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 Amendment
This office action is in response to amendments filed on 09/01/2026.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to a mental process without significantly more. As per steps 1 examiner recognizes that claims 11-20 recite apparatus or non-transitory medium on an apparatus performing the method steps. Therefore step 1 is met for claims 11-20. As per claims 1-10 examiner finds that the method claim recites a computer-assisted method performed by a computing device with hardware, such as processor, recited in the preamble. However examiner recognizes that preambles are not always limiting and it is unclear if the preamble limits the following method steps to computer implement method steps. Applicant should amend to indicate a processor or controller performing the steps. Therefore step 1 is not met for claims 1-10. As per step 2A the claim(s) recite(s) “generating, for a battle of a turn-based chess game comprising a first-level store selling chess pieces used in the turn-based chess game and a second-level store selling chess pieces used in the turn-based chess game, a first store interface of the first-level store, wherein the first-level store corresponds to a first functional area combination and the second-level store corresponds to a second functional area combination, and wherein the first store interface displays the first functional area combination in an unlocked state, a difference between the second functional area combination and the first functional area combination in a locked state, and a prompt for upgrading the first-level store to unlock the difference, wherein the prompt indicates that the difference is unlocked at the second-level store; causing the first store interface to be output for display; generating a second store interface of the second-level store in response to receiving one or more user inputs resulting in an upgrade from the first-level store to the second-level store, the second store interface displaying the difference in the unlocked state; causing the second store interface to be output for display; receiving, via the second store interface, an operation to purchase a first chess piece; and causing to be output, for display and based on the receiving, the first chess piece in a chess piece candidate area of the battle of the turn-based chess game.” As being directed towards a battle chess game comprising pieces which are purchased from a store wherein the store is upgraded in order to modify whether or not only level one pieces are available or if level two would also be available. Further dependent claims indicate refresh probabilities for the store, further display steps, additional levels, and interfaces for purchasing another player’s pieces. Examiner recognizes that the claims are directed towards a series of rules with the battle chess game portion being directed generally to having pieces perform a battle on a playing field and rules for governing what is made available for use by a player via a store. Examiner finds that this reads on the mental steps of observation of a game state and a determination of what action to perform next based on established rules. For example as per the battle chess portion this reads on generally carrying out a game which can be done in the mind using established table top game rules for such games. For example commonly known games are chess which involves moving pieces without a computer to more complicated systems such as table top RPG like dungeon and dragons. Therefore a mental step is recited for the battle portion. As per the store these are directed towards rules of the game to govern what is made available and is another mental step commonly performed by gaming operators of a table top game without the aid of a computer. For example buying items in dungeon and dragon stores sold by a person running the game is known. Therefore what is made available and when is another rule that can be performed mentally as a determination step based on a state of a game. This judicial exception is not integrated into a practical application because the claims remain directed towards mental steps. The claim(s) does/do not include additional elements that are sufficient to amount to significantly more than the judicial exception because the rules are directed towards how to play a game and how units are made available for purchase which are rules for playing and not improvements to the function of a machine. For example what is made available in a store for play is a rule of play and does not modify the function of the machine beyond conventional methods of carrying out the game. No improvements to processing or memory requirements is recited for example.
As per step 2B examiner recognizes that limitation directed towards computer hardware and rendering of game characters and stores are directed towards the conventional feature of electronic video games. This includes the recitation of memory, processors, and displaying steps which are generically found in electronic gaming machine including the elements of the computer performing the steps of a game. See cited prior art Grand Mafia for the virtual store and cited prior art Ohashi at paragraph [0003] regarding conventional use of electronic games with maps for carrying out battles. As per the particular images and animations, such as governing how images are covered, this is directed towards the conventional step of outputting images in a computer game and extra solution activity regarding a theme of the game with the particular means of covering and uncovering being a theme for how this game is carried out. Therefore the steps of displaying and controlling of virtual objects and store is conventional to the art and do not provide significantly more.
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.
Claim(s) 1-3, 6-7, 11-13, 16-18, and 21-23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over "Associates Facilities Guide The Grand Mafia Guide" (from www.appgamer.com)(11/25/2020)(hereinafter referred to as Grand Mafia) in view of Ohashi (US Pub. No. 2020/0061474 A1).
