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 .
This action is in response to the Continuation filed on 09/26/2024
This is a CON of 18/315,808 which is now a PAT 12,143,710 B2 which is a CON of 17/497,427 which is now a PAT 11,678,050 B2 which is a CON of 16/161,761 which is now a PAT 11,146,724 B2
Claims 1-24 are pending
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 09/26/2024, 09/27/2024, 02/07/2025, 09/12/2025 and 01/27/2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.17(v). Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the claims at issue are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp.
Claims 1-24 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 -22 of U.S. Patent No. 12,143,710 B2, claims 1 -20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,678,050 B2 and claims 1 -16 of U.S. Patent No. 11,146,724 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other as shown in the following table.
1. Application: A method performed by an electronic device, the method comprising:
1. Patent 12,143,710 B2: A method performed by an electronic device, the method comprising:
obtaining, by a first camera of the electronic device, an image corresponding to a first photographing area, wherein the first camera has a first viewing angle;
1. Patent 12,143,710 B2: obtaining, by a first camera of the electronic device, a first image corresponding to a first photographing area, wherein the first camera has a first viewing angle;
obtaining, by a second camera of the electronic device, an image corresponding to a second photographing area, wherein the second camera has a second viewing angle greater than the first viewing angle, and
1. Patent 12,143,710 B2: obtaining, by a second camera of the electronic device, a second image corresponding to a second photographing area, wherein the second camera has a second viewing angle greater than the first viewing angle, and
wherein the second photographing area includes the first photographing area in less than an entirety thereof;
1. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein the second photographing area includes the first photographing area in less than an entirety thereof;
based on the image obtained by the first camera and the image obtained by the second camera, displaying, on a display of the electronic device, an image corresponding to at least a portion of the second photographing area and an indicator indicating the first photographing area, the at least the portion of the second photographing area including the first photographing area;
1. Patent 12,143,710 B2: based on the obtained first image and the obtained second image, displaying, on a display of the electronic device, a third image corresponding to at least a portion of the second photographing area, the at least the portion of the second photographing area including the first photographing area, and the third image including an indicator representing the first photographing area;
receiving a first user input for controlling the first camera to obtain an image related to the indicated first photographing area;
1. Patent 12,143,710 B2: receiving a first user input to obtain a fourth image related to the first photographing area;
in response to the receiving of the first user input, obtaining, by the first camera, the image related to the indicated first photographing area; and
1. Patent 12,143,710 B2: in response to the receiving of the first user input, obtaining the
storing in a memory of the electronic device the image, obtained by the first camera, which is related to the indicated first photographing area.
1. Patent 12,143,710 B2: storing the obtained fourth image related to the first photographing area in a memory of the electronic device.
2. Application: wherein the first photographing area is a first area to be obtained by the first camera, and the second photographing area is a second area to be obtained by the second camera having the second viewing angle greater than the first viewing angle.
2. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein the first photographing area is a first area to be obtained by the first camera, and the second photographing area is a second area to be obtained by the second camera having the second viewing angle greater than the first viewing angle.
3. Application: wherein a first focal length of the second camera is less than a second focal length of the first camera.
3. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein a first focal length of the second camera is less than a second focal length of the first camera.
4. Application: wherein the image obtained by the first camera and the image obtained by the second camera are used for determining a photographing composition.
4. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein the first image obtained by the first camera and the second image obtained by the second camera are used for determining a photographing composition.
5. Application: wherein the first photographing area is distinguished from the second photographing area within the image corresponding to at least the portion of the second photographing area.
5. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein the first photographing area is distinguished from the second photographing area within the third image.
6. Application: herein the indicator includes a border between the first photographing area and the second photographing area.
6. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein the indicator includes a border between the first photographing area and the second photographing area.
7. Application: wherein the first camera and the second camera are disposed on a rear side of the electronic device.
7. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein the first camera and the second camera are disposed on a rear side of the electronic device.
8. Application: further comprising: displaying, in the image corresponding to at least the portion of the second photographing area, information for guiding a recommended photographing composition.
8. Patent 12,143,710 B2: further comprising: displaying, in the third image, information for guiding a recommended photographing composition.
9. Application: wherein at least one subject partially included within the first photographing area is entirely included in the second photographing area.
9. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein at least one subject partially included within the first photographing area is entirely included in the second photographing area.
10. Application: further comprising: receiving a second user input to adjust a zoom magnification while displaying the image corresponding to at least the portion of the second photographing area; and changing the image corresponding to at least the portion of the second photographing area, based on adjustment of the zoom magnification, wherein the first user input is received after the changing of the image corresponding to at least the portion of the second photographing area.
10. Patent 12,143,710 B2: further comprising: receiving a user input to adjust a zoom magnification of the preview image; and adjusting the zoom magnification of the preview image based on the user input to adjust the zoom magnification, wherein the user input to obtain the third image is received after adjusting the zoom magnification of the preview image and while displaying the preview image and the first indicator.
11. Application: wherein the at least the portion of the second photographing area that corresponds to the image corresponding to at least the portion of the second photographing area includes at least some of the second photographing area that does not correspond to the first photographing area.
21. Patent 12,143,710 B2: wherein the at least the portion of the second photographing area that corresponds to the third image incudes at least some of the second photographing area that does not correspond to the first photographing area.
12. Application: wherein a relative position of the indicator with respect to the image corresponding to the at least the portion of the second photographing area is adjusted, as the electronic device moves or a zoom magnification is changed.
10. Patent 12,143,710 B2: receiving a second user input to adjust a zoom magnification while displaying the third image; and changing the third image based on adjustment of the zoom magnification, wherein the first user input is received after the changing of the third image.
Claims 13-24 are is similarly rejected on the grounds of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1 -22 of U.S. Patent No. 12,143,710 B2, claims 1 -20 of U.S. Patent No. 11,678,050 B2 and claims 1 -16 of U.S. Patent No. 11,146,724 B2.
Conclusion
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/PADMA HALIYUR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2639 March 30, 2026