Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 20, 2026
Application No. 18/352,810

MOBILITY FEATURES FOR NEXT GENERATION CELLULAR NETWORKS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 14, 2023
Examiner
SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
Art Unit
2646
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Intel Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
77%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 77% — above average
77%
Career Allow Rate
768 granted / 993 resolved
+15.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
40 currently pending
Career history
1033
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.5%
-32.5% vs TC avg
§103
46.8%
+6.8% vs TC avg
§102
30.6%
-9.4% vs TC avg
§112
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 993 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 . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 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 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhou et al. US Patent Pub. No.: 2024/0007914, hereinafter, ‘Zhou’. Consider Claims 11 and as applied to claim 1, Zhou teaches one or more non-transitory computer readable media (NTCRM) (e.g., see at least figure 3 structural architecture) comprising instructions, wherein execution of the instructions by one or more processors is to cause a user equipment (UE) to: store a layer 1 (L1)/layer 2 (L2) triggered mobility (LTM) reference configuration (e.g., see at least 0081 “for the UE 402 to perform the L1/L2 mobility, the base station 404 may configure the UE 402 with a set of cells (e.g., cells 1 to 7) via RRC configuration, which may be referred to as the L1/L2 mobility configured cell set (or simply configured cell set)… The base station 404 may continue to proactively configure the UE 402 with new set of cells based on the UE 402's mobility via RRC signaling (e.g., by adding cell(s) to and/or removing cell(s) from the configured list of cells)” 0082- “as the UE 402 moves, the cells from the configured cell set may be deactivated and activated via L1/L2 signaling”), wherein the LTM reference configuration is a configuration provided to the UE that is common to all configured LTM candidate cells (e.g., see at least 0092 – “a full configuration for a cell or a set of cell may refer to a configuration that includes all configuration parameters for configuring the cell or the set of cell, and a delta configuration for a cell or a set of cells may refer to a configuration that includes a subset of configuration parameters (e.g., of a full configuration) or an indication (e.g., for indicating one cell has same configuration as another cell) for the cell or the set of cell”); store an LTM candidate cell configuration separate from the LTM reference configuration, wherein the LTM candidate cell configuration is a configuration associated with an LTM candidate (e.g., see delta configurations as applied to the full configuration in 0091-0092 ); and generate a complete LTM candidate cell configuration by application of the LTM candidate cell configuration on top of the LTM reference configuration (i.e., modifying configurations using the delta configuration as noted in at least 0091-0092). Consider Claims 12 and as applied to claim 2, Zhou teaches wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to: upon the generation of a complete LTM candidate cell configuration by applying the LTM candidate cell configuration on top of the LTM reference configuration, consider the configuration in the LTM reference configuration as the complete LTM candidate cell configuration (e.g., see application of delta configuration and updated configuration in the UE as noted in at least 0091-0092 and figure 17). Consider Claim 13 and as applied to claim 3, Zhou teaches wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to: for each field present in the LTM candidate cell configuration that releases an element on an elements to release list, delete a corresponding element from the complete LTM candidate cell configuration, if present (e.g., see at least 0112 –“the base station 1704 may transmit a list of deactivated cells (e.g., candidate cells) to the UE 1702. In response, at 1726, the UE 1702 may add at least one deactivated cell to the activated cells based on the mobility of the UE and the configuration 1706 (e.g., the UE 1702 may apply the corresponding configuration for the newly added activated cell(s)). For example, as shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, the base station 404 may configure the UE 402 with a cell set for L1/L2 mobility. Then, the UE 402 may add or remove cell(s) from the cell set based on the mobility of the UE 402. For example, when the UE 402 moves from one location to another location, the UE 402 may add the deactivated cell 4 to the activated cell set, and remove the activated cell 2 to the deactivated cell set.” – see modifying the configured list in at least 0081, 0096- delta configuration IE, , 0125 and 0138) . Consider Claim 14 and as applied to claim 4, Zhou teaches wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to: for each field present in the LTM candidate cell configuration that adds or modifies an element on an elements to add or modify list: when a corresponding element is already present in the complete LTM candidate cell configuration, modify the corresponding element in the complete LTM candidate cell configuration with the one received in the LTM candidate cell configuration; and when a corresponding element is not already present in the complete LTM candidate cell configuration, add the corresponding element in the complete LTM candidate cell configuration according to the corresponding element in the LTM candidate cell configuration(e.g., see at least 0112 –“the base station 1704 may transmit a list of deactivated cells (e.g., candidate cells) to the UE 1702. In response, at 1726, the UE 1702 may add at least one deactivated cell to the activated cells based on the mobility of the UE and the configuration 1706 (e.g., the UE 1702 may apply the corresponding configuration for the newly added activated cell(s)). For example, as shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, the base station 404 may configure the UE 402 with a cell set for L1/L2 mobility. Then, the UE 402 may add or remove cell(s) from the cell set based on the mobility of the UE 402. For example, when the UE 402 moves from one location to another location, the UE 402 may add the deactivated cell 4 to the activated cell set, and remove the activated cell 2 to the deactivated cell set.” – see modifying the configured list in at least 0081, 0096- delta configuration IE, 0125 and 0138). Consider Claim 15 and as applied to claim 5, Zhou teaches wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to: for each field present in the LTM candidate cell configuration that that do not release, add, or modify an element of a list: when a corresponding field is present in the complete LTM candidate cell 250 configuration, modify