Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 19/018,787

BUTTON FUNCTIONALITY

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Jan 13, 2025
Examiner
BODDIE, WILLIAM
Art Unit
2625
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Apple Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
26%
Grant Probability
At Risk
1-2
OA Rounds
4y 11m
To Grant
47%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 26% of cases
26%
Career Allow Rate
50 granted / 193 resolved
-36.1% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+21.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
4y 11m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
221
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
62.9%
+22.9% vs TC avg
§102
18.2%
-21.8% vs TC avg
§112
12.1%
-27.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 193 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
DETAILED ACTION Specification The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed. 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, 13 and 14 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent 11,068,083 (16/384726). Additionally, Claims 1, 13 and 14 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent 10,082,892 (14/641252). The following is a claim comparison of the instant application and the U.S. Patents. Application No. 19/018787 U.S. Patent No. 11,068,083. 1.An electronic device, comprising: a display; a rotatable and depressible input mechanism; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for detecting an activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism; and in response to detecting the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism; in accordance with a determination that a clock face user interface that includes a clock face was displayed on the display when the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism was detected; displaying, via the display, an application picker user interface, wherein the application picker user interface includes a plurality of affordances, the plurality of affordances comprising a first affordance representing a first application; and in accordance with a determination that a respective user interface, different from the clock face user interface, was displayed on the display when the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism was detected: displaying, via the display, the clock face user interface. 1.An electronic device, comprising: a display device; a rotatable and depressible input mechanism; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs stored in the memory, the one or more programs including instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: display, via the display device, a user interface; while displaying the user interface, detect user input; and in response to detecting the user input: in accordance with a determination that the user input represents rotation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism, scroll content of the user interface; and in accordance with a determination that the user input represents a press of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism, invoke a virtual assistant, wherein the virtual assistant is configured to execute one or more tasks based on voice input. Application No. 19/018787 U.S. Patent No. 10,082,892 1.An electronic device, comprising: a display; a rotatable and depressible input mechanism; one or more processors; memory; and one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for detecting an activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism; and in response to detecting the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism; in accordance with a determination that a clock face user interface that includes a clock face was displayed on the display when the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism was detected; displaying, via the display, an application picker user interface, wherein the application picker user interface includes a plurality of affordances, the plurality of affordances comprising a first affordance representing a first application; and in accordance with a determination that a respective user interface, different from the clock face user interface, was displayed on the display when the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism was detected: displaying, via the display, the clock face user interface. 1.A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display, and a button, and a rotatable and depressible input mechanism, cause the device to: display a first user interface screen; receive first data representing an activation of the button; determine whether the activation of the button represents: a double press of the button, the double press having an associated interval between a first consecutive press and a second consecutive press, the first and second consecutive presses each having an associated press duration; or an extended press of the button, the extended press having an associated press duration; in accordance with a determination that the activation of the button represents a double press of the button: invoke a payments application; in accordance with a determination that the activation of the button represents an extended press of the button: display a second user interface screen, the second user interface screen comprising a second affordance representing a user prompt to power off the electronic device; receive second data representing an activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism; determine whether the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism represents: a single press of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism, the single press having an associated press duration; or a double press of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism, the double press having an associated interval between a first consecutive press and a second consecutive press, the first and second consecutive presses each having an associated press duration; in accordance with a determination that the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism represents a single press of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism: display a third user interface screen on the display, the third user interface screen including a plurality of affordances, the plurality of affordances comprising an affordance representing an application; and in accordance with a determination that the activation of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism represents a double press of the rotatable and depressible input mechanism: invoke a previously invoked application. Claims 1, 13, and 14 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over the independent claims of U.S. Patent 11,068,083 and U.S. Patent 10,082,892. Independent claims 1, 13 and 14 of the current application are not patentably distinct from the claims of U.S. Patent 11,068,083 and U.S. Patent 10,082,892 as shown above. The dependent claims of the current application are not patentably distinct from the claims of U.S. Patent 11,068,083 and U.S. Patent 10,082,892 for the same reasons above. Inquires Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SEJOON AHN whose telephone number is (571)272-9528. The examiner can normally be reached 9 am - 5 pm. 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, Nitin Patel can be reached at 571-272-7677. 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. /SEJOON AHN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2628
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 13, 2025
Application Filed
Oct 01, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §DP (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12589653
VEHICLE DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12573336
ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH BETTER RESOLUTION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12567373
PIXEL CIRCUIT AND DISPLAY DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 03, 2026
Patent 12557387
DISPLAY DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
Patent 12542116
INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 03, 2026
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
26%
Grant Probability
47%
With Interview (+21.0%)
4y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 193 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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