Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/276,781

CONTAINER LOADING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND CONTAINER LOADING MANAGEMENT METHOD

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 10, 2023
Examiner
DADA, BEEMNET W
Art Unit
2435
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
NEC Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allow Rate
776 granted / 920 resolved
+26.3% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+17.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
933
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
14.3%
-25.7% vs TC avg
§103
28.4%
-11.6% vs TC avg
§102
31.7%
-8.3% vs TC avg
§112
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 920 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
CTNF 18/276,781 CTNF 80215 Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on November 24, 2023 has been considered. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Form PTO-1449 is signed and attached hereto. Drawings The drawings filed on August 10, 2023 are accepted. Specification The specification filed August 10, 2023 is accepted. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 07-07-aia AIA 07-07 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 – 07-08-aia AIA (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. 07-15 AIA Claim s 1 and 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102( a)(1 ) as being anticipated by Digby-Jones et al. US 2015/0294227 A1 [hereinafter Dig by- Jones] . As per claim 1, Digby-Jones teaches a container loading management system comprising: a container management device which manages a container to be loaded [paragraphs 0039-0041]; a container loading planning device which replies to a loading position of the container in response to an inquiry [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; and a learning device which learns a model used by the container loading planning device to determine the loading position of the container [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069], wherein the container management device includes: a loading container information input means which accepts input of information on the target container which is the container to be loaded next [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; an inquiring means which transmits current loading state and information on the target container to the container loading planning device to inquire about the loading position of the target container [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; an evaluation means which outputs an evaluation value for loading the target container at the loading position received from the container loading planning device [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; and an output means which outputs data including the loading state and information on the target container, the loading position of the target container, and the evaluation value as training data [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069], wherein the learning device includes: a learning means which learns the model by machine learning using the output training data [paragraphs 0044, 0045 and 0049]; and a model output means which outputs the learned model [paragraphs 0044, 0045 and 0049], and wherein the container loading planning device includes a loading position determination means which determines the loading position of the target container based on the loading state received from the container management device [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069], wherein the loading position determination means determines the loading position of the target container using the output model [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]. As per claim 6, Digby-Jones teaches a container loading management method comprising: by a container management device which manages a container to be loaded, accepting input of information on the target container which is the container to be loaded next [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; by the container management device, transmitting current loading state and information on the target container to a container loading planning device which replies to a loading position of the container in response to an inquiry, and inquiring about the loading position of the target container [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; by the container loading planning device, determining the loading position of the target container based on the loading state received from the container management device [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; by the container management device, outputting an evaluation value for loading the target container at the loading position received from the container loading planning device [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; by the container management device, outputting data including the loading state and information on the target container, the loading position of the target container, and the evaluation value as training data [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; by a learning device which learns a model used by the container loading planning device to determine the loading position of the container, learning the model by machine learning using the output training data; by the learning device, outputting the learned model [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069]; and by the container loading planning device, determining the loading position of the target container using the output model [paragraphs 0039-0041 and 0067-0069] . Allowable Subject Matter 12-151-08 AIA 07-43 12-51-08 Claim s 2-5 and 7 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BEEMNET W DADA whose telephone number is (571)272-3847. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9am-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, Joseph Hirl can be reached at 571-272-3685. 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. BEEMNET W. DADA Primary Examiner Art Unit 2435 /BEEMNET W DADA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2435 Application/Control Number: 18/276,781 Page 2 Art Unit: 2435 Application/Control Number: 18/276,781 Page 3 Art Unit: 2435 Application/Control Number: 18/276,781 Page 4 Art Unit: 2435 Application/Control Number: 18/276,781 Page 5 Art Unit: 2435
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 10, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+17.8%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 920 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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