Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/946,294

ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND LAYOUT CONFIGURATION METHOD USING SAME

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Nov 13, 2024
Priority
Dec 11, 2019 — RE 10-2019-0164699 +2 more
Examiner
SHIBEROU, MAHELET
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
74%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
10m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 74% — above average
74%
Career Allowance Rate
429 granted / 583 resolved
+13.6% vs TC avg
Strong +26% interview lift
Without
With
+26.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
607
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
11.6%
-28.4% vs TC avg
§103
66.3%
+26.3% vs TC avg
§102
7.6%
-32.4% vs TC avg
§112
7.6%
-32.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 583 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
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 Action is responsive to the Application filed on 11/13/2024. Claims 1-20 are pending in the case. 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 conflicting claims 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); 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 nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined 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 § 2146 et seq. 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 filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13. The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual 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 www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-16 of U.S. Patent No. 12147653 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-16 of U.S. Patent No. 12147653 B2 contain every element of claims 1-20 of the instant application and thus anticipate the claim of the instant application. Claims 1-20 of the instant application therefore are not patently distinct from the earlier patent claims and as such are unpatentable over obvious-type patenting. Instant Application 18/946294 U.S. Patent No. 12147653 B2 1. An electronic device comprising: a display; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to: display a screen including a plurality of windows, each of the plurality of windows corresponding to each of a plurality of applications executed by the electronic device, detect an event for changing a layout of the plurality of windows, display, in response to detecting the event, a plurality of layouts of the plurality of windows, wherein each of the plurality of layouts includes a plurality of divided regions, an arrangement of the plurality of divided regions is configured to be different from each other, and the plurality of windows are disposed at the plurality of divided regions of each of the plurality of layouts based on an attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications, an orientation of the electronic device, and a folding state of the electronic device, 5. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the plurality of layouts are displayed in an order of the number of times each of the plurality of layouts has been selected by the user. display, in response to selecting one of the plurality of layouts, the plurality of windows based on the selected layout, and adjust, based on proportions of a plurality of divided regions of the selected layout and proportions of the plurality of the windows disposed at the plurality of divided regions of the selected layout, at least one of the plurality of divided regions of the selected layout. 1. An electronic device comprising: a display; a processor operatively connected to the display; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to: display a screen including a plurality of windows, each of the windows corresponding to each of a plurality of applications executed by the electronic device, detect an event for changing a layout of the plurality of windows, display, in response to detecting the event, a plurality of layouts, wherein each of the plurality of layouts includes a plurality of regions divided based on a quantity of the executed plurality of applications, an arrangement of the plurality of divided regions included in each of the plurality of layouts is configured to be different from each other, and the plurality of windows are disposed at the plurality of divided regions of each of the plurality of layouts based on an attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications, an orientation of the electronic device, and a folding state of the electronic device, and wherein the plurality of layouts are displayed in an order of a number of times each of the plurality of layouts has been selected by a user, display, in response to one of the plurality of layouts being selected, the plurality of windows based on the selected layout, and adjust, based on proportions of a plurality of divided regions of the selected layout and proportions of the plurality of the windows disposed at the plurality of divided regions of the selected layout, at least one of the plurality of divided regions of the selected layout. 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to: determine the plurality of windows to be disposed at the plurality of divided regions of each of the plurality of layouts based on the attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications, the orientation of the electronic device, and the folding state of the electronic device. 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to: determine the plurality of windows to be disposed at the plurality of divided regions of each of the plurality of layouts based on the attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications, the orientation of the electronic device, and the folding state of the electronic device. 3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications includes at least one of whether an application supports landscape mode, whether the application is a multimedia application, a priority of the application, an execution order of the application, or whether the application uses an input interface, wherein the orientation of the electronic device includes one of a landscape orientation or a portrait orientation, and wherein the folding state of the electronic device includes one of an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state. 3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications includes at least one of whether an application supports landscape mode, whether the application is a multimedia application, a priority of the application, an execution order of the application, or whether the application uses an input interface, wherein the orientation of the electronic device includes one of a landscape orientation or portrait orientation, and wherein the folding state of the electronic device includes one of an unfolded state, a folded state, or an intermediate state. 4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to: record, in the memory, a number of times each of the plurality of layouts has been selected by a user. 4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to: record the number of times each of the plurality of layouts has been selected in the memory. 6. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising: a sensor circuit, wherein the event for changing the layout of the plurality of windows includes at least one of rotation of the electronic device detected through the sensor circuit, a change in the folding state of the electronic device detected through the sensor circuit, or a specified input detected on the display. 