Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/163,710

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HIGH DEFINITION MAP FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING COMPUTER PROGRAM THEREFOR

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Feb 02, 2023
Examiner
HAILE, BENYAM
Art Unit
2688
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Rideflux In
OA Round
4 (Final)
62%
Grant Probability
Moderate
5-6
OA Rounds
2y 5m
To Grant
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 62% of resolved cases
62%
Career Allow Rate
428 granted / 691 resolved
At TC average
Strong +25% interview lift
Without
With
+25.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
55 currently pending
Career history
746
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.5%
-37.5% vs TC avg
§103
54.7%
+14.7% vs TC avg
§102
16.0%
-24.0% vs TC avg
§112
20.9%
-19.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 691 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 . Status of Claims Claims 1, 13, 14 are pending. 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 1, 13, 14 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. Claims 1, 13, 14 recite the limitation “A method of generating a high definition map for autonomous driving control of a vehicle, which is performed by a computing device, … comprising: selecting one or more map layers …, a map layer is selected by a user”. The claims recite that the method, that includes the step of selecting, is performed by a computing device; wherein the claim further recites that the selecting is performed by a user. It is not clear which of the user or the computing device performs the selecting step and the scope of the claim could not be determined. The claims are considered indefinite. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 13, 14 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BENYAM HAILE whose telephone number is (571)272-2080. The examiner can normally be reached 7:00 AM - 5:30 PM Mon. - Thur.. 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, Steven Lim can be reached at (571)270-1210. 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. /Benyam Haile/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2688
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 02, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 07, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Jul 09, 2025
Response Filed
Jul 14, 2025
Final Rejection — §112
Sep 08, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 26, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 02, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 05, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Jan 04, 2026
Interview Requested
Jan 06, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Jan 06, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Feb 09, 2026
Response Filed
Feb 23, 2026
Final Rejection — §112 (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

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
62%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+25.1%)
2y 5m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 691 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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