Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/549,069

Method for Determining the Integrity of a Data Processing Operation, Device, and Data Processing Installations

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Sep 05, 2023
Priority
Mar 11, 2021 — EU 21161908.5 +1 more
Examiner
MUNGUIA, DUILIO
Art Unit
2497
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
OA Round
4 (Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
7 granted / 9 resolved
+19.8% vs TC avg
Strong +50% interview lift
Without
With
+50.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
12 currently pending
Career history
35
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
96.6%
+56.6% vs TC avg
§102
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§112
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 9 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 Amendments This Final Office Action is in response to amendment filed on 04/20/2026. Claims 1 and 2 have been amended. No claims have been canceled. Claims 1 – 7 remain pending in the application. Response to Amendment The amended filed 04/20/2026 has been entered. See response to amendments. Response to Arguments/Amendment Examiner’s remark concerning applicant’s claim 2 and specification objection. The applicant’s argument regarding (remark page 5). Applicant’s arguments have been fully considered and are persuasive. Thus, claim objection as set forth in the previous office action has been waived. Specification objection as set forth in the previous office action has been waived based on the corrected specification submitted. Examiner’s remarks concerning applicant’s arguments on 35 U.S.C. 103 rejections. Remarks regarding rejections under 35 U.S.C § 103 filed 04/20/2026 Applicant’s amendment to Independent Claims 1 and 2 arguments are carefully considered and are persuasive. However, upon further consideration, arguments are moot in view of new found prior art. 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. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claims 1, 3, 6 and 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fischer et al. (US-20100310068-A1 hereafter Fischer), in view of Zhang et al. (US-20190132120-A1 hereafter Zhang), in further view of Yumoto et al. (US-7222038-B2 hereafter Yumoto). Regarding claim 1 Fischer disclose a method for determining the integrity of data processing of operative data using a trusted execution environment running a program code, (see Fischer par.0022: “This aim is achieved by a method for monitoring an execution of a sequence of instructions of a data processing program in a security module associated to a multimedia unit connected to a managing center configured for supplying control messages(operative data) authorizing the multimedia unit to access broadcast audio video content data streams, said security module comprising at least one processor executing the data processing program instructions, a memory, a monitoring module for analyzing the instructions sent to the processor and for verifying the result of the analysis by comparison with reference data.”. par.0053: “The monitoring module MM is preferably implemented as a hardware module separated from the processor CPU with which it communicates through the bus B. An advantage of a monitoring module MM separated from the processor CPU is that the program integrity checking operations are not based on the processor and thus they cannot be bypassed by a hacker trying to introduce jump opcodes into the processor program.”, par.0056: “According to an example of implementation, the monitoring module MM is connected to the code bus B like a Memory Management Unit MMU or a Memory Protection Unit MPU: any fetch goes through a filter that triggers or not an action. In an embodiment of the method, the idea is to have some part of the program code stored in the memory M executable without mandatory control by the monitoring module MM.”), the method comprising: presenting the trusted execution environment with [[encrypted]] input data including the operative data and test data (see Fischer par.0051: “The security module SM (trusted execution environment) comprises components such as a processor CPU, non-volatile memories M storing the processing program PR, a monitoring module MM and peripheral modules P with interfaces configured for receiving data from the multimedia unit.", par. 0048: "the reference data set REF appended to the control or management messages ECM(operative data) I EMM (test data) is accompanied with program sequence check information Cl related to the reference data set REF.”); Fischer does not disclose encrypted input data however Zhang discloses presenting ... with encrypted input data including the operative data and test data ([0066]: “The Integrity Check Value 508 may include or consist of a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) generated by Encryption Logic 114 from the combination of the Ciphertext 506 (operative data) and the Initialization Vector 504 (test data), and that maybe used by Decryption Logic 116 to validate Ciphertext 506 and Initialization Vector 504 prior to attempting to decrypt Ciphertext 506.”) Zhang further teaches entering the encrypted input data to the program code (see Zhang par.0050 “Encryption Logic 114 performs an encryption operation at least in part by i) retrieving Current Cryptographic Key 128 from KeyStore 126, ii) using Current Cryptographic Key 128 and an associated cryptographic algorithm embodied in Current Cryptographic Library 132 to encrypt the contents of Plaintext Buffer 151 by transforming the contents of Plaintext Buffer 151 into ciphertext, iii) creating Encrypted Data Object 152 that includes the ciphertext and a key identifier that uniquely identifies Current Cryptographic Key 128 and the associated cryptographic algorithm embodied in Current Cryptographic Library 132 that were used to encrypt the contents of the plaintext buffer, and