Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/940,424

UNIVERSAL AUTHENTICATOR APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING HOST SERVICES

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Nov 07, 2024
Examiner
SU, SARAH
Art Unit
2431
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
I Ideas LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 11m
To Grant
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allow Rate
537 granted / 672 resolved
+21.9% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+18.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
689
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
11.3%
-28.7% vs TC avg
§103
50.4%
+10.4% vs TC avg
§102
19.5%
-20.5% vs TC avg
§112
8.8%
-31.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 672 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
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 . Priority The claim for priority from US Application 18/649,633, now US Patent 12,155,652, filed on 29 April 2024, which claims priority from US Provisional 63/528,101 filed on 21 July 2023 and US Provisional 63/462,580 filed on 28 April 2023 is duly noted. Drawings The drawings were received on 7 January 2025. These drawings are acceptable. 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 conflicting claims 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); 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 nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined 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 § 2146 et seq. 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 filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13. The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual 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 www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. Claims 1-20 rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-24 of U.S. Patent No. 12,155,633. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the instant application is anticipated by the ‘633 Patent. US Application 18/940,424 US Patent 12,155,633 1. A method, comprising: accessing an authenticator application product with a user device; generating a unique user identifier for a user account associated with the authenticator application product; selecting, with the authenticator application product, a given host service from multiple host service providers, the multiple host service providers being accessible over a computing network and registered with the unique user identifier and the user account; executing, with the authenticator application product and on the user device, multiple verification processes for the user of the user account; transmitting, via the authenticator application product, the unique user identifier to the given host service responsive to confirmation by the authenticator application product of authenticity of the multiple verification processes; receiving, from the given host service, sign in indicia or code, the sign in indicia or code being displayed on the user device or a smart device capable of executing the given host service; entering, via the authenticator application product, the sign in indicia or code, with the user device, to access the given host service; and receiving the given host service on the smart device, wherein the steps are implemented by one or more processors coupled to memory. 1. A method, comprising: opening an authenticator application product with a user device; creating a user account with the authenticator application product; initiating multiple authentication processes associated with the authenticator application product for a user of the user device; executing the multiple authentication processes of the user with the user device; generating a unique user identifier for the user account based at least in part on the multiple authentication processes; registering the unique user identifier with multiple host service providers, the multiple host service providers providing different host services; selecting on the authenticator application product with the user device a given host service from the multiple host service providers registered with the user account, including: executing multiple verification processes associated with the authenticator application product for the user, the multiple verification processes corresponding to at least some of the multiple authentication processes with the user device; and transmitting by the authenticator application product the unique user identifier to the given host service responsive to confirmation that the multiple verification processes correspond to at least some of the multiple authentication processes; receiving, from the given host service, sign in indicia or code, the sign in indicia or code being displayed on a smart device capable of executing the given host service; entering, via the authenticator application product, the sign in indicia or code, with the user device, to access the given host service; and receiving the given host service on the smart device, wherein the steps are implemented by one or more processors coupled to memory. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the unique user identifier is the same for each host service provider of the multiple host service providers. 7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the unique user identifier is the same for each different host service provider. 3. The method according to claim 2 wherein executing the multiple verification processes includes using the user device to verify the user through multiple ones of passcode recognition, facial verification, voice verification, fingerprint verification, iris verification, retinal verification or DNA verification. 3. The method according to claim 2 wherein executing the multiple verification processes includes using the user device to verify the user through the multiple ones of the passcode recognition, facial verification, voice verification, fingerprint verification, iris verification, retinal verification or DNA verification. 4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the sign in indicia or code includes visual indicia and wherein entering the sign in code or indicia includes scanning the visual indicia with an imaging module of the user device. 4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the sign in indicia or code includes visual indicia and wherein entering the sign in code or indicia includes scanning the visual indicia with an imaging module of the user device. 5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the visual indicia includes a quick response (QR) code. 5. The method according to claim 4 wherein the visual indicia includes a quick response (QR) code. 6. The method according to claim 2 wherein selecting the authenticator application product, with the user device, the given host service, further includes displaying the multiple host service providers registered with the user account on one of a display or menu of the user device. 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein selecting the authenticator application product with the user device the given host service further includes displaying the multiple host service providers registered with the user account on one of a display or menu of the user device. 7. The method according to claim 6 wherein displaying the multiple host service providers occurs subsequent to executing multiple verification processes associated with the authenticator application product for the user. 9. The method according to claim 8 wherein displaying the multiple host service providers occurs subsequent to executing multiple verification processes associated with the authenticator application product for the user. 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the user device is the same as the smart device. 10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the user device is the same as the smart device. 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the smart device is an electronic device. 11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the smart device is an electronic device. 10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the smart device includes one of a TV, a smart TV, a computer, a Tablet, a laptop, a desktop, and a smart phone. 12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the smart device includes one of a TV, a smart TV, a computer, a Tablet, a laptop, a desktop, and a smart phone. 