Office Action 1: Non-Final Rejection (2024-10-01)
Rejection types: 101 - Patent-Eligible Subject Matter, 102 - Lack of Novelty

CLAIMS:
CLAIMS

What is claimed is:

1\. A method of controlling a virtual object in a virtual scene performed by a computer device, the method comprising:
displaying a virtual scene picture including a first virtual object, the first virtual object including a first body part equipped with a first virtual prop and a second body part equipped with a second virtual prop;
in response to receiving a first trigger operation on the first virtual object, controlling the first virtual object to perform a target action based on the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part of the first virtual object; and
in response to receiving a second trigger operation within a specified duration after the first trigger operation is received, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part of the first virtual object.
2\. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target action comprises a body part unfolding action and a body part folding action that are performed sequentially; and
the specified duration is no longer than a duration for which the body part unfolding action is fully performed.
3\. The method according to claim 2, wherein the controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part of the first virtual object comprises:
in response to receiving the second trigger operation within the specified duration after the first trigger operation is received, terminating the body part unfolding action performed based on the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part, and immediately controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part.
4\. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part is different from the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part.
5\. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
in response to receiving a third trigger operation, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action in turn based on the virtual props respectively equipped at the first and second body parts of the first virtual object.
6\. The method according to claim 5, wherein the third trigger operation comprises a long press operation performed on a target control superimposed on an upper layer of the virtual scene picture.
7\. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
modifying a target attribute value of a second virtual object based on the target action, the second virtual object being a virtual object located within an action range of the target action.
8\. The method according to claim 7, wherein the action range of the target action is dependent, at least in part, upon a corresponding virtual prop associated with the target action.
9\. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and second body parts comprise two hand parts, and the first and second virtual props are two glove virtual props.

10\. A computer device, comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing at least one instruction, and the at least one instruction being loaded and executed by the processor and causing the computer device to implement a method of controlling a virtual object in a virtual scene, the method comprising:
displaying a virtual scene picture including a first virtual object, the first virtual object including a first body part equipped with a first virtual prop and a second body part equipped with a second virtual prop;
in response to receiving a first trigger operation on the first virtual object, controlling the first virtual object to perform a target action based on the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part of the first virtual object; and
in response to receiving a second trigger operation within a specified duration after the first trigger operation is received, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part of the first virtual object.

11\. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the target action comprises a body part unfolding action and a body part folding action that are performed sequentially; and
the specified duration is no longer than a duration for which the body part unfolding action is fully performed.

12\. The computer device according to claim 11, wherein the controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part of the first virtual object comprises:
in response to receiving the second trigger operation within the specified duration after the first trigger operation is received, terminating the body part unfolding action performed based on the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part, and immediately controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part.

13\. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part is different from the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part.

14\. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:
in response to receiving a third trigger operation, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action in turn based on the virtual props respectively equipped at the first and second body parts of the first virtual object.

15\. The computer device according to claim 14, wherein the third trigger operation comprises a long press operation performed on a target control superimposed on an upper layer of the virtual scene picture.

16\. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:
modifying a target attribute value of a second virtual object based on the target action, the second virtual object being a virtual object located within an action range of the target action.
17\. The computer device according to claim 16, wherein the action range of the target action is dependent, at least in part, upon a corresponding virtual prop associated with the target action.

18\. The computer device according to claim 10, wherein the first and second body parts comprise two hand parts, and the first and second virtual props are two glove virtual props.

19\. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing at least one computer program, the computer program being loaded and executed by a processor of a computer device and causing the computer device to implement a method of controlling a virtual object in a virtual scene, the method comprising:
displaying a virtual scene picture including a first virtual object, the first virtual object including a first body part equipped with a first virtual prop and a second body part equipped with a second virtual prop;
in response to receiving a first trigger operation on the first virtual object, controlling the first virtual object to perform a target action based on the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part of the first virtual object; and
in response to receiving a second trigger operation within a specified duration after the first trigger operation is received, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part of the first virtual object.

20\. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium according to claim 19, wherein the target action comprises a body part unfolding action and a body part folding action that are performed sequentially; and
the specified duration is no longer than a duration for which the body part unfolding action is fully performed. 031384-7473-US27 031384-7473-US28 031384-7473-US29 031384-7473-US30

