Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/739,642

ELECTRONIC DEVICE FOR TRACKING EXTERNAL OBJECT AND METHOD THEREOF

Non-Final OA §103§112
Filed
Jun 11, 2024
Priority
Jun 12, 2023 — RE 10-2023-0074826
Examiner
SUN, HAI TAO
Art Unit
2616
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
THINKWARE Corporation
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
74%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 74% — above average
74%
Career Allowance Rate
363 granted / 493 resolved
+11.6% vs TC avg
Strong +25% interview lift
Without
With
+24.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
529
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.1%
-32.9% vs TC avg
§103
68.6%
+28.6% vs TC avg
§102
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
§112
16.2%
-23.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 493 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
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 . Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 05/20/2026 has been entered. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 05/20/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding to claim 5 and claim 9, the applicant argues that cited arts fail to teach or suggest “based on identifying that a time difference between the second image and the first image is longer than a threshold interval, determine the third positions by changing a fourth positions, which are obtained by interpolation of the first position and the second position, using at least one feature point included in the one or more third images; and based on identifying that the time difference between the second image and the first image is smaller than or equal to the threshold value, determine the third positions as the fourth positions without using the at least one feature point”. The arguments have been fully considered, but they are not persuasive. The examiner cannot concur with the applicant for following reasons: Marman discloses “based on identifying that a time difference between the second image and the first image is longer than a threshold interval after the first timing”. For example, in paragraph [0025], Marman teaches object tracking module 220 predicts the location and size of an object in a new frame based upon its previously estimated trajectory and velocity. In paragraph [0038], Marman teaches tracking the object as it moves through the scene. In paragraph [0043], Marman teaches tracking objects by motion and also appearance, i.e. a feature; Video analytics 120 automatically track the person of interest and generate metadata, e.g., location information, unique identifier label, corresponding to the person of interest. In paragraph [0053], Marman teaches tracking and matching, frame by frame, the moving locations of the objects of interest. In Fig 17 and paragraph [0103], Marman teaches Video analytics 120 detect object 1700 in the scene during a sequence of video; and at selected periods of time during the sequence of video, display management module 340 extracts snapshot images 1705, 1710, 1715, 1720, 1725, 1730, and 1735 from the image data produced by imager 115; Marman further teaches one snapshot image of the object is extracted every second; Marman further more teaches image 1705 includes a time stamp 00:01 above it indicating that image 1705 was captured within the first second of detection of object 1700. Stokking discloses “based on identifying that a time difference between the second image and the first image is longer than a threshold interval after the first timing, determining the third positions by changing a fourth positions, which are obtained by interpolation of the first position and the second position, using at least one feature point included in the one or more third images”. For example, in paragraph [0070], Stokking teaches intermediate viewing positions are determined by the first processor system by time-based interpolation. In paragraph [0191], Stokking teaches the transition animation is performed using an animation function a(t) which interpolates the p values over the animation duration d; Stokking further teaches the animation duration d is larger than zero, i.e. a threshold interval. In Fig. 5A, Fig. 5B, and paragraph [0198], Stokking teaches T=0 corresponds a particular moment in time and T=D corresponds to a later moment in time; Stokking further teaches D may be 800 msec and based on the condition, i.e. D is larger than zero, a movement trajectory 370 is determined from the transition data in various ways; Stokking further more teaches the movement trajectory 370 is determined as a series of intermediate positions for the avatar 310 by linear interpolation between the coordinates of the first viewing position and the second viewing position as a function of time; PNG media_image1.png 478 354 media_image1.png Greyscale . In paragraph [0205], Stokking teaches intermediate viewing positions and viewing orientations are calculated by interpolation based on the 1 second condition, i.e. larger than 0; intermediate viewing positions and viewing orientations are calculated by interpolation based on the 2 seconds condition, i.e. larger than zero. Marman further discloses “based on identifying that the time difference between the second image and the first image is smaller than or equal to the threshold value, determine the third positions as the fourth positions without using the at least one feature point”. For example, in paragraph [0025], Marman teaches object tracking module 220 predicts the location and size of an object in a