Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/411,084

DISPLAY METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING PROGRAM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 12, 2024
Examiner
CHOWDHURY, SULTAN U.
Art Unit
2882
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Seiko Epson Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 2m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allow Rate
1318 granted / 1472 resolved
+21.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
1493
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.2%
-38.8% vs TC avg
§103
47.5%
+7.5% vs TC avg
§102
26.4%
-13.6% vs TC avg
§112
15.9%
-24.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1472 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 – (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1, 6-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by ICHIEDA (US 2021/0266506 A1). As of claim 1, ICHIEDA teaches a display method 1000 [fig 1] comprising: displaying a projection image G1 (first image) [fig 3] [0082] on a projection surface 5a [fig 1] by controlling a projection apparatus 1 [fig 1] (the projector 1 receives image data from the PC 4) [0037]; displaying a pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3] located at a corner of the projection image G1 [fig 3] by controlling the projection apparatus 1 [fig 1]; performing first correction (the image processing section 102 performs image processing such as a gamma correction on the image data received from the PC 4 to thereby generate the image signal) [0055] of correcting a shape of the projection image G2 [fig 2] by changing a position of the corner ABCD [fig 3] of the projection image based on a user's operation (the operation receiving section 101 receives an input operation of the user) [0054] of moving the pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3]; and displaying a guide image E1 [fig 4] [0094] indicating positions where one or more markers F1a-F1d [fig 4] are put by the user by controlling the projection apparatus (by the PC4) [fig 1] at a predetermined position on the projection surface 5a [fig 1] with respect to the position of the pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3] moved based on the user's operation (the operation receiving section 101 receives an input operation of the user) [0054]. As of claim 6, ICHIEDA teaches an information processing apparatus 1 [fig 2] comprising a processing apparatus 108 (control section) [fig 2], wherein the processing apparatus 1 [fig 2] controls a projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to cause the projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to display a projection image on a projection surface 5a [fig 2], controls (by control section 108) [fig 2] the projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to cause the projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to display a pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3] located at a corner of the projection image G1 [fig 3], performs first correction (the image processing section 102 performs image processing such as a gamma correction on the image data received from the PC 4 to thereby generate the image signal) [0055] of correcting a shape of the projection image G2 [fig 2] by changing a position of the corner ABCD [fig 3] of the projection image based on a user's operation (the operation receiving section 101 receives an input operation of the user) [0054] of moving the pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3], and controls (by the PC4) [fig 1] the projection apparatus projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to cause the projection apparatus projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to display a guide image E1 [fig 4] [0094] indicating positions where one or more markers F1a-F1d [fig 4] are put by the user (the operation receiving section 101 receives an input operation of the user) [0054] at a predetermined position (shown with arrows) [fig 3] on the projection surface G1 [fig 3] with respect to a position of the pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3] moved based on the user's operation (the operation receiving section 101 receives an input operation of the user) [0054]. As of claim 7, ICHIEDA teaches a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium 107 [fig 2] storing a program [0070] that causes a processing apparatus 108 [fig 1] to control a projection apparatus 1 [fig 1] to cause the projection apparatus 1 [fig 1] to display a projection image on a projection surface 5a [fig 1], controls a projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to cause the projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to display a projection image on a projection surface 5a [fig 2], controls (by control section 108) [fig 2] the projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to cause the projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to display a pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3] located at a corner of the projection image G1 [fig 3], performs first correction (the image processing section 102 performs image processing such as a gamma correction on the image data received from the PC 4 to thereby generate the image signal) [0055] of correcting a shape of the projection image G2 [fig 2] by changing a position of the corner ABCD [fig 3] of the projection image based on a user's operation (the operation receiving section 101 receives an input operation of the user) [0054] of moving the pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3], and controls (by the PC4) [fig 1] the projection apparatus projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to cause the projection apparatus projection apparatus 1 [fig 2] to display a guide image E1 [fig 4] [0094] indicating positions where one or more markers F1a-F1d [fig 4] are put by the user (the operation receiving section 101 receives an input operation of the user) [0054] at a predetermined position (shown with arrows) [fig 3] on the projection surface G1 [fig 3] with respect to a position of the pointer image (shown with arrows) [fig 3] moved based on the user's operation (the operation receiving section 101 receives an input operation of the user) [0054]. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-5 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. As of claim 2, the closest prior art ICHIEDA (US 2021/0266506 A1) teaches a projector 1 which includes an operation receiving section 101, an image processing section 102, a light valve drive section 103, a projection section 104, a light source drive section 105, the imaging section 106, a storage section 107, a control section 108, and a bus 109. The image processing section 102 includes an image combining section 102a and a distortion correction section 102b. The projection section 104 includes a light source 11, a red-color liquid crystal light valve 12R, a green-color liquid crystal light valve 12G, a blue-color liquid crystal light valve 12B, and a projection optical system 13. projector 1 includes an operation receiving section 101, an image processing section 102, a light valve drive section 103, a projection section 104, a light source drive section 105, the imaging section 106, a storage section 107, a control section 108, and a bus 109. The image processing section 102 includes an image combining section 102a and a distortion correction section 102b. The projection section 104 includes a light source 11, a red-color liquid crystal light valve 12R, a green-color liquid crystal light valve 12G, a blue-color liquid crystal light valve 12B, and a projection optical system 13. The image processing section 102 is formed of a circuit such as a single image processor or two or more image processors. The image processing section 102 performs image processing on the image data to thereby generate the image signal. For example, the image processing section 102 performs image processing such as a gamma correction on the image data received from the PC 4 to thereby generate the image signal. The image data which is received by the image processing section 102 from other equipment is hereinafter referred to as “reception image data.” ICHIEDA does not anticipate or render obvious, alone or in combination, the pointer image has first and second lines, and the guide image has a figure that surrounds an intersection where the first and second lines intersect with each other. As of claim 3, the closest prior art ICHIEDA (US 2021/0266506 A1) teaches a projector 1 which includes an operation receiving section 101, an image processing section 102, a light valve drive section 103, a projection section 104, a light source drive section 105, the imaging section 106, a storage section 107, a control section 108, and a bus 109. The image processing section 102 includes an image combining section 102a and a distortion correction section 102b. The projection section 104 includes a light source 11, a red-color liquid crystal light valve 12R, a green-color liquid crystal light valve 12G, a blue-color liquid crystal light valve 12B, and a projection optical system 13. projector 1 includes an operation receiving section 101, an image processing section 102, a light valve drive section 103, a projection section 104, a light source drive section 105, the imaging section 106, a storage section 107, a control section 108, and a bus 109. The image processing section 102 includes an image combining section 102a and a distortion correction section 102b. The projection section 104 includes a light source 11, a red-color liquid crystal light valve 12R, a green-color liquid crystal light valve 12G, a blue-color liquid crystal light valve 12B, and a projection optical system 13. The image processing section 102 is formed of a circuit such as a single image processor or two or more image processors. The image processing section 102 performs image processing on the image data to thereby generate the image signal. For example, the image processing section 102 performs image processing such as a gamma correction on the image data received from the PC 4 to thereby generate the image signal. The image data which is received by the image processing section 102 from other equipment is hereinafter referred to as “reception image data.” ICHIEDA does not anticipate or render obvious, alone or in combination, acquiring a captured image representing a result of capture of an image of a range containing a display region where the projection image is displayed, and detecting a plurality of characteristic points corresponding in a one-to-one manner to four corners of a first image showing the display region contained in the captured image by performing image processing on the captured image, wherein when there is a corner at which none of the characteristic points is detected out of the four corners of the first image, the pointer image is located at a corner of projection image that corresponds to the corner at which none of the characteristic points is detected. As of claim 4, the closest prior art ICHIEDA (US 2021/0266506 A1) teaches a projector 1 which includes an operation receiving section 101, an image processing section 102, a light valve drive section 103, a projection section 104, a light source drive section 105, the imaging section 106, a storage section 107, a control section 108, and a bus 109. The image processing section 102 includes an image combining section 102a and a distortion correction section 102b. The projection section 104 includes a light source 11, a red-color liquid crystal light valve 12R, a green-color liquid crystal light valve 12G, a blue-color liquid crystal light valve 12B, and a projection optical system 13. projector 1 includes an operation receiving section 101, an image