Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 21, 2026
Application No. 19/176,838

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USING A VOCATIONAL MASK TO GENERATE POSITIONAL AND ORIENTATION INFORMATION FOR A WORK TOOL

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 11, 2025
Priority
Dec 07, 2023 — provisional 63/607,354 +2 more
Examiner
FRISBY, KESHA
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Blueforge Alliance
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
53%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 1m
Est. Remaining
76%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 53% of resolved cases
53%
Career Allowance Rate
410 granted / 775 resolved
-7.1% vs TC avg
Strong +23% interview lift
Without
With
+23.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 8m
Avg Prosecution
36 currently pending
Career history
812
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
23.8%
-16.2% vs TC avg
§103
36.0%
-4.0% vs TC avg
§102
22.7%
-17.3% vs TC avg
§112
14.7%
-25.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 775 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. (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) 1-30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Becker (U.S. Publication Number 2022/0258268). Referring to claims 1, 11, 21 & 30, Becker discloses a vocational mask configured to be worn by a user (Fig. 1:200), wherein the vocational mask comprises a user interface configured to present, to the user, one or more graphical elements associated with performing a work task (Fig. 1); and a computing device communicatively coupled to the user interface (Fig. 1), wherein the computing device is configured to: cause the user interface to display the one or more graphical elements, wherein the one or more graphical elements include a virtual coach (Fig. 1, abstract, paragraphs 0012 0016, 0048, 0058, 0060, 0086), receive performance data indicative of performance, by the user, of the work task while wearing the vocational mask (Fig. 4), and control at least one display characteristic of the virtual coach based on the performance data (Fig. 1). Referring to claims 2, 12 & 22, Becker discloses wherein the user interface is configured to present the one or more graphical elements via a virtual retinal display (Fig. 1). Referring to claims 3, 13 & 23, Becker discloses wherein the at least one display characteristic includes at least one of a persona, expression, posture, clothing, color, movement, size, and position of the virtual coach (Fig. 1). Referring to claims 4, 14 & 24, Becker discloses wherein the computing device is configured to (i) obtain a performance score based on the performance data and (ii) control the at least one display characteristic based on the performance score (paragraph 0096). Referring to claims 5, 15 & 25, Becker discloses wherein the computing device is configured to (i) obtain a plurality of performance values based on the performance data and (ii) calculate the performance score based on the plurality of performance values (paragraph 0096). Referring to claims 6, 16 & 26, Becker discloses wherein the computing device is configured to (i) assign respective weights to the plurality of performance values (paragraph 0016) and (ii) calculate the performance score as a weighted average of the performance values (paragraph 0016). Referring to claims 7, 17 & 27, Becker discloses wherein the computing device is configured to implement a machine learning model trained to calculate the performance score based on the performance data (paragraph 0016 & 0096). Referring to claims 8, 18 & 28, Becker discloses wherein the machine learning model is configured to generate a control output to control the virtual coach based on the performance score and improvement data, and wherein the improvement data indicates improvement of performance of the user at the work task (paragraphs 0016 & 0096). Referring to claims 9 & 19, Becker discloses wherein the work task is a welding task (Fig. 1). Referring to claim 10 & 29, Becker discloses wherein the performance data indicates at least one of a straightness of a weld, a thickness of the weld, temperature, travel speed, gas presence, an amount of welding material used, porosity of the weld, and penetration of the weld (Fig. 1). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KESHA FRISBY whose telephone number is (571)272-8774. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 730AM-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, Xuan Thai can be reached at 571-272-7147. 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. /KESHA FRISBY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 11, 2025
Application Filed
Oct 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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INTERACTIVE CONVERSATIONAL CHATBOT FOR ENHANCING COMMUNICATION SKILLS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH LANGUAGE DIFFICULTIES
2y 7m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
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Patent 12714913
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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
53%
Grant Probability
76%
With Interview (+23.3%)
3y 8m (~2y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 775 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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