Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 18/894,040

IMAGE CAPTURING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF TRANSMITTING INFORMATION

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 24, 2024
Priority
Sep 25, 2023 — JP 2023-160062
Examiner
TRAN, PABLO N
Art Unit
2643
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Ricoh Company, Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
572 granted / 683 resolved
+21.7% vs TC avg
Minimal +3% lift
Without
With
+2.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
701
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
44.1%
+4.1% vs TC avg
§102
27.4%
-12.6% vs TC avg
§112
13.0%
-27.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 683 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1, 7, 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Regarding claims 1, 7, 14, the claimed limitation, “other information”, has rendered the claims indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. It is unclear as to what type of “other information” is? Is the information related, such as the time, date, etc.., to the captured image or unrelate to the capture image? Dependent claims 2-6, 8-13, and 15-19, respectively, are rejected for the same reasoning. Regarding claims 1, 7, 14, the claimed limitation, “the other information being determined based on the one transmission path”, has rendered the claims indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. How does the “other information” being determined based on the transmission path? Does a priority /secure transmission path is selected upon the “other information” is determined that has priority/sensitive info. Dependent claims 2-6, 8-13, and 15-19, respectively, are rejected for the same reasoning. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Pablo Tran whose telephone number is (571)272-7898. The examiner normal hours are 9:30 -5:00 (Monday-Friday). If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Jinsong Hu, can be reached at (571)272-3965. 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 httpr//pair-directauspto.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. August 7, 2026 /PABLO N TRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2643
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 24, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Sep 30, 2026
Interview Requested
Oct 14, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Oct 14, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)

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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
87%
With Interview (+2.9%)
2y 8m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 683 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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