Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/689,943

CUSTOMER SERVICE BUSINESS IMPLEMENTATION METHOD AND APPARATUS, COMPUTER DEVICE, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §103§112
Filed
Mar 07, 2024
Priority
Sep 10, 2021 — CN 202111062684.4 +1 more
Examiner
TESHALE, AKELAW
Art Unit
3629
Tech Center
3600 — Transportation & Electronic Commerce
Assignee
ZTE Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
705 granted / 858 resolved
+30.2% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+15.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
877
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.5%
-32.5% vs TC avg
§103
45.7%
+5.7% vs TC avg
§102
34.1%
-5.9% vs TC avg
§112
5.7%
-34.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 858 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
DETAILED ACTION Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. In claim 1, lines 4 and 9, the claim recites the phrase “audio/video,” the use of slash “/” creates confusion and an improper alternative expression which introduces indefiniteness to the claim language. The slash is unclear whether it means both audio and video, or just requiring either audio or video media types. The claim language cannot be reasonably determined one of ordinary skill in the art, and the phrase “audio/video” is indefinite. Independent claims 9 and 12 are rejected the same reasons as claim 1 above. Claims 2-8, 10-11 and 13-20 are rejected because they are depending on indefinite claims 1,9 and 12. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. 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. The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Claims 1 and 9-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S Pub. No. 2018/0048764 A1 to HALTOM et al. (hereinafter “HALTOM”) in view of U.S Pub. No.2011/0179437 A1 to Foti. Regarding claim 1, HALTOM teaches a customer service business implementation method applied to a customer service system, the method comprising: under the condition that the customer service system performs audio/video interaction with a user terminal through an audio/video channel, sending first multimedia information to an IP Multimedia System (IMS) (paragraphs [0026] and [0034], [0037]; calling party device 210 can be capable of receiving and/or providing information associated with an Internet protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service), wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is associated with audio/video information sent through the audio/video channel, and is used for prompting a user of the user terminal to feed back information (paragraphs [0076] and [0082]; the call handling decision can include playing an audio captcha for calling party device 210, and requesting a particular response to the audio captcha from calling party device 210. If calling party device 210 provides the particular response, call handling platform 220 can provide the call to called party device 230). HALTOM does not explicitly teach request the IMS to establish a data channel between the IMS and the user terminal and send the first multimedia information to the user terminal through the data channel and wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized. In the same field of endeavor, Foti discloses request the IMS to establish a data channel between the IMS and the user terminal and send the first multimedia information to the user terminal through the data channel and wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized (paragraphs [0068] and [0072]- [0073]; establishing a first IMS channel can include receiving a first SIP message requesting establishment of the first IMS channel with a terminal device and transmitting a second SIP message agreeing to the establishment of the first IMS channel, the step of performing control signaling can include receiving DLNA signaling from a terminal device via said the IMS channel, transmitting DLNA signaling toward the DLNA-compatible device, and transmitting DLNA signaling toward the terminal device via the first IMS channel, while the step of establishing the second IMS channel can include receiving a third SIP message requesting establishment of the second IMS channel with a terminal device, and transmitting a fourth SIP message agreeing to the establishment of the second IMS channel, and the step of receiving the content via the second IMS channel can include receiving the content from the DLNA-compatible device, and transmitting the content via the second IMS channel toward the terminal device). At the time of the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skilled in the art to modify HALTOM’s teaching with a feature of request the IMS to establish a data channel between the IMS and the user terminal and send the first multimedia information to the user terminal through the data channel and wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized as taught by Foti in order to establishing a second IMS channel and receive content by a terminal device (Abstract, Foti). Regarding claim 9, HALTOM teaches a customer service business implementation method applied to a user terminal, the method comprising: under the condition that the customer service system performs audio/video interaction with a user terminal through an audio/video channel, receiving first multimedia information, and associated with audio/video information sent through the audio/video channel, which is sent to an IP Multimedia System (IMS) from the customer service system, and then sent from the IMS through a data channel (paragraphs [0026] and [0034], [0037]; calling party device 210 can be capable of receiving and/or providing information associated with an Internet protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service); sending, upon acquisition of first feedback information, the first feedback information through the data channel, wherein the first feedback information is multimedia information fed back by the user of the user terminal according to the first multimedia information; and sending, upon acquisition of second feedback information, the second feedback information through the audio/video channel, wherein the second feedback information is audio/video information fed back by a user of the user terminal according to the audio/video information delivered through the audio/video channel (paragraphs [0076] and [0082]; the call handling decision can include playing an audio captcha for calling party device 210, and requesting a particular response to the audio captcha from calling party device 210. If calling party device 210 provides the particular response, call handling platform 220 can provide the call to called party device 230). HALTOM does not explicitly teach wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized. In the same field of endeavor, Foti discloses wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized (paragraphs [0068] and [0072]- [0073]; establishing a first IMS channel can include receiving a first SIP message requesting establishment of the first IMS channel with a terminal device and transmitting a second SIP message agreeing to the establishment of the first IMS channel, the step of performing control signaling can include receiving DLNA signaling from a terminal