Last updated: July 17, 2026

Application No. 18/834,073

SIGNAL PROCESSING METHOD, SIGNAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA

Filed

Jul 29, 2024

Priority

Feb 10, 2022 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2022005466

Examiner

WOLF, DARREN E

Art Unit

Tech Center

Assignee

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation

OA Round

1 (Non-Final)

Interview Optional

— +15.1% interview lift. Examiner has a relatively high allowance rate (85%); +15.1% interview lift. A written response may suffice.

Based on 792 resolved cases, 2023–2026

Examiner Intelligence

WOLF, DARREN E View full profile →

Grants 85% — above average

Career Allowance Rate

673 granted / 792 resolved

+25.0% vs TC avg

Strong +15% interview lift

Without

With

+15.1%

Interview Lift

resolved cases with interview

Fast prosecutor

2y 1m

Avg Prosecution

17 currently pending

Career history

806

Total Applications

across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101

0.8%

-39.2% vs TC avg

§103

63.3%

+23.3% vs TC avg

§102

0.5%

-39.5% vs TC avg

§112

34.5%

-5.5% vs TC avg

Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 792 resolved cases

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 29, 2024

Application Filed

Jun 02, 2026

Non-Final Rejection mailed (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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3y 2m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/408,344

Patent 12683687

CHROMATIC DISPERSION OPTICAL TIME DOMAIN REFLECTOMETRY ON SUBMARINE COMMUNICATION CABLES USING COHERENT OPTICAL TRANSPONDERS

2y 6m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026

18/261,999

Patent 12659045

LINEARIZATION OF OPTICAL TRANSMITTERS FOR DATA COMMUNICATIONS

2y 11m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

18/283,106

Patent 12659039

GAIN EQUALIZATION APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EQUALIZING GAIN

2y 9m to grant Granted Jun 16, 2026

18/464,196

Patent 12659035

OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD, OPTICAL MODULE, AND APPARATUS USED IN OPTICAL MODULE

2y 9m to grant Granted Jun 16, 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.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2

Expected OA Rounds

85%

Grant Probability

99%

With Interview (+15.1%)

2y 1m (~1m remaining)

Median Time to Grant

Low

PTA Risk

Based on 792 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.