Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/796,476

METHOD FOR MULTI-TRP THROUGH TA ACQUISITION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 07, 2024
Priority
Aug 10, 2023 — IN 202341053787
Examiner
TON, DANG T
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Nokia Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
533 granted / 602 resolved
+28.5% vs TC avg
Minimal +1% lift
Without
With
+1.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 2m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
642
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.0%
-36.0% vs TC avg
§103
44.9%
+4.9% vs TC avg
§102
26.1%
-13.9% vs TC avg
§112
8.1%
-31.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 602 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 52,53,65,66.70.and 71 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a1) as being anticipated by Patel et al. (2024/156,366). For independent claim 52, Patel et al. (2024/156,366) discloses a system/method comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that( See boxes 44 and 46 in Figure 4), when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a network node, an indication to monitor a possibility of configuring a user equipment for single transmission reception point operation, or receive, from the network node, an indication to monitor a possibility of configuring the user equipment for multiple transmission reception point operation; determine whether it is possible to configure the user equipment for single transmission reception point operation or multiple transmission reception point operation ( See page 6 lines 10-30, page 4 lines 25-30, and details of section TSN time synchronization) ; and transmit, to the network node, an indication that it is possible to configure the user equipment for single transmission reception point operation or multiple transmission reception point operation( See page 6 lines 10-30, page 4 lines 25-30, and details of section TSN time synchronization). For independent claims 65 and 70 are rejected for the same reason as indicated in claim 1. For dependent claims 53,66, and 71, Patel at al. also discloses wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: configure the user equipment to acquire a timing advance for a first candidate cell and a timing advance for a second candidate cell( See page 6 lines 10-30, page 4 lines 25-30, and details of section TSN time synchronization); determine that the user equipment acquired the timing advance for the first candidate call and failed to acquire the timing advance for the second candidate cell( See page 6 lines 10-30, page 4 lines 25-30, and details of section TSN time synchronization); and perform at least one of: indicate, to the network node, single transmission reception point operation with the first candidate cell for the user equipment, or determine to configure the user equipment for multiple transmission reception point operation with a random access channel with the second candidate cell and without a random access channel with the first candidate cell. ( See page 6 lines 10-30, page 4 lines 25-30, and details of section TSN time synchronization) The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Lin et al. (2025/0039847) is cited to show a system which is considered pertinent to the claimed invention. Claims 54-64, and 67-69 are 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. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DANG T TON whose telephone number is (571)272-3171. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 5:30 AM to 3:00 PM. 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, Ayaz Sheikh can be reached at 571-272-3795. 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. /DANG T TON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476 /D.T.T/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 07, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 31, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
88%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (+1.1%)
2y 2m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 602 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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