Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/772,942

STATUS REPORT FRAME FOR EASIER REATTACHMENT

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jul 15, 2024
Priority
Jul 13, 2023 — provisional 63/513,545
Examiner
SOE, KYAW Z
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Cisco Technology Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
320 granted / 357 resolved
+29.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
393
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
78.2%
+38.2% vs TC avg
§102
6.3%
-33.7% vs TC avg
§112
4.3%
-35.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 357 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION This office action is a response to an application filed on 07/15/2024. Claims 1- 20 are pending for examination. Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Drawings The Examiner contends that the drawings submitted on 07/15/2024are acceptable for examination proceedings. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) were submitted. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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 set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103(a) 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 non-obviousness. Claims 1- 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kneckt et al. (US 20240073794 A1), hereinafter “Kneckt”; and in further view of Tachibana et al. (US 20230011936 A1), hereinafter “Tachibana”. Regarding claim 1, Kneckt teaches A method comprising: associating, by an Access Point (AP) with a client device [Fig. 5]; and sending, by the AP to the client device, a status report in a status report frame [Fig. 22; Par. 130 teaches of status report from AP in trigger frame]. PNG media_image1.png 582 682 media_image1.png Greyscale However, Kneckt does not teach a status report frame comprising a protected management frame. Nevertheless, Tachibana, in the similar filed of endeavor, teaches a status report frame comprising a protected management frame [Tachibana: Fig. 3- 6; Par. 26- 29 and 42 teaches of using PMF frame for establishing communication between communication devices] PNG media_image2.png 572 682 media_image2.png Greyscale Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill at the time the invention was made to utilize the teachings of Tachibana for sending information using PMF. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to utilize the teachings of Tachibana in the Kneckt system in order to enhance encrypted and secure sending information [Tachibana: Par. 6]. Regarding claim 2, the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana further teaches wherein the status report comprises information about policies applied by a network [Kneckt: Fig. 24]. Regarding claim 3, the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana further teaches wherein the status report frame comprises a fixed length format [Kneckt: Fig. 24]. Regarding claim 4, the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana further teaches wherein the status report frame comprises a Type Length Value (TLV) records format [Kneckt: Fig. 24]. Regarding claim 5, the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. The combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana further teaches wherein sending the status report comprises receiving the status report unsolicited by the client device [Kneckt: Par. 117 teaches of unsolicited response]. Regarding claim 6, the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. The combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana further teaches wherein sending the status report comprises sending the status report in response to an exchange between the client device and the AP [See Tachibana Fig. 4]. Regarding claim 7, the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. The combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana further teaches wherein associating with the client device comprises establishing a Pre-Association Security Negotiation (PASN) secure connection [See: Tachibana: Abstract]. Regarding claim 8, the combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana teaches all the limitations in the parent claim 1. The combined Kneckt in view of Tachibana further teaches wherein associating with the client device comprises establishing a full association [See Tachibana Fig. 4]. Regarding claim 9, Kneckt teaches A system comprising: a memory storage; and a processing unit disposed in an Access Point (AP) and coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to [Fig. 5]; and associate, by the AP, with a client device; and send, by the AP to the client device, a status report in a status report frame [Fig. 22; Par. 130 teaches of status report from AP in trigger frame]. PNG media_image1.png 582 682 media_image1.png Greyscale However, Kneckt does not teach a status report frame comprising a protected management frame. Nevertheless, Tachibana, in the similar filed of endeavor, teaches a status report frame comprising a protected management frame [Tachibana: Fig. 3- 6; Par. 26- 29 and 42 teaches of using PMF frame for establishing communication between communication devices] PNG media_image2.png 572 682 media_image2.png Greyscale Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill at the time the invention was made to utilize the teachings of Tachibana for sending information using PMF. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to utilize the teachings of Tachibana in the Kneckt system in order to enhance encrypted and secure sending information [Tachibana: Par. 6]. Regarding claim 10 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 2. Regarding claim 11 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 3. Regarding claim 12, the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 4. Regarding claim 13 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 5. Regarding claim 14, the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 6. Regarding claim 15, Kneckt teaches A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions which when executed perform a method executed by the set of instructions comprising [Fig. 5]; and associating, by an Access Point (AP) with a client device; and sending, by the AP to the client device, a status report in a status report frame [Fig. 22; Par. 130 teaches of status report from AP in trigger frame]. PNG media_image1.png 582 682 media_image1.png Greyscale However, Kneckt does not teach a status report frame comprising a protected management frame. Nevertheless, Tachibana, in the similar filed of endeavor, teaches a status report frame comprising a protected management frame [Tachibana: Fig. 3- 6; Par. 26- 29 and 42 teaches of using PMF frame for establishing communication between communication devices] PNG media_image2.png 572 682 media_image2.png Greyscale Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill at the time the invention was made to utilize the teachings of Tachibana for sending information using PMF. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to utilize the teachings of Tachibana in the Kneckt system in order to enhance encrypted and secure sending information [Tachibana: Par. 6]. Regarding claim 16 , the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 2. Regarding claim 17, the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 3. Regarding claim 18, the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 4. Regarding claim 19, the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 5. Regarding claim 20, the claim is interpreted and rejected for the same reason as set forth for claim 6. Conclusion The prior art made of record (see attached PTO-892) and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. A shortened statutory period for reply to this action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of the action. An extension of time may be obtained under 37 CFR 1.136(a). However, in no event, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KYAW Z SOE whose telephone number is (571)270-0304. The examiner can normally be reached on 9am-5pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Charles C Jiang can be reached on 5712707191. 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. /KYAW Z SOE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2412
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 15, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+9.7%)
2y 1m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 357 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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