Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 19/087,789

CONTROL METHOD, CONTROL SYSTEM, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING INFORMATION PROCESSING PROGRAM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Mar 24, 2025
Examiner
MONSHI, SAMIRA
Art Unit
2422
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Seiko Epson Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 5m
To Grant
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allow Rate
389 granted / 490 resolved
+21.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
512
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.7%
-36.3% vs TC avg
§103
47.7%
+7.7% vs TC avg
§102
37.1%
-2.9% vs TC avg
§112
3.7%
-36.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 490 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 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. Claim(s) 1, 2, 4, 8 and 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by US MA et al. (20250260794 A1) (MA). Regarding claim 1, MA discloses A control method for an electronic device configured to communicate with a first projector that projects a first projection image onto a projection target, the control method comprising: [0084] and FIG. 4A, the processor 150 may provide a UI 410 for connection to the projector based on a user command. acquiring a picked-up image generated by a camera, the picked-up image including the first projection image and a second projection image projected from a second projector that is different from the first projector; [0091]-[0118] The electronic device 100 may turn on the camera 110 and start capturing the projection surface if the auto keystone function is executed through the pop-up UI (S620). ] The electronic device 100 displays then a UI screen for adjusting the magnification and keystones of the first projection area corresponding to the first projector device and a second projection area corresponding to the second projector device (S1320). Figs. 13 and 14 A causing a display to display a screen including the picked-up image; [0119] and FIG. 14B for displaying UIs 1421 and 1422 for the user to select the desired magnification reference. For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen. The processor 150 may then transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. accepting, via the screen, an operation of designating a range in which a composite image formed by combining the first projection image and the second projection image is formed on the projection target; [0120] for the processor 150 may guide the user to move the position of the projector device 200 by providing a UI 1440 including a guidance message such as “The screens are far apart. Please move the device to align the screens.” PNG media_image1.png 604 806 media_image1.png Greyscale generating first information including at least one first adjustment amount of the first projection image to form the composite image, based on the operation; and [0119] For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen and then the processor 150 may transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. transmitting the first information to the first projector. [0119] For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen and then the processor 150 may transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. Regarding claim 2, MA discloses the control method according to claim 1, wherein the operation is an operation of surrounding at least a part of the picked-up image with a frame line including at least one of a straight line and a curved line on the screen. Fig. 14C and [0120] for the processor 150 provide a UI 1430 including guidance “Touch here to align the screens” to make sure to line two images in the same level. Regarding claim 4, MA discloses the control method according to claim 1, wherein the picked-up image displayed on the display is displayed in a plan view by projective transformation. Fig. 14C for image 1430 PNG media_image2.png 388 454 media_image2.png Greyscale Regarding claim 8, MA discloses A control system comprising a first projector that projects a first projection image onto a projection target and an electronic device configured to communicate with the first projector, the electronic device executing: [0084] and FIG. 4A, the processor 150 may provide a UI 410 for connection to the projector based on a user command. acquiring a picked-up image generated by a camera, the picked-up image including the first projection image and a second projection image projected from a second projector that is different from the first projector; [0091]-[0118] The electronic device 100 may turn on the camera 110 and start capturing the projection surface if the auto keystone function is executed through the pop-up UI (S620). ] The electronic device 100 displays then a UI screen for adjusting the magnification and keystones of the first projection area corresponding to the first projector device and a second projection area corresponding to the second projector device (S1320). Figs. 13 and 14 A causing a display to display a screen including the picked-up image; [0119] and FIG. 14B for displaying UIs 1421 and 1422 for the user to select the desired magnification reference. For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen. The processor 150 may then transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. accepting, via the screen, an operation of designating a range in which a composite image formed by combining the first projection image and the second projection image is formed on the projection target; [0120] for the processor 150 may guide the user to move the position of the projector device 200 by providing a UI 1440 including a guidance message such as “The screens are far apart. Please move the device to align the screens.” generating first information including at least one first adjustment amount of the first projection image to form the composite image, based on the operation; and [0119] For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen and then the processor 150 may transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. transmitting the first information to the first projector, the first projector executing: adjusting the first projection image, based on the first adjustment amount. [0119] For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen and then the processor 150 may transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. Regarding claim 9, MA discloses A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing an information processing program, the information processing program causing a computer that controls an electronic device configured to communicate with a first projector that projects a first projection image onto a projection target, to execute: [0084] and FIG. 4A, the processor 150 may provide a UI 410 for connection to the projector based on a user command. acquiring a picked-up image generated by a camera, the picked-up image including the first projection image and a second projection image projected from a second projector that is different from the first projector; [0091]-[0118] The electronic device 100 may turn on the camera 110 and start capturing the projection surface if the auto keystone function is executed through the pop-up UI (S620). ] The electronic device 100 displays then a UI screen for adjusting the magnification and keystones of the first projection area corresponding to the first projector device and a second projection area corresponding to the second projector device (S1320). Figs. 13 and 14 A causing a display to display a screen including the picked-up image; [0119] and FIG. 14B for displaying UIs 1421 and 1422 for the user to select the desired magnification reference. For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen. The processor 150 may then transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. accepting, via the screen, an operation of designating a range in which a composite image formed by combining the first projection image and the second projection image is formed on the projection target; [0120] for the processor 150 may guide the user to move the position of the projector device 200 by providing a UI 1440 including a guidance message such as “The screens are far apart. Please move the device to align the screens.” PNG media_image1.png 604 806 media_image1.png Greyscale generating first information including at least one first adjustment amount of the first projection image to form the composite image, based on the operation; and [0119] For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen and then the processor 150 may transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. transmitting the first information to the first projector. [0119] For example, the processor 150 may acquire the keystone correction information for each projection screen and then The processor 150 may transmit the keystone correction information for each projection screen to the corresponding projector device 200. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 3 and 5-7 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 SAMIRA MONSHI whose telephone number is (571)272-0995. The examiner can normally be reached 8 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, John W Miller can be reached at 5712727353. 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. /SAMIRA MONSHI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2422
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 24, 2025
Application Filed
Mar 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

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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
79%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+6.3%)
2y 5m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 490 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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