Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/684,961

ARTICLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, ARTICLE MANAGEMENT METHOD AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA

Filed

Feb 20, 2024

Priority

Aug 30, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2021031741

Examiner

RANDAZZO, THOMAS

Art Unit

3655

Tech Center

3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce

Assignee

NEC Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +12.4% interview lift. Interview lift (+12.4%) is below the 15.0% threshold. A written response is recommended.

Based on 938 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

RANDAZZO, THOMAS View full profile →

Grants 87% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

813 granted / 938 resolved

+34.7% vs TC avg

Moderate +12% lift

Without

With

+12.4%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Fast prosecutor

2y 0m

Avg Prosecution

11 currently pending

Career history

942

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

2.3%

-37.7% vs TC avg

§103

69.4%

+29.4% vs TC avg

§102

10.7%

-29.3% vs TC avg

§112

6.0%

-34.0% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 938 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 20, 2024

Application Filed

Apr 22, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

18/397,281

Patent 12679654

MATERIAL CONVEYING METHOD, SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/687,862

Patent 12679650

STORAGE SYSTEM

2y 4m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/037,446

Patent 12668423

THREE-DIMENSIONAL UNLOADING SYSTEM CAPABLE OF UNLOADING GOODS INTO CONTAINER AND CONTROL METHOD OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL UNLOADING SYSTEM

3y 1m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/530,024

Patent 12668422

SORTATION OF ITEMS USING AN IMAGE FINGERPRINT TO RIGHT THE ITEMS

2y 6m to grant Granted Jun 30, 2026

18/390,373

Patent 12654950

METHOD FOR ANALYZING MALFUNCTIONS IN AN OPERATION OF A HANDLING SYSTEM, METHOD FOR TRAINING OR RETRAINING A CLASSIFIER, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING MALFUNCTIONS

2y 5m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

87%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+12.4%)

2y 0m (~0m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 938 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.