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 .
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 to 20 (independent Claims 1, 10, and 19, and their dependent claims) are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a judicial exception (i.e., a law of nature, a natural phenomenon, or an abstract idea) without significantly more. The claims are drawn to a method, a device, and a computer-readable medium, and so are statutory classes under 101.  The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because of the following reasons.  Independent Claim 1 is representative and is reproduced below; the abstract idea is underlined and the structural limitations are not.  The dependent claims have no more structure than the independent claim and fail 101 for similar reasons.
A method of controlling a virtual object in a virtual scene performed by a computer device, the method comprising: (processing data according to the rules of a game)
displaying a virtual scene picture including a first virtual object, the first virtual object including a first body part equipped with a first virtual prop and a second body part equipped with a second virtual prop; (accepting input from a player, processing data according to the rules of a game, displaying the result to a player)
in response to receiving a first trigger operation on the first virtual object, controlling the first virtual object to perform a target action based on the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part of the first virtual object; and (accepting input from a player, processing data according to the rules of a game, displaying the result to a player)
in response to receiving a second trigger operation within a specified duration after the first trigger operation is received, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part of the first virtual object. (accepting input from a player, processing data according to the rules of a game, displaying the result to a player)
The claims taken together or individually do not represent an improvement to the abstract idea in an ordered combination.  It is unclear what type of objects the virtual objects are, what type of body parts the virtual body parts are, or what type of game is being played (sports, action, role-playing, board game, etc.).  It is unclear what type of triggering operation is claimed.  The claims do not cite specific processor or memory structures for processing data in memory according to the rules of a game.  The claims do not cite specific input structures such as touchscreens, touchpads, directional pads, joysticks, trackballs, keyboards, mice, cameras, or microphones.  The claims do not cite specific output structures such as screens, displays, or speakers.  The claims do not represent an improvement in the functioning of a computing device or gaming device since they do not represent an improvement in processor speed, memory management, random number generation, thermal management, ergonomics, network speed and management (such as load balancing or rerouting of packets), bus speed and management, authentication, encryption, graphics rendering, or reduced instruction sets for carrying out complex operations (such as RISC processors).  Applying an abstract idea to a computer is not patent-eligible (Alice, http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/13-298_7lh8.pdf, page 12).  Electronic recordkeeping, obtaining data, adjusting balances, issuing automated instructions, creating and maintaining accounts are typical computer functions (Alice, page 15).  Requiring the use of a computer to implement the claim does not make it patent-eligible (pages 14 & 15).  Communications controllers, data storage units, and data processing systems are typical computer structures (Alice, page 16).  Calculation, storage, and transmission are basic computer functions (Alice, page 16).  Claims cannot simply be a draftsman’s art (Alice, pages 14 & 16).
Cloud Satchel quoting Bancorp: “To salvage an otherwise patent-ineligible process, a computer must be integral to the claimed invention, facilitating the process in a way that a person making calculations or computations could not.”  In Bancorp, the independent claims did not require a computer (at 1431).  In Bancorp, the system and method claims were equivalent for patentability under 101 (at 1432).  Bancorp’s method claims did not require a computer and were not 101-compliant (at 1433).  A computer must be integral to the claimed invention (Bancorp at 1433).  A computer used in the claim only for its most basic functions does not make the claim 101-eligible (Bancorp at 1433).  Bancorp’s use of computers to track, reconcile, and administer insurance policies only used a computer’s most basic functions, adding nothing to 101 compliance (1434).  Limiting the claims to a particular field of use, such as the insurance market, does not fail to preempt the abstract idea (Bancorp at 1434 & 1435).  In Amdocs (113 USPQ2d 1565) at 1571, the fact that the claims cannot be carried out by a human being alone does not mean that they are not an abstract idea under 101 (citing Alice, 134 S.Ct. at 2359-60 and Digitech, 758 F.3d at 1351).
The examiner points the applicants to Claim 33 of U.S. patent 5,970,479 A which was the representative claim in the Alice decision.  These claim limitations are carried out on presumably a general purpose computer although such is not explicitly cited.  The claims are certainly not carried out by specific hardware.
A method of exchanging obligations as between parties, each party holding a credit record and a debit record with an exchange institution, the credit records and debit records for exchange of predetermined obligations, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) creating a shadow credit record and a shadow debit record for each stakeholder party to be held independently by a supervisory institution from the exchange institutions;
(b) obtaining from each exchange institution a start-of-day balance for each shadow credit record and shadow debit record;
(c) for every transaction resulting in an exchange obligation, the supervisory institution adjusting each respective party’s shadow credit record or shadow debit record, allowing only these transactions that do not result in the value of the shadow debit record being less than the value of the shadow credit record at any time, each said adjustment taking place in chronological order, and
(d) at the end-of-day, the supervisory institution instructing on[e] of the exchange institutions to exchange credits or debits to the credit record and debit record of the respective parties in accordance with the adjustments of the said permitted transactions, the credits and debits being irrevocable, time invariant obligations placed on the exchange institutions.
The examiner points the applicants to representative Claim 19 of U.S. patent 7,818,399 B1 which was at issue in the DDR Holdings case.  This claim in the DDR Holdings case was 101-compliant because it improved the functioning of the computer itself, namely rendering web pages in a web browser.  The claims in DDR Holdings cited what was done, and specific steps for how it was done, thus not invoking a judicial exception by preempting all possible ways of what the claim is trying to do.  The claims met the second step of the Alice analysis by improving on how web page rendering transactions were carried out over a network such as the Internet, versus how such transactions had been done before.