11. A computer program product, tangibly stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising computer-executable instructions, wherein when executed, the computer-executable instructions cause a device to: access an authenticator application product with a user device; generate a unique user identifier for a user account associated with the authenticator application product; select, with the authenticator application product, a given host service from multiple host service providers, the multiple host service providers being accessible over a computing network and registered with the unique user identifier and the user account; execute, with the authenticator application product and on the user device, multiple verification processes for the user of the user account; transmit, via the authenticator application product, the unique user identifier to the given host service responsive to confirmation by the authenticator application product of authenticity of the multiple verification processes; receive, from the given host service, sign in indicia or code, the sign in indicia or code being displayed on the user device or a smart device capable of executing the given host service; enter, via the authenticator application product, the sign in indicia or code, with the user device, to access the given host service; and receive the given host service on the smart device, wherein the steps are implemented by one or more processors coupled to memory. 13. A computer program product, tangibly stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium and comprising computer-executable instructions, wherein when executed, the computer-executable instructions cause a device to: open an authenticator application product with a user device; create a user account with the authenticator application product; initiate multiple authentication processes associated with the authenticator application product for a user of the user device; execute the multiple authentication processes of the user with the user device; generate a unique user identifier for the user account based at least in part on the multiple authentication processes; register the unique user identifier with multiple host service providers, the multiple host service providers providing different host services; select on the authenticator application product with the user device a given host service from the multiple host service providers registered with the user account, including: execute multiple verification processes associated with the authenticator application product for the user, the multiple verification processes corresponding to at least some of the multiple authentication processes with the user device; and transmit by the authenticator application product the unique user identifier to the given host service responsive to confirmation that the multiple verification processes correspond to at least some of the multiple authentication processes; receive, from the given host service, sign in indicia or code, the sign in indicia or code being displayed on a smart device capable of executing the given host service; enter, via the authenticator application product, the sign in indicia or code, with the user device, to access the given host service; and receiving the given host service on the smart device. 12. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the unique user identifier is the same for each host service provider of the multiple host service providers. 19. The computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the unique user identifier is the same for each different host service provider. 13. The computer program product according to claim 12 wherein executing the multiple verification processes includes using the user device to verify the user through multiple ones of the passcode recognition, facial verification, voice verification, fingerprint verification, iris verification, retinal verification or DNA verification. 15. The computer program product according to claim 14 wherein executing the multiple verification processes includes using the user device to verify the user through the multiple ones of the passcode recognition, facial verification, voice verification, fingerprint verification, iris verification, retinal verification or DNA verification. 14. The computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the sign in indicia or code includes visual indicia and wherein entering the sign in code or indicia includes scanning the visual indicia with an imaging module of the user device. 16. The computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the sign in indicia or code includes visual indicia and wherein entering the sign in code or indicia includes scanning the visual indicia with an imaging module of the user device. 15. The computer program product according to claim 14 wherein the visual indicia includes a quick response (QR) code. 17. The computer program product according to claim 16 wherein the visual indicia includes a quick response (QR) code. 16. The computer program product according to claim 12 wherein selecting the authenticator application product, with the user device, the given host service, further includes displaying the multiple host service providers registered with the user account on one of a display or menu of the user device. 20. The computer program product according to claim 13 wherein selecting the authenticator application product with the user device the given host service further includes displaying the multiple host service providers registered with the user account on one of a display or menu of the user device. 17. The computer program product according to claim 16 wherein displaying the multiple host service providers occurs subsequent to executing multiple verification processes associated with the authenticator application product for the user. 21. The computer program product according to claim 20 wherein displaying the multiple host services occurs subsequent to executing multiple verification processes associated with the authenticator application product for the user. 18. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the user device is the same as the smart device. 22. The computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the user device is the same as the smart device. 19. The computer program product according to claim 11 wherein the smart device is an electronic device. 23. The computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the smart device is an electronic device. 20. The computer program product according to claim 19 wherein the smart device includes one of a TV, a smart TV, a computer, a Tablet, a laptop, a desktop, and a smart phone. 24. The computer program product according to claim 13 wherein the smart device includes one of a TV, a smart TV, a computer, a Tablet, a laptop, a desktop, and a smart phone. Prior Art Made of Record The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Ashcroft et al. (WO 2020/152656 A1) discloses a system and method for payment. Dawson et al. (US 2021/0312441 A1) discloses a system and method for flexible identity and access management pipeline. Eisen (WO 2018/111858 A1) discloses a system and method for network-enabled account creation using optical detection. Erickson et al. (US 2014/0376405 A1) discloses a system and method for efficient communication for devices of a home network. Goyal et al. (US 2020/0357295 A1) discloses a system and method for agent for online training in an offline environment. Grigg et al. (US 2015/0227726 A1) discloses a system and method for user authentication based on FOB/indicia scan. Hessler (US 2014/0096215 A1) discloses a system and method for mobile security context authentication. Jain et al. (US 2016/0050281 A1) discloses a system and method for seamless peer to peer internet connectivity. Jiang et al. (CN 120567579 A) discloses a system and method for authentication management based on Kerberos mechanism. Liao et al. (CN 103516705 B) discloses a system and method for communication based on virtual machine. Padmanabhan et al. (US 2019/0238525 A1) discloses a system and method for implementing super community and community sidechains with consent management for distributed ledger technologies in a cloud based computing environment. Parry-Barwick et al. (US 2022/0350630 A1) discloses a system and method for just-in-time assembly for managed virtual machines. Piri et al. (US Patent 12,335,255 B1) discloses a system and method for secure user authentication with passkeys on shared computing devices. Roberts et al. (US 2017/0099294 A1) discloses a system and method for multi-party security information integration. Skowronek (US 2010/0114773 A1) discloses a system and method for using a contactless transaction device reader. Zhou et al. (CN 121151403 A) discloses a system and method for server access control system. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SARAH SU whose telephone number is (571)270-3835. The examiner can normally be reached 6:30 AM - 3:00 PM. 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, Lynn Feild can be reached at 571-272-2092. 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. /SARAH SU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2431
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 07, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 04, 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
80%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+18.6%)
2y 11m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 672 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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