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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 12/18/2026 has been entered.
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.
Claims 1, 3-4, 6, 8, 11-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Su (US 2012/0303270) in view of Andrew (US 2018/0283891)
As to claim 1 Su discloses a method comprising:
at a computer system in communication with one or more input devices and one or more output devices:
receiving, via the one or more input devices, a request to present navigation directions from a first physical location to a second physical location(Paragraph 43 “or example, to determine directions for a route, the map navigation tool (210) provides a start location (typically, the current location of the computing device with the map navigation tool (210)) and an end location for a destination (e.g., an address or other specific location) as part of a request for map data to the OS (250).”); and
in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions:
in accordance with a determination that a current location of the computer system is greater than a threshold distance from the first physical location, presenting, via the one or more output devices, an orientation cue to orient a user of the computer system from the current location to the first physical location (Paragraph 73 “FIG. 10 shows a technique for outputting and then selectively suppressing off-route feedback based on whether an updated location is within an end-of-route buffer area. A computing device such as a mobile computing device can perform the technique (1000). For example, a mobile computing device identifies (1010) a first location of the mobile computing device (e.g., a mobile computing device held or controlled by a user). The mobile computing device outputs (1020) off-route feedback based at least in part on the first location and a route defined by a map navigation tool. For example, the mobile computing device outputs off-route feedback if the device is off-route, but not within an end-of-route buffer area. The mobile computing devices identifies (1030) an updated location of the mobile computing device (e.g., the location of the mobile computing device is updated after a user holding the mobile computing device has moved some distance). The mobile computing device determines (1040) whether the updated location is within an end-of-route buffer area associated with the route…..A determination to output off-route feedback can be based on movement direction. For example, a mobile computing device can output off-route feedback if a movement direction indicates that a user is on-route but moving in the wrong direction (e.g., away from the destination).”); wherien:
in accordance with a determination that the current location of the computer system is a first distance from the first physical location, the orientation cue with a characteristic having a first value (Paragraph 68 “In the example shown in FIG. 5a, the icon (502) is located on the route (510). The movement direction indicated by the icon (502) in FIG. 5a is considered an on-route direction (movement toward the end location))…. FIGS. 5c and 5d represent exemplary situations in which an off-route event could be raised, except that the respective locations represented by the icon (502) are within the end-of-route buffer area (540), so off-route feedback can be suppressed. In the example shown in FIG. 5e, the icon (502) is located off the route (510) but within the arrival area (530). FIG. 5e represents an exemplary situation in which an arrive-at-destination event can be raised and further off-route events can be disabled.”, Paragraph 82 “In the example shown in FIG. 11a, the icon (1102) is located within the start-of-route buffer area (1130). The movement direction indicated by the icon (1102) in FIG. 11a is toward the start location. FIG. 11a represents a situation where off-route feedback can be suppressed. In the example shown in FIG. 11b, the icon (1102) is located off the route (1110) and outside the start-of-route buffer area (1130). However, FIG. 11b represents another situation where off-route feedback can be suppressed. For example, if a user generated the route (1110) at the location indicated by the icon (1102), off-route feedback can be suppressed while the user proceeds to the start location (as shown in FIG. 11c) or joins the route downstream from the start location (as shown in FIG. 11d).”), and
in accordance with a determination that the current location of the computer system is a second distance different from the first distance from the first physical location, the orientation cue with the characteristic having a second value different from the first value(Paragraph 68 “FIG. 5b represents a situation where an off-route event can be raised, and off-route feedback can be presented to a user (e.g., via visual output or audio output)., Paragraph 82).; and
in accordance with a determination that the current location of the computer system is within the threshold distance of the first physical location, forgoing presenting the orientation cue (Paragraph 82 “In the example shown in FIG. 11a, the icon (1102) is located within the start-of-route buffer area (1130). The movement direction indicated by the icon (1102) in FIG. 11a is toward the start location. FIG. 11a represents a situation where off-route feedback can be suppressed.”).
