Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 30, 2026
Application No. 18/863,149

IN-VEHICLE DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Nov 05, 2024
Priority
May 16, 2022 — JP 2022-080373 +1 more
Examiner
VU, MICHAEL T
Art Unit
2642
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Toyota Motor Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
11m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
716 granted / 834 resolved
+23.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
849
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.8%
-34.2% vs TC avg
§103
81.6%
+41.6% vs TC avg
§102
3.3%
-36.7% vs TC avg
§112
4.0%
-36.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 834 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 2. The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 11/05/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Drawings 3. The drawings were received on 11/05/2024. These drawings are considered by examiner. Preliminary Amendment Applicant summits the Preliminary Amendment filed on 11/05/2024. Claim - 35 USC § 101 5. Claim 12 recites “a computer product comprising a non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instruction” is deemed in compliance with the requirement of 35 U.S.C. 101, and is eligible claim. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 6. In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 7. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. 8. Claims 1-4, 11-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al (US 2021/0314852), hereinafter “Park“, in view of Song et al (US 2021/0039639), hereinafter “Song“. Regarding claim 1, Park teaches an in-vehicle device to be installed in a vehicle (fig. 1 shows a Vehicle System includes a Vehicle Controller), the in-vehicle device comprising: a communication unit configured to receive (fig. 1 shows Communication Device 110), from a management device (fig. 1 shows a Server 20 in which reads on a management device), setting information related to a role of the in-vehicle device in an in-vehicle network (pars [0167-0168]); and Park does not explicitly teach setting unit configured to perform operation setting for the in-vehicle device corresponding to the role based on the setting information received by the communication unit. Song, in the same field of endeavor, teaches setting unit configured to perform operation setting for the in-vehicle device corresponding to the role based on the setting information received by the communication unit (pars [0071] [0085], and [0138-0140]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park to Song, in order to provide controls overall operations of the vehicle system and functionally and transfer data to the elements of the vehicle system (as suggested by Song in paragraph [0085]). Regarding claim 2, the combination of Park and Song teach the in-vehicle device according to claim 1, Park does not clearly teach wherein, based on the setting information, the setting unit sets a communication operation of the in-vehicle device corresponding to the role in communication in the in-vehicle network. Song, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein, based on the setting information, the setting unit sets a communication operation of the in-vehicle device corresponding to the role in communication in the in-vehicle network (pars [0071] [0085], and [0138-0140]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park to Song, in order to provide controls overall operations of the vehicle system and functionally and transfer data to the elements of the vehicle system (as suggested by Song in paragraph [0085]). Regarding claim 3, the combination of Park and Song teach the in-vehicle device according to claim 2, Park does not clearly teach wherein, based on the setting information, the setting unit switches whether the in-vehicle device is to perform communication as a commander or as a responder in the in-vehicle network. Song, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein, based on the setting information, the setting unit switches whether the in-vehicle device is to perform communication as a commander (pars [0071] [0085], and [0138-0140]) or as a responder in the in-vehicle network Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park to Song, in order to provide controls overall operations of the vehicle system and functionally and transfer data to the elements of the vehicle system (as suggested by Song in paragraph [0085]). Regarding claim 4, the combination of Park and Song teach the in-vehicle device according to claim 2, Park does not clearly teach wherein, based on the setting information, the setting unit switches whether the in-vehicle device is to perform communication as an access point or as a station in the in-vehicle network. Song, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein, based on the setting information, the setting unit switches whether the in-vehicle device is to perform communication as an access point (pars [0071] [0085], and [0138-0140]) or as a station in the in-vehicle network Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park to Song, in order to provide controls overall operations of the vehicle system and functionally and transfer data to the elements of the vehicle system (as suggested by Song in paragraph [0085]). Regarding claim 11, Park teaches an information processing method in an in-vehicle device to be installed in a vehicle (fig. 1 shows a Vehicle System includes a Vehicle Controller), comprising the steps of: receiving, from a management device fig. 1 shows Communication Device 110), setting information related to a role of the in-vehicle device in an in-vehicle network (pars [0167-0168]); and Park does not explicitly teach performing operation setting for the in-vehicle device corresponding to the role based on the received setting information. Song, in the same field of endeavor, teaches performing operation setting for the in-vehicle device corresponding to the role based on the received setting information (pars [0071] [0085], and [0138-0140]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park to Song, in order to provide controls overall operations of the vehicle system and functionally and transfer data to the elements of the vehicle system (as suggested by Song in paragraph [0085]). Regarding claim 12, Park teaches a computer program product for use in an in-vehicle device to be installed in a vehicle (fig. 1 shows a Vehicle System includes a Vehicle Controller), the computer program product comprising a non-transitory, machine-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by at least one programmable processor (fig. 1), causes at least one programmable processor to cause a computer to function as: a communication unit configured to receive fig. 1 shows Communication Device 110), from a management device (fig. 1 shows a Server 20 in which reads on a management device), setting information related to a role of the in-vehicle device in an in-vehicle network (pars [0167-0168]); and Park does not explicitly teach a setting unit configured to perform operation setting for the in-vehicle device corresponding to the role based on the setting information received by the communication unit. Song, in the same field of endeavor, teaches a setting unit configured to perform operation setting for the in-vehicle device corresponding to the role based on the setting information received by the communication unit (pars [0071] [0085], and [0138-0140]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park to Song, in order to provide controls overall operations of the vehicle system and functionally and transfer data to the elements of the vehicle system (as suggested by Song in paragraph [0085]). 