LYNCH·LLP
HOME/EXAMINERS/TC 2100/JAMES D RUTTEN
◈ FIND AN EXAMINER OR ART UNIT
◈ USPTO PATENT EXAMINER STATISTICS

Examiner James D Rutten

TECH CENTER 2100 · 5 ART UNITS · 756 DECIDED APPLICATIONS · LAST ACTION JUN 2026
ALLOWANCE RATE = SHARE OF DECIDED APPLICATIONS (ALLOWED + ABANDONED); PENDING EXCLUDED
OVERALL ALLOWANCE RATE · POOLED ACROSS 5 ART UNITS

Examiner James D Rutten has allowed 480 of 756 decided applications (63%) in Computer Architecture, Software, and Information Security.

63% pooled allowance · benchmarked per art unit below
DATA UPDATED JUNE 25, 2026
AU 2121 · 70%AU 2197 · 59%AU 2192 · 61%AU 2194 · 79%AU 2122 · 38%
// READING THIS EXAMINER

What the data says.

James D Rutten maintains a public record of 794 total applications across five art units within Technology Center 2100 (Computer Architecture, Software, and Information Security). Of 756 disposed applications, 480 were allowed, yielding an overall allowance rate of 63%. The examiner's allowance rate ranges from 59% to 70% across these art units. This pooled figure aggregates decisions made in art units 2121, 2122, 2192, 2194, and 2197, and reflects historical outcomes on applications that have reached final disposition.

// HOW TO READ THESE NUMBERS

How to read these numbers.

A pooled record combines allowance data across multiple art units into a single aggregate statistic. This overall rate describes what has occurred in the examiner's past decisions, not what will occur in any future application. Because different art units cover different subject matter and complexity, individual art-unit rates may vary. The aggregate figure is useful context for understanding the examiner's historical record as a whole, but does not predict any specific application outcome.

These are aggregate statistics from this examiner's past public record — not predictions about any specific application. The per-art-unit figures below show how the record varies across art units. Our approach to patent prosecution →

// BY ART UNIT

The record, art unit by art unit.

Each section benchmarks this examiner against that art unit's average. Figures are this examiner's own public record within the art unit; the overall rate above pools them.

◈ PRIMARY · ART UNIT 2121
292 APPS · 70% ALLOWANCE

Primarily examines neural-network / biological-model computing, and machine learning.

70% allowance (of decided)▏ art-unit average 57%
DISPOSITION179 / 75 / 38allowed / abandoned / pending
FIRST ACTION27.9 moart unit avg 27 mo
TOTAL PENDENCY44.8 moart unit avg 39.9 mo
// REJECTION PROFILE
§101 — Subject-matter eligibility39% · art unit 46%
§102 — Anticipation (novelty)72%
§103 — Obviousness97% · art unit 86%
§112 — Written description & definiteness72%
// INTERVIEW SPLIT

Allowance rate for applications with an examiner interview versus without one.

WITH INTERVIEW77%allowance share
WITHOUT INTERVIEW55%+22 pt difference

A correlation, not proof that interviews cause allowances. Based on 183 decided applications with an interview and 71 without.

ART UNIT 2197
251 APPS · 59% ALLOWANCE

Primarily examines program control and execution, and software engineering.

59% allowance (of decided)▏ art-unit average 69%
DISPOSITION148 / 103 / 0allowed / abandoned / pending
FIRST ACTION27.6 moart unit avg 26 mo
TOTAL PENDENCY51.5 moart unit avg 44.4 mo
// REJECTION PROFILE
§101 — Subject-matter eligibility43% · art unit 54%
§102 — Anticipation (novelty)70%
§103 — Obviousness95% · art unit 90%
§112 — Written description & definiteness73%
// INTERVIEW SPLIT

Allowance rate for applications with an examiner interview versus without one.

WITH INTERVIEW76%allowance share
WITHOUT INTERVIEW41%+35 pt difference

A correlation, not proof that interviews cause allowances. Based on 129 decided applications with an interview and 122 without.

ART UNIT 2192
219 APPS · 61% ALLOWANCE

Primarily examines software engineering.

61% allowance (of decided)▏ art-unit average 66%
DISPOSITION133 / 86 / 0allowed / abandoned / pending
FIRST ACTION37.9 moart unit avg 29.5 mo
TOTAL PENDENCY61.5 moart unit avg 45.1 mo
// REJECTION PROFILE
§101 — Subject-matter eligibility0% · art unit 46%
§102 — Anticipation (novelty)100%
§103 — Obviousness0% · art unit 81%
§112 — Written description & definiteness0%
// INTERVIEW SPLIT

Allowance rate for applications with an examiner interview versus without one.

WITH INTERVIEW83%allowance share
WITHOUT INTERVIEW30%+53 pt difference

A correlation, not proof that interviews cause allowances. Based on 126 decided applications with an interview and 93 without.

ART UNIT 2194
19 APPS · 79% ALLOWANCE · LIMITED DATA

Primarily examines program control and execution.

79% allowance (of decided)▏ art-unit average 69%
DISPOSITION15 / 4 / 0allowed / abandoned / pending
FIRST ACTION19.5 moart unit avg 28 mo
TOTAL PENDENCY34.4 moart unit avg 43.9 mo
// REJECTION PROFILE
§101 — Subject-matter eligibility53% · art unit 52%
§102 — Anticipation (novelty)76%
§103 — Obviousness100% · art unit 79%
§112 — Written description & definiteness65%

Based on 19 applications — too small a sample to characterize the rejection mix reliably; shown for completeness.

ART UNIT 2122
13 APPS · 38% ALLOWANCE · LIMITED DATA

Primarily examines neural-network / biological-model computing, and machine learning.

38% allowance (of decided)▏ art-unit average 55%
DISPOSITION5 / 8 / 0allowed / abandoned / pending
FIRST ACTION33.2 moart unit avg 27.2 mo
TOTAL PENDENCY42.2 moart unit avg 39.3 mo
// FAQ

Questions about Examiner James D Rutten

  • What is James D Rutten's overall allowance rate?
    63% across 756 disposed applications pooled from all five art units.
  • How many art units does this examiner work in?
    Five art units: 2121, 2122, 2192, 2194, and 2197, all within TC 2100.
  • Does the allowance rate vary by art unit?
    Yes. The allowance rate ranges from 59% to 70% across the examiner's art units. Individual art-unit rates may differ from the pooled average of 63%.
  • Does this record predict the outcome of my application?
    No. This is a historical aggregate and is not a prediction of any specific application outcome.
◈ RESPONDING TO AN OFFICE ACTION

Strategy, not paperwork. Talk to the attorney doing the work.

Lynch LLP represents applicants in patent prosecution before the USPTO. Book a consultation to discuss your matter with the attorney who would handle it.

Book a 30-minute consultation →
METHODOLOGY & DISCLOSURES

Methodology. This page pools every art unit in which Examiner James D Rutten has a public record within Technology Center 2100. Statistics are computed from publicly available USPTO records, refreshed on a recurring schedule. This page's data was last updated June 25, 2026. The overall allowance rate is total allowed divided by total decided applications (allowed plus abandoned) across all art units — not an average of the per-art-unit rates; pending applications are excluded. Figures are rounded for display. Pooled sample: 794 applications.

Lynch LLP is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Examiner statistics are derived from publicly available USPTO data.

These statistics describe past examiner behavior and do not predict the outcome of any particular application. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Where this page compares an examiner's allowance rate to an art-unit average, that comparison is a factual description of the public record, not a characterization of any individual examiner's conduct or competence.

This page is for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by viewing it. Full disclaimers →

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING — Sean Lynch, Partner, Lynch LLP