USPTO Examiner NOLAN PETER D - Art Unit 3661

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18596276ENHANCED METHOD TO TROUBLESHOOT AIRCRAFT ELECTRIC POWER GENERATING SYSTEM FAULT EVENTSMarch 2024December 2025Allow2110NoNo
18434986VEHICLE-TO-VEHICLE CHARGINGFebruary 2024July 2025Allow1700NoNo
18533959SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CAPLESS REFUELING SYSTEMDecember 2023November 2025Allow2310NoNo
18516231MARINE NAVIGATION SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND USER INTERFACESNovember 2023October 2025Allow2310NoNo
18503607SYSTEM FOR AUTO-LOCATION OF TIRES EMPLOYING FOOTPRINT LENGTHNovember 2023June 2025Allow1900NoNo
18286888TRAFFIC FLOW MONITORING DEVICE, TRAFFIC FLOW MONITORING METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUMOctober 2023October 2025Allow2410YesNo
18478813TRAJECTORY PLANNING BASED ON TREE SEARCH EXPANSIONSeptember 2023November 2025Allow2610NoNo
18448034ALIGNING SENSOR DATA FOR VEHICLE APPLICATIONSAugust 2023March 2026Allow3120NoNo
18342132REDUNDANT LANE DETECTION FOR AUTONOMOUS VEHICLESJune 2023March 2026Allow3310NoNo
18324309DISPLAY SYSTEM AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF DISPLAY OF STATUS OF SECONDARY BATTERYMay 2023December 2025Abandon3020NoNo
18308412VEHICLE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAMEApril 2023February 2026Abandon3410NoNo
18028537Method To Obtain A Recognized Air Picture Of An Observation Space Surrounding An Automated Aerial VehicleMarch 2023November 2025Allow3210NoNo
18125969SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CHARACTERIZING ROAD SEGMENT DIFFICULTYMarch 2023March 2026Allow3530YesNo
18119614PARKING CONTROL APPARATUSMarch 2023June 2025Allow2710NoNo
18079570WORKING MACHINEDecember 2022January 2026Allow3710NoNo
16504988Aircrew Automation System and MethodJuly 2019January 2020Allow610NoNo
16463506DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING MANUAL GUIDANCE OF A STEERING WHEELMay 2019May 2020Allow1200NoNo
16342331VEHICLE TO VEHICLE COMMUNICATION DEVICEApril 2019January 2020Allow910NoNo
16324058METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MOBILE ADDITIVE MANUFACTURINGFebruary 2019February 2020Allow1310NoNo
16204910EARLY FUSION OF LIDAR RETURN DATA WITH CAMERA INFORMATIONNovember 2018January 2020Allow1320YesNo
16142275METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ORIENTEERINGSeptember 2018June 2019Allow910YesNo
15764749METHOD FOR DETERMINING A PARKING AREA FOR PARKING A MOTOR VEHICLE, DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AND MOTOR VEHICLEJuly 2018February 2020Allow2320NoNo
15942910VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAMEApril 2018May 2020Allow2620NoNo
15921152METHOD FOR MOBILE DEVICE-BASED COOPERATIVE DATA CAPTUREMarch 2018January 2020Allow2210NoNo
15756107DRIVE MODE SELECTION DEVICE AND DRIVE MODE SELECTION METHODFebruary 2018December 2019Allow2110NoNo
15753220VEHICULAR ANGLE ALERT AND SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHODFebruary 2018February 2021Abandon3620NoNo
15895629METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE PARKING PROCESS OF A HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLEFebruary 2018March 2020Allow2520NoNo
15873115MULTI-ROTOR UAV FLIGHT CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEMJanuary 2018October 2018Allow920NoNo
15870533CONTROL SYSTEM OF VEHICLEJanuary 2018April 2020Allow2710YesNo
15868409TRAILER MODE BLIND SPOT SENSORJanuary 2018August 2020Abandon3110NoNo
15740583SUSPENSION SYSTEMDecember 2017January 2020Allow2400NoNo
15740538DEVIATION AVOIDANCE APPARATUSDecember 2017May 2020Allow2810NoNo
15855451Determination of Reliability of Vehicle Control Commands via RedundancyDecember 2017July 2020Allow3010NoNo
15849066AERIAL VEHICLE LANDING METHOD, AERIAL VEHICLE, AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUMDecember 2017May 2020Allow2910NoNo
