Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 17/865,106

MODEL TRAINING METHOD AND APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jul 14, 2022
Priority
Jan 16, 2020 — CN 202010049320.1 +1 more
Examiner
MANG, VAN C
Art Unit
2100
Tech Center
2100 — Computer Architecture & Software
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
4-5
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
199 granted / 265 resolved
+20.1% vs TC avg
Strong +27% interview lift
Without
With
+27.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 11m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
290
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
29.7%
-10.3% vs TC avg
§103
45.1%
+5.1% vs TC avg
§102
8.6%
-31.4% vs TC avg
§112
14.5%
-25.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 265 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. §102 and §103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. §102 and §103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. §103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claims 1-7, 9-15, and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. §103 as being unpatentable over Zhou et al. (WO 2018/227823), hereinafter Zhou, and further in view of Liu et al. (US 2021/0247426), hereinafter Liu, and Polleri et al. (US 2021/0081819), hereinafter Polleri. Claim 1 “a first server and a second server, wherein the first server is located in a private cloud and is used for model inference, and the second server is located in a public cloud and is used for model training” Liu [0159] teaches servers implemented on a cloud platform and the cloud platform includes private cloud and public cloud, and Zhou p.14 l.31–p.15 l.3 teaches a portrait management model that functions like claimed “model inference”, wherein, after receiving update instruction, the user portrait management model updates the current user portrait model according to algorithms; the user portrait management model may invoke one or more algorithms to train the user portrait model according to the service instance; “obtaining, by the first server, a first training model from the second server; inputting, by the first server, input data into the first training model for model inference to obtain an inference to obtain an inference result” Liu [0159] teaches servers implemented on a cloud platform and the cloud platform includes private cloud and public cloud, wherein the server (i.e., a first server) obtains a first training model located on a public cloud platform (i.e., the second server); and Zhou p.14 l.28-30 teaches the user portrait management module periodically perform model update, when the user terminal satisfies certain conditions, the user triggers an action and manages the image to the user; “evaluating, by the first server, the first training model based on the inference result and a model evaluation metric to obtain an evaluation result of the model evaluation metric” Polleri [0073] teaches a training metrics help evaluate the performance of a trained model, the training metrics can include classification accuracy, logarithmic loss, area under curve, F1 Score, mean absolutes error, and mean squared error; “if an evaluation result of at least one model evaluation metric is less than or equal to a preset threshold corresponding to the model evaluation metric, sending, by the first server, a retraining instruction for the first training model to the second server, wherein the retraining instruction instructs the second server to retrain the first training model” Polleri [0054] teaches a monitoring engine that receive the results of the model execution engine and compare the results with the performance characteristics (e.g., KPI/QoS metrics), the monitoring engine can also include adjustments, i.e., feedback, to one or more variables or selected machine learning model used in the machine learning model, Polleri [0084][0100] teaches feedback from the monitoring engine can be sent to the model composition engine to provide recommendations to revise, i.e., retrain, the machine learning model, within an expected range; and Polleri [0095] further teaches monitoring values for QoS/KPI to validate model, the machine learning platform can inform the user of the monitored values and alert the user if the QoS/KPI metrics fall outside prescribed thresholds; the claimed “less than or equal to a preset threshold” is inherently taught in the disclosure of “within an” and “outside” prescribed thresholds. Zhou p.8 l.3-7 teaches communications between servers, sending training instruction; the “retraining” instruction is construed as train “again” instruction. Zhou, Liu, and Polleri disclose analogous art. Liu is analogous because it is in the field of resources management involving plurality of processors and storage devices. Polleri is analogous because it is in the field of chatbot for defining a machine learning solution. Zhou does not spell out the “public cloud and private cloud” and “evaluation metrics” as recited above. Said features are taught in Liu and Polleri respectively. Hence, it would have been obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art at the time the present invention was made to incorporate said feature of Liu (Liu [0159]: public cloud and private cloud) and Polleri (Polleri [0073]: training metrics can include classification accuracy, logarithmic loss, area under curve, F1 Score, mean absolute error, and mean squared error) into Zhou to enhance its model training functions among private and public clouds, and its model performance evaluation functions with evaluation metrics. Claim 2 “sending, by the first server, the input data and the inference result to the second server, wherein the input data and the inference result are used to retrain the first training model” Liu [0018] teaches a preset target device configured to execute the first operation and feedback the result of the first operation to the wireless communicating module, which then configured to a third data packet of the first operation result and sent it to the data routing module and further updating the device operating state and feedback to the server. Claim 3 “wherein the model evaluation metric comprises at least one of the following: accuracy of the inference result; precision of the inference result; recall of the inference result; F1-score of the inference result; or an area under a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of the inference result” Polleri [0073] teaches a training metrics help evaluate the performance of a trained model, the training metrics can include classification accuracy, logarithmic loss, area under curve, F1 Score, mean absolute error, and mean squared error. Claim 4 “if all