Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 17/902,488

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING SIGNAL TRANSMISSION FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 02, 2022
Examiner
MARCELO, MELVIN C
Art Unit
2463
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Apple Inc.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
79%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
678 granted / 788 resolved
+28.0% vs TC avg
Minimal -7% lift
Without
With
+-6.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
11 currently pending
Career history
804
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
§103
48.5%
+8.5% vs TC avg
§102
16.0%
-24.0% vs TC avg
§112
15.3%
-24.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 788 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claim 13 was amended to “the processing circuitry to transmit a third signal directed to the first communication node using the transmitter based on the first received signal strength being greater than the second received signal strength.” The Examiner notes that Claim 13 depends on independent Claim 9 which recites an unconditional limitation of “transmit a signal directed to a first communication node using a transmitter of an electronic device.” It is not clear that the original disclosure supports the transmission of a third signal to the first communication node when there is already a transmission to the first node. Applicant cites paragraphs 39, 43-46, and 56-65 and FIG.5 for support of the amendments, but it is not clear where in particular to the cited sections that recites the “third signal.” Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-12 and 14-20 are allowed. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MELVIN C MARCELO whose telephone number is (571)272-3125. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:30-6:00. 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, Asad Nawaz can be reached at 571-272-3988. 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. MELVIN C. MARCELO Primary Examiner Art Unit 2463 /MELVIN C MARCELO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2463 June 27, 2026
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 02, 2022
Application Filed
Jul 24, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Oct 24, 2025
Response Filed
Apr 10, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Apr 18, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Jul 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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METHODS AND SYSTEMS OF PHASE ALIGNING A REPLICA CARRIER SIGNAL FOR USE IN DEMODULATING A SUBCARRIER SIGNAL
2y 4m to grant Granted Jul 07, 2026
Patent 12666296
CHANNEL STATE INFORMATION MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING WITH NETWORK ADAPTATION
2y 4m to grant Granted Jun 23, 2026
Patent 12640872
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ROUND-TRIP CARRIER-PHASE OPERATION
2y 10m to grant Granted May 26, 2026
Patent 12634898
POSTPONING OF APERIODIC SOUNDING REFERENCE SIGNALS
3y 2m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634035
Control Channel Allocation Method and Communication Device
2y 7m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
86%
Grant Probability
79%
With Interview (-6.8%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 788 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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