iv) storing the Encrypted Data Object 152 into Ciphertext Output Buffer 153.”, par.0066: “Encryption Key Identifier 502 may further include or indicate an identifier of the cryptographic key that was used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506, such as a key name that can be used to retrieve, from the KeyStore 126, the cryptographic key that was used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506. Encrypted Data Object 152 further includes a randomly generated Initialization Vector 504 that was also used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506. The Ciphertext 506 may include or consist of a null-terminated string containing the base64 encoded ciphertext. The Integrity Check Value 508 may include or consist of a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) generated by Encryption Logic 114 from the combination of the Ciphertext 506 and the Initialization Vector 504, and that maybe used by Decryption Logic 116 to validate Ciphertext 506 and Initialization Vector 504 prior to attempting to decrypt Ciphertext 506.” Examiner construe where the process and program performing the operation on the encrypted data as program code); using the program code to produce output data by processing the input data without decrypting the input data (see Zhang par.0060: “performing the encryption operation by Encryption Logic 114 in Encryption Service Module 112 may further include generating an integrity check value by applying a cryptographic hash function to the combination of the ciphertext and the initialization vector, and creating the encrypted data object such that the encrypted data object further includes the integrity check value… performing the decryption operation may further include, prior to decrypting the ciphertext contained in the encrypted data object, i) extracting (separating) the integrity check value from the Encrypted Data Object 152, ii) using the integrity check value to check the validity of the ciphertext and initialization vector, and iii) only decrypting the ciphertext contained in the Encrypted Data Object 152 responsive to determining, based on the integrity check value, that the ciphertext and initialization vector are valid.”); . separating a portion of the output data resulting from processing the encrypted test data (see Zhang par.0060: “performing the encryption operation by Encryption Logic 114 in Encryption Service Module 112 may further include generating an integrity check value (test data) by applying a cryptographic hash function to the combination of the ciphertext and the initialization vector, and creating the encrypted data object such that the encrypted data object further includes the integrity check value. For example, generating the integrity check value may be performed by generating a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) from the combination of the ciphertext and the initialization vector. The HMAC may, for example, be generated using one of the Secure Hash Algorithms (SHA) published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), such as SHA-256 or the like. In such embodiments, performing the decryption operation may further include, prior to decrypting the ciphertext contained in the encrypted data object, i) extracting (separating) the integrity check value from the Encrypted Data Object 152, ii) using the integrity check value to check the validity of the ciphertext and initialization vector, and iii) only decrypting the ciphertext contained in the Encrypted Data Object 152 responsive to determining, based on the integrity check value, that the ciphertext and initialization vector are valid.”); and using the comparison as a basis for determining the integrity of the data processing (see Zhang par.0060: “using the integrity check value to check the validity of the ciphertext and initialization vector, and iii) only decrypting the ciphertext contained in the Encrypted Data Object 152 responsive to determining, based on the integrity check value, that the ciphertext and initialization vector are valid.”). It would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined Fischer teaching “the ECM/EMM message contains check information CI in addition to the reference data set REF, the command CK activates the monitoring module MM according to the check information CI previously read and loaded into the monitoring module MM by the data processing program PR. The analysis of the data processing program is then based on a sequence of instructions defined by a start and an end point taken from the loaded check information CI and associated to the command CK as parameters.”, (see Fischer par.0062), with Zhang teaching because Zhang teaching of, “Encryption Key Identifier 502 may indicate or include an identifier of the cryptographic algorithm that was used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506, that identifies an embodiment of that cryptographic algorithm in Current Cryptographic Library 132 or Other Cryptographic Libraries 134. Encryption Key Identifier 502 may further include or indicate an identifier of the cryptographic key that was used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506, such as a key name that can be used to retrieve, from the KeyStore 126, the cryptographic key that was used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506. Encrypted Data Object 152 further includes a randomly generated Initialization Vector 504 that was also used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506. The Ciphertext 506 may include or consist of a null-terminated string containing the base64 encoded ciphertext. The Integrity Check Value 508 may include or consist of a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) generated by Encryption Logic 114 from the combination of the Ciphertext 506 and the Initialization Vector 504, and that maybe used by Decryption Logic 116 to validate Ciphertext 506 and Initialization Vector 504 prior