Office Action Predictor
Last updated: April 15, 2026
Application No. 18/564,368

METHODS, APPARATUSES, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA FOR RANDOM ACCESS IN CASE OF CONGESTION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 27, 2023
Examiner
PATEL, CHANDRAHAS B
Art Unit
2464
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Nokia Technologies Oy
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allow Rate
780 granted / 885 resolved
+30.1% vs TC avg
Strong +19% interview lift
Without
With
+19.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
918
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.1%
-32.9% vs TC avg
§103
37.5%
-2.5% vs TC avg
§102
44.6%
+4.6% vs TC avg
§112
5.0%
-35.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 885 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Claim Objections Claims 47 and 56 are objected to because of the following informalities: MSGB is being used for the first time in the claim set. It should be expanded at least once when first used in the claim set. Appropriate correction is required. 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 41-43, 46-52 and 55-58 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chen et al. (USPN 12,082,235). Regarding claim 41, Chen teaches an apparatus comprising: at least one processor [Fig. 26, 2626]; and at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus as a user equipment to perform: selecting a random access resource from a second group of random access resources [Col. 11, lines 6-25, selects random access resources]; and performing a random access procedure on the selected random access resource, wherein the second group of random access resources is different from a first group of random access resources, and the first group of random access resources is associated with an event triggering the random access procedure and/or a type of the user equipment [Col. 11, lines 26-59, performs random access procedure which is not dependent on type of UE or is not event trigger based but is through common random access resources]. Regarding claims 42 and 51, Chen teaches the random access resource is selected by the user equipment after a previous random access procedure or a previous random access attempt fails [Col. 11, lines 26-59, performs random access procedure after previous random access procedure]. Regarding claims 43 and 52, Chen teaches at least one random access resource of the second group of random access resources is associated with another event triggering a random access procedure and/or another type of a user equipment [Col. 11, lines 26-59, random access resources are associated with multiple event triggers]. Regarding claims 46 and 55, Chen teaches the second group of random access resources is configured by a network apparatus via a dedicated and/or broadcast signaling [Col. 11, lines 6-25, the base station configures random access resources via dedicated signaling]. Regarding claims 47 and 56, Chen teaches the second group of random access resources is indicated in a random access response or MSGB in the previous random access procedure or the previous random access attempt [Col. 11, lines 6-59, random access resources are indicated in a random access attempt]. Regarding claims 48 and 57, Chen teaches a common random access resource [Col. 11, lines 26-59, perform random access via common random access resource]. Regarding claims 49 and 58, Chen teaches transmitting/receiving information indicating the event triggering the random access procedure and/or the type of the user equipment [Col. 11, lines 26-59, information regarding which event caused random access procedure is transmitted]. Regarding claim 50, Chen teaches an apparatus comprising: at least one processor [Fig. 26, 2626]; and at least one memory comprising computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: processing a random access procedure performed by a user equipment on a random access resource, wherein the random access resource is selected by the user equipment from a second group of random access resources [Col. 11, lines 6-25, selects random access resources], and wherein the second group of random access resources is different from a first group of random access resources, and the first group of random access resources is associated with an event triggering the random access procedure and/or a type of the user equipment [Col. 11, lines 26-59, performs random access procedure which is not dependent on type of UE or is not event trigger based but is through common random access resources]. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 44, 45, 53 and 54 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Jin et al. (USPN 11,265,920) teaches receiving information indicating semi persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration information from a base station. The support information is generated based on the received control information. The generated support information is transmitted to the base station. Tsai (USPN 11,229,055) teaches receiving a request from a base station to initiate a random access procedure in a connected state. A first bandwidth portion is determined that is active contains any random access resource that is available. A second bandwidth portion is switched that contains one or more random access resources that are available. Liu et al. (USPN 10,966,255) teaches satisfying a pre-set condition of link exception at a current moment, where the current moment is located within a pre-configured time window. An access resource is chosen from access resources as a target access resource by a terminal device, where the access resources are effective for the terminal device in the time window. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHANDRAHAS PATEL whose telephone number is (571)270-1211. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:30 - 17:30. 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, Ricky Ngo can be reached at 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 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. /Chandrahas B Patel/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2464
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 27, 2023
Application Filed
Nov 25, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Apr 01, 2026
Response Filed

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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
88%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+19.2%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 885 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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