Su does not explicitly disclose when the computer system has a first bearing relative to the first physical location, presenting the orientation cue includes presenting the orientation cue with a characteristic having a first value;
Andrew teaches when the computer system has a first bearing relative to the first physical location, presenting the orientation cue includes presenting the orientation cue with a characteristic having a first value (Paragraph 32 “Using this information, the device 104 may calculate a distance 204 to the next navigation point 110, and a heading offset 206 to the next navigation point 110 (e.g., an angle between the heading 202 of the user 102 and the cardinal direction of the next navigation point 110). In this example scenario, as the user 102 travels along a straight road (with a relatively fixed heading 202), the heading offset 206 increases as the distance 204 to the next navigation point 110 diminishes, due to the approaching navigation point 110 that is positioned toward the right side of the user 102. Further, the device 104 may periodically 212 present, to the user 102, a guidance audio cue 208 that indicates the distance 204 to the next navigation point 110 and the heading offset 206 to the next navigation point 110. In this example scenario 200, the device 104 comprises audio output components that are capable of generating an audio spatial field 210, such as a plurality of speakers arranged within a vehicle of the user 102, a binaural headset, or a simulated three-dimensional audio field. The guidance audio cue 208 is presented to the user 102 that indicates the distance (or, in this example, the proximity) to the next navigation point 110, e.g., by increasing the volume level of the guidance audio cue 208 as the distance to the next navigation point 110 is reduced. Additionally, the guidance audio cue 208 is positioned within the audiospatial field 210 to indicate the heading offset 206. For instance, when the next navigation point 110 is far away and approximately straightforward, the guidance audio cue 208 is presented at an approximately forward-facing location in the audiospatial field 210 (e.g., the guidance audio cue 208 may be played through a binaural speaker set with approximately equal volume through each speaker). However, when the user 102 approaches the next navigation point 110 and the heading offset 206 indicates a steadily increasing angle toward the user's right-hand side, the guidance audio cue 208 is positioned at an increasingly rightward position in the audiospatial field 210 (e.g., a binaural speaker set may present the cue with increasing volume in the right speaker or the right ear of the user 102, and a diminishing volume in the left speaker or left ear of the user 102). In this manner, the guidance audio cues 208 that the device 104 periodically presents to the user 102 may assist the user 102 in understanding the position of the next navigation point 110 relative to the current position 114 of the user 102, in accordance with the techniques presented herein.”);
and the computer system has a second bearing relative to the first physical location different from the first bearing, presenting the orientation cue with the characteristic having second value different form the first value(Paragraph 32 “Using this information, the device 104 may calculate a distance 204 to the next navigation point 110, and a heading offset 206 to the next navigation point 110 (e.g., an angle between the heading 202 of the user 102 and the cardinal direction of the next navigation point 110). In this example scenario, as the user 102 travels along a straight road (with a relatively fixed heading 202), the heading offset 206 increases as the distance 204 to the next navigation point 110 diminishes, due to the approaching navigation point 110 that is positioned toward the right side of the user 102. Further, the device 104 may periodically 212 present, to the user 102, a guidance audio cue 208 that indicates the distance 204 to the next navigation point 110 and the heading offset 206 to the next navigation point 110. In this example scenario 200, the device 104 comprises audio output components that are capable of generating an audiospatial field 210, such as a plurality of speakers arranged within a vehicle of the user 102, a binaural headset, or a simulated three-dimensional audio field. The guidance audio cue 208 is presented to the user 102 that indicates the distance (or, in this example, the proximity) to the next navigation point 110, e.g., by increasing the volume level of the guidance audio cue 208 as the distance to the next navigation point 110 is reduced. Additionally, the guidance audio cue 208 is positioned within the audiospatial field 210 to indicate the heading offset 206. For instance, when the next navigation point 110 is far away and approximately straightforward, the guidance audio cue 208 is presented at an approximately forward-facing location in the audiospatial field 210 (e.g., the guidance audio cue 208 may be played through a binaural speaker set with approximately equal volume through each speaker). However, when the user 102 approaches the next navigation point 110 and the heading offset 206 indicates a steadily increasing angle toward the user's right-hand side, the guidance audio cue 208 is positioned at an increasingly rightward position in the audiospatial field 210 (e.g., a binaural speaker set may present the cue with increasing volume in the right speaker or the right ear of the user 102, and a diminishing volume in the left speaker or left ear of the user 102). In this manner, the guidance audio cues 208 that the device 104 periodically presents to the user 102 may assist the user 102 in understanding the position of the next navigation point 110 relative to the current position 114 of the user 102, in accordance with the techniques presented herein.”);.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill to modify Su to include the teachings of presenting orientation cue with a different characteristic for the purpose of guiding the user along the route.
As to claim 3 Su discloses a method further comprising:
in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions:
displaying, via a display generation component in communication with the computer system, an indication of a navigation route from the first physical location to the second physical location (Paragraph 43-45).
As to claim 4 Su discloses a method further comprising:
in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions: in accordance with the determination that the current location of the computer system is within the threshold distance of the first physical location, initiating navigation from the first physical location to the second physical location according to the navigation directions(Paragraph 76).
As to claim 6 Su discloses a method wherein the orientation cue includes audio pulses and the characteristic is a time period between the audio pulses (Paragraph 68).