to attempting to decrypt Ciphertext 506.”, with integrity check values within the encrypted data object advantageously providing assurance that only legitimate ciphertext will be decrypted. (see Zhang par.0017, 0066). The reason to combine would have been to keep the input and output data protected. Fischer in view of Zhang do not explicitly teach subjecting the portion of the output data to a comparison with reference data, the reference data provided separate from the encrypted input data; In this instance examiner notes the teaching of prior art reference Yumoto. With regards to applicant’s claim limitation element of, subjecting the portion of the output data to a comparison with reference data, the reference data provided separate from the encrypted input data (see Yumoto Fig 1 and Col.3 lines 50-58: “the reference data includes a reference data element generated based on the test text data element (“reference text data element”) in a reference text data area, a reference data element generated based on the test graphic data element (“reference graphic data element”) in a reference graphic data area, and a reference data element generated based on the test noise data element (“reference noise data element”) in a reference noise data area…. Col.4 lines 26-35: The processed data obtainer 15 obtains the processed data from the inspected apparatus 1 through the output data line 80… The data comparator 16 obtains the processed data from the processed data input 15, and the reference data from the reference data memory 12. The data comparator 16 then compares the processed data with the reference data, and generates a comparison result. More specifically, the data comparator 16 compares the processed text data element with the reference text data element, the processed graphic data element with the reference graphic data element, and the processed noise data element with the reference processed data element.” Examiner construe that only test data element will be compare with the reference data to which examiner construe as portion of the processed data.); It would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined Fischer in view of Zhang teaching disclose above with Yumoto teaching because Yumoto teaching of, “The processed data is then compared with the reference data to generate a comparison result. Based on the comparison result, a defect of the inspected apparatus is detected to determine acceptability or defectiveness”, (see Yumoto Col.1 lines52-55). The reason to combine would have been to make sure that an apparatus is working effectively. Regarding claim 3 Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teach the method as claimed in claim 1, Zhang further teaches wherein data processing takes place in an encrypted manner. (See Zhang par.0060: “performing the encryption operation by Encryption Logic 114 in Encryption Service Module 112 may further include generating an integrity check value by applying a cryptographic hash function to the combination of the ciphertext and the initialization vector, and creating the encrypted data object such that the encrypted data object further includes the integrity check value… performing the decryption operation may further include, prior to decrypting the ciphertext contained in the encrypted data object, i) extracting (separating) the integrity check value from the Encrypted Data Object 152, ii) using the integrity check value to check the validity of the ciphertext and initialization vector, and iii) only decrypting the ciphertext contained in the Encrypted Data Object 152 responsive to determining, based on the integrity check value, that the ciphertext and initialization vector are valid.”; par.0066: “the Encrypted Data Object 152 includes an Encryption Key Identifier 502, which identifies the cryptographic key and cryptographic algorithm that were used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506. For example, Encryption Key Identifier 502 may indicate or include an identifier of the cryptographic algorithm that was used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506, that identifies an embodiment of that cryptographic algorithm in Current Cryptographic Library 132 or Other Cryptographic Libraries 134. Encryption Key Identifier 502 may further include or indicate an identifier of the cryptographic key that was used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506, such as a key name that can be used to retrieve, from the KeyStore 126, the cryptographic key that was used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506. Encrypted Data Object 152 further includes a randomly generated Initialization Vector 504 that was also used to encrypt the Ciphertext 506. The Ciphertext 506 may include or consist of a null-terminated string containing the base64 encoded ciphertext. The Integrity Check Value 508 may include or consist of a hash-based message authentication code (HMAC) generated by Encryption Logic 114 from the combination of the Ciphertext 506 and the Initialization Vector 504, and that maybe used by Decryption Logic 116 to validate Ciphertext 506 and Initialization Vector 504 prior to attempting to decrypt Ciphertext 506.”). It would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teaching of claim 1, with Zhang teaching “ performing the encryption operation may further include generating a random initialization vector, and using the generated initialization vector with the current cryptographic key and associated cryptographic algorithm to encrypt the contents of the plaintext buffer. In such embodiments, the encrypted data object may be created such that the encrypted data object further includes the initialization vector. Further in such embodiments, performing the decryption operation may additionally include extracting the initialization vector from the encrypted data object, and using the initialization vector with the retrieved cryptographic key and identified cryptographic