Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/868,266

CENTRAL UNIT, DISTRIBUTED UNIT, RADIO ACCESS NETWORK NODE, UE, AND METHODS THEREFOR

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Nov 22, 2024
Priority
Jul 29, 2022 — JP 2022-121937 +1 more
Examiner
SORRELL, ERON J
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
NEC Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 0m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
265 granted / 327 resolved
+21.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
338
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.0%
-35.0% vs TC avg
§103
44.2%
+4.2% vs TC avg
§102
17.6%
-22.4% vs TC avg
§112
14.2%
-25.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 327 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION This is a Non-Final Office Action addressing U.S. Application No. 18/868,266. Based upon a review of the instant application, the actual filing date of the instant application is November 22, 2024. Since the instant application was filed after September 16, 2012, the statutory provisions of the America Invents Act ("AIA ") will govern this proceeding. 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 . 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. Claim(s) 87-99 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wallentin et al. (U.S. Pub. No. 2025/0374137 hereinafter “Wallentin” which claim priority to U.S. Provisional App No. 63/353,980 (“the ‘980 Provisional”). The Examiner finds that claim 67 of Wallentin is supported by the 980 Provisional at least at figure 5 on page 14. Additionally the 980 provisional reference is cited alongside the non-provisional. Referring to claim 87, Wallentin teaches a method of a Distributed Unit (DU) (see figures 4 and 11), the method comprising: transmitting a Layer-1/Layer-2 triggered Mobility (LTM) execution command in an LTM to a User Equipment (UE) (See step 1 in figure 4 and 2003 in figure 11, see also figure 7 in the 980 provisional); and after transmitting the execution command, sending a notification of the execution of the LTM to a Central Unit (CU), the notification including information about a target cell (See step 3 in figure 4 and ¶¶ 93-95, see also step 2005 in figure 11, see also figure 7 in the 980 provisional). Referring to claim 88, Wallentin teaches the method according to claim 87 (as shown above), and Wallentin further teaches wherein the execution command includes information about the target cell of the LTM and information about a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state (See ¶ 191, see also 23-26 of page 18 of the 980 provisional). Referring to claim 89, Wallentin teaches the method according to claim 87 (as shown above), and Wallentin further teaches the method comprising: receiving a UE CONTEXT RELEASE COMMAND message from the CU (See ¶ 209, see lines 6-16 of page 26 of the 980 provisional). Referring to claim 90, Wallentin teaches a method of a User Equipment (UE) (See figures 4 and 11), the method comprising: receiving a Layer-1/Layer-2 triggered Mobility (LTM) execution command in an LTM from a Distributed Unit (DU) (See step 1 in figure 4, see also 2003 in figure 11); and accessing a target cell (See step 5 in figure 4, see also 2008 in figure 11). Referring to claim 91, Wallentin teaches the method according to claim 90 (as shown above), and Wallentin further teaches wherein the execution command includes information about the target cell of the LTM and information about a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state (See ¶ 191, see also 23-26 of page 18 of the 980 provisional). Referring to claim 92, Wallentin teaches the method according to claim 90 (as shown above), and Wallentin further teaches the access to the target cell is performed by a random access procedure (See ¶ 207 step 2008, see lines 10-28 of page 25). Referring to claim 93, Wallentin teaches the method according to claim 90 (as shown above), and Wallentin further teaches wherein the LTM is an inter-DU LTM from a source DU to a target DU (See ¶ 42, see lines 6-9 of page 14 of the 980 provisional). Referring to claim 94, Wallentin teaches a method of a Central Unit (CU), the method comprising: in a Layer-1/Layer-2 triggered Mobility (LTM), after an LTM execution command is sent to a User Equipment (UE), receiving a first message regarding the execution of the LTM, the first message including information about a target cell (See 2005 in figure 11); and after a random access procedure between the UE and the target cell is completed, receiving a third message regarding the execution of the LTM (See 2010 in figure 11, see also ¶ 207). Referring to claim 95, Wallentin teaches the method according to claim 94, wherein the execution command includes information about the target cell of the LTM and information about a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state (See ¶ 191, see also 23-26 of page 18 of the 980 provisional). Referring to claim 96, Wallentin teaches the method according to claim 94 (as shown above), and Wallentin further the method comprising: sending a UE CONTEXT RELEASE COMMAND message to a Distributed Unit (DU) (See ¶ 209, see lines 6-16 of page 26 of the 980 provisional). Referring to claim 97, The method according to claim 94, wherein the LTM is an inter-Distributed Unit (DU) LTM from a source DU to a target DU (See ¶ 42, see lines 6-9 of page 14 of the 980 provisional). Referring to claim 98, Wallentin teaches a method of a Central Unit (CU) (See Figure 11), the method comprising: sending a first message related to a Layer-1/Layer-2 triggered Mobility (LTM) to a first Distributed Unit (DU), the first message including information related to one or more target cells (See item 2006 in figure 11, see also figure 7 of the 980 provisional); receiving a second message, which is a response to the first message, from the first DU, the second message including a configuration of at least one of the one or more target cells (See 2010 in Figure 11 and ¶ 207 “cell identity… and/or TCI state”, see lines 10-28 of page 25 of the 980 provisional); and sending a third message after receiving the second message (See 2011 in Figure 11, see also figure 7 of the ‘980 provisional). Referring to claim 99, The method according to claim 98, wherein the third message mentioned is a UE CONTEXT MODIFICATION REQUEST message (See ¶ 209, see lines 6-16 of page 26 of the 980 provisional). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The following references are cited to further show the state of the art as it pertains to the Applicant’s invention: US Pub. No. 2025/0358698 to Spapis et al. is cited as background information. U.S. Patent No. 11,950,160 to Zhou et al. is cited as background information. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ERON J SORRELL whose telephone number is (571)272-4160. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9AM-6PM EST. 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, Michael Fuelling can be reached at 571-270-1367. 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. Signed: /ERON J SORRELL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3992
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 22, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
81%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+6.2%)
2y 11m (~1y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 327 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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