Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/292,055

SLICE-BASED CELL RESELECTION METHOD AND RELATED DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Mar 19, 2024
Priority
Jul 27, 2021 — CN 202110849474.3 +1 more
Examiner
MARCELO, MELVIN C
Art Unit
2463
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
China Telecom Corporation Limited
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
79%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
670 granted / 780 resolved
+27.9% vs TC avg
Minimal -7% lift
Without
With
+-7.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
10 currently pending
Career history
796
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.6%
-34.4% vs TC avg
§103
48.9%
+8.9% vs TC avg
§102
15.6%
-24.4% vs TC avg
§112
15.3%
-24.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 780 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 . 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)(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, 20 and 21 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Sebire et al. (US 2023/0276324 A1 with effective filing date of 8/6/2020 based on provisional 62/706253). Sebire teaches cell reselection-related Information associated with network slice (Figure 6). With respect to the claims, references to the prior art appear in parenthesis. Claims 1. (Currently Amended) A method for slice-based cell reselection (Sebire et al., US 2023/0276324 A1) , performed by user equipment, and comprising: obtaining network slice information (Figure 6, step 3. Cell reselection-related Information: Slice Information for frequency bands…) and slice-based cell reselection information (Figure 6, step 4. Cell reselection-related Information: RSRP/RSRQ offsets for network slices 1 and 2) ; deriving a first priority frequency for slice-based cell reselection according to the network slice information and the slice-based cell reselection information (Slice-specific cell reselection-related priority Information indicating a priority of a cell reselection of specific slices in paragraph 0109, where the specific slices corresponds to specific frequency bands in Figure 6, step 5) ; and performing cell reselection on the first priority frequency for slice-based cell reselection, and identifying a suitable cell for camping on the first priority frequency for slice-based cell reselection (Figure 6, step5. The UE performs cell reselection evaluation and uses RSRP/RSRQ offset for network slice 1 for freq. band 1…, where the UE camps on the particular frequency on the cell in paragraph 0103) . 20. (Currently Amended) An electronic device (Sebire et al., US 2023/0276324 A1), comprising: one or more processors; and a storage apparatus, configured to store one or more programs, wherein when the one or more programs are executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors are directed to implement a method for slice-based cell reselection, comprising: obtaining network slice information (Figure 6, step 3. Cell reselection-related Information: Slice Information for frequency bands…) and slice-based cell reselection information (Figure 6, step 4. Cell reselection-related Information: RSRP/RSRQ offsets for network slices 1 and 2); deriving a first priority frequency for slice-based cell reselection according to the network slice information and the slice-based cell reselection information (Slice-specific cell reselection-related priority Information indicating a priority of a cell reselection of specific slices in paragraph 0109, where the specific slices corresponds to specific frequency bands in Figure 6, step 5); and performing cell reselection on the first priority frequency for slice-based cell reselection, and identifying a suitable cell for camping on the first priority frequency for slice-based cell reselection (Figure 6, step5. The UE performs cell reselection evaluation and uses RSRP/RSRQ offset for network slice 1 for freq. band 1…, where the UE camps on the particular frequency on the cell in paragraph 0103) . 21. (Currently Amended) A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium(Sebire et al., US 2023/0276324 A1), wherein the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program, and when the computer program is executed by a processor, a method for slice-based cell reselection is implemented, the method comprising: obtaining network slice information (Figure 6, step 3. Cell reselection-related Information: Slice Information for frequency bands…) and slice-based cell reselection information (Figure 6, step 4. Cell reselection-related Information: RSRP/RSRQ offsets for network slices 1 and 2) ; deriving a first priority frequency for slice-based cell reselection according to the network slice information and the slice-based cell reselection information (Slice-specific cell reselection-related priority Information indicating a priority of a cell reselection of specific slices in paragraph 0109, where the specific slices corresponds to specific frequency bands in Figure 6, step 5); and performing cell reselection on the first priority frequency for slice-based cell reselection, and identifying a suitable cell for camping on the first priority frequency for slice- based cell reselection (Figure 6, step5. The UE performs cell reselection evaluation and uses RSRP/RSRQ offset for network slice 1 for freq. band 1…, where the UE camps on the particular frequency on the cell in paragraph 0103) . Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-18 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. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: the prior art of record do not further anticipate or make obvious the deriving of candidate frequencies and the selection of candidate frequencies based on the recited criteria. 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 March 21, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 19, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 26, 2026
Non-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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
86%
Grant Probability
79%
With Interview (-7.2%)
2y 6m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 780 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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