15813559VEHICLE MAINTENANCE ANALYTICS AND NOTIFICATIONSNovember 2017September 2019Allow2220NoNo
15573829AUTONOMOUS SMART CAR CAPABLE OF FIRST AID AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THEREOFNovember 2017April 2019Allow1710NoNo
15792524FREQUENCY-ADAPTABLE STRUCTURAL HEALTH AND USAGE MONITORING SYSTEM (HUMS) AND METHOD WITH SMART SENSORSOctober 2017December 2019Allow2610NoNo
15728427IMPROVED GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE FOR DISPLAY OF PERFORMANCE OF A MARCHING BANDOctober 2017November 2018Allow1300NoNo
15709981SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT OF INTELLIGENT UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLESSeptember 2017May 2019Allow2020NoNo
15702072CHILD CAR SEAT FOR LOCK-IN PREVENTIONSeptember 2017June 2018Allow920NoNo
15702601METHOD FOR MOBILE DEVICE-BASED COOPERATIVE DATA CAPTURESeptember 2017December 2017Allow310NoNo
15698349ON-ROAD VEHICLE SERVICE HANDLING METHODSeptember 2017March 2018Allow600NoNo
15684114AUTOMATIC LOAD MOVERAugust 2017March 2020Allow3111YesNo
15552298SELF-PROPELLED VACUUM CLEANERAugust 2017September 2019Allow2510NoNo
15672104METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REPOSITIONING A SERVICE LOCATIONAugust 2017August 2018Allow1320YesNo
15671476MOBILE DRIFT SENSOR FOR AGRICULTURAL SPRAYINGAugust 2017November 2018Allow1601NoNo
15667275HEADPHONE AND HEADPHONE SAFETY DEVICE FOR ALERTING USER FROM IMPENDING HAZARD, AND METHOD THEREOFAugust 2017March 2020Allow3220NoNo
15665907VEHICLE CONTROL DEVICE AND VEHICLE CONTROL METHODAugust 2017April 2020Allow3330NoNo
15543275CONFIGURABLE MONITOR AND PARTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEMJuly 2017November 2019Allow2810NoNo
15637978UNMANNED VEHICLE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNALSJune 2017January 2020Allow3101NoNo
15633073UNIQUE SIGNALING FOR VEHICLES TO PRESERVE USER PRIVACYJune 2017April 2019Allow2210NoNo
15527824AUTOMATICALLY ADJUSTABLE MIRROR ASSEMBLYMay 2017November 2019Abandon3000NoNo
15595363SMART INITIATOR ASSEMBLYMay 2017November 2019Allow3020YesNo
15588730COMMUNICATION MONITORING SYSTEMS AND METHODSMay 2017July 2020Abandon3820NoNo
15588313RELAY DRONE METHODMay 2017April 2019Abandon2430NoNo
15518360DECELERATION CURB-BASED DIRECTION CHECKING AND LANE KEEPING SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING VEHICLESApril 2017September 2019Allow2920YesNo
15480310SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADAPTIVE PROPERTY ANALYSIS VIA AUTONOMOUS VEHICLESApril 2017January 2018Allow920YesNo
15516452SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING TASKS IN AN OPERATING REGION AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING AUTONOMOUS AGENTS FOR PERFORMING TASKS IN THE OPERATING REGIONApril 2017September 2019Abandon3010NoNo
15477958SEMIAUTOMATED RELAY METHOD AND APPARATUSApril 2017March 2020Allow3640NoNo
15467156IoT Service Meter Unit TransmitterMarch 2017October 2019Abandon3120NoNo
15467368METHOD OF OPERATING AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEMMarch 2017December 2019Allow3320NoNo
15466428VEHICLE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT APPARATUSMarch 2017February 2019Allow2300NoNo
15466219DOOR LOCK TRANSITION METHOD AND ASSEMBLYMarch 2017December 2018Allow2120NoNo
15465168CONTROL DOMINATED PLANNING AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR AUTONOMOUS DRIVING VEHICLESMarch 2017April 2019Allow2510NoNo
15464786Aircrew Automation System and MethodMarch 2017February 2019Allow2310NoNo
15465053SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC PASSENGER SHARING AMONG VEHICLESMarch 2017April 2019Allow2510NoNo
15461662SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING NAVIGATION OF A VEHICLEMarch 2017January 2019Allow2210NoNo
