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