Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/397,157

CONTROL PLANE INITIATED SWITCHOVER FOR SUBSCRIBER GROUP

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Dec 27, 2023
Priority
Feb 03, 2023 — provisional 63/483,172
Examiner
ZAIDI, IQBAL
Art Unit
2464
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Juniper Networks Inc.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
1101 granted / 1218 resolved
+32.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
1253
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
§103
60.5%
+20.5% vs TC avg
§102
11.0%
-29.0% vs TC avg
§112
9.5%
-30.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1218 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION The instant application having application No 18/397,157 filed on 03/03/2026 is presented for examination by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: (a) A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made. Claims 1, 3-4, 6, 8-15, 17, and 18-21 are rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 103(a) as being unpatentable over Song et al. (U.S 20240333582, Oct. 3, 2024) in view of Huang et al. (US 20230130514, Apr. 27, 2023). Regarding Claim 1, Song discloses a first DBNG user plane device that is an active DBNG user plane device for a subscriber group (SGRP), a first message indicating that the first DBNG user plane device is to be a backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP), sending, by the DBNG control plane device(page 4, par(0068), line 1-10, the DBNG-CP replies a PFCP Node Report Response message(sending by the DBNG status report), and notifies the status information (e.g. standby) of the protection group member to the DBNG-UP2), and to a second DBNG user plane device that is the backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP, a second message indicating that the second DBNG user plane device is to be the active DBNG user plane device for the SGRP(page 4, par(0070), line 1-10, the DBNG-CP triggers protection switching according to the received failure information, and notifies, by replying the PFCP Node Report Response message, the DBNG-UP2 (second DBNG) that the status of the protection group member is switched to active, notifies the DBNG-UP2 that the status of the protection group member is switched to active UP members(wherein second DBNG user plane device for the SGRP)); and causing, by the DBNG control plane device and based on the first message and the second message, the first DBNG user plane device to be offlined(page 1-2, par(0015-0022), line 1-20, a PFCP node reporting the failure information of the first DBNG-UP, and to notify the status information of the redundancy group members the failure information of the first DBNG-UP is reported by a PFCP node report request message(first message), and the status information of the redundancy group members is notified by a PFCP node report response message(wherein the response message is a second message), wherein redundancy group members managed by the DBNG-CP at least include a first DBNG-UP and a second DBNG-UP; and an negotiation module, configured to perform, by the DBNG-CP, UP redundancy capability negotiation with the first DBNG-UP and the second DBNG-UP respectively, to complete active/standby election between the first DBNGUP and the second DBNG-UP(wherein standby election of the DBNG to be active of offlined)). Song discloses all aspects of the claimed invention, except sending, by a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device. Huang is the same field of invention teaches sending, by a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device (page 4, par (0073), line 1-10, a forwarding plane of a broadband access system (DBNG) transmits a public network address range allocate request to a control plane via a control interface channel between the forwarding plane and the control plane, where the public network address range allocate request is used for applying to the control plane for a public network address range). Song and Huang are analogous art because they are from the same field of endeavor of access to a service device. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the sending, by a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device the teaching of Song to include the public network address range allocate request is used for applying to the control plane for a public network address range teaching of Huang because it is providing carrier grade network address translation and applied to a forwarding plane of a forwarding and control separated broadband access system. Regarding Claim 3, Song discloses the SGRP is a track-logical-port (TLP) SGRP (page 5, par (0094), line 1-5, a Logical Port IE is used to perform detection of physical port or logical port status and IP accessibility detection, etc.). Regarding Claim 4, Song discloses each of the first message and the second message is an SGRP modify message(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(second modified message) to be switched to an active UP). Regarding Claim 6, Song discloses sending, after sending the first message and the second message, and to the first DBNG user plane device, a third message indicating that the first DBNG user plane device is to be offlined(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP(offlined DBNG user plane device), and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP). Regarding Claim 8, Song discloses a first DBNG user plane device that is an active DBNG user plane device for a subscriber group (SGRP), a first message indicating that the first DBNG user plane device is to be a backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP), sending, by the DBNG control plane device(page 4, par(0068), line 1-10, the DBNG-CP replies a PFCP Node Report Response message(sending by the DBNG status report), and notifies the status information (e.g. standby) of the protection group member to the DBNG-UP2), and to a second DBNG user plane device that is the backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP, a second message indicating that the second DBNG user plane device is to be