Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/947,788

HDMI CUSTOMIZED AD INSERTION

Final Rejection §112§DP
Filed
Nov 14, 2024
Examiner
NEWLIN, TIMOTHY R
Art Unit
2424
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Roku Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
583 granted / 704 resolved
+24.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
732
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.1%
-33.9% vs TC avg
§103
51.7%
+11.7% vs TC avg
§102
22.2%
-17.8% vs TC avg
§112
6.2%
-33.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 704 resolved cases

Office Action

§112 §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 . Response to Amendment/Allowable Subject Matter The amendment overcomes the double patenting rejection because the present claims are patentably distinguished over the parent claims. The parent claims do not recite identifying and presenting an ad based on the VRR of a detected control signal, wherein the selected ad identifies a product that utilizes a similar type of VRR as that in the control signal. Likewise, the prior art does not teach those features, taken together with the rest of the recited limitations. Therefore, the claims would be allowable but for the §112 rejections below. 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 and 3-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. Claims 1, 11, and 15 recite “a similar type of VRR.” The term “similar” is ambiguous and does not clearly limit the type of VRR that is described. Paragraph 70 of the filed Specification contains further description of the VRR types, which could be incorporated in the claims to possibly overcome this rejection. Conclusion 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 Timothy R Newlin whose telephone number is (571)270-3015. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 Mountain 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, Benjamin Bruckart can be reached at 571-272-3982. 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. /TIMOTHY R NEWLIN/ Examiner, Art Unit 2424
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 14, 2024
Application Filed
Dec 10, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112, §DP
Mar 05, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Mar 16, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 23, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Mar 27, 2026
Final Rejection — §112, §DP (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12579809
INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICES, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHODS AND VIDEO STREAMING SYSTEM
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12581028
DISPLAY APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12579630
MODULAR OPTICAL INSPECTION STATION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12571738
Apparatus and Method for Automatic Monitoring of Lids of Beverage and Food Cans
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12563262
Media System with Presentation Area Data Analysis and Segment Insertion Feature
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 24, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
83%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+13.3%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 704 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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