Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/511,076

POWER SUPPLY SERVICE SYSTEM

Final Rejection §103§112
Filed
Nov 16, 2023
Examiner
NGUYEN, NGA X
Art Unit
3662
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
OA Round
2 (Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
84%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allow Rate
609 granted / 784 resolved
+25.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
37 currently pending
Career history
821
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
11.5%
-28.5% vs TC avg
§103
46.9%
+6.9% vs TC avg
§102
13.9%
-26.1% vs TC avg
§112
21.5%
-18.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 784 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
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 . The current application filed on Nov. 16, 2023, relates to a foreign application priority data JP2023-001837 filed on Jan. 10, 2023. Response to Amendment/Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 09/09/2025 have been fully considered and are moot in view new grounds of rejection. Applicant's arguments with respect to the claims have been considered. The arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the current rejection. 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 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. Claim 1, recites “transmit vehicle position information regarding vehicle position at which the vehicle is present” is unclear and incomplete. The claim fails to define the vehicle’s position information transmitted to where? Claim 5, recites “the vehicle position is identified as an intersection of Latitude and longitude” is indefinite. The claim fails to define how and what manner “Latitude and Longitude” is obtained. 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: Fig. 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) 1-4 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nishida (20210284041) in view of Hishida (20210334719). With regard to claim 1, Nishida discloses a power supply service system comprising: A vehicle includes a power supply port, a power supply mounted on the vehicle; a vehicle’s computer configured to: determine whether power is supplied from the power supply to the power supply port; transmit vehicle’s current position information to the outside system (vehicle 200 comprises a motor 212 provides a driving force to vehicle’s wheels, a batter 240 outputting the electric power to a DC links, a navigation device 260, a charging port 270. Wherein the navigation device 260 measures its own position and transmits the position and a route from the current position to a destination on an onboard communication device 250 and an information providing device 100, see [0025]-[0035]+ & [0040]+), An outside computer storing available parking range information regarding an available parking range in which parking of the vehicle is available (the information providing device 100 includes a storing unit 150 which stores vehicle information, user information and vehicle notification information which indicates a parked position of an electric vehicle 200 at a parking lot, see Fig. 1, [0043]-[0046]+ & [0039]+) , wherein the outside computer configured: receive the vehicle’s position information from the vehicle (a receiving unit 120 acquires the vehicle’s position, see [0045]+); Transmit power supply permission/prohibition information for allowing supply of the power to the vehicle’s system if the vehicle’s position reaching at a parking space (determine whether the electric power receiving side electric vehicle 200u and the electric power supply-side electric vehicle 200 be matched with each other, see [0060]-[0061]+, outputting the rendezvous guidance notification to the electric vehicle to meet (about to reach vicinity) the supply electric vehicle’s parking lot for electric power charging, see [0065]-[0067]+) Nishida does not clearly teach transmitting power supply prohibition information to the vehicle’s system if the vehicle’s position is outside of the available parking range. Hishida discloses a system includes a management server 40 comprises a processing unit 42 which transmits power supply cancelation information to the vehicle’s system and vehicle’s user device 82 if the vehicle’s current position unable be at the facility charging point at the scheduled period (see [0046]-[0048]+). Wherein the cancelation information is equivalent as prohibition information, and the facility charging point is as the facility charging parking lot. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Nishida by including transmitting power supply prohibition information to the vehicle’s system if the vehicle’s position is outside of the available parking range as taught by Hishida. The combination of Nishida and Hishida is an adapted system for smoothly performance power supplying to the EVs service. With regard to claim 2, Nishida teaches that the power supply service system according to claim 1, further comprising an information terminal device that is able to communicate information with the outside computer and transmits a desired parking position of the vehicle (terminal device 300 requests an electric power supply with a charge request notification addressed to the information providing device 100, wherein the request indicating the charge state, position information of the vehicle, a parked position of the power-supply-side electric vehicle 200 at the parking lot, see [0039]-[0040]+) wherein the outside computer receives the user’s terminal requests and stores candidate parking area information regarding a candidate parking area in which parking of the vehicle is available, and stores the desired parking range information requested from the user’s terminal (the information providing 100 receives the charge request notification transmitted by the terminal device 300 with the desired supply vehicle’s position and stores the request information, see [0059]+ and the information providing 100 includes a management unit 140 can setup a rendezvous notification, see [0065]-[0067] which meets the scope of finding a candidate parking area as available parking for a rendezvous). With regard to claim 3, Nishida teaches that the power supply service system according to claim 2, wherein when the desired parking position received from the information terminal device is not included in the candidate parking area (see [0023]+), the outside computer selects a candidate parking position closest to the desired parking position from within the candidate parking area, and transmits the selected candidate parking position to the information terminal device (select one vehicle from the plurality of vehicles, see [0064]+). With regard to claim 4, Hishida teaches that the power supply service system according to claim 1, wherein the outside computer transmits the power supply prohibition information to the in-vehicle computer after a predetermined time has elapsed since transmission of the power supply permission information (a notification to be given to the user 80 when the vehicle is not enabled to transmit or receive power with the power grid at the scheduled period time has passed, see [0049]+). With regard to claim 5, Nishida