DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
This Office Action is in response to Applicant's Amendment and Remarks filed on 5/26/2026. This Action is made FINAL.
Claims 1-8 are pending for examination.
Response to Arguments
(A) Applicant's arguments filed “The Applicant has made amendments to independent claims 1 and 8 in an effort to better distinguish the claimed subject matter over the prior art and to more particularly point out and distinctly recite the claimed subject matter. A review of the dependent claim set does not reveal any issues with antecedent basis, nor were any grammatical or idiomatic errors found” on 5/26/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
As to point (A), the examiner respectfully disagrees. The examiner further notes the limitation of “an operation area display control unit configured to display a first operation area on the screen when the detection unit detects a first touch operation of touching the screen at a starting point and sliding a touch position from the starting point, the first operation area being displayed at a position that is between the starting point and one side of the screen, that intersects a straight line extending from the starting point in a sliding direction of the first touch operation, and that is spaced away from the one side” is unclear. In particular, the location of the first operation area is unclear. Furthermore the limitation of “intersects a straight line extending from the starting point in a sliding direction of the first touch operation” is indefinite as it is unclear what is intersecting and where the straight line would be.
(B) Applicant’s arguments, see pages 6-7, filed “Claims 1-3 and 8 were rejected under 35 USC § 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by YUICHI (JP 2010032546 A). In view of the current amendments and at least for the following reasons, the Applicant respectfully traverses these rejections” on 5/26/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-3 and 8 under 35 USC § 102 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn.
As to point (B), upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Vulcano(US20140365120A1).
(C) Applicant's arguments filed “The secondary references to ENDO and Nakamura do not remedy the deficiencies outlines above, nor does the Examiner allege as much. Thus, the Applicant respectfully traverses these rejections and asserts that claims 4-7 are patentable over the applied prior art for at least the same reasons that amended claim 1 is patentable. Their allowance is, therefore, respectfully requested.” on 5/26/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
As to point (C), the examiner respectfully disagrees. The examiner further notes the amended claim 1 would be fully encompassed by the new combination of references and the dependent claims would be fully encompassed by the references.
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.
Claim 1-8 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.
The claims are generally narrative and indefinite, failing to conform with current U.S. practice. They appear to be a literal translation into English from a foreign document and are replete with grammatical and idiomatic errors.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim 1-3, 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over YUICHI (JP2010032546A) in view of Vulcano(US20140365120A1).
In regards to claim 1, YUICHI teaches An information processing device, comprising:
a display configured to display a screen including an object(YUICHI: Fig. 5; Para 13 “A monitor 3 is provided on the front of the rectangular main body 2, and the main body 2 is equipped with a non-volatile memory or hard disk that is built into the main body 2, which generates map images and the like according to the map data stored in the memory and the like and displays them on the monitor 3”);
a detection unit configured to detect a touch operation on the screen(YUICHI: Para 24 “the CPU 20 of the PND 1 receives a touch operation by the user's fingertip on the touch panel 25 of the monitor 3 through the input information processing unit 20A, and calculates the display position of the map image on the LCD 24 according to the touch operation”);
an operation area display control unit configured to display a first operation area on the screen when the detection unit detects a first touch operation of touching the screen at a starting point and sliding a touch position from the starting point, the first operation area being displayed at a position that is between the starting point and one side of the screen, that intersects a straight line extending from the starting point in a sliding direction of the first touch operation, and that is spaced away from the one side(YUICHI: Fig. 5 NG5; Para 32 “Drag Scroll Processing As shown in FIG. 5, when a navigation map image NG3 is displayed on the LCD 24 of the monitor 3, and the user touches an arbitrary point PO2 on the screen of the LCD 24 with their fingertip, and then traces the fingertip to points PO3 and PO4, the CPU 20 of the PND 1 displays navigation map images NG4 and NG5 in which the map is sequentially moved from point PO2 to point PO4 in accordance with the trajectory of the drag scroll operation.”; Para 33 “when the CPU 20 of the PND 1 recognizes that a drag scroll operation has been performed in which an arbitrary point PO2 on the navigation map image NG3 displayed on the LCD 24 is touched with a fingertip and then traced across the screen, the CPU 20 is able to execute a drag scroll process in which the map on the LCD 24 is gradually moved while being displayed by sequentially displaying navigation map images NG4 and NG5 in which the map display area has been moved in a direction along the trajectory of the drag scroll operation along with the drag scroll operation”; i.e. the left side of the arbitrary point PO2 would be first operation area and the line connecting arbitrary point PO2 and PO4 would intersects a straight line extending from the starting point in a sliding direction)
Yet YUICHI do not explicitly teach an object display control unit configured to, when the detection unit detects a second touch operation in the first operation area move the object displayed on the screen predetermined distance in a direction from the one side of the screen toward the starting point.
