Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/957,561

DATA ADAPTION FOR SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 22, 2024
Examiner
HUNTER, MISHAWN N
Art Unit
2484
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Sorenson Ip Holdings LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allow Rate
766 granted / 982 resolved
+20.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
1004
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.6%
-29.4% vs TC avg
§103
45.6%
+5.6% vs TC avg
§102
30.0%
-10.0% vs TC avg
§112
11.0%
-29.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 982 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1, 4-6, 8-10, 13, 14, 16, 19, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Carlock et al. (US Pat. No. 12,131,586). Consider claim 1. Carlock et al. discloses a method comprising: obtaining a first video that includes sign language content, the sign language content including one or more video frames of a figure performing sign language (col. 8, lines 16-35 describe a series of video frames containing video frames); obtaining language data that represents the sign language content in the first video (col. 8, lines 54-57 describes capturing video stream comprising sign language); extracting, from the first video, a spatial configuration for each of one or more body parts of the figure (col. 25, lines 8-52 describe extracting relevant features, including body parts); creating a second video including sign language content using the extracted spatial configurations (col. 9, lines 40-43 describes outputting sign language content in a simulated avatar); and training a machine learning model of a translation system configured to translate between sign language and language data using the second video and the language data (col. 8, lines 4-15 describe a translation machine being a learning machine). Consider claim 4. Carlock et al. discloses the method of claim 1, wherein creating the second video includes generating a second figure performing sign language using the extracted spatial configurations where the second figure is visibly distinct from the figure (col. 9, lines 40-43 describes outputting sign language content in a simulated avatar). Consider claim 5. Carlock et al. discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising creating a plurality of second videos that include the second video, each of the plurality of second videos created to include sign language content using the extracted spatial configurations and each of the plurality of second videos including a figure that is visibly distinct from a figure in another of the second videos (col. 9, lines 40-43 describes outputting sign language content in a simulated avatar), wherein the machine learning model is trained using each of the plurality of second videos and the language data (col. 8, lines 4-15 describe a translation machine being a learning machine). Consider claim 6. Carlock et al. discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the translation system is configured for sign language recognition or sign language generation (col. 25, lines 50-59 describes sign language recognition). Consider claim 8. Carlock et al. discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the machine learning model is trained using the first video (col. 8, lines 4-15 describe using the first video for the translation machine). Consider claim 9. Carlock et al. discloses at least one non-transitory computer-readable media configured to store one or more instructions that, in response to being executed by a system, cause or direct the system to perform the method of claim 1 (col. 21, lines 53-56 describe one or more processors that coordinate the communication between the various devices as well as execute instructions stored in computer-readable media of the memory device). Consider claim 16. Carlock et al. discloses all claimed limitations as stated above. Carlock et al. further discloses A system comprising: one or more computer readable mediums including instructions; one or more computing systems coupled to the one or more computer readable mediums and configured to execute the instructions to cause or direct the system to perform operations (col. 21, lines 53-56 describe one or more processors that coordinate the communication between the various devices as well as execute instructions stored in computer-readable media of the memory device). Claims 10, 13, 14, 19, and 20 are rejected using similar reasoning as corresponding claims above. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2, 3, 7, 11, 12, 15, 17, and 18 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Mishawn N Hunter whose telephone number is (571)272-7635. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7am-4pm. 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, Thai Tran can be reached at 571-272-7382. 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. /MISHAWN N. HUNTER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2484
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 22, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
78%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+14.5%)
3y 0m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 982 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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