teaches that the vehicle position is identified and determined whether the electric vehicle is able to park into the parking space of the public parking lot (usually rectangular spaces) (the management unit 140 acquires the vehicle notification information of the electric power receiving vehicle, identifies the vehicle can rendezvous of the power supply vehicle such as parking space at a parking lot next to the electric power supply vehicle (rendezvous point), see [0065]+). Claim(s) 1-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nishida (20210284041) in view of Sakai (20220073057). With regard to claim 1, Nishida discloses a power supply service system comprising: A vehicle includes a power supply port, a power supply mounted on the vehicle; a vehicle’s computer configured to: determine whether power is supplied from the power supply to the power supply port; transmit vehicle’s current position information to the outside system (vehicle 200 comprises a motor 212 provides a driving force to vehicle’s wheels, a batter 240 outputting the electric power to a DC links, a navigation device 260, a charging port 270. Wherein the navigation device 260 measures its own position and transmits the position and a route from the current position to a destination on an onboard communication device 250 and an information providing device 100, see [0025]-[0035]+ & [0040]+), An outside computer storing available parking range information regarding an available parking range in which parking of the vehicle is available (the information providing device 100 includes a storing unit 150 which stores vehicle information, user information and vehicle notification information which indicates a parked position of an electric vehicle 200 at a parking lot, see Fig. 1, [0043]-[0046]+ & [0039]+) , wherein the outside computer configured: receive the vehicle’s position information from the vehicle (a receiving unit 120 acquires the vehicle’s position, see [0045]+); Transmit power supply permission/prohibition information for allowing supply of the power to the vehicle’s system if the vehicle’s position reaching at a parking space (determine whether the electric power receiving side electric vehicle 200u and the electric power supply-side electric vehicle 200 be matched with each other, see [0060]-[0061]+, outputting the rendezvous guidance notification to the electric vehicle to meet (about to reach vicinity) the supply electric vehicle’s parking lot for electric power charging, see [0065]-[0067]+) Nishida does not clearly teach transmitting power supply prohibition information to the vehicle’s system if the vehicle’s position is outside of the available parking range. Sakai discloses a system includes a power supply device 30 comprises a power supply unit 31, a communication unit 40 (see Fig.4, [0070]+) which power supply prohibition information to the vehicle’s system if the vehicle’s position is outside of the available parking range (a metal detector 37 of the power supply device 30, detects a metal foreign object present in a parking region, transmits a notification with the detected foreign object in the parking lot, instructs the vehicle 1 to stop the automatic parking control, and prohibited the power supply of the wireless charging before parking in the parking space, see [0076]-[0078] & [0089]-[0090]+). . It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify Nishida by including transmitting power supply prohibition information to the vehicle’s system if the vehicle’s position is outside of the available parking range as taught by Sakai. The combination of Nishida and Sakai is an adapted system for safety performance power supplying to the EVs service. With regard to claim 2, Nishida teaches that the power supply service system according to claim 1, further comprising an information terminal device that is able to communicate information with the outside computer and transmits a desired parking position of the vehicle (terminal device 300 requests an electric power supply with a charge request notification addressed to the information providing device 100, wherein the request indicating the charge state, position information of the vehicle, a parked position of the power-supply-side electric vehicle 200 at the parking lot, see [0039]-[0040]+) wherein the outside computer receives the user’s terminal requests and stores candidate parking area information regarding a candidate parking area in which parking of the vehicle is available, and stores the desired parking range information requested from the user’s terminal (the information providing 100 receives the charge request notification transmitted by the terminal device 300 with the desired supply vehicle’s position and stores the request information, see [0059]+ and the information providing 100 includes a management unit 140 can setup a rendezvous notification, see [0065]-[0067] which meets the scope of finding a candidate parking area as available parking for a rendezvous). With regard to claim 3, Nishida teaches that the power supply service system according to claim 2, wherein when the desired parking position received from the information terminal device is not included in the candidate parking area (see [0023]+), the outside computer selects a candidate parking position closest to the desired parking position from within the candidate parking area, and transmits the selected candidate parking position to the information terminal device (select one vehicle from the plurality of vehicles, see [0064]+). With regard to claim 4, Sakai teaches that the power supply service system according to claim 1, wherein the outside computer transmits the power supply prohibition information to the in-vehicle computer after a predetermined time has elapsed since transmission of the power supply permission information (see [0114]+). With regard to claim 5, Sakai teaches that the vehicle position is identified and determined whether the electric vehicle is able to park into the parking space of the public parking lot (the power supply control unit transits position information of an arrangement position of the power supply to the vehicle 1 by communication device for easily parked at a parking position, see [0025]-[0027]+, wherein the parking spaces are rectangular shape, see Fig. 2). Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NGA X NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-5217. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 5:30AM - 2:30PM. 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, JELANI SMITH can be reached at 571-270-3969. 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. NGA X. NGUYEN Examiner Art Unit 3662 /NGA X NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3662
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 16, 2023
Application Filed
Jun 13, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §112
Sep 09, 2025
Response Filed
Dec 12, 2025
Final Rejection — §103, §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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
84%
With Interview (+6.5%)
3y 0m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 784 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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