DETAILED ACTION
This Final Office Action is in response to the application filed on 11/27/2024 and the Remark filed on 02/19/2026.
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The references cited in the PCT international search report by the 11/27/2024 have been considered, but will not be listed on any patent resulting from this application because they were not provided on a separate list in compliance with 37 CFR 1.98(a)(1). In order to have the references printed on such resulting patent, a separate listing, preferably on a PTO/SB/08 form, must be filed within the set period for reply to this Office action.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 1 recites “wherein the augmented reality overlay is generated using sensor data from at least one additional sensor of the electronic device.” However, no support can be found in the Original Disclosure regarding augmented reality overlay being generated using sensor data from at least one additional sensor of the electronic device.
Claim 11 recites “wherein the augmented reality overlay is generated using sensor data from at least one additional sensor of the electronic device.” However, no support can be found in the Original Disclosure regarding augmented reality overlay being generated using sensor data from at least one additional sensor of the electronic device.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
Subject Matter Eligibility
As an initial matter, the claims as a whole are to a method and a system, which falls within one or more statutory categories. (Step 1: YES) The recitation of the claimed invention is then further analyzed as follow, in which the abstract elements are boldfaced.
The claims recite:
A computer-implemented method in an electronic device of identifying components within a property, the method comprising:
capturing digital image data by an image sensor of the electronic device, the digital image data depicting a portion of the property;
displaying, as a live preview feature via a user interface of the electronic device, the digital image data captured by the image sensor;
analyzing, by a processor using an object detection technique, the digital image data to automatically identify a first set of components present in the portion of the property; and
displaying, in the user interface and using an augmented reality overlay on a live video image according to the digital image data captured by the image sensor, (i) a first set of indications respectively associated with the first set of components, and (ii) a second set of indications respectively associated with a second set of components not yet identified, wherein the augmented reality overlay is generated using sensor data from at least one additional sensor of the electronic device.
wherein analyzing the digital image data comprises: analyzing the digital image data to automatically identify at least one of: a set of personal property articles, a set of structural elements of the property, and a set of fixtures of the property.
wherein analyzing the digital image data comprises: transmitting the digital image data to a remote server via a communication module, the remote server configured to identify the first set of components present in the portion of the property; and receiving, from the remote server via the communication module, an indication of the first set of components.
identifying a location of the electronic device; and associating the location of the electronic device with the portion of the property.
identifying a set of parameters associated with the property; and determining, based upon the set of parameters, a set of walk-through instructions associated with capturing the digital image data.
examining the set of walk-through instructions to identify the portion of the property; and displaying, via the user interface, an indication of the portion of the property.
receiving, via the user interface, an identification of a component of the second set of components.
populating an inventory list with the first set of components identified from the digital image data.
wherein displaying the first set of indications and the second set of indications comprises: displaying, in the user interface and using the augmented reality overlay on the live video image according to the digital image data captured by the image sensor, (i) a first set of icons respectively associated with the first set of components, and (ii) a second set of icons, different from the first set of icons, respectively associated with a second set of components not yet identified.
calculating an estimated replacement cost value (ERCV) for each of the first set of components.
Based on the limitations above, the claims describe a process that covers analyzing components associated with a property in obtaining property insurance quote. Analyzing components associated with a property in obtaining property insurance quote is considered to be a commercial interaction, which falls within the “Certain Methods of Organizing Human Activity” grouping of abstract ideas. As such, the claim(s) recite(s) a Judicial Exception. (Step 2A prong one: Yes)
This analysis then evaluates whether the claims as a whole integrates the recited Judicial Exception into a practical application of the exception. The claims recite additional elements integrating the Judicial Exception into practical application by providing improvement to mobile user interface technology used in property viewing. The additional elements include the display, using an augmented reality overlay on a live video image according to the digital image data captured by the image sensor, (i) a first set of indications respectively associated with the set of components, and (ii) a second set of indications respectively associated with a second set of components not yet identified. The overlaid augmented reality tied the concept of analyzing components associated with a property to a particular apparatus and technological operation, allowing a user to, during a live video, instantly identify which components of the property is automatically identified by the system and which components are not yet identified. Thus, the claims are considered to be directed to eligible subject matter. (Step 2A prong 2: Yes)
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-15 are allowed over prior arts.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter over prior arts:
Based on the previously prior art search, the prior art deemed closest to the claimed invention is Collins (US 2009/0265193). Collin teaches a system/method of assessing a property. However, Collins does not teach “analyze, using an object detection technique, the digital image data to automatically identify a first set of components present in the portion of the property, and cause the user interface to display, using an augmented reality overlay on a live video image according to the digital image data captured by the image sensor, (i) a first set of indications respectively associated with the set of components, and (ii) a second set of indications respectively associated with a second set of components not yet identified, wherein the augmented reality overlay is generated using sensor data from the at least one additional sensor”. No combination of prior art was found to render the claims obvious without applying improper hindsight. As such, the claims are novel and non-obvious.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 02/19/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding the applicant’s argument that the Specification provides adequate written description support for “wherein the augmented reality overlay is generated using sensor data from at least one additional sensor of the electronic device”, the examiner respectfully disagrees. The examiner fully considered paragraphs 0005-0007, 0013 and 0080 but found that while the cited paragraphs discuss the generating of augmented reality overlay and the use of additional sensor data such as location data, the disclosure does not support that the generation of the augmented reality overlay uses data from the additional sensor of the electronic device. In particular, the emphasized location data is disclosed to use to generate the video or but not to generate the AR overlay. Paragraph 0007 describes the AR interaction and the location awareness parallelly as factors used by the “mobile phone-based video application”. There lacks any expressive support or implicit indicator suggesting the generation of the AR overlay uses sensor data from at least one additional sensor other than the image capturing sensor. Thus, the argument is not persuasive.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 CHO KWONG whose telephone number is (571)270-7955. The examiner can normally be reached 9am - 5pm EST M-F.
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, MICHAEL W ANDERSON can be reached at 571-270-0508. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHO YIU KWONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3693