Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/725,119

Methods and Apparatus to Select and Present Level-Change Way Points for Indoor Navigation Systems

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jun 27, 2024
Priority
Dec 27, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTUS2021065216
Examiner
AFRIN, NAZIA
Art Unit
3666
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Google LLC
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
50%
Grant Probability
Moderate
2-3
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
68%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 50% of resolved cases
50%
Career Allowance Rate
11 granted / 22 resolved
-2.0% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+18.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
44 currently pending
Career history
78
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
§103
94.3%
+54.3% vs TC avg
§102
3.1%
-36.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 22 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . Status of claims Claim 21 is newly added. Claim 13 is cancelled. Claims 1-12, 14-21 are pending. Response to arguments With respect to Applicant’s remarks filed on 01/07/2026; Applicant's “Amendments and Remarks” have been fully considered. Applicant’s remarks will be addressed in sequential order as they were presented. Applicant remarks: Regarding Applicant argument on page 8, Zhao does not disclose or otherwise teach wherein the navigation system user interface includes an augmented reality view that includes a first indication of a location of the recommended or suggested level-change way point alongside a real time image or video of an indoor space”. None of the other cited references cure the deficiencies of Zhao and DeWitt. Office responses: Please see new mapping above, specifically the mapping for the independent claims. The office respectfully disagrees that none of the other cited references cure the deficiencies of Zhao and DeWett. Nishimura teaches in para[0037] that the presenting meaning it can use augmented reality (AR) technology to overlay and display information related to the method of using the equipment of the building. Applicant further argues that the other independent claims which recite similar features are allowable and the dependent claims are also allowable since they depend on allowable subject and the Office respectfully disagrees. It is the Office's stance that all of the claimed subject matter has been properly rejected; therefore, the Office's respectfully disagrees with applicant’s arguments. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claims 1-9, 11-12, 16-19 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatented over US20170336212A1 to Zhao et al. (herein after “Zhao”) in view of US20150369612A1 to Nishimura et al. (herein after “Nishimura”). Regarding claim 1, Zhao teaches A method for selecting and presenting level-change way points for indoor navigation systems(See Zhao abstract methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation), the method comprising: receiving at a client device from a user(See Zhao para[0037] by a front-end device, a current location of a moving object at a current building level and a destination location at a destination building level.), a request for navigation directions from a starting point to a destination point(Zhao figure step 201); identifying, by one or more processors(See Zhao para[0013] In another embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed which includes one or more processors;) a plurality of level-change way points based on a starting level associated with the starting point(See Zhao paras[0047]-[0052], figure 2 step 203);: determining, by one or more processors, a subset of two or more of the plurality of level- change way points based on a destination level associated with the destination point(see Zhao elevators 1,2,3 para[0057] in accordance with the labeling for Elevator 2, the front-end device labels and displays the corresponding routes (301, 303) to the destination for elevators 1 to 3 on the indoor map respectively. If the used cross-level tool types are not specified, e.g., the moving object is not limited to using elevators only, the front-end device may label all available cross-level tools and their corresponding routes to the destination, figure 7); selecting, by one or more processors, a selected level-change way point from the subset based upon one or more criteria(see Zhao paras[0088]-[0092] To improve the passing efficiency of the moving objects, this embodiment filters the routes and identifies the optimal route and then recommends the selection to the moving object. Specifically, the back-end device gathers statistics of the transfer frequencies of each route. ); a first indication of a location of the selected level- change way point (See Zhao para[0035] The human-shaped icon shown in this figure indicates the current location of a moving object (101) at a current building level, ) and a second indication of a direction of the destination point relative to a current location of the user (See Zhao para[0060] he new building level is taken as the current building level and steps 201 through step 204 are repeated; then all the available cross-level tools of the new building level and their corresponding routes (e.g., 401, 403) to the destination location (103) are displayed, ). However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach presenting via the client device in an augmented reality view over a real-time image or video. Nevertheless, in a related field of invention, Nishimura teaches presenting via the client device in an augmented reality view over a real-time image or video (see Nishimura para[0037] the presenting means can use augmented reality (AR) technology to overlay and display information related to the method of using the equipment to the building), It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with Nishimura’s selection