15461877SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GRAPHICAL VISUALIZATION OF COMMUNICATION TRANSMISSIONS RECEIVED ONBOARD AN AIRCRAFTMarch 2017January 2019Allow2210NoNo
15460871EVACUATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EVACUATING TRAPPED PERSONNELMarch 2017April 2019Allow2510NoNo
15461156Intelligent Event System and Method for a VehicleMarch 2017April 2020Allow3730NoNo
15461089System and Method for Analyzing Vehicle DataMarch 2017April 2020Allow3730YesNo
15459598VEHICLE CONTROL SYSTEM, VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD, AND VEHICLE CONTROL PROGRAMMarch 2017April 2019Allow2510YesNo
15459486CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREVENTING LOW VEHICLE SPEEDMarch 2017January 2019Allow2210NoNo
15459851Driving Analysis Using Vehicle-to-Vehicle CommunicationMarch 2017May 2019Allow2610NoNo
15458610SYSTEM AND METHOD TO DETECT EXECUTION OF DRIVING MANEUVERSMarch 2017April 2020Allow3830NoNo
15456974ADJUSTING COMPONENTS OF CARGO TRANSPORATION UNITSMarch 2017April 2019Allow2520NoNo
15457242SENSOR SYSTEM FOR DETECTING THE ADJUSTMENT POSITION OF A VEHICLE SEATMarch 2017March 2019Allow2410NoNo
15456198ELECTRIC-VEHICLE TESTING DEVICE AND METHODMarch 2017April 2019Allow2510NoNo
15444328SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMATIC DRIVERLESS MOVEMENT FOR SELF-PARKING PROCESSINGFebruary 2017April 2019Allow2520NoNo
15443493REVERSE TACTILE CUE FOR ROTORCRAFT ROTOR OVERSPEED PROTECTIONFebruary 2017February 2020Allow3601NoNo
15438645AUTOMATED IDENTIFICATION OF ANOMALOUS MAP DATAFebruary 2017February 2020Allow3520YesNo
15505090INERTIAL SENSING DEVICEFebruary 2017July 2019Allow2910NoNo
15504744WORKING VEHICLE, REMOTE DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM, AND REMOTE DIAGNOSIS METHODFebruary 2017May 2020Allow3930NoNo
15434203VEHICLE OPERATIONS BASED ON BIOMETRIC FINGERPRINT ANALYSISFebruary 2017February 2019Allow2420NoYes
15432822VEHICLE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND STORAGE MEDIUMFebruary 2017April 2019Allow2620NoNo
15429103SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRACKING POSITION OF A MOVING TRANSMISSION SOURCEFebruary 2017July 2017Allow500NoNo
15422886Rotorcraft Fly-by-Wire Go-Around ModeFebruary 2017January 2020Allow3520NoNo
15423215Machine-Learning Based Vehicle Motion Control SystemFebruary 2017March 2020Allow3830YesNo
15420305Transportation RoutingJanuary 2017December 2017Allow1020YesNo
15413463VEHICLE CONTROL USING SENSING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMSJanuary 2017July 2019Allow3020NoNo
15387761ENTITY LOCATION MANAGEMENT USING VEHICLE LOGISTICS INFORMATIONDecember 2016June 2017Allow600NoNo
15387845ENTITY LOCATION MANAGEMENT USING VEHICLE LOGISTICS INFORMATIONDecember 2016June 2017Allow600NoNo
15368894Autonomous Robot LocalizationDecember 2016May 2018Allow1810NoNo
15353898VEHICULAR HEAD-LIGHTING SYSTEMNovember 2016October 2018Allow2310NoNo
15353528SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AUTONOMOUS STEERINGNovember 2016November 2018Allow2410NoNo
15338135PORTABLE SINGLE-HANDED REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLEOctober 2016August 2018Allow2110NoNo
15335895AUTOMATIC DRIVING SYSTEMOctober 2016March 2019Allow2920NoNo
15336569GROUND CONTROL POINT ASSIGNMENT AND DETERMINATION SYSTEMOctober 2016July 2017Allow910NoNo
15287125Multi-Rotor Aircraft ControlOctober 2016September 2019Allow3510YesNo
15272414RADIO-CONTROLLED FLYING CRAFTSeptember 2016February 2017Allow510YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner NOLAN, PETER D.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
24
Examiner Affirmed
14
(58.3%)
Examiner Reversed
10
(41.7%)
Reversal Percentile
64.4%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 41.7% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. This reversal rate is above the USPTO average, indicating that appeals have better success here than typical.

