Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/794,127

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS APPARATUSES AND METHODS

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Aug 05, 2024
Priority
Nov 03, 2016 — EU 16197185.8 +3 more
Examiner
NGUYEN, MINH TRANG T
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Sony Group Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
808 granted / 897 resolved
+30.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+5.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
914
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
60.8%
+20.8% vs TC avg
§102
25.5%
-14.5% vs TC avg
§112
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 897 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
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 . Double Patenting The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the claims at issue are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); and In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b). The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/forms/. The filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/eTD-info-I.jsp. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19 of U.S. Patent No. 12,058,606. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because claims 1-20 are either anticipated by or obvious variants of patent claims 1-19. For example, patent claim 2 includes all limitations of independent claim 1. Patent claim 11 includes all limitations of independent claim 2. The remaining dependent claims are either anticipated by or obvious variants of patent claims 1-19. In particular, the following table shows the corresponding limitations between claims 1-20 and patent claims 1-19. Present Application Claims (18/794,127) Patent Claims (US 12,058,606) 1. (Currently Amended) A base station in a mobile communications network, the mobile communications network includinterminal being operable to communicate with the base station, the base station comprising: processing circuitry configured to periodically transmit essential system information "ESI" to the plurality of mobile terminals, the ESI comprising system information for using the cell provided by the base station; transmit additional system information "ASI" to the mobile terminal, the ASI comprising system information for using one or more services provided by the cell; wherein, in response to a determination that the base station is overloaded, transmit a service notification that the cell is currently unable to provide the one or more services. 2. (Currently Amended) A mobile terminal in a mobile communications network, the mobile communications network including a base station operable to provide a cell to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of mobile terminals and the mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals, the mobile terminal being operable to communicate with the base station, the mobile terminal attempt to receive additional system information "ASI", the ASI comprising system information for using one or more services provided by the cell; and receive a service notification that the cell is currently unable to provide the one or more services. 3. (Original) A method of receiving system information in a mobile communications network, the network comprising a base station operable to provide a cell to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of mobile terminals and a mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals, the mobile terminal being operable to communicate with the base station, the method comprising: receiving essential system information "ESI" periodically transmitted to the plurality of mobile terminals, the ESI comprising system information for using the cell provided by the base station; attempting to receive additional system information "ASI", the ASI comprising system information for using one or more services provided by the cell; and receiving a service notification that the cell is currently unable to provide the one or more services. 4. (New) The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving the ASI, wherein the service notification is received as part of the received ASI. 5. (New) The method of claim 4, wherein the ASI is received from the base station or from a further base station different from the base station. 6. (New) The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving the service notification as part of the ESI transmitted to the plurality of mobile terminals. 7. (New) The method of claim 3, wherein the service notification is for notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is barring access to the one or more service and optionally to all services. 8. (New) The method of claim 3, wherein the service notification is for notifying the mobile terminal that another cell provided by another base station can provide the one or more service. 9. (New) The method of claim 3, wherein the service notification is for notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is no longer campable. 10. (New) The method of claim 7, further comprising: upon notification that the cell is barring access to the one or more service attempting to access at least one of the one or more services from a cell provided by a second base station different from the base station; and/or wait for a time period before attempting again to receive the ASI. 11. (New) The method of claim 9, further comprising: upon notification that cell is no longer campable, camp on a second cell provided by a second base station different from the base station. 12. (New) The base station of claim 1, wherein the service notification is transmitted as part of the transmitted ASI. 13. (New) The base station of claim 1, wherein the service notification is transmitted as part of the ESI. 14. (New) The base station of claim 1, wherein the service notification is transmitted as part of the ESI and, in the event that it is determined that the cell is to be barred, the ASI is not transmitted to the mobile terminal. 15. (New) The base station of claim 14, wherein the ESI comprises at least one field providing scheduling information for the ASI and wherein transmitting the service notification comprises transmitting the ESI with the at least one field not indicating any scheduling information for the ASI. 16. (New) The base station of claim 14, wherein the ESI comprises an ASI notification indicating that the ASI is not transmitted. 17. (New) The base station of claim 1, wherein the ASI is transmitted by a further base station different from the base station. 18. (New) The base station of claim 1, wherein the service notification is for one or more of: notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is barring access to the one or more service and optionally to all services; notifying the mobile terminal that another cell provided by another base station can provide the one or more service; and notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is no longer campable. 19. (New) The method of claim 9, further comprising: stopping periodical transmission of the ESI upon notification that the cell is no longer campable. 