Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 18, 2026
Application No. 19/226,557

COMPUTER-IMPLEMENTED METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TRANSFERRING ACCESS TO A DIGITAL ASSET

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Jun 03, 2025
Priority
Apr 05, 2018 — GB 1805633.3 +4 more
Examiner
ULLAH, SHARIF E
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Nchain Licensing AG
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 4m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
389 granted / 460 resolved
+24.6% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+21.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
481
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
13.4%
-26.6% vs TC avg
§103
60.5%
+20.5% vs TC avg
§102
6.8%
-33.2% vs TC avg
§112
11.9%
-28.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 460 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 05/14/2026 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In regards to claim 12, claim 12 recites “…carrying out a method according to claim 1”. The claim is directed to an apparatus but recites the active method steps of claim 1. It is unclear if infringement occurs when the system is made or when the method steps are performed. See IPXL Holdings v. Amazon; MPEP 2173.05(p)(II). Claim 12 also recites no structure, so the metes and bounds of the “system” cannot be ascertained. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action. The closest prior are made of record are: Wright (US 11431477) The present invention provides converting a first secret value accessible to a first user into a first derived public key, and transmitting the first derived public key to the second user; converting a second secret value accessible to a second user into a second derived public key, and transmitting the second derived public key to the first user; calculating a third derived public key based at least in part on the first derived public key; calculating a fourth derived public key based at least in part on the second derived public key; applying a one-way function to each of the first secret value and the second secret value to create respective first and second veiled secret values; communicating the first veiled secret value from a first user to a second user and the second veiled secret value from the second user to the first user; and constructing first and second blockchain transactions. Lancashire et al. (US 20129/0149336) The present invention relates to blockchain transactions, and, more particularly, to methods, systems, and apparatuses for securing a blockchain with proof-of-transactions. In various embodiments, the blockchain system utilizes a proof-of-transactions approach that is based on a multi-player voting system and that is not susceptible to a free-rider problem that affects many other cryptocurrencies. The proof-of-transactions approach allows the cryptocurrency network to divide revenue between the nodes in the peer-to-peer network that provides bandwidth and connectivity and a set of other nodes that solve computational puzzles that safeguard the security of the blockchain system. Kravitz (US 2017/0213210) The present invention techniques for securely transferring an asset between entities using a multi-tenant transaction database, the method including: utilizing at least one processor to execute computer code that performs the steps of: receiving, at the multi-tenant transaction database, an asset token comprising an encrypted identification tag representing an asset owned by a first transacting entity, wherein the encrypted identification tag is associated with a public key having a corresponding private key which is usable for decryption of the encrypted identification tag; receiving, at the multi-tenant transaction database, a transfer request to transfer the asset token from the first transacting entity to a second transacting entity; receiving, at the multi-tenant transaction database, an authorization to complete the transfer request; and transferring, at the multi-tenant transaction database, the asset token to the second transacting entity. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHARIF E ULLAH whose telephone number is (571)272-5453. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 7:00-5:30. 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, Farid Homayounmehr can be reached at 571-272-3739. 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. /SHARIF E ULLAH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2495
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 03, 2025
Application Filed
Jul 23, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
85%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+21.7%)
2y 6m (~1y 4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 460 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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