DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
2. This Office Action is in response to the application filed on 08/16/2024.
3. The IDS filed on 03/05/2025 is considered and entered into the application file.
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.
4. Claims 1, 4, 6, 10, 13, 15, and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by XIAO et al (US 20210200431 A1).
XIAO et al (“XIAO”) is directed to Sidebar Interaction Method, Device, And Computer-readable Storage Medium.
As per claim 1, XIAO discloses a display method, applied to a display apparatus comprising an expandable screen ([0275] The current screen can be divided into at least two display areas by folding or other operations, and the display interfaces of other applications are displayed in one display area, and the display interfaces of the initiated applications are displayed in another display area) wherein the method comprises:
receiving a first input performed by a user; and controlling, in response to the first input, the expandable screen to be folded, and displaying, in response to the first input, a target object on an outer screen, wherein the target object comprises at least one of the following items, a target application program window or a target application program identifier ([0275] It should be appreciated that if the terminal currently displays the display interfaces of other applications when the application is initiated, the terminal can split the screen for individual display. One split-screen is used to display the display interfaces of other applications, and the other split-screen is used to display the display interfaces of the initiated application. Alternatively, the display screen of the terminal is a foldable screen or a flexible screen. The current screen can be divided into at least two display areas by folding or other operations, and the display interfaces of other applications are displayed in one display area, and the display interfaces of the initiated applications are displayed in another display area);
the target application program window is an application program window of an application program, which meets a preset display condition, among at least one application program in a running state ([0044] In some embodiment, the method includes: in response to at least two application displays being detected, determining whether the applications meet preset conditions; also see [0045-0055]); and
the target application program identifier is an application program identifier of an application program, which does not meet the preset display condition, among the at least one application program in the running state ([0418] In the embodiment described above, if the mobile terminal detects that at least two applications are displayed, that is, multiple applications are simultaneously opened and displayed on the display interface of the mobile terminal. It is then determined whether the applications currently displayed on the display interface of the mobile terminal meet preset conditions. The preset conditions are conditions that are set in advance, and specifically include whether the types of each application currently displayed on the display interface of the mobile terminal are consistent. And if so, it is determined that each applications currently displayed on the display interface of the mobile terminal meets the preset conditions; if not, it is determined that each application currently displayed on the mobile terminal display interface does not meet the preset conditions).
As per claim 4, XIAO further discloses that the method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one application program in the running state comprises at least one of the following items: an application program that is running in a background or an application program that is running in a foreground and has an application program window displayed on an inner screen. [0017] In some embodiment, the method includes: in response to receiving an instruction to add a first function of a first application, outputting a first function set of the front-end application and adding the first function from the first function set to the interaction module; [0096] The method specifically includes: receiving an instruction to initiate a sidebar interaction, generating an interaction module on a currently operating interface of a front-end application, and outputting a notification message in the interaction module; initiating a back-end application, and displaying a sidebar in a target display area on the currently operating interface
As per claim 6, XIAO further discloses that the method according to claim 1, wherein the target object comprises the target application program identifier, and the target application program identifier comprises at least one application program identifier ([0016] in response to that at least one of the notification messages is not originated from the front-end application, adding an identifier regarding a source application of the notification message onto the at least one of the notification messages, and outputting the notification messages. [0061] In some embodiment, the method includes: in response to a switching instruction regarding the applications being detected, switching and displaying a target application corresponding to the switching instruction, and adjusting the sidebar based on the target application.[0195]) and
after the controlling, in response to the first input, the expandable screen to be folded, and displaying, in response to the first input, a target object on an outer screen ([0275] The current screen can be divided into at least two display areas by folding or other operations, and the display interfaces of other applications are displayed in one display area, and the display interfaces of the initiated applications are displayed in another display area.
the method further comprises:
receiving a third input performed by a user on a target application identifier in the at least one application program identifier; and displaying, in response to the third input, an application program window of an application program corresponding to the target application identifier on the outer screen ([0096]The method specifically includes: receiving an instruction to initiate a sidebar interaction, generating an interaction module on a currently operating interface of a front-end application, and outputting a notification message in the interaction module; initiating a back-end application, and displaying a sidebar in a target display area on the currently operating interface; also see [0301]);
As per electronic device claims 10, 13, and 15, these claims are also rejected under similar citations given the method claims 1, 4, and 6, respectively.
As per non-transitory readable storage medium claim 19, the claim is also rejected under similar citations given the method claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
5. Claims 2, 3, 5, 7-9, 11, 12, 14, 16-18 and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
6. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 11978371 B2 is directed to a system and method for controlling presentation on a foldable display of an electronic device is provided. A foldable electronic device comprises a foldable housing including a hinge structure, a first housing structure and a second housing structure foldable and unfoldable with respect to the first housing structure about the hinge structure. The electronic device includes a processor and a memory to store instructions that cause the processor to receive a first user input to select an application program; detect a change from a folded state to an unfolded state; determine whether the selected application program has user interface size restrictions; and in the unfolded state, display a user interface of the selected application on at least a portion of the foldable display, based in part on the screen size restriction.
7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TADESSE HAILU whose telephone number is (571)272-4051; and the email address is Tadesse.hailu@USPTO.GOV. The examiner can normally be reached Monday- Friday 9:30-5:30 (Eastern time).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Bashore, William L. can be reached (571) 272-4088. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TADESSE HAILU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2174
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