A system useful in an outsource provider serving web pages offering commercial opportunities, the system comprising:
(a) a computer store containing data, for each of a plurality of first web pages, defining a plurality of visually perceptible elements, which visually perceptible elements correspond to the plurality of first web pages;
(i) wherein each of the first web pages belongs to one of a plurality of web page owners;
(ii) wherein each of the first web pages displays at least one active link associated with a commerce object associated with a buying opportunity of a selected one of a plurality of merchants; and
(iii) wherein the selected merchant, the outsource provider, and the owner of the first web page displaying the associated link are each third parties with respect to one other;
(b) a computer server at the outsource provider, which computer server is coupled to the computer store and programmed to:
(i) receive from the web browser of a computer user a signal indicating activation of one of the links displayed by one of the first web pages;
(ii) automatically identify as the source page the one of the first web pages on which the link has been activated;
(iii) in response to identification of the source page, automatically retrieve the stored data corresponding to the source page; and
(iv) using the data retrieved, automatically generate and transmit to the web browser a second web page that displays: (A) information associated with the commerce object associated with the link that has been activated, and (B) the plurality of visually perceptible elements visually corresponding to the source page.
The examiner finds that wagering games are all rather similar: accepting a wager, playing the game according to the rules comprising generating random outcomes according to rules, determining winning outcomes, determining how much is to be paid for a winning outcome, and paying out the winnings.  This breakdown of the wagering claim language is similar to that in precedential case in re Smith (in re Smith (Fed. Cir. 2016), appeal 2015-1664, U.S. patent application 12/912,410).
Claim 1 at hand in in re Smith is as follows:
1. A method of conducting a wagering game comprising:
[a]) a dealer providing at least one deck of physical playing cards and shuffling the physical playing cards to form a random set of physical playing cards;
[b]) the dealer accepting at least one first wager from each participating player on a player game hand against a banker’s/dealer’s hand;
[c]) the dealer dealing only two cards from the random set of physical playing cards to each designated player and two cards to the banker/dealer such that the designated player and the banker/ dealer receive the same number of exactly two random physical playing cards;
[d]) the dealer examining respective hands to determine in any hand has a Natural 0 count from totaling count from cards, defined as the first two random physical playing cards in a hand being a pair of 5’s, 10’s, jacks, queens or kings;
[e]) the dealer resolving any player versus dealer wagers between each individual player hand that has a Natural 0 count and between the dealer hand and all player hands where a Natural 0 is present in the dealer hand, while the dealer exposes only a single card to the players;
[f]) as between each player and the dealer where neither hand has a Natural 0, the dealer allowing each player to elect to take a maximum of one additional card or standing pat on the initial two card player hand, while still having seen only one dealer card;
[g]) the dealer/banker remaining pat within a first certain predetermined total counts and being required to take a single hit within a second predetermined total counts, where the first total counts range does not overlap the second total counts range;
[h]) after all possible additional random physical playing cards have been dealt, the dealer comparing a value of each designated player’s hand to a final value of the banker’s/dealer’s hand wherein said value of the designated player’s hand and the banker’s/dealer’s hand is in a range of zero to nine points based on a pre-established scoring system wherein aces count as one point, tens and face cards count as zero points and all other cards count as their face value and wherein a two-digit hand total is deemed to have a value corresponding to the one’s digit of the two-digit total;
[i]) the dealer resolving the wagers based on whether the designated player’s hand or the banker’s/dealer’s hand is nearest to a value of 0.
Similarly to the present claims, the claim at hand in in re Smith accepted wagers from players (steps a & b), played the game according to the rules of the game comprising generating random outcomes (steps c to g), determining what the winning conditions are and how much to pay out (step h), and making the winning payouts (step i).  The card game of in re Smith would be identical played in a card and table format or in an electronic format.
The examiner points the applicants to the representative claim at hand in non-precedential Planet Bingo.  The hardware limitations of the CPU, memory, I/O terminal, and printer are only cited in clause (a).  The rest of the claim is functional claim language describing a bingo game that would occur identically in paper ticket format or computerized format with the play of the game and the game results being identical in either format.  The court held that the claims in Planet Bingo were ineligible under 101.
A method for playing a game of Bingo which comprises the steps of:
(a) providing a system for managing a game of Bingo which comprises: a computer with a central processing unit (CPU) and with a memory and with a printer connected to the CPU; an input and output terminal connected to the CPU and memory of the computer; and a program in the computer enabling:
(i) input of at least two sets of Bingo numbers which are preselected by a player for repetitive play in games of Bingo over a period of time;
(ii) storage of the sets of Bingo numbers which are preselected by the player as a group in the memory of the computer;
(iii) assignment of a player identifier unique to the player for the group having the sets of Bingo numbers which are preselected by the player wherein the player identifier is assigned to the group for multiple sessions of Bingo;
(iv) retrieval of the group using the player identifier;
(v) selection from the group by the player of at least one of the sets of Bingo numbers preselected by the player and stored in the memory of the computer as the group for play in a selected game of Bingo in a specific session of Bingo wherein a number of sets of Bingo numbers selected for play in the selected game of Bingo is less than a total number of sets of Bingo numbers in the group;
(vi) addition by the computer of a control number for the set of Bingo numbers which is selected by the player for play in the selected game of Bingo;
(vii) output of a receipt with the control number, the set of Bingo numbers which is selected for play in the selected game of Bingo, a price for the set of Bingo numbers which is selected for play in the selected game of Bingo, a date of the selected game of Bingo and optionally a computer identification number; and
(viii) output for verification of a winning set of Bingo numbers by means of the control number which is input into the computer by a manager of the game of Bingo;
(b) playing the game of Bingo using the set of Bingo numbers wherein the player signals a Bingo to indicate the set of Bingo numbers which is selected for play in the selected game of Bingo is the winning set of Bingo numbers; and
