USPTO Examiner HOPE DARRIN - Art Unit 2178

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
17031877LIGHTING USER INTERFACESSeptember 2020May 2025Abandon5560YesYes
17028159PROVIDING ENHANCED FUNCTIONALITY IN AN INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC TECHNICAL MANUALSeptember 2020April 2025Abandon5560YesNo
16819659DYNAMIC MEDIA SELECTION MENUMarch 2020February 2025Allow59100YesNo
16505881VIRTUAL GUIDEJuly 2019June 2024Allow6080YesNo
14460471METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ICON BASED APPLICATION CONTROLAugust 2014June 2018Allow4630YesNo
14340475METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MESSAGE PROCESSINGJuly 2014January 2019Allow5430NoNo
14190430SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CUSTOMIZING USER ICONSFebruary 2014May 2019Allow6050YesNo
14142111Adding Information to a Contact RecordDecember 2013April 2016Allow2710NoNo
13997672DISPLAYING AREA ADJUSTMENTJune 2013February 2019Allow6040YesYes
13849663METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANAGING SCREENS IN A PORTABLE TERMINALMarch 2013August 2017Allow5350YesNo
13834801METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR FACILITATING STOPS FOR VEHICLES EN ROUTE TO A COMMON DESTINATIONMarch 2013May 2017Allow5040NoNo
13587609SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY FLASHING A WIRELESS DEVICEAugust 2012April 2019Allow6080NoNo
13418062GENERATING CUSTOM TEXT DOCUMENTS FROM MULTIDIMENSIONAL SOURCES OF TEXTMarch 2012March 2016Allow4820NoNo
13245762JUMP TO TOP/JUMP TO BOTTOM SCROLL WIDGETSSeptember 2011April 2016Allow5420YesNo
13090034ZOOM ACCELERATION WIDGETSApril 2011July 2016Allow6060YesNo
13124239ELECTRONIC DEVICE, METHOD OF SELECTING MENU, AND PROGRAM FOR SELECTING MENUApril 2011December 2014Allow4420NoNo
13048528SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PINNING TABS IN A TABBED BROWSERMarch 2011March 2013Allow2410YesNo
12690934SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DYNAMICALLY DISPLAYING STRUCTURALLY DISSIMILAR THUMBNAIL IMAGES OF AN ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTJanuary 2010January 2015Allow6040NoYes
12691142Adding Information to a Contact RecordJanuary 2010August 2013Allow4320YesNo
12688016DISPLAY CONTROL APPARATUS AND DISPLAY CONTROL METHODJanuary 2010November 2012Allow3410NoNo
12568835PERFORMING INTERACTIVE COLLABORATION WITHIN A VIRTUAL WORLDSeptember 2009July 2014Allow5830NoNo
12568289METHOD OF CONTROLLING THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECT AND MOBILE TERMINAL USING THE SAMESeptember 2009November 2015Allow6040YesNo
12471792METHOD FOR CONTROLLING GESTURE-BASED REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEMMay 2009November 2011Allow3010NoNo
12343259HAND-HELD DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SINGLE POINTER TOUCH SENSITIVE USER INTERFACEDecember 2008July 2013Allow5540NoYes
12216607Control of interactions within virtual environmentsJuly 2008November 2013Allow6030NoNo
12123561COMPRESSING TOPOLOGICALINFORMATION PERTAINING TO MANAGED RESOURCES TO ENHANCE VISUALIZATIONMay 2008June 2015Allow6040NoYes
12058097FACILITATING SEARCH FOR ITEMS IN 3D SIMULATIONSMarch 2008September 2015Allow6020YesYes
12058361SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING PUBLISHED ELECTRONIC DOCUMENTSMarch 2008January 2016Allow6060NoNo
11971666SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ATTENDING A RECORDED EVENT IN A METAVERSE APPLICATIONJanuary 2008June 2015Allow6020YesYes
11985137Image-forming apparatus with customizable operation panel settings, method thereof, and recording mediumNovember 2007January 2013Allow6040NoYes
11939835SELECTIVELY LOCKING GUI CONTROLS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTAL OPERATIONS IN A COMPUTING ENVIRONMENTNovember 2007April 2011Allow4120NoNo
11869342Suggested Actions Within a Virtual EnvironmentOctober 2007December 2015Allow6040YesYes
11868480DYNAMIC MEETING AGENDA GENERATION BASED ON PRESENTER AVAILABILITYOctober 2007July 2012Allow5730NoYes
11769863MEDIA CONTENT RECORDING AND HEALING STATUSESJune 2007January 2011Allow4220NoNo
11760610OVERFLOW STACK USER INTERFACEJune 2007June 2014Allow6020YesNo
11726030SYSTEM AND METHOD OF DISPLAYING A MULTIMEDIA TIMELINEMarch 2007October 2013Allow6030NoNo
11560383METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAPPING GUI WIDGETSNovember 2006July 2013Allow6040NoNo
11557191WEB ACCESSIBILITY ASSISTANTNovember 2006April 2012Allow6020NoNo
11490418Managing electronic sticky notesJuly 2006September 2015Allow6070YesYes

