Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/194,311

WIFI PACKET COALESCING

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Mar 31, 2023
Priority
Oct 07, 2022 — provisional 63/414,444
Examiner
SHIU, HO T
Art Unit
2443
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Amd
OA Round
6 (Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
7-8
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
68%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allowance Rate
335 granted / 465 resolved
+14.0% vs TC avg
Minimal -4% lift
Without
With
+-3.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 6m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
496
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.1%
-29.9% vs TC avg
§103
62.0%
+22.0% vs TC avg
§102
13.4%
-26.6% vs TC avg
§112
8.7%
-31.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 465 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 . DETAILED ACTION Claims 1-4, 6-10 and 12-22 are pending Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-4, 6-10 and 12-22 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on the combination of references applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. 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 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 1-4, 6-9, and 12-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ben-Haim (US 2018/0184326) and in view of Makineni (US 2006/0104303) and in view of Cornett (US 2020/0204503) and in view of Mallikarjunan (US 2021/0392548). With respect to claim 1, Ben-Haim discloses a device comprising: a controller configured to ([0322], controller configured to): detect a trigger condition for packet coalescing of packet traffic ([0145], [0147], [0149], Rx packet coalescing information may include the one or more packet types of Rx packets to be coalesced. Wireless communication may send packets to hose upon expiration of a timer which is set based on the coalescing threshold or a packet that does not match the one or more packet types); send, to an endpoint device, a notification to initiate packet coalescing ([0149], wireless communication interface send packets to host 325, upon expiration of a timer, which may be set based on the coalescing threshold, or upon receiving a packet that does not match the one or more packet types.); observe a status in response to initiating the packet coalescing ([0149],-[0151], packets are received by the Rx coalescing module whether the packet is to be provided to the host based on the coalescing threshold or a packet that does not match the packet type. The host may be in a power save state (status); send, to the endpoint device, a second notification for updated packet coalescing instructions in response to the observed status ([0155], [0158]-[0160], to avoid unnecessary wake ups of a device from a power save state, reception of Rx packets may be delayed by using the “Tx coalescing filter”. Power state change of device may initiate the offloading of the packet coalescing. Based upon a change in the Rx packet information, device 102 may initiate signaling of packet coalescing information which initiates the offloading of the packet to device 140 defining the packet types of Rx packets to be coalesced for processing). While Ben-Haim discloses in [0149], wireless communication interface send packets to host 325, upon expiration of a timer, which may be set based on the coalescing threshold, or upon receiving a packet that does not match the one or more packet types, Ben-Haim does not disclose however Makineni discloses storing the notification in a notification register ([0022]-[0023], [0029], the controller includes registers that enable a driver to enable or disable coalescing. The controller signals an interrupt to initiate processing of the coalesced packet by a TCP/IP stack. The process determines whether coalescing is being performed and initialize a table entry and start coalescing for the flow with the current packet). Ben-Haim and Makineni are analogous art because they both disclose packet coalescing. It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the date the current invention was effectively filed to have modified the teachings of Ben-Haim’s packet coalescing by the system of Makineni’s signal to initiate packet coalescing. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to incorporate the teachings with one another in order to configure the number of packets or period of time to coalesce packets. While Ben-Haim discloses sending a second notification, Ben-Haim and Makineni do not disclose, however, Cornett discloses a second notification for updated packet coalescing instructions for updating a buffering scheme in response to the observed status ([0042], Buffer management module allocates available buffer in the Receive Buffer Queue. Subsequent packets are received by the NIC marked for coalescing. The buffer management module compares remaining space, and if needed, allocates another buffer assigned on the Receive Buffer Queue. For each subsequent packet received, the DMA controller appends the packet data and updates the header for the coalesced packet in the flow context assigned to the receive queue). It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the date the current invention was effectively filed to have modified the teachings of Ben-Haim and Makineni’s packet coalescing by the system of Cornett’s ability to update the Receive Buffer Queue. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to incorporate the teachings with one another in order to update the buffer to receive coalesce packets. Ben-Haim, Makineni, and Cornett do not disclose, however, Mallikarjunan discloses observe a status of the endpoint device; Instructions for updating a buffering scheme in response to the observed status indicating that an observed idle duration of the endpoint device is below a desired idle duration (abstract, [0006], the wireless device may select a larger upper buffer threshold in order to facilitate a longer possible idle time between downlink data reception which reduces the power consumed by the wireless device. Disclosing that a longer idle time is needed requires a comparison that the currently idle time is not adequate (threshold)). It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the date the current invention was effectively filed to have modified the teachings of Ben-Haim and Makineni and Cornett’s packet coalescing by the system of Mallikarjunan’s network bandwidth throttling and dynamically select a buffer threshold. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to incorporate the teachings with one another in order to update parameters to adjust coalesce packets on how many packets the interface may accumulate. With respect to claim 2, Ben-Haim discloses wherein the trigger condition corresponds to a power management policy ([0155],[0158], coalescing filter allows or reduces unnecessary wake ups of a device from a power save state. Device may initiate the offloading of the packet coalescing as part of a power state change). With respect to claim 3, Ben-Haim discloses wherein the power management policy corresponds to at least one of a low power mode, a battery power mode, a power consumption based on a current workload, or a low input/output (I/O) activity ([0153]-[0155],[0158], optimizing power consumption, eg. Longer battery life, upon reception and/or processing Rx packets. Device may initiate the offloading of the packet coalescing as part of a power state change). With respect to claim 4, Ben-Haim discloses wherein the controller is further configured to report, based on the observed status, a packet coalescing performance ([0119] coalescing time threshold). With respect to claim 6, Ben-Haim discloses wherein the observed idle duration corresponds to an amount of time the endpoint device has stored packets in a buffer of the endpoint device ([0195]-[0196], controlling to process buffered packets for transmission to the wireless station. Tx filter is configured to buffer a plurality of packets during a time period limited by the coalescing time threshold). With respect to claim 7, Ben-Haim discloses wherein the controller is further configured to report the packet coalescing performance by analyzing whether the observed idle duration achieved a desired idle duration ([0195]-[0196], controlling to process buffered packets for transmission to the wireless station during a time period limited by the coalescing time threshold). With respect to claim 8, Ben-Haim discloses wherein the controller is further configured to report the packet coalescing performance to the endpoint device to provide feedback on the packet coalescing ([0195]-[0196], Trigger wireless network to process buffered packets for transmission). With respect to claim 9, Ben-Haim discloses wherein the notification includes a type of packet traffic to coalesce ([0169], a notification including Tx packet coalescing information for packet coalescing at the second wireless station. The Tx packet coalescing information may include packet type information.) With respect to claim 12, Ben-Haim discloses wherein the endpoint device stores the status in a register ([0251]-[0253], power state indicator set to “0” or “1”) . With respect to claim 21, Ben-Haim does not specifically disclose, however Makineni discloses wherein the endpoint device is configured to initiate the packet coalescing in response to reading the notification from the notification register ([0022]-[0025], the controller includes the register which enable a driver to enable or disable coalescing. The payloads of the packet in the same flow may generate an interrupt to initiate processing of the coalesced packet). One of ordinary level of skill in the art would have been compelled to incorporate Ben-Haim’s coalescing packet with Makineni for the same reasons identified in the rejection of claim 1. With respect to claim 22, Ben-Haim does not specifically disclose, however Mallikarjunan discloses wherein updating the buffering scheme includes allocating a larger buffer for packet coalescing (abstract, [0006], the wireless device may select a larger upper buffer threshold in order to facilitate a longer possible idle time between downlink data reception which reduces the power consumed by the wireless device). One of ordinary level of skill in the art would have been compelled to incorporate Ben-Haim’s coalescing packet with Mallikarjunan for the same reasons identified in the rejection of claim 1. With respect to claims 13-20, they are of similar claims to 1, 6-8 and therefore are rejected for the same reasons above. Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ben-Haim and in view of Makineni and in view of Cornett and in view of Mallikarjunan and in view of Srinivasan (US 2023/0179497, hereinafter Srinivasan). With respect to claim 10, Ben-Haim, Makineni, Cornett, and Mallikarjunan does not disclose however Srinivasan discloses wherein the type of packet traffic corresponds to bulk traffic or isochronous traffic ([0034], packet coalescing achieved through bulk transfer). Ben-Haim, Makineni, Cornett, Mallikarjunan and Srinivasan are analogous art because they disclose packet coalescing. It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the date the current invention was effectively filed to have modified the teachings of Ben-Haim Makineni, Cornett and Mallikarjunan’s packet coalescing transmitting by the system of Srinivasan’s packet coalescing transfer through bulk transfer. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to incorporate the teachings with one another in order to send packets in bulk. 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 HO T SHIU whose telephone number is (571)270-3810. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri (9:00am - 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, Nicholas Taylor can be reached at 571-272-3089. 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. /HO T SHIU/Examiner, Art Unit 2443 HO T. SHIU Examiner Art Unit 2443 /NICHOLAS R TAYLOR/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2443
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 8 earlier events
May 20, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Aug 15, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 25, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Feb 18, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Mar 01, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jun 03, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 27, 2026
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

7-8
Expected OA Rounds
72%
Grant Probability
68%
With Interview (-3.5%)
3y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 465 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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