Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 19/189,843

METHOD FOR POSITIONING VEHICLE KEY AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Non-Final OA §101
Filed
Apr 25, 2025
Priority
Sep 26, 2024 — CN 202411355298.8
Examiner
NGUYEN, AN T
Art Unit
2686
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
68%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 4m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 68% — above average
68%
Career Allowance Rate
410 granted / 605 resolved
+5.8% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+18.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
623
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.0%
-36.0% vs TC avg
§103
52.8%
+12.8% vs TC avg
§102
20.1%
-19.9% vs TC avg
§112
17.0%
-23.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 605 resolved cases

Office Action

§101
3Notice 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 § 101 35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows: Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. The claim(s) recite(s) “obtaining observation data of a vehicle, where the observation data comprises observed respective distances between a plurality of anchor points on the vehicle and the vehicle key”, which a person can observe and gather distance data using a measuring tape the distances from the key to the anchor points and distance between plurality of anchor points. The claim additionally recites, “determining a first position region of the vehicle key … based on respective distances between two adjacent first anchor points … and a predetermined distance between the two adjacent first anchor points”, similar to above a person can utilize a ruler to measure and calculate the distance between the sensors to the key, and assigning different regions possibility which the key be presence, then calculate the key region position using known triangle and trigonometry theorem. Finally, the claims recite “ determining a position coordinate of the vehicle key based on the first position region, the respective distances between the plurality of anchor points and the vehicle key, and a predetermined position of each anchor point on the vehicle”, by knowing the determined distances and area the key is relative to the vehicle anchor points from the previous steps, the user can utilize known geometry and trigonometric function to convert the calculated position to a position representation in coordinate pair. This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the generically recited computer elements (i.e. vehicle key, anchor points, processor, and memory) do not add a meaningful limitation to the abstract idea because they amount to simply implementing the abstract idea on a computer. The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception. The dependent claims further recited various steps further calculating different position of the vehicle key relative to the vehicle without adding any addition elements that would sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception therefore they are also rejected. Conclusion Analogous prior art: The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. CHEN (US 2026/0219382 A1); Korta et al. (US 2024/0385280 A1); and Yun et al. (US 2022/0139134 A1). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to An T Nguyen whose telephone number is (571)270-5167. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 9-5 ET. 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, Brian Zimmerman can be reached at 571-272-3059. 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. /AN T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2686
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 25, 2025
Application Filed
Aug 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §101 (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
68%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+18.8%)
2y 10m (~1y 4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 605 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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