Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/476,112

RRC IDLE MODE TRANSITION FOR NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK CELL

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 27, 2023
Examiner
NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
Art Unit
2641
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
1114 granted / 1278 resolved
+25.2% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
1307
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.1%
-37.9% vs TC avg
§103
63.8%
+23.8% vs TC avg
§102
19.6%
-20.4% vs TC avg
§112
4.5%
-35.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1278 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 3-7, and 9-13 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 § 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. Claims 1,3-7, and 9-13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Niu et al. (US 20240023011 A1). Considering claim 1, Niu teaches a core network node (110, Fig.1), comprising: transmitting circuitry (110) configured to transmit a signaling release message to a wireless terminal (Fig.1, [0016] communicate with one another via Over the Air (OTA) radio), wherein the signaling release message (RRCConnectionRelease) is sent to prevent re-selection of a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell by the wireless terminal for a specific amount of time (Fig.1, [0059], [0061] base station may send a message (e.g., SI, RRCConnectionRelease, RRCEarlyDataComplete, etc.) to instruct the UE, [0027] UE may limit or even stop some of its activities to save its power consumption. These activities may include cell search, cell measurement, cell selection/reselection, PLMN selection, or the like… UE limits its activities in this period, such period may also be generally referred to as a limitation period (or, search limitation period, measurement limitation period, cell selection limitation period, etc.)). Considering claim 7, Niu teaches a wireless terminal (130, Fig.1), comprising: receiving circuitry (130) configured to receive a signaling release message from a core network node (110) (Fig.1, [0016] communicate with one another via Over the Air (OTA) radio), wherein the signaling release message (RRCConnectionRelease) is to prevent re-selection of a non- terrestrial network (NTN) cell by the wireless terminal for a specific amount of time (Fig.1, [0059] UE receives the message, it may release all its connections with the network, [0061], [0027] UE may limit or even stop some of its activities to save its power consumption. These activities may include cell search, cell measurement, cell selection/reselection, PLMN selection, or the like… UE limits its activities in this period, such period may also be generally referred to as a limitation period (or, search limitation period, measurement limitation period, cell selection limitation period, etc.)). Considering claim 13, Niu teaches a method by a wireless terminal (130, Fig.1), comprising: receiving a signaling release message (RRCConnectionRelease) from a core network node (110, Fig.1, [0059]), wherein the signaling release message is to prevent re-selection of anon-terrestrial network (NTN) cell by the wireless terminal for a specific amount of time (Fig.1, [0059] UE receives the message, it may release all its connections with the network, [0061], [0027] UE may limit or even stop some of its activities to save its power consumption. These activities may include cell search, cell measurement, cell selection/reselection, PLMN selection, or the like… UE limits its activities in this period, such period may also be generally referred to as a limitation period (or, search limitation period, measurement limitation period, cell selection limitation period, etc.)); and delaying re-selection of a non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell by the wireless terminal for the specific amount of time ([0086] UE delays triggering the RRC re-establishment…timer). Considering claims 3, 9, Niu teaches wherein the signaling release message comprises additional fields ([0059]-[0061] base station may send a message (e.g., SI, RRCConnectionRelease, RRCEarlyDataComplete, etc.) to instruct the UE to enter the RRC idle with suspended RRC connection or the RRC inactive state. The message may also include coverage hole information). Considering claims 4, 10, Niu teaches wherein the transmitting circuitry is further configured to transmit an RRCRelease message to the wireless terminal ([0059]-[0061] base station may send a message (to instruct the UE). Considering claims 5, 11, Niu teaches wherein the RRCRelease message comprises NTN cell information to avoid and an NTN cell avoid timer ([0063]timer ). Considering claims 6, 12, Niu teaches wherein the transmitting circuitry is further configured to transmit a cause code with the RRCRelease message to the wireless terminal ([0059]-[0061] base station may send a message (to instruct the UE). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KHAI MINH NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-7923. The examiner can normally be reached 6-3. 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, Charles Appiah can be reached at 571-272-7904. 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. /KHAI M NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2641
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 27, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 17, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jan 06, 2026
Response Filed
Feb 25, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12627426
COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND MULTI-LINK DEVICE
9m to grant Granted May 12, 2026
Patent 12616439
Lesion Locating Method and Lesion Locating System
3y 0m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Patent 12621790
POSITIONING METHOD, DEVICE, APPARATUS AND READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM
2y 11m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Patent 12621798
CHANNEL DETECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND USER EQUIPMENT
3y 1m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Patent 12621223
INDUSTRIAL 5G SERVICE QUALITY ASSURANCE VIA MARKOV DECISION PROCESS MAPPING
2y 5m to grant Granted May 05, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+4.3%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1278 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month