Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 27, 2026
Application No. 19/485,584

DISPLAY CONTROL METHOD, DISPLAY CONTROL DEVICE, AND DISPLAY CONTROL SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Nov 18, 2025
Priority
May 23, 2023 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2023019165
Examiner
ELAHI, TOWFIQ
Art Unit
2625
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 6m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
593 granted / 744 resolved
+17.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
771
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
§103
66.6%
+26.6% vs TC avg
§102
18.9%
-21.1% vs TC avg
§112
4.4%
-35.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 744 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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)(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. Claim(s) 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sakai (US 20200213566). Regarding claim 1 Sakai teaches a display control method (fig.3) to be executed by a first control device (fig.1, 1a) and a second control device (fig.1, 1b), the first control device controlling a first display device (fig. 1, 4a), the second control device controlling a second display device (fig. 1, 4b), the display control method comprising: in a case where a user makes a selection input for selecting a display mode in which an image is displayed in accordance with a time point (fig. 3,), obtaining the time point by the first control device (fig. 3, see FIRST PREJECTOR); transmitting, when the obtained time point is a predetermined time point, time-point information indicating the predetermined time point ([0058] In step S16, the control unit 10 of the first projector 1a determined as the master device reads out the schedule information stored in the SD card 2. The schedule information is information prescribing the timing of projecting the image 3, as described above, and includes information about at what hour and what minute on what day of what month the playlist starts being played back) or identification information for identifying the image (fig. 1, image of a man) corresponding to the predetermined time point to the second control device (1b) by the first control device (fig. 4); transmitting a switching instruction to switch to the display mode to the second control device by the first control device (fig. 3, when S15 is No); controlling the first display device such that the first display device displays the image corresponding to the predetermined time point by the first control device (fig. 4); saving, when the time-point information or the identification information from the first control device is received, the identification information by the second control device ([0005] [0008] [0054] [0058]); and controlling, when the switching instruction from the first control device is received, the second display device on a basis of the saved identification information such that the second display device displays the image corresponding to the predetermined time point (fig. 6) by the second control device (fig. 3, fig. 4, [0064]). 2. --- 3. (Cancelled). Regarding claim 4 Sakai teaches wherein the second control device controls, when the information for specifying the image corresponding to the predetermined time point the instruction from the first control device has not been received after the second display device has been activated, the second display device such that the second display device displays the image that the second display device displays at a previous activation ([0052] [0070]). Regarding claim 6 Sakai teaches wherein each of the first control device and the second control device stores the image corresponding to each of the time points for each of the time points ([0104] [0114] [0059] fig. 3). Regarding claim 7 Sakai teaches wherein the first control device and the second control device each store the image that the first display device and the second display device display to a user at a previous activation and identification information on the user in association with each other, respectively ([0048] fig. 3). Regarding claim 9 Sakai teaches a display control device comprising: a first control device (fig.1, 1a) that controls a first display device (fig. 1, 4a); and a second control device (fig.1, 1b) that controls a second display device (fig. 1, 4b), wherein the first control device: in a case where a user makes a selection input for selecting a display mode in which an image is displayed in accordance with a time point, obtains the time point (fig. 3,); transmits, when the obtained time point is a predetermined time point. on a basis of the saved identification information for identifying the image corresponding to the predetermined time point to the second control device ([0058] fig. 3-4): transmits a switching instruction to switch to the display mode to the second control device (fig. 3, when S15 is No); and controls the first display device such that the first display device displays the image corresponding to the predetermined time point, and the second control device (fig. 4): saves, when the time-point information or the identification information from the first control device is received, the identification information ([0005] [0008] [0054] [0058]); and controls, when the switching instruction from the first control device is received, the second display device on a basis of the saved identification information such that the second display device displays the image corresponding to the predetermined time point (fig. 3, fig. 4, [0064], fig. 6). Regarding claim 10 the limitations are significantly similar to the limitations of claim 9 so rejected same way. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sakai (US 20200213566) in view of Yusa (US 20230111941). Regarding claim 8 Sakai is silent on wherein the first control device: is a device mounted in a vehicle; obtains the time point when an accessory power supply or ignition power supply of the vehicle is turned on; and controls the first display device such that the first display device displays the image corresponding to the obtained time point. However, Yusa teaches on wherein the first control device: is a device mounted in a vehicle; obtains the time point when an accessory power supply or ignition power supply of the vehicle is turned on (fig.2, (fig.2, [0049] head-up display device 12 displays an on-screen display related to turn-by-turn information, points of interest (PoI) information, traffic information, disaster information, driving information i.e. ignition power supply of the vehicle is turned on); and controls the first display device such that the first display device displays the image corresponding to the obtained time point ([0049] also see fig. 1-2). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art to combine Sakai in light of Yusa so that it may include on wherein the first control device: is a device mounted in a vehicle; obtains the time point when an accessory power supply or ignition power supply of the vehicle is turned on; and controls the first display device such that the first display device displays the image corresponding to the obtained time point. The motivation is to provide display control device is a device that controls four display devices provided in an automobile and includes a color display mode of each of the four on-screen displays generated to the set display mode, and display each of the plurality of on-screen displays that have been unified to the set display mode on a different one of the plurality of display devices so that a sense of unity of colors is achieved. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 5 is 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 The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. -WO2017047866 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TOWFIQ ELAHI whose telephone number is (571)270-1687. The examiner can normally be reached M-F: 10AM-3PM. 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, William Boddie can be reached at (571)272-0666. 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. /TOWFIQ ELAHI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2625
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 18, 2025
Application Filed
Sep 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (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
80%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+14.4%)
2y 5m (~1y 6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 744 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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