Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/660,246

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

Non-Final OA §101§DP
Filed
May 10, 2024
Examiner
HAILU, TADESSE
Art Unit
2174
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Sony Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
82%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allow Rate
747 granted / 960 resolved
+22.8% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
989
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.8%
-34.2% vs TC avg
§103
38.1%
-1.9% vs TC avg
§102
41.1%
+1.1% vs TC avg
§112
9.0%
-31.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 960 resolved cases

Office Action

§101 §DP
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 1. The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. 2. This Office Action is in response to the Preliminary Amendment filed on 06/18/2024. 3. The IDS filed on 05/10/2024 is considered and entered into the application file. Double Patenting 4. A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957). A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101. 5. Claims 21-40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1-18, and 20-21 of prior U.S. Patent No. 12,032,818 B2. This is a statutory double patenting rejection. US App. No. 18/660,246 U.S. Patent No. 12,032,818 B2. 21. An apparatus comprising: a display; a touch panel; a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display, in a region of the display, a portion of a scrollable display object including a plurality of respective items; detect a movement operation in which an operating object moves at least partially in a first direction along the touch panel while in contact with the touch panel; determine, during the movement operation, whether an edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object has not reached the region, scroll the display object in the first direction within the region; when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object has reached the region, refrain from moving the edge of the display object in the first direction; detect, during the movement operation, an overdrag operation in which the operating object moves at least partially in the first direction at a time after the edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; and in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, modify a shape of at least two items of the plurality of items with different amounts of shape change, wherein the different amounts of shape change are determined based on a distance travelled by the operating object along the touch panel during the overdrag operation. 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, modify, based on the distance, a length of the at least two items of the plurality of items. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the length of the at least two items is increased based on an increase in the distance. 24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, display, under control of the operating object, a graphic element in the region of the display; monitor a characteristic of the detected movement of the operating object during the movement operation; and modify at least one feature of the graphic element during the movement operation based on changes to the monitored characteristic. 25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one modified feature of the graphic element further comprises a size of the graphic element. 26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one modified feature of the at least two items further comprises a length of the graphic element. 27. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, display, under control of the operating object, a graphic element in the region of the display. 28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions that cause the apparatus to display the graphic element in the region comprise additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display the graphic element in an orientation that depends on a direction of the overdrag operation. 29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: modify a shape of the graphic element based on an extent of the overdrag operation. 30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: modify a size of the graphic element based on the extent of the overdrag operation. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the graphic element comprises a curved shape and a degree of curvature of the curved shape is updated based on an extent of the overdrag operation, and wherein the instructions that cause the apparatus to display the graphic element in the region comprise additional instruction which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: orient the curved shape in the region in a direction corresponding to a direction of the overdrag operation. 32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the graphic element further comprises a flat edge located opposite to the curved shape, and the instructions that cause the apparatus to display the graphic element in the region comprise additional instruction which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display the graphic element in the region so that the curved shape is oriented in a direction of the overdrag operation. 33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the graphic element comprises a shaded area. 34. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: identify an end of the movement operation; and cease displaying the graphic element in the region in response to identifying the end of the movement operation. 35. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to cease displaying the graphic element include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the graphic element to gradually fade out from the region. 36. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: display, under control of the operating object and in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, the graphic element in the region that at least partially overlays at least one item of the plurality of items, the at least one item being located adjacent the edge. 37. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: display, in the region of the display, a separator line for separating the plurality of items, wherein a direction of the separator line is orthogonal to the first direction of the overdrag operation. 38. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, modify, based on the distance, the shape of at least two items of the plurality of items. 39. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use with an apparatus including a display, a touch panel, and a processor, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display, in a region of the display, a portion of a scrollable display object including a plurality of respective items; detect a movement operation in which an operating object moves at least partially in a first direction along the touch panel while in contact with the touch panel; determine, during the movement operation, whether an edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object has not reached the region, scroll the display object in the first direction within the region; when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object has reached the region, refrain from moving the edge of the display object in the first direction; detect, during the movement operation, an overdrag operation in which the operating object moves at least partially in the first direction at a time after the edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; and in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, modify a shape of at least two items of the plurality of items with different amounts of shape change, wherein the different amounts of shape change are determined based on a distance travelled by the operating object along the touch panel during the overdrag operation. 