device via said the IMS channel, transmitting DLNA signaling toward the DLNA-compatible device, and transmitting DLNA signaling toward the terminal device via the first IMS channel, while the step of establishing the second IMS channel can include receiving a third SIP message requesting establishment of the second IMS channel with a terminal device, and transmitting a fourth SIP message agreeing to the establishment of the second IMS channel, and the step of receiving the content via the second IMS channel can include receiving the content from the DLNA-compatible device, and transmitting the content via the second IMS channel toward the terminal device). At the time of the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skilled in the art to modify HALTOM’s teaching with a feature of wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized as taught by Foti in order to establishing a second IMS channel and receive content by a terminal device (Abstract, Foti). Regarding claim 10, HALTOM teaches the method according to claim 9, wherein prior to receiving the first multimedia information, the method further comprises: establishing the data channel between the user terminal and the IMS according to a pre-installed Software Development Kit (SDK), wherein an access point to the data channel between the user terminal and the IMS is different from an access point to the audio/video channel (paragraphs [0026]- [0028]; call handling platform 220 can be designed to be modular such that certain software components can be swapped in or out depending on a particular need). Regarding claim 11, HALTOM teaches a customer service system comprising a first push module, wherein the first push module. when executed by a processor implements the customer service business implementation method according to claim 1 (please see claim 1 rejection above). Regarding claim 12, HALTOM teaches a user terminal comprising: a first receiving module, a second receiving module, a first sending module, and a second sending module, Wherein the first receiving module is configured to receive first multimedia information under the condition that the second receiving module performs audio/video interaction with a customer service system through an audio/video channel (paragraphs [0026] and [0034], [0037]; calling party device 210 can be capable of receiving and/or providing information associated with an Internet protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service), which is sent to an IP Multimedia System (IMS) from the customer service system, and then sent from the IMS through a data channel (paragraphs [0026] and [0034], [0037]; calling party device 210 can be capable of receiving and/or providing information associated with an Internet protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) service); the first sending module is configured to send, upon acquisition of first feedback information, the first feedback information through the data channel, wherein the first feedback information is multimedia information fed back by the user of the user terminal according to the first multimedia information; and the second sending module is configured to send, upon acquisition of second feedback information, the second feedback information through the audio/video channel, wherein the second feedback information is audio/video information fed back by a user of the user terminal according to the audio/video information delivered through the audio/video channel (paragraphs [0076] and [0082]; the call handling decision can include playing an audio captcha for calling party device 210, and requesting a particular response to the audio captcha from calling party device 210. If calling party device 210 provides the particular response, call handling platform 220 can provide the call to called party device 230). HALTOM does not explicitly teach wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized and associated with audio/video information sent through the audio/video channel. In the same field of endeavor, Foti discloses wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized and associated with audio/video information sent through the audio/video channel (paragraphs [0068] and [0072]- [0073]; establishing a first IMS channel can include receiving a first SIP message requesting establishment of the first IMS channel with a terminal device and transmitting a second SIP message agreeing to the establishment of the first IMS channel, the step of performing control signaling can include receiving DLNA signaling from a terminal device via said the IMS channel, transmitting DLNA signaling toward the DLNA-compatible device, and transmitting DLNA signaling toward the terminal device via the first IMS channel, while the step of establishing the second IMS channel can include receiving a third SIP message requesting establishment of the second IMS channel with a terminal device, and transmitting a fourth SIP message agreeing to the establishment of the second IMS channel, and the step of receiving the content via the second IMS channel can include receiving the content from the DLNA-compatible device, and transmitting the content via the second IMS channel toward the terminal device). At the time of the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skilled in the art to modify HALTOM’s teaching with a feature of wherein the first multimedia information is multimedia interaction information that is synchronized and associated with audio/video information sent through the audio/video channel as taught by Foti in order to establishing a second IMS channel and receive content by a terminal device (Abstract, Foti). Regarding claim 13, HALTOM teaches a computer device, comprising: at least one processor; and a storage means having at least one program stored thereon wherein when executed by the at least one processor, the at least one program implements the customer service business implementation method according to claim 1 (please see claim 1 rejection above). Regarding claim 14, HALTOM teaches a non-transitory computer-readable medium having a computer program stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, implements the customer service business implementation method according to claim 1 (please see claim 1 rejection above). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 2-8 and 15-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable by fixing the 112 issues and 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 AKELAW A TESHALE whose telephone number is (571)270-5302. The examiner can normally be reached 9 am -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, FAN TSANG can be reached at (571) 272-7547. 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. AKELAW TESHALE Primary Examiner Art Unit 2694 /AKELAW TESHALE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2694
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Prosecution Timeline

Mar 07, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112 (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
82%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+15.7%)
2y 10m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 858 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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