Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/548,817

AUDIO CODEC WITH ADAPTIVE GAIN CONTROL OF DOWNMIXED SIGNALS

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 01, 2023
Priority
Mar 11, 2021 — provisional 63/159,807 +3 more
Examiner
KRZYSTAN, ALEXANDER J
Art Unit
2694
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Dolby International AB
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
925 granted / 1138 resolved
+19.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 12m
Avg Prosecution
49 currently pending
Career history
1176
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.8%
-37.2% vs TC avg
§103
41.9%
+1.9% vs TC avg
§102
20.2%
-19.8% vs TC avg
§112
18.1%
-21.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1138 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Drawings The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the multiple processors using the single memory to implement the method as recited in claim 46 must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered. Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance. 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. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: 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 of carrying out his invention. Claim 46 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the enablement requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to enable one skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and/or use the invention. The claim recites multiple processors and a single memory to implement the recited steps, applicant’s specification does not provide a clear delineation of the claimed processors, or provide the mechanism by which the multiple processors would interface with a single memory to implement the claimed steps. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 31,47 are allowed over the prior art of record. Response to Arguments The submitted arguments have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALEXANDER KRZYSTAN whose telephone number is 571-272-7498, and whose email address is alexander.krzystan@uspto.gov The examiner can usually be reached on m-f 7:30-4:00 est. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone or email are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Carolyn Edwards can be reached on (571) 270-7136. The fax phone numbers for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned are 571-273-8300 for regular communications and 571-273-8300 for After Final communications. /ALEXANDER KRZYSTAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2653 Examiner Alexander Krzystan September 21, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 3 earlier events
Sep 15, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 16, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Sep 25, 2025
Response Filed
Sep 25, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Nov 21, 2025
Response Filed
May 19, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
May 21, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §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

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+7.2%)
2y 12m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1138 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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