Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/650,983

VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 30, 2024
Priority
Apr 05, 2019 — continuation of 11/201,670 +1 more
Examiner
DOBSON, DANIEL G
Art Unit
2634
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Comcast Cable Communications LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
529 granted / 648 resolved
+19.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
10 currently pending
Career history
660
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
§103
72.2%
+32.2% vs TC avg
§102
13.9%
-26.1% vs TC avg
§112
6.0%
-34.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 648 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 § 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) 1-5, 7-11, 13-21, 23-31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by United States Patent Application Publication 2014/0186026 A1 to Oshima et al. Regarding Claim 1, Oshima discloses one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor (¶ 2728), cause the at least one processor to: receive data (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) receives video data (content) and signal data (VLC data) from streaming laptop (8501c)) ; determine, based on an indicator that indicates that the data comprises visual light communication (VLC) data, that the data comprises the VLC data (Fig. 480, signal data (¶ 2533, VLC data) is heralded by a signal identifier); and cause output of the VLC data (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) projects VLC data to screen (8501b)). Regarding Claim 2, Oshima discloses sending to a display device the VLC data (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) sends the VLC data to display device (8501b, screen)). Regarding Claim 3, Oshima discloses by the display device, output of the first data while simultaneously sending, via VLC, the VLC data to a second computing device (Fig. 479, screen (8501b) displays the VLC and sends it to second computing device (phone, 8501d)). Regarding Claim 4, Oshima discloses wherein the indicator comprises a VLC identifier that indicates that the VLC data is different than another portion of the data (Fig. 480, signal identifier indicates signal data is different from video data.) Regarding Claim 5, Oshima discloses cause the at least one processor to receive, based on the determination that the user device is within the proximity of the display device, the data (Fig. 134, 2002a, based on proximity sensor, VLC communication is started.) Regarding Claim 7, Oshima a system comprising: a computing device configured to: receive data (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) receives video data (content) and signal data (VLC data) from streaming laptop (8501c)) ; determine, based on an indicator that indicates that the data comprises visual light communication (VLC) data, that the data comprises the VLC data (Fig. 480, signal data (¶ 2533, VLC data) is heralded by a signal identifier); and cause output of the VLC data (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) projects VLC data to screen (8501b)); and a display device configured to output the VLC data (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) sends the VLC data to display device (8501b, screen)). Regarding Claim 8, Oshima discloses sending to a display device the VLC data (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) sends the VLC data to display device (8501b, screen)). Regarding Claim 9, Oshima discloses by the display device, output of the first data while simultaneously sending, via VLC, the VLC data to a second computing device (Fig. 479, screen (8501b) displays the VLC and sends it to second computing device (phone, 8501d)). Regarding Claim 10, Oshima discloses wherein the indicator comprises a VLC identifier that indicates that the VLC data is different than another portion of the data (Fig. 480, signal identifier indicates signal data is different from video data.) Regarding Claim 11, Oshima discloses cause the at least one processor to receive, based on the determination that the user device is within the proximity of the display device, the data (Fig. 134, 2002a, based on proximity sensor, VLC communication is started.) Regarding Claim 13, Oshima discloses one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing processor-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor (¶ 2728), cause the at least one processor to: receive at least a portion of a content item and an indicator (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) receives video data frame shown in Fig. 480b including an indicator (signal identifier) determine, based on the indicator, that there is visual light communication (VLC) data to be output (Fig. 480, signal data (¶ 2533, VLC data) is heralded by a signal identifier); and cause output of the VLC data and the portion of the content item (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) projects VLC data to screen (8501b) and the portion of the video frame). Regarding Claim 14, Oshima discloses wherein the portion of the content item comprises the indicator (Fig. 480b, video frame includes signal identifier.) Regarding Claim 15, Oshima discloses wherein the indicator indicates that the portion of the content item comprises the VLC data (Fig. 480b, signal identifier indicates signal data.) Regarding Claim 16, Oshima discloses wherein the VLC data is associated with the content item and wherein the content item comprises one or more of video content, an electronic