I asked when the patent was submitted, and any other timeline info he could offer.

Reply:

We filed the application in 2006 and received our first office action from the USPTO this year.

Best regards,
Robert


Robert Putnam,
Sr. Vice President

I then followed up inquiring what "1st office action" meant...

Reply:

"Office actions are documents written by patent examiners in response to patent applications. After examiners examine applications on a claim by claim basis, they either approve individual claims or cite issues (including prior art) that the applicants need to address before the claims in questions can be approved. The applicants then respond to the office actions (through documents) with further information supporting their claims. Many patent applications receive multiple office actions from the USPTO before the individual claims within the patents are ultimately approved or denied. If at least one claim in an individual patent is approved, then the patent issues with that claim. If no claims in an individual patent are ultimately approved, then the entire patent is denied."

Draw your own conclusions, but IMO we are on track, Dischino. Obviosuly, my 3 year comment is in error, so must state such.