Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/886,961

VEHICLE EVACUATION DRILL MONITORING

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
Sep 16, 2024
Examiner
HUNNINGS, TRAVIS R
Art Unit
2689
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Iee International Electronics & Engineering S A
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 2m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
930 granted / 1123 resolved
+20.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
1150
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.2%
-36.8% vs TC avg
§103
47.6%
+7.6% vs TC avg
§102
25.2%
-14.8% vs TC avg
§112
10.0%
-30.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1123 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
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. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim(s) recite(s) mental processes, concepts that could be performed in the human mind (including observation, evaluation and judgment). This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the addition of generically recited computer elements amount to nothing more than simply implementing the abstract idea on a generic computer. The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because almost all of the elements of the claim could be done solely in the human mind and the following added elements do not amount to significantly more for the following reasons: Claims 1, 10 and 11, “a computer subsystem having at least one processor and memory” is nothing more than a generic computer. Claims 1, 5, 10, 11, 14 and 15, “occupant detection sensors installed within the vehicle” are well-understood, routine, conventional methods to accomplish the same thing a human could do through simple observation. Claims 9 and 19, “data management hub” is nothing more than a generic database that could be accomplished through routine record keeping of a human. Conclusion Related Art: US 20250329269 A1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 20240312362 A1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 20230360506 A1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 20230177937 A1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 20230046281 A1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 20220108622 A1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 20220108622 A1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 11043095 B1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 11043095 B1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation US 20130268148 A1 – boarding rate of a vehicle US 20130095927 A1 – building evacuation simulation and evaluation Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TRAVIS R HUNNINGS whose telephone number is (571)272-3118. The examiner can normally be reached M: 6-7:30a, 9:30a-4:45p, 8:30-10p; T: 6-7:30a, 12-4p, 7:30p-12a; W: 6-7:30a, 9:30a-4:45p; H: 6-7:30a, 8:15a-4:45p; F: 12:00-4:45p. 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, Davetta Goins can be reached at 571-272-2957. 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. /TRAVIS R HUNNINGS/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2689
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 16, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §101 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12602976
SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AN INTERNAL CABIN OF A VEHICLE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12594485
VERMIN-RESISTANT BOCCE COURT
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12579875
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTION OF NEAR MOVING RADIO FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID) TAGS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12576340
AMUSEMENT SYSTEM FOR SHOWING AN EVENT IN A SCENE ROOM
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12573279
SYSTEM FOR MONITORING AN INDIVIDUAL
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
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
83%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+13.2%)
2y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1123 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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