program guide, location information, or an advertisement (Fig. 480b, VLC data is in the video frame and the content is video content.) Regarding Claim 17, Oshima discloses cause the at least one processor to cause output of the VLC data and the portion of the content item, cause the at least one processor to cause output, by a display device, of the portion of the content item while simultaneously causing output, via VLC, of the VLC data to a second computing device (Fig. 479, VLC and video is projected on screen for reception by second device (cell phone 8501d)). Regarding Claim 18, Oshima discloses wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to embed the VLC data into the portion of the content item (Fig’s. 477, 480, VLC data is embedded with video data for projection by projector.) Regarding Claim 19, Oshima discloses wherein the indicator comprises a VLC identifier that indicates that the VLC data is different than the portion of the content item (Fig. 480, signal identifier indicates signal data is different from video data.) Regarding Claim 20, Oshima discloses causing the at least one processor to cause output of the VLC data, cause the at least one processor to cause a light emitting diode (LED) of a display device to modify an intensity level to output, via VLC, the VLC data (¶ 2387, intensity (on/off) of LED projector is controlled to transmit the VLC.) Regarding Claim 21, Oshima discloses determining that a user device is within proximity to a display device; and insert based on the user device being within the proximity to the display device, the VLC data into the portion of the content item (Fig. 134, 2002a, based on proximity sensor, VLC communication is started.) Regarding Claim 23, Oshima a system comprising: a computing device configured to: receive at least a portion of a content item and an indicator (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) receives video data frame shown in Fig. 480b including an indicator (signal identifier) determine, based on the indicator, that there is visual light communication (VLC) data to be output (Fig. 480, signal data (¶ 2533, VLC data) is heralded by a signal identifier); and cause output of the VLC data and the portion of the content item (Fig. 479, projector (8501a) projects VLC data to screen (8501b) and the portion of the video frame) and a display device configured to: output the VLC data and the portion of the content item (Fig. 479, screen (8501) outputs the video content and the VLC data to receiver (8501d)). Regarding Claim 24, Oshima discloses wherein the portion of the content item comprises the indicator (Fig. 480b, video frame includes signal identifier.) Regarding Claim 25, Oshima discloses wherein the indicator indicates that the portion of the content item comprises the VLC data (Fig. 480b, signal identifier indicates signal data.) Regarding Claim 26, Oshima discloses wherein the VLC data is associated with the content item and wherein the content item comprises one or more of video content, an electronic program guide, location information, or an advertisement (Fig. 480b, VLC data is in the video frame and the content is video content.) Regarding Claim 27, Oshima discloses cause the at least one processor to cause output of the VLC data and the portion of the content item, cause the at least one processor to cause output, by a display device, of the portion of the content item while simultaneously causing output, via VLC, of the VLC data to a second computing device (Fig. 479, VLC and video is projected on screen for reception by second device (cell phone 8501d)). Regarding Claim 28, Oshima discloses wherein the processor-executable instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, further cause the at least one processor to embed the VLC data into the portion of the content item (Fig’s. 477, 480, VLC data is embedded with video data for projection by projector.) Regarding Claim 29, Oshima discloses wherein the indicator comprises a VLC identifier that indicates that the VLC data is different than the portion of the content item (Fig. 480, signal identifier indicates signal data is different from video data.) Regarding Claim 30, Oshima discloses causing the at least one processor to cause output of the VLC data, cause the at least one processor to cause a light emitting diode (LED) of a display device to modify an intensity level to output, via VLC, the VLC data (¶ 2387, intensity (on/off) of LED projector is controlled to transmit the VLC.) Regarding Claim 31, Oshima discloses determining that a user device is within proximity to a display device; and insert based on the user device being within the proximity to the display device, the VLC data into the portion of the content item (Fig. 134, 2002a, based on proximity sensor, VLC communication is started.) Allowable Subject Matter Claims 6, 12, 22, and 32 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANIEL G DOBSON whose telephone number is (571)272-9781. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 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, Kenneth Vanderpuye can be reached at 5712723078. 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. /DANIEL G DOBSON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2634 05/30/2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 30, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+7.0%)
2y 8m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 648 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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