Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/819,659

LEDGER-BASED PROTOCOL TO VERIFY SOURCES AND TRANSMIT COMMUNICATIONS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 29, 2024
Priority
Jul 01, 2021 — divisional of 12/107,868
Examiner
PERUNGAVOOR, VENKATANARAY
Art Unit
2492
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
T-Mobile USA Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
894 granted / 1022 resolved
+29.5% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+3.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
12 currently pending
Career history
1050
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
14.5%
-25.5% vs TC avg
§103
44.8%
+4.8% vs TC avg
§102
19.1%
-20.9% vs TC avg
§112
10.3%
-29.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1022 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . DETAILED ACTION This office action is in response to the application filed on or reply to the remarks of 4/24/2026. The instant application has claims 1-16, 21-24 pending. The system, method and medium for request for permission to send message having timestamps and time being determined. There a total of 20 claims. Election/Restrictions Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I(claim 1-16) in the reply filed on 4/24/2026 is acknowledged. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Drawings The drawing filed on 8/29/2024 has been accepted and in compliance of 37 CFR 1.83 & 37 CFR 1.84. Specification The disclosure filed on 8/29/2024 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-16, 21-24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by CN 111194066 to Tian et al(hereinafter Tian) Regarding claim 1, 21, Tian discloses A method for verifying the origin of a communication, the method comprising: receiving a request for permission to send a message from a first hardware device associated with a unique identifier, the message having computer readable information and comprising a timestamp associated with a time at which the request was received(Abstract & Page 4 ¶ starting “receiving a connection request…” , connection request with mobile number);responsive to receiving the request, generating a first block for storage on a blockchain,(Page 9 ¶ starting “Step S204…”, block for blockchain) containing at least the unique identifier and the timestamp, determining that the timestamp associated with the message corresponds with the time the request for permission was received(Page 4 ¶ Further, the determining…”, the timestamp being used as random number for generating access verification result & Page 8 ¶ “In an embodiment, the operator..” to Page 9, timestamp using preset time interval); and responsive to determining that the timestamp corresponds with the time the request for permission was received, communicating the message to a second hardware device(Page 9 to Page 10 ¶ starting “ Step S205, …”, the access verification result). Regarding claim 2, 23, Tian discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the request includes register- transfer level data(Page 12 ¶ In an embodiment, the operator…”, the private key and details of mobile phone). Regarding claim 3. Tian discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is based on a tattoo associated with the first hardware device(Page 4 ¶ starting ” receiving a connection request…”, public key of terminal and mobile number is sent). Regarding claim 4. Tian discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the unique identifier is based on silicon(Page 4 ¶ starting ” receiving a connection request…”, public key of terminal, blockchain identifier and mobile number is sent). . Regarding claim 5. Tian discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the message contains an indication of the timestamp and the unique identifier(Page 4 ¶ starting ” receiving a connection request…”, public key of terminal and mobile number is sent). . Regarding claim 6. Tian discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the message is an SMS message(page 11 ¶ “In one embodiment, when terminal…”, mobile messages). Regarding claim 7. Tian discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the message is a machine-to- machine message(page 11 ¶ “In one embodiment, when terminal…”, mobile messages). . Regarding claim 8. Tian discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising generating a ledger identification associated with the blockchain stored on a distributed ledger(Page 8 ¶ “In the step S201,…”, blockchain identifier). Regarding claim 9. Tian discloses A method for providing exposure to a network, the method comprising: receiving a request for access to the network to send a message from a first hardware device, the message having computer readable information and comprising a timestamp associated with a time at which the request was received(Abstract & Page 4 ¶ starting “receiving a connection request…” , connection request with mobile number); responsive to receiving the request, generating a first block for storage on a blockchain(,(Page 9 ¶ starting “Step S204…”, block for blockchain), containing at least the timestamp, determining that the timestamp associated with the message corresponds with the time the request for permission was received(Page 12 ¶ starting “ In an embodiment, the operator broadcasts…”, time interval); and responsive to determining that the timestamp corresponds with the time the request for permission was received, communicating the message to a second hardware device(Page 9 to Page 10 ¶ starting “ Step S205, …”, the access verification result). . Regarding claim 10. Tian discloses the method of claim 9, wherein the first device is an Internet-of- Things device(Page 13 ¶ “The access verification message…”, mobile phone are IoT). Regarding claim 11. Tian discloses the method of claim 9, wherein the first device is an autonomous device(Page 11 ¶” The query module…”, micro base station).. Regarding claim 12, 24, Tian discloses the method of claim 10, further comprising: receiving additional messages to be transmitted from additional hardware devices(Page 13 ¶“the first determining module…” account is determined based on user) ; and aggregating the routing of the additional messages(Page 13 ¶“the first determining module…” account is determined based on user). Regarding claim 13. Tian discloses the method of claim 9, wherein the timestamp associated with the time with which the request was received is associated with an estimate of the time with which the request was received(Page 12 ¶ starting “ In an embodiment, the operator broadcasts…”, time interval). Regarding claim 14, 21, Tian discloses the method of claim 9, wherein granting use of the network is further based on an identifier of the first hardware device(Page 4 ¶Further, the broadcasting an access verification…” to ¶ ending “if the signature …”, the private keys and signatures are used). Regarding claim 15. Tian discloses the method of claim 11, wherein the message is automatically transmitted to a second device(page 11 ¶ “In one embodiment, when terminal…”, mobile messages). Regarding claim 16. Tian discloses the method of claim 15, wherein the second device is an autonomous device(Page 11 ¶” The query module…”, micro base station). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US Patent Pub 2021/0342855 to Kochura, which discloses the usage report for IoT devices. US Patent Pub 2022/0156776 to Long, which discloses the smart contract. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Venkat Perungavoor whose telephone number is (571)272-7213. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5. 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, Rupal Dharia can be reached at 571-272-3880. 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. /VENKAT PERUNGAVOOR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2492 Email: venkatanarayan.perungavoor@uspto.gov
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 29, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 02, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
88%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+3.8%)
2y 8m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1022 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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