(c) verifying the winning set of Bingo numbers with the control number with the program.
The Bascom decision is relevant to the present claims (U.S. CAFC, 2015-1763, decided June 27th, 2016).  The Bascom decision required that the ordered limitations of the claims taken together add something significantly more to the abstract idea even though the individual limitations were known in the prior art.  The claim at hand in Bascom was found to comply with 101 in light of Alice.  Page 15 of Bascom:
“However, we disagree with the district court’s analysis of the ordered combination of limitations. In light of Mayo and Alice, it is of course now standard for a § 101 inquiry to consider whether various claim elements simply recite “well-understood, routine, conventional activit[ies].” Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2359. The district court’s analysis in this case, however, looks similar to an obviousness analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 103, except lacking an explanation of a reason to combine the limitations as claimed. The inventive concept inquiry requires more than recognizing that each claim element, by itself, was known in the art. As is the case here, an inventive concept can be found in the non-conventional and non-generic arrangement of known, conventional pieces.”  Page 20 of Bascom: “While the claims of the ’606 patent are directed to the abstract idea of filtering content, BASCOM has adequately alleged that the claims pass step two of Alice’s two-part framework. BASCOM has alleged that an inventive concept can be found in the ordered combination of claim limitations that transform the abstract idea of filtering content into a particular, practical application of that abstract idea. We find nothing on this record that refutes those allegations as a matter of law or justifies dismissal under Rule 12(b)(6). We therefore vacate the district court’s order granting AT&T’s motion to dismiss under FRCP 12(b)(6) and remand so that the case may proceed.”
The McRO decision (U.S. CAFC, 2015-1080 to 2015-1101, decided Sept. 13th, 2016) is relevant to the present claims.  The McRO decision stated that an ordered combination of claim limitations can meet the requirements of 101 in light of the Alice decision by improving over what has been already done in the prior art without preempting an abstract idea.  Pages 25 and 26 of McRO: “The limitations in claim 1 prevent preemption of all processes for achieving automated lip-synchronization of 3-D characters. McRO has demonstrated that motion capture animation provides an alternative process for automatically animating lip synchronization and facial expressions. Even so, we have recognized that “the absence of complete preemption does not demonstrate patent eligibility.” Ariosa Diagnostics, Inc. v. Sequenom, Inc., 788 F.3d 1371, 1379 (Fed. Cir. 2015). The narrower concern here is whether the claimed genus of rules preempts all techniques for automating 3-D animation that rely on rules. Claim 1 requires that the rules be rendered in a specific way: as a relationship between subsequences of phonemes, timing, and the weight to which each phoneme is expressed visually at a particular timing (as represented by the morph weight set). The specific structure of the claimed rules would prevent broad preemption of all rules-based means of automating lip synchronization, unless the limits of the rules themselves are broad enough to cover all possible approaches. There has been no showing that any rules-based lip synchronization process must use rules with the specifically claimed characteristics.”  Page 27 of McRO: “Here, the structure of the limited rules reflects a specific implementation not demonstrated as that which “any [animator] engaged in the search for [an automation process] would likely have utilized.” Myriad, 133 S. Ct. at 2119–20 (quotation marks omitted). By incorporating the specific features of the rules as claim limitations, claim 1 is limited to a specific process for automatically animating characters using particular information and techniques and does not preempt approaches that use rules of a different structure or different techniques. See Morse, 56 U.S. at 113. When looked at as a whole, claim 1 is directed to a patentable, technological improvement over the existing, manual 3-D animation techniques. The claim uses the limited rules in a process specifically designed to achieve an improved technological result in conventional industry practice. Alice, 134 S. Ct. at 2358 (citing Diehr, 450 U.S. at 177). Claim 1 of the ’576 patent, therefore, is not directed to an abstract idea.”  The claim limitations individually or taken together add nothing significantly more in an ordered combination to the abstract idea.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA  35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA  to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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 to 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Liu (Chinese patent publication CN 110755841 A, cited on the IDS).
As to Claims 1 to 20: Liu is the prior art closest to independent claims Claims 1 to 20.  Liu discloses a prop switching method and apparatus in a virtual environment, the method comprising: displaying a first environment interface, wherein the first environment interface comprises a picture for observation of the virtual environment from the perspective of observation of a target virtual object, the target virtual object is in a first holding state for a first prop, and the first prop is a range attack prop; when the target virtual object is under an attachment attack performed by an enemy virtual character, displaying a second environment interface, wherein the second environment interface comprises a picture for observation of the virtual environment from the perspective in which the target virtual object is attacked, a target body position of the target virtual object is attached by the enemy virtual character, and the enemy virtual character is attached to the target body position to perform a melee attack on the target virtual object; and switching the first holding state of the target virtual object for the first prop to a second holding state of the target virtual object for a second prop, wherein the second prop is a melee attack prop (see Liu, description, Paras. 42 to 103, Figs. 1 to 17).  Abstract (machine translation, page 1): “The invention claims a switching method in a virtual environment, device, apparatus, and readable storage medium, relating to the field of the virtual environment. The method comprises: displaying a first environment interface, target virtual object held in the first state of the first property, the first property is a remote attack property, when the target virtual object attached attack by enemy virtual character, displaying the second environment interface, attaching short attack by enemy virtual character at the target body position of the target virtual object, the target virtual object holding state of the first switch of the first prop is held to the second state of the second property, the second property is the proximity of attack props. the target body position to attack the target virtual object by a hostile virtual object, and when hostile virtual object is attached to the target virtual object automatically when the target virtual property of switch object is held by proximity attack property so as to realize more convenient to attack the enemy virtual object by the system.”  Machine translation, page 8, seventh paragraph: “Optionally, the first environment interface to the target virtual object included in third-person perspective of the virtual environment to view picture, then when the target virtual object is hostile virtual object attached attack, the third person view to observe the virtual environment of switch is a first-person perspective, and display second environment interface, comprising a picture by viewing the virtual environment to a target virtual object of the first person perspective of the second environment interface, comprising hostile attack part of the virtual object in the second environment interface. the hostile virtual object to attack the target virtual object through the attack part.”
