Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/912,063

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 10, 2024
Priority
Aug 09, 2019 — JP 2019-147046 +2 more
Examiner
TITCOMB, WILLIAM D
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Sony Group Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
537 granted / 642 resolved
+23.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+13.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
16 currently pending
Career history
647
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.6%
-31.4% vs TC avg
§103
45.0%
+5.0% vs TC avg
§102
28.7%
-11.3% vs TC avg
§112
15.6%
-24.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 642 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 Interpretation During patent examination, pending claims must be “given their broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the specification.” MPEP 2111; See also, MPEP 2173.02. Limitations appearing in the specification but not recited in the claim are not read into the claim. In re Prater, 415 F.2d 1393, 1404-05, 162 USPQ 541, 550-551 (CCPA 1969). See also, In re Zletz, 893 F.2d 319, 321-22, 13 USPQ2d 1320, 1322 (Fed. Cir. 1989) (“During patent examination the pending claims must be interpreted as broadly as their terms reasonably allow”). The reason is simply that during patent prosecution when claims can be amended, ambiguities should be recognized, scope and breadth of language explored, and clarification imposed. An essential purpose of patent examination is to fashion claims that are precise, clear, correct, and unambiguous. Only in this way can uncertainties of claim scope be removed, as much as possible, during the administrative process. The Examiner respectfully requests of the Applicant in preparing responses, to consider fully the entirety of the reference(s) as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention. It is noted, REFERENCES ARE RELEVANT AS PRIOR ART FOR ALL THEY CONTAIN. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0105473 A1 to Bar-Zeev et al. (hereinafter Bar-Zeev). With regard to claim 1, Bar-Zeev discloses: 1. An information processing system comprising: a first information processing apparatus (see, Fig. 2, and Fig, 3, ; and detailed description, including, each head mounted display device 2 is in communication with its own processing unit 4, para. 0026) a second information processing apparatus comprising circuitry configured to receive an image of a real space captured by an image capturing device (see, detailed description, including, the hub computing system and one or more of the processing units may cooperate to build a model of the environment including the x, y, z Cartesian positions of all users, real world objects, para. 0004); identify at least one feature point based on the received image (see, detailed description, including, the system will detect and track moving objects such as humans moving in the room, and update the scene map based on the positions of moving objects, para. 0106); generate a three-dimensional map of the real space based on the at least one identified feature point (see, detailed description, including, the hub determines the x, y and z position, the orientation and the FOV of each head mounted display device 2 for all users within the system 10, para. 0106); determine a first target area based on the generated three-dimensional map (see, detailed description, including, the calibrated image data for the scene is analyzed at the hub to determine both the user head position and a face unit vector looking straight out from a user's face, para. 0107); and control a display to display a first virtual object (see, detailed description, including, Using current and past data relating to a model of the environment (including users, real world objects and virtual objects) and a user's field of view of that environment, the system extrapolates into the future to predict the model of the environment and a user's field of view of that environment at a time when the image of the environment is to be displayed to the user. Using this prediction, the virtual images may then be rendered without latency, para. 0025), wherein the first virtual object is related to a real object in the first target area (see, as above, and detailed description, including, Using current and past data relating to a model of the environment (including users, real world objects and virtual objects) and a user's field of view of that environment, the system extrapolates into the future to predict the model of the environment and a user's field of view of that environment at a time when the image of the environment is to be displayed to the user, para. 0025). With regard to claim 2, Bar-Zeev discloses: 2. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first virtual object is displayed in spatial relation to the first target area based on information related to the first information processing apparatus (see, Fig. 17, and detailed description, including, The FOV 840 includes an actual direct view of real world objects including another user 18 and a chair 842. The FOV 840 further includes a display of virtual images 844 and 846. The virtual image 846 is shown climbing the chair 842, para. 0154). With regard to claim 3, Bar-Zeev discloses: 3. The information processing system according to claim 2, wherein the information related to the first information processing apparatus includes direction information indicating a direction of the first information processing apparatus (see, detailed description, including, hub computing system 12 and processing units 4 work together to create the scene map or model of the environment that the one or more users are in and track various moving objects in that environment. In addition, hub computing system 12 and/or processing unit 4 track the FOV of a head mounted display device 2 worn by a user 18a, 18b, 18c by tracking the position and orientation of the head mounted display device 2. Sensor information obtained by head mounted display device 2 is transmitted to processing unit 4. In one example, that information is transmitted to the hub computing system 12 which updates the scene model and transmits it back to the processing unit, para. 0067). With regard to claim 4, Bar-Zeev discloses: 4. