Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/719,216

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING ELEVATOR LOADS

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
Apr 12, 2022
Priority
Apr 13, 2021 — provisional 63/174,284
Examiner
GLASS, ERICK DAVID
Art Unit
2846
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Appana Industries LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
634 granted / 709 resolved
+21.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
731
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
62.0%
+22.0% vs TC avg
§102
34.2%
-5.8% vs TC avg
§112
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 709 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 . 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 37-40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim(s) (37) recite(s) determining a first elevator car location, determining position count, determining load, comparing load, determining the load and rendering the first elevator car inoperable. This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because determining load, comparing and rendering, is only analyzing data, can be done by general purpose computer and the rendering step is an insignificant extra post solution activity that does not integrate the abstract idea of determining and comparing into a practical application. The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because determining location/load, comparing load, and rendering, analyze data, which is just mathematical relationship. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 21-36 are allowable. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: With respect to claim 21, the Prior Art does not teach determining a first elevator car is located at a first location of a plurality of locations by a dispatch controller, wherein each of the plurality of locations includes a predefined positional count; determining a positional count of the first elevator car at the first location; determining a load of the first elevator car at the first location based on a difference between the positional count and the predefined positional count corresponding to the first location; comparing the load of the first elevator car at the first location to a first threshold that defines a location occupancy of the first location; and parking a second elevator car at the first location when the load of the first elevator car exceeds the first threshold of the first location. With respect to claim 33, the Prior Art does not teach determine a load of the first elevator car based on a difference between the positional count of the first elevator car when located at the first location and a predefined positional count of the first location, wherein each of the plurality of locations includes a corresponding predefined positional count; compare the load of the first elevator car at the first location to a first threshold that defines a location occupancy of the first location; and park a second elevator car at the first location when the load of the elevator car exceeds the first threshold of the first location. 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

Apr 12, 2022
Application Filed
Nov 11, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 07, 2026
Examiner Interview (Telephonic)
Apr 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12676564
Method and Control Device for Operating a Roadbound All-Wheel Vehicle
2y 12m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12668454
ELEVATOR DEVICE
3y 4m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026
Patent 12654985
AVOIDING ENTRAPMENT IN AN ELEVATOR
3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12654987
ELEVATOR SYSTEMS AND ROBOT OPERATIONS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH
3y 11m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026
Patent 12651983
MOTOR CONTROL DEVICE
2y 2m to grant Granted Jun 09, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
89%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+7.0%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 709 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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