Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/548,848

ABNORMALITY DETECTION DEVICE, ABNORMALITY DETECTION METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM STORING ABNORMALITY DETECTION PROGRAM

Non-Final OA §101§102§112
Filed
Sep 01, 2023
Examiner
LAU, TUNG S
Art Unit
2857
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Kyoto University
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
921 granted / 1112 resolved
+14.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
1150
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
20.9%
-19.1% vs TC avg
§103
23.1%
-16.9% vs TC avg
§102
27.9%
-12.1% vs TC avg
§112
14.3%
-25.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1112 resolved cases

Office Action

§101 §102 §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 . 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 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. DETAILED ACTION Claims status Claims 1-20 are pending as the applicant filed Preliminary Amendment on 09/05/2024. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 2. 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 1-20 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. Regarding claims 1-20, the terms “abnormality” “abnormal” are vague and a relative term that renders the claim indefinite. The terms “abnormality” “abnormal” are not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably appraised of the scope of the invention. An artisan doing measuring and testing would not know at what point “abnormality” “abnormal” within the scope of the claim had been accomplished because nothing within the disclosure establishes when a sufficient “abnormality” “abnormal” occur. Note: In view of the PTO compact prosecution, the Examiner notes that due to the indefiniteness issues described above all consideration of the merits of the claims in view of prior art is as best understood. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 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. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly more. Claim 1, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes), Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to an abnormality detection device comprising: an input unit that acquires an observation value of each of a plurality of observation stations that are for observation of a number of electrons in an ionosphere; and a controller that determines an abnormality in the observation value, wherein the controller performs: selecting a central observation station from among the plurality of observation stations appears to be an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes. Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of selecting a plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station; calculating a predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application, Step 2A Prong Two: NO. Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? the additional element of calculating an estimation error between the predicted observation value and an actual measured value of the central observation station; and determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal, based on the estimation error appears to be field of use (See MPEP 2106.05(h) and MPEP 2106.05(f)) and/or merely amounts to insignificant extra-solution output of the results (see MPEP 2106.05(g)) and therefore fails to integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or amount to significantly more. Step 2B: No. claim 1 not eligible. Claim 10, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes), Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to an abnormality detection device comprising: an input unit that acquires an observation value of each of a plurality of observation stations that are for observation of a number of electrons in an ionosphere; and a controller that determines an abnormality in the observation value, wherein the controller performs selecting a central observation station from among the plurality of observation stations appears to be an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes. Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of selecting a plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station; calculating a predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application, Step 2A Prong Two: NO. Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? the additional element of calculating an estimation error between the predicted observation value and an actual measured value of the central observation station; and determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal, based on the estimation error appears to be field of use (See MPEP 2106.05(h) and MPEP 2106.05(f)) and/or merely amounts to insignificant extra-solution output of the results (see MPEP 2106.05(g)) and therefore fails to integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or amount to significantly more. Step 2B: No. claim 10 not eligible. Claim 19, Step 1 the claim is a process (or machine) (Yes), Step 2A Prong One, does the claim recite an abstract idea? current claim related to a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a [[the]] method, the method comprising: acquiring an observation value of each of a plurality of observation stations that are for observation of a number of electrons in an ionosphere; selecting a central observation station from among the plurality of observation stations; appears to be an abstract idea of mental process (MPEP 2106.04(a)) or data gathering equivalent to mathematical concept or mathematical manipulation function (MPEP 2106.04 (a) (2) (concept need not be expressed in mathematical symbols, because "[w]ords used in a claim operating on data to solve a problem can serve the same purpose as a formula), (OR Mathematical Concepts and Mental Processes) Step 2A Prong One: Yes. Step 2A Prong Two, is the claim directed to an abstract idea? In other words, does claim recite additional elements that integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application? the additional elements of selecting a plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station; calculating a predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations are recited at a high level of generality and merely amount to a particular field of use (see MPEP 2106.05(h)) and/or insignificant post-solution activity (MPEP 2106.05(g)), this does not integrate the Judicial Exception into a practical application, Step 2A Prong Two: NO. Step 2B, Does the claim recite additional element that amount to significantly more than the Judicial exception? the additional element of calculating an estimation error between the predicted observation value and an actual measured value of the central observation station; and determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal, based on the estimation error appears to be field of use (See MPEP 2106.05(h) and MPEP 2106.05(f)) and/or merely amounts to insignificant extra-solution output of the results (see MPEP 2106.05(g)) and therefore fails to integrate the abstract idea into a practical application or amount to significantly more. Step 2B: No. claim 19 not eligible. Claim 2 related to a storage unit that stores information about a first distance and information about a second distance, wherein the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from