DETAILED ACTION
Preliminary Remarks
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in the pending application.
Claim Objections
Claims 3, 18 and 20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claims 3, 18 and 20 comprise the phrase, “render a computer graphic image in which a virtual object coming in a visual field of the user at the position…” (see lines 3-4 of claim 3, for example) should perhaps instead read something to the effect of, “render a computer graphic image in which a virtual object appearing in a visual field of the user at the position…”
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
In reference to claims 1, 17 and 19, these claims comprise the limitation, “obtain a current position of a user…display an image obtained by an image capturing device capturing a real space as a real image…display a pseudo image generated by resembling a visual field of the user at the position designed on the display device…” (see for example, lines 4, 9-10 and 12-13 of claim 1 for example) of which the Examiner deems as indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim that which Applicant regards as the invention. In particular, the claims recite that a “position of a user” is “obtain[ed]” however it is not clear as to what such a “position” is referencing for example, does Applicant “obtain” a “virtual position” of a user or a “real 3D space position” of the user? This confusion is explicitly compounded by the fact that the later limitations of the claim specifically choose whether to display “real” or “pseudo” “viewpoints.” In other words, it is clear that the invention is directed to augmented/mixed/virtual reality type environments which comprise both augmented/mixed/virtual and real-world spaces. Since the claims fail to explicitly indicate what “space” such “position” information is referencing, the Examiner deems the claims fail to particularly point out and distinctly claim that which Applicant regards as the invention. Note, claims 2-16, 18 and 20, these claims depend upon effected claims 1, 17 and 19 respectively and are therefore at least inherently included in this rejection.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1, 17 and 19 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. The Examiner makes note of a term/concept which, in combination and integration with the other limitations of the claims, is seen as the major novel aspect of the invention and which was not found in the prior art of record. The Examiner makes note of the term/concept presenting a plurality of positions including a current position of a user with a display device, designate a position from among the plurality of positions according to user input, display an image obtained by an image capturing device capturing a real space image indicating a visual field of the user at a current position in a case where the position designated is the current position and display a pseudo image generated by resembling a visual field of the user in a cause where the position designated is not the current position.
References Cited
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Ravasz et al. (U.S. Publication 2024/0320930)
Ravasz et al. discloses methods and interfaces for capturing media with a camera application involving viewpoint guidance.
Cartwright et al. (U.S. Publication 2019/0385368)
Cartwright et al. discloses a method for presenting a physical environment in a virtual environment to a user wearing a near-eye display.
Troy et al. (U.S. Publication 2018/0157455)
Troy et al. discloses systems and methods for synchronized display of visualizations of 3D models and video images for use in assembly.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Antonio Caschera whose telephone number is (571) 272-7781. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday between 6:30 AM and 2:30 PM EST.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner's supervisor, Said Broome, can be reached at (571) 272-2931.
Any response to this action should be mailed to:
Mail Stop ____________
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
or faxed to:
571-273-8300 (Central Fax)
See the listing of “Mail Stops” at http://www.uspto.gov/patents/mail.jsp and include the appropriate designation in the address above.
Any inquiry of a general nature or relating to the status of this application or proceeding should be directed to the Technology Center 2600 Customer Service Office whose telephone number is (571) 272-2600.
/Antonio A Caschera/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2612
9/28/26
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