Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/405,750

IMAGE SUPER-RESOLUTION METHOD BASED ON KNOWLEDGE DISTILLATION COMPRESSION MODEL AND DEVICE THEREOF

Non-Final OA §101§112
Filed
Jan 05, 2024
Examiner
DICKERSON, CHAD S
Art Unit
2683
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
63%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 63% of resolved cases
63%
Career Allow Rate
376 granted / 600 resolved
+0.7% vs TC avg
Strong +23% interview lift
Without
With
+23.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
35 currently pending
Career history
635
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.8%
-31.2% vs TC avg
§103
55.5%
+15.5% vs TC avg
§102
14.9%
-25.1% vs TC avg
§112
18.1%
-21.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 600 resolved cases

Office Action

§101 §112
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 . Specification The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. The following title is suggested: IMAGE SUPER-RESOLUTION METHOD BASED ON KNOWLEDGE DISTILLATION COMPRESSION MODEL AND DEVICE THEREOF COMPRISING A TEACHER NETWORK AND STUDENT NETWORK OBTAINED AFTER REDUCING DEPTH OF THE TEACHER NETWORK. Claim Objections Claim 1 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 1, ll. 8: it is suggested to change the phrase “the first student module and the student module” to -- a first student module and a second student module --. Claims 2-5 and 7-13 are objected based on their dependency. Ll. 21: it is suggested to change the phrase “whether the structure is consistent” to -- whether the image structure is consistent --. Ll. 22: it is suggested to change the phrase “the texture is nature” to -- the texture detail is natural --. Ll. 23: the phrase “optimizing parameters of the two paths based on the loss” is suggested to be changed to -- optimizing parameters of the two optimized paths based on the loss term --. Claim 3, ll. 10: the phrase “integrates the semantic features of the previous layer” is suggested to be changed to -- integrates semantic features of a previous layer --. Ll. 11: it is suggested to change the phrase “from the current layer” to -- from a current layer --. Claim 8, ll. 10: the phrase “integrates the semantic features of the previous layer” is suggested to be changed to -- integrates semantic features of a previous layer --. Ll. 11: it is suggested to change the phrase “from the current layer” to -- from a current layer --. Claim 12, ll. 10: the phrase “integrates the semantic features of the previous layer” is suggested to be changed to -- integrates semantic features of a previous layer --. Ll. 11: it is suggested to change the phrase “from the current layer” to -- from a current layer --. Appropriate correction is required. 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 1-5, 7-13 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. The phrase “calculating a loss term based on the preliminary image result and the high-definition image to punish an incorrect image restoration by the network” renders the claim indefinite. Is this aspect of the claim referring to the convolution network, the teacher network or the student network? The phrase “inputting the low-definition image into the network” is considered as indefinite. The claim contains a teacher network and a student network. Which of these two networks are associated with this network? Clarity is requested regarding this feature. Claims 2-5, 7-13 are rejected based on their dependency. Claim 3, line 7 contains the phrase “a gradient of the network from disappearing”. Is this network referring to the teacher network, student network or convolution network? More clarity is requested. This same issue is present in claim 8, line 7 and claim 12, line 7. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows: Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. Claims 10-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim(s) does/do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because the claims appear to be directed towards a computer-readable storage medium, which can be considered as transitory or non-transitory. Based on this interpretation, these claim limitations are considered as non-statutory. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-5 and 7-13 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Kim discloses student-teacher transfer learning. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHAD S DICKERSON whose telephone number is (571)270-1351. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10AM-6PM EST.. 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, Abderrahim Merouan can be reached at 571-270-5254. 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. /CHAD DICKERSON/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2683
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 05, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 13, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §101, §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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
63%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+23.0%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 600 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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