Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/891,066

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENABLING OBSERVABILITY OF BACKEND STORAGE EVENT TO FRONT-END HOST

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Sep 20, 2024
Priority
Sep 04, 2024 — CN 202411234534.0
Examiner
NGUYEN, CATHERINE MARIE
Art Unit
2114
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Dell Products L.P.
OA Round
4 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
4-5
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
15 granted / 18 resolved
+28.3% vs TC avg
Strong +28% interview lift
Without
With
+27.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
10 currently pending
Career history
33
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
11.7%
-28.3% vs TC avg
§103
51.2%
+11.2% vs TC avg
§102
11.7%
-28.3% vs TC avg
§112
19.8%
-20.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 18 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 . Claims 1-4 and 6-12 are pending for examination. This Office Action is FINAL. Claim Objections Claim 6 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 6, last four lines: change to “…continuously monitor the VPD page via an input/output storage channel over which data is written from the host information handling system to the remote storage array [[between the host information handling system and the remote storage array]] and determine whether the critical event has occurred based on the status information.” Appropriate correction is required. 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. (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 6 and 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Velayuthaperumal et al. (US 20200159621 A1, hereinafter “Velayuthaperumal”). Regarding Claim 6, Velayuthaperumal discloses a remote storage array (Fig. 6: storage subsystem 124) configured to communicatively couple to a host information handling system (Fig. 6: coupled to management computer 604. Management computer 604 connected to bus 528 to management controller 522. [0077]: management controller 522 communicates with remote external computers over management bus 528. Although external computers coupled to management bus 528 may be host computers 104, they may also be management computers or client computers where a system admin may configure and manage RAID controller 108. Although labeled as management computer 604, [0077] supports another host computer 104 to serve as management computer 604. For simplicity, please note that all uses of “management computer 604” and “system admin” hereinafter will refer to host computer 104), the remote storage array comprising: one or more storage resources (Fig. 6: storage devices 116); a vital product data (VPD) page stored on one of the one or more storage resources ([0103]: storage device failure log 616 stored in a storage device 116); and a controller configured to write status information to the VPD page (Fig. 6; [0100]-[0103]: RAID controller 108 (Fig. 1b: embedded in storage subsystem 124) records the storage device ID and physical location corresponding to the storage device 116 containing the block of data that experienced the miscompare), including information regarding whether a critical event has occurred at the remote storage array that can lead to data loss of data written from the host information handling system to the remote storage array ([0130]-[0131]: if more than one storage device was recorded in storage device failure log 616, this means that more than two storage devices 116 had miscompares, resulting in a possible data loss. [0121]: miscompare determined by reading data from storage device 116. [0058]: hosts 104 writes data to storage devices 116 via RAID controller 108), wherein the host information handling system comprises a storage monitor ([0077]: management computer 604 regarded as host computer 104. Fig. 6; [0083]: system admins manage RAID controller 108 and storage subsystem 124 through management computer 604 (“storage monitor”), where management tasks include monitoring events in RAID controller 108) configured to continuously monitor the VPD page via an input/output storage channel over which data is written from the host information handling system to remote storage array between the host information handling system and the remote storage array (Fig. 5-6: [0081]: host computers 104 send I/O requests (read/write) to RAID controller 108 across host buses 112. RAID controller 108 sends read and write requests to storage devices 116. [0083]: system admins perform management tasks through management computer 604, including reading error logs that identify failing storage devices 116 from a storage device failure log 616 in non-volatile memory (NVM) 518. Fig. 6; [0077]: management controller 522 allows system admins to communicate remotely with RAID controller 108 and obtain debug and error logs, monitor performance. Management controller 522 communicates with remote computers (hosts 104, management computers) over management bus 528. Fig. 1b; [0085]: RAID controller 108 embedded within storage subsystem 124. [0103]: storage device failure log 616 may be stored, in place of NVM 518, in a storage device 116. I/O channel interpreted as combination of buses 112 + 528. Thus, host 104 reads error logs (“VPD”) stored in a storage device 116, remotely coupled to host 104 via bus 528 of channel 112 + 528) and determine whether the critical event has occurred based on the status information ([0083]: system admins can read error logs that identify failing storage devices 116 from storage device failure log 616 and take a specific action to repair or remedy the logged storage devices 116 