Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/514,831

COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Nov 20, 2023
Examiner
TON, DANG T
Art Unit
2476
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Kyocera Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allow Rate
526 granted / 593 resolved
+30.7% vs TC avg
Minimal +1% lift
Without
With
+0.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
626
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.4%
-37.6% vs TC avg
§103
50.8%
+10.8% vs TC avg
§102
10.6%
-29.4% vs TC avg
§112
6.2%
-33.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 593 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 . Claims 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In claim 1 lines 9-10, 12,-14, “ the other communication apparatus” has no antecedent basis. Similar problem exists in claims 2,3,6,7,13,14,15,and 16. Claims 1-17 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Claim 18 is allowed. For claim 18, the prior art fails to teach a combination of a first communication apparatus configured to wirelessly communicate using a cellular communication scheme and to wirelessly communicate using a first communication scheme different from the cellular communication scheme; a second communication apparatus configured to wirelessly communicate with the first communication apparatus using the first communication scheme; and a terminal apparatus configured to wirelessly communicate with the second communication apparatus using the first communication scheme, wherein the first communication apparatus transmits a wireless connection request to the second communication apparatus in a first communication mode, the second communication apparatus maintains a connection to the terminal apparatus even when receiving the wireless connection request, and the first communication mode is a communication mode in which the first communication apparatus is a slave device with respect to the second communication apparatus being an access point, communication through the cellular communication scheme and communication through the first communication scheme are relayed by the first communication apparatus, and a wireless service is provided to the terminal apparatus via the second communication apparatus. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. .Ye et al. (2016/0270073) and Asakura ( 2016/0011830) are all cited to show systems which are considered pertinent to the claimed invention. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANG T TON whose telephone number is (571)272-3171. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 5:30 AM to 3:00 PM. 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, Ayaz Sheikh can be reached at 571-272-3795. 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. /DANG T TON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476 /D.T.T/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 20, 2023
Application Filed
Nov 10, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12593291
SYNCHRONIZATION STATE PROCESSING METHOD, AND DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Patent 12588069
METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRANSMITTING AND RECEIVING WIRELESS SIGNAL IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12587332
COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND COMMUNICATION METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12588080
COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12587928
RADIO BROADCAST RECEIVER AND RADIO SOURCE SWITCHING METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
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
89%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+0.7%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 593 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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