Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/137,202

System and Method for the Interactive Control of Vehicle Functions

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 20, 2023
Priority
Apr 21, 2022 — DE 10 2022 109 633.5
Examiner
CAMBY, RICHARD M
Art Unit
3661
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
795 granted / 891 resolved
+37.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
906
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.1%
-32.9% vs TC avg
§103
36.2%
-3.8% vs TC avg
§102
25.6%
-14.4% vs TC avg
§112
8.2%
-31.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 891 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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 § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) s 1, 3-7, 9-12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and(a)(2) as being anticipated by RICCI 2014/0143839. The PG pub to RICCI ‘839 discloses all features of the claimed invention as described in paragraphs 96, 122, 115, 130, 142, 157, 194, 196, 199, 251 and 374 with claims 1-27 1. (Currently Amended) A system for interaction control of vehicle functions, comprising: a vehicle; and a smart device configured to establish a communicative connection with the vehicle; wherein the vehicle is configured to:determine a trigger event in the vehicle comprising an evaluation of sensor data in the vehicle; andcommunicate a trigger data set to the smart device upon the trigger event being determined; andwherein the smart device is configured to, after receiving the trigger data set, interact with the vehicle according to the trigger data set by communicating back to the vehicle to control at least one vehicle function of the vehicle. (see paragraphs 153, 195 and 374 with smart phone control of vehicle functions. See also claims 1-27 of RICCI. 2. (Cancelled) 3. (Original) The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a vehicle communication unit and the smart device comprises a smart device communication unit, and wherein the communicative connection between vehicle and smart device comprises a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection. (See paragraph 122) 4. (Original) The system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is further configured to determine the trigger event comprising the evaluation of the sensor data in the vehicle further comprising determining a spatial relation between the smart device and the vehicle. (see paragraph 374 and claim 25 of RICCI) 5. (Currently Amended) The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data in the vehicle comprise at least one of the following: a current geographical position of the vehicle; [[/or]] data concerning a Point of Interest, POI, according to a current geographical position of the vehicle; data with respect to a geographical position that is important for the user of the vehicle; a current time of day or a current time stamp; a current position and/or a current movement vector of the smart device relative to the vehicle; and/or a current state of a vehicle function or a current vehicle sensor value. (see paragraph 374 and claim 25 of RICCI) 6. (Original) The system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor data in the vehicle comprises a current state of a vehicle function or a current vehicle sensor value, wherein the vehicle function or the current vehicle sensor value comprises data with respect to at least one of the following vehicle functions or vehicle sensor values:-- light switched on or off;-- doors right/left front/back or trunk or hood opened or closed;-- current tire pressure of tires front/back right/left;-- charging flap and/or gas cap opened/closed;-- requisite need for maintenance in the vehicle; and/or-- state of charge or fuel tank level of the vehicle. (See paragraph 157) Claims 7 and 9-12 follow from the above rejection. 7. (Currently Amended) A method for interactive control of vehicle functions, the method comprising: establishing a communicative connection between a smart device and a vehicle; determining, by the vehicle, a trigger event in the vehicle comprising evaluating sensor data in the vehicle; communicating, in response to determining the trigger, a trigger data set to the smart device; and interacting, by the smart device, with the vehicle according to the trigger data setjy communicating back to the vehicle to control at least one vehicle function of the vehicle. 8. (Cancelled) 9. (Original) The method according to claim 7, wherein establishing the communicative connection between the vehicle and the smart device comprises establishing a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection. 10. (Original) The method according to claim 7, wherein evaluating the sensor data in the vehicle comprises determining a spatial relation between the smart device and the vehicle. 11. (Original) The method according to claim 7, wherein evaluating the sensor data in the vehicle further comprises evaluating at least one of: a current geographical position of the vehicle;Attorney Docket No. 080437.PG320US data concerning a Point of Interest, POI, according to a current geographical position of the vehicle; data with respect to a geographical position that is important for the user of the vehicle; a current time of day or a current time stamp; a current position and/or a current movement vector of the smart device relative to the vehicle; and/or a current state of a vehicle function or a current vehicle sensor value. 12. (Original) The method according to claim 7, wherein evaluating the sensor data in the vehicle further comprises evaluating a current state of a vehicle function or a current vehicle sensor value, wherein the vehicle function or the current vehicle sensor value can comprise data with respect to at least one of the following vehicle functions or vehicle sensor values:light switched on or off;doors right/left front/back or trunk or hood opened or closed;current tire pressure of tires front/back right/left;charging flap and/or gas cap opened/closed;requisite need for maintenance in the vehicle; and/or state of charge or fuel tank level of the vehicle. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RICHARD M CAMBY whose telephone number is (571)272-6958. The examiner can normally be reached M - F flex. 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 D Nolan can be reached at 571 270 7016. 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. /RICHARD M CAMBY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3661
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Prosecution Timeline

Apr 20, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 28, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jun 26, 2025
Response Filed
Aug 20, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Nov 19, 2025
Response Filed
Jul 31, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
89%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+6.4%)
2y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 891 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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