20. (New) The base station of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to transmit the ASI to the mobile terminal periodically or upon request from the mobile request. 2. Circuitry for a base station for transmitting system information in a mobile communications network, wherein the circuitry comprises a controller and a transceiver configured to operate together to provide a cell to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of mobile terminals, and to: periodically transmit essential system information (ESI) to the plurality of mobile terminals, the ESI comprising system information for using the cell provided by the base station; and transmit additional system information (ASI) to a mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals, the ASI comprising system information for using one or more services provided by the cell; and notify the mobile terminal, in the event that it is determined that the cell is to be barred, by causing transmission of a service notification that the cell is currently unable to provide the one or more services, wherein the service notification is for notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is no longer campable. 11. Circuitry for mobile terminal for receiving system information in a mobile communications network, the network comprising a base station operable to provide a cell to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of mobile terminals, the mobile terminal being one of the plurality of mobile terminals wherein the circuitry comprises a controller and a transceiver configured to operate together to communicate with the base station and to: receive essential system information (ESI) periodically transmitted to the plurality of mobile terminals, the ESI comprising system information for using the cell provided by the base station; attempt to receive additional system information (ASI), the ASI comprising system information for using one or more services provided by the cell; and receive a service notification that the cell is currently unable to provide the one or more services, wherein the service notification is for notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is no longer campable. 1. A method of transmitting system information in a mobile communications network, the network comprising a base station operable to provide a cell to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of mobile terminals and a mobile terminal of the plurality of mobile terminals, the mobile terminal being operable to communicate with the base station, the method comprising: periodically transmitting essential system information (ESI) to the plurality of mobile terminals, the ESI comprising system information for using the cell provided by the base station; and transmitting additional system information (ASI) to the mobile terminal, the ASI comprising system information for using one or more services provided by the cell, wherein in the event that it is determined that the cell is to be barred, the method further comprises transmitting a service notification that the cell is currently unable to provide the one or more services, wherein the service notification is for notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is no longer campable. 12. The circuitry of claim 11, wherein the controller and a transceiver configured to operate together to receive the ASI, wherein the service notification is received as part of the received ASI. 13. The circuitry of claim 12, wherein the ASI is received from the base station or from a further base station different from the base station. 14. The circuitry of claim 11, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to receive the service notification as part of the ESI transmitted to the plurality of mobile terminals. 15. The circuitry of claim 11, wherein the service notification is for notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is barring access to the one or more service and optionally to all services. 17. The circuitry of claim 11, wherein the service notification is for notifying the mobile terminal that another cell provided by another base station can provide the one or more service. Claim 2. 16. The circuitry of claim 15, wherein the circuitry is configured to, upon notification that the cell is barring access to the one or more service: attempt to access at least one of the one or more services from a cell provided by a second base station different from the base station; and/or wait for a time period before attempting again to receive the ASI. 18. The circuitry of claim 11, wherein the circuitry is configured to, upon notification that cell is no longer campable, camp on a second cell provided by a second base station different from the base station. 3. The circuitry of claim 2, wherein the service notification is transmitted as part of the transmitted ASI. 4. The circuitry of claim 2, wherein the service notification is transmitted as part of the ESI. 5. The circuitry of claim 2, wherein the service notification is transmitted as part of the ESI and, in the event that it is determined that the cell is to be barred, the ASI is not transmitted to the mobile terminal. 6. The circuitry of claim 5, wherein the ESI comprises at least one field providing scheduling information for the ASI and wherein transmitting the service notification comprises transmitting the ESI with the at least one field not indicating any scheduling information for the ASI. 7. The circuitry of claim 5, wherein the ESI comprises an ASI notification indicating that the ASI is not transmitted. 8. The circuitry of claim 2, wherein the ASI is transmitted by a further base station different from the base station. 9. The circuitry of claim 2, wherein the service notification is for one or more of: notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is barring access to the one or more service and optionally to all services; notifying the mobile terminal that another cell provided by another base station can provide the one or more service; and notifying the mobile terminal that the cell is no longer campable. 19. The circuitry of claim 11, wherein the circuitry is configured to: stop periodical transmission of the ESI upon notification that the cell is no longer campable. 10. The circuitry of claim 2, wherein the circuitry is configured to transmit the ASI to the mobile terminal periodically or upon request from the mobile request. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MINH TRANG T NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)270-5248. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30am-6:00pm. 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, Chirag C Shah can be reached at 571-272-3144. 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. /MINH TRANG T NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2477
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Prosecution Timeline

Aug 05, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 06, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP (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
90%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+5.7%)
2y 5m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 897 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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