Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 25, 2026
Application No. 18/518,755

Display Control Method and Apparatus, Electronic Device, and Medium

Final Rejection §103§112
Filed
Nov 24, 2023
Priority
May 27, 2021 — CN 202110585884.1 +1 more
Examiner
MUHEBBULLAH, SAJEDA
Art Unit
2174
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
29%
Grant Probability
At Risk
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 9m
Est. Remaining
64%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 29% of cases
29%
Career Allowance Rate
78 granted / 265 resolved
-25.6% vs TC avg
Strong +34% interview lift
Without
With
+34.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 8m
Avg Prosecution
23 currently pending
Career history
297
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.8%
-35.2% vs TC avg
§103
69.1%
+29.1% vs TC avg
§102
16.7%
-23.3% vs TC avg
§112
8.4%
-31.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 265 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
DETAILED ACTION This communication is responsive to Amendment filed 07/24/2026. Claims 1-20 are pending in this application. In the Amendment, claims 1-5, 8-12 and 15-19 and are amended. This action is made Final. 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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims amended 07/24/2026 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. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The rejection has been withdrawn as necessitated by the amendment. 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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Siurumaa et al. (US 2013/0132906) in view of WON et al. (“WON”, US 2014/0317527) in view of Sato (US 2015/0058762) and further in view of Masuike et al. (US 2019/0129609). As per claim 1, Siurumaa teaches a display control method, the method comprising: receiving a first input performed by a user on a target program identifier among N program identifiers, wherein the target program identifier comprises one program identifier or multiple program identifiers (Siurumaa, Fig.4a-4d, program identifiers 421a-e; para.45-49, 81-82, 84-85, 90, user interaction); updating a display parameter of the target program identifier in response to the first input (Siurumaa, para.95, Fig.4a, provisionally selected icon 421b changed to black); and displaying target information in a case that the input of the target program identifier meets the first preset condition (Siurumaa, para.15, 32, 89, 93, 96-101, user-specific operating mode defines target info displayed, user interaction denotes mode in which app is opened); wherein the target information comprises: a target program interface or a target program file of a target program indicated by the target program identifier (Siurumaa, para.15, 32, 89, 93, 96-101, user-specific operating mode defines target info displayed that is predefined for specific users); and N is a positive integer (Siurumaa, Fig.4a-4d, N=five program identifiers 421a-e). Although Siuramaa teaches different file usage permissions (Siurumaa, para.15, 32-35, 89, 93, 96-101, 104, authentication), Siurumaa does not teach displaying target information in a case that the display parameter of the target program identifier meets the first preset condition, wherein in a case that the display parameter comprises a display ratio, different display ratios correspond to a display of program interfaces of different program accounts or a display of program files with different file usage permissions; in a case that the display parameter comprises the display ratio and an arrangement shape, different arrangement shapes correspond to the display of program interfaces of different program accounts or the display of program files with different file usage permissions; and in a case that the display parameter comprises the display ratio, the arrangement shape and a display area, different arrangement shapes and display areas correspond to the display of program interfaces of different program accounts or the display of program files with different file usage permissions. WON teaches a method of displaying target information in a case that the display parameter of the target program identifier meets a preset condition (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, shortcut icon 280 entry point determines target info to display); wherein in a case that the display parameter comprises a display point, different display points correspond to a display of program interfaces of different program accounts or a display of program files with different file usage permissions (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, default entry point changed to Create New entry point; different entry points for different interfaces). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include WON‘s teaching with Siurumaa’s method in order to navigate to specific information immediately (WON, para.230). Furthermore, the method of Siurumaa and WON does not teach wherein the display parameter comprises: the display ratio. Sato teaches a method of displaying icons in different display ratios (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133, icons rotated with interfaces displayed based on rotation). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include Sato‘s teaching with the method of Siurumaa and WON in order to display icons according to how the corresponding interfaces are displayed. Although the method of Siurumaa, WON and Sato teaches the display of program interfaces of different program accounts or a display of program files with different file usage permissions (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, default entry point changed to Create New entry point; different entry points for different interfaces; Siurumaa, para.15, 32-35, 89, 93, 96-101, 104, authentication) and the display parameter comprises a display ratio (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133, icons rotated with interfaces displayed based on rotation), the method of Siurumaa, WON and Sato does not teach wherein in a case that the display parameter comprises an arrangement shape and a display area. Masuike teaches a method of displaying icons wherein the display parameter comprises an arrangement shape and a display area based on different users (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94, icons displayed in arc shape arrangement near detection area). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include Masuike‘s teaching with the method of Siurumaa, WON and Sato in order to display icons according to specific user accounts. As per claim 2, the method of Siurumaa, WON, Sato and Masuike teaches the method according to claim 1, wherein the display parameter comprises: the display ratio (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133, icons rotated with interfaces displayed based on rotation), and the target information comprises: the target program interface of the target program indicated by the target program identifier (Siurumaa, para.15, 32, 89, 93, 96-101; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229); and the displaying target information in a case that the display parameter of the target program identifier meets the first preset condition (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229) comprises: in a case that a display ratio of the target program identifier is updated to a first display ratio, displaying the target program interface of the target program (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, default entry point changed to Create New entry point; Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133); wherein the first display ratio is associated with the target program interface of the target program, and different display ratios are associated with program interfaces of different program accounts of the target program (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, different entry points for different interfaces; Siurumaa, para.15, 32-35, 89, 93, 96-101, 104, authentication; Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133). As per claim 3, the method of Siurumaa, WON, Sato and Masuike teaches the method according to claim 1, wherein the display parameter comprises: the display ratio (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133, icons rotated with interfaces displayed based on rotation), and the target information comprises: the target program file of the target program indicated by the target program identifier (Siurumaa, para.15, 32, 89, 93, 96-101; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229); and the displaying target information in a case that the display parameter of the target program identifier meets the first preset condition (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229) comprises: in a case that a display ratio of the target program identifier is updated to a second display ratio, displaying the target program file of the target program (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, default entry point changed to Create New entry point; Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133); wherein the second display ratio is associated with the target program file of the target program, and different display ratios are associated with program files with different file usage permissions of the target program (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, different entry points for different interfaces; Siurumaa, para.15, 32-35, 89, 93, 96-101, 104, authentication; Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133). As per claim 4, the method of Siurumaa, WON, Sato and Masuike teaches the method according to claim 1, wherein the display parameter comprises: the display ratio (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133, icons rotated with interfaces displayed based on rotation) and the arrangement shape (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.119, 125, 137, 225, different shapes for different interfaces); N is greater than 1, and the target program identifier comprises M program identifiers, M is an integer greater than 1, and M≤N (Siurumaa, Fig.4a-4d, program identifiers 421a-e); and the displaying target information in a case that the display parameter of the target program identifier meets the first preset condition (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229) comprises: displaying the target information in a case that a display ratio of the target program identifier is updated to a third display ratio and an arrangement shape of the M program identifiers is a preset first shape (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133; Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, default entry point changed to Create New entry point with new shape); wherein the preset first shape is associated with the target information (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, different shapes for different interfaces); in a case that the target information comprises the target program interface, different arrangement shapes are associated with program interfaces of different program accounts of the target program (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.225, different shapes for different interfaces; Siurumaa, para.15, 32-35, 89, 93, 96-101, 104, authentication); and in a case that the target information comprises the target program file, the different arrangement shapes are associated with program files with different file usage permissions of the target program (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, different shapes for different interfaces; Siurumaa, para.15, 32-35, 89, 93, 96-101, 104, authentication). As per claim 5, the method of Siurumaa, WON, Sato and Masuike teaches the method according to claim 1, wherein the display parameter comprises: the display ratio (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133, icons rotated with interfaces displayed based on rotation), the arrangement