As per claims 1, 11, and 16, Grand Mafia teaches a game method, apparatus, and medium (page 1 and 7-8 shows a virtual game) comprising: generating, for a battle of a chess (examiner note: applicant’s disclosure shows that chess is used in terms of strategy and not the actual game of chess therefore examiner interprets the term chess as strategy. See Fig. 1 for example which shows characters on a grid layout but not chess pieces) game (page 1, paragraph [0001] “Sending out your Enforcers to attack in the city” teaches a game wherein characters battle other characters) comprising a first-level store selling chess pieces used in the game and a second-level store selling chess pieces used in the chess game (pages 1-8, Training Center “In order to get higher Tier associates. You can click the lock icon to see the upgrade requirements. One of the basics for unlocking is by getting the correct investment of crew through the Investment Center.” And “You can unlock up to Tier 4 Associates in the Investment Center, and then train them accordingly” with focus on drawings on pages 7-8 which shows a store which includes unlocked characters and locked characters (see greyed out with a lock over the character) with upgrading of shop functions unlocking the locked characters), a first store interface of the first-level store (pages 7-8 see character store with unlocked characters), wherein the first-level store corresponds to a first functional area combination and the second-level store corresponds to a second functional area combination (pages 7-8 which shows a store which includes unlocked characters and locked characters (see greyed out with a lock over the character)), and wherein the first store interface displays the first functional area combination in an unlocked state (pages 7-8 which shows a store which includes unlocked characters), a difference between the second functional area combination and the first functional area combination in a locked state (pages 7-8 which shows a store which includes unlocked characters and locked characters (see greyed out with a lock over the character)), and a prompt for upgrading the first-level store to unlock the difference, wherein the prompt indicates that the difference is unlocked at the second-level store (page 5, paragraph [0001] “In order to get higher Tier associates. You can click the lock icon to see the upgrade requirements.” Information is provided on click which informs a user how to upgrade the store to make available second level characters which acts in the form of a prompt and which informs them of the difference that the unit will be available at the later level versus the current); causing the first store interface to be output for display (pages 7-8); generating a second store interface of the second-level store in response to receiving one or more user inputs resulting in an upgrade from the first-level store to the second-level store, the second store interface displaying the difference in the unlocked state (pages 7-8 shows second tier as unlocked which is an example of second level units becoming available); causing the second store interface to be output for display (pages 7-8); receiving, via the second store interface, an operation to purchase a first chess piece (page 1, Training center and pages 7-8 players can hire characters with associated cost shown). Grand Mafia does not specifically teach a computer-assisted method using one or more processors and memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus performing the method to execute a battle of a turn-based chess game and causing to be output, for display and based on the receiving, the first chess piece in a chess piece candidate area of the battle of the turn-based chess game. However, Ohashi teaches a computer implement gaming method (abstract and paragraph [0007]) comprising a turn-based strategy game (paragraph [0067]) wherein characters are placed on a virtual field and moved to battle other characters (Figs. 4-7 and paragraphs [0068]-[0069] and [0071]). Hence, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to have combined the teachings of Grand Mafia with Ohashi, since the use of strategy turned based games with characters placed and battling on a grid is well-known and enjoyable type of game which combines elements of strategy, like chess, with the excitement of watching characters battle with each other.
As per claims 2, 12, and 17, Grand Mafia teaches a method, apparatus, and medium wherein: the first functional area combination comprises a first number of display positions, the second functional area combination comprises the first number of display positions and a second number of display positions, the difference comprises the second number of display positions, and the generating the second store interface comprises unlocking the second number of display positions on the first store interface to generate the second store interface of the second-level store (pages 7-8 which shows a store which includes unlocked characters and locked characters (see greyed out with a lock over the character)).
As per claims 3, 13, and 18, Grand Mafia teaches a method, apparatus, and medium wherein the unlocking comprises: based on a difference between the second functional area combination corresponding to the second-level store and a third functional area combination corresponding to a third-level store (Figs 7-8, see multiple tiers up to 4), unlocking the second number of display positions on the first store interface (Figs 7-8, see multiple tiers up to 4 with three shown as unlocked with tiers 2-3 would have been previously locked), and adding display of the difference between the second functional area combination and the third functional area combination (pages 7-8 see tiers indicated), wherein the first store interface further displays a prompt for upgrading the first-level store to unlock the difference between the second functional area combination and the third functional area combination (page 5, paragraph [0001] “In order to get higher Tier associates. You can click the lock icon to see the upgrade requirements.” Information is provided on click which informs a user how to upgrade the store to make available different locked tier characters which acts in the form of a prompt).
As per claim 6, Grand Mafia teaches a method wherein before the causing to be output for display the second store interface, the method further comprises: highlighting the difference based on a determination that an upgrade progress of the upgrade reaches a first threshold (page 11, upgrade progress bar is displayed); or causing to be output for display an unlock progress bar in the difference indicating an upgrade progress of the upgrade (page 11, upgrade progress bar is displayed).