Strategic Value of Filing an Appeal

Total Appeal Filings
33
Allowed After Appeal Filing
15
(45.5%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
18
(54.5%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
74.3%
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, 45.5% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is above the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal can be an effective strategy for prompting reconsideration.

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 NOLAN, PETER D - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner NOLAN, PETER D works in Art Unit 3661 and has examined 538 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 76.0%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 36 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner NOLAN, PETER D's allowance rate of 76.0% places them in the 42% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by NOLAN, PETER D receive 1.83 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 42% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues fewer office actions than average, which may indicate efficient prosecution or a more lenient examination style.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by NOLAN, PETER D is 36 months. This places the examiner in the 37% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +17.5% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by NOLAN, PETER D. This interview benefit is in the 59% percentile among all examiners. Recommendation: Interviews provide an above-average benefit with this examiner and are worth considering.

Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Effectiveness

When applicants file an RCE with this examiner, 28.0% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 50% 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 55.9% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 82% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Recommendation: This examiner is highly receptive to after-final amendments compared to other examiners. Per MPEP § 714.12, after-final amendments may be entered "under justifiable circumstances." Consider filing after-final amendments with a clear showing of allowability rather than immediately filing an RCE, as this examiner frequently enters such amendments.

Pre-Appeal Conference Effectiveness

When applicants request a pre-appeal conference (PAC) with this examiner, 54.5% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 47% percentile among all examiners. Note: Pre-appeal conferences show below-average success with this examiner. Consider whether your arguments are strong enough to warrant a PAC request.

Appeal Withdrawal and Reconsideration

This examiner withdraws rejections or reopens prosecution in 44.2% of appeals filed. This is in the 10% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 26.3% occur early in the appeal process (after Notice of Appeal but before Appeal Brief). 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, 31.2% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 18% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Note: Petitions are rarely granted regarding this examiner's actions compared to other examiners. Ensure you have a strong procedural basis before filing a petition, as the Technology Center Director typically upholds this examiner's decisions.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 6.5% of allowed cases (in the 89% percentile). Per MPEP § 1302.04, examiner's amendments are used to place applications in condition for allowance when only minor changes are needed. This examiner frequently uses this tool compared to other examiners, indicating a cooperative approach to getting applications allowed. Strategic Insight: If you are close to allowance but minor claim amendments are needed, this examiner may be willing to make an examiner's amendment rather than requiring another round of prosecution.

Quayle Actions: This examiner issues Ex Parte Quayle actions in 2.4% of allowed cases (in the 71% percentile). This examiner issues Quayle actions more often than average when claims are allowable but formal matters remain (MPEP § 714.14).

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

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

  • Consider after-final amendments: This examiner frequently enters after-final amendments. If you can clearly overcome rejections with claim amendments, file an after-final amendment before resorting to an RCE.
  • Examiner cooperation: This examiner frequently makes examiner's amendments to place applications in condition for allowance. If you are close to allowance, the examiner may help finalize the claims.

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.