5. The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising: a sensor circuit, wherein the event for changing the layout of the plurality of windows includes at least one of rotation of the electronic device detected through the sensor circuit, a change in the folding state of the electronic device detected through the sensor circuit, or a specified input detected on the display. 7. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the rotation of the electronic device includes a transition in the orientation of the electronic device, wherein the transition in the orientation includes one of a first transition that is from the portrait orientation to the landscape orientation, or a second transition that is from the landscape orientation to the portrait orientation, and wherein the change in the folding state of the electronic device includes one of a first change that is from the unfolded state to the folded state or the intermediate state, a second change that is from the folded state to the unfolded state or the intermediate state, or a third change that is from the intermediate state to the unfolded state or the folded state. 6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the rotation of the electronic device includes a transition in the orientation of the electronic device, wherein the transition in the orientation includes one of a first transition that is from the portrait orientation to the landscape orientation, or a second transition that is from the landscape orientation to the portrait orientation, and wherein the change in the folding state of the electronic device includes one of a first change that is from the unfolded state to the folded state or the intermediate state, a second change that is from the folded state to the unfolded state or the intermediate state, or a third change that is from the intermediate state to the unfolded state or the folded state. 8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a shape of at least one of the plurality of divided regions included in each of the plurality of layouts is configured to be different from each other. 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a shape of at least one of the plurality of divided regions included in each of the plurality of layouts is configured to be different from each other. 9. The electronic device of claim 6, further comprising: a housing structure, wherein the housing structure includes a first housing structure and a second housing structure, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to: detect a specific angle formed between the first housing structure and the second housing structure through the sensor circuit, and display the plurality of layouts based on the detected specific angle. 8. The electronic device of claim 5, further comprising: a housing structure, wherein the housing structure includes a first housing structure and a second housing structure, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to: detect a specific angle formed between the first housing structure and the second housing structure through the sensor circuit, and display the plurality of layouts based on the detected specific angle. 10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the electronic device to: determine the plurality of windows to be disposed at the plurality of divided regions of each of the plurality of layouts based on the attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications, the orientation of the electronic device, the folding state of the electronic device, and at least one of priority information set for each of the executed plurality of applications or history information of each of the executed plurality of applications. 11. The electronic device of claim 10, wherein, in the displayed plurality of layouts, the plurality of windows are disposed at the plurality of divided regions of each of the plurality of layouts based on the attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications, the orientation of the electronic device, the folding state of the electronic device, and the at least one of the priority information set for each of the executed plurality of applications or the history information of each of the executed plurality of applications. 9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the electronic device to: determine the plurality of windows to be disposed at the plurality of divided regions of each of the plurality of layouts based on the attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications, the orientation of the electronic device, the folding state of the electronic device, and at least one of priority information set for each of the executed plurality of applications or history information of each of the executed plurality of applications, and wherein, in the displayed plurality of layouts, the plurality of windows are disposed at the plurality of divided regions of each of the plurality of layouts based on the attribute of each of the executed plurality of applications, the orientation of the electronic device, the folding state of the electronic device, and the at least one of the priority information set for each of the executed plurality of applications or the history information of each of the executed plurality of applications. Claims 12-20 are substantially the same as the above claims. Claims 10-16 are substantially the same as the above claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: Sauber et al. US 11321103 B2 Generating user interface containers. Morris US 9423938 B1 teaches methods for navigating between visual components. Burchell et al. US 20150293664 A1 teaches managing applications in multitasking environment. Kang et al. US 20150227271 A1 User terminal device and display method. Reeves et al. US 9703468 B2 Unified desktop independent focus in an application manager. Kaufthal et al. US 20160209994 A1 Adaptable user interface display. Frederickson et al. US 20140351722 A1 User interface elements for multiple displays. Loutch et al. US 8612883 User Interface for managing the display of multiple display regions. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MAHELET SHIBEROU whose telephone number is (571)270-7493. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:00 AM-5:00 PM Eastern Time. 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, Kieu Vu can be reached at 571-272-4057. 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. /MAHELET SHIBEROU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2171
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 13, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12737964
INCREASING LEVELS OF DETAIL FOR NEURAL FIELDS USING DIFFUSION MODELS
2y 10m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12738289
VOICE PROCESSING FOR MIXED REALITY
2y 5m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12732550
DISPLAYING PINNED CONTENT IN A USER INTERFACE
3y 4m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12730657
THEME WALLPAPER GENERATION METHOD AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE
2y 8m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12731576
GENERATING SUGGESTED MODIFICATIONS FOR CONFIGURING AND TRAINING AN AUTOMATIC SPEECH RECOGNITION MODEL
2y 3m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
74%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+26.5%)
2y 9m (~10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 583 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month