Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/565,825

TERMINAL APPARATUS, BASE STATION APPARATUS, AND METHOD

Final Rejection §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
2 (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
777 granted / 929 resolved
+25.6% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+21.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
51 currently pending
Career history
985
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
85.1%
+45.1% vs TC avg
§102
12.1%
-27.9% vs TC avg
§112
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 929 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION 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. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to amendment filed 2/12/2026 have been considered but are moot in view of new grounds of rejection. 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 Wu (US 2024/0089705 A1) in view of Fujishiro et al (US 2023/0354465 A1) in further view of Teyeb et al (US 2021/0337436 A1). Regarding claim 4, Wu teaches a terminal apparatus (Wu: Fig. 5A) for communicating with a base station apparatus, the terminal apparatus comprising: a receiver configured to receive, from the base station apparatus, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message (Wu: [0090], UE receives fourth RRC reconfiguration message); and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform processing for a full configuration based at least on that a parameter indicating the full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Wu: [0090], UE receives/processes fourth RRC reconfiguration message; RRC reconfiguration may comprise full configuration, see [0011], [0067]), the processor is configured to, in the processing for the full configuration, release a radio bearer for a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) for multicast (Wu: [0090], releasing multicast bearer when processing the fourth RRC reconfiguration). Wu 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 Wu 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). Although Wu teaches full configuration ([0011], Wu does not explicitly disclose that RRC reconfiguration includes the full configuration. Teyeb teaches RRC reconfiguration message including the full configuration (Teyeb: [0094]). 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 Wu in view of Fujishiro wherein the RRC reconfiguration message including the full configuration as disclosed by Teyeb to provide a system for inter-radio access technology handover (Teyeb: Abstract). Regarding claim 5, Wu teaches a base station apparatus (Wu: Fig. 5A) for communicating with a terminal apparatus, the base station apparatus comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit, to the terminal apparatus, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message (Wu: [0090], UE receives fourth RRC reconfiguration message); and a processor, wherein the processor is configured to cause the terminal apparatus to perform processing for a full configuration based at least on that a parameter indicating the full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Wu: [0090], UE receives/processes fourth RRC reconfiguration message; RRC reconfiguration may comprise full configuration, see [0011], [0067]), the processor is configured to, in the processing for the full configuration, cause the terminal apparatus to release a radio bearer for a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) for multicast (Wu: [0090], releasing multicast bearer when processing the fourth RRC reconfiguration). Wu 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 Wu 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, Wu teaches a method for a terminal apparatus (Wu: Fig. 5A) for communicating with a base station apparatus, the method comprising: receiving, from the base station apparatus, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration message; performing processing for a full configuration based at least on that a parameter indicating the full configuration is included in the RRC reconfiguration message (Wu: [0090], UE receives/processes fourth RRC reconfiguration message; RRC reconfiguration may comprise full configuration, see [0011], [0067]); and releasing a radio bearer for a Multicast Broadcast Service (MBS) for multicast (Wu: [0090], releasing multicast bearer when processing the fourth RRC reconfiguration). Wu 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 Wu 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 THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. 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 (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 (+21.4%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 929 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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