DETAILED ACTION
Notice of AIA Status
1. 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
2. Applicant’s remark received on 03/12/2026 with respect to the amended independent claim 14 has been acknowledged. The corresponding amendment failed to overcome the previously presented rejection. Claims 1-13 are allowed and claim 14 is rejected.
Response to Amendment
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
3. 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.
4. Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter.
In claim 14, “a computer program code” is treated as software per se or an intangible set of instructions rather than a statutory manufacture. A claim drawn to such a program code may be amended to include a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing the program code that, when executed by at least one processor to perform a method.
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claims 1-13 are allowed.
The claimed invention introduces an augmented reality system that provides visualization on large numbers of connected devices to a user. The system obtains a real world scene with multiple devices by a camera, determines the distance from the camera to the closest device, and automatically selects between a device level and a group level of visualization based on the distance. When the closest device is within a first distance threshold, the processor presents the device’s data overlaid next to it. When the closest device is farther away, the processor presents an aggregation of data for a group of devices that includes the closet device rather than individual clustered overlays. The system reduces information overload with multiple devices.
The cited references do not disclose when the closest device is within a first distance threshold, the processor presents the device’s data overlaid next to it; and when the closest device is farther away, the processor presents an aggregation of data for a group of devices that includes the closet device rather than individual clustered overlays.
The specific claim language incorporating subject matters allowable when combined with the rest limitations in the independent claims 1 and 13 includes: “determine a distance from said camera to the closest device of said at least one device, select a device level or a group level based on said distance, and display said data by displaying, via said at least one output interface, data associated with only said closest device if said device level is selected or an aggregation of data associated with a group of devices if said group level is selected, said group of devices comprising said closest device, wherein said at least one processor is configured to select said device level if said distance is determined not to exceed a first distance threshold.”
The remaining dependent claims 2-12 are allowed due to their corresponding dependencies to the independent claim 1.
Conclusion
6. There is no new ground of rejection necessitated by the corresponding amendment 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 extension fee 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.
Contact
7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FAN ZHANG whose telephone number is (571)270-3751. The examiner can normally be reached on Mon-Fri 9:00-5:00.
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, Benny Tieu can be reached on 571-272-7490. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Fan Zhang/
Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2682
Prosecution Insights