The differences between Liu and the present claims are: in response to receiving the first trigger operation again within a specified duration after the first trigger operation is received, controlling the first virtual object to execute the target action on the basis of the first virtual prop equipped at a second body part.   With regard to the above-mentioned differences between claims Liu and the present claims, switching props within a certain duration by means of continuous touch-control operations is a customary means in the art. On the basis of Liu combined with the customary means, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claims invention.
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
This amendment responds to the office action mailed October 1, 2024. In the office action, the Examiner:
"  rejected claims 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. §101 as being directed to a judicial
exception without significantly more; and
" rejected claims 1-20 under 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Liu (CN
110755841 A).
I
NTERVIEW SUMMARY
Applicant's attorneys thank Examiner Hoel for the opportunity to discuss the
application during a telephone interview on November 14, 2024 with Yalei Sun. In the interview, the Examiner agreed that amending claim 1 would overcome the current rejection under 35 U.S.C. §101. Claim 1 has been amended accordingly. Analogous amendments have been made to claims 10 and 19.
REMARKS CONCERNING CLAIMS
Claims 1, 10 and 19 have been amended.
Support for the amendments can be found in at least paragraphs [0100] and [0107], and Figures 5 and 6 of the application as filed. No new matter has been added.
With respect to all amendments, Applicant has not dedicated or abandoned any
unclaimed subject matter. Moreover, Applicant has not acquiesced to any characterizations of the invention, nor any rejections or objections of the claims, made by the Examiner. Moreover, the Applicant hereby rescinds any prior disclaimer of claim scope, to the extent they exist, made during the prosecution of this application or made during the prosecution of any patent or other related patents/applications, and advises the Examiner that any such previous disclaimers and the cited references that they were made to avoid may need to be revisited.
After entry of this amendment, the pending claims are: claims 1-20.
REMARKS CONCERNING REJECTIONS UNDER 35 U.S.C. 101
I.
REJECTION OF CLAIMS 1-20 UNDER 35 U.S.C. § 101 AS BEING DIRECTED TO A
JUDICIAL EXCEPTION WITHOUT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE.
Claim 1 has been amended to recite a process that is patent-eligible 35 U.S.C. § 101. Moreover, even if the original claim 1 was directed to an abstract idea, claim 1 has been amended to recite that:
displaying a virtual scene picture including a first virtual
object and a second virtual object, the first virtual object including a
first body part equipped with a first virtual prop and a second body
part equipped with a second virtual prop and the second virtual object
being located within an action range of a target action performed by
the first virtual object;
in response to receiving a first trigger operation on a target
control of the first virtual object, controlling the first virtual object to
perform the target action against the second virtual object based on the
first virtual prop equipped at the first body part of the first virtual
object and displaying a launch of the first virtual prop from the
first body part towards the second virtual object along a
predefined motion path of the first virtual prop; and
in response to receiving a second trigger operation on the target
control of the first virtual object within a specified duration after the
first trigger operation is received, displaying a retract of the first
virtual prop back to the first body part; and
after the first virtual prop resumes its original position at the
first body part, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target
action against the second virtual object based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part of the first virtual object and displaying a launch of the second virtual prop from the second
body part towards the second virtual object according to a
predefined motion path of the second virtual prop.
Emphasis Added.
As highlighted above, the Examiner agrees that the amended claim 1 has overcome the 101 rejection by integrating the additional claim features into a practical application that
are sufficient to overcome the judicial exception with significantly more features.
In view of the above, the Applicant respectfully submits that the rejection of claims 1- 20 under 35 U.S.C. §101 should be withdrawn.
REMARKS CONCERNING REJECTIONS UNDER 35 U.S.C. 102
II.    REJECTION OF CLAIMS 1-20 UNDER 35 U.S.C. 102(A)(1) AS BEING ANTICIPATED BY
LIu.
In the office action, the Examiner relied upon CN110755841A as a primary reference. CN110755841A was cited as prior art under 35 USC 102(a)(1) based on its publication date of February 9, 2020, which is less than one year before the effective filing date of the
present application, February 7, 2021. It should be noted that the sole inventor of CN110755841A, Zhihong LIU, is also the sole inventor of the pending application.
Under 35 USC 102(b)(1)(A);
(b)EXCEPTIONS.- (1)DISCLOSURES MADE 1 YEAR OR LESS BEFORE THE EFFECTIVE
FILING DATE OF THE CLAIMED INVENTION.-A disclosure made 1
year or less before the
effective filing date
of a
claimed
invention
shall not be prior art to the
claimed
invention
under subsection (a)(1) if- (A)
the disclosure was made by the
inventor or
joint
inventor
or by another who obtained the subject matter
disclosed directly or indirectly from the
inventor
or a
joint
inventor;
or
Therefore, CN110755841A is disqualified as prior art because it has the same inventor as the present application.
In view of the above, the Applicant respectfully submits that the rejection of claims 1- 20 under 35 U.S.C. §102(a)(1) should be withdrawn.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
By responding in the foregoing remarks only to particular positions asserted by the examiner, the Applicant does not necessarily acquiesce in other positions that have not been explicitly addressed. In addition, the Applicant's arguments for the patentability of a claim should not be understood as implying that no other reasons for the patentability of that claim exist.
In light of the above amendments and remarks, the Applicant respectfully requests that the Examiner reconsider this application with a view towards allowance. The Examiner is invited to call the undersigned attorney at (650) 843-7558, if a telephone call could help resolve any remaining items.
Respectfully submitted,