As per claim 7, Grand Mafia teaches a method wherein: the first store interface displays the difference in the locked state by adding opaque masks to the second number of display positions to hide chess pieces displayed in the second number of display positions (Figs. 7-8, greyed out making locked characters more opaque), and the causing the second store interface to be output for display comprises: based on a determination that an upgrade progress of upgrading from the first-level store to the second-level store exceeds a second threshold, gradually modifying display of chess pieces in the second number of display positions by controlling opaqueness of the opaque masks to decrease with an increase of the upgrade progress (Figs. 7-8 as upgrades progress the opaqueness of the masks is modified by removing it from some of the characters in a gradual process. For example a certain opaqueness is achieved by having tiers 2-4 covered but this is reduced by gradually uncovering tiers as upgrade occurs); and based on a determination that the upgrade progress is complete, displaying chess pieces in the second number of display positions without the opaque masks (Figs. 7-8 when unlocked all characters are no longer covered).
As per claims 21-23, Grand Mafia teaches a method, apparatus, and medium wherein the prompt indicates a store level of the second-level store at which the difference is unlocked (page 5, paragraph [0001] “In order to get higher Tier associates. You can click the lock icon to see the upgrade requirements.” Information is provided on click which informs a user how to upgrade the store to make available second level characters which acts in the form of a prompt and which informs them of the difference that the unit will be available at the later level versus the current and Page 7, shows information regarding what units are available at a tier which would further indicate a difference).
Claim(s) 5, 8, 15, and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over "Associates Facilities Guide The Grand Mafia Guide" (from www.appgamer.com)(11/25/2020)(hereinafter referred to as Grand Mafia) and Ohashi (US Pub. No. 2020/0061474 A1) in view of "Heroes of Might and Magic II" by Kevin Jacobsen (07/02/2000)(hereinafter referred to as Heroes of Might and Magic).
As per claims 5, 15, and 20, Grand Mafia does not teach a method, apparatus, or medium wherein the method further comprises: based on the upgrade, causing to be output for display a refreshed first store interface; generating the refreshed first store interface by refreshing, according to a first chess piece refresh probability corresponding to the first-level store, a chess piece sold by the first-level store; and generating a refreshed second store interface by refreshing, according to a second chess piece refresh probability corresponding to the second-level store, a chess piece sold by the second-level store, wherein an appearance probability of a first-grade chess piece based on the first chess piece refresh probability is lower than an appearance probability of the first-grade chess piece based on the second chess piece refresh probability, and wherein an appearance probability of a second-grade chess piece based on the first chess piece refresh probability is higher than an appearance probability of the second-grade chess piece based on the second chess piece refresh probability. However, Grand Mafia teaches based on the upgrade, causing to be output for display a refreshed first store interface (Figs. 7-8 as tiers become available they will be shown no longer locked) and Heroes of Might and Magic teaches a game comprising generating of units on a refresh rate set by a current building upgrade (pages 4-5 “C. Foundry Cost: 1,500 Gold + 5 Ore + 5 Wood Building Requirements: Habitat Growth: 4 Iron Golems per week D. Foundry Upgrade Cost: 1,500 Gold + 5 Mercury Building Requirements: Foundry, Well” and page 6 “Q. Well Cost: 500 Gold Effect: Increases creature production by 2 for each structure.” Which shows the production of certain buildings or upgrades of building modifies the rate, or chance, of a unit appearing each week of a certain amount. For example going from 4 Iron golems to 4 steel golems based on the upgrade). Hence, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to have combined the teachings of Grand Mafia with Ohashi and Heroes of Might and Magic, since Grand Mafia is modifiable to use various game features including the feature of a certain number of units being made available on refresh, time basis such a the weekly feature of Heroes of Might and Magic, based on current upgrade level since this both encourages users to upgrade to achieve better units and better refresh rates and increases the users care for the units by limiting them to the refresh rate thereby enhancing the strategy element by making units not easy to replace. As per the use of a flat rate versus a percentage this is a design feature regarding how a developer wishes to implement when a unit refreshes and does not change the inventive concept of virtual store upgrades to have a percentage of units appearing or a flat rate since both are set by upgrading and a percentage is just another means to determine what appears.
