Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 18/778,756

SCHEDULING DEVICE FOR CUSTOMIZABLE ELECTRONIC NOTIFICATIONS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 19, 2024
Priority
Jun 10, 2016 — provisional 62/348,665 +4 more
Examiner
COLLINS, JASON M
Art Unit
2831
Tech Center
2800 — Semiconductors & Electrical Systems
Assignee
Apple Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
396 granted / 528 resolved
+7.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
548
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
49.4%
+9.4% vs TC avg
§102
27.1%
-12.9% vs TC avg
§112
18.9%
-21.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 528 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 2-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 as being unpatentable over Kozlov, US 2011/0230790. Regarding claim 2, Kozlov discloses a computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving first interaction data indicative of first interactions with respect to one or more user devices ([0062]-[0067]); determining a beginning sleep time based at least in part on the first interaction data ([0062]-[0067]); at a time after the beginning sleep time, receiving second interaction data indicative of second interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ([0068]-[0071]); determining an interrupted period during an expected sleep period based at least in part on the second interaction data ([0068]-[0071]); presenting a wake alert according to a scheduled wake alert time ([0072]-[0075]); after presenting the wake alert, receiving third interaction data indicative of third interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ([0072]-[0075]); and determining an end sleep time based at least in part on the wake alert and the third interaction data ([0072]-[0075]). Regarding claim 3, Kozlov discloses wherein determining the beginning sleep time based at least in part on the first interaction comprises determining a time when the first interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ceased “for example by detecting a reduction of limb movements” [0055]. Regarding claim 4, Kozlov discloses the expected sleep period begins at the beginning sleep time [0055]. Regarding claim 5, Kozlov discloses determining a sleep graph based at least in part on the beginning sleep time, the interrupted period, and the end sleep time (Fig 8, Fig 9). Regarding claim 6, Kozlov discloses the expected sleep period begins at the beginning sleep time and continues until the scheduled wake alert time (Fig 11, 12). Regarding claim 7, Kozlov discloses at least one of the one or more user devices is a wearable device, and wherein at least some of the second interaction data is collected by the wearable device (“wearable” [0078]). Regarding claim 8, Kozlov discloses the end sleep time matches the scheduled wake alert time [0075]. Regarding claim 9, Kozlov discloses one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a user device, causes the user device to perform operations, comprising: receiving first interaction data indicative of first interactions with respect to one or more user devices ([0062]-[0067]); determining a beginning sleep time based at least in part on the first interaction data ([0062]-[0067]); at a time after the beginning sleep time, receiving second interaction data indicative of second interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ([0068]-[0071]); determining an interrupted period during an expected sleep period based at least in part on the second interaction data ([0068]-[0071]); presenting a wake alert according to a scheduled wake alert time ([0072]-[0075]); after presenting the wake alert, receiving third interaction data indicative of third interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ([0072]-[0075]); and determining an end sleep time based at least in part on the wake alert and the third interaction data ([0072]-[0075]). Regarding claim 10, Kozlov discloses wherein determining the beginning sleep time based at least in part on the first interaction comprises determining a time when the first interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ceased “for example by detecting a reduction of limb movements” [0055]. Regarding claim 11, Kozlov discloses the expected sleep period begins at the beginning sleep time [0055]. Regarding claim 12, Kozlov discloses determining a sleep graph based at least in part on the beginning sleep time, the interrupted period, and the end sleep time (Fig 8, Fig 9). Regarding claim 13, Kozlov discloses the expected sleep period begins at the beginning sleep time and continues until the scheduled wake alert time (Fig 11, 12). Regarding claim 14, Kozlov discloses at least one of the one or more user devices is a wearable device, and wherein at least some of the second interaction data is collected by the wearable device (“wearable” [0078]). Regarding claim 15, Kozlov discloses the end sleep time matches the scheduled wake alert time [0075]. Regarding claim 16, Kozlov discloses a user device, comprising: a memory configured to store computer-executable instructions; and a processor configured to access the memory and execute the computer-executable instructions to at least: receive first interaction data indicative of first interactions with respect to one or more user devices ([0062]-[0067]); determine a beginning sleep time based at least in part on the first interaction data ([0062]-[0067]); at a time after the beginning sleep time, receive second interaction data indicative of second interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ([0068]-[0071]); determine an interrupted period during an expected sleep period based at least in part on the second interaction data ([0068]-[0071]); present a wake alert according to a scheduled wake alert time ([0072]-[0075]); after presenting the wake alert, receive third interaction data indicative of third interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ([0072]-[0075]); and determine an end sleep time based at least in part on the wake alert and the third interaction data ([0072]-[0075]). Regarding claim 17, Kozlov discloses wherein determining the beginning sleep time based at least in part on the first interaction comprises determining a time when the first interactions with respect to the one or more user devices ceased “for example by detecting a reduction of limb movements” [0055]. Regarding claim 18, Kozlov discloses the expected sleep period begins at the beginning sleep time [0055]. Regarding claim 19, Kozlov discloses determining a sleep graph based at least in part on the beginning sleep time, the interrupted period, and the end sleep time (Fig 8, Fig 9). Regarding claim 20, Kozlov discloses the expected sleep period begins at the beginning sleep time and continues until the scheduled wake alert time (Fig 11, 12). Regarding claim 21, Kozlov discloses at least one of the one or more user devices is a wearable device, and wherein at least some of the second interaction data is collected by the wearable device (“wearable” [0078]). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JASON COLLINS whose telephone number is (571)270-3994. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 AM - 6:00 PM. 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, Renee Luebke can be reached at 571-272-2009. 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. /JASON M COLLINS/ Examiner, Art Unit 2831 /EDWIN A. LEON/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2831
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 19, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+12.9%)
2y 9m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 528 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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