Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/291,736

METHOD, APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR DISPLAYING PROMPT INFORMATION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 24, 2024
Examiner
LE, RONG
Art Unit
2421
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
BEIJING BYTEDANCE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
68%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 68% — above average
68%
Career Allow Rate
295 granted / 435 resolved
+9.8% vs TC avg
Strong +30% interview lift
Without
With
+29.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
469
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.3%
-34.7% vs TC avg
§103
58.2%
+18.2% vs TC avg
§102
13.8%
-26.2% vs TC avg
§112
11.1%
-28.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 435 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Miscellaneous Claims pending: 1-7, 11-23, Claims amended: 1, 5-6, 11-13, 15-16, 18-20, 22-23, Claims cancelled: 8-10, New claims: n/a Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1, (11, 18 similarly amended) have been fully considered. Regarding applicant’s remarks dated 10/22/2025, regarding none of currently cited references, especially Lemmons teach the amended portions of claim(s) 1, 11, 18. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in further view of Lemmons and Jorasch, see action below of details. Applicant’s arguments, with respect to the rejection(s) of dependent claim(s) 2-7, 12-17, 19-23 have been fully considered and are rejected based on the same reasons as independent claim(s) 1, 11, 18 above. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. Claim(s) 1-5, 11-15, 18-22, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (US PUB 20030028873) to (Lemmons) in view of (US 20120400142) to (Jorasch) Regarding claim(s) 1, 11, 18, Lemmons teach method for displaying prompt information, in response to detecting a to-be-displayed prompt content associated with a current live stream content, is pre-stored on a resource server, displaying a prompt content request entrance on a current live stream interface; the to-be-displayed prompt content comprising an outline of a script, the to-be-displayed prompt content being a content that is pre-produced based on a live stream requirement and uploaded to the resource server, and the to-be-displayed prompt content being a non-livestream traffic pushing content; wherein detecting the to-be-displayed prompt content comprises: detecting, based on an identifier associated with current live stream content, the to-be-displayed prompt content associated with the current live stream content is pre-stored on the resource server, the identifier comprising a subject of the to-be-displayed prompt content; in response to a trigger instruction of the prompt content request entrance, requesting the to-be-displayed prompt content from the resource server; and overlaying a view layer on the current live stream interface and displaying the to-be- displayed prompt content. (Lemmon Fig 1, 2, 7-9, P. 35, 44-46, 56-62, 68, Lemmons teach displaying a prompt label 120 (to-be-displayed prompt content) on content which may be applied to any type of video content and video signals such as live broadcast or taped/recorded, and upon the user clicking on the prompt label 120 (trigger instruction of the prompt content request entrance) while viewing the current live content, it will lead the user to a display wherein the current live content have additional information superimposed, such as links for accessing the pizza ordering from the local pizza shop via the supplemental information box on the corner of the content being displayed Fig 13, which reads on (overlaying a view layer on the current live stream interface and displaying the to-be- displayed prompt content; and to-be-displayed prompt content comprising an outline of a script, the to-be-displayed prompt content being a content that is pre-produced based on a live stream requirement), Lemmon further teach that the prompt label information can be potentially stored at server(s) 708, 704, 804, which communicate with central computer controller, 710, 810, which reads on (pre-stored on a resource server, uploaded to the resource server, and to-be-displayed prompt content being a non-livestream traffic pushing content), Fig 1, 3b, 7, 10, P. 32-33, 40, 42, 49, 59, 64, 70, 75, Lemmon further teach identifying the content objects within the current content (live broadcast or prerecorded as mentioned earlier. P. 35, 61-62) and finding attributes related to the prestored advertisements, so as to be able to identify the relevant ads for superimposing and supplementing with the content while the object is displayed within the content stream (live or recorded), which reads on (wherein detecting the to-be-displayed prompt content comprises: detecting, based on an identifier associated with current live stream content, the to-be-displayed prompt content associated with the current live stream content is pre-stored on the resource server, the identifier comprising a subject of the to-be-displayed prompt content)). Lemmons further teach non-transitory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor, being configured for performing a method for displaying prompt information. (Figs. 7, 8, P. 59-68) Jorasch further teach a live streamer user to obtain content prompt information during live stream, live stream script, wherein detecting the to-be-displayed prompt content comprises: detecting, based on an identifier associated with current live stream content, the to-be-displayed prompt, the identifier comprising at least one of: live user information, live stream room information, live stream time, or a subject of the to-be-displayed prompt content. (Fig. 44, 110, 117, P. 121, 333, 1446, 3045, 3071-3073, multiple users are playing live stream game interface on platform such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Mixer, etc., and displaying a button (or other indicator) to trigger user to select and open the game tutorial, which can open on the user device, and/or such as Fig 117, display 11700 is a live stream meeting between multiple users and a participant 11730 can launch a paper airplane for participant 11740, specifically P. 3073, which reads on (a live streamer user to obtain content prompt information during live stream), Fig 112, #11240, P. 3266, Fig. 113, #11340, 11330, 11350, 11320, 11310, P. 3266-3273, Jorasch further teach multiple users are interfacing in real time, and users can display live user comments (could be displayed in the background of the user), status, chyron information in various locations or formats, (to-be-displayed prompt) which all take place in real time with the live stream content, which reads on (live stream script, and detecting to-be-displayed prompt content comprises: detecting, based on an identifier associated with current live stream content, the to-be-displayed prompt, the identifier comprising at least one of: live user information, live stream room information, live stream time, or a subject of the to-be-displayed prompt content)). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Lemmons by a live streamer user to obtain content prompt information during live stream, live stream script, wherein detecting the to-be-displayed prompt content comprises: detecting, based on an identifier associated with current live stream content, the to-be-displayed prompt, the identifier comprising at least one of: live user information, live stream room information, live stream time, or a subject of the to-be-displayed prompt content as taught by Jorasch in order to enhance gaming experiences by improving interactions of people. Regarding claim(s) 2, 12, 19, Lemmons in view of Jorasch teach, the method, after requesting the to-be-displayed prompt content from the resource server, non-transitory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor. storing the to-be-displayed prompt content in a predetermined non-livestream traffic pushing data storage path. Lemmons further teach storing the to-be-displayed prompt content in a predetermined non-livestream traffic pushing data storage path. (Lemmon Fig 1, 2, 3A, 3B, 7, P.32, 35, 44-46, 48-49, 56-62, 68, Lemmon further teach that the prompt label information can be potentially stored at server(s) 708, 704, 804, which communicate with central computer controller, 710, 810, and database may be within a server, with attributes, the database paths with the relevant information read for attachment reads on (a predetermined non-livestream traffic pushing data storage path)). Regarding claim(s) 3, 13, 20, Lemmons in view of Jorasch teach, the method, displaying the to-be-displayed prompt content, non-transitory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor. Lemmons further teach before displaying the to-be-displayed prompt content, setting at least one parameter of a display position, a display mode, a number of display times, a display duration, or a display effect of the to-be-displayed prompt content. (Lemmon Fig 1, 2, 7, P. 35, 44-46, 56-62, 68, Lemmons teach displaying a prompt label 120 (to-be-displayed prompt content) on content which can be live broadcast content, at a spot of unused portion of the TV screen 100,). Regarding claim(s) 4, 14, 21, Lemmons in view of Jorasch teach, the method, displaying the to-be-displayed prompt content, non-transitory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor. Lemmons further teach displaying the to-be-displayed prompt content in a form of texts, pictures, or videos. (Lemmon Fig 1, 2, 7, P. 35, 44-46, 56-62, 68, Lemmons teach displaying a prompt label 120 (to-be-displayed prompt content) on content which can be live broadcast content, and upon the user clicking on the prompt label 120 (trigger instruction of the prompt content request entrance) while viewing the current live content, it will lead the user to a display wherein the current live content have additional information superimposed, with links for accessing the pizza ordering from the local pizza shop;). Regarding claim(s) 5, 15, 22, Lemmons in view of Jorasch teach, the method, non- transitory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor, the in response to detecting the to-be-displayed prompt content associated with the current live stream content is pre-stored on the resource server, displaying the prompt content request entrance on the current live stream interface, Jorasch further teach in response to a trigger operation by a user performed on any live stream game on current live stream interface, detecting whether a game guidance video of the live stream game is pre-stored in resource server based on an identifier of the live stream game; and in response to detecting that the game guidance video of live stream game is pre-stored in resource server, displaying a request entrance for displaying the game guidance video on the current live stream interface. (Fig. 44, 110, 117, P. 121, 333, 1446, 3045, multiple users are playing live stream game interface on platform such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, Mixer, etc., and displaying a button (or other indicator) to trigger user to select and open the game tutorial, which can open on the user device) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Lemmons in view of Jorasch by in response to a trigger operation by a user performed on any live stream game on current live stream interface, detecting whether a game guidance video of the live stream game is pre-stored in resource server based on an identifier of the live stream game; and in response to detecting that the game guidance video of live stream game is pre-stored in resource server, displaying a request entrance for displaying the game guidance video on the current live stream interface as taught by Jorasch in order to enhance gaming experiences by improving interactions of people. Claim(s) 6, 16, 23, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (US PUB 20030028873) to (Lemmons) in view of (US 20120400142) to (Jorasch) in view of (US 20140038141) to (Burza). Regarding claim(s) 6, 16, 23, Lemmons in view of Jorasch teach, the method, non- transitory storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions, the computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor, the overlaying the view layer on the current live stream interface and displaying the to-be-displayed prompt content, Lemmons in view of Jorasch fail to specifically overlaying view layer on current live stream interface and playing game guidance video. Burza teach overlaying view layer on current live stream interface and playing game guidance video. (Fig. 5, 6, P. 16, 19-22, 52, overlay video tutorial content over the live video feed) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Lemmons in view of Jorasch by overlaying view layer on current live stream interface and playing game guidance video as taught by Burza in order to enhance gaming experiences that will attract frequent play. Claim(s) 7, 17, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (US PUB 20030028873) to (Lemmons) in view of (US 20120400142) to (Jorasch) in view of (US 20140038141) to (Burza) in view of (20210182469) to (Fisher) Regarding claim(s) 7, 17, Lemmons in view of Jorasch in view of Burza teach, the method, an interface for displaying the game guidance video. Lemmons in view of Jorasch in view of Burza fail to specifically in response to a trigger operation for the exit guidance video control, ending a playing process of the game guidance video; or, in response to a trigger operation for the replay control, replaying the game guidance video. Fisher teach in response to a trigger operation for the exit guidance video control, ending a playing process of the game guidance video; or, in response to a trigger operation for the replay control, replaying the game guidance video. (Fig. 3A, P. 41, exit button to close the video player) Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Lemmons in view of Jorasch in view of Burza by in response to a trigger operation for the exit guidance video control, ending a playing process of the game guidance video; or, in response to a trigger operation for the replay control, replaying the game guidance video as taught by Fisher in order to improve system and method for video and content association. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RONG LE whose telephone number is (571)270-7637. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (9 am - 6pm). 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, Nathan Flynn can be reached on 5712721915. 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. /RONG LE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2421
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 24, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 28, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Jun 04, 2025
Response Filed
Jul 21, 2025
Final Rejection — §103
Jul 21, 2025
Examiner Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 22, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 29, 2025
Examiner Interview (Telephonic)
Oct 22, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Nov 02, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (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
68%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+29.7%)
3y 4m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 435 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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