Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-05-08)

CLAIMS:
AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS

This listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application:

Listing of Claims:

1\. (Original) A driver-assistance system for keeping a vehicle in a lane of a road when driving along segments of the road, the driver-assistance system comprising:a GNSS receiver;
a camera; and a control unit,
wherein:
the driver-assistance system is configured to calculate respective local lane data dependent on a respective image of at least the respective segment generated by the camera,
the respective local lane data specifies a respective course of the lane on the respective segment relative to the vehicle,
the control unit is configured to steer the vehicle dependent on the respective local lane data such that the vehicle stays in the lane when driving on the respective segment,
the driver-assistance system is configured to convert the respective local lane data into respective global lane data dependent on respective GNSS data of the vehicle generated by the GNSS receiver when driving on the respective segment and to save the respective global lane data, and the respective global lane data specifies the respective course of the lane on the respective segment in global coordinates.2. (Original) The driver-assistance system according to claim 1, wherein:
the driver-assistance system is configured to calculate respective further local lane data on the basis of the respective global lane data and on the basis of respective further GNSS data of the vehicle generated by the GNSS receiver when driving on the respective segment for a respective repeated time and to steer the vehicle dependent on the respective further local lane data such that the vehicle stays in the lane when driving on the respective segment the respective repeated time, and the respective further local lane data specifies the respective course of the lane on the respective segment relative to the vehicle.

3\. (Original) The driver-assistance system according to claim 2, wherein:
the driver-assistance system is configured to calculate respective second further local lane data dependent on a respective further image of at least the respective segment generated by the camera when driving on the respective segment for the respective repeated time, the respective second further local lane data specifies the respective course of the lane on the respective segment relative to the vehicle, and the driver-assistance system is configured to steer the vehicle dependent on the respective further local lane data and dependent on the respective second further local lane data such that the vehicle stays in the lane when driving on the respective segment the respective repeated time.

4\. (Original) The driver-assistance system according to claim 2, wherein:
the driver-assistance system is configured to perform a prediction of respective subsequent global lane data specifying the respective course of the lane on a respective subsequent segment in global coordinates dependent on the respective global lane data,
the respective subsequent segment follows the respective segment in a direction of travel of the vehicle,
the driver-assistance system is configured to calculate respective subsequent local lane data on the basis of the respective predicted subsequent global lane data and on the basis of respective subsequent further GNSS data of the vehicle generated by the GNSS receiver when driving on the respective subsequent segment for a respective repeated time and to steer the vehicle dependent on the respective subsequent local lane data such that the vehicle stays in the lane when driving on the respective subsequent segment the respective repeated time, and
the respective subsequent local lane data specifies the respective course of the lane on the respective subsequent segment relative to the vehicle.

5\. (Original) The driver-assistance system according to claim 4, wherein the driver- assistance system is configured to perform the prediction of respective subsequent global lane data using a Kalman-Filter.

6\. (Original) The driver-assistance system according to claim 1, wherein the local lane data specifies a respective course of at least one sideline of the lane on the respective segment.

7\. (Original) The driver-assistance system according to claim 6, wherein the local lane data comprises a first value indicating a distance between the sideline and the vehicle, a second value indicating a direction of the sideline relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a third value indicating a curvature of the sideline and a fourth value indicating a derivation of the curvature with respect to a direction that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

8\. (Original) The driver-assistance system according to claim 1, wherein driver- assistance system is further configured to:
save the respective global lane data on an external computing device for providing the respective global lane data to a control unit of a further vehicle for steering the further vehicle dependent on the respective global lane data and respective further GNSS data of the further vehicle generated by a GNSS receiver of the further vehicle when driving on the respective segment such that the further vehicle stays in the lane when driving on the respective segment.