new frame based upon its previously estimated trajectory and velocity; Marman further teaches object tracking module 220 uses a Kalman filter to predict the position and velocity of an object. In Fig. 17 and paragraph [0103], Marman teaches one snapshot image of the object is extracted every second, i.e. the condition is one second; Marman further teaches after the selected event transpires, display management module 340 superimposes images 1705, 1710, 1715, 1720, 1725, 1730, and 1735 over a background image of the scene in different positions; Marman further more teaches display management module 340 produces a visible time stamp for each extracted snapshot corresponding to a time; in addition, Marman suggests image 1705 includes a time stamp 00:01 and based on the condition, i.e., the time difference between image 1705 and 1710 is equal to 1 second, the positions of image 1710 and image 1715 are determined without using the at least one feature point; PNG media_image2.png 324 548 media_image2.png Greyscale ; Marman further suggests based on the condition, i.e. the period from image 1700 to image 1730 is equal to the period of selected event; all positions of images 1705-1730 are determined as illustrated in Fig. 17 without using the at least one feature point. Claims 1-4, 6-8, 10-112, 14-16, and 17-19 are not allowable due to the similar reasons as discussed above. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 5 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. The specification describes “When a length of a time section between the two images spaced apart from each other is relatively long (e.g., when it exceeds a specified threshold length), the electronic device 101 may perform calibration for the positions obtained by the interpolation, based on feature points of one or more images in the time section” in paragraph [0061]. The specification further describes “when the interval is equal to or less than the threshold value (NO—operation 652), the processor may perform operation 656 in Fig. 6 and paragraph [0099]. The specification further more describes “in operation 656 of FIG. 6, the processor of the electronic device according to an embodiment may change the labeling data, based on an input received through a screen for displaying the video and the labeling data” in paragraph [0102]. However, the specification does not describe “based on identifying that the time difference between the second image and the first image is smaller than or equal to the threshold value”. Therefore, the language “based on identifying that the time difference between the second image and the first image is smaller than or equal to the threshold value” is a new matter. Claims 10-12 and 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph due to dependency of claim 9. 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 1-12 and 14-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Marman (US 20120062732 A1) and in view of Stokking (US 20200202597 A1). Regarding to claim 1 (Previously presented), Marman discloses an electronic device (Fig. 1; [0020]: system 100 includes a video camera 110 and various components for processing image data produced by a video camera 110; [0023]: enable detection, classification, and tracking of objects present in the scene based on analysis of first set of the image data; [0030]: a data storage system 255 stores image data and other information; [0045]: a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; as the person moves through the scene, the cropped-close up images presented in zoomed-in tracking window 355 automatically track the movement of the person), comprising: Memory ([0022]: video buffer memory; [0036]: data storage system 255 stores image data and metadata created by system 100; one or more storage devices; non-volatile memory and volatile memory.); and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to ([0022]: a specialized video processor; [0035]: a processor of computer 320; Fig. 4; [0048]: a processor of a remote server; a processor of computer 320 of user station 265): identify, from the memory, a first position associated with an external object, among a plurality of images for a video and a first image at a first timing from the plurality of images ([0021]: imager 115 of video camera 110 captures multiple images, e.g., video frames, of the field of view and produces a first set of image data; [0023]: video analytics 120 use the first set of image data to carry out various functions such as, object location detection and identification, classification, tracking, indexing, and search; [0025]: the object tracking module 206 uses object motion between frames as a cue to tracking; [0028]: object tracking module 220 identifies and tracks an object for multiple frames, i.e., multiple images; Fig. 3; [0045]: as the person enters the scene and video analytics 120 detect, identify, and track the person, and identify first position of the person; a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; PNG media_image3.png 442 668 media_image3.png Greyscale ; Fig. 7; [0064]: display management module 340 identifies the X-Y coordinate information of bounding boxes 740 and 750 and calculates an area 760 of image 700 that includes both bounding boxes 740, i.e. label, and 750; PNG media_image4.png 232 210 media_image4.png Greyscale ; Fig. 9; [0068]: PNG media_image5.png 330 646 media_image5.png Greyscale ); identify a first position related to an external object, in a first image among the plurality of images at a first timing (Fig. 3; [0045]: as the person enters the