Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/579,254

System and Method for Implementing Quantum-Secure Wireless Networks

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 12, 2024
Priority
Jul 14, 2021 — provisional 63/221,802 +1 more
Examiner
WOLDEKIDAN, HIBRET ASNAKE
Art Unit
2635
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Dolby Intellectual Property Licesing LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
728 granted / 846 resolved
+24.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+13.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
16 currently pending
Career history
861
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
83.1%
+43.1% vs TC avg
§102
4.7%
-35.3% vs TC avg
§112
8.0%
-32.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 846 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 . Claim Objections Claims 26,27 are objected to because of the following informalities: claim 26 is dependent on itself. claim 27 is dependent on itself. Appropriate correction is required. For examination purposes, claim 26 and 27 are considered to be dependent on claim 25. 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 of this title, 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 1,2,21,25,27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al.(US 2017/0214525) in view of Wang et al.(CN112152817A: submitted as an IDS). Considering Claim 1 Zhao discloses a method of quantum-secure communications, comprising: at a wireless communication network including subcomponents(See Paragraph 69,72,fig. 2 i.e. at a wireless communication network including subcomponents(hardware devices)(Sx,S,S1,S2,S’,Sy)), each subcomponent being communicatively coupled to at least one other subcomponent(See Paragraph 69,72, fig. 2 i.e. each subcomponent(Sx,S,S1,S2,S’,Sy) being communicatively coupled to at least one other subcomponent): receiving, via a wireless communication, by the wireless communication network, from a user equipment, a connection establishment message to connect the user equipment to the wireless communication network(See Paragraph 5,71,72,75,fig. 2,3 i.e. receiving, via a wireless communication, by the wireless communication network, from a user equipment(mobile terminals A and B), a connection establishment message(being registered)(fig.3) to connect the user equipment(mobile terminals A and B) to the wireless communication network( wireless terminals(3))); receiving, from a wireless key distribution device via a quantum communication channel, quantum encryption keys to encrypt and decrypt messages communicated with the user equipment(See Paragraph 54,69,72,fig. 2 i.e. receiving, from a wireless key distribution device(quantum key distribution network) via a quantum communication channel, quantum encryption keys to encrypt and decrypt messages communicated with the user equipment(mobile device(Mobiles A,B))), wherein the quantum communication channel is established for distributing the quantum encryption keys to the user equipment and the subcomponents(See Paragraph 69,72,fig. 2 i.e. the quantum communication channel is established for distributing the quantum encryption keys to the user equipment(mobile devices A and B) and the subcomponents(Sx,S,S1,S2,S’,Sy)); establishing a network connection between the user equipment and the wireless communication network(See Paragraph 76,77,fig. 2,3 i.e. establishing a network connection between the user equipment(mobile devices A and B of fig. 2) and the wireless communication network(step 2 of fig. 3)); Zhao does not explicitly disclose for at least one subcomponent of the wireless communication network: decrypting incoming communications from the user equipment or the other subcomponents using the quantum encryption keys and a quantum key distribution algorithm; and encrypting outgoing communication to the user equipment or the other subcomponents using the quantum encryption keys and the quantum key distribution algorithm. Wang teaches for at least one subcomponent of the wireless communication network: decrypting incoming communications from the user equipment or the other subcomponents using the quantum encryption keys and a quantum key distribution algorithm(See Paragraph 52, fig. 1, i.e. user A for decrypting incoming communications from the user equipment(User B) or the other subcomponents using the quantum encryption keys and a quantum key distribution algorithm(post-quantum cryptography(PQC) algorithm); and encrypting outgoing communication to the user equipment or the other subcomponents using the quantum encryption keys and the quantum key distribution algorithm(See Paragraph 51, fig. 1, i.e. user A for encrypting outgoing communication to the user equipment(User B) or the other subcomponents using the quantum encryption keys and the quantum key distribution algorithm(post-quantum cryptography(PQC) algorithm). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the invention of Zhao, and have for at least one subcomponent of the wireless communication network: to decrypt incoming communications from the user equipment or the other subcomponents using the quantum encryption keys and a quantum key distribution algorithm; and to encrypt outgoing communication to the user equipment or the other subcomponents using the quantum encryption keys and the quantum key distribution algorithm, as taught by Wang, thus providing an efficient transmission system by reducing complexity of key management and minimizing workload and of pre-setting keys between users of quantum key contribution using the quantum encryption keys and a quantum key distribution(PQC) algorithm, as discussed by Wang (Paragraph 33,35). Considering Claim 2 Zhao and Wang disclose the method of claim 1, further comprising: distributing, via the wireless key distribution device in the wireless communication network, the quantum encryption keys to the user equipment (See Zhao: Paragraph 70,78,81, fig. 4 i.e. distributing, via the wireless key distribution device(quantum key distribution network) in the wireless communication network, the quantum encryption keys to the user equipment(mobile Terminal A)). Considering Claim 21 Zhao and Wang disclose the method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network is compatible with a 3GPP standard(See Zhao: Paragraph 72 i.e. wherein the wireless communication network is compatible with a 3GPP standard(3G)). Claim 25 is rejected for the same reason as in claim 1. Considering Claim 27 Zhao and Wang disclose the system of claim 27, wherein the wireless communication network is compatible with a 3GPP standard(See Zhao: Paragraph 72 i.e. wherein the wireless communication network is compatible with a 3GPP standard(3G)). Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al.(US 2017/0214525) in view of Wang et al.(CN112152817A: submitted as an IDS) further in view of Rahman et al.(US 2021/0176278) Considering Claim 3 Zhao and Wang disclose the method of claim 1, wherein the subcomponents of the wireless communication network include a radio unit, a distribution unit, a control unit and a core network(See Zhao: Paragraph 69,72, fig. 2,4 i.e. wherein the subcomponents of the wireless communication network include a distribution unit(quantum key distribution network), a control unit(quantum network management server, centralized control units)). Zhao and Wang do not explicitly disclose wherein the subcomponents of the wireless communication network include a radio unit, a distribution unit, a control unit and a core network. Rahman teaches wherein the subcomponents of the wireless communication network include a radio unit, a distribution unit, a control unit and a core network(See Paragraph 20,26,32, fig. 1 .i.e. wherein the subcomponents of the wireless communication network(100) include a radio unit(radio access network(RAN) including remote radio units(RRUs)), a distribution unit (which is virtual quantum Mobile Edge Computing (VQMEC) nodes (121-0,121-1)), a control unit(SDN controller(130)) and a core network(core cloud(102))). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to modify the invention of Zhao and Wang, and have the subcomponents of the wireless communication network to include a radio unit, a distribution unit, a control unit and a core network, as taught by Rahman, thus providing an efficient transmission system by improving scalability, optimizing data transmission using a wireless communication network that include a core unit, radio unit, distribution unit and a control unit. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 10-14,16,20,22,24 are allowed. Claims 6,7,19,23, 27 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 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HIBRET A WOLDEKIDAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5145. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5:30. 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, DAVID C PAYNE can be reached at (571)272-3024. 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. /HIBRET A WOLDEKIDAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2635
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 12, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 22, 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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
86%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+13.3%)
2y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 846 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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