One way or another, what ever it takes.
"unreal" ........Yes it is...
Though time consuming, It's actually better to be hardened in this manner early on.
Welcome to the possible 6.5 year patent process.
3 years to prosecute it, and 3.5 more years to evolve its limitations with validation.
A published patent is only half way there.
But then consider how all of the patents are published....as a relay.
doni