Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/863,172

LEARNING-ROOTED IOT PLATFORM

Final Rejection §102§103
Filed
Jul 12, 2022
Priority
Jul 14, 2021 — provisional 63/221,832
Examiner
CHEN, CAI Y
Art Unit
2425
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
University of Florida Research Foundation Inc.
OA Round
2 (Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
81%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
582 granted / 801 resolved
+14.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
7 currently pending
Career history
814
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
§103
73.1%
+33.1% vs TC avg
§102
16.9%
-23.1% vs TC avg
§112
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 801 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 04/22/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding claim 1, on page 1-2 of applicant’s remarks, applicant traverse that Sandaram does not disclose the claim limitation of “wherein the administration chip or the microcontroller is configured, upon insertion of the pluggable component into a port of the one or more ports, to: (i) establish a communication interface with the pluggable component, (ii) obtain device information associated with the pluggable component, and (iii) selectively configure the operation of the port for the pluggable component based on the device information;” In response, the examiner respectfully disagrees. Sandaram disclose the claim limitation of wherein the administration chip or the microcontroller is configured, upon insertion of the pluggable component into a port of the one or more ports, to: (i) establish a communication interface with the pluggable component (Fig. 4, el. 406, notify connect event); (ii) obtain device information associated with the pluggable component (el. 410, to receive the device descriptor information of USB plugging device), and (iii) selectively configure the operation of the port for the pluggable component based on the device information (el. 412, to reset the USB device and assign the address of USB plugging port based on the device descriptor information). As such, the rejection is maintained for this reason. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-12, 14, 17-18, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Sundaram et al. (US 2023/0324981 A1, hereinafter refers as Sundaram). Regarding claim 1, Sundaram discloses a plug-and-play base pad apparatus, the apparatus comprising: one or more ports, each configured for hosting a pluggable component (Fig. 1A, Fig. 7, Fig. 8B); one or more of an administration chip or a microcontroller configured to control the apparatus and the one or more ports (Fig. 1A and 7, el. 150); a battery configured to power the apparatus; and a power management unit configured to monitor the battery and interface with charging mechanisms (Fig. 8B, el. 776, el. 778). wherein the administration chip or the microcontroller is configured, upon insertion of the pluggable component into a port of the one or more ports, to: (i) establish a communication interface with the pluggable component (Fig. 4, el. 406, notify connect event); (ii) obtain device information associated with the pluggable component (el. 410, to receive the device descriptor information of USB plugging device), and (iii) selectively configure the operation of the port for the pluggable component based on the device information (el. 412, to reset the USB device and assign the address of USB plugging port based on the device descriptor information). Regarding claim 2, Sundaram discloses wherein a first port of the one or more ports is communicably coupled with the microcontroller (Fig. 7, el. 150). Regarding claim 3, Sundaram discloses wherein a second port of the one or more ports is communicably coupled with a storage device (Fig. 8A, el. 758). Regarding claim 4, Sundaram discloses wherein one or more of the administration chip or the microcontroller is further configured to communicate with a remote client device (Fig. 7, el. 150). Regarding claim 5, Sundaram discloses wherein one or more of the administration chip or the microcontroller is further configured to control the apparatus and the one or more ports based at least in part on instructions received from the remote client device (Fig. 7, el. 150). Regarding claim 6, Sundaram discloses wherein the instructions received from the remote client device originate via a mobile application interface displayed by the remote client device (Fig. 9A). Regarding claim 7, Sundaram discloses wherein one or more of the administration chip or the microcontroller is further configured to detect a pluggable component upon a coupling of the pluggable component with a port of the one or more ports (Fig. 7, el. 150). Regarding claim 8, Sundaram discloses wherein one or more of the administration chip or the microcontroller is further configured to detect a security threat posed by a pluggable component coupled with a port of the one or more ports (Fig. 7, el. 150). Regarding claim 9, Sundaram discloses wherein one or more of the administration chip or the microcontroller is further configured to isolate the port based on having detected a security threat posed by the pluggable component coupled thereto (Fig. 7, Fig. 8b). Regarding claim 10, Sundaram discloses wherein the pluggable component comprises a peripheral I/O component (Fig. 7). Regarding claim 11, Sundaram discloses wherein the pluggable component comprises an IoT device (Fig. 9A). Regarding claim 12, Sundaram discloses wherein the charging mechanism is one or more of wireless or wired (Fig. 8B). Regarding claim 14, the instant claim is met the rejection of claim 1, further discloses a system, comprising: a plurality of plug-and-play base pad apparatuses (Fig. 9A and 9B). Regarding claim 17, the instant claim is analyzed with respect to claim 14. Regarding claim 18, the instant claim is analyzed with respect to claim 14. Regarding claim 19, the instant claim is analyzed with respect to claim 14. Regarding claim 21, the instant claim is analyzed with respect to claim 14. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 15-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sundaram in view of Wu et al. (US 2023/0176873 A1, hereinafter refers as Wu). Regarding claim 15, Sundaram discloses all limitation of claim 14, Sundaram does not explicitly disclose wherein each plug and play base pad apparatus of the plurality of plug and play base pad apparatuses is configured with one or more learning model; Wu teaches wherein each plug and play base pad apparatus of the plurality of plug and play base pad apparatuses is configured with one or more learning model (para. 117, para. 256); It would be obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Sundaram to include Wu in order a system to run more efficiently. Regarding claim 16, Sundaram in view of Wu discloses wherein computational tasks are distributed among the plurality of plug-and-play base pad apparatuses based at least in part on the one or more machine learning models (Wu, para. 117, para. 256). Claim(s) 13 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sundaram in view of Hevizi et al. (US 2017/0359339 A1, hereinafter refers as Hevizi) Regarding claim 13, Sundaram discloses all limitation of claim 1, Sundaram does not explicitly disclose wherein one or more of the administration chip or the microcontroller is further configured to detect one or more other base pad apparatuses located within a proximity of the plug-and-play base pad apparatus; Hevizi teaches wherein one or more of the administration chip or the microcontroller is further configured to detect one or more other base pad apparatuses located within a proximity of the plug-and-play base pad apparatus (abstract); It would be obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Sundaram to include Hevizi in order to allow a system to verify only the authorized user’s devices are connected to the network. Regarding claim 20, Sundaram discloses all limitation of claim 1, Sundaram does not explicitly disclose wherein the plurality of plug and play base pad apparatus comprise adhesive patches for attaching them to the live object; Hevizi teaches wherein the plurality of plug and play base pad apparatus comprise adhesive patches for attaching them to the live object (abstract, wearable, iwatch); It would be obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art to modify Sundaram to include Hevizi in order to allow a system to monitor the authorized user heart rate thus increasing user’s health benefit. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CAI Y CHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5679. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30 AM -4:30 PM. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Brian Pendleton can be reached at 571-272-7527. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /CAI Y CHEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2425
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Prosecution Timeline

Jul 12, 2022
Application Filed
Jan 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Apr 22, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 05, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
81%
With Interview (+8.7%)
2y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 801 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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