Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/858,616

IN-VEHICLE DEVICE, COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND COMMUNICATION PROGRAM

Non-Final OA §101§102
Filed
Oct 21, 2024
Priority
Apr 22, 2022 — JP 2022-070684 +1 more
Examiner
SHAAWAT, MUSSA A
Art Unit
3669
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
76%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 5m
Est. Remaining
82%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 76% — above average
76%
Career Allowance Rate
678 granted / 889 resolved
+24.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
908
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.4%
-31.6% vs TC avg
§103
44.6%
+4.6% vs TC avg
§102
43.3%
+3.3% vs TC avg
§112
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 889 resolved cases

Office Action

§101 §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 § 101 35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows: Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. Claim 8 recites in the preamble “a communication program used by an in-vehicle device, the computer program causing a computer to function as:”, therefore claim 8 is non-statutory because it is directed towards software, per se, lacking storage on a medium, which enables any underlying functionality to occur. It is not clear whether instructions are in executable form and therefore there is no practical application. Appropriate correction is required by the applicant. ----- 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kanoh US Pg. Pub. No. (2020/0180638) referred to hereinafter as Kanoh. As per claim 1, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device comprising: a communication circuit configured to receive map information, which includes information on a moving object in a target area, from a management device (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51); a detection circuit configured to detect, based on the map information received by the communication circuit and information indicating a detection range of an in-vehicle sensor mounted in a vehicle, a blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor in the target area (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 150, 152, 165); and a communication control circuit configured to control communication with the management device by the communication circuit, based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the blind spot area detected by the detection circuit and a predicted content relating to movement of the vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112,). As per claim 2, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the detection circuit detects a first blind spot area, which is a blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor mounted in a host vehicle, which is the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted, the communication circuit receives blind spot information, which includes information on the moving object in the first blind spot area, from the management device, and the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the blind spot information transmitted by the management device, based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the first blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the host vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 3, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 2, wherein the communication circuit receives the blind spot information, which indicates a state of each of a plurality of grid areas produced by dividing at least part of the target area into a plurality of lattice-like grid areas and includes information on the moving object in the first blind spot area, from the management device, and the communication control circuit controls a data amount of the blind spot information by controlling, based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the first blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the host vehicle, a size of the grid areas in the blind spot information transmitted by the management device (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 4, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 2, wherein the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the blind spot information transmitted by the management device based also on the number of following vehicles within a predetermined range from a position of the host vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim , Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 1, wherein the detection circuit detects a second blind spot area, which is the blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor mounted in another vehicle aside from a host vehicle, which is the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted, the communication circuit transmits detection information, which indicates a detection result of the in-vehicle sensor mounted on the host vehicle, to the management device, and the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the detection information transmitted by the communication circuit based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the second blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the other vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 6, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 5, wherein the communication control circuit controls at least one of the transmission cycle and the data amount of the detection information transmitted by the communication circuit, based also on the number of following vehicles within a predetermined range from the position of the other vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 9, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 2, wherein the detection circuit detects a second blind spot area, which is the blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor mounted in another vehicle aside from a host vehicle, which is the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted, the communication circuit transmits detection information, which indicates a detection result of the in-vehicle sensor mounted on the host vehicle, to the management device, and the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the detection information transmitted by the communication circuit based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the second blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the other vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 10, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 3, wherein the detection circuit detects a second blind spot area, which is the blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor mounted in another vehicle aside from a host vehicle, which is the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted, the communication circuit transmits detection information, which indicates a detection result of the in-vehicle sensor mounted on the host vehicle, to the management device, and the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the detection information transmitted by the communication circuit based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the second blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the other vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 11, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 4, wherein the detection circuit detects a second blind spot area, which is the blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor mounted in another vehicle aside from a host vehicle, which is the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted, the communication circuit transmits detection information, which indicates a detection result of the in-vehicle sensor mounted on the host vehicle, to the management device, and the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the detection information transmitted by the communication circuit based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the second blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the other vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 12, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 2, wherein the detection circuit detects a second blind spot area, which is the blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor mounted in another vehicle aside from a host vehicle, which is the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted, the communication circuit transmits detection information, which indicates a detection result of the in-vehicle sensor mounted on the host vehicle, to the management device, and the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the detection information transmitted by the communication circuit based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the second blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the other vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 13, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 3, wherein the detection circuit detects a second blind spot area, which is the blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor mounted in another vehicle aside from a host vehicle, which is the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted, the communication circuit transmits detection information, which indicates a detection result of the in-vehicle sensor mounted on the host vehicle, to the management device, and the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the detection information transmitted by the communication circuit based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the second blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the other vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per claim 14, Kanoh teaches an in-vehicle device according to claim 4, wherein the detection circuit detects a second blind spot area, which is the blind spot area of the in-vehicle sensor mounted in another vehicle aside from a host vehicle, which is the vehicle in which the in-vehicle device is mounted, the communication circuit transmits detection information, which indicates a detection result of the in-vehicle sensor mounted on the host vehicle, to the management device, and the communication control circuit controls at least one of a transmission cycle and a data amount of the detection information transmitted by the communication circuit based on a predicted content relating to movement of the moving object in the second blind spot area and a predicted content relating to movement of the other vehicle (see at least Abstract, summary, Paea 39, 51, 53, 111-112, 150, 152, 165). As per clams 7-8, the limitations of claims 7-8 are similar to the limitations of claim 1, therefore they are rejected based on the same rationale. Conclusion Please refer to from 892 for cited refences. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MUSSA A SHAAWAT whose telephone number is (313)446-6592. 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, Erin Piateski can be reached at 571-270-7429. 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. /MUSSA A SHAAWAT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3669
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 21, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101, §102
Apr 27, 2026
Interview Requested
May 05, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
May 05, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
May 18, 2026
Response Filed

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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
76%
Grant Probability
82%
With Interview (+6.2%)
3y 0m (~1y 5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 889 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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