processing section 102, a light valve drive section 103, a projection section 104, a light source drive section 105, the imaging section 106, a storage section 107, a control section 108, and a bus 109. The image processing section 102 includes an image combining section 102a and a distortion correction section 102b. The projection section 104 includes a light source 11, a red-color liquid crystal light valve 12R, a green-color liquid crystal light valve 12G, a blue-color liquid crystal light valve 12B, and a projection optical system 13. The image processing section 102 is formed of a circuit such as a single image processor or two or more image processors. The image processing section 102 performs image processing on the image data to thereby generate the image signal. For example, the image processing section 102 performs image processing such as a gamma correction on the image data received from the PC 4 to thereby generate the image signal. The image data which is received by the image processing section 102 from other equipment is hereinafter referred to as “reception image data.” ICHIEDA does not anticipate or render obvious, alone or in combination, the displaying the guide image includes displaying a message that prompts the user to put the one or more markers. As of claim 5, the closest prior art ICHIEDA (US 2021/0266506 A1) teaches a projector 1 which includes an operation receiving section 101, an image processing section 102, a light valve drive section 103, a projection section 104, a light source drive section 105, the imaging section 106, a storage section 107, a control section 108, and a bus 109. The image processing section 102 includes an image combining section 102a and a distortion correction section 102b. The projection section 104 includes a light source 11, a red-color liquid crystal light valve 12R, a green-color liquid crystal light valve 12G, a blue-color liquid crystal light valve 12B, and a projection optical system 13. projector 1 includes an operation receiving section 101, an image processing section 102, a light valve drive section 103, a projection section 104, a light source drive section 105, the imaging section 106, a storage section 107, a control section 108, and a bus 109. The image processing section 102 includes an image combining section 102a and a distortion correction section 102b. The projection section 104 includes a light source 11, a red-color liquid crystal light valve 12R, a green-color liquid crystal light valve 12G, a blue-color liquid crystal light valve 12B, and a projection optical system 13. The image processing section 102 is formed of a circuit such as a single image processor or two or more image processors. The image processing section 102 performs image processing on the image data to thereby generate the image signal. For example, the image processing section 102 performs image processing such as a gamma correction on the image data received from the PC 4 to thereby generate the image signal. The image data which is received by the image processing section 102 from other equipment is hereinafter referred to as “reception image data.” ICHIEDA does not anticipate or render obvious, alone or in combination, the displaying the guide image includes displaying a numeral representing the number of locations where the one or more markers are put by the user. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: - Prior Art Mochizuki et al. (US 20040061838 A1) teaches a projector comprising an image display portion and a projection lens for projecting an image displayed on the image display portion to a screen, and further comprises an image sensor which is placed in the vicinity of the projection lens and images a projected and, displayed image and a screen, means for detecting a projection display area from an image imaged by the image sensor, means for detecting a screen area from the image imaged by the image sensor, and means for correcting an input image data so that the projection display area matches the screen area; - Prior Art Karasawa et al. (US 20020122075 A1) teaches a technique for enabling scenario files and image files for supply to a scenario generating device to be created easily where the scenario creating device creates a scenario file supplied to a scenario reproducing device capable of reproducing only image files of a predetermined format. The scenario creating device comprises: an input section including a pointing device; a display section; and a scenario creating section for creating the scenario file. The scenario creating section provides a display of an execution icon on the display screen for causing the scenario creating section to execute a process. When a file icon for a source file of a predetermined format including page-wise scenario information and image information is dragged and dropped on the execution icon by means of operation of the pointing device, a scenario file is created on the basis of the scenario information, and an image file of the predetermined format is generated on the basis of the image information. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SULTAN U. CHOWDHURY whose telephone number is (571)270-3336. The examiner can normally be reached on 5:30 AM-5:30 PM. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Minh-Toan Ton can be reached on 571-272-2303. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /SULTAN CHOWDHURY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2882
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 12, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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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
90%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+6.5%)
2y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1472 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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