Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/853,154

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AUTHENTICATION SYSTEM, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 01, 2024
Priority
May 31, 2022 — JP 2022-088392 +1 more
Examiner
DADA, BEEMNET W
Art Unit
2435
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
NEC Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 2m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
783 granted / 927 resolved
+26.5% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+18.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
943
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.2%
-33.8% vs TC avg
§103
41.6%
+1.6% vs TC avg
§102
38.9%
-1.1% vs TC avg
§112
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 927 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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on October 01, 2024 has been considered. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Form PTO-1449 is signed and attached hereto. Drawings The drawings filed on October 01, 2024 are accepted. Specification The specification filed July October 01, 2024 is accepted. 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 1-8, 10-12 and 18-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hoyos et al. US 2016/0232401 A1 [hereinafter Hoyos]. As per claim 1, 15 and 17, Hoyos teaches an information processing apparatus comprising: at least one memory storing instructions [figure 2A]; and at least one processor [figure 2A] configured to execute the instructions to: detect a hand presenting a reading target object including identification information of a user [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]; and read biometric information from an image obtained by imaging the detected hand and read the identification information from the reading target object presented by the hand [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claims 2, 16 and 18, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to determine whether quality of the biometric information is equal to or higher than a predetermined value and read the identification information when determining that the quality is equal to or higher than the predetermined value [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 3, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to detect the hand from an image obtained by imaging the hand presenting the reading target object on a predetermined mounting table [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 4, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to detect the hand presenting the reading target object on a predetermined mounting table based on distance measurement data acquired from a distance measurement sensor [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 5, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to detect the hand presenting the reading target object based on pressure data acquired from a pressure sensor provided on a predetermined mounting table [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 6, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus further comprising guide unit for guiding the hand and the reading target object to a state in which the biometric information can be read from the hand and the identification information can be read from the reading target object [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 7, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the guide unit generates guidance information for guiding the hand and the reading target object and causes the guidance information to be output using a character, an image, a voice, or vibration [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 8, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the guide unit is configured using a finger guide member having a shape corresponding to a shape of a finger, and guides the finger of the hand presenting the reading target object to a predetermined mounting table [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 10, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the guide unit displays a position of a region from which the biometric information can be read and a position of a region from which the identification information can be read on a predetermined mounting table [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 11, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the guide unit includes a groove that guides a finger of the hand gripping the reading target object [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. As per claim 12, Hoyos further teaches the apparatus wherein the at least one processor is further configured to execute the instructions to control biometric authentication of the user using the biometric information and the identification information [paragraphs 0071-0074 and 0081]. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 9 is 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 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BEEMNET W DADA whose telephone number is (571)272-3847. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. 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, Joseph Hirl can be reached at 571-272-3685. 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. BEEMNET W. DADA Primary Examiner Art Unit 2435 /BEEMNET W DADA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2435
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 01, 2024
Application Filed
May 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
84%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+18.5%)
3y 0m (~1y 2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 927 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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