algorithm to decrypt the ciphertext contained in the encrypted data object.”, (see Zhang par.0012). Regarding claim 6 Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teach the method as claimed in claim 3, Fischer further teaches further comprising extracting the processed test data from the output data on the basis of the sequence or order. (See Fischer par. 0067: “At reception of an ECM or EMM message by the security module SM, the monitoring module MM extracts and stores the cryptogram CR. A check data set CD is then determined from the analysis of the program sequence instructions as in the previous embodiment. Instead of comparing the obtained check data set CD with the stored cryptogram CR, the monitoring module MM decrypts, thanks to an associated decryption module DM using the inverse of the emulator's algorithm, the cryptogram CR by taking the check data set CD as key.”). Regarding claim 7 Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teach the method as claimed in claim 1, Fischer further teaches wherein the test data form a portion of the input data that has no need of the data processing by means of the trusted execution environment. (See Fischer par.0075: “the reference data set REF produced by the emulator EM during the execution of program sequence instructions is used directly as a system key that will impact the calculation of the control word. In this embodiment, the reference data set REF is not transmitted to the security module in the ECM, but the locally computed check data set CD is used instead.”). Claim 2 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto as applied to claim 1, in further view of Gonzales et al. (US-9430644-B2 hereafter Gonzales), in further view Chenchu et al. (US-20190066518-A1 hereafter Chenchu). Regarding claim 2 Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teach the method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto do not explicitly teach however Gonzales teaches establishing the integrity of the data processing is established (see Gonzales Col. 9 lines:48-67: the PFP process is to design optimal detectors to perform the final integrity assessment. These detectors will make the final decision of whether a test trace should be considered an intrusion during monitoring operation. The process of detector design and normal monitoring operation are very similar. detector design, test traces from the execution of trusted software are captured and processed to extract the selected discriminatory features and compared against the stored signatures. Several traces are collected and processed and their statistical sample distributions are used to identify a threshold that yields the expected performance targets. The process of detector design is shown in FIG. 11. Random or predefined input 1110 is provided to trusted software 1120 and fresh test traces are captured from its execution. The results are aligned and synchronized 1130, and the traces are preprocessed and conditioned 1140. Using authorized signatures 770 for comparison, the selected discriminatory 65 features are extracted and a distance metric is generated 1150. Then statistical analysis and distribution fitting is done.”); and It would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teaching of claim 1, with Gonzales teaching “In PFP integrity assessment, an independent monitor can observe a side channel, such as the power consumption of the target system, during operation using a physical sensor. The captured traces can be processed to extract unique fine-grained patterns or features (fingerprints) and compared against trusted stored baseline references, which are used to perform anomaly detection by applying signal detection and pattern recognition techniques.”, (see Gonzales Col.5 lines:7-14). Fischer in view of Zhang, Yumoto, and Gonzales do not explicitly teach however Chenchu teaches displaying a value of the integrity on a user interface when the reference data match the processed test data. (See Chenchu par.0018: “shows a block diagram 100 of an operational flight path validation system in accordance with one embodiment. In this example, a navigational database 102 is used in combination with the terrain and obstacle database 104 to validate the operational flight path with an integrity monitor 106. Upon validation, the results of the integrity monitor 106 are sent to a display and reporting system 108 for use by an aircraft crew. The display and reporting system 108 is located in the cockpit onboard an aircraft.”). It would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teaching of claim 1, with Gonzales teaching, (see Gonzales Col.5 lines7-14), with Chenchu teaching “The validation reports from previous cycles of analysis are retrieved from the log 320 and analyzed for content using text mining techniques. The contents of the validation reports are combined and used to generate a descriptive alert message for the aircrew 322.”, (see Chenchu par.0022). The reason to combine would have been to have a graphical representation of the value validation of the integrity. Claims 4 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto as applied to claim 1, in further view of Gu et al. (US-11281769-B2 hereafter Gu). Regarding claim 4 Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teach the method as claimed in claim 1, Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto do not explicitly teach however Gus teaches further comprising merging the operative data and the test data according to a predefined sequence or order to produce input data. (See Gu Col. 2 lines 38-47: “the invention may blend data integrity verification code with normal/original code of an item of software in a way that makes it very hard for an attacker to differentiate between the two types of code. Such blending may combine normal data and additional data as input to a runtime data integrity verification algorithm. The runtime data integrity verification algorithm may use operations that are very similar to normal software operations and that can be easily broken up in small code fragments for code blending operations.”