Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/151,503

SENSITIVE DATA PROTECTION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 09, 2023
Examiner
HOFFMAN, BRANDON S
Art Unit
2433
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
International Business Machines Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
91%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 91% — above average
91%
Career Allowance Rate
1133 granted / 1249 resolved
+32.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
1273
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
48.5%
+8.5% vs TC avg
§102
34.4%
-5.6% vs TC avg
§112
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1249 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . DETAILED ACTION Claims 1-20 are pending in this office action. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on January 9, 2023, is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. 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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Hoeffgen et al. (U.S. Patent Pub. No. 2016/0133331). Regarding claims 1, 8, and 14, Hoeffgen et al. teaches a method for sensitive data protection, the method comprising: storing sensitive data on a first memory device disposed in a computing system (paragraph 0045); detecting an unauthorized physical access to the computing system (paragraph 0065); activating an x-ray source based on the detected unauthorized physical access (paragraph 0100); and deactivating the x-ray source after a threshold period of time (paragraph 0101), wherein the x-ray source is configured to bombard the first memory device with energy particles having an energy level sufficient to damage the first memory device and cause erasure of the sensitive data stored on the first memory device (paragraph 0046 and 0053 and fig. 10). Regarding claims 2, 9, and 15, Hoeffgen et al. teaches wherein the x-ray source is configured to only bombard the first memory device with the energy particles (paragraph 0117). Regarding claims 3, 10, and 16, Hoeffgen et al. teaches wherein the energy level is directly related to a distance between the first memory device and the x-ray source (paragraph 0046). Regarding claims 4, 11, and 17, Hoeffgen et al. teaches wherein the energy level is inversely related to a duration of the threshold period of time (paragraph 0053). Regarding claims 5, 12, and 18, Hoeffgen et al. teaches further comprising preventing the activation of the x-ray source based on detecting an authorized physical access to the computing system (paragraph 0003). Regarding claims 6 and 19, Hoeffgen et al. teaches wherein the x-ray source is disposed within the computing system (fig. 10, ref. num 69). Regarding claims 7, 13, and 20, Hoeffgen et al. teaches wherein the computing system includes one or more lead shielded surfaces configured to prevent a transmission of the energy particles outside of the computing system (paragraph 0117-0118). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRANDON HOFFMAN whose telephone number is (571)272-3863. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30AM-5:00PM. 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, Jeffrey Pwu can be reached at (571)272-6798. 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. /BRANDON HOFFMAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2433
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 09, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 20, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
91%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+6.6%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1249 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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