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 .
Status of Claims
This FINAL action is in response to applicant’s amendment of 18/462,952 filed on December 2, 2025. Claims 1-13 and claim 15 are currently pending and have been examined. Claim 14 has been cancelled. Claims 1-13 and 15 have been rejected as follows.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 02/26/2025 is being considered by the examiner.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s amendment and/or arguments with respect to the Claim Interpretation under 35 USC 101 set forth in the office action of September 04, 2025 have been considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the claim rejections under 35 USC 101 as set forth in the office action of September 04, 2025 have been withdrawn.
However, Applicant’s amendment and/or arguments with respect to the Claim Interpretation under 35 USC 112(b) set forth in the office action of September 04, 2025 have been considered and are NOT persuasive. The applicant changed the word “use” to “utilize” which does not offer clarity when interpreting the claim of “wherein the localization system is utilizing map data”.
Applicant’s amendments and/or arguments with respect to the rejection of claims 1-15 under 35 USC 103 as set forth in the office action of 09/04/2025 have been considered but are moot because the new ground(s) 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.
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.
Claim 1 is 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.
Claim 1 is indefinite because of the recited limitation “wherein the localization system is using map data”. It is unclear to the examiner whether the “using” is an ongoing reality or possibly “recites a use without any active, positive steps delimiting how this use is actually practices” (MPEP 2173.05(q)).
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.
Applicant’s amendment and/or arguments with respect to the Claim Interpretation under 35 USC 101 set forth in the office action of September 04, 2025 have been considered and are persuasive. However, search has been updated to reflect anticipated art.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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, 4, 5, 11-13, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Takuma (JP 2006275856 A) in view of Cui (US 20210239471 A1), Schroff (US 11422259 B2) and Wheeler (US 20220042805 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Takuma discloses wherein the localization system utilizes map data comprising a plurality of maps for localizing the vehicle in an area, (See at least ¶ [15]; "In this embodiment, the map data created by the map data distribution server 13 is divided into multiple categories, such as road data and house data, and each category is further divided into mesh units obtained by dividing the map into multiple areas") Takuma teaches the map data from the distribution server is divided into a multitude of maps to localize a vehicle. wherein the localization system is using map data comprising a plurality of maps for localizing the vehicle in an area, (See at least ¶ [15]; "In this embodiment, the map data created by the map data distribution server 13 is divided into multiple categories, such as road data and house data, and each category is further divided into mesh units obtained by dividing the map into multiple areas") The map data from the distribution server is divided into a multitude of maps to localize a vehicle.
Takuma does not explicitly disclose A computer-implemented method for initializing a localization system for a vehicle, wherein the method comprises, - associating map related information with a last available position of the vehicle which was used by the localization system before shutdown of the localization system, wherein the map related information comprises a unique identifier, for a first map of the plurality of maps which was used for localizing the vehicle at the last available position, at start-up of the localization system with respect to the last available position, loading a map from the plurality of maps for localizing the vehicle at the last available position and verifying, by using the unique identifier, if the loaded map is the first map which was used for localizing the vehicle at the last available position when it is verified that the first map is loaded, initializing the localization system with the last available position in the first map, and - controlling the vehicle to automatically drive along a predetermined travelling path from the last available position in the first map.
However, Cui teaches A computer-implemented method for initializing a localization system for a vehicle, (see at least ¶ [001]; "The present disclosure relates generally to vehicles such as assisted-driving vehicles or autonomous vehicles (AVs), and in particular, some embodiments relate to determining an initial location and orientation of vehicles, or determining a pose relative to a map or a road.") Cui teaches a method that consists of at least a computer to initialize the current position, or a system for localizing a vehicle.
wherein the method comprises, - associating map related information with a last available position of the vehicle which was used by the localization system before shutdown of the localization system, Cui: (See at least ¶ [0008, 0036]; "In some embodiments, the obtaining the previous pose of the vehicle comprises obtaining a most recent pose of the vehicle before shutdown of the system…In some embodiments, the previous pose of the vehicle 101 may comprise a location, orientation, and/or velocity of the vehicle 101. ") Cui describes a method of associated location information, which would be considered map related information.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate teachings of Cui which teaches a computer system for localizing the vehicle and obtaining the last available position of the localization system in order to be able to determine where a vehicle is located to be able for the vehicle to travel to another location.
