Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/948,216

METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND MEDIA FOR OBJECT GROUPING AND MANIPULATION IN IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Nov 14, 2024
Priority
May 22, 2019 — nonprovisional of PCTUS2019033529 +3 more
Examiner
MONTOYA, OSCHTA I
Art Unit
2421
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Google LLC
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
71%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 2m
Est. Remaining
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 71% — above average
71%
Career Allowance Rate
404 granted / 566 resolved
+13.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
593
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
§103
59.4%
+19.4% vs TC avg
§102
19.6%
-20.4% vs TC avg
§112
3.3%
-36.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 566 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 08/31/2026 has been entered. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, see page 7 and 8 of Remarks section, filed 08/31/2026, with respect to 103 rejection have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 103 rejection of claims 1-20 has been withdrawn. 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. A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b). The USPTO internet Web site contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit http://www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application will determine what form 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 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1-23 of U.S. Patent No. US 12,149,767. Claims 1-20 of the instant application are anticipated by patent claims 1-23 in that claims 1-23 of the patent contains all the limitations of claims 1-20 of the instant application. Claims 1-20 of the instant application therefore is not patently distinct from the earlier patent claim and as such is unpatentable for obvious-type double patenting. Instant Application 18/948,216 Patent No.: US 12,149,767 A method comprising: displaying a group virtual object that includes a first virtual object and a second virtual object in an augmented reality environment, the group virtual object being associated with a handle interface element for manipulating the group virtual object; detecting a user interaction with the handle interface element to cause the group virtual object to be manipulated, the user interaction being based on a first gesture performed in the augmented reality environment; and detecting a selection of at least one of the first virtual object or the second virtual object, the selection being based on a second gesture performed in the augmented reality environment using an indicator. Claims 2-19 are rejected similarly to claim 1. A method comprising: generating a group virtual object that includes a first virtual object and a second virtual object, the group virtual object being associated with a handle interface element for moving the group virtual object and including a selectable indicator associated with the first virtual object and the second virtual object; displaying the group virtual object along with the handle interface element and the selectable indicator in an immersive environment; wherein the additional media information element is interacted with by a gesture performed in the immersive environment. in response to detecting a selection of the selectable indicator, displaying a user interface for interacting with an additional media information element. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1-19 of U.S. Patent No. US 11,297,366. Claims 1-20 of the instant application are anticipated by patent claims 1-19 in that claims 1-19 of the patent contains all the limitations of claims 1-20 of the instant application. Claims 1-20 of the instant application therefore is not patently distinct from the earlier patent claim and as such is unpatentable for obvious-type double patenting. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1-18 of U.S. Patent No. US 11,627,360. Claims 1-20 of the instant application are anticipated by patent claims 1-18 in that claims 1-18 of the patent contains all the limitations of claims 1-20 of the instant application. Claims 1-20 of the instant application therefore is not patently distinct from the earlier patent claim and as such is unpatentable for obvious-type double patenting. Contact Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OSCHTA I MONTOYA whose telephone number is (571)270-1192. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8 am - 5 pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Nathan Flynn can be reached on 571-272-1915. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. OM Oschta Montoya Patent Examiner Art Unit 2421 /OSCHTA I MONTOYA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2421
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 1 earlier event
Dec 13, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 08, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP
Mar 05, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 01, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §DP
Aug 27, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Aug 31, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Sep 03, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP (current)

Precedent Cases

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Patent 12728362
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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
71%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+14.3%)
3y 0m (~1y 2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 566 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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