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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 05/07/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The office action is in response to Applicant’s amendment filed 05/07/2026 which has been entered and made of record. Claims 1-2 and 4-16 have been amended. No claim has been newly added. Claims 3 and 17-20 have been cancelled. Claims 1-2 and 4-16 are pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, filed 05/06/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) on the ground of non-statutory double patenting of claims 1, 2 and 4-17 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made as fully explained below.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-2 and 4-14 rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 2, 4-14 of US Patent No. 12505609 in view of Zia et al. (US 20190197599 A1).
Claim 1 is rejected under the judicially created doctrine of obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12505609 in view of Zia.
Claim mapping between current application and U.S. Patent No. 12505609
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Current Application
12505609
Claim 1. A system to provide a virtual interactive environment, the system comprising:
Claim 1: A method to provide a virtual interactive environment, the method comprising:
one or more processors; and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
receive a computer-generated three-dimensional (3D) model representing a virtual 3D space; convert the computer-generated 3D model into a plurality of cube maps corresponding to a plurality of viewpoints in the virtual 3D space, the plurality of viewpoints creating an incremental path in the virtual 3D space; generate, at a viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints, a mapping plane or a mapping point associated with coordinates in the virtual 3D space; map one or more product models to the mapping plane or the mapping point; generate an interactive plane for the one or more product models, the interactive plane being associated with product information related to the one or more product models such that an interaction with the interactive plane causes retrieval of the product information; and present, at a display, the virtual interactive environment as a scene from the viewpoint, the scene being defined by a cube map of the plurality of cube maps corresponding to the viewpoint, the one or more product models being visible in the scene, and the interactive plane being at least partly layered over the one or more product models in the scene
receiving a computer-generated three-dimensional (3D) model representing a virtual 3D space; converting the computer-generated 3D model into a plurality of cube maps corresponding to a plurality of viewpoints in the virtual 3D space, the plurality of viewpoints creating an incremented path in the virtual 3D space; generating, at a viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints, a mapping plane or a mapping point associated with coordinates in the virtual 3D space; mapping one or more product models to the mapping plane or the mapping point; generating an interactive plane for the one or more product models, the interactive plane being associated with product information related to the one or more product models such that an interaction with the interactive plane causes retrieval of the product information; and presenting, at a display, the virtual interactive environment as a scene from the viewpoint, the scene being defined by a cube map of the plurality of cube maps corresponding to the viewpoint, the one or more product models being visible in the scene, and the interactive plane being at least partly layered over the one or more product models in the scene
the cube map including a plurality of (2D) cube side images, wherein to present the virtual interactive environment includes rendering a front 2D cube side image of the plurality of 2D cube side images before rendering other 2D cube side images of the plurality of 2D cube side images.
the cube map including a plurality of (2D) cube side images, wherein presenting the virtual interactive environment includes rendering a front 2D cube side image of the plurality of 2D cube side images before rendering other 2D cube side images of the plurality of 2D cube side images.
Claim 12 :A system to provide a virtual interactive environment, the system comprising:
Claim 12 :A method to provide a virtual interactive environment, the method comprising:
one or more processors; and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to:
receive a computer-generated three-dimensional (3D) model representing a virtual 3D space; convert the computer-generated 3D model into a plurality of cube maps corresponding to a plurality of viewpoints in the virtual 3D space, the plurality of viewpoints creating an incremented path in the virtual 3D space; generate, at a viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints, a plurality of mapping locators, wherein the plurality of mapping locators include a 3D mapping shape placed in the virtual 3D space, the 3D mapping shape includes a 3D mapping box, and wherein to generate the plurality of mapping locators includes to define at least one of boundaries or corners of the 3D mapping box; map a product model to a first mapping locator of the plurality of mapping locators; map an animation layer to a second mapping locator of the plurality of mapping locators; and present, at a display, the virtual interactive environment as a scene from the viewpoint, the scene being defined by a cube map of the plurality of cube maps, the product model being visible in the scene with the animation layer.
receiving a computer-generated three-dimensional (3D) model representing a virtual 3D space; converting the computer-generated 3D model into a plurality of cube maps corresponding to a plurality of viewpoints in the virtual 3D space, the plurality of viewpoints creating an incremented path in the virtual 3D space; generating, at a viewpoint of the plurality of viewpoints, a plurality of mapping locators, the plurality of mapping locators including a 3D mapping shape placed in the virtual 3D space, the 3D mapping shape including a 3D mapping box, wherein generating the plurality of mapping locators includes defining at least one of boundaries or corners of the 3D mapping box; mapping a product model to a first mapping locator of the plurality of mapping locators; mapping an animation layer to a second mapping locator of the plurality of mapping locators; and presenting, at a display, the virtual interactive environment as a scene from the viewpoint, the scene being defined by a cube map of the plurality of cube maps, the product model being visible in the scene,
and the animation layer causing a repeating color event in the scene.
Zia and US Patent No. 12505609 are in the same field of endeavor. Zia was cited in the final rejection office action mailed 11/07/2025. Zia teaches a computer system with processors and memory of instructions (Zia Figure 8 and paragraph [0059-0060] “The machine (e.g., computer system) ( 800 ) may include a hardware processor ( 802 ) (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a hardware processor core, or any combination thereof), a main memory ( 804 ) and a static memory ( 806 ) …… The storage device ( 816 ) may include a machine-readable medium ( 822 ) on which is stored one or more sets of data structures or instructions ( 824 ) (e.g., software) embodying or utilized by any one or more of the techniques or functions described herein.”). Therefore, it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of computer system of Zia with the method of US Patent No. 12505609.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-2 and 4-16 would be allowable if overcoming the double patenting rejections. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance:
Regarding independent claim 1, Mabrey49 further teaches the cube map includes a plurality of (2D) cube side images (Mabrey49 (Fig. 1 [0046]) illustrates an interactive environment that is mapped to 6 standard cube faces.). However, the prior art of record, taken alone or in combination, fails to teach or fairly suggest presenting the virtual interactive environment includes rendering a front 2D cube side image of the plurality of 2D cube side images before rendering other 2D cube side images of the plurality of 2D cube side images. Therefore, claim 1 is considered to allowable.
Claims 2 and 4-11 contain allowable subject matter because they depend on claim 1 that contains allowable subject matter.
Regarding independent claim 12, Mabrey49 teaches a plurality of mapping locators in Figure 3 and paragraph [0048]. However, the prior art of record, taken alone or in combination, fails to teach or fairly suggest wherein the plurality of mapping locators include a 3D mapping box and generating the plurality of mapping locators includes defining boundaries or corners of the 3D mapping box. Therefore, claim 12 is considered to allowable.
Claim 13-16 contain allowable subject matter because they depend on claim 12 that contains allowable subject matter.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XIAOMING WEI whose telephone number is (571)272-3831. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-5:00.
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/XIAOMING WEI/Examiner, Art Unit 2611
/KEE M TUNG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2611
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