Cui does not explicitly disclose wherein the map related information comprises a unique identifier for a first map of the plurality of maps which was used for localizing the vehicle at the last available position, - at start-up of the localization system with respect to the last available position, loading a map from the plurality of maps for localizing the vehicle at the last available position and verifying, by using the unique identifier, if the loaded map is the first map which was used for localizing the vehicle at the last available, and when it is verified that the first map is loaded, initializing the localization system with the last available position in the first map, and- controlling the vehicle to automatically drive along a predetermined travelling path from the last available position in the first map.
However, Wheeler teaches wherein the map related information comprises a unique identifier (see at least [0031]; "Embodiments of the invention select an appropriate localization technique and parameters tuned for the specific context to perform localization efficiently and accurately. The combination of a localization technique and corresponding parameter values is referred to as a localization variant. The HD map system estimates the performance of each localization variant for different contexts and uses an index to efficiently look up the best localization variants based on the current location of the autonomous vehicle. ") Wheeler describes the map related information comprising of a unique identifier as a localization variant which stores specific information that differentiates locations on a map.
at start-up of the localization system with respect to the last available position, loading a map from the plurality of maps for localizing the vehicle at the last available position and (see at least [49]; "The localization APIs 250 determine the current location of the vehicle, for example, when the vehicle starts and as the vehicle moves along a route…. The vehicle computing system 120 stores as internal state, location history records to improve accuracy of subsequent localize calls. The location history record stores history of location from the point-in-time, when the car was turned off/stopped. ") Wheeler describes the localization system at start up, loading a map from the last available position by calling it from its history.
verifying, by using the unique identifier, if the loaded map is the first map which was used for localizing the vehicle at the last available position (see at least [49, 0077,0014]; "The localization APIs 250 determine the current location of the vehicle, for example, when the vehicle starts and as the vehicle moves along a route…. The vehicle computing system 120 stores as internal state, location history records to improve accuracy of subsequent localize calls. The location history record stores history of location from the point-in-time, when the car was turned off/stopped….The localization module 290a present in the vehicle computing system 120 of an autonomous vehicle uses the localization variants while driving to select specific localization variants based on driving context, for example, the geographical region in which the autonomous vehicle is driving and uses the localization variants to perform localization for the autonomous vehicle… In an embodiment, the system maps coordinates of locations, for example, latitudes and longitudes, to localization variants.") Wheeler uses the localization variants as identifiers to determine the map which was used for localizing the vehicle at the last available position. Latitude and longitude are unique to each location.
- controlling the vehicle to automatically drive along a predetermined travelling path from the last available position in the first map.(see at least [39]; "The vehicle controls 130 control the physical movement of the vehicle, for example, acceleration, direction change, starting, stopping, and so on. The vehicle controls 130 include the machinery for controlling the accelerator, brakes, steering wheel, and so on. The vehicle computing system 120 continuously provides control signals to the vehicle controls 130, thereby causing an autonomous vehicle to drive along a selected route… "The localization APIs 250 determine the current location of the vehicle, for example, when the vehicle starts and as the vehicle moves along a route…. The vehicle computing system 120 stores as internal state, location history records to improve accuracy of subsequent localize calls. The location history record stores history of location from the point-in-time, when the car was turned off/stopped") Wheeler describes controlling the vehicle to drive along a predetermined traveling path, after the location is determined upon start up from calling the location history.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate teachings of Wheeler which teaches using a unique identifier such a latitude and longitude to be able to identify locations on a map, which also associate with the last available position based on the stored history in order to be able to specifically identify the location the vehicle is located and quickly be able to localize based on calling the stored information.
