DETAILED ACTION
The amendments filed 3/26/2026 have been entered. Claims 1, 3-5, 9-13, and 15-17 are pending.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1, 3-5, 9-13, and 15-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 recites:
wherein the target sampling point is obtained by extending sampling from the second tree node previously grown;
and Applicant remarks, at page 9 of the remarks filed 3/26/2026,
Applicant respectfully submits that, regarding "previously grown," the present method is an iterative tree-construction algorithm. In an iterative algorithm, "previously grown" clearly refers to the node most recently added to the tree in the preceding iteration step. This is standard terminology in the art (e.g., RRT algorithms).
The claim language “the second tree node previously grown” appears to be referring to the previously recited “second tree node”, however as understood by the Examiner in light of Applicant’s remarks, “the second tree node previously grown” is not meant to refer to the previously recited “second tree node”, but rather to a previously grown node which is being newly identified in the claims. According to this understanding, “the second tree node previously grown” lacks antecedent basis in the claims. Based on Applicant’s remarks, the Examiner suggests amending this section of claim 1 to read:
wherein the target sampling point is obtained by extending sampling from a node most recently added to the second exploration tree in a preceding iteration step
The last sub-paragraph of claim 1 recites:
in response to the target sampling probability being greater than or equal to the first preset probability threshold, randomly selecting the target sampling point from the second tree node previously grown.
It is not clear if the target sampling point is being selected from the second tree node previously grown, as suggested by the language of the last sub-paragraph of claim 1, or if the target sampling point is obtained by extending sampling from the second tree node previously grown as suggested by the language of the fifth sub-paragraph of claim 1. It is suggested the last sub-paragraph of claim 1 be amended to read:
in response to the target sampling probability being greater than or equal to the first preset probability threshold, randomly selecting the target sampling point by extending sampling from the node most recently added to the second exploration tree in the preceding iteration step
Claim 1 recites “a preset step length” at lines 9-10 as well as at line 29. It is not clear if these are referring to the same preset step length or to different preset step lengths. Claim 3 further refers to “the preset step length”; it is not clear which of the preset step lengths in claim 1 is being referenced. The second occurrence in claim 1 should be changed to “--the-- preset step length”, or some modifier (e.g., first, second) should be added to differentiate the preset step lengths.
Independent claims 12 and 13 substantially reflect the language of claim 1 and require similar corrections.
Claims 3-5, 9-11, and 15-17 are rejected as being dependent on, and failing to cure the deficiencies of, rejected independent claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 3-5, 9-13, and 15-17 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 9-13, filed 3/26/2026, with respect to the 35 USC § 112 and 102 rejections have been fully considered and are persuasive. The previously presented 35 USC § 112 and 102 rejections have been withdrawn.
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.
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/SPENCER D PATTON/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3656
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