Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 17/514,702

Snapshot-Based Hydration Of A Cloud-Based Storage System

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Oct 29, 2021
Priority
Dec 19, 2014 — continuation of 10/545,987 +1 more
Examiner
LIN, ALLEN S
Art Unit
2153
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Pure Storage Inc.
OA Round
8 (Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
9-10
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
167 granted / 250 resolved
+11.8% vs TC avg
Strong +57% interview lift
Without
With
+56.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
284
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
20.0%
-20.0% vs TC avg
§103
55.1%
+15.1% vs TC avg
§102
6.4%
-33.6% vs TC avg
§112
12.2%
-27.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 250 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 . Priority The later-filed application must be an application for a patent for an invention which is also disclosed in the prior application (the parent or original nonprovisional application or provisional application). The disclosure of the invention in the parent application and in the later-filed application must be sufficient to comply with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, except for the best mode requirement. See Transco Products, Inc. v. Performance Contracting, Inc., 38 F.3d 551, 32 USPQ2d 1077 (Fed. Cir. 1994) The disclosure of the prior-filed applications, Application No. 14/577110, 16/676675, fails to provide adequate support or enablement in the manner provided by 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, first paragraph for one or more claims of this application. Only a claim with all of its limitations fully supported by the disclosure of the parent application is entitled to the parent’s earlier priority date. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 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 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 of this title, 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) 1, 4, 5, 12, 13, 18, 19 are/is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Alex Berkov, “Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery” 4/15/2021, Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery | AWS Storage Blog hereinafter referenced as Berkov, in view of Liu et al. 2009/0222496 Regarding claim 1, Berkov teaches: Generating, a snapshot of a dataset that is stored on a storage system that is separate from a cloud computing environment, within the cloud-based storage system (Berkov see pages 1-4, replication of data on source disk or source machine, replicated data stored on cloud, replicated data as snapshots) creating, a cloud-based storage system in the cloud computing environment; and (Berkov see page 1 creates an EBS volume for each source disk) Berkov does not distinctly disclose: by a processing device, wherein the snapshot is generated in a format that can be used to populate a virtual drive layer while avoiding converting contents of the snapshot into another format populating, the virtual drive layer with data of the dataset using the snapshot while avoiding accessing the storage system Liu teaches: by a processing device, wherein the snapshot is generated in a format that can be used to populate a virtual drive layer while avoiding converting contents of the snapshot into another format (Liu see paragraph 0009 0017 0029 0033 0035 0037 0057 devices, processor, CPU, backup images created as snapshots of a set of volumes in a format required for virtualization and being used to provide LUNs that form virtual machine disks. Virtualization and using backup image to provide backing a virtual machine disk reads on populating virtual drive layer. Snapshot in format for virtualization reads on avoiding converting to another format, no mention of conversion during virtualization reads on avoiding conversion to another format) populating, the virtual drive layer with data of the dataset using the snapshot while avoiding accessing the storage system (Liu see paragraph 0009 0017 0029 0033 0035 0037 0057 devices, processor, CPU, backup images created as snapshots of a set of volumes in a format required for virtualization such that secondary storage is distinct from primary storage and snapshot being used to provide LUNs that form virtual machine disks. Virtualization and using backup image to provide backing a virtual machine disk reads on populating virtual drive layer. Virtual machines directly backup images reads on avoiding accessing storage system, no mention of accessing primary system also reads on avoiding accessing storage system) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov to include virtualizing backup images as taught by Liu for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and backing up data. Regarding claim 4, Berkov as modified further teaches: wherein, the cloud-based storage system utilizes the particular portion of the dataset (Berkov see pages 1-4, replication of data on source disk or source machine, replicated data stored on cloud, replicated data as snapshots) further comprising, storing a particular portion of the dataset in the virtual drive layer, that is stored in the virtual drive layer for accesses of the particular portion of the dataset (Liu see paragraphs 0017 0037 0055 backup image using only changed data such that backup image persisted separately) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov to include virtualizing backup images as taught by Liu for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and backing up data. Regarding claim 5, Berkov as modified teaches: wherein the snapshot includes a plurality of incremental updates to the dataset (Berkov see pages 3 and 4, snapshots continually created and replicated changed blocks) Regarding claim 12, Berkov as modified teaches: further comprising configuring the storage system to generate the snapshot based on one or more recovery objectives associated with the dataset, wherein the snapshot of the dataset is generated in response to configuring the storage system to generate the snapshot based on the one or more recovery objectives (Berkov see pages 1-4, replication of data on source disk or source machine, replicated data stored on cloud, replicated data as snapshots for disaster recovery) Regarding claims 13, 18, 19, note the rejection of claim(s) 1, 4, 5, 12. The instant claims recite substantially same limitations as the above-rejected claims and are therefore rejected under same prior-art teachings. Claim(s) 2, 14, 20 are/is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Alex Berkov, “Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery” 4/15/2021, Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery | AWS Storage Blog hereinafter referenced as Berkov, in view of Liu et al. 2009/0222496 in view of Patterson et al. US2003/0182301 Regarding claim 2, Berkov as modified further teaches: loading at least a portion of the dataset into a virtual drive layer of the cloud-based storage system (Berkov see pages 1-4, replication of data on source disk or source machine, replicated data stored on cloud, replicated data as snapshots) Berkov does not teach: using self-describing information for the dataset from the snapshot Patterson teaches: using self-describing information for the dataset from the snapshot (Patterson see paragraph 0056 snapshot becomes self-describing) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov to include self describing snapshots as taught by Patterson for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and managing data. Regarding claims 14 and 20, note the rejection of claim(s) 2. The instant claims recite substantially same limitations as the above-rejected claims and are therefore rejected under same prior-art teachings. Claim(s) 3 and 15 are/is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Alex Berkov, “Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery” 4/15/2021, Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery | AWS Storage Blog hereinafter referenced as Berkov, in view of Liu et al. 2009/0222496 in view of Yang et al. US2005/0144223 Regarding claim 3, Berkov as modified further teaches: wherein populating the storage layer within the cloud-based storage system can include loading one or more portions of the dataset into a virtual drive layer of the cloud-based storage system (Berkov see pages 1-4, replication of data on source disk or source machine, replicated data stored on cloud, replicated data as snapshots) Berkov does not teach: in response to one or more input/output (I/O) operations that are directed to the one or more those portions of the dataset Yang teaches: in response to one or more input/output (I/O) operations that are directed to the one or more those portions of the dataset (Yang see paragraph 0038 I/O operation loading data) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov to include I/O operations as taught by Yang for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and managing data. Regarding claim 15, see rejection of claim 3 Claim(s) 6 and 16 are/is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Alex Berkov, “Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery” 4/15/2021, Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery | AWS Storage Blog hereinafter referenced as Berkov, in view of Liu et al. 2009/0222496 in view of Wang et al. US2019/0391883 Regarding claim 6, Berkov as modified does not teach: converting the snapshot from a first format of the storage system into a second format in which the snapshot can be used for populating the virtual drive layer with the data of the dataset However, Wang teaches: converting the snapshot from a first format of the storage system into a second format in which the snapshot can be used for populating the virtual drive layer with the data of the dataset (Wang see paragraph 0005 0100 converting snapshots from primary format to secondary format or incremental or full snapshot for storage on AWS cloud infrastructure) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov to include converting formats for cloud as taught by Wang for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and accessing data. Regarding claim 16, see rejection of claim 6 Claim(s) 7 are/is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Alex Berkov, “Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery” 4/15/2021, Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery | AWS Storage Blog hereinafter referenced as Berkov, in view of Liu et al. 2009/0222496 in view of Zhang et al. US2022/0237089 Regarding claim 7, Berkov as modified does not teach: configuring the storage system to create subsequent snapshots in the second format. Zhang teaches: configuring the storage system to create subsequent snapshots in the second format. (Zhang see paragraph 0045 snapshot and subsequent variations saved in qcow2 format) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov as modified to include converting formats for snapshots as taught by Zhang for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and accessing data Claim(s) 8, 9 and 17 are/is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Alex Berkov, “Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery” 4/15/2021, Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery | AWS Storage Blog hereinafter referenced as Berkov, in view of Liu et al. 2009/0222496 in view of Guturi et al. US2020/0150897 Regarding claim 8, Berkov as modified does not teach: wherein the cloud-based storage system is created in response to detecting that the storage system has become unavailable. Guturi teaches: wherein the cloud-based storage system is created in response to detecting that the storage system has become unavailable. (Guturi see paragraph 0030-0032 0127 generate cloud instantiation of storage system when storage system is offline) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov as modified to include cloud instantiation as taught by Guturi for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and accessing data Regarding claim 9, Berkov as modified does not teach: wherein the storage system is an on-premises storage system Guturi teaches: wherein the storage system is an on-premises storage system. (Guturi see paragraph 0031 on premise storage system) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov as modified to include cloud instantiation as taught by Guturi for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and accessing data Regarding claim 17, see rejection of claim 8 Claim(s) 10 are/is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Alex Berkov, “Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery” 4/15/2021, Optimizing operational costs in CloudEndure Disaster Recovery | AWS Storage Blog hereinafter referenced as Berkov, in view of Liu et al. 2009/0222496 in view of Tung et al. US2013/0262678 Regarding claim 10, Berkov as modified does not teach: wherein the storage system is another cloud-based storage system Tung teaches: wherein the storage system is another cloud-based storage system. (Tung see paragraph 0005 primary and secondary system are cloud) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified a method of disaster recovery as taught by Berkov as modified to include multiple cloud systems as taught by Tung for the predictable result of more efficiently organizing and accessing data Response to arguments Applicant’s argument: Prior art of record does not teach newly amended claims Examiner’s response: Applicant’s argument is moot as newly amended claims are responded to in the above rejection Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 extension fee 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 date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALLEN S LIN whose telephone number is (571)270-0612. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9-5. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kavita Stanley can be reached on (571)272-8352. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /ALLEN S LIN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2153
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 23 earlier events
Apr 22, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
May 08, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
May 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 08, 2026
Interview Requested
Jul 15, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jul 15, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Aug 14, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 31, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

9-10
Expected OA Rounds
67%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+56.8%)
3y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 250 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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