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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments, filed 4/15/26, have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that Lee et al. fails to teach or suggest “moving a vehicle model within the SVM image with the viewpoint fixed” as recited in claim 1. The examiner respectfully disagrees. Lee et al. discloses that the processor may also move a fixed view point VP according to the movement of the vehicle (para. 0185). Lee et al. further discloses moving the fixed view point according to the determined driving lane of the vehicle (para. 0023) and moving the view point VP to the front of the vehicle if the vehicle moves forward (para. 0166). Thus, claim 1 stands rejected.
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 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Lee et al. (US Pub. No. 2017/0054946).
Consider claim 1. Lee et al. discloses the parking assistance apparatus (para. 0050 describes assisting a user in driving) comprising: a display unit (para. 0051 describes a display device); a camera configured to capture an image from surroundings of a vehicle (para. 0065 describes a camera that captures images of views around a vehicle); a traveling signal input unit configured to input a traveling signal of the vehicle (paras. 0129-0131 describe receiving sensor information); and a processor configured to generate a surround view monitor (SVM) image based on the image captured by the camera (para. 0007 describes a processor is configured to, based on the captured image of the view around the vehicle, fix a view point for the around-view monitor function), to fix the SVM image to one viewpoint centered on a preset parking space, and to move a vehicle model within the SVM image with the viewpoint fixed (paras. 0172, 0173, and 0188 describe fixing the SVM image to one viewpoint centered on a preset parking space, and to move a vehicle model within the SVM image with the viewpoint fixed).
Consider claim 2. Lee et al. discloses the parking assistance apparatus according to the parking assistance apparatus according to wherein the processor analyzes the SVM image to recognize parking space candidates (para. 0015 describes detecting a parking space in a vicinity of the vehicle), and receives a user's selection of any one of the recognized parking space candidates (para. 0019 describes detecting, from the fixed around-view monitor image, an input for selecting a parking space).
Consider claim 3. Lee et al. discloses the parking assistance apparatus according to the parking assistance apparatus according to wherein the processor displays the parking space candidate within the SVM image and receives the user's selection of the parking space candidate (para. 0019 describes detecting, from the fixed around-view monitor image, an input for selecting a parking space) by touch via the display unit (para. 0118 describes a touch input unit).
Consider claim 4. Lee et al. discloses the parking assistance apparatus according to the parking assistance apparatus according to wherein the processor places the parking space candidate at a bottom center of the SVM image with the viewpoint fixed (figs. 15-18 show the parking space candidate at a bottom center of the SVM image with the viewpoint fixed).
Consider claim 5. Lee et al. discloses the parking assistance apparatus according to the parking assistance apparatus according to wherein the processor moves the vehicle model according to an actual traveling signal of the vehicle within the SVM image with the viewpoint fixed (paras. 0129-0131 describe receiving sensor information of the vehicle within the SVM image with the fixed viewpoint).
Consider claim 6. Lee et al. discloses the parking assistance apparatus according to the parking assistance apparatus according to wherein the traveling signal comprises at least one of a shift stage signal, a wheel signal, and a steering angle signal of the vehicle (para. 0131 describes a steering sensor by steering wheel rotation).
Consider claim 7. Lee et al. discloses the parking assistance apparatus according to the parking assistance apparatus according to wherein the processor determines a traveling direction based on the shift stage signal, calculates a movement distance by using the wheel signal, calculates a rotation angle by using the steering angle signal, and moves the vehicle model according to the traveling direction, the movement distance, and the rotation angle (paras. 0130-0132 describe sensor information including direction information of the vehicle, position information, speed information, acceleration information, tilt information, forward/backward movement information, and a steering sensor by steering wheel rotation).
Claims 8-10 are rejected using similar reasoning as corresponding claims above.
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 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