Wheeler does not explicitly disclose for a first map of the plurality of maps which was used for localizing the vehicle at the last available position, when it is verified that the first map is loaded, initializing the localization system with the last available position in the first map.
However, Schroff teaches for a first map of the plurality of maps which was used for localizing the vehicle at the last available position, (see at least [13, 47]; " As can be understood, as the vehicle traverses the environment, a number of map tiles can be loaded and unloaded to and from memory. In one example, as a vehicle approaches a region in an environment (and a distance between the vehicle and the region is above a threshold distance), a first map tile associated with a first level of detail can be loaded into a memory of the vehicle and localization operations can be performed…..For example, the distance component 236 can determine a first location associated with the vehicle in the environment. In some instances, the first location can correspond to a point in a map tile in which the vehicle 202 is currently located.") Schroff describes a first map of a plurality of maps used to localize the vehicle at several locations, including the current and last available position.
when it is verified that the first map is loaded, initializing the localization system with the last available position in the first map, and (see at least [13, 47]; " As can be understood, as the vehicle traverses the environment, a number of map tiles can be loaded and unloaded to and from memory. In one example, as a vehicle approaches a region in an environment (and a distance between the vehicle and the region is above a threshold distance), a first map tile associated with a first level of detail can be loaded into a memory of the vehicle and localization operations can be performed…..For example, the distance component 236 can determine a first location associated with the vehicle in the environment. In some instances, the first location can correspond to a point in a map tile in which the vehicle 202 is currently located.") Schroff describes loading map tiles and initializing the system with a first location, which can be the last available position.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate teachings of Schroff which teaches loading the first map and associating it with a first position, such as the last available position, in order to ready the vehicle to be able to navigate to a desired location.
Regarding Claim 4, Takuma discloses the method according to claim 1, further comprising, - determining whether the vehicle has been stationary or not since the shutdown of the localization system, wherein initializing the localization system with the last available position in the first map is allowed when it also is determined that the vehicle has been stationary since the shutdown of the localization system, (see at least ¶ [31, 42-47]; "The current position calculation unit 200 calculates the relative displacement of the vehicle 14 based on the measurement signal from the sensor 16, and calculates the current position of the vehicle 14 based on the calculated relative displacement and the map data stored in the map data storage unit 201…If the predetermined time has elapsed (S103: Yes), the current position calculation unit 200 resets and starts the timer (S104), and acquires a measurement signal from the sensor 16 (S105). Then, the current position calculation unit 200 calculates the relative displacement of the vehicle 14 based on the measurement signal obtained from the sensor 16, and determines EPO machine translation whether the distance traveled by the vehicle 14 since the previous time has exceeded a predetermined distance (e.g., 20 m) (S106)."The calculation unit determines whether the vehicle has been stationary or not since the shutdown of the localization system and initializes the system using the last available position.
Regarding Claim 5, Takuma discloses the method according to claim 4, wherein the method further comprises, - when determining that the vehicle has not been stationary since the shutdown of the localization system, refraining from initializing the localization system with the last available position in the first map, (see at least [0043 and 0044]; "If the predetermined time has elapsed (S103: Yes), the current position calculation unit 200 resets and starts the timer (S104), and acquires a measurement signal from the sensor 16 (S105). Then, the current position calculation unit 200 calculates the relative displacement of the vehicle 14 based on the measurement signal obtained from the sensor 16, and determines EPO machine translation whether the distance traveled by the vehicle 14 since the previous time has exceeded a predetermined distance (e.g., 20 m) (S106).If the distance traveled since the previous time is equal to or greater than a predetermined distance (S106: Yes), the current position calculation unit 200 refers to the status storage unit 202 based on the calculated relative displacement of the vehicle 14, and calculates the current position of the vehicle 14 using a file with a usable status among the map data files corresponding to the calculated relative displacement (S107).") Takoma teaches determining whether the vehicle has been stationary, and refraining from initializing the localization system with the last available position and calculating its current position instead.