9. Claims 5-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al (US 2021/0314852), hereinafter “Park“, in view of Song et al (US 2021/0039639), hereinafter “Song“, further in view of Shah et al (US 2023/0052297), hereinafter “Shah”. Regarding claim 5, the combination of Park and Song teach the in-vehicle device according to claim 2, Park and Song do not clearly teach wherein the setting information indicates a communication standard for the in-vehicle network and the role in the communication standard, the in-vehicle device is equipped with a plurality of software modules, and when setting the communication operation, the setting unit selects, from among the plurality of software modules, a software module corresponding to the communication standard and the role in the communication standard indicated by the setting information, and enables the selected software module. Shah, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein the setting information indicates a communication standard for the in-vehicle network and the role in the communication standard (pars [0016] [0027]), the in-vehicle device is equipped with a plurality of software modules (pars [0016] [0027]), and when setting the communication operation, the setting unit selects (pars [0016] [0027], and [0064]), from among the plurality of software modules (pars [0016] [0027], and [0064]), a software module corresponding to the communication standard and the role in the communication standard indicated by the setting information, and enables the selected software module (pars [0016] [0027], and [0064]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park, Song to Shah, in order to provide the various optimal features such as software that can download or upgrade in the vehicle based on the user convenience (as suggested by Shah in paragraphs [0001-0002]). Regarding claim 6, the combination of Park and Song teach in-vehicle device according to claim 5, Park and Song do not clearly teach wherein the setting unit uses correspondence information indicating a correspondence between the setting information and the software modules to select, from among the plurality of software modules, the software module corresponding to the communication standard and the role in the communication standard indicated by the setting information. Shah, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein the setting unit uses correspondence information indicating a correspondence between the setting information and the software modules to select (pars [0016] [0027], and [0064]), from among the plurality of software modules (pars [0016] [0027], and [0064]), the software module corresponding to the communication standard and the role in the communication standard indicated by the setting information (pars [0016] [0027], and [0064]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park, Song to Shah, in order to provide the various optimal features such as software that can download or upgrade in the vehicle based on the user convenience (as suggested by Shah in paragraphs [0001-0002]). Regarding claim 7, the combination of Park and Song teach in-vehicle device according to claim 1, Park and Song do not clearly teach wherein the communication unit receives the setting information for at least one of each vehicle model and each vehicle year. Shah, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein the communication unit receives the setting information for at least one of each vehicle model and each vehicle year (pars [0016] [0027]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park, Song to Shah, in order to provide the various optimal features such as software that can download or upgrade in the vehicle based on the user convenience (as suggested by Shah in paragraphs [0001-0002]). Regarding claim 8, the combination of Park and Song teach in-vehicle device according to claim 1, Park and Song do not clearly teach wherein the setting information indicates the role of the in-vehicle device and a data type of vehicle information related to the vehicle to be transmitted to the management device. Shah, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein the setting information indicates the role of the in-vehicle device and a data type of vehicle information related to the vehicle to be transmitted to the management device (pars [0016] [0027]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park, Song to Shah, in order to provide the various optimal features such as software that can download or upgrade in the vehicle based on the user convenience (as suggested by Shah in paragraphs [0001-0002]). Regarding claim 9, the combination of Park and Song teach in-vehicle device according to claim 1, Park and Song do not clearly teach wherein the communication unit receives the setting information for at least one of each vehicle model and each vehicle year, and the setting information indicates the role of the in-vehicle device and a data type of vehicle information related to the vehicle to be transmitted to the management device. Shah, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein the communication unit receives the setting information for at least one of each vehicle model and each vehicle year, and the setting information indicates the role of the in-vehicle device and a data type of vehicle information related to the vehicle to be transmitted to the management device (pars [0016] [0027]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park, Song to Shah, in order to provide the various optimal features such as software that can download or upgrade in the vehicle based on the user convenience (as suggested by Shah in paragraphs [0001-0002]). Regarding claim 10, the combination of Park and Song teach in-vehicle device according to claim 1, Park and Song do not clearly teach wherein the setting unit uses the setting information in setting performed so that vehicle information regarding the vehicle is transmitted from the vehicle to the management device. Shah, in the same field of endeavor, teaches wherein the setting unit uses the setting information in setting performed so that vehicle information regarding the vehicle is transmitted from the vehicle to the management device (pars [0016] [0027]). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to provide the above teaching of Park, Song to Shah, in order to provide the various optimal features such as software that can download or upgrade in the vehicle based on the user convenience (as suggested by Shah in paragraphs [0001-0002]). Conclusion 10. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL T VU whose telephone number is (571)272-8131. The examiner can normally be reached on 8:00AM to 6:00PM. 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, Charles Appiah can be reached on (571-272-7904. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /MICHAEL T VU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2641
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 05, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (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
86%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+13.2%)
2y 9m (~11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 834 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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