Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/912,775

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DATA ROUTING MANAGEMENT

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Oct 11, 2024
Examiner
SALL, EL HADJI MALICK
Art Unit
2457
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Comcast Cable Communications LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
91%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
83%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 91% — above average
91%
Career Allow Rate
829 granted / 909 resolved
+33.2% vs TC avg
Minimal -8% lift
Without
With
+-8.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
924
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
9.1%
-30.9% vs TC avg
§103
38.1%
-1.9% vs TC avg
§102
20.0%
-20.0% vs TC avg
§112
7.7%
-32.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 909 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
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 1. This action is in response to the application filed October 11, 2024. Claims 1-32 are pending. Claims 1-32 represent SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DATA ROUTING MANAGEMENT. Double Patenting The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the claims at issue are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b). The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp. 18/912,775 12143454 11729278 1. A method, comprising: receiving a communication request comprising an identifier; based on receiving the communication request, determining an availability of each first computing device of a first logical grouping of computing devices associated with the identifier; selecting, based on the availability of each first computing device, a second computing device of a second logical grouping of computing devices to process the communication request associated with the identifier; and sending, to the second computing device, the communication request. 1. A method comprising: receiving a communication request comprising an identifier; based on receiving the communication request, determining an availability of a computing device of a first logical grouping of computing devices associated with the identifier; selecting, based on the availability of the computing device satisfying an availability threshold, the computing device to process the communication request; and sending, to the computing device, the communication request. 1. A method comprising: receiving a communication request directed to an address indicative of a first plurality of computing devices; determining, based on a performance capability of a computing device of the first plurality of computing devices satisfying a performance threshold, that the computing device is to process the communication request; and sending, to the computing device and based on the performance capability of the computing device satisfying the performance threshold, the communication request. 10693978 10257290 9736248 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a communication processing system, a communication request directed to an address; determining a performance capability for one or more computing devices of a first logical grouping of computing devices, wherein each computing device of the first logical grouping of computing devices is associated with a respective device identifier; determining, based on the performance capability, a computing device of the first logical grouping of computing devices to process the communication request; and sending, to the determined computing device based on the respective device identifier of the determined computing device, the communication request. 1. A method comprising: receiving, by a communication processing system, a communication request directed to an address; determining one or more performance capabilities of a first logical grouping of computing devices, wherein the first logical grouping of computing devices share the address with a second logical grouping of computing devices, and wherein each computing device of the first logical grouping of computing devices is associated with a respective device identifier; determining, based on the one or more performance capabilities, a computing device of the first logical grouping of computing devices to process the communication request; and transmitting, to the determined computing device based on the respective device identifier of the determined computing device, the communication request. 1. A method comprising: receiving a communication request directed to an address; determining one or more performance capabilities of a first logical grouping of computing devices, wherein the first logical grouping of computing devices share the address; determining whether at least one computing device of the first logical grouping of computing devices can receive the communication request based on the determined one or more performance capabilities; if at least one computing device of the first logical grouping of computing devices can receive the communication request, transmitting the communication request to the at least one computing device of the first logical grouping of computing devices; and if no computing device of the first logical grouping of computing devices can receive the communication request, transmitting the communication request to a second logical grouping of computing devices that share the address. 3. Claims 1-32 of the instant application are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20, 1-20, 1-23 and 1-30 of U.S. Patent No(s). 9,736,248, 10,257,290, 10,693,978, 11,729,278 and 12,143,454, respectively, issued to Rose. Although the conflicting set of claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because a comparison between the two set of claims shows that the instant claims 1-32 are anticipated by claims 1-20, 1-20, 1-23 and 1-30 of patent ‘248, ‘290, ‘978, ‘278 and ‘454. Conclusion 4. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EL HADJI SALL whose telephone number is (571)272-4010. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8:00-8:30 (flexible). 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, Ario Etienne can be reached on 5712724001. 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. /EL HADJI M SALL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2457
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 11, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §DP (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
91%
Grant Probability
83%
With Interview (-8.4%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 909 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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