the active DBNG user plane device for the SGRP(page 4, par(0070), line 1-10, the DBNG-CP triggers protection switching according to the received failure information, and notifies, by replying the PFCP Node Report Response message, the DBNG-UP2 (second DBNG) that the status of the protection group member is switched to active, notifies the DBNG-UP2 that the status of the protection group member is switched to active UP members(wherein second DBNG user plane device for the SGRP)); and wherein the one or more instructions, to cause, by the DBNG control plane device and based on the first message and the second message, the first DBNG user plane device to be offlined(page 1-2, par(0015-0022), line 1-20, a PFCP node reporting the failure information of the first DBNG-UP, and to notify the status information of the redundancy group members the failure information of the first DBNG-UP is reported by a PFCP node report request message(first message), and the status information of the redundancy group members is notified by a PFCP node report response message(wherein the response message is a second message), wherein redundancy group members managed by the DBNG-CP at least include a first DBNG-UP and a second DBNG-UP; and an negotiation module, configured to perform, by the DBNG-CP, UP redundancy capability negotiation with the first DBNG-UP and the second DBNG-UP respectively, to complete active/standby election between the first DBNGUP and the second DBNG-UP(wherein standby election of the DBNG to be active of offlined)). Song discloses all aspects of the claimed invention, except sending, by a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device. Huang is the same field of invention teaches sending, by a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device (page 4, par (0073), line 1-10, a forwarding plane of a broadband access system (DBNG) transmits a public network address range allocate request to a control plane via a control interface channel between the forwarding plane and the control plane, where the public network address range allocate request is used for applying to the control plane for a public network address range). Song and Huang are analogous art because they are from the same field of endeavor of access to a service device. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the sending, by a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device the teaching of Song to include the public network address range allocate request is used for applying to the control plane for a public network address range teaching of Huang because it is providing carrier grade network address translation and applied to a forwarding plane of a forwarding and control separated broadband access system. Regarding Claim 9, Song discloses the one or more instructions, to cause the DBNG user plane device to cause the role of the DBNG user plane device for the SGRP to change cause the role of the DBNG user plane device for the SGRP to change from an active role to a backup role(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP). Regarding Claim 10, Song discloses the one or more instructions, to cause the DBNG user plane device to cause the role of the DBNG user plane device for the SGRP to change cause a logical port of the DBNG user plane device that is associated with the SGRP to have a backup state(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP). Regarding Claim 11, Song discloses the one or more instructions, to cause the DBNG user plane device to cause the role of the DBNG user plane device for the SGRP to change cause the role of the DBNG user plane device for the SGRP to change from a backup role to an active role(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP). Regarding Claim 12, Song discloses the one or more instructions, to cause the DBNG user plane device to cause the role of the DBNG user plane device for the SGRP to change cause a logical port of the DBNG user plane device that is associated with the SGRP to have an active state(page 4, par(0070), line 1-10, the DBNG-CP triggers protection switching according to the received failure information, and notifies, by replying the PFCP Node Report Response message, the DBNG-UP2 (second DBNG) that the status of the protection group member is switched to active, notifies the DBNG-UP2 that the status of the protection group member is switched to active UP members(wherein second DBNG user plane device for the SGRP)). Regarding Claim 13, Song discloses the SGRP is a track-logical-port (TLP) SGRP (page 5, par (0094), line 1-5, a Logical Port IE is used to perform detection of physical port or logical port status and IP accessibility detection, etc.). Regarding Claim 14, Song discloses the message is an SGRP modify message(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(second modified message) to be switched to an active UP). Regarding Claim 15, Song discloses the one or more instructions further cause the DBNG user plane device to send, based on causing the role of the DBNG user plane device for the SGRP to change, an acknowledgement message(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP). Regarding Claim 17, Song discloses a first message indicating that the first DBNG user plane device is to cease having an active role for a subscriber group (SGRP) and is to have a backup role for the SGRP(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP); send, to a second DBNG user plane device (page 4, par (0068), line 1-10, the DBNG-CP replies a PFCP Node Report Response message (sending by the DBNG status report), and notifies the status information (e.g. standby) of the protection group member to the DBNG-UP2), a second message indicating the second DBNG user plane device is to cease having a backup role for the SGRP and is to have an active role for the SGRP(page 4, par(0070), line 1-10, the DBNG-CP triggers protection switching according to the received failure information, and notifies, by replying the PFCP Node Report Response message, the DBNG-UP2 (second DBNG) that the status of the protection group member is switched to active, notifies the DBNG-UP2 that the status of the