As per claim 8, Grand Mafia does not teach a method wherein the method further comprises: in response to a store refresh operation, refreshing, according to a first chess piece refresh probability corresponding to the first-level store, chess pieces displayed in the first number of display positions; and refreshing, according to a second chess piece refresh probability corresponding to the second-level store, chess pieces displayed in the second number of display positions. However, Heroes of Might and Magic teaches a game comprising generating of units on a refresh rate set by a current building upgrade (pages 4-5 “C. Foundry Cost: 1,500 Gold + 5 Ore + 5 Wood Building Requirements: Habitat Growth: 4 Iron Golems per week D. Foundry Upgrade Cost: 1,500 Gold + 5 Mercury Building Requirements: Foundry, Well” and page 6 “Q. Well Cost: 500 Gold Effect: Increases creature production by 2 for each structure.” Which shows the production of certain buildings or upgrades of building modifies the rate, or chance, of a unit appearing each week of a certain amount. For example going from 4 Iron golems to 4 steel golems based on the upgrade). Hence, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to have combined the teachings of Grand Mafia with Ohashi and Heroes of Might and Magic, since Grand Mafia is modifiable to use various game features including the feature of a certain number of units being made available on refresh, time basis such as the weekly feature of Heroes of Might and Magic, based on current upgrade level since this both encourages users to upgrade to achieve better units and better refresh rates and increases the users care for the units by limiting them to the refresh rate thereby enhancing the strategy element by making units not easy to replace. As per the use of a flat rate versus a percentage this is a design feature regarding how a developer wishes to implement when a unit refreshes and does not change the inventive concept of virtual store upgrades to have a percentage of units appearing or a flat rate since both are set by upgrading and a percentage is just another means to determine what appears.
Claim(s) 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over "Associates Facilities Guide The Grand Mafia Guide" (from www.appgamer.com)(11/25/2020)(hereinafter referred to as Grand Mafia) and Ohashi (US Pub. No. 2020/0061474 A1) in view of Condrey (US Pub. No. 2016/0158656 A1).
As per claim 9, Grand Mafia does not teach a method wherein at least one of the second number of display positions is associated with a store exchange card for sale, and the method further comprises: refreshing, in response to receiving an operation of purchasing the store exchange card, the second store interface to display a third store interface, wherein the third store interface is a store interface of an enemy user account and comprises second chess piece; and causing to be output for display the second chess piece in the chess piece candidate area of the battle of the turn-based chess game in response to receiving an operation of purchasing the second chess piece via the third store interface. However, Condrey teaches a multiplayer game (abstract) wherein a player is encouraged to buy an item used by an opponent when defeated by the opponent (paragraph [0089]). Hence, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to have combined the teachings of Grand Mafia with Ohashi and Condrey, since by providing a prompt, see Condrey, and store interface (if a game prompts to make a purchase providing the means to purchase in the same prompt would speed up the purchasing action) to allow a player to buy a character used by an opponent that defeated them the gaming operators encourage sales based on the frustration of a player losing at the time rather than waiting for later when the player may no longer be frustrated and unwilling to make a purchase.
Claim(s) 10 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over "Associates Facilities Guide The Grand Mafia Guide" (from www.appgamer.com)(11/25/2020)(hereinafter referred to as Grand Mafia) and Ohashi (US Pub. No. 2020/0061474 A1) in view of Condrey (US Pub. No. 2016/0158656 A1) and "Heroes of Might and Magic II" by Kevin Jacobsen (07/02/2000)(hereinafter referred to as Heroes of Might and Magic).