NEXT OFFICE ACTION: 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 .
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1 to 20 (independent Claims 1, 10, and 19, and their dependent claims) are allowed.
REASONS FOR ALLOWANCE
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The closest prior art is Liu (Chinese patent publication CN 110755841 A, cited on the IDS and the ISR for the parent PCT case).  Liu discloses prop switching in a virtual environment, the method comprising wherein the first environment interface comprises a picture for observation of the virtual environment from the perspective of observation of a target virtual object, the target virtual object is in a first holding state for a first prop, and the first prop is a range attack prop; when the target virtual object is under an attachment attack performed by an enemy virtual character, displaying a second environment interface, wherein the second environment interface comprises a picture for observation of the virtual environment from the perspective in which the target virtual object is attacked, a target body position of the target virtual object is attached by the enemy virtual character, and the enemy virtual character is attached to the target body position to perform a melee attack on the target virtual object; and switching the first holding state of the target virtual object for the first prop to a second holding state of the target virtual object for a second prop, wherein the second prop is a melee attack prop (see Liu, description, Paras. 42 to 103, Figs. 1 to 17).  Liu is basically disclosing switching from a range attack prop such as a firearm to a melee weapon (second virtual object) such as a sword, ax, or knife.  It does not suggest the presently claimed predetermined motion path of the second virtual object in conjunction with the rest of the limitations as claimed.
The claims are drawn to: “a method of controlling a virtual object in a virtual scene performed by a computer device, the method comprising: displaying a virtual scene picture including a first virtual object and a second virtual object, the first virtual object including a first body part equipped with a first virtual prop and a second body part equipped with a second virtual prop and the second virtual object being located within an action range of a target action performed by the first virtual object; in response to receiving a first trigger operation on a target control of the first virtual object, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action against the second virtual object based on the first virtual prop equipped at the first body part of the first virtual object and displaying a launch of the first virtual prop from the first body part towards the second virtual object along a predefined motion path of the first virtual prop; and in response to receiving a second trigger operation on the target control of the first virtual object within a specified duration after the first trigger operation is received, displaying a retract of the first virtual prop back to the first body part; and after the first virtual prop resumes its original position at the first body part, controlling the first virtual object to perform the target action against the second virtual object based on the second virtual prop equipped at the second body part of the first virtual object and displaying a launch of the second virtual prop from the second body part towards the second virtual object according to a predefined motion path of the second virtual prop.”
The presently claimed invention generally pertains to a game application with virtual props, such as a first-person shooting game, in which a melee virtual weapon used for melee combat may be included.  The melee virtual weapon is typically a single-handed melee virtual weapon.  When a target object is attacked through the single-handed melee virtual weapon, it is necessary to wait for the melee virtual weapon to be folded before a next attack is performed (essentially waiting for the target to let its guard down).  However, the typical prior art solution of attacking the target object through the single-handed melee virtual weapon makes interaction efficiency lower when a user controls a virtual object to attack.  The presently claimed invention has the overall advantage of providing a virtual object control method and apparatus which can improve interaction efficiency when a virtual object is controlled to perform interaction.  See Fig. 3, Paras. 70 to 88, especially Para. 88 of the specification.  The examiner respects that the applicant may have different reasons for allowance.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