However, in the same field of endeavor, Vulcano teaches an object display control unit configured to, when the detection unit detects a second touch operation in the first operation area move the object displayed on the screen predetermined distance in a direction from the one side of the screen toward the starting point (Vulcano: Fig. 9 Element 576; Para 149 “over six stages 905-930 of the user interface 565, FIG. 9 illustrates the user of zoom and scroll functionality as well as the position control 576 to re-center the displayed map region on the device's current location”; Para 154 “The second stage 910 also illustrates that the user is performing a touchscreen swipe input to scroll the map to the left (thereby enabling viewing of the map region currently off of the screen to the right). The third stage 915 illustrates the result of the swipe/drag gesture, with the mapping application having moved the viewed region of the map rightward enough that the current location indicator is now off the display screen (to the left). The high-quality touchscreen user interface of some embodiments resolves all such swipe gestures over the map view to either up, down, left, or right, while other embodiments calculate the angle of the swipe gesture and move the map in the calculated direction”; Para 156 “The fourth stage 920 illustrates the user selecting the position control 576. As described above, selection of the position control of some embodiments causes the mapping application to center the map region about the current location of the device, irrespective of the map region previously displayed on the map”; i.e. the user is performing a touchscreen swipe input to scroll the map to the left (starting point and sliding a touch position from the starting point) and then re-center the displayed map region on the device's current location(move the object displayed on the screen predetermined distance in a direction from the one side of the screen toward the starting point)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the information processing device of YUICHI with the feature of an object display control unit configured to, when the detection unit detects a second touch operation in the first operation area move the object displayed on the screen predetermined distance in a direction from the one side of the screen toward the starting point disclosed by Vulcano. One would be motivated to do so for the benefit of “facilitate the identification of a destination for navigation” (Vulcano: Para 149).
In regards to claim 2, the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano teaches The information processing device according to claim 1, and YUICHI further teaches wherein the detection unit detects an operation of sliding a touch position in the first touch operation into the first operation area as the second touch operation(YUICHI: Fig. 5 NG5; Para 32 “Drag Scroll Processing As shown in FIG. 5, when a navigation map image NG3 is displayed on the LCD 24 of the monitor 3, and the user touches an arbitrary point PO2 on the screen of the LCD 24 with their fingertip, and then traces the fingertip to points PO3 and PO4, the CPU 20 of the PND 1 displays navigation map images NG4 and NG5 in which the map is sequentially moved from point PO2 to point PO4 in accordance with the trajectory of the drag scroll operation”).
In regards to claim 3, the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano teaches The information processing device according to claim 1, and YUICHI further teaches wherein the operation area display control unit displays the first operation area on the starting point side of a midpoint between the starting point and the one side of the screen(YUICHI: Fig. 5 NG3; Para 32 “Drag Scroll Processing As shown in FIG. 5, when a navigation map image NG3 is displayed on the LCD 24 of the monitor 3, and the user touches an arbitrary point PO2 on the screen of the LCD 24 with their fingertip, and then traces the fingertip to points PO3 and PO4, the CPU 20 of the PND 1 displays navigation map images NG4 and NG5 in which the map is sequentially moved from point PO2 to point PO4 in accordance with the trajectory of the drag scroll operation”; i.e. left side of the screen would encompass the first operation area).
As per claim 8, it recites A non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium having stored thereon a computer program that, when executed by an electronic processor of an information processing device, configures the information processing device to execute a process having limitations similar to those of claim 1 and therefore is rejected on the same basis. YUICHI teaches A non-transitory, computer-readable recording medium (YUICHI: Para 14 “The PND 1 also reads out basic programs and various application programs stored in a nonvolatile memory 21 and executes them on a RAM (Random Access Memory) 22, thereby realizing normal navigation functions and a map scrolling processing function described later.”)
Claim 4-5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over YUICHI (JP2010032546A) and Vulcano(US20140365120A1) in view of ENDO (US20120206481A1).
In regards to claim 4, the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano teaches The information processing device according to claim 1, wherein the operation area display control unit displays a second operation area in a position adjacent to the first operation area(YUICHI: Fig. 5 NG5; Para 32 “Drag Scroll Processing As shown in FIG. 5, when a navigation map image NG3 is displayed on the LCD 24 of the monitor 3, and the user touches an arbitrary point PO2 on the screen of the LCD 24 with their fingertip, and then traces the fingertip to points PO3 and PO4, the CPU 20 of the PND 1 displays navigation map images NG4 and NG5 in which the map is sequentially moved from point PO2 to point PO4 in accordance with the trajectory of the drag scroll operation” i.e. right side of the screen would encompass the second operation area).
Yet the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano do not explicitly teach the object display control unit enlarges a display of the object when the detection unit detects a third touch operation in the second operation area.
