Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/958,918

OVER THE AIR UPDATE FOR IOT DEVICES, SUCH AS WIRELESS ELECTRONIC LOCKS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 25, 2024
Examiner
WONG, KIN C
Art Unit
2689
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Assa Abloy Americas Residential
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 1m
To Grant
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allow Rate
922 granted / 1100 resolved
+21.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
1121
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.5%
-36.5% vs TC avg
§103
17.1%
-22.9% vs TC avg
§102
57.2%
+17.2% vs TC avg
§112
11.7%
-28.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1100 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) (21-40) is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a-1) as being anticipated by Imanuel (10783731). Regarding claim 21: Imanuel disclosed a method for updating wireless electronic locks, the method comprising: scanning (col. 9, lines 2-6 of Imanuel), by a computing device, for signals broadcast from wireless electronic locks within proximity to the computing device, the wireless electronic locks being compatible with a mobile application executing on the computing device (col. 8, line 61 to col. 9, line 6 of Imanuel); identifying a set of wireless electronic locks to be updated based on the signals broadcast from the wireless electronic locks within proximity, wherein the set of wireless electronic locks includes at least a first wireless electronic lock and a second wireless electronic lock (col. 2, line 60 to col. 3, line 5 of Imanuel); updating the first wireless electronic lock (col. 9, lines 7-15 of Imanuel); receiving, from the first wireless electronic lock, a message indicating that the first wireless electronic lock has been updated (col. 11, line 61 to col. 12, line 12 of Imanuel); updating the second wireless electronic lock (col. 12, lines 13-22 of Imanuel); and receiving, from the second wireless electronic lock, a message indicating that the second wireless electronic lock has been updated (col. 12, lines 13-16 of Imanuel). Thus, Imanuel disclosed first and second updating protocols for the lockset. Regarding claim 22: further comprising: presenting, at the computing device, a user interface including an update progress of at least one wireless electronic lock of the set of wireless electronic locks and an overall update progress of the set of wireless electronic locks (col. 14, lines 18-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 23: further comprising: presenting, at the computing device, a notification indicating that the first wireless electronic lock has been updated; and presenting, at the computing device, a notification indicating that the second wireless electronic lock has been updated (col. 14, lines 30-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 24: wherein the set of wireless electronic locks includes wireless electronic locks which are within an acceptable range for updating based on signal strengths of the signals broadcast from the wireless electronic locks, and wherein the scanning is performed using a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) protocol (col. 14, lines 30-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 25: wherein the set of wireless electronic locks is further identified based on one or more selections from a list of wireless electronic locks which are within an acceptable range for updating based on signal strengths of the signals broadcast from the wireless electronic locks (col. 14, lines 22-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 26: wherein the first wireless electronic lock and the second wireless electronic lock are updated simultaneously (col. 9, lines 1-6 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 27: wherein the second wireless electronic lock is updated after updating the first wireless electronic lock (col. 9, lines 1-6 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 28: wherein the computing device can perform additional tasks while updating the first wireless electronic lock and the second wireless electronic lock (col. 8, line 61 to col. 9, line 6 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 29: wherein updating the first wireless electronic lock includes: sending updates from the computing device to the first wireless electronic lock, and wherein updating the second wireless electronic lock includes: sending updates from the computing device to the second wireless electronic lock (col. 8, line 61 to col. 9, line 16 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 30: Imanuel illustrated in figure 9b the computing device, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory device, wherein the at least one memory device includes instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to: scan for signals broadcast from wireless electronic locks within proximity to the computing device, the wireless electronic locks being compatible with a mobile application executing on the computing device; identify a set of wireless electronic locks to be updated based on the signals broadcast from the wireless electronic locks within proximity, wherein the set of wireless electronic locks includes at least a first wireless electronic lock and a second wireless electronic lock; update the first wireless electronic lock; receive, from the first wireless electronic lock, a message indicating that the first wireless electronic lock has been updated; update the second wireless electronic lock; and receive, from the second wireless electronic lock, a message indicating that the second wireless electronic lock has been updated (see associated descriptions for details). Regarding claim 31: wherein the computing device automatically updates the first wireless electronic lock and the second wireless electronic lock, and wherein the computing device can perform additional tasks while updating the first wireless electronic lock and the second wireless electronic lock (col. 14, lines 18-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 32: wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to: present a user interface including an update progress of at least one wireless electronic lock of the set of wireless electronic locks and an overall update progress of the set of wireless electronic locks (col. 14, lines 30-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 33: wherein the second wireless electronic lock is updated after updating the first wireless electronic lock (col. 14, lines 30-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 34: wherein the first wireless electronic lock and the second wireless electronic lock are updated simultaneously (col. 9, lines 1-6 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 35: wherein to identify the set of wireless electronic locks includes to: determine a list of wireless electronic locks which are within an acceptable range for updating based on signal strengths of the signals broadcast from the wireless electronic locks; present a selection user interface including the list of wireless electronic locks; and receive inputs to select one or more of the wireless electronic locks in the list of wireless electronic locks, wherein the set of wireless electronic locks includes the selected one or more wireless electronic locks (col. 14, lines 22-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 36: wherein execution of the instructions further causes the computing device to: present a notification indicating that the first wireless electronic lock has been updated; and present a notification indicating that the second wireless electronic lock has been updated (col. 9, lines 1-6 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 37: Imanuel disclosed a method for updating wireless electronic locks, the method comprising: scanning, by a computing device, for signals broadcast from wireless electronic locks within proximity to the computing device, the wireless electronic locks being compatible with a mobile application executing on the computing device; identifying a set of wireless electronic locks to be updated based on the signals broadcast from the wireless electronic locks within proximity, wherein the set of wireless electronic locks includes a plurality of wireless electronic locks; updating each wireless electronic lock in the set of wireless electronic locks; and for each wireless electronic lock in the set of wireless electronic locks: after updating the wireless electronic lock, receive a message indicating that the wireless electronic lock has been updated (col. 2, line 60 to col. 3, line 5; col. 12, lines 13-16; col. 9, lines 1-6 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 38: further comprising: presenting, at the computing device, a user interface including an update progress of at least one wireless electronic lock of the set of wireless electronic locks and an overall update progress of the set of wireless electronic locks; and for each wireless electronic lock in the set of wireless electronic locks: presenting, at the computing device, a notification indicating that the wireless electronic lock has been updated (col. 14, lines 30-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 39: wherein updating each wireless electronic lock in the set of wireless electronic locks includes: sequentially updating each wireless electronic lock in the set of wireless electronic locks (col. 14, lines 30-35 of Imanuel). Regarding claim 40: wherein updating each wireless electronic lock in the set of wireless electronic locks includes: simultaneously updating each wireless electronic lock in the set of wireless electronic locks (col. 9, lines 1-6 of Imanuel). The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Imanuel (11295568) is cited for second updating of wireless lockset. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to K. Wong whose telephone number is (571) 272-7566. 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, D. Goins can be reached at (571) 272-2957. 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. /K. WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2689
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 25, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+8.8%)
2y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1100 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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