CITED REFERENCE SUMMARIES: Ref US20220040580A1: Claims:
A virtual object control method, performed by a terminal, the method comprising: displaying a virtual scene interface, the virtual scene interface comprising a first virtual object, at least two second virtual objects, and at least two ability controls, the first virtual object and the second virtual objects being located in a virtual scene, and the ability controls being configured to control the first virtual object to cast abilities; determining, in response to a first trigger operation on a first ability control, a target virtual object from the at least two second virtual objects and according to the first trigger operation, and controlling the first virtual object to cast a first ability on the target virtual object; determining the target virtual object as an ability casting target corresponding to a second ability in response to a second trigger operation on a second ability control meeting an ability continuous casting condition, the second trigger operation being triggered during ability casting of the first ability; and controlling the first virtual object to cast the second ability on the target virtual object.
displaying a virtual scene interface, the virtual scene interface comprising a first virtual object, at least two second virtual objects, and at least two ability controls, the first virtual object and the second virtual objects being located in a virtual scene, and the ability controls being configured to control the first virtual object to cast abilities;
determining, in response to a first trigger operation on a first ability control, a target virtual object from the at least two second virtual objects and according to the first trigger operation, and controlling the first virtual object to cast a first ability on the target virtual object;
determining the target virtual object as an ability casting target corresponding to a second ability in response to a second trigger operation on a second ability control meeting an ability continuous casting condition, the second trigger operation being triggered during ability casting of the first ability; and
controlling the first virtual object to cast the second ability on the target virtual object.
The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: determining a target inheritance period corresponding to the target virtual object according to an ability flow corresponding to the first ability and in response to the first trigger operation, the ability flow being used for controlling a cast procedure of the first ability, and the target inheritance period being a valid period for the second ability to inherit the target virtual object; and the determining the target virtual object as an ability casting target corresponding to a second ability in response to a second trigger operation on a second ability control meeting an ability continuous casting condition comprises: receiving a trigger operation on the second ability control; and determining, in response to the trigger operation on the second ability control belonging to the second trigger operation and a triggered time of the second trigger operation being in the target inheritance period, that the second trigger operation meets the ability continuous casting condition, and determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability.
determining a target inheritance period corresponding to the target virtual object according to an ability flow corresponding to the first ability and in response to the first trigger operation, the ability flow being used for controlling a cast procedure of the first ability, and the target inheritance period being a valid period for the second ability to inherit the target virtual object; and
the determining the target virtual object as an ability casting target corresponding to a second ability in response to a second trigger operation on a second ability control meeting an ability continuous casting condition comprises:
receiving a trigger operation on the second ability control; and
determining, in response to the trigger operation on the second ability control belonging to the second trigger operation and a triggered time of the second trigger operation being in the target inheritance period, that the second trigger operation meets the ability continuous casting condition, and determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability.
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the cast procedure controlled by the ability flow comprises an ability casting preparation stage, an ability casting stage, and an ability casting ending stage; and the determining a target inheritance period corresponding to the target virtual object according to an ability flow corresponding to the first ability comprises: determining a duration of the target inheritance period according to a first duration of the ability casting preparation stage and a second duration of the ability casting stage; and determining the target inheritance period according to a start execution time and the duration of the ability flow.
the determining a target inheritance period corresponding to the target virtual object according to an ability flow corresponding to the first ability comprises:
determining a duration of the target inheritance period according to a first duration of the ability casting preparation stage and a second duration of the ability casting stage; and
determining the target inheritance period according to a start execution time and the duration of the ability flow.
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the second ability control comprises an automatic control region and an active control region, the automatic control region being used for triggering a terminal to determine an ability casting target, direction, or range, and the active control region being used for triggering a user to select an ability casting target, direction, or range; and after receiving the trigger operation on the second ability control, the method further comprises: determining, in response to a touch end position corresponding to the trigger operation on the second ability control being located in the automatic control region, that the trigger operation on the second ability control belongs to the second trigger operation.
after receiving the trigger operation on the second ability control, the method further comprises:
determining, in response to a touch end position corresponding to the trigger operation on the second ability control being located in the automatic control region, that the trigger operation on the second ability control belongs to the second trigger operation.
The method according to claim 2 , wherein the determining the target virtual object as an ability casting target corresponding to a second ability comprises: obtaining an ability casting range and an ability casting rule of the second ability; and determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability in response to the target virtual object being located in the ability casting range and the target virtual object meeting the ability casting rule.
obtaining an ability casting range and an ability casting rule of the second ability; and
determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability in response to the target virtual object being located in the ability casting range and the target virtual object meeting the ability casting rule.
The method according to claim 5 , wherein the determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability in response to the target virtual object being located in the ability casting range and the target virtual object meets the ability casting rule comprises: determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability in response to the target virtual object being located in the ability casting range, the target virtual object meeting the ability casting rule, and an ability casting combination formed by the first ability and the second ability belonging to an ability combination list of the first virtual object, the ability combination list comprising at least one ability casting combination corresponding to the first virtual object, and the ability casting combination comprising at least two abilities and a casting sequence between the abilities.
determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability in response to the target virtual object being located in the ability casting range, the target virtual object meeting the ability casting rule, and an ability casting combination formed by the first ability and the second ability belonging to an ability combination list of the first virtual object, the ability combination list comprising at least one ability casting combination corresponding to the first virtual object, and the ability casting combination comprising at least two abilities and a casting sequence between the abilities.
The method according claim 4 , further comprising: determining the ability casting target of the second ability from the at least two second virtual objects according to the second trigger operation and an ability casting rule and an ability casting range of the second ability in response to the trigger operation on the second ability control not belonging to the second trigger operation.
determining the ability casting target of the second ability from the at least two second virtual objects according to the second trigger operation and an ability casting rule and an ability casting range of the second ability in response to the trigger operation on the second ability control not belonging to the second trigger operation.
