Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 30, 2026
Application No. 18/565,825

TERMINAL APPARATUS, BASE STATION APPARATUS, AND METHOD

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Nov 30, 2023
Priority
Jun 02, 2021 — JP 2021-092657 +1 more
Examiner
ACOLATSE, KODZOVI
Art Unit
2478
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Sharp Corporation
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
785 granted / 937 resolved
+25.8% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+21.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
53 currently pending
Career history
990
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
§103
55.0%
+15.0% vs TC avg
§102
22.3%
-17.7% vs TC avg
§112
9.0%
-31.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 937 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 07/10/2026 has been entered. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the amendment filed 7/10/26 have been considered but are moot in view of new grounds of rejection. 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 4-6 are pending in this office action. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 4-6 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tseng et al (WO 2022/194272 A1) in view of Fujishiro et al (US 2023/0354465 A1). Regarding claim 4, Tseng teaches a terminal apparatus for communicating with a base station apparatus (Tseng: Fig. 2), the terminal apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive, from the base station apparatus, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2:206; [0106]); and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a parameter indicating a full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2:206; [0106], RRCReconfiguration message with (MBS) full configuration option), the processor is configured to, in a processing for the full configuration, release a radio bearer for a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) for delivery mode configured for the terminal apparatus in a case that the terminal apparatus determines the parameter indicating the full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2; [0013], [0119]), and the delivery mode is used for delivery of multicast (Tseng: Fig. 1, [0119] multicast PTM communication/delivery mode). Tseng does not explicitly disclose the bearer is for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast. Fujishiro teaches bearer for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast (Fujishiro: Fig. 7, [0072], delivery mode 1 is for multicast sessions). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tseng wherein the bearer is for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast as disclosed by Fujishiro to provide a system for MBS configuration (Fujishiro: Abstract). Regarding claim 5, Tseng teaches a base station apparatus for communicating with a terminal apparatus (Tseng: Fig. 2), the base station apparatus comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit, to the terminal apparatus, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2:206; [0106]); and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to cause the terminal apparatus to determine whether a parameter indicating a full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2:206; [0106], RRCReconfiguration message with (MBS) full configuration option), the processor is configured to, in a processing for the full configuration, cause the terminal apparatus to release a radio bearer for a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) for delivery mode configured for the terminal apparatus in a case that the terminal apparatus determines the parameter indicating the full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2; [0013], [0119]), and the delivery mode is used for delivery of multicast (Tseng: Fig. 1, [0119] multicast PTM communication/delivery mode). Tseng does not explicitly disclose the bearer is for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast. Fujishiro teaches bearer for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast (Fujishiro: Fig. 7, [0072], delivery mode 1 is for multicast sessions). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tseng wherein the bearer is for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast as disclosed by Fujishiro to provide a system for MBS configuration (Fujishiro: Abstract). Regarding claim 6, Tseng teaches a method for a terminal apparatus for communicating with a base station apparatus (Tseng: Fig. 2), the method comprising: receiving, from the base station apparatus, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2:206; [0106]); performing processing for a full configuration in a case that determining whether a parameter indicating the a full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2:206; [0106], RRCReconfiguration message with (MBS) full configuration option); and releasing a radio bearer for a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) for delivery mode configured for the terminal apparatus in the a processing for the full configuration in a case that the terminal apparatus determines the parameter indicating the full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Tseng: Fig. 2; [0013], [0119]), the delivery mode is used for delivery of multicast (Tseng: Fig. 1, [0119] multicast PTM communication/delivery mode). Tseng does not explicitly disclose the bearer is for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast. Fujishiro teaches bearer for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast (Fujishiro: Fig. 7, [0072], delivery mode 1 is for multicast sessions). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tseng wherein the bearer is for delivery mode 1 configured for the terminal apparatus, and the delivery mode 1 is used for delivery of multicast as disclosed by Fujishiro to provide a system for MBS configuration (Fujishiro: Abstract). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KODZOVI ACOLATSE whose telephone number is (571)270-1999. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 10 am to 6pm. 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, Avellino Joseph can be reached at (571) 272-3905. 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. /KODZOVI ACOLATSE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2478
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Nov 30, 2023
Application Filed
Nov 25, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Feb 12, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 20, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 10, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 18, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (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
84%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+21.2%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 937 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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