Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/531,556

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING OPERATION IN STANDALONE NON-PUBLIC NETWORK (SNPN)

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 06, 2023
Examiner
EL-ZOOBI, MARIA
Art Unit
2692
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allow Rate
851 granted / 1083 resolved
+16.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
1111
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.1%
-35.9% vs TC avg
§103
53.6%
+13.6% vs TC avg
§102
16.0%
-24.0% vs TC avg
§112
11.6%
-28.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1083 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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. Response to Arguments Applicant election of claims 6-10 and 16-20 is noted. 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)(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 6-10, 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being unpatentable by Tiwar (US 20210099968). Regarding claim 6 , Tiwar teaches, a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system (Fig. 1, el. 100) , the method comprising: identifying whether the UE is in an automatic selection mode (Paragraph 42 and 66: automatic SNPN selection mode procedure ) ; in case that the UE is in the automatic selection mode, determining a coverage of a subscribed standalone non-public network (SNPN) (Paragraph 66, 125, 42: The selection of the second SNPN may be necessitated due to user selection or because the UE (100) may have lost coverage of the first SNPN to which the UE (100) is registered. The second SNPN is selected by one of: automatic SNPN selection mode procedure and manual SNPN mode selection procedure ) ; and based on the determined coverage of the subscribed SNPN, registering to the subscribed SNPN (Paragraph 42: The UE (100) is already registered with the first standalone non-public networks (SNPN) and may be configured with multiple subscriptions for a plurality of the standalone non-public networks (SNPN). The SNPN networks are independent networks and may not communicate with each other. The selection of the second SNPN may be necessitated due to user selection or because the UE (100) may have lost coverage of the first SNPN to which the UE (100) is registered. The second SNPN is selected by one of: automatic SNPN selection mode procedure and manual SNPN mode selection procedure. Further, the registration management engine (182) is configured to reset a registration attempt counter on selection of the second SNPN. The registration request message comprises a subscription concealed identifier (SUCI) and cleartext IE(s), wherein the SUCI is determined from subscription permanent identifier (SUPI) of the second SNPN available at the UE) . Regarding claim 7, Tiwar teaches, switching on the UE; or starting to operate in a SNPN access operation mode (Paragraph 141: SNPN access mode: A UE operating in SNPN access mode only selects stand-alone non-public networks over Uu and Fig. 3A ) . Regarding claim 8, Tiwar teaches, wherein the UE follows a recovery from a lack of coverage (Paragraph 124: the predetermined condition includes a case that the terminal has lost a coverage of the first SNPN and the terminal recovers from a lack of coverage) . Regarding claim 9, Tiwar teaches, wherein the UE does not return to a registered SNPN or an equivalent SNPN after determining the coverage of the subscribed SNPN (Paragraph 52, 42 ) . Regarding claim 10, Tiwar teaches, wherein the subscribed SNPN is for a selected entry of a list of subscriber data (Paragraph 127: t he terminal is configured with a list of subscriber data, and the list of subscriber data includes an SNPN identity) . Regarding claim 16, Tiwar teaches A user equipment (ULE) in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising: a transceiver; and a controller (mobile, el. 100, Fig. 1) configured to: identify whether the UE is in an automatic selection mode, in case that the UE is in the automatic selection mode, determine a coverage of a subscribed standalone non-public network (SNPN), and based on the determined coverage of the subscribed SNPN, register to the subscribed SNPN (see claim 6 rejection). Regarding claim 17, see claim 7 rejections. Regarding claim 18, see claim 8 rejections. Regarding claim 19, see claim 9 rejections. Regarding claim 20, see claim 10 rejections. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT MARIA EL-ZOOBI whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270-3434 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT Monday-Friday 7-4 . 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT Carolyn Edward can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270- 7136 . 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. /MARIA EL-ZOOBI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2692
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 06, 2023
Application Filed
Mar 28, 2026
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
79%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+14.1%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1083 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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