Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/888,876

OBJECT LOCATION THROUGH MEDIA-PLAYBACK DEVICES

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Sep 18, 2024
Examiner
KARWAN, SIHAR A
Art Unit
3658
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
DISH Network Technologies India Private Limited
OA Round
2 (Final)
56%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 0m
Est. Remaining
83%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 56% of resolved cases
56%
Career Allowance Rate
235 granted / 416 resolved
+4.5% vs TC avg
Strong +27% interview lift
Without
With
+26.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
433
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.9%
-29.1% vs TC avg
§103
33.1%
-6.9% vs TC avg
§102
38.0%
-2.0% vs TC avg
§112
11.4%
-28.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 416 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . DETAILED ACTION Claims 1-20 are pending. Claims 1-20 are rejected. Amendments to the claims have been recorded. Response to Amendment Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to the new references being used in the current rejection. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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. 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. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Perkins US 20000006892 in view of Zhao US 20210264508. 1. An automated process comprising: configuring a map for rendering on a display device coupled to the set-top box, the set-top box configured to transmit video content to the display device; 171; which in turn causes a map of the building to automatically be displayed on the smartphone. using his or her smartphone, tablet, or other suitable device [electronic devices such as a set top box]. which in turn causes a map of the building to automatically be displayed on the smartphone. Fig.1 also shows multiple devices coupled to other devices such as a display and smartphone. Also 177, When third-party devices [i.e. any device such as a set top box] are used to relay information between the tag and a user, the communications may use secured and/or encrypted communications to help ensure the privacy and security of the user. 174; The tag may also include input devices that allow users to control or change the tag's operations. locating a first position of the set-top box on the map to reflect a first location of the set-top box in a structure corresponding to the map, 171; their smartphone may detect that it is within a threshold distance of that tag, which in turn causes a map of the building to automatically be displayed on the smartphone. Also 174 wherein the first position is set on the map by user input via a device paired to the set-top box and 174; The tag may also include input devices that allow users to control or change the tag's operations. 857; a user may be able to establish geographic and/or location-based rules for their devices. a user may be able to establish locations or geographic areas in which the tag will not report itself as being “lost,” so that other devices (e.g., devices not associated with the tag's owner) do not report the location of the tag. detecting, by the set-top box, a second location of a device in the structure; and 171; capable of determining the location of a tag to an accuracy within three feet, and even to within one foot or less. rendering, by the set-top box, the first position of the set-top box and a second position of the device on the map to reflect the first location of the set-top box and the second location of the device in the structure. Fig. 141B and 171; their smartphone may detect that it is within a threshold distance of that tag, which in turn causes a map of the building to automatically be displayed on the smartphone. 891; the location of the tags associated with or accessible by a user may be shown in a map view, allowing the user to visualize the location of the tags in a geographic environment. Perkins teaches all of the limitations of claim 1; but does not explicitly teach a set-top box. However, Zhoa teaches 94; The machine 1300 may be a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a cellular telephone, a smartphone, a set-top box (STB), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a web appliance, a network router, a network switch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing the instructions 1124, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to be taken by that machine.. Therefore, it was well known at the time the invention was filed and would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to combine the teachings with a reasonable expectation of success in order to provide a machine 1300 may operate as a standalone device or may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious. It is noted that MPEP 20144.04 V. MAKING PORTABLE, INTEGRAL, SEPARABLE, ADJUSTABLE, OR CONTINUOUS also apples. 2. The automated process of claim 1, further comprising updating, by the set-top box, fingerprinting data of the map to increase an accuracy of the second position of the device on the map reflecting the second location of the device in the structure. 171; the devices and techniques described herein allow distance, position, location, and/or orientation determinations with a high degree of accuracy. [as described in Applicant’s specifications para 52] 3. The automated process of claim 1, wherein the device transmits a Bluetooth or ultra-wideband (UWB) signal received by the set-top box and useable to detect the second location of the device in the structure. 192; Bluetooth, and UWB 4. The automated process of claim 1, wherein the device transmits a WiFi signal received by the set-top box and useable to detect the second location of the device in the structure. 253; The tag 500 may also include an antenna assembly 508.wireless communications protocols, UWB protocols, Bluetooth, WiFi, cellular protocols, or the like. 5. The automated process of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a tag coupled to an object. 171; the tag may be used to track the location of a portable object such as a set of physical keys, a purse, backpack, article of clothing, or other suitable object or item of personal property. 6. The automated process of claim 5, wherein the second position of the device on the map is rendered with a name of the object. 868; The information may include, for example, a name of the associated object (e.g., fire exit, fire extinguisher, defibrillator, etc.), a physical location of the object (e.g., ground floor, front hallway, etc.), or the like. 7. The automated process of claim 5, wherein the second position of the device on the map is rendered with an image of the object. Fig. 141B 8. The automated process of claim 1, wherein a user selects the second position of the device on the map to update fingerprinting data of the map. 868; Tags may also be used to help users locate and interact [user selects] with stationary objects. 891; the location of the tags associated with or accessible by a user may be shown in a map view, allowing the user to visualize the location of the tags in a geographic environment. 9. The automated process of claim 1, wherein the set-top box uses a time of flight and an angle of arrival of an ultra-wideband signal to detect the second location of the device in the structure. 826; UWB; TOF and AOA 10. The automated process of claim 1, wherein the set-top box uses a direction finding (DF) capability of a Bluetooth protocol to detect the second location of the device in the structure. 870; the tags may send signals using Bluetooth and/or UWB communication protocols, and the device 14000 may use techniques such as time of flight (ToF), angle of arrival (AoA), time difference of arrival (TDOA), received signal strength indication (RSSI), triangulation, synthetic aperture, and/or any other suitable technique, to determine positions [to determine positions is direction finding] of the tags relative to the device 14000. 11 and 19 are rejected using the same rejections as made to claim 1. 12 and 20 are rejected using the same rejections as made to claim 2. 13. rejected using the same rejections as made to claim 3. 14. with 5 15. with 6 16. with 7 17. with 9 18. with 10 Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SIHAR A KARWAN whose telephone number is (571)272-2747. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F; 11-7pm. 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, Ramon Mercado can be reached on 571-270-5744. 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 https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. 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. /SIHAR A KARWAN/Examiner, Art Unit 3664
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 18, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
May 04, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 28, 2026
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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
56%
Grant Probability
83%
With Interview (+26.9%)
3y 1m (~1y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 416 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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