a region in which a distance from the central observation station is greater than or equal to the first distance and less than or equal to the second distance appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 2 not eligible. Claim 3 related to wherein the storage unit further stores information about a third distance, and the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes: determining each of the peripheral observation stations as a virtual weight; calculating a position of a center of gravity of a weight of the selected plurality of peripheral observation stations; and selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations such that a distance from the central observation station to the center of gravity is less than or equal to the third distance appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 3 not eligible. Claim 4 related to the calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations includes calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on an average value of the observation values of the plurality of peripheral observation stations appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 4 not eligible. Claim 5 related to the calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations includes calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on a median value of the observation values of the plurality of peripheral observation stations appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 5 not eligible. Claim 6 related to the selecting the central observation station includes selecting each of observation stations included in the plurality of observation stations as the central observation station, and the calculating the estimation error includes repeatedly calculating the estimation error when each of the observation stations is selected as the central observation station appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 6 not eligible. Claim 7 related to the determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on the estimation error includes: calculating a correlation value between the estimation error of the central observation station and the estimation errors of a plurality of the observation stations present around the central observation station; and determining that the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on a fact that the correlation value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 7 not eligible. Claim 8 related to the determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on the estimation error includes: calculating a correlation value between the estimation error of the central observation station and the estimation errors of a plurality of the observation stations present around the central observation station; calculating a median value and a standard deviation of the correlation values of the central observation station; calculating a relative value indicating a degree of difference between the correlation value and the median value of the central observation station, based on the median value and the standard deviation; and determining that the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on a fact that the relative value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 8 not eligible. Claim 9 related to an output unit that outputs an alert, wherein the output unit outputs an alert based on a fact that the actual measured value of the central observation station is determined to be abnormal appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 9 not eligible. Claim 11 related to wherein the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from a region in which a distance from the central observation station is greater than or equal to a first distance and less than or equal to a second distance appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 11 not eligible. Claim 12 related to wherein the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes: determining each of the peripheral observation stations as a virtual weight; calculating a position of a center of gravity of a weight of the selected plurality of peripheral observation stations; and selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations such that a distance from the central observation station to the center of gravity is less than or equal to a third distance appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 12 not eligible. Claim 13 related to wherein the calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations includes calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on an average value of the observation values of the plurality of peripheral observation stations appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 13 not eligible. Claim 14 related to wherein the calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations includes calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on a median value of the observation values of the plurality of peripheral observation stations appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 14 not eligible. Claim 15 related to wherein the selecting the central observation station includes selecting each of observation stations included in the plurality of observation stations as the central observation station, and the calculating the estimation error includes repeatedly calculating the estimation error when each of the observation stations is selected as the central observation station appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 15 not eligible. Claim 16 related to , wherein the determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on the estimation error includes: calculating a correlation value between the estimation error of the central observation station and the estimation errors of a plurality of the observation stations present around the central observation station; and determining that the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on a fact that the correlation value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 16 not eligible. Claim 17 related to wherein the determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on the estimation error includes: calculating a correlation value between the estimation error of the central observation station and the estimation errors of a plurality of the observation stations present around the central observation station; calculating a median value and a standard deviation of the correlation values of the central observation station; calculating a relative value indicating a degree of difference between the correlation value and the median value of the central observation station, based on the median value and the standard deviation; and determining that the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on a fact that the relative value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 17 not eligible. Claim 18 related to outputting an alert based on a fact that the actual measured value of the central observation station is determined to be abnormal appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 18 not eligible. Claim 20 related to wherein the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from a region in which a distance from the central observation station is greater than or equal to a first distance and less than or equal to a second distance appears recite further data characterization and mathematical concepts that are part of the abstract idea, claims 20 not eligible. 