scene and video analytics 120 detect, identify, and track the person, and identify first position of the person; a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; PNG media_image3.png 442 668 media_image3.png Greyscale ; Fig. 7; [0064]: display management module 340 identifies the X-Y coordinate information of bounding boxes 740 and 750 and calculates an area 760 of image 700 that includes both bounding boxes 740, i.e. label, and 750; PNG media_image4.png 232 210 media_image4.png Greyscale ); identify a second position related to the external object in a second image among the plurality of images at a second timing different from the first timing ([0025]: the object tracking module 206 uses object motion between frames as a cue to tracking; [0026]: track a particular object in the field of view where many objects are present; [0033]: a colored bounding box, i.e. labels, that surrounds and is superimposed over the image of the object; tracking information of the object includes the location and size of the object, the size of the bounding box surrounding the object; Fig. 3; [0045]: a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; as the person moves through the scene, the cropped-close up images presented in zoomed-in tracking window 355 automatically track the movement of the person and identify second positions of the person in the movement; PNG media_image3.png 442 668 media_image3.png Greyscale ; Fig. 9; [0068]: if object 810 moves sufficiently close to objects 830 and 840, display management module 340 automatically collapses windows 970 and 980 together; when objects 830 and 840 diverge in their paths or rates of walking, split window 980 into two separate windows; PNG media_image5.png 330 646 media_image5.png Greyscale ); obtain, based on the first position and the second position, one or more third positions related to the external object (Fig. 3; [0045]: as the person moves through the scene, the cropped-close up images automatically track the movement of the person; dashed outline box 370 moves relative to scene viewing window 365 in unison with movement of the person; Fig. 7; [0064]: display management module 340 identifies the X-Y coordinate information of bounding boxes 740 and 750 and calculates an area 760 of image 700 that includes both bounding boxes 740 and 750; Fig. 8; [0065]: calculates an area 910 of image 800 that is localized to and encompasses a bounding box 920 of object 820; Fig. 9; [0068]: if object 810 moves sufficiently close to objects 830 and 840, display management module 340 automatically collapses windows 970 and 980 together; split window 980 into two separate windows when objects 830 and 840 diverge in their paths or rates of walking); and store labeling information including the first position and a first parameter indicating that the first position corresponds to the first image, the second position and a second parameter indicating that the second position corresponds to the second image, and one or more third positions and one or more third parameters respectively correspond to the one or more third images ([0030]: an object indexing module 250 is connected to a data storage system 255 for storing image data and other information; the signatures are stored in data storage system 255 and act as index elements that enable retrieval of video clips of the objects; [0031]: search through metadata signatures or index elements stored in data storage system 255; [0036]: data is stored at a location remote from the cameras; [0043]: Video analytics 120 automatically track the person of interest and generate metadata, e.g., location information, unique identifier label, corresponding to the person of interest; [0044]: the first set of image data representing zoomed-out images of the scene is retained in data storage system 255 to allow the user to review, e.g., play back, video and zoom in on different parts of the scene captured at different times; [0046]: tag those images so that corresponding cropped close-ups of those clear images are saved as snapshots; [0049]: the first set of image data is modified before being stored in storage device 395; [0055]: the two sets of image data and the metadata may also be stored in storage device 390; Fig. 6; [0058]: the second set of image data is stored in storage device 395 to enable the user to later access and play back the cropped close-up images; Fig. 7; [0064]: display management module 340 identifies the X-Y coordinate information of bounding boxes 740 and 750 and calculates an area 760 of image 700 that includes both bounding boxes 740 and 750; Fig. 8; [0065]: calculates an area 910 of image 800 that is localized to and encompasses a bounding box 920 of object 820; Fig. 9; [0068]: if object 810 moves sufficiently close to objects 830 and 840, display management module 340 automatically collapses windows 970 and 980 together; split window 980 into two separate windows when objects 830 and 840 diverge in their paths or rates of walking). Marman fails to explicitly disclose: in the one or more third images among the plurality of images in a time section between the first timing and the second timing. In same filed of endeavor, Stokking teaches: obtain, based on the first position and the second position, one or more third positions related to the external object in the one or more third images among the plurality of images in a time section between the first timing and the second timing ([0070]: intermediate positions are determined by the first processor system by time-based interpolation or tracing along the predetermined