failure. [0133]: determines possible permanent data loss of the identified storage devices 116 from storage device failure log 616). Regarding Claim 8, Velayuthaperumal discloses the storage array of Claim 6, as referenced above, wherein the critical event is indicative of performance issues associated with the remote storage array (Velayuthaperumal: [0101]-[0103]: storage device failure log 616 contains storage device IDs corresponding to the storage device 116 containing the data block that experienced the miscompare ([0098]: coherency error). Fig. 6; [0077]: management controller 522, shown embedded within RAID controller 108, communicates with remote external computers over management bus 528… external computers may be host computers 104. Fig. 1b; [0085]: RAID controller 108 embedded within storage subsystem 124, the storage subsystem 124 containing storage device 116. Since host computers 104 are remote, storage subsystem 124 containing storage device 116 are also remote relative to host computers 104). 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. Claims 1-3, 7, and 9-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani et al. (US 20110238887 A1, hereinafter “Bazzani”). Regarding Claim 1, Velayuthaperumal discloses an information handling system (Fig. 6: hosts 104 + management computer 604) comprising: a host information handling system (Fig. 6: management computer 604 connected to bus 528 to management controller 522. [0077]: management controller 522 communicates with remote external computers over management bus 528. Although external computers coupled to management bus 528 may be host computers 104, they may also be management computers or client computers where a system admin may configure and manage RAID controller 108. Although labeled as management computer 604, [0077] supports host computer 104 to serve as management computer 604. For simplicity, please note that all uses of “management computer 604” and “system admin” hereinafter will refer to host computer 104) comprising: a storage monitor (Fig. 6; [0083]: Fig. 6; [0083]: system admins manage RAID controller 108 and storage subsystem 124 through management computer 604 (“storage monitor”), where management tasks include monitoring events in RAID controller 108) …configured to…: read status information from a vital product data (VPD) page stored on a remote storage volume communicatively coupled to the storage monitor via an input/output storage channel over which data is written from the host information handling system to the remote storage volume (Fig. 5-6: [0081]: host computers 104 send I/O requests (read/write) to RAID controller 108 across host buses 112. RAID controller 108 sends read and write requests to storage devices 116. [0083]: system admins perform management tasks through management computer 604, including reading error logs that identify failing storage devices 116 from a storage device failure log 616 in non-volatile memory (NVM) 518. Fig. 6; [0077]: management controller 522 allows system admins to communicate remotely with RAID controller 108 and obtain debug and error logs, monitor performance. Management controller 522 communicates with remote computers (hosts 104, management computers) over management bus 528. Fig. 1b; [0085]: RAID controller 108 embedded within storage subsystem 124. [0103]: storage device failure log 616 may be stored, in place of NVM 518, in a storage device 116. I/O channel interpreted as combination of buses 112 + 528. Thus host 104 reads error logs (“VPD”) stored in a storage device 116, remotely coupled to host 104 via bus 528 of channel 112 + 528); determine from the status information whether a critical event has occurred at the remote storage volume that can lead to data loss of data ([0083]: system admins can read error logs that identify failing storage devices 116 from storage device failure log 616 and take a specific action to repair or remedy the logged storage devices 116 failure. [0133]: determines possible permanent data loss of the identified storage devices 116 from storage device failure log 616) written from the information handling system to the remote storage volume ([0058]: hosts 104 writes data to RAID controller 108, then written to storage devices 116. Thus, permanent data loss refers to data written from hosts 104 to remote storage devices 116); and Velayuthaperumal does not disclose: …a host information handling system comprising: a processor; and… a program of instructions embodied in non-transitory computer readable media… executed by the processor responsive to a determination that the critical event has occurred, suspend write operations to the remote storage volume. However, Bazzani teaches: a host information handling system comprising: a processor (Fig. 3: processor(s) 310); and… a program of instructions embodied in non-transitory computer readable media (Fig. 3; [0049]: state monitoring application 332 (program module or set of instructions) embodied in memory 324. [0048]: memory 324 may include various non-transitory computer readable media such as ROM, RAM, EROM, etc.) executed by the processor ([0060]) responsive to a determination that the critical event has occurred, suspend write operations to the remote storage volume ([0045]: responsive to the reported operating state 124 indicating HDD 110 may shut down or may be lost/degraded, hybrid storage device 100 completes the write operation in flash memory 122. I.e., write operations to HDD are suspended and redirected to flash memory 122). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to combine Velayuthaperumal and Bazzani by implementing the hardware environment and write redirect as taught by Bazzani. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to make this modification in order to apply the method in a computing environment and increase storage reliability by completing the write operation in a secondary location after detecting imminent risk of data loss (Bazzani: [0023]). Regarding Claim 2, Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani teaches the information handling system of Claim 1, as referenced above. Bazzani further teaches: wherein the critical event is indicative of an imminent shut down of the remote storage volume ([0045]: change in the reporting operating state 124 indicates HDD 110 may shut down). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to further combine Velayuthaperumal and Bazzani by implementing the reporting state when monitoring a storage device (HDD 110) taught by Bazzani towards the monitored storage device taught by Velayuthaperumal (Fig. 1b; Fig. 6; [0077]; [0085]: remote storage device 116). One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to make this modification to remediate against change in environmental state information and storage sensitivity (Bazzani: [0023], [0042]). Regarding Claim 3, Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani teaches the information handling system of Claim 1, as referenced above, wherein the critical event is indicative of performance issues associated with the remote storage volume (Velayuthaperumal: [0101]-[0103]: storage device failure log 616 contains storage device IDs corresponding to the storage device 116 containing the data block that experienced the miscompare ([0098]: coherency error). Fig. 6; [0077]: management controller 522, shown embedded within RAID controller 108, communicates with remote external computers over management bus 528… external computers may be host computers 104. Fig. 1b; [0085]: RAID controller 108 embedded within storage subsystem 124, the storage subsystem 124 containing storage device 116. Since host computers 104 are remote, storage subsystem 124 containing storage device 116 are also remote relative to host computers 104). Regarding Claim 7, Velayuthaperumal discloses the storage array of Claim 6, as referenced above. Velayuthaperumal does not disclose: wherein the critical event is indicative of an imminent shut down of the remote storage array. However, Bazzani teaches: wherein the critical event is indicative of an imminent shut down of the remote storage array ([0045]: change in the reporting operating state 124 indicates HDD 110 may shut down). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to combine Velayuthaperumal and Bazzani by implementing the reporting state when monitoring a storage device (HDD 110) taught by Bazzani towards the monitored storage device taught by Velayuthaperumal (Fig. 1b; Fig. 6; [0077]; [0085]: remote storage device 116). One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to make this modification to remediate against change in environmental state information and storage sensitivity (Bazzani: [0023], [0042]). Regarding Claim 9, Velayuthaperumal discloses a system (Fig. 6) comprising: a remote storage array (Fig. 6: storage subsystem 124), comprising: one or more storage resources (Fig. 6: storage devices 116); a vital product data (VPD) page stored on one of the one or more storage resources ([0103]: storage device failure log 616 stored in a storage device 116); and a controller configured to write status information to the VPD page (Fig. 6; [0100]-[0103]: RAID controller 108 (Fig. 1b: embedded in storage subsystem 124) records the storage device ID and physical location corresponding to the storage device 116 containing the block of data that experienced the miscompare), including information regarding whether a critical event has occurred at the remote storage array that can lead to data loss of data written to the remote storage array ([0130]-[0131]: if more than one storage device was recorded in storage device failure log 616, this means that more than two storage devices 116 had miscompares, resulting in a possible data loss. [0121]: miscompared determined by reading data from storage device 116. [0058]: hosts 104 writes data to storage devices 116 via RAID controller 108); and a host information handling system communicatively coupled to the remote storage array via an input/output storage channel over which data is written from the host information handling system to the remote storage array (Fig. 5-6: [0081]: host computers 104 send I/O requests (read/write) to RAID controller 108 across host buses 112. RAID controller 108 sends read and write requests to storage devices 116. [0077]: management controller 522 communicates with remote computers (hosts 104, management computers) over management bus 528. Although labeled as management computer 604, [0077] supports host computer 104 to serve as management computer 604. For simplicity, please note that all uses of “management computer 604” and “system admin” hereinafter will refer to host computer 104. I/O channel interpreted as combination of buses 112 + 528. Host computer 104 remotely coupled to storage subsystem 124 via channel = buses 112 + 528), the host information handling system comprising: a storage monitor (Fig. 6; [0083]: system admins manage RAID controller 108 and storage subsystem 124 through management computer 604 (“storage monitor”), where management tasks include monitoring events in RAID controller 108) …configured to…: read the status information from the VPD page ([0083]: system admins perform management tasks through management computer 604, including reading error logs that identify failing storage devices 116 from a storage device failure log 616); determine