9\. (Original) A method for keeping a vehicle in a lane of a road when driving along segments of the road by a driver-assistance system, the driver-assistance system having a GNSS receiver, a camera and a control unit, the method comprising the following steps:
generating a respective image of at least the respective segment by the camera;
calculating respective local lane data dependent on the respective image, wherein the respective local lane data specifies a respective course of the lane on the respective segment relative to the vehicle;
steering the vehicle dependent on the respective local lane data by the control unit such that the vehicle stays in the lane when driving on the respective segment;
converting the respective local lane data into respective global lane data dependent on respective GNSS data of the vehicle generated by the GNSS receiver when driving on the respective segment;
and saving the respective global lane data, wherein the respective global lane data specifies the respective course of the lane on the respective segment in global coordinates.

10\. (Original) The method according to claim 9 comprising the following further steps:

calculating respective further local lane data on the basis of the respective global lane data and dependent on respective further GNSS data of the vehicle generated by the GNSS receiver when driving on the respective segment for a respective repeated time, wherein the respective further local lane data specifies the respective course of the lane on the respective segment relative to the vehicle; and
steering the vehicle dependent on the respective further local lane data such that the vehicle stays in the lane when driving on the respective segment the respective repeated time.

OFFICE 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
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 6-7, filed April 23, 2025, with respect to claims 1-10 have been fully considered and are persuasive.
Claims 1-10 are allowed.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKSClaims 1-10 are pending in the application. Claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C.§102(a)(2) for allegedly being anticipated by WO 2023/129648 to Luo. Reconsideration is respectfully requested in view of the remarks and amendments submitted herewith.Summary of Examiner Interview The undersigned thanks Primary Examiner Huynh for the interview of April 14, 2025. The specification, claims, and drawings of the instant application were discussed in view of the 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(2) rejections in view of Luo. A tentative agreement was reached regarding the original claims overcoming the current rejections. However, the Examiner indicated that an updated search and consideration would be required.Entry of this statement of substance of interview is requested as the statement is in compliance with 37 CFR 1.133.Rejections under 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(2) As noted hereinabove, claims 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(2) for allegedly being anticipated by Luo. The rejections are respectfully traversed.For a prior art reference to anticipate a claim, "the identical invention must be shown [in the prior art reference] in as complete detail as is contained in the claim." See MPEP 2131 (quoting Richardson v. Suzuki Motor Co., 868 F.2d 1226, 1236 (Fed. Cir. 1989)). A claim may be anticipated by a prior art reference "only if each and every element as set forth in the claim is found, either expressly or inherently described, in a single prior art reference." Id. (quoting VerdegaalBros. v. Union Oil Co. of California, 814 F.2d 628, 631 (Fed. Cir. 1987)).As tentatively agreed to during the telephone interview, Applicant respectfully submits that Luo fails to expressly or inherently disclose or make obvious the features of original independent claims 1 and 9. Specifically, the cited art fails to expressly or inherently disclose or make obvious the features of original independent claims 1 and 9 regarding the driver-assistance system is configured to convert the respective local lane data into respective global lane data dependent on respective GNSS data of the vehicle generated by the GNSS receiver when driving on the respective segment and to save the respective global lane data, and the respective global lane data specifies the respective course of the lane on the respective segment in global coordinates.In view of the foregoing, Applicant respectfully submits that independent claims 1 and 9, and all claims that depend thereon, are not anticipated or obvious in view of Luo. Therefore, Applicant respectfully submits that independent claims 1 and 9 are patentable over Luo. Applicant respectfully requests that the rejections be withdrawn and independent claims 1 and 9, and all claims that depend thereon, be held in a condition for allowance.Conclusion In view of the above amendments and remarks, Applicant respectfully submits that the application is now in condition for allowance. The Examiner is encouraged to contact the undersigned to resolve efficiently any formal matters or to discuss any aspects of the application or of this response. Otherwise, early notification of allowable subject matter is respectfully requested.The Director is hereby authorized to charge any deficiency in the fees filed, asserted to be filed or which should have been filed herewith (or with any paper hereafter filed in this application by this firm) to our Deposit Account No. 04-1133.Respectfully submitted, /Jeremy J. Justice/ Jeremy J. Justice Registration No.: 71,881 Attorney for Assignee DINSMORE & SHOHL LLP755 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 1900 Troy, Michigan 48084 (248) 647-6000 (248) 647-5210 (Fax)