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 (a) (1) as being anticipated by UMENO, WO 2018097272 A1, DATE PUBLISHED: 2018-05-31, CPC G01V 9/00 Regarding claim 1: UMENO described an abnormality detection device comprising: an input unit that acquires an observation value of each of a plurality of observation stations that are for observation of a number of electrons in an ionosphere (abstract, total number of electrons in the ionosphere between an observation station on the ground and a satellite); and a controller that determines an abnormality in the observation value, wherein the controller performs (abstract, estimation error, number of observation stations in the vicinity of said observation station); selecting a central observation station from among the plurality of observation stations (abstract, total number of electrons in the ionosphere between an observation station on the ground and a satellite); selecting a plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station (page 2, magnitude of the epicenter are estimated from the P-wave observation data); calculating a predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations (page 2, the estimated location and Based on the scale, the arrival time and seismic intensity of the S wave in each place are predicted and notified); calculating an estimation error between the predicted observation value and an actual measured value of the central observation station (page 4, estimation error calculation); and determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal, based on the estimation error (page 6, The correlation value calculation unit 10e performs processing based on the estimation error in each observation station). Regarding claim 10: UMENO described a method for detecting an abnormality in a number of electrons in an ionosphere, the method comprising: acquiring an observation value of each of a plurality of observation stations that are for observation of a number of electrons in an ionosphere (abstract, total number of electrons in the ionosphere between an observation station on the ground and a satellite); selecting a central observation station from among the plurality of observation stations (abstract, estimation error, number of observation stations in the vicinity of said observation station) selecting a plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station abstract, total number of electrons in the ionosphere between an observation station on the ground and a satellite); calculating a predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations (page 2, the estimated location and Based on the scale, the arrival time and seismic intensity of the S wave in each place are predicted and notified); calculating an estimation error between the predicted observation value and an actual measured value of the central observation station (page 4, estimation error calculation); and determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal, based on the estimation error page 6, The correlation value calculation unit 10e performs processing based on the estimation error in each observation station). Regarding claim 19: UMENO described a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute a method, the method (page 2, using computer) comprising: acquiring an observation value of each of a plurality of observation stations that are for observation of a number of electrons in an ionosphere (abstract, total number of electrons in the ionosphere between an observation station on the ground and a satellite); selecting a central observation station from among the plurality of observation stations (abstract, estimation error, number of observation stations in the vicinity of said observation station); selecting a plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station (abstract, total number of electrons in the ionosphere between an observation station on the ground and a satellite); calculating a predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations (page 2, magnitude of the epicenter are estimated from the P-wave observation data); calculating an estimation error between the predicted observation value and an actual measured value of the central observation station (page 2, the estimated location and Based on the scale, the arrival time and seismic intensity of the S wave in each place are predicted and notified, page 4, estimation error calculation); and determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal, based on the estimation error (page 6, The correlation value calculation unit 10e performs processing based on the estimation error in each observation station) Regarding claim 2, UMENO further described storage unit that stores information about a first distance and information about a second distance, wherein the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from a region in which a distance from the central observation station is greater than or equal to the first distance and less than or equal to the second distance (page 14, any predetermined distance are selected as the peripheral observation stations). Regarding claim 3, UMENO further described stores information about a third distance, and the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes: determining each of the peripheral observation stations as a virtual weight; calculating a position of a center of gravity of a weight of the selected plurality of peripheral observation stations; and selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations such that a distance from the central observation station to the center of gravity is less than or equal to the third distance (page 14, any predetermined distance are selected as the peripheral observation stations). Regarding claim 4, UMENO further described wherein the calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations includes calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on an average value of the observation values of the plurality of peripheral observation stations (page 7, average value). Regarding claim 5, UMENO further described wherein the calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations includes calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on a median value of the observation values of the plurality of peripheral observation stations (page 8, median value). Regarding claim 6, UMENO further described wherein the selecting the central observation station includes selecting each of observation stations included in the plurality of observation stations as the central observation station, and the calculating the estimation error includes repeatedly calculating the estimation error when each of the observation stations is selected as the central observation station (page 3, observation station 2 can be transmitted, the satellite 3 may be any satellite). Regarding claim 7, UMENO further described wherein the determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on the estimation error includes: calculating a correlation value between the estimation error of the central observation station and the estimation errors of a plurality of the observation stations present around the central observation station (page 4, correlation value calculation); and determining that