the corresponding field in the complete LTM candidate cell configuration with the corresponding field in the received LTM candidate cell configuration; and when the corresponding field is not present in the complete LTM candidate cell configuration, add the corresponding field in the received LTM candidate cell configuration in the complete LTM candidate cell configuration(e.g., see at least 0112 –“the base station 1704 may transmit a list of deactivated cells (e.g., candidate cells) to the UE 1702. In response, at 1726, the UE 1702 may add at least one deactivated cell to the activated cells based on the mobility of the UE and the configuration 1706 (e.g., the UE 1702 may apply the corresponding configuration for the newly added activated cell(s)). For example, as shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, the base station 404 may configure the UE 402 with a cell set for L1/L2 mobility. Then, the UE 402 may add or remove cell(s) from the cell set based on the mobility of the UE 402. For example, when the UE 402 moves from one location to another location, the UE 402 may add the deactivated cell 4 to the activated cell set, and remove the activated cell 2 to the deactivated cell set.” – see modifying the configured list in at least 0081, 0096- delta configuration IE, 0125 and 0138). Consider Claim 16 and as applied to claim 6, Zhou teaches wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to: for each field that is present in the LTM reference configuration that does not have a corresponding field in the LTM candidate cell configuration, remove a corresponding field from the complete LTM candidate cell configuration(e.g., see at least 0112 –“the base station 1704 may transmit a list of deactivated cells (e.g., candidate cells) to the UE 1702. In response, at 1726, the UE 1702 may add at least one deactivated cell to the activated cells based on the mobility of the UE and the configuration 1706 (e.g., the UE 1702 may apply the corresponding configuration for the newly added activated cell(s)). For example, as shown by FIGS. 4 and 5, the base station 404 may configure the UE 402 with a cell set for L1/L2 mobility. Then, the UE 402 may add or remove cell(s) from the cell set based on the mobility of the UE 402. For example, when the UE 402 moves from one location to another location, the UE 402 may add the deactivated cell 4 to the activated cell set, and remove the activated cell 2 to the deactivated cell set.” – see modifying the configured list in at least 0081, 0096- delta configuration IE, 0125 and 0138). Consider Claim 17 and as applied to claim 7, Zhou teaches wherein the LTM candidate cell configuration is associated with a master cell group (MCG), and execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to: obtain the LTM candidate cell configuration from a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message received via system information block one (SIB 1) (e.g., see at least 0081 –“the base station 404 may configure the UE 402 with a set of cells (e.g., cells 1 to 7) via RRC” – 0106 –“The base station 1704 may transmit the delta configuration 1706 to the UE 1702 via RRC signaling” ). Consider Claim 18 and as applied to claim 8, Zhou teaches wherein the LTM candidate cell configuration is associated with a secondary cell group (SCG) (e.g., see at least figure 6 and 0016 – “FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of cells in a configured cell set including both valid secondary cell (SCell) and special cell (SpCell) configurations in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure”), and execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to: obtain the LTM candidate cell configuration from an RRC reconfiguration message received via system information block three (SIB3) or SIB 1 (e.g., see at least 0086 – “…where RRC signaling may be used for updating the set of cells for L1/L2 mobility- 0074 – “The controller/processor 359 provides RRC layer functionality associated with system information (e.g., MIB, SIB s) acquisition, RRC connections”). Consider Claim 19 and as applied to claim 9, Zhou teaches wherein execution of the instructions is to cause the UE to: generate the complete LTM candidate cell configuration in response to receipt of an indication of an LTM cell switch from a lower layer entity (e.g., se at least 0080 –“When a UE 402 moves from one location to another location, the UE 402 may be configured to perform layer one (L1) (e.g., physical layer) and/or layer two (L2) (e.g., medium access control (MAC) layer) based inter-cell mobility (which may also be referred to as “L1/L2 mobility” hereafter).”- 0081 –“The base station 404 may continue to proactively configure the UE 402 with new set of cells based on the UE 402's mobility via RRC signaling (e.g., by adding cell(s) to and/or removing cell(s) from the configured list of cells)” ). Consider Claim 20 Zhou teaches wherein the LTM candidate cell configuration is a complete LTM candidate cell configuration or a delta configuration with respect to the LTM reference configuration (e.g., see delta configuration in at least 0087, and full configurations as noted with respect to 0091-0092). Consider Claim 10, Zhou teaches wherein: the reference configuration is a layer 1 (Ll)/layer 2 (L2) triggered mobility (LTM) reference configuration (e.g,, see L1/L2 signaling in at least 0087), the candidate cell configuration is an LTM candidate cell configuration, the complete configuration is a complete LTM candidate cell configuration, and the indication of the cell switch is an LTM cell switch indication (e.g., see at least 0091-0092 and figure 17 with respect to delta configuration being applied to complete configuration); or the reference configuration is a subsequent conditional primary SCG cell addition or change (CPAC) reference configuration, the candidate cell configuration is an conditional reconfiguration candidate cell configuration or a cell group configuration, and the complete configuration is a complete conditional configuration (see further configurations in at least 0086-0087 and 0091-0092 ). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Please see PTO 892 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHARLES TERRELL SHEDRICK whose telephone number is (571)272-8621. The examiner can normally be reached 8A-5P. 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, Matthew D Anderson can be reached at 571 272 4177. 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. /CHARLES T SHEDRICK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2646
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Prosecution Timeline

Jul 14, 2023
Application Filed
Aug 31, 2023
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 23, 2025
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
77%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+9.5%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 993 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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