As to claim 8 Su discloses a method wherein the orientation cue includes tactile pulses and the characteristic is a time period between the tactile pulses(Paragraph 59).
As to claim 11 Su discloses a method wherein:
in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions and in accordance with the determination that the current location of the computer system is greater than the threshold distance from the first physical location:
in accordance with a determination that a bearing of the computer system relative to the first location is within a predefined range of orientations, the orientation cue has a characteristic having a first value(Paragraph 82); and
in accordance with a determination that the bearing of the computer system relative to the first location is within the predefined range of orientations, the orientation cue has the characteristic having a second value different from the first value(Paragraph 82).
As to claim 12 Andrew teaches a method wherein:
in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions and in accordance with the determination that the current location of the computer system is greater than the threshold distance from the first physical location:
while the distance between the computer system and the first physical location is a first distance, a bearing of the computer system relative to the first physical location is a third bearing and there is a physical occlusion between the computer system and the first physical location, the orientation cue has a first set of characteristics (Paragraph 32), and
while the distance between the computer system and the first physical location is the first distance, the bearing of the computer system relative to the first physical location is the third bearing and there is not the physical occlusion between the computer system and the first physical location, the orientation cue has the first set of characteristics(Paragraph 32).
As to claim 13 Su discloses a method further comprising:
in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions:
in accordance with the determination that the computer system is within the threshold distance of the first physical location when the input corresponding to the request to present the navigation directions is received, presenting the navigation directions without presenting the orientation cue (Paragraph 60).
As to claim 14 Su discloses a method further comprising: in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions, and in response to the current location of the computer system transitioning from being greater than the threshold distance from the first physical location to the current location of the computer system being within the threshold distance of the first physical location:
transitioning from presenting an indication of the distance between the current location of the computer system and the first physical location without presenting the navigation directions to presenting the navigation directions without presenting the orientation cue(Paragraph 60).
As to claim 15 the claim is interpreted and rejected as in claim 1.
As to claim 16 the claim is interpreted and rejected as in claim 1.
Claims 2, 7, 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Su (US 2012/0303270) in view of Andrew (US 2018/0283891) as applied to claim 1 above, and in further view of Cummings (US 12,287,220)
As to claim 2 Cummings teaches discloses a method wherein presenting the orientation cue is in accordance with a determination that a setting is active on the computer system, and the method further comprises:
in accordance with the determination that the current location of the computer system is greater than the threshold distance from the first physical location and in accordance with a determination that the setting is not active on the computer system, forgoing presenting the orientation cue (Column 6 lines 16-31). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill to modify Su to include the teachings of allowing the user to setup whether or not to provide the orientation cue for the purpose of improving the user experience.
As to claim 7 Cummings teaches a method wherein:
in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions and in accordance with the determination that the current location of the computer system is greater than the threshold distance from the first physical location:
in accordance with a determination that the current location of the computer system is greater than a second threshold distance greater than the threshold distance from the first physical location, the orientation cue has a second characteristic different from the characteristic having a first value(Column 6 lines 16-31), and
in accordance with a determination that the current location of the computer system is less than the second threshold distance from the first physical location, the orientation cue has the second characteristic having a second value different from the first value(Column 6 lines 16-31).
As to claim 9 Cummings teaches a method further comprising:
in response to receiving the request to present the navigation directions and in accordance with the determination that the current location of the computer system is greater than the threshold distance from the first physical location:
detecting a change in bearing of the computer system relative to the first physical location(Column 6 lines 16-31);
and
in response to detecting the change in the bearing of the computer system relative to the first physical location:
in accordance with a determination that the change in bearing of the computer system relative to the first location includes the bearing of the computer system relative to the first physical location changing from the bearing of the computer system being outside of a predefined range of orientations to being inside the predefined range of orientations, presenting a second orientation cue when the computer system is positioned at a threshold angle of the predefined range of orientations(Column 6 lines 16-31); and
in accordance with a determination that the change in bearing of the computer system relative to the first location includes the bearing of the computer system relative to the first physical location changing from the bearing of the computer system being inside the predefined range of orientations to being outside of the predefined range of orientations, presenting a third orientation cue when the computer system is positioned at the threshold of the predefined range of orientations(Column 6 lines 16-31).
As to claim 10 Cummings teaches a method wherein the second orientation cue has a first intensity and the third orientation cue has a second intensity different from the first intensity(Column 6 lines 16-31).
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-4, 6-16 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
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to IMRAN K MUSTAFA whose telephone number is (571)270-1471. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 9-5.
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IMRAN K. MUSTAFA
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 3668
/IMRAN K MUSTAFA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3668 3/21/2026