DETAILED ACTION
Status of Claims
In response to applicant’s RCE filed 9/21/2026, claims 1-10 are pending in this application.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sowadski et al. (US 2014/0080099) in view of Wickman et al. (US 2022/0134881).
Regarding claim 1, Sowadski discloses a mixed simulation system with a geospatial virtual environment and both real and virtual assets with defined locations in the environment. See paragraphs 0082 and 0089. Sowadski discloses wherein the locations of the real and virtual vehicles are updated, and wherein the virtual vehicle is registered in the main simulation space and can be visible to the real vehicle via various displays (e.g. radar, etc.). See paragraphs 0098-0099 and 0107.
Sowadski does disclose a head-mounted AR device to view both the physical and virtual space, as described in paragraph 0125, but it is not entirely clear to what extent it is utilized. Sowadski does not explicitly disclose wherein the virtual asset is viewable through a HMD, and the view depends upon the user’s head position and the vehicle position in the main simulation space. However, this manner of simulation view is established, as is disclosed by the simulation system of Wickman in paragraphs 0016 (i.e. the view of the simulated vehicle itself through the HMD). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of applicant’s filing to consider such a scheme in the Sowadski system, to provide a realistic simulation.
Regarding claims 2-3, Sowadski discloses wherein the real vehicle is an airplane with a pilot engaged in a training task. See paragraphs 0081-0082.
Regarding claim 4, Sowadski discloses multiple real vehicles. See paragraph 0111.
Regarding claims 5-6, Sowadski discloses wherein weapons can be deployed both by the real or virtual assets. See paragraphs 0110 and 0119.
Regarding claims 7-8, Sowadski discloses countermeasures in paragraph 0115.
Regarding claim 10, Sowadski discloses wherein the real vehicle can be a ground transportation vehicle. See paragraph 0245.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sowadski et al. (US 2014/0080099) in view of Wickman et al. (US 2022/0134881) and Norbury (US 2004/0266540).
Regarding claim 9, Sowadski discloses wherein the simulation concepts can be used with various settings in paragraph 0245, but roller-coasters are not specifically disclosed. However, simulation of such is established, as is disclosed by the system of Norbury in paragraph 0002. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of applicant’s filing to consider this with the Sowadski system in order to provide various simulation scenarios.
Arguments/Remarks
Applicant’s arguments and remarks dated 9/21/2026 have been fully considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TIMOTHY A MUSSELMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-1814. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday, 8:00AM - 4:00PM.
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, PETER S VASAT can be reached at 571-570-7625. 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.
/TIMOTHY A MUSSELMAN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715