shape and the display area (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.119, 125, 137, 225, different shapes for different interfaces, para.74, Fig.5A, homescreen 190; Siurumaa, Fig.3a, icon region 211); N is greater than 1, and the target program identifier comprises P program identifiers, P is an integer greater than 1, and P≤N (Siurumaa, Fig.4a-4d, program identifiers 421a-e); and the displaying target information in a case that the display parameter of the target program identifier meets the first preset condition (WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229) comprises: in a case that a display ratio of the target program identifier is updated to a fourth display ratio, an arrangement shape of the P program identifiers is a preset second shape, and the P program identifiers are located in a preset area, displaying the target information (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133; Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, default entry point changed to Create New entry point with new shape; WON, para.74, Fig.5A, homescreen 190; Siurumaa, Fig.3a, icon region 211); wherein the target information is associated with both the preset second shape and the preset area (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, different shapes for different interfaces; WON, para.74, Fig.5A, homescreen 190; Siurumaa, Fig.3a, icon region 211); in a case that the target information comprises the target program interface, different arrangement shapes and display areas are associated with program interfaces of different program accounts of the target program (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.225, different shapes for different interfaces; WON, para.74, Fig.5A, homescreen 190; Siurumaa, Fig.3a, icon region 211; Siurumaa, para.15, 32-35, 89, 93, 96-101, 104, authentication); and in a case that the target information comprises the target program file, the different arrangement shapes and display areas are associated with program files with different file usage permissions of the target program (Masuike, Fig.10-11; para.87-94; WON, Fig.20A-D, para.213-229, different shapes for different interfaces; WON, para.74, Fig.5A, homescreen 190; Siurumaa, Fig.3a, icon region 211; Siurumaa, para.15, 32-35, 89, 93, 96-101, 104, authentication). As per claim 6, the method of Siurumaa, WON, Sato and Masuike teaches the method according to claim 1, before the displaying target information, further comprising: obtaining identity verification information entered by the user (Siurumaa, para.38-39, 104, authentication data before opening app); and the displaying target information comprises: in a case that the identity verification information matches preset verification information, displaying the target information (Siurumaa, para.33-35, 104, authentication); wherein different display parameters are associated with different preset verification information (Siurumaa, para.32-35, 93, 96-101, 104, user-specific operating mode defines target info displayed that is predefined for specific users). As per claim 7, the method of Siurumaa, WON, Sato and Masuike teaches the method according to claim 1, wherein the first preset condition comprises at least one of the following: a display ratio of the target program identifier is updated to a preset display ratio; the display ratio of the target program identifier is updated to the preset display ratio, and an arrangement shape of the target program identifier is a preset shape, wherein the target program identifier comprises at least two program identifiers; or the display ratio of the target program identifier is updated to the preset display ratio, the arrangement shape of the target program identifier is the preset shape, and the target program identifier is located in a preset area, wherein the target program identifier comprises at least two program identifiers (Sato, Figs.10-11, 17-18; para.106-107, 132-133, icons rotated with interfaces displayed based on selected preset rotation). Claims 8 and 15 are similar in scope to claim 1, and are therefore rejected under similar rationale. Claims 9 and 16 are similar in scope to claim 2, and are therefore rejected under similar rationale. Claims 10 and 17 are similar in scope to claim 3, and are therefore rejected under similar rationale. Claims 11 and 18 are similar in scope to claim 4, and are therefore rejected under similar rationale. Claims 12 and 19 are similar in scope to claim 5, and are therefore rejected under similar rationale. Claims 13 and 20 are similar in scope to claim 6, and are therefore rejected under similar rationale. Claim 14 is similar in scope to claim 7, and is therefore rejected under similar rationale. 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. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Glover et al. (US 2017/0153800) teaches a method of displaying icons to immediately launch a specific point in an application. Kerr et al. (US 2011/0012926) teaches a method of displaying icons in alternate display ratios. Inquiries Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAJEDA MUHEBBULLAH whose telephone number is (571)272-4065. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Tue/Thur-Fri 10am-8pm. 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, William L Bashore can be reached at 571-272-4088. 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. /S.M./Sajeda Muhebbullah Examiner, Art Unit 2174 /WILLIAM L BASHORE/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2174
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 24, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
Jul 24, 2026
Response Filed
Oct 05, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §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
29%
Grant Probability
64%
With Interview (+34.2%)
4y 8m (~1y 9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 265 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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