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner HOPE, DARRIN.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
6
Examiner Affirmed
2
(33.3%)
Examiner Reversed
4
(66.7%)
Reversal Percentile
86.1%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 66.7% reversal rate, the PTAB has reversed the examiner's rejections more often than affirming them. This reversal rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals are more successful here than in most other areas.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
14
Allowed After Appeal Filing
7
(50.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
7
(50.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
78.2%
Higher than average

Understanding Appeal Filing Strategy

Filing a Notice of Appeal can sometimes lead to allowance even before the appeal is fully briefed or decided by the PTAB. This occurs when the examiner or their supervisor reconsiders the rejection during the mandatory appeal conference (MPEP § 1207.01) after the appeal is filed.

In this dataset, 50.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the top 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is particularly effective here. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB show good success rates. If you have a strong case on the merits, consider fully prosecuting the appeal to a Board decision.

Filing a Notice of Appeal is strategically valuable. The act of filing often prompts favorable reconsideration during the mandatory appeal conference.

Examiner HOPE, DARRIN - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner HOPE, DARRIN works in Art Unit 2178 and has examined 39 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 94.9%, this examiner allows applications at a higher rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 59 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner HOPE, DARRIN's allowance rate of 94.9% places them in the 83% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is more likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by HOPE, DARRIN receive 3.72 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 94% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues more office actions than most examiners, which may indicate thorough examination or difficulty in reaching agreement with applicants.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by HOPE, DARRIN is 59 months. This places the examiner in the 2% percentile for prosecution speed. Applications take longer to reach final disposition with this examiner compared to most others.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a -11.1% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by HOPE, DARRIN. This interview benefit is in the 3% percentile among all examiners. Note: Interviews show limited statistical benefit with this examiner compared to others, though they may still be valuable for clarifying issues.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 21.5% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 28% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show below-average effectiveness with this examiner. Carefully evaluate whether an RCE or continuation is the better strategy.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 32.4% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 49% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner shows below-average receptiveness to after-final amendments. You may need to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 200.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 94% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: Pre-appeal conferences are highly effective with this examiner compared to others. Before filing a full appeal brief, strongly consider requesting a PAC. The PAC provides an opportunity for the examiner and supervisory personnel to reconsider the rejection before the case proceeds to the PTAB.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 62.5% of appeals filed. This is in the 41% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 30.0% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). Strategic Insight: This examiner shows below-average willingness to reconsider rejections during appeals. Be prepared to fully prosecute appeals if filed.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 12% percentile). This examiner rarely makes examiner's amendments compared to other examiners. You should expect to make all necessary claim amendments yourself through formal amendment practice.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 15% percentile). This examiner rarely issues Quayle actions compared to other examiners. Allowances typically come directly without a separate action for formal matters.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

Based on the statistical analysis of this examiner's prosecution patterns, here are tailored strategic recommendations:

  • Expect multiple rounds of prosecution: This examiner issues more office actions than average. Address potential issues proactively in your initial response and consider requesting an interview early in prosecution.
  • Request pre-appeal conferences: PACs are highly effective with this examiner. Before filing a full appeal brief, request a PAC to potentially resolve issues without full PTAB review.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.

Relevant MPEP Sections for Prosecution Strategy

  • MPEP § 713.10: Examiner interviews - available before Notice of Allowance or transfer to PTAB
  • MPEP § 714.12: After-final amendments - may be entered "under justifiable circumstances"
  • MPEP § 1002.02(c): Petitionable matters to Technology Center Director
  • MPEP § 1004: Actions requiring primary examiner signature (allowances, final rejections, examiner's answers)
  • MPEP § 1207.01: Appeal conferences - mandatory for all appeals
  • MPEP § 1214.07: Reopening prosecution after appeal

Important Disclaimer

Not Legal Advice: The information provided in this report is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should consult with a qualified patent attorney or agent for advice specific to your situation.

No Guarantees: We do not provide any guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the statistics presented above. Patent prosecution statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data and are subject to data quality limitations, processing errors, and changes in USPTO practices over time.

Limitation of Liability: Under no circumstances will IronCrow AI be liable for any outcome, decision, or action resulting from your reliance on the statistics, analysis, or recommendations presented in this report. Past prosecution patterns do not guarantee future results.

Use at Your Own Risk: While we strive to provide accurate and useful prosecution statistics, you should independently verify any information that is material to your prosecution strategy and use your professional judgment in all patent prosecution matters.