Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/349,681

AUTHENTICATION HARDENING WITH PROOF OF PROXIMITY OVER LOCAL CONNECTION

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jul 10, 2023
Examiner
CELANI, NICHOLAS P
Art Unit
2449
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Cisco Technology Inc.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
46%
Grant Probability
Moderate
3-4
OA Rounds
3y 2m
To Grant
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 46% of resolved cases
46%
Career Allow Rate
207 granted / 454 resolved
-12.4% vs TC avg
Strong +42% interview lift
Without
With
+42.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
495
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
14.7%
-25.3% vs TC avg
§103
49.5%
+9.5% vs TC avg
§102
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
§112
24.3%
-15.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 454 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Status of Claims The following claim(s) is/are pending in this office action: 1, 3-8, 10-15, 17-20 The following claim(s) is/are amended: 1, 7-8, 14-15, 18, 20 The following claim(s) is/are new: - The following claim(s) is/are cancelled: - Claim(s) 1, 3-8, 10-15, 17-20 is/are rejected. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments filed in the amendment filed 10/22/2025 have been fully considered but are moot in view of new grounds of rejection. The reasons set forth below. Applicant’s Invention as Claimed Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. Claim(s) 1, 3-8, 10-15, 17-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claim 1 is representative and claims “generating, at the computing device, a verification token derived from the multi- factor authentication data and encrypting the verification token using a session key established for the short-distance wireless communication link to obtain an encrypted verification token, the session key being negotiated directly between the computing device and the registered mobile device without transmission through the server.” Remarks, 10/22/2025 pg. 9 cites Spec, paras. 26-34 and Figs. 3A-3C for support for the amendments. Neither those sections nor anywhere else in the Specification supports “a session key,” nor any key “being negotiated directly between the computing device and the registered mobile device without transmission through the server.” The feature is new matter. The above cited rejections are merely exemplary. The Applicant(s) are respectfully requested to correct all similar errors. Claims not specifically mentioned are rejected by virtue of their dependency. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NICHOLAS P CELANI whose telephone number is (571)272-1205. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 9-5. 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, Vivek Srivastava can be reached on 571-272-7304. 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. /NICHOLAS P CELANI/Examiner, Art Unit 2449
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 10, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 26, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112
Jun 02, 2025
Response Filed
Jun 02, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jun 02, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Jul 22, 2025
Final Rejection — §112
Sep 24, 2025
Interview Requested
Oct 16, 2025
Interview Requested
Oct 22, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Nov 02, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (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
46%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+42.2%)
3y 2m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 454 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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