However, in the same field of endeavor, ENDO teaches the object display control unit enlarges a display of the object when the detection unit detects a third touch operation in the second operation area(ENDO: Fig. 3A-3D; Para 78 “The dragging operation is an operation wherein the operator touches the display unit 5 with a finger, and slides this touched finger in the upper direction while in the state of touching the display unit 5. The control unit 15 detects the distance between the position wherein the finger of the operator is touching the display unit 5 which serves as a touch panel and the position wherein the finger that has been sliding is removed from the display unit 5 at the touching position (the distance of the series of dragging operations), and subjects the still image displayed on the display unit 5 to enlarging operation according to the dragging operation distance and displays this”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify The information processing device of the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano with the feature of the object display control unit enlarges a display of the object when the detection unit detects a third touch operation in the second operation area disclosed by ENDO. One would be motivated to do so for the benefit of “desired objects can be speedily searched from a great number of objects” (ENDO: Para 15).
In regards to claim 5, the combination of YUICHI, Vulcano, and ENDO teaches The information processing device according to claim 4, and YUICHI further teaches wherein the detection unit detects an operation of sliding a touch position in the second touch operation from the first operation area to the second operation area as the third touch operation(YUICHI: Fig. 5 NG5; Para 32 “Drag Scroll Processing As shown in FIG. 5, when a navigation map image NG3 is displayed on the LCD 24 of the monitor 3, and the user touches an arbitrary point PO2 on the screen of the LCD 24 with their fingertip, and then traces the fingertip to points PO3 and PO4, the CPU 20 of the PND 1 displays navigation map images NG4 and NG5 in which the map is sequentially moved from point PO2 to point PO4 in accordance with the trajectory of the drag scroll operation” i.e. right side of the screen would encompass the second operation area).
Claim 6-7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over YUICHI (JP2010032546A) and Vulcano(US20140365120A1) in view of Nakamura (US20110164062A1).
In regards to claim 6, the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano teaches The information processing device according to claim 1
Yet the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano do not explicitly teach wherein the operation area display control unit displays a third operation area on an opposite side of the starting point to the first operation area, and
when a fourth touch operation in the third operation area is detected by the detection unit, the object display control unit returns a display state of the object to a display state before the object was moved by the predetermined distance by sliding.
However, in the same field of endeavor, Nakamura teaches wherein the operation area display control unit displays a third operation area on an opposite side of the starting point to the first operation area(Nakamura: Para 97 “the current location button is a button for returning the screen to the initial navigation screen. The current location button is provided separately from the buttons which are displayed by software, such that there is an additional meaning to allow the user to feel comfortable that, if the button is only depressed, the screen returns to the initial navigation screen, that is, the screen in which the position of the host vehicle is displayed on the map”), and
when a fourth touch operation in the third operation area is detected by the detection unit, the object display control unit returns a display state of the object to a display state before the object was moved by the predetermined distance by sliding(Nakamura: Para 97 “the current location button is a button for returning the screen to the initial navigation screen. The current location button is provided separately from the buttons which are displayed by software, such that there is an additional meaning to allow the user to feel comfortable that, if the button is only depressed, the screen returns to the initial navigation screen, that is, the screen in which the position of the host vehicle is displayed on the map”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify The information processing device of the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano with the feature of wherein the operation area display control unit displays a third operation area on an opposite side of the starting point to the first operation area, and when a fourth touch operation in the third operation area is detected by the detection unit, the object display control unit returns a display state of the object to a display state before the object was moved by the predetermined distance by sliding disclosed by Nakamura. One would be motivated to do so for the benefit of “improving operational performance of a button operation on the touch panel” (Nakamura: Para 22).
In regards to claim 7, the combination of YUICHI and Vulcano teaches The information processing device according to claim 1, and Nakamura further teaches which is installed in a vehicle, wherein
a seat row including a first seat and a second seat aligned in a first direction is installed in the vehicle(Nakamura: Para 76 “. The navigation device 1 is used in a state of being installed around the center of the dashboard where a passenger at a driver's seat or a front passenger's seat easily reaches, and includes a main unit 2 and a display unit 3”), and
the screen is positioned in front of the seat row and is formed to extend in the first direction(Nakamura: Para 76 “. The navigation device 1 is used in a state of being installed around the center of the dashboard where a passenger at a driver's seat or a front passenger's seat easily reaches, and includes a main unit 2 and a display unit 3”). The Examiner supplies the same rationale for the combination of references YUICHI and Nakamura as in Claim 6 above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Takagi (JP2011141340A) disclosed a map display technology in an in-vehicle navigation system, and more particularly to a map display device in which an improvement in map enlargement / reduction processing operation is made and a navigation system using the map display device.
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 WENYUAN YANG whose telephone number is (571)272-5455. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 9:00AM-5:00PM EST.
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, Hitesh Patel can be reached at (571) 270-5442. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/W.Y./Examiner, Art Unit 3667
/Hitesh Patel/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 3667
8/13/26
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