motion trajectory; Fig. 5A; Fig. 5B; [0198]: a movement trajectory 370 is determined from the transition data in various ways; the movement trajectory 370 is determined as a series of intermediate positions for the avatar 310 by linear interpolation between the coordinates of the first viewing position and the second viewing position as a function of time; PNG media_image1.png 478 354 media_image1.png Greyscale ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Marman to include obtain, based on the first position and the second position, one or more third positions related to the external object in the one or more third images among the plurality of images in a time section between the first timing and the second timing as taught by Stokking. The motivation for doing so would have been to maintain or improve the second user's sense of immersion and/or may avoid confusion of the second user; to determine intermediate viewing positions by the first processor system by time-based interpolation or tracing along the predetermined motion trajectory; to determine a series of intermediate positions for the avatar by linear interpolation between the coordinates as taught by Stokking in Fig. 5A, paragraphs [0055], [0070], and [0198]. Regarding to claim 2 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: obtain the one or more third positions by interpolating, using a length between the first timing and the second timing, a first coordinate indicating the first position within the first image at the first timing, and a second coordinate indicating the second position within the second image at the second timing (Stokking; [0070]: determine intermediate viewing positions by the first processor system by time-based interpolation or tracing along the predetermined motion trajectory; Fig. 5A; Fig. 5B; [0198]: a movement trajectory 370 is determined from the transition data in various ways; the movement trajectory 370 is determined as a series of intermediate positions for the avatar 310 by linear interpolation between the coordinates of the first viewing position and the second viewing position as a function of time; PNG media_image1.png 478 354 media_image1.png Greyscale ). Same motivation of claim 1 is applied here. Regarding to claim 3 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to: obtain the one or more third positions by interpolating the first coordinate and the second coordinate based on timings within the time section of the one or more images (Stokking; [0191]: the transition animation is performed using an animation function a(t) which interpolates the p values over the animation duration d; Fig. 5A; Fig. 5B; [0198]: a movement trajectory 370 is determined from the transition data in various ways; the movement trajectory 370 is determined as a series of intermediate positions for the avatar 310 by linear interpolation between the coordinates of the first viewing position and the second viewing position as a function of time; PNG media_image1.png 478 354 media_image1.png Greyscale ). Same motivation of claim 1 is applied here. Regarding to claim 4 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to: identify, by comparing one or more feature points included in a portion of the first image including the first position corresponding to the external object, and one or more feature points included in a second image corresponding to the external object, the second position within the second image (Marman; [0027]: match classifier 225 determines which features, distance measures, and discriminant functions enable the most accurate and quickest match classification; using match classifier 225 for tracking enables accurate tracking even; [0033]: a confidence level of an object match between frames of video; [0038]: track the object as it moves through the scene; [0053]: track and match, frame by frame, the moving locations of the objects of interest). Regarding to claim 5 (Currently amended), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: based on identifying that a time difference between the second image and the first image is longer than a threshold interval after the first timing (Marman; [0025]: object tracking module 220 predicts the location and size of an object in a new frame based upon its previously estimated trajectory and velocity; [0038]: track the object as it moves through the scene; [0043]: track objects by motion and also appearance, i.e. a feature; Video analytics 120 automatically track the person of interest and generate metadata, e.g., location information, unique identifier label, corresponding to the person of interest; [0053]: track and match, frame by frame, the moving locations of the objects of interest; Fig 17; [0103]: Marman teaches Video analytics 120 detect object 1700 in the scene during a sequence of video; at selected periods of time during the sequence of video, display management module 340 extracts snapshot images 1705, 1710, 1715, 1720, 1725, 1730, and 1735 from the image data produced by imager 115; Marman further teaches one snapshot image of the object is extracted every second; Marman further more teaches image 1705 includes a time stamp 00:01 above it indicating that image 1705 was captured within the first second of detection of object 1700), Marman in view of Stokking further discloses based on identifying that a time difference between the second image and the first image is longer than a threshold interval after the first timing, determining the third positions by changing a fourth positions, which are obtained by interpolation of the first position