Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 27, 2026
Application No. 19/240,752

DIGITAL TWIN-BASED AUTOMATED LOGISTICS FACILITY OPERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

Final Rejection §112
Filed
Jun 17, 2025
Priority
Jun 28, 2024 — RE 10-2024-0084923
Examiner
MITCHELL, NATHAN A
Art Unit
3627
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
Kia Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 3m
Est. Remaining
83%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
708 granted / 971 resolved
+20.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+10.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
1002
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
16.5%
-23.5% vs TC avg
§103
46.2%
+6.2% vs TC avg
§102
18.3%
-21.7% vs TC avg
§112
11.8%
-28.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 971 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 Response to Arguments 103 rejection has been withdrawn based on the amendment. Argument: PNG media_image1.png 380 732 media_image1.png Greyscale Response: Rejection is maintained. Claims still recite deriving “an optimal cargo deployment sequence” and “calculating optimal coordinates”. The specification states on page 22 line 9-11: "the packaging simulator 300 may derive the optimal cargo deployment sequence and the deployment location through the loading algorithm" Thus the loading algorithm of figure 11 is disclosed as the means for determining an optimal sequence and optimal locations. However, as explained in the rejection the specification contains only a vague outline of how to determine an optimal sequence and optimal locations. It does not give any concrete algorithms for how to accomplish the optimization. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. All claims relate to simulation through a loading algorithm. Figure 11 and pages 32-34 are the potential support for this algorithm. This disclosure is not an adequate description of an algorithm. Page 34 line 1 “a value of a determination function”- No explanation of the determination function is given. Page 34 lines 1-2: No explanation of how to do priority assignment. Page 34 line 2: No explanation of what the avoidance rule is and how to apply it. Page 34 line 2: no explanation of what “lower disposal” means. Page 34 line 3: no algorithm given for how to determine double loading, shipment properties and transit location. Page 34 lines 4-6: No algorithm given for determining what is regular cargo and what is irregular cargo. Page 34 lines 5-7: No algorithm for how to perform load balancing. Page 34 line 8: No formula/explanation for how to calculate whether cargo is “broken down”. Based on the above, claims 1-20 are not adequately described. Prior Art Status. Claims 1-20 are considered to distinguish over the cited art. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Hwang (US 20250087092 A1) discloses a 3D cargo transportation simulation. Higa (US 20240127115 A1, US 20230030599 A1) discloses a system for developing a cargo loading plan for freight cars. Gao (CN 117371737 A) discloses optimization of cargo loading based on a digital twin simulation. Jung (US 20230267405 A1) discloses outputting loading information based on cargo information. Rakshit (US 20220083976 A1) disclose digital twin based supply chain routing. Winckel (US 20210081881 A1) discloses a system for simulating and optimizing loading of a transport system. 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 NATHAN A MITCHELL whose telephone number is (571)270-3117. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5. 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, Ryan Zeender can be reached at 571-272-6790. 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. /NATHAN A MITCHELL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3627
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 17, 2025
Application Filed
Jun 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Sep 28, 2026
Response Filed
Oct 16, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112 (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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
83%
With Interview (+10.0%)
2y 7m (~1y 3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 971 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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