Regarding Claim 11, Takuma discloses a localization system for a vehicle, wherein the localization system is configured to perform the steps of the method according to claim, (see at least ¶ [1, 22]; " The present invention relates to a navigation device that calculates and displays the current position of a vehicle.") Takuma teaches a device that consists of at least a computer to initialize the current position, or a system for localizing a vehicle.
Regarding Claim 12, Takuma discloses the localization system according to claim 11, comprising a sensor, or a group of sensors, for localizing the vehicle in an area, (see at least ¶ [0018]; "The sensor 16 is a GPS receiver, a direction sensor, a vehicle speed sensor, etc., and measures the current position of the vehicle") Takuma outlines a group of sensors for localizing the vehicle in an area.
Regarding Claim 13, Takuma discloses a vehicle comprising the localization system according to claim 11, (see at least ¶ [0017]: The vehicle 14 has a display device 15 , a sensor 16 , a communication terminal 17 , and a navigation device 20.")
Regarding Claim 14, Takuma discloses a computer program comprising program code for performing the steps of claim 1 when said program is run on a computer, (see at least ¶ [0061]: "For example, each of the current position calculation unit 200, status update unit 203, file acquisition unit 204, and current position display unit 205 in the navigation device 20 may be realized in hardware using an integrated logic IC such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may be realized in software using a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a general-purpose computer, or may be configured by combining functional blocks that are partially realized in hardware or software.)
Regarding Claim 15, Takuma discloses a non-transitory computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program code for performing the steps of claim 1 when said program code is run on a computer, (see at least ¶ [0061]: "For example, each of the current position calculation unit 200, status update unit 203, file acquisition unit 204, and current position display unit 205 in the navigation device 20 may be realized in hardware using an integrated logic IC such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may be realized in software using a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) or a general-purpose computer, or may be configured by combining functional blocks that are partially realized in hardware or software.)
Claims 2, 3 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takuma (JP 2006275856 A) in view of Cui (US 20210239471 A1) in further view of Klausner (US 20030114980 A1).
Regarding claim 2, Takuma in view of Cui fail to disclose he method according to claim 1, wherein the map related information further comprises information about which sensor, or group of sensors, that was used during localizing of the vehicle at the last available position.
However, Klausner teaches the method according to claim 1, wherein the map related information further comprises information about which sensor, or group of sensors, that was used during localizing of the vehicle at the last available position, (see at least ¶ [20-21]; "The navigation system is therefore able to use the vehicle motion sensor data to extrapolate from the former position stored in a memory.") The navigation system, or map related information, uses information from a specific sensor that was used during localization of the vehicle at the last available position. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate map related information about which sensor was used during localization of the vehicle at the last available position in order to effectively gather information about the location of the vehicle and its status.
Regarding claim 3, Takuma in view of Cui fail to disclose the method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises, - at start-up of the localization system with respect to the last available position, activating the sensor, or group of sensors, as indicated in the map related information.
However, Klausner teaches the method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises, - at start-up of the localization system with respect to the last available position, activating the sensor, or group of sensors, as indicated in the map related information, (see at least [0019]; "Processor 17 may include a memory (not shown) used to store a former position. Processor 17 may use a current position from positioning device 18 along with a former position and a sensor datum or sensor data to calculate a corrected current position. ") When started, the processor, or localization system, activates sensors from the last available position. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate Klausner to activate the sensors related to the last available position and its’s associated map information at start-up of the vehicle in order to more efficiently determine the location of the vehicle and gather information about the vehicle.
Regarding claim 7, Takuma in view of Cui fail to disclose the method according to claim 1, further comprising, - at start-up of the localization system, determining if a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, is available for determining a GNSS position for the vehicle for initializing the localization system in the loaded map, and when it is determined that the GNSS is available, initializing the localization system with the GNSS position in the loaded map.