As per claim 10, Grand Mafia does not teach a method wherein the refreshing the second store interface to display a third store interface comprises: sending a store exchange request to a server, wherein the store exchange request comprises a request to exchange stores of two parties of the battle; receiving a store exchange instruction sent by the server, wherein the store exchange instruction comprises the third store interface of the enemy user account; and refreshing the second store interface to display the third store interface according to the store exchange instruction. However, Condrey teaches a multiplayer game (abstract) wherein a player is encouraged to buy an item used by an opponent when defeated by the opponent (paragraph [0089]) and Heroes of Might and Magic teaches a game comprising generating of units on a refresh rate set by a current building upgrade (pages 4-5 “C. Foundry Cost: 1,500 Gold + 5 Ore + 5 Wood Building Requirements: Habitat Growth: 4 Iron Golems per week D. Foundry Upgrade Cost: 1,500 Gold + 5 Mercury Building Requirements: Foundry, Well” and page 6 “Q. Well Cost: 500 Gold Effect: Increases creature production by 2 for each structure.” Which shows the production of certain buildings or upgrades of building modifies the rate, or chance, of a unit appearing each week of a certain amount. For example going from 4 Iron golems to 4 steel golems based on the upgrade). Hence, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of filing to have combined the teachings of Grand Mafia with Ohashi and Condrey, since by providing a prompt, see Condrey, and store interface (if a game prompts to make a purchase providing the means to purchase in the same prompt would speed up the purchasing action) to allow a player to buy a character used by an opponent that defeated them the gaming operators encourage sales based on the frustration of a player losing at the time rather than waiting for later when the player may no longer be frustrated and unwilling to make a purchase. Further Grand Mafia is modifiable to use various game features including the feature of a certain number of units being made available on refresh, time basis such as the weekly feature of Heroes of Might and Magic, based on current upgrade level since this both encourages users to upgrade to achieve better units and better refresh rates and increases the users care for the units by limiting them to the refresh rate thereby enhancing the strategy element by making units not easy to replace. As per the use of a flat rate versus a percentage this is a design feature regarding how a developer wishes to implement when a unit refreshes and does not change the inventive concept of virtual store upgrades to have a percentage of units appearing or a flat rate since both are set by upgrading and a percentage is just another means to determine what appears.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 09/01/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that amended claims overcome the previous 101 rejection. As per step 1 see above wherein examiner indicates that preambles are not always limiting and therefore for clarity applicant should indicate a processor performing the method steps. Applicant further argues that the claims do not recite a mental process because the claims require a display which cannot be performed in the human mind. Examiner indicates this is addressed in step 2B as conventional features in the gaming art and therefore does not overcome the rejection. The inclusion of a conventional computer performing a judicial exception is not found to be patentable under 101. As per example 37 applicant argues that the claims are directed towards similar automation methods as found in the example and therefore similarly overcome 101. Examiner points out that the mental steps are not directed towards automation but the play of a game based on game rules which are mental steps as indicated in the 101 rejection above and therefore the current claims are not similar to example 37. Applicant argues that an improvement is provided via the quick updating and displaying of information. Examiner is unclear how this goes beyond the updating of a display with a current state of the game as is known and finds that the claims remain directed towards how to play a game. The locking or unlocking of features in a game store are related to mental steps regarding rules for play. Communicating that information is conventional in nature. For example Grand Mafia displays a virtual store that communicates information to a user as the game updates. Therefore the action of updating a display with information is conventional in nature as currently claimed.
In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., prompt without user interaction) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
Applicant argues against the previous 103 rejection regarding the difference between the prompt of Grand Mafia and applicant’s prompt. Specifically that information is displayed based on interaction. Examiner points out as indicated above that this is not claimed. Additionally Grand Mafia displays the lock or unlocked symbol without user interaction and that this is a form of a prompt to provide information to a user. Clicking for further details would not read away from the current limitations. Applicant further focuses on individual upgrade portions as an argument that the store itself is not upgraded based on tiers. Examiner respectfully disagrees. However the games makes the upgrade to a new tier available the store does include unlocking associates in the game which would be a higher tier for the store. Different levels of the store would include more items or associates being available. Therefore this argument is not persuasive.
Applicant argues that claim 6 is not taught via the progress bars. However examiner finds that page 11 shows that when upgrading a progress bar is displayed which indicates a difference and a unlock progress and that these features are tied to upgrade requirements. Specifically the upgrading is part of the unlocking. For example a higher training center is required and the time to achieve this is displayed which is a difference between the current state. Additionally unit training is shown in the progress bar showing a difference when buying a unit.
As per claim 7 applicant argues that a gradual removal of opaqueness is not taught. Examiner indicates the office action argues that as masks are removed that this would be a gradual process. Applicant should clarify this step. However examiner also indicates this would be an obvious design choice to display a modification as a process of time and therefore would be rejected accordingly. As per claims 5, 8, 15, and 20 examiner indicates that applicant has not addressed the argued obvious design feature as a combination of arts. Using a percentage versus a flat rate is a design feature implements as per a developer and does not modify the inventive concept of the virtual store as per applicant’s claims. Therefore arguments that the prior art does not specifically teach this feature is not persuasive. As per claims 9 and 10 applicant makes an argument that the obvious rejection is not supported since the displayed information in the secondary art is not specifically the same. However examiner indicates that the rejection is making the argument that it would have been obvious to display this information in light of the secondary art in order to encourage further purchases to match an opponent. The specific layout, the means to purchase, and other features are obvious modification to achieve the goal of having a user make that purchase. Therefore the rejection is maintained.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 JUSTIN L MYHR whose telephone number is (571)270-7847. The examiner can normally be reached 10AM-6PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Dmitry Suhol can be reached at (571) 272-4430. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JUSTIN L MYHR/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3715 10/8/2026
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