Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/651,453

METHODS AND APPARATUS TO ISOLATE STATE MANAGEMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE AS CODE ENVIRONMENTS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 30, 2024
Examiner
DADA, BEEMNET W
Art Unit
2435
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
VMware, Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allow Rate
776 granted / 920 resolved
+26.3% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+17.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
933
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
14.3%
-25.7% vs TC avg
§103
28.4%
-11.6% vs TC avg
§102
31.7%
-8.3% vs TC avg
§112
5.2%
-34.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 920 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Drawings The drawings filed on April 30, 2024 are accepted. Specification The specification filed April 30, 2024 is accepted. 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kwatra et al. US 2024/0086190 A1 [hereinafter Kwatra]. As per claims 1, 8 and 15, Kwatra teaches an apparatus comprising: interface circuitry [figure 1]; machine readable instructions [figure 1]; and programmable circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to: monitor a security infrastructure to determine a first state of the security infrastructure (i.e., infrastructure as code (IAC)), the security infrastructure to control a function based on the first state, the function defined by an operating protocol [paragraphs 0039, 0045 and 0049]; determine that the security infrastructure has transitioned to a second state, the second state associated with an alteration to the security infrastructure (i.e., IAC that does not follow security and compliance rule/policy, paragraphs 0069, 0071 and 0075); determine whether the alteration of the security infrastructure associated with the second state is undesired, wherein the alteration being undesired corresponds to the function of the security infrastructure deviating from the operating protocol [paragraphs 0069, 0071 and 0075]; and modify the security infrastructure by replacing the second state with a third state to counteract the deviation from the operating protocol corresponding to the second state (i.e., update IAC by generating new compliance code, paragraphs 0071 and 0075). As per claims 2, 9 and 16, Kwatra further teaches the apparatus wherein the programmable circuitry is to cause generation of the third state based on whether the second state causes the security infrastructure to deviate from the operating protocol [paragraphs 0069, 0071 and 0075]. As per claims 3, 10 and 17, Kwatra further teaches the apparatus wherein the programmable circuitry is to correlate the second state with a substitute state obtained from a template security infrastructure, the third state based on the correlation to the substitute state [paragraphs 0069, 0071 and 0075]. As per claims 4, 11 and 18, Kwatra further teaches the apparatus, wherein the programmable circuitry is to compile a security infrastructure template based on the third state, the security infrastructure template including the third state in place of the second state [paragraphs 0069, 0071 and 0075]. As per claims 5, 12 and 19, Kwatra further teaches the apparatus wherein the programmable circuitry is to communicate at least one of the third state or the compiled security infrastructure template to an external service, the external service to utilize the third state or the compiled security infrastructure template [paragraphs 0069, 0071 and 0075]. As per claims 6, 13 and 20, Kwatra further teaches the apparatus wherein the function is a first function, the operating protocol is a first operating protocol, wherein the programmable circuitry is to determine whether a fourth state of the security infrastructure corresponding to a second function has deviated from a second operating protocol due to the second state [paragraphs 0069, 0071 and 0075]. As per claims 7 and 14, Kwatra further teaches the apparatus wherein the programmable circuitry is to modify the fourth state by replacing the fourth state with a fifth state to counteract the deviation from the second operating protocol corresponding to the fourth state [paragraphs 0069, 0071 and 0075]. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BEEMNET W DADA whose telephone number is (571)272-3847. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm. 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, Joseph Hirl can be reached at 571-272-3685. 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. BEEMNET W. DADA Primary Examiner Art Unit 2435 /BEEMNET W DADA/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2435
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Prosecution Timeline

Apr 30, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 21, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
84%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+17.8%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 920 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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