Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/613,341

Time Synchronization Method and Related Apparatus

Final Rejection §101
Filed
Mar 22, 2024
Examiner
PANDEY, KESHAB R
Art Unit
2176
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Shenzhen Yinwang Intelligent Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 5m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allow Rate
316 granted / 361 resolved
+32.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+8.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
11 currently pending
Career history
372
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
9.5%
-30.5% vs TC avg
§103
46.4%
+6.4% vs TC avg
§102
15.1%
-24.9% vs TC avg
§112
18.1%
-21.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 361 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101 Claim 15-20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claim is directed towards “computer – readable medium”. Specifically, 0072, of the specification discloses “The computer-readable storage medium may be any usable medium that can be accessed by a computer, or a data storage device, for example, a server or a data center in which one or more usable media are integrated. The usable medium may be a magnetic medium (for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magnetic tape), an optical medium (for example, a digital versatile disc (DVD)), or a semiconductor medium. The semiconductor medium may be a solid-state drive. " is directed towards the memory. Computer readable media can encompass non-statutory transitory forms of signal transmission, such as, a propagating electrical or electromagnetic signal per se. Examiner, therefore, has interpreted claims as encompassing non- statutory subject matter until the applicant corrects the claim as “non – transitory machine- readable medium” Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed on 1/12/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive because amendment invokes 101 non-statutory subject matter with inclusion of computer readable medium. See 101 rejection above. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 1-14 allowed. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: Nam et al [ 20100110097] teaches a light source apparatus comprises a light source module including a plurality of light-emitting blocks, a delay modeling part performing modeling of the propagation delay amount through a local-dimming driver to synchronize a driving signal applied to the light-emitting block with a first reference clock which is a clock signal of the driving signal applied to a LCD panel, a phase controller setting up a phase compensation amount to make the sum of the propagation delay amount and the phase compensation amount be an integral multiple of the period of the first reference clock, and generating a second reference clock by delaying the phase of the first reference clock by the phase compensation amount and the local-dimming driver driving the light-emitting block to be synchronized with the first reference clock based on the second reference clock and the dimming levels determined by analyzing an image data signal from outside. Al-Stouhi [10168418] teaches an operable connection for computer communication between a first vehicle and a second vehicle using a vehicular communication network. For example, as discussed with FIG. 2 in detail, a communication link 158 is established between the first vehicle 106 and the second vehicle 108. At block 404, the method 400 includes, receiving a global time signal. For example, as discussed in detail with FIG. 2, the processor 134 of the first vehicle 106 can receive a global time signal from the global positioning source 141, and the processor 152 of the second vehicle 108 can receive a global time signal from the global positioning source 141. Further, at block 406, the local clocks of each vehicle are synchronized with the global time signal. For example, as discussed in detail with FIG. 2, the processor 134 can synchronize a local clock signal (e.g., of the local clock 132) with the global time signal, and the processor 152 synchronize a local clock signal (e.g., of the local clock 156) with the global time signal. Accordingly, each vehicle is synchronized according to the same common time base and can actuate sensors and/or transmit sensor data based on the same common time base. Prior art or record neither individually nor in combination teach: obtaining a current driving status of the intelligent driving device; determining whether the current driving status is a driving status in which time synchronization processing needs to be performed on a local clock of the domain controller; and performing, when the current driving status is the driving status in which time synchronization processing needs to be performed, time synchronization processing on the local clock based on the first-time information. Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee. Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.” 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 KESHAB R PANDEY whose telephone number is (571)270-0176. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00-5:00(ET). 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, Jaweed Abbaszadeh can be reached at (571) 270-1640. 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. /KESHAB R PANDEY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2176
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 22, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 01, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §101
Jan 12, 2026
Response Filed
Feb 21, 2026
Final Rejection — §101 (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
88%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+8.2%)
2y 5m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 361 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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