USPTO Examiner SMITH JEFFREY A - Art Unit 3688

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
18968711SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR AUTOMATING EMAIL TO ORDER USING GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)December 2024June 2025Allow610NoNo
18402377GUARANTEED OFFER GENERATORJanuary 2024March 2025Abandon1510NoNo
18213895GIFT TRANSACTION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CREATING A CUSTOM-MADE DIGITAL MALL OF GIFTSJune 2023June 2025Allow2310NoNo
18044933Automated Retail Store and SystemMarch 2023October 2025Allow3111NoNo
18172331ROSCA AUTOMATIC BID RENEWAL METHOD AND ITS SERVO DEVICEFebruary 2023July 2025Abandon2810YesNo
18166785METHOD, APPARATUS, AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR SECURE FACILITATION OF PACKAGE TRANSFERFebruary 2023July 2025Allow2910YesNo
18064358Rendering of Object Data Based on Recognition and/or Location MatchingDecember 2022February 2025Abandon2641YesNo
18009599SYSTEM FOR MEDIATING PERSONAL DATA OF USERDecember 2022June 2025Abandon3110NoNo
17928841SYSTEMS AND/OR METHODS FOR PRESENTING DYNAMIC CONTENT FOR SURVEILLED INDIVIDUALSNovember 2022June 2025Abandon3010NoNo
17962880SHOPPING SERVICE MEDIATION SYSTEMOctober 2022October 2025Abandon3620NoNo
17876676METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING VEHICLE INFORMATION BASED ON A VEHICLE POWERTRAIN TYPEJuly 2022September 2025Abandon3720YesNo
17859812CONNECTED VEHICLE DATA USAGE FRAMEWORKJuly 2022October 2025Abandon3920YesNo
17841393SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUYER AND SELLER CONNECTING, MATCHING, AND COMMUNICATIONJune 2022April 2025Abandon3430YesNo
17308247ACQUIRING AND UTILIZING INDIVIDUAL STYLE PROFILES FOR ONLINE GIFT SHOPPINGMay 2021March 2025Abandon4721NoNo
17133003DISPLAY DEVICE, MOBILE TERMINAL, CONTROL METHOD, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND GUIDE SYSTEMDecember 2020March 2025Abandon5131YesNo
16648215METHOD FOR COMPUTER-ASSISTED DETERMINATION OF A COSMETIC PRODUCTMarch 2020January 2026Abandon6040NoYes
16284342AUTOMATIC ELECTRONIC MESSAGE DATA ANALYSIS METHOD AND APPARATUSFebruary 2019December 2024Abandon6040YesYes
10761404REMOTE NEGOTIATION APPARATUS, REMOTE NEGOTIATION METHOD, AND PROGRAMJanuary 2004March 2006Allow2520YesNo
10293554METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR THE RENTAL OF FURNITURE AND HOUSEWARESNovember 2002December 2005Allow3700NoNo
10152835ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING COMMERCIAL INFORMATION IN ELECTRONIC COMMERCE SYSTEMMay 2002November 2005Allow4230YesYes
10088057METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FACILITATING DELIVERY AND PICKUP OF GOODSMarch 2002May 2005Allow3810YesNo
10094782APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING TRANSACTIONSMarch 2002June 2008Allow6041YesNo
10094368GIFT SELECTION AND FULFILLMENT SYSTEMMarch 2002June 2006Allow5110NoNo
10087370METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR COMPUTER SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION USING NETWORKED SOFTWARE DISPENSING VENDING MACHINESFebruary 2002May 2005Allow3920NoNo
09996348METHOD FOR ASSISTING A CUSTOMER IN BUILDING A BUILD-TO-ORDER MEDICAL DEVICENovember 2001December 2005Allow4910YesNo
09952006QUERY SYSTEM FOR SERVICE AVAILABILITY ACCORDING TO CUSTOMIZED CRITERIASeptember 2001December 2005Allow5131NoNo
09932799PROSTHETIC DEVICE FOR CORRECTING DEFORMITY OF SPINEAugust 2001May 2002Abandon910NoNo
09932485ACETABULAR BONE PLATEAugust 2001May 2002Allow920NoNo
09898542SURGICAL REAMERJuly 2001March 2002Allow900NoNo
09859639RETRACTION PLATE FOR SOFT-TISSUE PARTSMay 2001January 2004Allow3230NoNo
09855997ORGAN RETRACTION TAPE POSITIONERMay 2001December 2002Allow1910NoNo
09838452MEDICAL FASTENER CAP SYSTEMApril 2001May 2002Allow1310NoNo
09815058MERCHANDISE CONTRACT BROKERAGE SYSTEMMarch 2001May 2006Allow6030NoNo
09809953Method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for generating secure recommendations from market-based financial instrument pricesMarch 2001April 2005Allow4920YesYes
09779037SURGICAL RETRACTORFebruary 2001November 2002Allow2110YesNo
09779021SURGICAL INSTRUMENT HOLDERFebruary 2001March 2003Allow2520NoNo
09770664EYELID RETRACTION DEVICEJanuary 2001August 2002Allow1811YesNo
09771519METHOD, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE FOR EXECUTING A STATEMENT TO MANIPULATE DATAJanuary 2001June 2006Allow6040YesNo

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner SMITH, JEFFREY A.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
2
Examiner Affirmed
2
(100.0%)
Examiner Reversed
0
(0.0%)
Reversal Percentile
18.3%
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
1
(25.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(75.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
36.1%
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, 25.0% of applications that filed an appeal were subsequently allowed. This appeal filing benefit rate is below the USPTO average, suggesting that filing an appeal has limited effectiveness in prompting favorable reconsideration.

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 SMITH, JEFFREY A - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner SMITH, JEFFREY A works in Art Unit 3688 and has examined 25 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 80.0%, this examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 39 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner SMITH, JEFFREY A's allowance rate of 80.0% places them in the 50% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has a below-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by SMITH, JEFFREY A receive 2.04 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 53% percentile for office actions issued. This examiner issues a slightly above-average number of office actions.

Prosecution Timeline

The median time to disposition (half-life) for applications examined by SMITH, JEFFREY A is 39 months. This places the examiner in the 28% percentile for prosecution speed. Prosecution timelines are slightly slower than average with this examiner.

Interview Effectiveness

Conducting an examiner interview provides a +3.2% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by SMITH, JEFFREY A. This interview benefit is in the 25% 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, 31.8% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 66% percentile among all examiners. Strategic Insight: RCEs show above-average effectiveness with this examiner. Consider whether your amendments or new arguments are strong enough to warrant an RCE versus filing a continuation.

After-Final Amendment Practice

This examiner enters after-final amendments leading to allowance in 27.3% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 38% 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, 0.0% result in withdrawal of the rejection or reopening of prosecution. This success rate is in the 20% 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 50.0% of appeals filed. This is in the 20% percentile among all examiners. Of these withdrawals, 100.0% 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, 100.0% are granted (fully or in part). This grant rate is in the 93% 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 32.0% of allowed cases (in the 100% 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 10.0% of allowed cases (in the 89% percentile). Per MPEP § 714.14, a Quayle action indicates that all claims are allowable but formal matters remain. This examiner frequently uses Quayle actions compared to other examiners, which is a positive indicator that once substantive issues are resolved, allowance follows quickly.

Prosecution Strategy Recommendations

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

  • 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.