.). It would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined Fischer in view of Zhang and Yumoto teaching of claim 1, with Gu teaching “providing the verification data to the integrity checker comprises provided the encrypted or transformed verification data to the integrity checker. (i) a key; (ii) a predetermined bit sequence having m bits; (iii) for each bit of the predetermined bit sequence, a respective location within an n-bit value, where m and n are positive integers with m less than n; the first set of data elements comprises all possible n-bit values; and the second set of data elements comprises all possible n-bit values that are an encrypted version, using the key, of an n-bit value B* that comprises them bits of the predetermined bit sequence at their respective locations within said n-bit value B*”, (see Gu Col.4 lines:46-58). The reason to combine would have been to have known order to combine the two data and use the same order to break down the input data for verification. Regarding claim 5 Fischer in view of Zhang, Yumoto and Gu teach the method as claimed in claim 4, Gu further teaches wherein the operative data and the test data are merged randomly and/or pseudorandomly in respect of a sequence or order to produce input data. (See Gu Col. 23 lines 28-56: “the runtime data is preferably selected so that, if the verification code 350 is executed multiple times, then the value of the runtime data R; used by the verification code 350 at the i'" execution of the verification code 350 is different from the value of the runtime data R1 used by the verification code 350 at the jth execution of the verification code 350 (for positive integers i and j with i;,j). Thus, the verification data generated at the ith execution of the verification code 350 (in dependence upon R) is different from the verification data generated at the i'" execution of the verification code 350 (in dependence upon R). This can be achieved, for example, by ensuring that the value of the runtime data is dependent on one or more of: input provided by the user of the computer system 210; data/content being processed by the computer system 210 (e.g. documents being processed; data being decrypted or encrypted; multimedia data being decoded; etc.); data relating to the current execution environment of the computer system 210; current date/time data; any source of entropy; etc. The runtime data preferably acts as a source of (pseudo-) random data or entropy. Such non-repeated runtime data helps prevent replay attacks by an attacker (i.e. this stops an attacker from detecting valid verification data and reusing that valid verification data subsequently). The one or more portions of code that generate this runtime data may be any part of the protected item of software 240. The one or more portions of code are, preferably, code/instructions 510 of the protected item of software 240 with which the verification code 350 is interleaved.”.). It would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have combined Fischer in view of Zhang, Yumoto and Gu teaching of claim 4, with Gu teaching “the purpose of the runtime data 15 is to control ( or determine or select) which data element 806 of the second set 804 is (or is comprised in or represented by) the generated verification data. If the runtime data is chosen to be substantially random (or pseudo random), and should therefore be different for (substantially) each execution of the verification code 350, then the verification data generated at each execution of the verification code 350 should be different from (substantially all) previously generated verification data. In other words, the integrity checker may identify whether the received verification data corresponds to verification data previously received in relation to the protected item of software 240.”, (see Gu Col.27 lines:15-27). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: Falk et al. (EP-3561709-A1) An advantage of providing the integrity data particularly may be that, based on the integrity data and the attestation data of it, the current platform configuration of the first data processing apparatus may be checked, thus in particular facilitating a check whether the first data processing apparatus is secure, e.g., currently operates in a platform configuration which is secure. Moreover, the validation data advantageously allows to perform a validity check of the integrity data, thereby in particular allowing to check whether the current platform configuration, which is indicated by the integrity data, is a secure one. In this way, the security may be improved, in that not just the current platform configuration may be determined but also whether this platform configuration is secure according to the validity data. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 DUILIO MUNGUIA whose telephone number is (571)270-5277. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:30AM - 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, Eleni A. Shiferaw Eleni A Shiferaw can be reached at (571) 272-3867. 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. /DUILIO MUNGUIA/ Examiner, Art Unit 2497 /ELENI A SHIFERAW/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2497
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 2 earlier events
Aug 01, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 07, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Dec 12, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jan 12, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jan 25, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 20, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 26, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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