preference based on one or more criteria in order to allow to prioritize the purpose of the user's visit to achieve appropriate route guidance even in an indoor environment (see Nishimura para[0011] and [0103]). Regarding claim 2, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein determining the subset based on the destination level includes: determining, for each of the plurality of level-change way points, a plurality of levels served by the level-change way point; and determining, for each of the plurality of level-change way points, to include the level- change way point in the subset when its plurality of levels includes the destination level (See Zhao para[0082] After receiving the location of the current building level and the location of the destination building level, the back-end device traverses the direct or indirect routes to the location of the destination building level via the cross-level tools of the current building level based on a provided topological graph showing indoor passages or a relation table of building level passages., para[0083] The topological graph showing indoor passages and the relation table of building level passages will then be generated according to the configuration information of all the cross-level tools. ). Regarding claim 3, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein determining, for each of the plurality of level-change way points, the plurality of levels served by the level-change way point is based on metadata for the level-change way point that defines the levels served by the level-change way point. (See Zhao para[0083] For example, the configuration information of elevator 1 is ‘the building levels to stop=F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6’; the configuration information of the escalator 2 is ‘the building levels to stop=F1, F2’. ). Regarding claim 4, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein determining the subset based on the destination level includes: determining, for a first level-change way point of the plurality of level-change way points (See Zhao para[0047] Among all the cross-level tools at the first level, the cross-level tool that can be used to go directly to the destination building level is elevator 1, and the cross-level tools that can be used to go indirectly to the destination building level are elevator 2, elevator 3, escalators 1 to 3, and staircase 1.), a second level-change way point that serves at least one level that is also served by the first level-change way point (See Zhao figure 1 where destination level (103) is elevators 1) ; and determining to include the first level-change way point in the subset when the second level-change way point serves the destination level. (see Zhao figure 1 where elevator 1 is a common way point that serves both first and second(destination level)) PNG media_image1.png 461 689 media_image1.png Greyscale Figure: Zhao’s indoor navigation diagram Regarding claim 5, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach wherein selecting the selected level-change way point from the subset based upon the one or more criteria includes determining which of the two or more of the plurality of level-change way points of the subset satisfy a user-defined preference. Nevertheless, in a related field of invention, Nishimura teaches wherein selecting the selected level-change way point from the subset based upon the one or more criteria includes determining which of the two or more of the plurality of level-change way points of the subset satisfy a user-defined preference (see Nishimura para[0158] the search options “escalator preference”,, para[0103] The attributes of the user can include, for example, the gender, age, or age range of the user, preferences (such as whether to prioritize either elevators or escalators),para[0146] The server (201) can create one or a plurality of route guide information, while considering the current time (14:00) and the search options “escalator preference”). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with Nishimura’s selection preference based on one or more criteria in order to allow to prioritize the purpose of the user's visit to achieve appropriate route guidance even in an indoor environment ( see Nishimura para[0011] and [0103]). Regarding claim 6, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein selecting the selected level-change way point from the subset based upon the one or more criteria includes determining which of the two or more of the plurality of level-change way points of the subset represents a fastest path between the starting point and the destination point. (see Zhao para[0088] Furthermore, the back-end device of this embodiment is able to identify the optimal route to the destination from all the found routes, and send the information to the front-end device for labeling. The optimal route is the route having the lowest building level transfer frequency or the shortest route distance. ). Regarding claim 7, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein selecting the selected level-change way point from the subset based upon the one or more criteria includes determining which of the two or more of the plurality of level-change way points of the subset represents a most popular path between the starting point and the destination point. (see Zhao para[0116] its application value focuses more on the inquiring process; that is, the moving object wants to use a specific cross-level tool (such as a cross-level escalator from building level one to building level six) but does not know the exact location of the cross-level tool.). Regarding claim 8, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein selecting the selected level-change way point from the subset based upon the one or more criteria includes applying a machine learning algorithm. (see Zhao para[0085]After determining all the cross-level tools on the current building level, the back-end device takes each cross-level tool as the starting point and runs a routing algorithm against the topological graph. The algorithm is used to traverse the routes to the destination building levels in the topological graph so that all the possible routes of the cross-level tools are gathered.). Regarding claim 9, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach wherein the first indication includes a symbol representative of a type of the selected level-change way point. Nevertheless, Nishimura same field of endeavor teaches wherein the indication includes a symbol representative of a type of the selected level-change way point (see Nishimuri para[0150] FIG. 3B illustrates a route guide that is displayed on a mobile terminal as the result of the guide search illustrated in FIG. 3A, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention., figure 3 B sysmbols). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with Nishimura’s selection preference based on one or more criteria in order to allow to prioritize the purpose of the user's visit to achieve appropriate route guidance even in an indoor environment ( see Nishimura para[0011] and [0103]). Regarding claim 11, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein the directions include a set of navigation directions from the starting point to the destination point. (See Zhao para[0047] The moving object may directly reach the destination building level through elevator 1; the moving object may reach the second level or the third level through elevators 2 or 3 and then use elevator 1 to reach the destination building level). Regarding claim 12, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein identifying the plurality of level-change way points based on the starting level includes identifying all level-change way points that serve the starting level. (see Zhao para[0057] In practical application, in accordance with the labeling for Elevator 2, the front-end device labels and displays the corresponding routes (301, 303) to the destination for elevators 1 to 3 on the indoor map respectively., figure 3). Regarding claim 16, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein the one or more criteria do not include a criteria to select a closest level-change way point. (see Zhao para[0144] The current user profile includes “do not take stairs” and “using baby stroller”; para[0138] route guide information corresponding to route guides that were previously selected by the user from a plurality of route guides displayed on the mobile terminal (101)) Regarding claim 17, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches A computing client device, comprising: configured to implement the method of claim 1.one or more processors, configured to: (See Zhao para[0013] In another embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed which includes one or more processors;) receive, from a user, a request for navigation directions from a starting point to a destination point; (See Zhao para[0037] by a front-end device, a current location of a moving object at a current building level and a destination location at a destination building level.); identify a plurality of level-change way points based on a starting level associated with the starting point; (See Zhao paras[0047]-[0052], figure 2 step 203); determine a subset of two or more of the plurality of level-change way points based on a destination level associated with the destination point; (see Zhao elevators 1,2,3 para[0057] in accordance with the labeling for Elevator 2, the front-end device labels and displays the corresponding routes (301, 303) to the destination for elevators 1 to 3 on the indoor map respectively. If the used cross-level tool types are not specified, e.g., the moving object is not limited to using elevators only, the front-end device may label all available cross-level tools and their corresponding routes to the destination, figure 7); select a selected level-change way point from the subset based upon one or more criteria criteria (see Zhao paras[0088]-[0092] To improve the passing efficiency of the moving objects, this embodiment filters the routes and identifies the optimal route and then recommends the selection to the moving object. Specifically, the back-end device gathers statistics of the transfer frequencies of each route) a first indication of a location of the selected level-change way point and a second indication of a direction of the destination point, relative to a current location of the user. (see Zhao step 204 in figure 2 ,para[00440Displaying the plurality of available cross-level tools and corresponding routes to the destination location; and step 606 in figure 6 ,para[0108] Displaying, by the front-end device, the plurality of available cross-level tools and the corresponding routes to the destination location.). However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach present, in an augmented reality view over a real-time image or video. Nevertheless, in a related field of invention, Nishimura teaches present, in an augmented reality view over a real-time image or video (see Nishimura para[0037] the presenting means can use augmented reality (AR) technology to overlay and display information related to the method of using the equipment to the building), It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with Nishimura’s selection preference based on one or more criteria in order to allow to prioritize the purpose of the user's visit to achieve appropriate route guidance even in an indoor environment (see Nishimura para[0011] and [0103]). Regarding claim 18, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches A system comprising: one or more processors (See Zhao para[0013] In another embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed which includes one or more processors;: and non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to receive, at a client device from a user, a request for navigation directions from a starting point to a destination point; (See Zhao