and the second position, using at least one feature point included in the one or more third images (Stokking; [0070]: intermediate viewing positions are determined by the first processor system by time-based interpolation; [0191]: the transition animation is performed using an animation function a(t) which interpolates the p values over the animation duration d; the animation duration d is larger than zero, i.e. a threshold interval. Fig. 5A; Fig. 5B; [0198]: T=0 may correspond a particular moment in time and T=D may correspond to a later moment in time; a specific yet arbitrary example may be that D may be 800 msec; based on the condition, i.e. D is larger than zero, a movement trajectory 370 is determined from the transition data in various ways; the movement trajectory 370 is determined as a series of intermediate positions for the avatar 310 by linear interpolation between the coordinates of the first viewing position and the second viewing position as a function of time; PNG media_image1.png 478 354 media_image1.png Greyscale ; [0205]: intermediate viewing positions and viewing orientations are calculated by interpolation based on the condition 1 second, i.e. larger than 0; intermediate viewing positions and viewing orientations are calculated by interpolation based on the condition 2 seconds, i.e. larger than zero); and Marman in view of Stokking further more discloses: based on identifying that the time difference between the second image and the first image is smaller than or equal to the threshold value, determine the third positions as the fourth positions without using the at least one feature point (Marman; [0025]: object tracking module 220 predicts the location and size of an object in a new frame based upon its previously estimated trajectory and velocity; object tracking module 220 uses a Kalman filter to predict the position and velocity of an object; Fig. 17; [0103]: one snapshot image of the object is extracted every second, i.e. the condition is one second; after the selected event transpires, display management module 340 superimposes images 1705, 1710, 1715, 1720, 1725, 1730, and 1735 over a background image of the scene; display management module 340 produces a visible time stamp for each extracted snapshot corresponding to a time; image 1705 includes a time stamp 00:01; based on the condition, i.e., the time difference between image 1705 and 1710 is equal to 1 second, the positions of image 1710 and image 1715 are determined without using the at least one feature point; PNG media_image2.png 324 548 media_image2.png Greyscale ; based on the condition, i.e. the period from image 1700 to image 1730 is equal to the period of selected event; all positions of images 1705-1730 are determined as illustrated in Fig. 17 without using the at least one feature point). Regarding to claim 6 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to: identify the first position and the second position of the external object captured in the time section by inputting the first image and the second image to a model to recognize the external object (Marman; [0025]: object tracking module 220 predicts the location and size of an object in a new frame based upon its previously estimated trajectory and velocity; [0028]: object tracking module 220 tracks an object for multiple frames; [0034]: the metadata include a unique identifier label for each object of interest tracked by object tracking module 220; [0038]: enable display management module 340 to generate a video display window that zooms in on and tracks the object as it moves through the scene captured by camera 110; [0043]: video analytics 120 recognizes object types, e.g., people, vehicles, watercraft, and track objects by motion and also appearance.). Regarding to claim 7 (Previously presented), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 1, further comprising a display, wherein the processor is configured to: display a screen for reproducing the video in the display (Marman; [0034]: each object is tracked and viewed separately on a display 280; [0044]: play back video and zoom in on different parts of the scene captured at different times; Fig. 6; [0058]: the second set of image data is stored in storage device 395 to enable the user to later access and play back the cropped close-up images); and in a state that one image among the plurality of images is displayed within the screen based on an input indicating to reproduce the video, display a visual object indicating a position of the external object superimposed on the image displayed in the display based on the labeling information (Marman; [0044]: the first set of image data representing zoomed-out images of the scene is retained in data storage system 255 to allow the user to review, e.g., play back, video and zoom in on different parts of the scene captured at different times; Fig. 3; [0045]: a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; [0101]: identify video segments having the metadata corresponding to the activities selected by the user; display management module 340 receives the pertinent video segments from data storage system 255 and sorts them by time; [0103]: display management module 340 superimposes images 1705, 1710, 1715, 1720, 1725, 1730, and 1735 over a background image of the scene). Regarding to claim 8 (Previously presented), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to: in the state of displaying one image among the one or more third images in the display, identify an input indicating to move the visual object (Marman; [0044]: the user selects an image