However, Klausner teaches the method according to claim 1, further comprising, - at start-up of the localization system, determining if a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, is available for determining a GNSS position for the vehicle for initializing the localization system in the loaded map, and when it is determined that the GNSS is available, initializing the localization system with the GNSS position in the loaded map, (see at least ¶ [0018]; "Positioning device 18 may use any number of positioning methods to determine the current position and to monitor progress along the selected route. These positioning systems may include GPS, DGPS (Differential GPS), AGPS (Assisted GPS), triangulation, hyperbolic intersection of time-delay solutions, and cell identification to position the user…Sensor 11 may transmit its status, in the form or any of the error or fault code, the health status, or the "all OK" signal, in response to an interrogatory from the diagnostic system communicated to the sensor 11 on the vehicle bus. Alternatively, sensor 11 may transmit its status on its own initiative, either upon sensing a fault, at a preset time, after a preset time interval, or upon commencing or completing a procedure (e.g. start-up)."). With GNSS referring to a satellite based navigation system, Klausner teaches satellite based navigation systems as well, such as a GPS. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate Klausner to initiate a GNSS system upon start-up after determining its availability in order for a vehicle to be ready to drive or navigate based on its current location.
Claims 6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takuma (JP 2006275856 A) in view of Cui (US 20210239471 A1) in further view of Sung (US 20130162824 A1).
Takuma in view of Cui fail to disclose the method according to claim 4, wherein determining whether the vehicle has been stationary or not since the shutdown of the localization system is performed using trip meter data of the vehicle.
However, Sung teaches the method according to claim 4, wherein determining whether the vehicle has been stationary or not since the shutdown of the localization system is performed using trip meter data of the vehicle, (see at least ¶ [3, 11 and especially 42], "The existing vehicle position recognizing apparatus collects the information about the traveling of the vehicle from additional sensors, such as a gyroscope or a trip meter, installed in the vehicle to calculate the current position of the vehicle using dead-reckoning, but the vehicle position recognizing apparatus 100 collects the information from the sensors in the vehicle on the internal network of the vehicle via the internal network of the vehicle connection unit 140 to calculate the current position of the vehicle, thereby reducing the cost of installing new sensors by the use of the existing sensors in the vehicle, rather than installing separate sensors.") Sung teaches the use of the trip meter to determine whether the vehicle has been stationary or not since shutdown of the localization system. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate Sung to reference the trip meter to determine if the vehicle has been stationary or not in order to quickly identify whether the vehicle needs to be re-localized or is in the last available position.
Claims 8 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Takuma (JP 2006275856 A) in view of Cui (US 20210239471 A1) in further view of Hiroyuki (JP H08334345 A).
Regarding claim 8, Takuma in view of Cui fail to disclose the method according to claim 1, further comprising, - at start-up of the localization system, determining if a user set position is available for initializing the localization system in the loaded map, and when it is determined that the user set position is available, initializing the localization system with the user set position in the loaded map.
However, Hiroyuki teaches the method according to claim 1, further comprising, - at start-up of the localization system, determining if a user set position is available for initializing the localization system in the loaded map, and when it is determined that the user set position is available, initializing the localization system with the user set position in the loaded map, (see at least ¶ [0013]: The current position is initialized at least when the current position is set by the user or when the current position is set by radio navigation.) Hiroyuki teaches initializing the user set position. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate Hiroyuki to initialize a set position in the loaded map in order to utilize the user’s preferences and increase efficiency of localization of regular locations.
Regarding claim 9, Takuma in view of Cui fail to disclose the method according to claim 8, wherein determining if the user set position is available is checked during a time period, wherein the method further comprises refraining from using a user set position if no user set position is made available during the time period.
However, Hiroyuki teaches the method according to claim 8, wherein determining if the user set position is available is checked during a time period, wherein the method further comprises refraining from using a user set position if no user set position is made available during the time period, (see at least ¶ [0013] The current position is initialized at least when the current position is set by the user or when the current position is set by radio navigation.) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Takuma to incorporate Hiroyuki to refrain from using a user set position if it’s not available during a time period in order to comply with the user preferences.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HANA VICTORIA HALL whose telephone number is (571)272-5289. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
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/HANA VICTORIA HALL/ Examiner, Art Unit 3664
/RACHID BENDIDI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3664