40. A method for operating an apparatus including a display and a touch panel, the method comprising: displaying, in a region of the display, a portion of a scrollable display object including a plurality of respective items; detecting a movement operation in which an operating object moves at least partially in a first direction along the touch panel while in contact with the touch panel; determining, during the movement operation, whether an edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; scrolling, when the edge of the display object has not reached the region during the movement operation, the display object in the first direction within the region; refraining, when the edge of the display object has reached region during the movement operation, from moving the edge of the display object in the first direction; detecting, during the movement operation, an overdrag operation in which the operating object moves at least partially in the first direction at a time after the edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; and modifying, in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, a shape of at least two items of the plurality of items with different amounts of shape change, wherein the different amounts of shape change are determined based on a distance travelled by the operating object along the touch panel during the overdrag operation. 1. An apparatus comprising: a display; a touch panel; a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display, in a region of the display, a portion of a scrollable display object including a plurality of respective items; detect a movement operation in which an operating object moves at least partially in a first direction along the touch panel while in contact with the touch panel; determine, during the movement operation, whether an edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object has not reached the region, scroll the display object in the first direction within the region; when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object has reached the region, refrain from moving the edge of the display object in the first direction; detect, during the movement operation, an overdrag operation in which the operating object moves at least partially in the first direction at a time after the edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; monitor a distance travelled by the operating object along the touch panel during the overdrag operation; and in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, modify a shape of at least two items of the plurality of items with different amounts of shape change, wherein the different amounts of shape change are determined based on the monitored distance. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, modify, based on the distance, a length of the at least two items of the plurality of items. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the length of the at least two items is increased based on an increase in the distance. 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, display, under control of the operating object, a graphic element in the region of the display; monitor a characteristic of the detected movement of the operating object during the movement operation; and modify at least one feature of the graphic element during the movement operation based on changes to the monitored characteristic. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one modified feature of the graphic element further comprises a size of the graphic element. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the at least one modified feature of the at least two items further comprises a length of the graphic element. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, display, under control of the operating object, a graphic element in the region of the display. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the instructions that cause the apparatus to display the graphic element in the region comprise additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display the graphic element in an orientation that depends on a direction of the overdrag operation. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: modify a shape of the graphic element based on an extent of the overdrag operation. 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: modify a size of the graphic element based on the extent of the overdrag operation. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the graphic element comprises a curved shape and a degree of curvature of the curved shape is updated based on an extent of the overdrag operation, and wherein the instructions that cause the apparatus to display the graphic element in the region comprise additional instruction which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: orient the curved shape in the region in a direction corresponding to a direction of the overdrag operation. 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the graphic element further comprises a flat edge located opposite to the curved shape, and the instructions that cause the apparatus to display the graphic element in the region comprise additional instruction which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display the graphic element in the region so that the curved shape is oriented in a direction of the overdrag operation. 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the graphic element comprises a shaded area. 14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: identify an end of the movement operation; and cease displaying the graphic element in the region in response to identifying the end of the movement operation. 15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to cease displaying the graphic element include instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the graphic element to gradually fade out from the region. 16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: display, under control of the operating object and in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, the graphic element in the region that at least partially overlays at least one item of the plurality of items, the at least one item being located adjacent the edge. 17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: display, in the region of the display, a separator line for separating the plurality of items, wherein a direction of the separator line is orthogonal to the first direction of the overdrag operation. 