of the person of interest using input device 330; Fig. 3; [0045]: dashed outline box 370 moves relative to scene viewing window 365 in unison with movement of the person; PNG media_image3.png 442 668 media_image3.png Greyscale ); and based on the input, adjust, based on a position of the visual object moved by the input, a position of the external object corresponding to another image different from an image displayed in the screen among the one or more third screens (Marman; [0025]: object tracking module 220 predicts the location and size of an object in a new frame based upon its previously estimated trajectory and velocity; [0038]: track the object as it moves through the scene; [0043]: track objects by motion and also appearance, i.e. a feature; Video analytics 120 automatically track the person of interest and generate metadata, e.g., location information, unique identifier label, corresponding to the person of interest; Fig. 3; [0045]: a colored bounding box 380 may be generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; [0053]: track and match, frame by frame, the moving locations of the objects of interest). Regarding to claim 9 (Currently amended), Marman discloses a method of an electronic device (Fig. 1; [0020]: system 100 includes a video camera 110 and various components for processing image data produced by a video camera 110; [0023]: enable detection, classification, and tracking of objects present in the scene based on analysis of first set of the image data; [0030]: a data storage system 255 stores image data and other information; [0045]: a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; as the person moves through the scene, the cropped-close up images presented in zoomed-in tracking window 355 automatically track the movement of the person), comprising: The rest claim limitations are similar to claim limitations recited in claim 1 and claim 5. Therefore, same rational used to reject claim 1 and claim 5 is also used to reject claim 9. Regarding to claim 10 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the method of claim 9, wherein the obtaining comprises: The rest claim limitations are similar to claim limitations recited in claim 2. Therefore, same rational used to reject claim 2 is also used to reject claim 10. Regarding to claim 11 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the method of claim 10, wherein the obtaining comprises: The rest claim limitations are similar to claim limitations recited in claim 3. Therefore, same rational used to reject claim 3 is also used to reject claim 11. Regarding to claim 12 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the method of claim 10, wherein the identifying the second position (same as rejected in claim 9) comprises: The rest claim limitations are similar to claim limitations recited in claim 4. Therefore, same rational used to reject claim 4 is also used to reject claim 12. Regarding to claim 14 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the method of claim 9, wherein the identifying the second position (same as rejected in claim 9) comprises: The rest claim limitations are similar to claim limitations recited in claim 6. Therefore, same rational used to reject claim 6 is also used to reject claim 14. Regarding to claim 15 (Previously presented), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the method of claim 9, further comprising: The rest claim limitations are similar to claim limitations recited in claim 7. Therefore, same rational used to reject claim 7 is also used to reject claim 15. Regarding to claim 16 (Previously presented), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the method of claim 15, further comprising: The rest claim limitations are similar to claim limitations recited in claim 8. Therefore, same rational used to reject claim 8 is also used to reject claim 16. Regarding to claim 17 (Previously presented), Marman discloses an electronic device (Fig. 1; [0020]: system 100 includes a video camera 110 and various components for processing image data produced by a video camera 110; [0023]: enable detection, classification, and tracking of objects present in the scene based on analysis of first set of the image data; [0030]: a data storage system 255 stores image data and other information; [0045]: a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; as the person moves through the scene, the cropped-close up images presented in zoomed-in tracking window 355 automatically track the movement of the person), comprising: a display (Fig. 1; [0035]: display 280); memory ([0022]: video buffer memory; [0036]: data storage system 255 stores image data and metadata created by system 100; one or more storage devices; non-volatile memory and volatile memory); and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to ( [0022]: a specialized video processor; [0035]: a processor of computer 320; Fig. 4; [0048]: a processor of a remote server; a processor of computer 320 of user station 265): identify, in a state of displaying a first image of a video stored in the memory in the display, a first input indicating to select a first position associated with an external object within the first image ([0021]: imager 115 of video camera 110 captures multiple images, e.g., video frames, of the field of view and produces a first set of image data; [0023]: video analytics 120 use the first set of image data to carry out various functions such as, object location detection and identification, classification, tracking, indexing, and search; [0025]: the object tracking module 206 uses object