USPTO Examiner SITTNER MICHAEL J - Art Unit 3621

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18656275MACHINE LEARNING BASED USER TARGETINGMay 2024June 2025Abandon1410NoNo
18634438SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING AND TARGETING USERS FOR INCENTIVES IN A SOCIAL NETWORKApril 2024June 2025Abandon1410NoNo
18387830SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO FACILITATE PROVIDING A SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT KIT (SDK) FOR REWARDS FOR MAKING GIFT CARD PURCHASES TO MULTIPLE APPLICATION PUBLISHERSNovember 2023February 2025Allow1510NoNo
18130904Targeted Advertising and Inventory Optimization Improvements Utilizing User Location and Selection DataApril 2023March 2025Abandon2320NoNo
18009356ENTERPRISE ACTIVATION DEGREE DETERMINING METHOD AND APPARATUS, ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUMDecember 2022June 2025Abandon3010NoNo
18078542Automatic After Call Social Messaging Connection PlatformDecember 2022February 2025Abandon2610NoNo
17968564SYSTEM FOR IDENTIFYING PRODUCT SUBSTITUTES FIELDOctober 2022June 2025Abandon3240YesNo
17891131METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SUBSCRIPTION NOTIFICATION SERVICEAugust 2022December 2024Abandon2830YesNo
17891099SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING DIGITAL HEALTH SERVICESAugust 2022April 2025Abandon3220NoNo
17884509SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING REAL-TIME TECHNICAL TROUBLESHOOTING SUPPORTAugust 2022May 2025Abandon3320NoNo
17740933DATA AGGREGATION BASED ON MULTISYSTEM INTEGRATION FOR OBJECT COLLABORATIONMay 2022April 2025Abandon3520YesNo
17740247SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ON-DEMAND LEGAL COUNSEL AND DECENTRALIZED TRUSTED NETWORKSMay 2022May 2025Abandon3620YesNo
17760502IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAMMarch 2022May 2025Abandon3840YesNo
17639224PLATFORM, SYSTEM, METHOD, AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUMFebruary 2022January 2025Abandon3540YesNo
17622905PAYMENT SYSTEM AND PAYMENT METHOD, WHICH USE DISCOUNT COUPON CAPABLE OF CHANGING DISCOUNT RATEDecember 2021March 2025Abandon3830NoNo
17615983EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE SYSTEMDecember 2021May 2025Abandon4130YesNo
17532624Systems and Methods for Autogeneration of Information Technology Infrastructure Process Automation and Abstraction of the Universal Application of Reinforcement Learning to Information Technology Infrastructure Components and InterfacesNovember 2021May 2025Abandon4210YesNo
17524792MESSAGING DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHODNovember 2021November 2023Abandon2430NoNo
17383306DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCT RECALL MANAGEMENTJuly 2021March 2025Abandon4440NoNo
17365993METHODS FOR REMOTE BUILDING INTELLIGENCE, ENERGY WASTE DETECTION, EFFICIENCY TRACKING, UTILITY MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICSJuly 2021February 2025Abandon4420NoNo
17088340REDUCING COMPUTATIONAL OVERHEAD INVOLVED WITH PROCESSING RECEIVED SERVICE REQUESTSNovember 2020April 2025Abandon5340YesNo
16792508Beacon-Based Identification System and MethodFebruary 2020November 2023Abandon4540NoYes
16582208SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ASSISTING CUSTOMER SUPPORT AGENTS USING A CONTEXTUAL BANDIT BASED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEMSeptember 2019June 2025Abandon6020YesYes
16366578MULTI-ENTITY ENTERPRISE LOYALTY SYSTEMMarch 2019December 2024Allow60100YesNo
15621846COORDINATED MULTI-VIEW DISPLAY EXPERIENCESJune 2017July 2025Allow6060YesYes
15461113SKETCH-BASED BID FRAUD DETECTIONMarch 2017January 2025Abandon6090YesNo
15342055MARKETING DISPLAY SYSTEMS AND METHODSNovember 2016July 2019Abandon3270YesNo
14991617NETWORKED COMPUTER SYSTEM AND COMPUTER IMPLEMENTED METHODS FOR PROVIDING AN ONLINE AUCTION WEBPAGE WITH SKILL-BASED GAMEJanuary 2016June 2019Allow4221YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner SITTNER, MICHAEL J.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
2
Examiner Affirmed
2
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
14.5%
Lower than average

What This Means

With a 0.0% reversal rate, the PTAB affirms the examiner's rejections in the vast majority of cases. This reversal rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that appeals face significant challenges here.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
4
Allowed After Appeal Filing
0
(0.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
4
(100.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
6.7%
Lower 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, 0.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is in the bottom 25% across the USPTO, indicating that filing appeals is less effective here than in most other areas.

Strategic Recommendations

Appeals to PTAB face challenges. Ensure your case has strong merit before committing to full Board review.

Filing a Notice of Appeal shows limited benefit. Consider other strategies like interviews or amendments before appealing.

Examiner SITTNER, MICHAEL J - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner SITTNER, MICHAEL J works in Art Unit 3621 and has examined 26 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 15.4%, this examiner allows applications at a lower rate than most examiners at the USPTO. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 38 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner SITTNER, MICHAEL J's allowance rate of 15.4% places them in the 1% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner is less likely to allow applications than most examiners at the USPTO.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by SITTNER, MICHAEL J receive 3.38 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 99% 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 SITTNER, MICHAEL J is 38 months. This places the examiner in the 12% 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 +10.9% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by SITTNER, MICHAEL J. This interview benefit is in the 48% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide a below-average benefit with this examiner.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 2.4% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 0% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show lower effectiveness with this examiner compared to others. Consider whether a continuation application might be more strategic, especially if you need to add new matter or significantly broaden claims.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 16.7% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 12% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments compared to other examiners. You should generally plan to file an RCE or appeal rather than relying on after-final amendment entry. Per MPEP § 714.12, primary examiners have discretion in entering after-final amendments, and this examiner exercises that discretion conservatively.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 0.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 15% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show limited success with this examiner compared to others. While still worth considering, be prepared to proceed with a full appeal brief if the PAC does not result in favorable action.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 33.3% of appeals filed. This is in the 3% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: This examiner rarely withdraws rejections during the appeal process compared to other examiners. If you file an appeal, be prepared to fully prosecute it to a PTAB decision. Per MPEP § 1207, the examiner will prepare an Examiner's Answer maintaining the rejections.

Petition Practice

When applicants file petitions regarding this examiner's actions, 150.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 99% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are frequently granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 1002.02(c), various examiner actions are petitionable to the Technology Center Director, including prematureness of final rejection, refusal to enter amendments, and requirement for information. If you believe an examiner action is improper, consider filing a petition.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 31% percentile). This examiner makes examiner's amendments less often than average. You may need to make most claim amendments yourself.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 31% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions less often than average. Allowances may 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:

  • Prepare for rigorous examination: With a below-average allowance rate, ensure your application has strong written description and enablement support. Consider filing a continuation if you need to add new matter.
  • 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.
  • Plan for RCE after final rejection: This examiner rarely enters after-final amendments. Budget for an RCE in your prosecution strategy if you receive a final rejection.
  • 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.