Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/403,260

NETWORK AS A SERVICE FOR CONTROLLING QUALITY ON DEMAND USING AN APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE

Non-Final OA §103§112
Filed
Jan 03, 2024
Examiner
DOAN, DUYEN MY
Art Unit
2459
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
T-Mobile Innovations LLC
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allow Rate
545 granted / 670 resolved
+23.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+12.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
695
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
14.3%
-25.7% vs TC avg
§103
50.9%
+10.9% vs TC avg
§102
5.6%
-34.4% vs TC avg
§112
16.0%
-24.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 670 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 2/2/2026 has been entered. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Independent claims 1,9,17 cite “…wherein the API module generates a session identifier in response to the request, and wherein the response payload includes the session identifier to uniquely identify the QoD session for subsequent QoD operations” Applicant cited paragraph 0012 as the support for the newly amended limitations. However paragraph 0012 of the specification simply states “…QoD session maybe based on a session identifier…” this cited portion does not specifically discloses “…wherein the API module generates a session identifier in response to the request, and wherein the response payload includes the session identifier to uniquely identify the QoD session for subsequent QoD operations”. To overcome this rejection, Applicant should point out to specific portions of the specification that provide the written description for the feature). 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 (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 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 1-7,9-15,17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Anzawa et al (us 2023/0027788) (hereinafter Anzawa) in view of Erman et al (us 2023/0396516) (hereinafter Erman), further in view of Beisiegel (us 2004/0243693) and Sen et al (us 2020/0218684) (hereinafter Sen). As regarding claim 1, Anzawa discloses receiving, on the network, a request from a user device, a QoD metric to be used in the NaaS operations (see Anzawa 0038,0062 terminal transmits request to network for network quality requirement, also see 0092,0104-0105 QoS is for requesting NaaS services); wherein processing determines if the network supports the QoD metric (see Anzawa 0071, determine if quality requirement requested is satisfy, in the NaaS operations (see Anzawa 0092, quality requirement request is for Naas); wherein the response comprises a response the QoD metric in the response (see Anzawa 0041, transmitting response with result to the user). Anzawa is silent in regard to the concept of utilizing an API module. Erman teaches the concept of utilizing an API module (see Erman 0005, 0064, NaaS APIs by service provider). It would have been obvious to one with an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the teaching of Erman to Anzawa because they're analogous art. A person would have been motivated to modify Anzawa with Erman’s teaching for the purpose of providing automated request processing and enhanced agility. The combination of Anzawa-Erman is silent in regard to the concept of the request comprises a request payload that comprises a QoD metric, processing the request payload and the response comprises a response payload responsive to the QoD metric in the request payload. Beisiegel teaches the concept of the request comprises a request payload that comprises a QoD metric (see Beisiegel 0050,0052, receiving a request with payload, where payload with QoS, processing the request payload (see Beisiegel 0050,0052,0065, processing the request payload) and the response comprises a response payload responsive to the QoD metric in the request payload (see Beisiegel 0050,0052, response payload with QoS). It would have been obvious to one with an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the teaching of Beisiegel to Anzawa-Erman because they're analogous art. A person would have been motivated to modify Anzawa-Erman with Beisiegel’s teaching for the purpose of simplifying the interactions between clients and servers. The combination of Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel is silent in regard to the concept of generates a session identifier in response to the request, and wherein the response payload includes the session identifier to uniquely identify the QoD session for subsequent QoD operations. Sen teaches the concept of generates a session identifier in response to the request, and wherein the response payload includes the session identifier to uniquely identify the QoD session for subsequent QoD operations (see Sen 0089, the response message includes session ID in the payload which generated by target accelerator resource…the initiator store the session ID for later use). It would have been obvious to one with an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the teaching of Sen to Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel because they're analogous art. A person would have been motivated to modify Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel with Sen’ teaching for the purpose of differentiate sessions in the multisession connections and maintain states across independent requests. As regarding claim 2, Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen discloses the QoD metric is a latency metric (see Anzawa 0060, 0113, latency). As regarding claim 3, Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen discloses the QoD metric is a bandwidth metric (see Anzawa, 0060, 0113, data rate (i.e. bandwidth)). As regarding claim 4, Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen discloses the request payload comprises at least one network service for which the QoD metric is requested (see Beisiegel 0049-0050, QoS elements). The same motivation was utilized in claim 1 applied equally well to claim 4. As regarding claim 5, Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen discloses the at least one network service comprises video services (see Erman 0068, video). For the purpose of providing various different type of services to the users. As regarding claim 6, Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen discloses the at least one network service comprises video services supporting a third-party gaming application (see Erman 0219, xr gaming). For the purpose of providing various different type of services to the users. As regarding claim 7, Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen discloses the at least one network service comprises video services supporting a third-party augmented reality (AR) application (see Erman 0068, AR). The same motivation was utilized in claim 6 applied equally to claim 7. As regarding claims 9-15, 17-20 the limitations of claims 9-15,17-20 are similar to limitations of rejected claims 1-7 above, therefore rejected for the same rationale. Claim 9 is similar to 1, in but in the aspect of the client transmitting the request instead of the aspect of the server which is also discloses by the combination of Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel. Claims 8, 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen as applied to claims 1, 9 above, and further in view of Tran et al (us 10,8129920) (hereinafter Tran). As regarding claim 8, Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen discloses the invention as claims in claim 1 above, however Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen is silent in regard to the concept of real-time data services supporting third-party autonomous device operations. Tran teaches the concept of real-time data services supporting third-party autonomous device operations (see Tran col.58, lines 18-30, autonomous driving as NaaS service). It would have been obvious to one with an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the teaching of Tran to Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen because they're analogous art. A person would have been motivated to modify Anzawa-Erman-Beisiegel-Sen with Tran’s teaching for the purpose of providing various different type of services to the users. As regarding claim 16, the limitations of claim 16 are similar to limitations of rejected claim 8, therefore rejected for the same rationale. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DUYEN MY DOAN whose telephone number is (571)272-4226. The examiner can normally be reached (571)272-4226. 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, Tonia Dollinger can be reached at (571)272-4170. 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. /DUYEN M DOAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2459
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 03, 2024
Application Filed
May 20, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §112
Aug 22, 2025
Response Filed
Sep 30, 2025
Final Rejection — §103, §112
Feb 02, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 15, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103, §112 (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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+12.4%)
3y 0m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 670 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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