Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 19/013,633

BLAST TRIANGULATION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 08, 2025
Priority
May 27, 2022 — continuation of 12/222,238
Examiner
BREIER, KRYSTINE E
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Applied Research Associates Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 11m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
428 granted / 522 resolved
+22.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+8.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
539
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.1%
-34.9% vs TC avg
§103
85.8%
+45.8% vs TC avg
§102
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
§112
2.7%
-37.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 522 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 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 9, 13, 16, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McNelis (WO 96/10285) in view of Hangartner (2023/0130926). With respect to claim 9, McNelis teaches receiving blast sensor data from each of a plurality of blast sensors (pg 9, lines 30-31; pg 10, lines 3-4), the blast sensor data comprising: blast exposure data comprising pressure trace data over time corresponding to a blast exposure (pg 8, lines 20-23); triangulating the blast exposure using the blast exposure data and the location data to locate a source of the blast exposure (pg 10, lines 24-31); identifying a blast signature of the blast exposure based on the blast exposure data Pg 12, lines 8); and identifying the source of the blast exposure based on a comparison of the blast signature with one or more predefined blast signature profiles (pg 12: lines 6- 11). However, it does not teach location data associated with a respective blast sensor of the plurality of blast sensors; and using a machine learning model that is trained with a set of historical blast data to identify the blast signature of the blast exposure. Hangartner teaches location data associated with a respective blast sensor of the plurality of blast sensors ([0039], lines 8-9); and using a machine learning model that is trained with a set of historical blast data to identify the blast signature of the blast exposure ([0038], lines 23-30). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis with the location data of Hangartner since such a modification would have allowed for the shot to be geolocated instead of merely located relative to the sensors. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of the McNelis with the machine learning model of Hangartner since such a modification would have allowed for it to be run more quickly and accurately. With respect to claim 16, McNelis teaches receiving blast sensor data from each of a plurality of blast sensors (pg 9, lines 30-31; pg 10, lines 3-4), the blast sensor data comprising: blast exposure data comprising pressure trace data over time corresponding to a blast exposure (pg 8, lines 20-23); triangulating the blast exposure using the blast exposure data and the location data to locate a source of the blast exposure (pg 10, lines 24-31); identifying a blast signature of the blast exposure based on the blast exposure data Pg 12, lines 8); and identifying the source of the blast exposure based on a comparison of the blast signature with one or more predefined blast signature profiles (pg 12: lines 6- 11). However, it does not teach one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that cause a processor to execute the method; location data associated with a respective blast sensor of the plurality of blast sensors; and using a machine learning model that is trained with a set of historical blast data to identify the blast signature of the blast exposure. Hangartner teaches one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that cause a processor to execute the method ([0072]. lines 1-11); location data associated with a respective blast sensor of the plurality of blast sensors ([0039], lines 8-9); and using a machine learning model that is trained with a set of historical blast data to identify the blast signature of the blast exposure ([0038], lines 23-30). It would have been obvious to the of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis to be embodied on a machine-readable medium as taught by Hangartner since such a modification would have allowed it to be installed on or transferred between multiple processors. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis with the location data of Hangartner since such a modification would have allowed for the shot to be geolocated instead of merely located relative to the sensors. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of the McNelis with the machine learning model of Hangartner since such a modification would have allowed for it to be run more quickly and accurately. With regards to claim 13, McNelis as modified teaches the invention as discussed above. However, it does not teach triggering recording by one or more microphones associated with the plurality of blast sensors responsive to the blast exposure data. Hangartner teaches triggering recording by one or more microphones associated with the plurality of blast sensors responsive to the blast exposure data ([0039], lines 1-4). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of the present application with the recording of Hangartner since such a modification would have allowed for the dissemination of the signal data. With regards to claim 17, McNelis as modified teaches the invention as discussed above. However, it does not teach transmitting a notification to at least one user device to notify one or more operators of the source in real-time responsive to the blast exposure. Hangartner teaches transmitting a notification to at least one user device to notify one or more operators of the source in real-time responsive to the blast exposure ([0040], lines 1-8). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis with the notification of Hangartner since such a modification would have allowed for a quick response to be made to any threat or injury. Claim(s) 12, 15, and 19-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McNelis in view of Hangartner, and further in view of Duckworth (WO 00/73811). With respect to claim 12 and 19, McNelis as modified teaches the invention as discussed above. However, it does not teach applying a clock synchronization technique to remove clock drift from the blast exposure data. Duckworth teaches applying a clock synchronization technique to remove clock drift from the blast exposure data (pg 10, lines 12-13). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis with the clock synchronization of Duckworth since such a modification would have improved accuracy of the system. With respect to claims 15, 20, and 21, McNelis as modified teaches the invention as discussed above. However, it does not teach determining a velocity of a projectile associated with the blast exposure based on the blast exposure data; and notifying one or more operators of the velocity of the projectile in real time. Duckworth teaches determining a velocity of a projectile associated with the blast exposure based on the blast exposure data (pf 15, lines 7-23). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis with the velocity determination of Duckworth since such a modification would have improved shot position and target identification. Hangartner teaches notifying one or more operators of the velocity of the projectile in real time ([0040], lines 1-8). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis with the notification of Hangartner since such a modification would have allowed for a quick response to be made to any threat or injury. Claim 18 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over McNelis in view of Hangartner and Duckworth, and further in view of Auerbach (20020003470). With respect to claim 18, McNelis as modified teaches the invention as discussed above. However, it does not teach responsive to identifying the source of the blast exposure, selecting a weapon identifier corresponding to the source of the blast exposure; and causing display of the weapon identifier on the at least one user device. Duckworth teaches selecting a weapon identifier corresponding to the source of the blast exposure (pg 13, lines 9-19). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis with the weapon identification of Duckworth since such a modification would have allowed for any responders to be better prepared. Auerbach teaches causing display of the weapon identifier on the at least one user device ([0104], lines 1-4). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the present application to modify the method of McNelis with the display of Auerbach since such a modification would have allowed for a responder to quickly and easily see the information. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-8 are allowed. Claims 10-11, 14 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion The prior art which is cited but not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The references made herein are done so for the convenience of the applicant. They are in no way intended to be limiting. The prior art should be considered in its entirety. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KRYSTINE E BREIER whose telephone number is (571)270-7614. The examiner can normally be reached Monday (9:30am-6:30pm); Tuesday & Friday (11:30am-5:30pm). 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, Isam Alsomiri can be reached at 571 272 6970. 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. /KRYSTINE E BREIER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3645
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 08, 2025
Application Filed
Apr 07, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12681155
ULTRASOUND PROCESSING SYSTEM, TRANSCEIVER CIRCUIT, AND METHOD RELATED TO BEAMFORMING
2y 2m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12663555
SPECTRAL ANALYSIS AND MACHINE LEARNING TO DETECT OFFSET WELL COMMUNICATION USING HIGH FREQUENCY ACOUSTIC OR VIBRATION SENSING
2y 11m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12631779
REFLECTION SEISMOLOGY INVERSION WITH QUALITY CONTROL
2y 1m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12625292
SLIM SONIC LOGGING TOOL WITH MULTIPLE MODULES FOR BOREHOLE RESONANCE MODE AND PITCH-CATCH MEASUREMENT
2y 3m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12618994
DATA-DRIVEN SEPARATION OF UPGOING FREE-SURFACE MULTIPLES FOR SEISMIC IMAGING
2y 5m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+8.4%)
3y 5m (~1y 11m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 522 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month