the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on a fact that the correlation value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (page 8, equal to or greater than predetermined threshold). Regarding claim 8, UMENO further described wherein the determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on the estimation error includes: calculating a correlation value between the estimation error of the central observation station and the estimation errors of a plurality of the observation stations present around the central observation station (page 4, correlation value calculation); calculating a median value and a standard deviation of the correlation values of the central observation station (page 8, median value); calculating a relative value indicating a degree of difference between the correlation value and the median value of the central observation station (page 8, relative value), based on the median value and the standard deviation (page 8, median value , standard deviation); and determining that the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on a fact that the relative value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (page 8, correlation value in each SIP is a predetermined threshold value). Regarding claim 9, UMENO further described an output unit that outputs an alert, wherein the output unit outputs an alert based on a fact that the actual measured value of the central observation station is determined to be abnormal (page 2, warning, page 8, correlation value in each SIP is a predetermined threshold value). Regarding claim 11, UMENO further described wherein the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from a region in which a distance from the central observation station is greater than or equal to a first distance and less than or equal to a second distance (page 14, any predetermined distance are selected as the peripheral observation stations). Regarding claim 12, UMENO further described wherein the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes: determining each of the peripheral observation stations as a virtual weight; calculating a position of a center of gravity of a weight of the selected plurality of peripheral observation stations; and selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations such that a distance from the central observation station to the center of gravity is less than or equal to a third distance (page 14, any predetermined distance are selected as the peripheral observation stations). Regarding claim 13, UMENO further described wherein the calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations includes calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on an average value of the observation values of the plurality of peripheral observation stations (page 7, average value). Regarding claim 14, UMENO further described the calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on the observation value of each of the plurality of peripheral observation stations includes calculating the predicted observation value of the central observation station based on a median value of the observation values of the plurality of peripheral observation stations (page 8, median value). Regarding claim 15, UMENO further described wherein the selecting the central observation station includes selecting each of observation stations included in the plurality of observation stations as the central observation station, and the calculating the estimation error includes repeatedly calculating the estimation error when each of the observation stations is selected as the central observation station (page 3, observation station 2 can be transmitted, the satellite 3 may be any satellite). Regarding claim 16, UMENO further described wherein the determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on the estimation error includes: calculating a correlation value between the estimation error of the central observation station and the estimation errors of a plurality of the observation stations present around the central observation station (page 6, The correlation value calculation unit 10e performs processing based on the estimation error in each observation station); and determining that the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on a fact that the correlation value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value ( page 8, equal to or greater than predetermined threshold, equal to or greater than predetermined threshold). Regarding claim 17, UMENO further described wherein the determining whether or not the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on the estimation error includes: calculating a correlation value between the estimation error of the central observation station and the estimation errors of a plurality of the observation stations present around the central observation station (page 4, correlation value calculation); calculating a median value and a standard deviation of the correlation values of the central observation station (page 8, median value , standard deviation); calculating a relative value indicating a degree of difference between the correlation value and the median value of the central observation station (page 8, relative value), based on the median value and the standard deviation (page 8, median value , standard deviation); and determining that the actual measured value of the central observation station is abnormal based on a fact that the relative value is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold value (page 9, an estimation error from the value is calculated). Regarding claim 18, UMENO further described outputting an alert based on a fact that the actual measured value of the central observation station is determined to be abnormal (page 2, warning, page 8, correlation value in each SIP is a predetermined threshold value). Regarding claim 20, UMENO further described wherein the selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from among the plurality of observation stations based on a distance from the central observation station includes selecting the plurality of peripheral observation stations from a region in which a distance from the central observation station is greater than or equal to a first distance and less than or equal to a second distance (page 14, any predetermined distance are selected as the peripheral observation stations). Contact information 5. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Tung Lau whose telephone number is (571)272-2274, email is Tungs.lau@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Tuesday-Friday 7:00 AM-5:00 PM EST. 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, TURNER SHELBY, can be reached on 571-272-6334. 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 https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. 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. /TUNG S LAU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2857 Technology Center 2800 January 28, 2026 .
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 01, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §101, §102, §112 (current)

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Expected OA Rounds
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Grant Probability
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3y 0m
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