Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/757,458

CAMERA OPERATION VERIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Jun 27, 2024
Examiner
TRAN, TRANG U
Art Unit
2422
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Tyco Fire & Security GmbH
OA Round
2 (Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 10m
To Grant
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allow Rate
719 granted / 915 resolved
+20.6% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+15.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
935
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.2%
-33.8% vs TC avg
§103
45.9%
+5.9% vs TC avg
§102
35.2%
-4.8% vs TC avg
§112
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 915 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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-21 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. 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 1-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang Laixin et al. (CN 114286082 A) in view of DAKE et al. (US 2022/0354096 A1). In considering claim 1, Zhang Laixin et al. discloses all the claimed subject matter, note 1) the claimed one or more memories configured to store program code, wherein the program code is for performing an automated verification test of elements of the video camera recording system using at least one artificial intelligence (Al) model to identify potential issues with the elements of the video camera recording system is met by the nonvolatile storage medium which stores computer program codes and/or operating system to be executed by the processor to detect abnormality of a video camera (Figs. 1 and 4, page 1, lines 7-21 and page 3, line 22 to page 4, line 5), 2) the claimed one or more processors, operatively coupled to the one or more memories and configured to run the program code is met by the main processor 250 (Figs. 1 and 4, page 3, line 22 to page 4, line 5 and page 7, line 1 to page 8, line 12), and 3) the claimed a transceiver configured to transmit instructions to the video camera recording system is met by the detection result which transmits to the display layer (Figs. 1 and 4, page 5, lines 1-27). However, Zhang Laixin et al. explicitly do not disclose the newly added limitation the instructions configured to cause the video camera recording system to autonomously perform a corrective action for at least one of the potential issues. DAKE et al. teach that the reporting unit 35 shown in FIG. 1 determines whether an imaging condition is abnormal based on at least one image, and reports to outside that the imaging condition is abnormal when determining that the imaging condition is abnormal, the report include advice on how to improve an installation direction of the camera as a result of determining whether the camera direction is appropriate, a message on correction of an angle in a pan direction and a tilt direction,…, and an instruction for correction to an automatic camera direction correction unit (Fig. 1, page 4, paragraph #0070). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the reporting unit 35 outputs an instruction for correction to an automatic camera direction correction unit as taught by DAKE et al. into Zhang Laixin et al.’s system in order to correct the abnormalities of the system of Zhang Laixin et al.. In considering claim 2, the claimed wherein the at least one element of the video camera recording system subjected to the automated verification test comprise video cameras, video recorders, and networks connecting the video cameras to the video recorders is met by the automatic detection, real-time alarm and data aggregation of camera anomalies (Fig. 1, page 1, lines 7-21 of Zhang Laixin et al.). In considering claim 3, the claimed wherein the potential issues comprise video camera issues, video recorder issues, and network issues is met by the automatic detection, real-time alarm and data aggregation of camera anomalies (Fig. 2, page 1, lines 7-21 of Zhang Laixin et al.). In considering claim 4, the claimed wherein the video camera issues comprise unintended camera movement, distortion, and blurriness is met by the camera anomalies such as steering, stains, and occlusion (Figs. 2-3, page 1, lines 7-21 and page 6, lines 1-23 of Zhang Laixin et al.). In considering claim 5, the combination of Zhang Laixin et al. and DAKE et al. disclose all the limitations of the instant invention as discussed in claims 1-3 above, except for providing the claimed wherein the video recorder issues comprise an incorrect video duration. The capability using of the video recording issues comprise an incorrect video duration is old and well known in the art. Therefore, the Official Notice is taken. It was notoriously well-known in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the video recorder issues comprise an incorrect video duration into the combination of Zhang Laixin et al. and DAKE et al.’s system in order to detect the duration of camera’s abnormally. In considering claim 6, the claimed further comprising a graphical user interface having display elements configured to display a video camera health status, a video recorder health status, and a network health status is met by the display layer which displays the result of the camera detection (Figs. 1 and 4, page 5, lines 1-27 and page 7, line 1 to page 8, line 12 of Zhang Laixin et al.). In considering claim 7, the claimed wherein the graphical user interface further has display elements configured to display a confidence value for each of the video camera health status, the video recorder health status, and the network health status is met by the display layer which displays the result of the camera detection (Figs. 1 and 4, page 5, lines 1-27 and page 7, line 1 to page 8, line 12 of Zhang Laixin et al.). In considering claim 8, the claimed wherein the verification test is repeated on a random basis is met by the automatic detection, real-time alarm and data aggregation of camera anomalies in real time 7*24 (Fig. 2, page 1, lines 7-21 of Zhang Laixin et al.). In considering claim 9, the claimed wherein the verification test is repeated on a scheduled basis is met by the automatic detection, real-time alarm and data aggregation of camera anomalies in real time 7*24 (Fig. 2, page 1, lines 7-21 of Zhang Laixin et al.). In considering claim 10, the claimed wherein the AI model comprises pattern-matching between input images and reference images is met by the image matching algorithm of the camera between the current image and the template image (Figs. 2-3, page 2, lines 1-27 and page 6, lines 1-23 of Zhang Laixin et al.). Claims 11-15 are rejected for the same reason as discussed in claims 1-5, respectively. Claims 16-20 are rejected for the same reason as discussed in claims 6-10, respectively. In considering claim 21, the claimed further comprising configuring display elements of a graphical user interface to display a video camera health status, a video recorder health status, and a network health status is met by the correction to the abnormal of the camera (page 4, paragraph #0070 of DAKE et al.). Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 TRANG U TRAN whose telephone number is (571)272-7358. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10:00AM- 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, JOHN W. MILLER can be reached at 571-272-7353. 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. February 9, 2026 /TRANG U TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2422
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 27, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 23, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Dec 02, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Dec 06, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Dec 10, 2025
Response Filed
Feb 11, 2026
Final Rejection — §103 (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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
79%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+15.9%)
2y 10m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 915 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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