Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/292,328

METHOD FOR PERFORMING USER EQUIPMENT ASSISTANCE INFORMATION TRANSMISSION PROCEDURE, AND USER EQUIPMENT

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 25, 2024
Examiner
CERLANEK, ADAM JOEL
Art Unit
2478
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allow Rate
23 granted / 33 resolved
+11.7% vs TC avg
Strong +45% interview lift
Without
With
+44.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
61
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
49.5%
+9.5% vs TC avg
§102
35.2%
-4.8% vs TC avg
§112
12.1%
-27.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 33 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Specification The use of the term ‘Bluetooth’, which is a trade name or a mark used in commerce, has been noted in this application. The term should be accompanied by the generic terminology; furthermore the term should be capitalized wherever it appears or, where appropriate, include a proper symbol indicating use in commerce such as ™, SM , or ® following the term. Although the use of trade names and marks used in commerce (i.e., trademarks, service marks, certification marks, and collective marks) are permissible in patent applications, the proprietary nature of the marks should be respected and every effort made to prevent their use in any manner which might adversely affect their validity as commercial marks. Any other instances of trade names or marks being used improperly in the Specification should also be corrected. 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. Claims 11-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Mattam et al (US 20220132333 A1). Regarding claim 11, Mattam discloses A User Equipment (UE), comprising ([0054] and [ Fig. 3] UE): a processor ([0054] and [ Fig. 3] UE includes processor); and a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that cause the processor to ([0050]-[0051], [0054] and [ Fig. 3] UE includes memory unit which stores instructions to be executed by the processor): initiate transmission of a first radio resource control (RRC) message for a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) ([0225]-[0227] UE performs a set of actions for transfer (initiate transmission) of the UEAssistanceInformation message (first RRC message) depending on the SCG state (for a SCG)); if signaling radio bearer 3 (SRB3) is configured and the SCG is not deactivated, submit the first RRC message via SRB3 to lower layers for transmission ([0226] UE submits UEAssistanceInformation message (first RRC message) to lower layers via the SRB3 when the SRB3 is configured and the SCG is activated); and if the SCG is deactivated, submit the first RRC message via a Master Cell Group (MCG) embedded in a second RRC message for transmission ([0227] UE submits the UEAssistanceInformation message as a message embedded in an E-UTRA RRC message (embedded in a second RRC message) via the E-UTRA MCG (master cell group) when the SCG is deactivated), wherein the UE is in dual connectivity (DC) state; and the first RRC message is used to indicate UE assistance information to a network ([0226] UE is in dual connectivity state, and UEAssistanceInformation message is to be sent (first RRC message used to indicate UE assistance information)). Regarding claim 12, Mattam discloses The UE according to claim 11 ([0054] and [ Fig. 3] UE), wherein the first RRC message is UEAssistanceInformation message ([0226] UE submits UEAssistanceInformation message (first RRC message) to lower layers via the SRB3), and the second RRC message is ULInformationTransferMRDC message ([0227]-[0029] and [Table 6] UE submits the UEAssistanceInformation message as a message embedded in an E-UTRA RRC message ULInformationTransferMRDC (second RRC message)). Regarding claim 13, Mattam discloses A control method in a User Equipment (UE), comprising ([0022] method for UE): initiating transmission of a first radio resource control (RRC) message for a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) ([0225]-[0227] UE performs a set of actions for transfer (initiate transmission) of the UEAssistanceInformation message (first RRC message) depending on the SCG state (for a SCG)); if signaling radio bearer 3 (SRB3) is configured and the SCG is not deactivated, submitting the first RRC message via SRB3 to lower layers for transmission ([0226] UE submits UEAssistanceInformation message (first RRC message) to lower layers via the SRB3 when the SRB3 is configured and the SCG is activated); and if the SCG is deactivated, submitting the first RRC message via a Master Cell Group (MCG) embedded in a second RRC message for transmission ([0227] UE submits the UEAssistanceInformation message as a message embedded in an E-UTRA RRC message (embedded in a second RRC message) via the E-UTRA MCG (master cell group) when the SCG is deactivated), wherein the UE is in dual connectivity (DC) state; and the first RRC message is used to indicate UE assistance information to a network ([0226] UE is in dual connectivity state, and UEAssistanceInformation message is to be sent (first RRC message used to indicate UE assistance information)). Conclusion The following is prior art made of record and not relied upon that is considered to be pertinent to Applicant’s disclosure: US 20250081278 A1 to Chang et al discloses determining how to transmit UE assistance information to the SCG based on the current state of the SCG ([Fig. 2] Chang). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ADAM JOEL CERLANEK whose telephone number is (703)756-1272. The examiner can normally be reached 8:30-5:00. 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, Joseph Avellino can be reached at (571) 272-3905. 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. /A.J.C./Examiner, Art Unit 2478 /JOSEPH E AVELLINO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2478
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 25, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §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
70%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+44.6%)
3y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 33 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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