motion between frames as a cue to tracking; [0028]: object tracking module 220 identifies and tracks an object for multiple frames, i.e., multiple images; [0044]: user station 265 allows the user to manually intervene, e.g., by selecting via input device 330 control icons presented on display 280, to engage or disengage automatic tracking; user selection; Fig. 3; [0045]: identify, and track the person, and identify first position of the person; a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; Fig. 7; [0064]: display management module 340 identifies the X-Y coordinate information of bounding boxes 740 and 750 and calculates an area 760 of image 700 that includes both bounding boxes 740, i.e. label, and 750; PNG media_image4.png 232 210 media_image4.png Greyscale ; Fig. 8; [0065]: the user selects object 820; Fig. 9; [0068]); identify, by performing a first type of computation for recognizing the external object based on the first input, a second position associated with the external object within the second image, among a plurality of images for the video, after a time section beginning from a timing at the first image ([0025]: the object tracking module 206 uses object motion between frames as a cue to tracking; [0026]: track a particular object in the field of view where many objects are present; [0033]: a colored bounding box, i.e. labels, that surrounds and is superimposed over the image of the object; tracking information of the object includes the location and size of the object, the size of the bounding box surrounding the object; [0044]: user station 265 allows the user to manually intervene, e.g., by selecting via input device 330 control icons presented on display 280, to engage or disengage automatic tracking; user selection; Fig. 8; [0065]: the user selects object 820; Fig. 9; [0068]: if object 810 moves sufficiently close to objects 830 and 840, display management module 340 may automatically collapse windows 970 and 980 together; split window 980 into two separate windows when objects 830 and 840 diverge in their paths or rates of walking; PNG media_image5.png 330 646 media_image5.png Greyscale ); obtain, third positions associated with the external object within one or more third images included in the time section (Fig. 7; [0064]: display management module 340 identifies the X-Y coordinate information of bounding boxes 740 and 750 and calculates an area 760 of image 700 that includes both bounding boxes 740 and 750; Fig. 8; [0065]: calculates an area 910 of image 800 that is localized to and encompasses a bounding box 920 of object 820; Fig. 9; [0068]: if object 810 moves sufficiently close to objects 830 and 840, display management module 340 automatically collapses windows 970 and 980 together; split window 980 into two separate windows when objects 830 and 840 diverge in their paths or rates of walking); store labeling information including the first position and a first parameter indicating that the first position corresponds to the first image, the second position and a second parameter indicating that the second position corresponds to the second image, and third positions and third parameters respectively indicating that a respective third position corresponds to a respective third image ([0030]: an object indexing module 250 is connected to a data storage system 255 for storing image data and other information; the signatures are stored in data storage system 255 and act as index elements that enable retrieval of video clips of the objects; [0031]: search through metadata signatures or index elements stored in data storage system 255; [0036]: data is stored at a location remote from the cameras; [0043]: Video analytics 120 automatically track the person of interest and generate metadata, e.g., location information, unique identifier label, corresponding to the person of interest; [0044]: the first set of image data representing zoomed-out images of the scene is retained in data storage system 255 to allow the user to review, e.g., play back, video and zoom in on different parts of the scene captured at different times; [0046]: tag those images so that corresponding cropped close-ups of those clear images are saved as snapshots; [0049]: the first set of image data is modified before being stored in storage device 395; [0055]: the two sets of image data and the metadata may also be stored in storage device 390; Fig. 6; [0058]: the second set of image data is stored in storage device 395 to enable the user to later access and play back the cropped close-up images; Fig. 7; [0064]: display management module 340 identifies the X-Y coordinate information of bounding boxes 740 and 750 and calculates an area 760 of image 700 that includes both bounding boxes 740 and 750; Fig. 8; [0065]: calculates an area 910 of image 800 that is localized to and encompasses a bounding box 920 of object 820; Fig. 9; [0068]: if object 810 moves sufficiently close to objects 830 and 840, display management module 340 automatically collapses windows 970 and 980 together; split window 980 into two separate windows when objects 830 and 840 diverge in their paths or rates of walking); and display, in response to a second input indicating to reproduce at least portion of the video included in the time section, at least one of the first image, the one or more third images and the second image in the display ([0044]: the first set of image data representing zoomed-out images of the scene is retained in data storage system 255 to allow the user to review, e.g., play back, video and zoom in on different parts of the