USPTO Examiner PRESTON JOHN O - Art Unit 3693

Recent Applications

Detailed information about the 100 most recent patent applications.

Application NumberTitleFiling DateDisposal DateDispositionTime (months)Office ActionsRestrictionsInterviewAppeal
17133027INVENTORY AFFORDABILITY AND POLICY DISTANCE CALCULATORDecember 2020January 2025Abandon4940YesNo
17047355SYSTEM AND METHOD REFUNDING FOREIGNERS' TAXESOctober 2020May 2024Allow4340YesNo
16942653HEALTHCARE DATA CHIP DEVICEJuly 2020October 2024Abandon5140YesNo
16914322Child Support Lending and Finance SystemJune 2020February 2025Abandon5640YesYes
13609781SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING DATA RELATED TO CHARGES APPLICABLE TO INVESTMENT ACCOUNTSSeptember 2012October 2012Allow100NoNo
13297503SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A VIEW OF MARKET DEPTH ON A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACENovember 2011March 2012Allow400NoNo
12701373NON-SCALAR-VALUED FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTSFebruary 2010September 2012Allow3120YesNo
12197463METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CALCULATING A FORWARD PRICE FOR USING LINKS IN A NETWORKAugust 2008January 2010Allow1610NoNo
12124694METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADMINISTERING INDEXED LIFE INSURANCEMay 2008June 2012Allow4820NoNo
11934058SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING OPTIMAL INVESTMENT STRATEGYNovember 2007October 2012Allow5940YesNo
11830606ALLOCATING GOODS TO BIDDERS IN COMBINATORIAL AUCTIONSJuly 2007February 2012Allow5540YesNo
11689789SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPLAYING A VIEW OF MARKET DEPTH ON A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACEMarch 2007September 2011Allow5330YesNo
11517705GENERATING ADJUSTED BIDS OF ENTITIES ACCORDING TO A NEW EXTERNAL BIDSeptember 2006July 2011Allow5840NoYes
10945548Method for investing working capitalSeptember 2004August 2013Allow6050NoNo
10475619METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CALCULATING A FORWARD PRICE FOR USING LINKS IN A NETWORKJuly 2004February 2009Allow6010YesNo
10714802METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SORTING CHECKS ACCORDING TO A PRIORITY ORDER ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCOUNT NUMBERNovember 2003August 2011Allow6030NoYes

Appeals Overview

This analysis examines appeal outcomes and the strategic value of filing appeals for examiner PRESTON, JOHN O.

Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) Decisions

Total PTAB Decisions
2
Examiner Affirmed
1
(50.0%)
Examiner Reversed
1
(50.0%)
Reversal Percentile
78.2%
Higher than average

What This Means

With a 50.0% reversal rate, the PTAB reverses the examiner's rejections in a meaningful percentage of cases. 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
5
Allowed After Appeal Filing
2
(40.0%)
Not Allowed After Appeal Filing
3
(60.0%)
Filing Benefit Percentile
67.4%
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, 40.0% 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 PRESTON, JOHN O - Prosecution Strategy Guide

Executive Summary

Examiner PRESTON, JOHN O works in Art Unit 3693 and has examined 16 patent applications in our dataset. With an allowance rate of 81.2%, this examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications. Applications typically reach final disposition in approximately 53 months.

Allowance Patterns

Examiner PRESTON, JOHN O's allowance rate of 81.2% places them in the 54% percentile among all USPTO examiners. This examiner has an above-average tendency to allow applications.

Office Action Patterns

On average, applications examined by PRESTON, JOHN O receive 2.81 office actions before reaching final disposition. This places the examiner in the 78% 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 PRESTON, JOHN O is 53 months. This places the examiner in the 5% 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 -33.3% benefit to allowance rate for applications examined by PRESTON, JOHN O. This interview benefit is in the 1% 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, 21.7% of applications are subsequently allowed. This success rate is in the 29% 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 50.0% of cases where such amendments are filed. This entry rate is in the 77% 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, 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 21% 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.

Examiner Cooperation and Flexibility

Examiner's Amendments: This examiner makes examiner's amendments in 18.8% of allowed cases (in the 98% 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 0.0% of allowed cases (in the 46% 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:

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Plan for extended prosecution: Applications take longer than average with this examiner. Factor this into your continuation strategy and client communications.
  • 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.