protection group member is switched to active UP members(wherein second DBNG user plane device for the SGRP)); and cause, based on the first message and the second message, the first DBNG user plane device to be offlined(page 1-2, par(0015-0022), line 1-20, a PFCP node reporting the failure information of the first DBNG-UP, and to notify the status information of the redundancy group members the failure information of the first DBNG-UP is reported by a PFCP node report request message(first message), and the status information of the redundancy group members is notified by a PFCP node report response message(wherein the response message is a second message), wherein redundancy group members managed by the DBNG-CP at least include a first DBNG-UP and a second DBNG-UP; and an negotiation module, configured to perform, by the DBNG-CP, UP redundancy capability negotiation with the first DBNG-UP and the second DBNG-UP respectively, to complete active/standby election between the first DBNGUP and the second DBNG-UP(wherein standby election of the DBNG to be active of offlined)). Song discloses all aspects of the claimed invention, except a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device, comprising one or more memories; and one or more processors to send, to a first DBNG user plane device. Huang is the same field of invention teaches a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device, comprising one or more memories; and one or more processors to send, to a first DBNG user plane device(page 4, par (0073), line 1-10, a forwarding plane of a broadband access system (DBNG) transmits a public network address range allocate request to a control plane via a control interface channel between the forwarding plane and the control plane, where the public network address range allocate request is used for applying to the control plane for a public network address range). Song and Huang are analogous art because they are from the same field of endeavor of access to a service device. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify the sending, by a disaggregated broadband network gateway (DBNG) control plane device the teaching of Song to include the public network address range allocate request is used for applying to the control plane for a public network address range teaching of Huang because it is providing carrier grade network address translation and applied to a forwarding plane of a forwarding and control separated broadband access system. Regarding Claim 18, Song discloses sending the first message to the first DBNG user plane device causes a first logical port of the first DBNG user plane device that is associated with the SGRP to have a backup state(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP); and sending the second message to the second DBNG user plane device causes a second logical port of the second DBNG user plane device that is associated with the SGRP to have an active state(page 4, par(0070), line 1-10, the DBNG-CP triggers protection switching according to the received failure information, and notifies, by replying the PFCP Node Report Response message, the DBNG-UP2 (second DBNG) that the status of the protection group member is switched to active, notifies the DBNG-UP2 that the status of the protection group member is switched to active UP members(wherein second DBNG user plane device for the SGRP)). Regarding Claim 19, Song discloses the SGRP is a track-logical-port (TLP) SGRP (page 5, par (0094), line 1-5, a Logical Port IE is used to perform detection of physical port or logical port status and IP accessibility detection, etc.). Regarding Claim 20, Song discloses the one or more processors are further to send, after sending the first message and the second message, a third message to the first DBNG user plane device to cause the first DBNG user plane device to be offlined(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP(offlined DBNG user plane device), and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP). Regarding Claim 21, Song discloses the one or more instructions further cause the DBNG user plane device to send an acknowledge message based on receiving the message(page 3, par(0043), line 1-10, when a user plane interface failure occurs in the active DBNG-UP, the DBNG-UP notifies failure information, carries the failure information and reports same to the DBNG-CP, and the DBNG-CP performs protection switching according to a preconfigured UP Redundancy algorithm mechanism, and notifies a new active DBNG-UP(backup DBNG user plane device for the SGRP) to be switched to an active UP). Examiner Notice Claim 1 would be allowable if (i) claims 2 or 5 or 7 are incorporated into the independent claim 1. Claim 8 would be allowable if (i) claims 2 or 5 or 7 are incorporated into the independent claim 8. Claim 17 would be allowable if (i) claims 2 or 5 or 7 are incorporated into the independent claim 17. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure are: PENG et al. (US 20230156005, May 18, 2023) teaches Service Processing Method, Apparatus, Device, and System. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to IQBAL ZAIDI whose telephone number is (571)270-3943. The examiner can normally be reached on M to Thu 8.a.m to 6.p.m.. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, NGO RICKY can be reached on 571-272-3139. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). /IQBAL ZAIDI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2464
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 27, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 16, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Feb 17, 2026
Interview Requested
Feb 26, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Mar 03, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 16, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
May 20, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 01, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+6.8%)
2y 3m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1218 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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