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine a second target area based on user operation information regarding an operation input from the first information processing apparatus (see, as above, and detailed description, including, hub computing system 12 and processing units 4 work together to create the scene map or model of the environment that the one or more users are in and track various moving objects in that environment. In addition, hub computing system 12 and/or processing unit 4 track the FOV of a head mounted display device 2 worn by a user 18a, 18b, 18c by tracking the position and orientation of the head mounted display device 2. Sensor information obtained by head mounted display device 2 is transmitted to processing unit 4. In one example, that information is transmitted to the hub computing system 12 which updates the scene model and transmits it back to the processing unit, para. 0067). With regard to claim 5, Bar-Zeev discloses: 5. The information processing system according to claim 4, wherein the circuitry is further configured to control the display to display a second virtual object in spatial relation to the second target area (see, as above, One or more of the sensors are used to scan the neighboring environment and build a model of the scanned environment. Using the model, a virtual image is added to a view of the model at a location that is in reference to a real world object that is part of the model, para. 0024), wherein the second virtual object is different from the first virtual object (see, detailed description, including, Using current and past data relating to a model of the environment (including users, real world objects and virtual objects) and a user's field of view of that environment, the system extrapolates into the future to predict the model of the environment and a user's field of view of that environment at a time when the image of the environment is to be displayed to the user. Using this prediction, the virtual images may then be rendered without latency. The image is rendered by sizing and orienting the virtual image and rendering that sized/oriented image on the display of the head mounted display device for each user that has a view of the virtual image, para. 0025), and wherein the second virtual object is related to a real object in the second target area (see, detailed description, including, hub computing system 12 and processing units 4 work together to create the scene map or model of the environment that the one or more users are in and track various moving objects in that environment. In addition, hub computing system 12 and/or processing unit 4 track the FOV of a head mounted display device 2 worn by a user 18a, 18b, 18c by tracking the position and orientation of the head mounted display device 2. Sensor information obtained by head mounted display device 2 is transmitted to processing unit 4. In one example, that information is transmitted to the hub computing system 12 which updates the scene model and transmits it back to the processing unit, para. 0067). With regard to claim 6, Bar-Zeev discloses: 6. The information processing system according to claim 5, wherein the second virtual object is displayed in the spatial relation to the second target area based on information related to the first information processing apparatus (including users, real world objects and virtual objects) and a user's field of view of that environment, the system extrapolates into the future to predict the model of the environment and a user's field of view of that environment at a time when the image of the environment is to be displayed to the user. Using this prediction, the virtual images may then be rendered without latency. The image is rendered by sizing and orienting the virtual image and rendering that sized/oriented image on the display of the head mounted display device for each user that has a view of the virtual image. In embodiments, the virtual image or the view of the real world objects can be changed to account for occlusions, para. 0025). (The virtual image is sized/oriented relative to the past data of the environment, which is interpreted a as horizontal space (x-feet by y-feet). With regard to claim 7, Bar-Zeev discloses: 7. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first information processing apparatus is spatially separated from the second information processing apparatus (see, detailed description, Summary, The system includes mobile display devices wirelessly communicating with a powerful hub computing system, para. 0003). . With regard to claim 8, Bar-Zeev discloses: 8. The information processing system according to claim 1, wherein the first information processing apparatus includes a bar-shaped member (see, detailed description, including, Fig. 2, and Fig. 3, head mounted display device 2 is in communication with its own processing unit 4 via wire 6. In other embodiments, head mounted display device 2 communicates with processing unit 4 via wireless communication. Head mounted display device 2, which in one embodiment is in the shape of glasses, para. 0026). With regard to claim 9, claim 9 (a method claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 1 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 10, claim 10 (a method claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 2 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 11, claim 11 (a method claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 3 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 12, claim 12 (a method claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 4 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 13, claim 13 (a method claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 5 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 14, claim 14 (a method claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 6 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 15, claim 15 (a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 1 (a system claim) (with the addition of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (see, According to an example embodiment, memory 434 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), cache, flash memory, a hard disk, or any other suitable storage component, para. 0060)) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 16, claim 16 (a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 2 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 17, claim 17 (a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 3 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 18, claim 18 (a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 4 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 19, claim 19 (a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 5 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. With regard to claim 20, claim 20 (a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium claim) recites substantially similar limitations to claim 6 (a system claim) and is therefore rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above. A sampling of the prior art made of record and not relied upon and considered pertinent to Applicants’ disclosure, includes: U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0278635 A1 to Maggiore, The communication method involves capturing sensing data belonging to a working space of a sensing device of the augmented reality system. The presentation of the variable marker (1016) is identified. A n-th presentation is displayed on the variable marker. The n-th presentation of the variable marker is identified. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILLIAM D. TITCOMB whose telephone number is (571)270-5190. The examiner can normally be reached 9:30 AM - 6:30 PM (M-F). 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, Stephen C. Hong can be reached at 571-272-4124. 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. WILLIAM D. TITCOMB Primary Examiner Art Unit 2178 /WILLIAM D TITCOMB/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2178 9-15-2026
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 10, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
84%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+13.5%)
2y 7m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 642 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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