evaluation results of model evaluation metrics exceed preset threshold corresponding to the model evaluation metrics, skipping sending, by the first server, a retraining instruction for the first training model to the second server” Polleri [0095][0096] teaches a machine learning application from a machine learning library infrastructure, wherein the functionality includes monitoring values on ongoing basis for QoS/KPI to validate model, and a machine learning platform can inform the user of the monitored values, and alert (i.e., no retraining) the user if the QoS/KPI metrics fall outside prescribed thresholds. Claim 5 “determining, by the second server, a retraining data sample set based on the input data and the inference result” Liu [0159] teaches servers implemented on a cloud platform and the cloud platform includes private cloud and public cloud, Zhou p.14 l.28-30 teaches the user portrait management module periodically perform model update, and Polleri [0061] teaches the model execution engine uses hosted input data including a portion of the data stored at the data storage, a portion of the hosted data can be identified as testing data (i.e., retraining data sample set); “retraining, by the second server, the first training model based on the retraining sample set to determine a second training model, wherein the second training model is used to replace the first training model” Polleri [0373] teaches a threshold of improvement specified before replacement occurs, new versions of the pipeline may be tested by machine learning models before replacement occurs and the new pipeline may run in shadow mode for a period of time before replacement; “sending, by the second server, the second training model to the first server” Polleri [0413] teaches organization may provide services for one or more entities within the organization under a private cloud model. Claim 5 is also rejected for the rationale given for claim 1. Claim 6 “obtaining, by the second server, the input data and the inference result in response to the retraining instruction received from the first server” Liu [0159] teaches servers implemented on a cloud platform and the cloud platform includes private cloud and public cloud, wherein the server (i.e., a first server) obtains a first training model located on a public cloud platform (i.e., the second server); and Zhou p.14 l.28-30 teaches the user portrait management module periodically perform model update, when the user terminal satisfies certain conditions, the user triggers an action and manages the image to the user. Claim 7 “annotating, by the second server, the input data to obtain the annotated input data, and storing, by the second server, the annotated input data and the inference result in the retraining data sample set” Polleri [0342] teaches annotating services with concepts that, from a machine learning perspective, intelligent agents and a reasoner engine can determine formal service semantics. Claims 9-12 Claims 9-12 are rejected for the similar rationale give for claims 1-4 respectively. Claims 13-15 Claims 13-15 are rejected for the similar rationale given for claims 5-7 respectively. Claim 17 “in response to sending the retraining instruction to the second server, receiving, by the first server, a second training model from the second server” Zhou p.8 l.3-7 teaches user portrait platform 20 can communicate with the user portrait server 30 on the cloud side, the platform 20 can download the original user portrait model from server 30, and dynamically updates the model, the user portrait server 30 can train the updated user portrait model based on the user portrait model updated by the plurality of user portrait platforms 20 of the plurality of terminals. Claim 18 “replacing, by the first sever, the first training model with the second training model” Zhou p.8 l.3-7 teaches downloading and uploading the user portrait model for training, and the update operation is a replacing operation as claimed. Claim 19 “evaluating the first training model is performed periodically by the first server” Zhou p.8 l.3-7 teaches download the original user portrait model from server 30, and “dynamically updates” (i.e., periodically performed) the model. Claim 20 “wherein the model evaluation metric is set by a user based on an application scenario” Polleri [0053] teaches one or more metrics can be used for evaluating the machine learning application, the metrics can be received from a user through a user interface. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 8 and 16 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 04/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that “if an evaluation result of at least one model evaluation metric is less than or equal to a preset threshold corresponding to the model evaluation metric, sending, by the first server, a retraining instruction for the first training model to the second server, wherein the retraining instruction instructs the second server to retrain the first training model”. Said argument is not persuasive. The “sending” from a first server to a second server is construed as “communications” between servers, and a “retraining” instruction is construed as training “again”. Accordingly, the argued feature is taught in Zhou page 8 lines 3-7 wherein the user portrait platform 20 can communicate with the user portrait server 30 on the cloud side, and the platform 20 can download the original user portrait model from server 30 and dynamically updates the model; the user portrait server 30 can train the updated user portrait model based on the user portrait model updated by the plurality of user portrait platforms 20 of the plurality of terminals. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to VAN C MANG whose telephone number is (571)270-7598. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8:00-5:00pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, David Yi can be reached at 5712707519. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /VAN C MANG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2126
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 2 earlier events
Sep 12, 2025
Response Filed
Oct 02, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Dec 29, 2025
Response Filed
Jan 28, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 21, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
May 28, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jun 03, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 18, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+27.2%)
3y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 265 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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