scene captured at different times; [0045]: a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; as the person moves through the scene, the cropped-close up images presented in zoomed-in tracking window 355 automatically track the movement of the person; Fig. 6; [0058]: the second set of image data is stored in storage device 395 to enable the user to later access and play back the cropped close-up images), and display a visual object that is superimposed on an image displayed in the display and corresponds to one of the first position, the third positions and the second position (Marman; [0044]: the first set of image data representing zoomed-out images of the scene is retained in data storage system 255 to allow the user to review, e.g., play back, video and zoom in on different parts of the scene captured at different times; Fig. 3; [0045]: a colored bounding box 380 is generated and superimposed over the image of the person when video analytics 120 detect and track the person; [0101]: identify video segments having the metadata corresponding to the activities selected by the user; display management module 340 receives the pertinent video segments from data storage system 255 and sorts them by time; [0103]: display management module 340 superimposes images 1705, 1710, 1715, 1720, 1725, 1730, and 1735 over a background image of the scene). Marman fails to explicitly disclose: by performing a second type of computation for interpolating the first position and the second position. In same filed of endeavor, Stokking teaches: by performing a second type of computation for interpolating the first position and the second position (Fig. 5A; Fig. 5B; [0198]: a movement trajectory 370 is determined from the transition data in various ways; the movement trajectory 370 is determined as a series of intermediate positions for the avatar 310 by linear interpolation between the coordinates of the first viewing position and the second viewing position as a function of time; PNG media_image1.png 478 354 media_image1.png Greyscale ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Marman to include by performing a second type of computation for interpolating the first position and the second position as taught by Stokking. The motivation for doing so would have been to maintain or improve the second user's sense of immersion and/or may avoid confusion of the second user; to determine intermediate viewing positions by the first processor system by time-based interpolation or tracing along the predetermined motion trajectory; to determine a series of intermediate positions for the avatar by linear interpolation between the coordinates as taught by Stokking in Fig. 5A, paragraphs [0055], [0070, and [0198]. Regarding to claim 18 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to: repeatedly perform the first type of computation to recognize the external object based on one or more feature points, at each time section after the timing of the first image (Marman; [0027]: match classifier 225 determines which features, distance measures, and discriminant functions enable the most accurate and quickest match classification; using match classifier 225 for tracking enables accurate tracking even; [0033]: a confidence level of an object match between frames of video; [0038]: track the object as it moves through the scene; [0053]: track and match, frame by frame, the moving locations of the objects of interest; [0044]: user station 265 allows the user to manually intervene, e.g., by selecting via input device 330 control icons presented on display 280, to engage or disengage automatic tracking; user selection; Fig. 8; [0065]: the user selects objects). Regarding to claim 19 (Original), Marman in view of Stokking discloses the electronic device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to: perform the second type of computation to obtain the third positions, based on the first position, the second position, and timings of the one or more third images in the time section (Stokking; [0070]: determine intermediate viewing positions by the first processor system by time-based interpolation or tracing along the predetermined motion trajectory; Fig. 5A; [0198]: a movement trajectory 370 is determined from the transition data in various ways; the movement trajectory 370 is determined as a series of intermediate positions for the avatar 310 by linear interpolation between the coordinates of the first viewing position and the second viewing position as a function of time; PNG media_image1.png 478 354 media_image1.png Greyscale ; Fig. 5B; [0199]). Same motivation of claim 1 is applied here. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Hai Tao Sun whose telephone number is (571)272-5630. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00AM-6:00PM. 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, Daniel Hajnik can be reached at 5712727642. 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. /HAI TAO SUN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2616
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 1 earlier event
Nov 26, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
Feb 25, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 23, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112
May 06, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
May 06, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
May 20, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
May 22, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112 (current)

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