Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/749,891

METHODS, DEVICES, AND SYSTEMS FOR SUPPORTING L1/L2 BASED INTER-CELL MOBILITY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 21, 2024
Priority
Aug 05, 2022 — continuation of PCTCN2022110679
Examiner
ACOLATSE, KODZOVI
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
ZTE Corporation
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
796 granted / 949 resolved
+23.9% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+20.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
41 currently pending
Career history
994
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.4%
-34.6% vs TC avg
§103
55.2%
+15.2% vs TC avg
§102
22.6%
-17.4% vs TC avg
§112
8.8%
-31.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 949 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 is responsive to Application 18/749,891 filed 06/21/2024 in which claims 1, 3-5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22-31 are presented for examination. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed in the amendment filed 7/8/26 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. See explanation in the rejection below. 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 1, 3-5, 8, 12, 14, 16, 18, 22-27 and 29-31 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wallentin et al (US 2025/0374137 A1). Regarding claim 1, Wallentin teaches a method for wireless communication, comprising: supporting, by a first network node, a handover for a user equipment (UE) from the first network node to a second network node by (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2002, [0207]; source DU/first network node; cell change/mobility triggering): sending, by the first network node, a first message for the UE to a third network node, the first message comprising mobility information indicating a list of to-be- switched candidate cells for the UE (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2005; [0207], source DU send L1/L2 mobility information to service CU/third network node), wherein: the mobility information comprises a L1/L2 mobility information; and the L1/L2 mobility information comprises at least one of the following: a L1/L2 mobility indicator, a list of to-be-switched candidate cells, a new radio (NR) physical cell identifier (PCI), a NR cell global identifier (CGI), or a NR frequency (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2005; [0207], indication to the service CU/third node indicating L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility service cell procedure/L1/L2 mobility indicator. Also Note that step 2003 also discloses L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility serving cell change procedure and step 2005 further indicates identification…). Regarding claim 22, Wallentin teaches a first network node comprising: a memory storing instructions; and at least one processor in communication with the memory, wherein, when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor is configured to cause the first network node to perform: supporting a handover for a user equipment (UE) from the first network node to a second network node by (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2002, [0207]; source DU/first network node; cell change/mobility triggering): sending a first message for the UE to a third network node, the first message comprising mobility information for the UE (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2005; [0207], source DU send L1/L2 mobility information to service CU/third network node), wherein: the mobility information comprises a L1/L2 mobility information; and the L1/L2 mobility information comprises at least one of the following: a L1/L2 mobility indicator, a list of to-be-switched candidate cells, a new radio (NR) physical cell identifier (PCI), a NR cell global identifier (CGI), or a NR frequency (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2005; [0207], indication to the service CU/third node indicating L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility service cell procedure/L1/L2 mobility indicator. Also Note that step 2003 also discloses L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility serving cell change procedure and step 2005 further indicates identification…). Regarding claim 24, Wallentin teaches a method for wireless communication, comprising: supporting, by a third network node, a handover for a user equipment (UE) from a first network node to a second network node by (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2002, [0207]; source DU/first network node; cell change/mobility triggering): receiving, by the third network node, a first message for the UE from the first network node, the first message comprising mobility information for the UE (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2005; [0207], source DU send L1/L2 mobility information to service CU/third network node), wherein: the mobility information comprises a L1/L2 mobility information; and the L1/L2 mobility information comprises at least one of the following: a L1/L2 mobility indicator, a list of to-be-switched candidate cells, a new radio (NR) physical cell identifier (PCI), a NR cell global identifier (CGI), or a NR frequency (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2005; [0207], indication to the service CU/third node indicating L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility service cell procedure/L1/L2 mobility indicator. Also Note that step 2003 also discloses L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility serving cell change procedure and step 2005 further indicates identification…). Regarding claim 31, Wallentin teaches an apparatus comprising: a memory storing instructions; and at least one processor in communication with the memory, wherein, when the at least one processor executes the instructions, the at least one processor is configured to cause the apparatus to perform: supporting a mobility triggering for a user equipment (UE) from a first network node to a second network node by (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2002, [0207]; source DU/first network node; cell change/mobility triggering): receiving a first message for the UE from the first network node, the first message comprising mobility information for the UE (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2005; [0207], source DU send L1/L2 mobility information to service CU/third network node), wherein: the mobility information comprises a L1/L2 mobility information; and the L1/L2 mobility information comprises at least one of the following: a L1/L2 mobility indicator, a list of to-be-switched candidate cells, a new radio (NR) physical cell identifier (PCI), a NR cell global identifier (CGI), or a NR frequency (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2005; [0207], indication to the service CU/third node indicating L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility service cell procedure/L1/L2 mobility indicator. Also Note that step 2003 also discloses L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility serving cell change procedure and step 2005 further indicates identification…). Regarding claims 3 and 25, Wallentin teaches wherein: the first network node comprises a source distributed unit of a base station (gNB- DU); the second network node comprises a candidate gNB-DU; and the third network node comprises a control unit of the base station (gNB-CU) (Wallentin: Fig. 3; Fig. 11; [0084]-[0085], [0207]). Regarding claims 4, 23 and 26, Wallentin teaches wherein: the handover comprises a layer 1 or layer 2 signaling based mobility (L1/L2 mobility) triggered handover; and the handover comprises an inter-DU and intra-CU handover for the UE (Wallentin: fig. 11:2005; [0207], Table 1; [0042]). Regarding claims 5 and 27, Wallentin teaches wherein: the first message corresponds to an F1 interface message (Wallentin: Fig. 11; [0209]-[0210]). Regarding claim 8, Wallentin teaches receiving, by the first network node, a measurement report from the UE; determining, by the first network node, the list of at least one to-be-switched candidate cell[[s]] according to the measurement report; and sending, by the first network node, a command to the UE, the command indicating the list of at least one to-be-switched candidate cell (Wallentin: Fig. 11; [0207]). Regarding claims 12 and 29, Wallentin teaches wherein: the first message comprises a downlink data delivery status frame; and the first network node receives a first confirmation message from the third network node (Wallentin: Fig. 11; [0209]), wherein, in response to receiving the first message, the third network node sends the first confirmation message to the first network node (Wallentin: Fig. 11:2011; [0207]). Regarding claims 14 and 30, Wallentin teaches wherein: the first message comprises a downlink data delivery status frame; and the first message requires no confirmation message from the third network node (Wallentin: Fig. 11; [0209]). Regarding claim 16, Wallentin teaches wherein: the first network node receives a first confirmation message from the third network node, wherein, in response to receiving the first message, the third network node sends the first confirmation message to the second network node; and the first network node sends one of the following to the third network node: a downlink data delivery status frame, or a second message comprising the downlink data delivery status frame (Wallentin: Fig. 11; [0207]-[0209]). Regarding claim 18, Wallentin teaches wherein: the first message requires no confirmation message from the third network node; and the first network node sends one of the following to the third network node: a downlink data delivery status frame, or a second message comprising the downlink data delivery status frame (Wallentin: Fig. 11; [0207]-[0209]). 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
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 21, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jul 08, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 04, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Sep 17, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+20.8%)
2y 6m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 949 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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