para[0037] by a front-end device, a current location of a moving object at a current building level and a destination location at a destination building level.); identify a plurality of level-change way points based on a starting level associated with the starting point; (See Zhao paras[0047]-[0052], figure 2 step 203); determine a subset of two or more of the plurality of level-change way points based on a destination level associated with the destination point; (see Zhao elevators 1,2,3 para[0057] in accordance with the labeling for Elevator 2, the front-end device labels and displays the corresponding routes (301, 303) to the destination for elevators 1 to 3 on the indoor map respectively. If the used cross-level tool types are not specified, e.g., the moving object is not limited to using elevators only, the front-end device may label all available cross-level tools and their corresponding routes to the destination, figure 7); select a selected level-change way point from the subset based upon one or more criteria(see Zhao paras[0088]-[0092] To improve the passing efficiency of the moving objects, this embodiment filters the routes and identifies the optimal route and then recommends the selection to the moving object. Specifically, the back-end device gathers statistics of the transfer frequencies of each route. ); a first indication of a location of the selected level-change way point and a second indication of a direction of the destination point relative to the current location of the user. (see Zhao step 204 in figure 2,para [00440Displaying the plurality of available cross-level tools and corresponding routes to the destination location; and step 606 in figure 6 ,para[0108] Displaying, by the front-end device, the plurality of available cross-level tools and the corresponding routes to the destination location.). However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach present, in an augmented reality view over a real-time image or video. Nevertheless, in a related field of invention, Nishimura teaches present, in an augmented reality view over a real-time image or video (see Nishimura para[0037] the presenting means can use augmented reality (AR) technology to overlay and display information related to the method of using the equipment to the building), It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with Nishimura’s selection preference based on one or more criteria in order to allow to prioritize the purpose of the user's visit to achieve appropriate route guidance even in an indoor environment (see Nishimura para[0011] and [0103]). Regarding claim 19, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches wherein to determine the subset based on the destination level, the instructions cause the system to: determine, for each of the plurality of level-change way points, a plurality of levels served by the level-change way point; and determine, for each of the plurality of level-change way points, to include the level- change way point in the subset when its plurality of levels includes the destination level. (See Zhao paras[0082]-[0083] After receiving the location of the current building level and the location of the destination building level, the back-end device traverses the direct or indirect routes to the location of the destination building level via the cross-level tools of the current building level based on a provided topological graph showing indoor passages or a relation table of building level passages., The topological graph showing indoor passages and the relation table of building level passages are generated according to the configuration information of the building levels that the cross-level tools stop by.). Regarding claim 21, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. Zhao teaches a set of navigation directions to from the starting point to the destination point including selected level- change way point(See Zhao para[0098] The turn-back mode of the building levels is used to represent a route direction relationship between the building levels in the route to the destination); identifying, by the one or more processors (See Zhao para[0161] one or more processor), an alternate level-change way point used by the user, wherein the alternate level-change way point is different than the selected level-change way point; (see Zhao para[0057] All the corresponding routes (301, 303) to the destination for Elevator 2 labeled on the navigation map are shown in FIG. 3. In practical application, in accordance with the labeling for Elevator 2, the front-end device labels and displays the corresponding routes (301, 303) to the destination for elevators 1 to 3 on the indoor map respectively. If the used cross-level tool types are not specified, e.g., the moving object is not limited to using elevators only, the front-end device may label all available cross-level tools and their corresponding routes to the destination, para[0139] where different routes are provided to the same user depending on the time of day and the condition of the user, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention) However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach, presenting, via the client device in the augmented reality view, updating, by the one or more processors, user-preferences specific to the user based on the alternate level-change way point used by the use. Nevertheless, in a related field of invention, Nishimura teaches presenting, via the client device in the augmented reality view (see Nishimura para[0037] the presenting means can use augmented reality (AR) technology to overlay and display information related to the method of using the equipment to the building),updating, by the one or more processors, user-preferences specific to the user based on the alternate level-change way point used by the use (See Nishimura para[0330] The computer (201) update the route guide information that is currently being used to use a route that is not slippery (step 1116).). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with Nishimura’s selection preference based on one or more criteria in order to allow to prioritize the purpose of the user's visit to achieve appropriate route guidance even in an indoor environment (see Nishimura para[0011] and [0103]). Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatented over Zhao in view of Nishimura and US 10971020 B1 to Fannin et al. (herein after “Fannin”). Regarding claim 10, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach wherein the indication includes an off- screen indicator representative of the selected level-change way point being located beyond a boundary of the navigation system user interface. Nevertheless, Fannin same field of endeavor teaches wherein the indication includes an off screen indicator representative of the selected level-change way point being located beyond a boundary of the navigation system user interface (see Fannin [column 6 lines 49-53] The designated traffic indicator 408 may be nominally attached to the scale's 406 zero point, but may be disallowed from going off-screen by “parking” the designated traffic indicator 408 on the right side of the linear map display area.) . It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with Fannin’s off-screen indicator representative of the selective level change in order to allow to a user and a processor communicatively coupled to the display (See Fannin column 1 lines 20-21). Claim 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatented over Zhao in view of Nishimura and KR 101971134 B1 to DeWitt et al. (herein after “DeWitt”). Regarding claim 14, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 1. However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach wherein the augmented reality view includes a second indication of a location of another level-change way point. Nevertheless, DeWitt same field of endeavor teaches wherein the augmented reality view includes a second indication of a location of another level-change way point. (see DeWitt para [0119]The augmented reality view can use the location of the mobile device (1218) as a reference point to obtain more information about nearby sites, such as the direction and distance of the nearby sites from the mobile device (1218); DeWitt’s dos not explicitly teaches AR view include indication of the location, rather teaches that augment reality view used to view the location of the mobile device). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with DeWitt’s user interface includes an augmented reality alongside a real time image in order to allow for the mobile device for the user to view based on the user’s search (see DeWitt para[0078]). Regarding claim 15, Zhao, Nishimura and DeWitt remain applied as claim 14. Zhao teaches wherein the first indication represents a type of the recommended or suggested level-change way point, and the second indication represents a type of the another level-change way point. (See Zhao claim 12 displaying the available cross-level tools and the routes to the destination location;, claim 3 recommending the available cross-level tool closest to the moving object and the corresponding routes to the destination, see Zhao alternative solution, it is obvious to display the alternative solution). Claim 20 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatented over Zhao in view of Nishimura and US 20120021762 A1 to Garin et al. (herein after “Garin”). Regarding claim 20, Zhao and Nishimura remain applied as claim 18. Zhao teaches wherein to determine, for each of the plurality of level-change way points, the plurality of levels served by the level-change way point (See Zhao paras[0047]-[0052], figure 2 step 203); (see Zhao elevators 1,2,3 para[0057] in accordance with the labeling for Elevator 2, the front-end device labels and displays the corresponding routes (301, 303) to the destination for elevators 1 to 3 on the indoor map respectively. If the used cross-level tool types are not specified, e.g., the moving object is not limited to using elevators only, the front-end device may label all available cross-level tools and their corresponding routes to the destination, figure 7). However, Zhao does not expressly disclose or otherwise teach the instructions use metadata for the level-change way point that defines the levels served by the level-change way point. Nevertheless, Garin same field of endeavor teaches the instructions use metadata for the level-change way point that defines the levels served by the level-change way point (see para[0011] and providing at least a portion of the encoded metadata to at least one function for use in estimating a location of the mobile station. ). It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention with a reasonable expectation of success to combine Zhao’s methods, apparatuses and systems for indoor navigation with Garin’s use of metadata for the level change way point in order to allow to provide position assistance data and/or the like to a mobile station with regard to at least one of a plurality of different indoor regions (See Garin para[0004]). Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 NAZIA AFRIN whose telephone number is (703)756-1175. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7:30-6. 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, Scott A Browne can be reached at 5712700151. 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. /NAZIA AFRIN/Examiner, Art Unit 3666 /SCOTT A BROWNE/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3666
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 27, 2024
Application Filed
Oct 07, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jan 07, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 16, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jun 16, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

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Expected OA Rounds
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