The method according to claim 4 , further comprising: determining the ability casting target of the second ability from the at least two second virtual objects according to the second trigger operation and an ability casting rule and an ability casting range of the second ability in response to the triggered time of the second trigger operation being outside the target inheritance period.
determining the ability casting target of the second ability from the at least two second virtual objects according to the second trigger operation and an ability casting rule and an ability casting range of the second ability in response to the triggered time of the second trigger operation being outside the target inheritance period.
The method according claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises: controlling the first virtual object to cast the second ability on the target virtual object in response to the second ability being a targeted ability, the targeted ability being an ability with a specified ability casting target.
controlling the first virtual object to cast the second ability on the target virtual object in response to the second ability being a targeted ability, the targeted ability being an ability with a specified ability casting target.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the controlling comprises: determining a relative direction of the target virtual object relative to the first virtual object in response to the second ability being a non-targeted ability; and controlling the first virtual object to cast the second ability according to the relative direction.
determining a relative direction of the target virtual object relative to the first virtual object in response to the second ability being a non-targeted ability; and controlling the first virtual object to cast the second ability according to the relative direction.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first ability control comprises an automatic control region and an active control region, the automatic control region being used for triggering a terminal to determine an ability casting target, direction, or range, and the active control region being used for triggering a user to select an ability casting target, direction, or range; and the controlling the first virtual object to cast a first ability on the target virtual object comprises: determining the target virtual object according to a target automatic searching rule corresponding to the first ability and in response to the first ability being a targeted ability or a non-targeted ability and a touch end position of the first trigger operation being located in the automatic control region, and casting the first ability.
the controlling the first virtual object to cast a first ability on the target virtual object comprises:
determining the target virtual object according to a target automatic searching rule corresponding to the first ability and in response to the first ability being a targeted ability or a non-targeted ability and a touch end position of the first trigger operation being located in the automatic control region, and casting the first ability.
The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first ability control comprises an automatic control region and an active control region, the automatic control region being used for triggering a terminal to determine an ability casting target, direction, or range, and the active control region being used for triggering a user to select an ability casting target, direction, or range; and the controlling the first virtual object to cast a first ability on the target virtual object comprises: determining a second virtual object corresponding to the touch end position as the target virtual object in response to the first ability being a targeted ability and a touch end position of the first trigger operation being located in the active control region, and casting the first ability.
determining a second virtual object corresponding to the touch end position as the target virtual object in response to the first ability being a targeted ability and a touch end position of the first trigger operation being located in the active control region, and casting the first ability.
A virtual object control apparatus, comprising: a display screen; at least one memory configured to store computer program code; at least one processor configured to operate as instructed by the computer program code, the computer program code including: display code configured to cause the at least one processor to display on the display screen, a virtual scene interface, the virtual scene interface comprising a first virtual object, at least two second virtual objects, and at least two ability controls, the first virtual object and the second virtual objects being located in a virtual scene, and the ability controls being configured to control the first virtual object to cast abilities; first control code configured to cause the at least one processor to: determine, in response to a first trigger operation on a first ability control, a target virtual object from the at least two second virtual objects and according to the first trigger operation, and control the first virtual object to cast a first ability on the target virtual object; first determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine the target virtual object as an ability casting target corresponding to a second ability in response to a second trigger operation on a second ability control meeting an ability continuous casting condition, the second trigger operation being triggered during ability casting of the first ability; and second control code configured to cause the at least one processor to control the first virtual object to cast the second ability on the target virtual object.
a display screen;
at least one memory configured to store computer program code;
at least one processor configured to operate as instructed by the computer program code, the computer program code including:
display code configured to cause the at least one processor to display on the display screen, a virtual scene interface, the virtual scene interface comprising a first virtual object, at least two second virtual objects, and at least two ability controls, the first virtual object and the second virtual objects being located in a virtual scene, and the ability controls being configured to control the first virtual object to cast abilities;
first control code configured to cause the at least one processor to: determine, in response to a first trigger operation on a first ability control, a target virtual object from the at least two second virtual objects and according to the first trigger operation, and control the first virtual object to cast a first ability on the target virtual object;
first determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine the target virtual object as an ability casting target corresponding to a second ability in response to a second trigger operation on a second ability control meeting an ability continuous casting condition, the second trigger operation being triggered during ability casting of the first ability; and
second control code configured to cause the at least one processor to control the first virtual object to cast the second ability on the target virtual object.
A terminal, comprising a processor and a memory, the memory storing at least one instruction, at least one program, a code set, or an instruction set, the at least one instruction, the at least one program, the code set, or the instruction set being loaded and executed by the processor to implement the virtual object control method according to claim 1 .
The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein the computer program code further includes: second determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine a target inheritance period corresponding to the target virtual object according to an ability flow corresponding to the first ability and in response to the first trigger operation, the ability flow being used for controlling a cast procedure of the first ability, and the target inheritance period being a valid period for the second ability to inherit the target virtual object; and the first determine code further comprises: receiving code configured to cause the at least one processor to receive a trigger operation on the second ability control; and third determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine, in response to the trigger operation on the second ability control belonging to the second trigger operation and a triggered time of the second trigger operation being in the target inheritance period, that the second trigger operation meets the ability continuous casting condition, and determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability.
second determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine a target inheritance period corresponding to the target virtual object according to an ability flow corresponding to the first ability and in response to the first trigger operation, the ability flow being used for controlling a cast procedure of the first ability, and the target inheritance period being a valid period for the second ability to inherit the target virtual object; and
the first determine code further comprises:
receiving code configured to cause the at least one processor to receive a trigger operation on the second ability control; and
third determining code configured to cause the at least one processor to determine, in response to the trigger operation on the second ability control belonging to the second trigger operation and a triggered time of the second trigger operation being in the target inheritance period, that the second trigger operation meets the ability continuous casting condition, and determining the target virtual object as the ability casting target corresponding to the second ability.
The apparatus according to claim 1
[Truncated to input limit]