18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with additional instructions which, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to: in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, modify, based on the distance, the shape of at least two items of the plurality of items. 19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the different amounts of shape change are determined based on the monitored distance and ascending order of distance from the edge of the at least two items. 20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for use with an apparatus including a display, a touch panel, and a processor, wherein the computer-readable medium is encoded with instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: display, in a region of the display, a portion of a scrollable display object including a plurality of respective items; detect a movement operation in which an operating object moves at least partially in a first direction along the touch panel while in contact with the touch panel; determine, during the movement operation, whether an edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object has not reached the region, scroll the display object in the first direction within the region; when, during the movement operation, the edge of the display object has reached the region, refrain from moving the edge of the display object in the first direction; detect, during the movement operation, an overdrag operation in which the operating object moves at least partially in the first direction at a time after the edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; monitor a distance travelled by the operating object along the touch panel during the overdrag operation; and in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel, modify a shape of at least two items of the plurality of items with different amounts of shape change, wherein the different amounts of shape change are determined based on the monitored distance. 21. A method for operating an apparatus including a display and a touch panel, the method comprising: displaying, in a region of the display, a portion of a scrollable display object including a plurality of respective items; detecting a movement operation in which an operating object moves at least partially in a first direction along the touch panel while in contact with the touch panel; determining, during the movement operation, whether an edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; scrolling, when the edge of the display object has not reached the region during the movement operation, the display object in the first direction within the region; refraining, when the edge of the display object has reached region during the movement operation, from moving the edge of the display object in the first direction; detecting, during the movement operation, an overdrag operation in which the operating object moves at least partially in the first direction at a time after the edge of the display object has reached the region of the display; monitoring a distance travelled by the operating object along the touch panel during the overdrag operation; and modifying, in response to detecting the overdrag operation and before the operating object releases contact with the touch panel a shape of at least two items of the plurality of items with different amounts of shape change, wherein the different amounts of shape change are determined based on the monitored distance. Conclusion 6. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20110025720 A1 disclosed is a method and apparatus for scrolling data displayed on a screen, dividing a display region as a multiple of predefined weighted areas and setting a scroll velocity weight corresponding to each of the multiple of weighted areas when there is scrollable undisplayed data, after displaying data on the display region corresponding to execution of an application. Scroll velocity weight is detected corresponding to the initially produced point of the scroll input when a scroll input is sensed t, and an actual movement distance is detected corresponding to the scroll input in real-time until the scroll input ends. A scroll movement distance is calculating in proportion to the detected scroll velocity weight and the actual movement distance, and the data is displayed by shifting the data in a proceeding direction of the scroll input by the calculated scroll movement distance. US 20110102455 A1 discloses a portable computing device (10) with a display screen (26) that may be scrolled and/or zoomed in response to changes in the spatial orientation of the computing device. Changes in the spatial orientation of the computing device are sensed by accelerometers (20) contained in the device. Software converts signals sent by the accelerometers to scrolling or zooming commands that scroll and/or zoom the display screen. Motion of the computing device in the plane of the display screen of the computing device results in scrolling the display screen in the opposing direction of the motion of the computing device a distance greater than the distance the computing device is moved. Motion of the computing device perpendicular to the plane of the display screen zooms the display screen in or out. Motion of the computing device toward the user results in the display screen being zoomed in to reveal greater detail. Motion of the computing device away from the user results in the display screen being zoomed out to reveal more content. US 20110074699 A1 discloses a method for scrolling a multi-section document is disclosed, including displaying on a display an electronic document that includes a plurality of document sections separated by respective logical structure boundaries; detecting a gesture on a touch-sensitive surface, the gesture having an initial velocity that exceeds a predefined speed threshold such that the gesture will scroll the electronic document more than one document section; initiating scrolling of the electronic document on the display at the initial velocity in accordance with an initial scrolling speed versus scrolling distance function; while scrolling the electronic document, adjusting the scrolling speed versus scrolling distance function so that when the scrolling speed becomes zero, a first logical structure boundary in the electronic document is displayed at a predefined location on the display; and, scrolling the electronic document in accordance with the adjusted scrolling speed versus scrolling distance function. 7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TADESSE HAILU whose telephone number is (571)272-4051; and the email address is Tadesse.hailu@USPTO.GOV. The examiner can normally be reached Monday- Friday 9:30-5:30 (Eastern time). 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, Bashore, William L. can be reached (571) 272-4088. 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. /TADESSE HAILU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2174
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 10, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 18, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §101, §DP (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
78%
Grant Probability
82%
With Interview (+4.5%)
3y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 960 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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