Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/133,722

ROUTING SELECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS AND SYSTEM

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Apr 12, 2023
Priority
Oct 21, 2020 — continuation of PCTCN2020122441
Examiner
KINCAID, LESTER G
Art Unit
2649
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
1FINITY Inc.
OA Round
4 (Final)
62%
Grant Probability
Moderate
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
70%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 62% of resolved cases
62%
Career Allowance Rate
47 granted / 76 resolved
At TC average
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
110
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.0%
-36.0% vs TC avg
§103
60.2%
+20.2% vs TC avg
§102
21.1%
-18.9% vs TC avg
§112
11.0%
-29.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 76 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claim(s) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1, 4, 6, & 9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102 as being anticipated by Fujishiro et al. (2023/0180327) hereinafter “Fujishiro”. As to claim 1. (Currently Amended) Fujishiro discloses A routing selection apparatus, configured in a first node (Relay Node), the apparatus comprising: a receiver (310/311) configured to receive first flow control feedback information from a child node, the first flow control feedback information indicating that data congestion occurs in the child node (see [0044]-[0045], [0135]: “… In the downstream relay operation, the parent node and the child node in the upstream relay operation described above are replaced with each other… ”; and processor circuitry configured to (see “Downstream Relay Operation” [0134]-[0151], Figs 13-14): re-route: a downlink BAP packet intended to be mapped to a BH RLC channel when an available buffer size of the BH RLC channel, indicated by the first flow control feedback information, is less than a first threshold configured by an IAB donor for the first node; or a downlink BAP packet whose BAP header includes a routing identity when an available buffer size for the routing identity, indicated by the first flow control feedback information, is less than a second threshold configured by an IAB donor for the first node (see [0141]-[0146]). Also see [0164]. As to claim 4, (Currently Amended) Fujishiro discloses The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the local re-routing comprises a downlink route reselection, or selecting a downlink route that is different from the routing ID in a BAP header. See [0141]-[0145]. As to claim 6. (Currently Amended) Fujishiro discloses The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor circuitry performs re-routing when the first flow control feedback information is received from the child node comprises that: the processor circuitry reselects a route for a downlink BAP packet intended to be mapped to a BH RLC channel when an available buffer size of the BH RLC channel, indicated by the first flow control feedback, is less than the first threshold; and/or the processor circuitry reselects a route for a downlink BAP packet containing a routing identity in a BAP header when an available buffer size for the routing identity, indicated by the first flow control feedback information, is less than the second threshold. See [0141]-[0145]. As to claim 9. (Currently Amended) Fujishiro discloses The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein after the processor circuitry performs the downlink route reselection when the first flow control feedback information is received, the processor circuitry stops the routing downlink route reselection for an original route if at least one of the following conditions is satisfied that: a timer started when the data congestion occurs expires; and second flow control feedback information is received, and the second flow control feedback information indicates that no data congestion occurs in the original route. See [0147]. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LESTER KINCAID whose telephone number is (571)272-7922. The examiner can normally be reached M-Th: 7-5. 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, Yuwen Pan can be reached at 571-272-7855. 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. LESTER G. KINCAID Primary Patent Examiner Art Unit 2649 /LESTER G KINCAID/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2649
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 2 earlier events
Aug 22, 2025
Response Filed
Sep 03, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Dec 01, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 30, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jan 17, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jun 15, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 04, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
62%
Grant Probability
70%
With Interview (+7.7%)
2y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 76 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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