from the status information whether the critical event has occurred ([0133]: determines possible permanent data loss of the identified storage devices 116 from storage device failure log 616); and Velayuthaperumal does not disclose: a processor; …a program of instructions embodied in non-transitory computer readable media… executed by the processor responsive to a determination that the critical event has occurred, suspend write operations to the remote storage array. However, Bazzani teaches: a host information handling system comprising: a processor (Fig. 3: processor(s) 310); and… a program of instructions embodied in non-transitory computer readable media (Fig. 3; [0049]: state monitoring application 332 (program module or set of instructions) embodied in memory 324. [0048]: memory 324 may include various non-transitory computer readable media such as ROM, RAM, EROM, etc.) executed by the processor ([0060]) responsive to a determination that the critical event has occurred, suspend write operations to the remote storage volume ([0045]: responsive to the reported operating state 124 indicating HDD 110 may shut down or may be lost/degraded, hybrid storage device 100 completes the write operation in flash memory 122. I.e., write operations to HDD are suspended and redirected to flash memory 122). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to combine Velayuthaperumal and Bazzani by implementing the hardware environment and write redirect as taught by Bazzani. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to make this modification in order to apply the method in a computing environment and increase storage reliability by completing the write operation in a secondary location after detecting imminent risk of data loss (Bazzani: [0023]). Regarding Claim 10, Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani teaches the system of Claim 9, as referenced above. Bazzani further teaches: wherein the critical event is indicative of an imminent shut down of the remote storage array [0045]: change in the reporting operating state 124 indicates HDD 110 may shut down). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to further combine Velayuthaperumal and Bazzani by implementing the reporting state when monitoring a storage device (HDD 110) taught by Bazzani towards the monitored storage device taught by Velayuthaperumal (Fig. 1b; Fig. 6; [0077]; [0085]: remote storage device 116). One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to make this modification to remediate against change in environmental state information and storage sensitivity (Bazzani: [0023], [0042]). Regarding Claim 11, Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani teaches the system of Claim 9, as referenced above, wherein the critical event is indicative of performance issues associated with the remote storage array (Velayuthaperumal: [0101]-[0103]: storage device failure log 616 contains storage device IDs corresponding to the storage device 116 containing the data block that experienced the miscompare ([0098]: coherency error). Fig. 6; [0077]: management controller 522, shown embedded within RAID controller 108, communicates with remote external computers over management bus 528… external computers may be host computers 104. Fig. 1b; [0085]: RAID controller 108 embedded within storage subsystem 124, the storage subsystem 124 containing storage device 116. Since host computers 104 are remote, storage subsystem 124 containing storage device 116 are also remote relative to host computers 104). Claims 4 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani, in further view of Gold (US 20020101711 A1). Regarding Claim 4, Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani teaches the information handling system of Claim 1, as referenced above. Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani does not teach: wherein the program of instructions is further configured to inject a notification regarding the critical event into a service of an operating system of the information handling system. However, Gold teaches: wherein the program of instructions is further configured to inject a notification regarding the critical event into a service of an operating system of the information handling system ([0103]: in the event of a non-fatal RAID hardware failure, the RAID management module can display a set of hardware failure alert messages on the status page of the web administration interface. Hardware failure alerts display a “critical severity” message. Known to one of ordinary skill in the art that a web interface runs on a web browser, which runs on an OS. Thus, a critical severity failure message (“notification”) is sent to and displayed on a web interface (“OS service”)). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to combine Velayuthaperumal, Bazzani, and Gold by implementing web-based RAID failure notification taught by Gold. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to make this modification in order to immediately alert the user without delay and allow the user to replace the failed storage devices upon receiving the alert (Gold: [0098]). Regarding Claim 12, Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani teaches the system of Claim 9, as referenced above. Velayuthaperumal in view of Bazzani does not teach: wherein the program of instructions is further configured to inject a notification regarding the critical event into a service of an operating system of the information handling system. However, Gold teaches: wherein the program of instructions is further configured to inject a notification regarding the critical event into a service of an operating system of the information handling system ([0103]: in the event of a non-fatal RAID hardware failure, the RAID management module can display a set of hardware failure alert messages on the status page of the web administration interface. Hardware failure alerts display a “critical severity” message. Known to one of ordinary skill in the art that a web interface runs on a web browser, which runs on an OS. Thus, critical severity failure alert messages (“notifications”) are sent to and displayed on a web interface running on an OS). Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to one of ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains to combine Velayuthaperumal, Bazzani, and Gold by implementing web-based RAID failure notification taught by Gold. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to make this modification in order to immediately alert the user without delay and allow the user to replace the failed storage devices upon receiving the alert (Gold: [0098]). Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 07/16/2026 with respect to 35 U.S.C. 103 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Regarding claim objections, amendments have overcome previously raised issues such that the objection of claim 6 has been withdrawn. Regarding 35 U.S.C. 112(a), amendments have overcome previously raised issues such that the rejections of claims 1-4 and 6-12 have been withdrawn. Regarding 35 U.S.C. 112(b), amendments overcome previously raised issues such that the rejection of claim 12 has been withdrawn. Regarding 35 U.S.C. 103, Applicant argues: Page 8: “The Examiner alleges that Velayuthaperumal discloses this claim feature at paragraphs [0077], [0083], [0085], and [0103], contending that "management computer 604 reads error logs ("VPD") stored in a storage device 116, remotely coupled to management computer 604 via management controller 522 and management bus 528." (Office Action at Pages 6-7). Thus, the Examiner equates management computer 604 to the claimed storage monitor, storage device 116 to the claimed remote storage volume, and management bus 528 to the claimed input/output storage channel. However, management bus 528 is an out-of-band management channel that is distinct from the data path over which host computer 104 writes data to storage devices 116 via RAID controller 108. Indeed, Velayuthaperumal describes that "management controller 522 communicates with remote external computers over management bus 528" to configure and manage RAID controller 108. Velayuthaperumal at [0077], [0083]. The claims, however, recite that the storage monitor reads and monitors the VPD page via an input/output storage channel "over which data is written from the host information handling system to the remote storage volume." In other words, the same in-band storage path used for data operations. As the Specification describes, such configuration means that "host information handling system 102 is not required to establish a separate communications channel for receiving status notifications."” Examiner respectfully disagrees. 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., in-band channel) 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). With respect to Claim 1 and similar independent claims, the claims merely recite “an I/O channel over which data is written from the host IHS to the remote storage array.” From Fig. 5-6 and [0077] of Velayuthaperumal, the combination of buses 112 and 528 form a single channel as they both connect to hosts 104. Thus, the rejections of the independent claims and corresponding dependent claims are maintained. Prior Art of Record The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: Carlough et al. (US 20190158223 A1) – [0042]: communication channel 112 can be implemented as two unidirectional buses or as a bi-directional bus with CRC checking in each direction. Further emphasizes multiple buses can form a channel Kano (US 20160080893 A1) – two buses of a memory bus 121 and media bus 122 as a communication channel Liu et al. (US 11200132 B1) -- client writes data to be backed up to backup storage system 115 = remote storage. Logs are stored on DAE (storage volume of remote storage array) and transferred to host server for admin analysis. Does not describe where admin is; unknown whether admin is a client, the host server, or a separate entity. Ofer (US 5935260 A) – Fig. 1-2: host reads/writes over bus 13 to remote disk array. Writes to controller [Wingdings font/0xE0] cache [Wingdings font/0xE0] disk. Error information about storage device maintained in cache; host requests to read said information over bus 13 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 CATHERINE MARIE NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-6160. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM ET. 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, ASHISH THOMAS can be reached at (571) 272-0631. 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. /C.M.N./Examiner, Art Unit 2114 /ASHISH THOMAS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2114
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 9 earlier events
Mar 20, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Jul 16, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 05, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Aug 17, 2026
Interview Requested
Aug 26, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Aug 26, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Sep 10, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
83%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+27.5%)
2y 2m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
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