Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/372,791

CROSS-DOMAIN PROBING ARCHITECTURE FOR COMPUTER NETWORK MONITORING

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Sep 26, 2023
Examiner
SHIU, HO T
Art Unit
2443
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Cisco Technology Inc.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
69%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allowance Rate
330 granted / 458 resolved
+14.1% vs TC avg
Minimal -4% lift
Without
With
+-3.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 6m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
492
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.4%
-39.6% vs TC avg
§103
91.1%
+51.1% vs TC avg
§102
4.3%
-35.7% vs TC avg
§112
1.6%
-38.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 458 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status Claims 1-20 are pending in this application. 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 with respect to claim(s) 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on the combination of references applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. 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. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being Unpatentable over Rahman (US 2019/0394655) and in view of Zhao (US 2011/0295783) and in view of Hankins (US 2019/0268224) and in view of Eswaran (US 2010/0202466). Re Claim 1, Rahman discloses providing, by a controller orchestrator ([0007], data analytic management (DAM)), access to cross-domain probing via the controller orchestrator for a plurality of controllers ([0007]-[0009], performing the analysis with the one or more network devices and the results of the processing operations pertaining to one of the single network domains) across a plurality of different network domains with a respective different probing protocol and associated probing capability ([0011], sub-apparatuses configured to obtain and process respective network operating information of a first network domain, and a second, different network domain); obtaining, by the controller orchestrator, domain-specific test results from each of the plurality of controllers ([0011], third one of the sub-apparatuses is configured to obtain and process the results of the first and second one of the sub-apparatuses from the first and second network domain); and responding, by the controller orchestrator, to requests received from the plurality of controllers with the cross-domain data in order to cause respective domain-specific processing ([0072], the DAM entities will satisfy the received requests and provide the data analysis services to the respective consumers). Rahman does not clearly disclose, however Zhao discloses standardizing, by the probe controller orchestrator, the domain-specific probe test results from respective different formats into cross-domain data in a common format understandable by each of the plurality of probe controllers regardless of the respective different probing protocol and associated probing capability ([0030]-[0032], assessing information with multiple domains and generating a normal data profile which includes transform, convert, and/or translating the new information data into a standardized format such that any anomaly detection system can analyze the standardized data). It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the date the current invention was effectively filed to have modified the teachings of Rahman’s data analytic data collection with Zhao’s standardizing format. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to incorporate the teachings with one another in order to allow the devices to communicate with a standard format. While Rahman discloses data analytic management, and Zhao discloses anomaly detection systems for multiple domains, Rahman and Zhao do not explicitly disclose a probe controller. However Hankins discloses in [0034]-[0035], network devices discover and request services available via other network devices while communicating via remote domains. The network devices can actively probe other network devices such as other a domain controller or other server responsible for a directory of broadcast domain features. It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the date the current invention was effectively filed to have modified the teachings of Rahman and Zhao’s data analytic data collection with Hankin’s communication of network devices. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to incorporate the teachings with one another in order to allow the devices to communicate via remote domains. Rahman, Zhao, and Hankin do not explicitly disclose a probe controller via a common probe protocol. However Eswaran discloses in [0015]-[0016], [0021] that communicating across domains can utilize a standard format such as the IPFIX standard of the proprietary Cisco Systems format. It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the date the current invention was effectively filed to have modified the teachings of Rahman, Zhao, and Hankin’s communication with Eswaran’s communication of network devices with a standard well known format. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to incorporate the teachings with one another in order to establish a more versatile system by being able to utilize already established standard protocols. Re Claim 2, Rahman discloses responding to an interrogation from a particular one of the plurality of probe controllers regarding probing capability of another of the plurality of probe controllers in a different network domain of the plurality of different network domains ([0078], respective consumer requests data analytics information, one or more of the DAM entities may respond to the consumers). Re Claim 3, Rahman discloses wherein correlating is based on similarities across the domain-specific probe test results ([0081], DAM entities may collect and log data for the particular network layer that each DAM belongs to. Cross-NSI may only collect for the cross-NSI layer and the NSI DAM entities may collect and log data for the NSI layer, etc.). Re Claim 4, Rahman discloses wherein correlating is based on mapping out all available measurements and key performance indicators according to an understanding of associated data formats and data types of the respective different probing protocol and associated probing capability of the plurality of different network domains ([0091], process of collecting management analytical KPIs (key performance indicator). Re Claim 5, Rahman discloses identifying the respective different probing protocol and associated probing capability for each of the plurality of different network domains under management of the probe controller orchestrator ([0011], different sub-apparatuses handle different network domains and processes the results); establishing an understanding of similarities, differences, and intersections between the respective different probing protocol and associated probing capability for each of the plurality of different network domains ([0281]-[0282], data collection begins and is collected. A request/response is used to understand NF log capabilities); and producing, based on the understanding, a common access specification that is usable by the plurality of probe controllers operating in the plurality of different network domains ([0283]-[0284], report ID is used to access to the report in the database as an access grant). Re Claim 6, Rahman discloses assigning unique identifiers to individual probes that can be used to identify the individual probes at the probe controller orchestrator ([0108], configuration manage configures DAM entities using configuration parameters such as the infrastructure type ID, service type ID, resource ID, etc.). Re Claim 7, Rahman discloses wherein assigning occurs in response to registration of a respective probe controller of the plurality of probe controllers with the probe controller orchestrator ([0291], initiates database registration procedure). Re Claim 8, Rahman discloses registering the plurality of probe controllers with the probe controller orchestrator to learn the respective different probing protocol and associated probing capability for each of the plurality of different network domains ([0091], the authorized MDAS consumer subscribes). Re Claim 9, Rahman discloses wherein obtaining comprises: receiving particular domain-specific probe test results required to be published by certain ones of the plurality of probe controllers ([0106], configuration manage specified details of information required to configure the DAM for providing analyzed service for InfM, CSM, and CFM). Re Claim 10, Rahman discloses wherein providing access to cross-domain probing via the probe controller orchestrator is based on an application programming interface ([0007], data analytic management is configured via the network interface configuration instructions.) Re Claim 11, Rahman discloses wherein each of the plurality of different network domains has a respective controlling entity ([0054], DAM service for different network entities includes admission control). Re Claim 12, Rahman discloses anonymizing the cross-domain data to prevent architecture-exposing results ([0091], collecting analytical KPI begins when the authorized MDAS consumer subscribes to prevent accesses). Re Claim 13, Rahman discloses wherein the plurality of different network domains has a shared controlling entity, and wherein the plurality of probe controllers have different probing protocols and associated probing capabilities ([0011], Sub-apparatuses is configured to obtain and process a first network domain and a second sub-apparatus for different network domains. [0019], domain DAM entities, network function DAM entities, etc). With respect to claims 14-20, they are similar claims to 1-13 and therefore are rejected for the same reasons above. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HO T SHIU whose telephone number is (571)270-3810. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri (9:00am - 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, Nicholas Taylor can be reached at 571-272-3089. 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. /HO T SHIU/Examiner, Art Unit 2443 HO T. SHIU Examiner Art Unit 2443 /NICHOLAS R TAYLOR/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2443
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 5 earlier events
Jan 11, 2026
Interview Requested
Mar 12, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Mar 12, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Mar 16, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Apr 04, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jun 30, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jul 15, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

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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
72%
Grant Probability
69%
With Interview (-3.5%)
3y 6m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 458 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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