Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/696,540

METHODS, DEVICES, AND MEDIUM FOR COMMUNICATION

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Mar 28, 2024
Priority
Sep 29, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTCN2021121664
Examiner
TRAN, CONGVAN
Art Unit
2647
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
NEC Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
1058 granted / 1185 resolved
+27.3% vs TC avg
Minimal +5% lift
Without
With
+4.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
1201
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
§103
25.4%
-14.6% vs TC avg
§102
59.3%
+19.3% vs TC avg
§112
5.8%
-34.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1185 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . This office action is in response to Amendments filed on Jul. 20, 2026. Claims 1-30 have been canceled. Claims 31, 33, 35, 37-39, 41, 43 and 45-46 have been amended. 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 31-46 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipaed by Shrestha et al. (2022/0360319). Regarding claim 31, Shrestha discloses a method, performed by a network device (see abstract, fig.1, element 130, fig.13, element 1340, paragraphs [0039], [0047], [0053], [0223], [0726-0227 and its description), comprising: receiving, from a terminal device, a first configuration related with a duration, wherein the terminal device is assumed to be unreachable and out of satellite coverage within the duration; (see abstract, fig.1, element 105, 115 link 125, fig.2, element 115a, 145-b/c, paragraphs [0039], [0053], [0062], [0101-0102] and description) and clearing a paging proceed flag, corresponding to the duration (see fig.5, step 510, paragraph [0131] and its description). Regarding claim 32, Shrestha further comprising: adjusting a mobile reachable timer, corresponding to the duration (see fig.5, step 515, paragraph [0137] and its description). Regarding claim 33, Shrestha further comprising: transmitting a second configuration to indicate an estimated wait a predicted suspend time, wherein the predicted suspend time is determined based on the duration (see fig.5, step 520, paragraph [0138] and its description). Regarding claim 34, Shrestha further discloses wherein the network device is an access and mobility management function (AMF) (see abstract, fig.1, element 105, 130. paragraphs [0039], [0080] and description) Regarding claim 35, Shrestha discloses a method, performed by a terminal device (see abstract, fig.1, element 130, fig.94 element 1340, paragraphs [0039], [0047], [0053], [0179], [0182-0183] and its description), comprising: transmitting, to a network device, a first configuration related with a duration, wherein the terminal device is assumed to be unreachable and out of satellite coverage within the duration (see abstract, fig.1, element 105, 115 link 125, fig.2, element 115a, 145-b/c, paragraphs [0039], [0053], [0062], [0101-0102] and description); and disabling monitoring a paging message, corresponding to the duration (see fig.5, step 510, paragraph [0131] and its description). Regarding claim 36, Shrestha further comprising: receiving a second duration related with extended discontinuous reception (eDRX), wherein the second duration is determined based on time information related with the duration (see paragraph [0051]). Regarding claim 37, Shrestha further comprising: transmitting a message for updating the duration, in a case where the terminal device determines the first configuration to be invalid (see paragraph [0117]). Regarding claim 38, Shrestha further discloses wherein an estimated wait time is determined based on the duration (see paragraph [0121], [0135]). Regarding claims 39-46 recite limitations substantially similar to claims 31-38. Therefore, these claims were rejected for similar reasons as stated above. Examiner's Note: Examiner has cited particular columns and line numbers in the references applied to the claims above for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings of the art and are applied to specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested from the applicant in preparing responses, to fully consider the references in entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the Examiner. When responding to this Office Action, Applicant is advised to clearly point out the patentable novelty which he or she thinks the claims present, in view of the state of the art disclosed by the references cited or the objections made. He or she must also show how the amendments avoid such references or objections See 37 CFR 1.111(c). Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 CongVan Tran whose telephone number is (571) 272-7871. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Th. 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, Alison Slater can be reached on (571) 270-0375. 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. PNG media_image1.png 100 100 media_image1.png Greyscale UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE /CONGVAN TRAN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2647
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 28, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jul 20, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 22, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12750639
Text Alternative To Established Voice Call Session
5y 2m to grant Granted Sep 29, 2026
Patent 12744648
METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR REPORTING CONFIGURED GRANT RESOURCE USAGE STATUS
2y 7m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12738999
COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS
2y 9m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12739655
Handoff Matching in a Network Mesh
2y 6m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12732797
IDENTIFICATION OF REDUCED CAPABILITY USER EQUIPMENT
3y 2m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
89%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+4.9%)
2y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1185 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month