Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/883,233

COMMUNICATION GAPS FOR PAGING OF MULTI-SUBSCRIBER IDENTITY WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICES

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Sep 12, 2024
Priority
Apr 11, 2019 — SE 1930120-9 +2 more
Examiner
SHAH, TANMAY K
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Sony Group Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
908 granted / 1020 resolved
+29.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+9.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
23 currently pending
Career history
1038
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.3%
-38.7% vs TC avg
§103
73.9%
+33.9% vs TC avg
§102
16.2%
-23.8% vs TC avg
§112
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1020 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . 2. This communication is in response to the Application No. 18/883,233 filed on 9/12/24. Claims 1 – 13 has been examined. Double Patenting 3. 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 conflicting claims 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); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969). 4. 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 nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined 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 § 2146 et seq. 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). 5. The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13. The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual 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 www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer. 6. Claim 1 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,120,637 in view of Subbarayudu et al. (US 2012/0190362). See the reasons below: Instant application Pat # 12,120,637 A method of operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising: - transmitting, to a first communication network, a request for one or more communication gaps in a communication along a data connection associated with a first identity of the wireless communication device, - monitoring, in accordance with a timing of the one or more communication gaps, for one or more paging signals from a second communication network, the one or more paging signals being associated with a second identity of the wireless communication device, - receiving the one or more paging signals from the second communication network, - after receiving at least one of the one or more paging signals: transmitting a request to the first communication network for an extended communication gap, and - monitoring for a paging message of the one or more paging signals during the extended communication gap, the paging message being associated with the second identity. A method of operating a wireless communication device, the method comprising: transmitting, to a first communication network, a request for one or more communication gaps in a communication along a data connection associated with a first identity of the wireless communication device, monitoring, in accordance with a timing of the one or more communication gaps, for one or more paging signals from a second communication network, the one or more paging signals being associated with a second identity of the wireless communication device, in response to receiving at least one of the one or more paging signals: activating an extended communication gap, and communicating with the second communication network during the extended communication gap. However, patent 12,160,637 does not specifically disclose having second communication network after receiving one or more paging signals; as well as the second identity. Subbarayudu teaches having second communication network after receiving one or more paging signals; as well as the second identity (1st and 2nd SIM with two separate communication network and the second identity, Fig. 2). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skilled in the art at the time of the filing to combine the teachings of Subbarayudu’s second wireless communication with the patent 12/120,637. One would be motivated to combine these teachings because it can support multiple wireless communication systems. Regarding claim 3, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 1, claim 4 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 1, wherein a duration of the extended communication gap is predefined. The method of claim 1, wherein a duration of the extended communication gap is predefined Regarding claim 4, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 1, claim 5 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 1, further comprising: - transmitting, to the first communication network, an indication to stop the extended communication gap. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, to the first communication network, an indication to stop the extended communication gap. Regarding claim 5, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 1, claim 6 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 1, wherein the extended communication gap is selectively activated or wherein a duration of the extended communication gap is set, depending on at least one of a type of the service, a type of a further service associated with a further data connection associated with the second identity, and a user-preference setting. The method of claim 1, wherein the extended communication gap is selectively activated or wherein a duration of the extended communication gap is set, depending on at least one of a type of the service, a type of a further service associated with a further data connection associated with the second identity, and a user-preference setting. Regarding claim 6, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 1, claim 7 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 1, wherein a first wireless link of the first communication network operates on a first frequency, wherein a second wireless link of the second communication network operates on a second frequency, wherein the method further comprises: - controlling a wireless interface of the wireless communication device to switch from the first frequency to the second frequency and from the second frequency to the first frequency in accordance with the timing of the one or more communication gaps. The method of claim 1, wherein a first wireless link of the first communication network operates on a first frequency, wherein a second wireless link of the second communication network operates on a second frequency, wherein the method further comprises: controlling a wireless interface of the wireless communication device to switch from the first frequency to the second frequency and from the second frequency to the first frequency in accordance with the timing of the one or more communication gaps. Regarding claim 7, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 1, claim 8 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 1, further comprising: - determining the timing of the one or more communication gaps based on a timing of paging occasions associated with the second identity, the timing being determined in a time reference of the first communication network. The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining the timing of the one or more communication gaps based on a timing of paging occasions associated with the second identity, the timing being determined in a time reference of the first communication network. Regarding claim 8, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 1, claim 9 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 1, further comprising: - transmitting an indicator indicative of the timing of the one or more communication gaps to the first communication network. The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting an indicator indicative of the timing of the one or more communication gaps to the first communication network. Regarding claim 9, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 1, claim 10 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 8, further comprising: - in accordance with a timing drift between the first communication network and the second communication network: repetitively transmitting an update of the indicator indicative of the timing to the first communication network. The method of claim 9, further comprising: in accordance with a timing drift between the first communication network and the second communication network: repetitively transmitting an update of the indicator indicative of the timing to the first communication network. Regarding claim 10, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 11, claim 10 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 1, further comprising: - upon receiving at least one of the one or more paging signals: triggering a termination or pause of a service provided by the communication along the data connection associated with the first identity, or disconnecting the data connection associated with the first identity. The method of claim 1, further comprising: upon receiving at least one of the one or more paging signals: triggering a termination or pause of a service provided by the communication along the data connection associated with the first identity, or disconnecting the data connection associated with the first identity. Regarding claim 11, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 12, claim 10 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 10, wherein said triggering of the termination or pause of the service provided by the communication along the data connection associated with the first identity, or said disconnecting of the data connection associated with the first identity is selectively executed depending on at least one of a type of the service, a type of a further service associated with a further data connection associated with the second identity, and a user-preference setting. The method of claim 11, wherein said triggering of the termination or pause of the service provided by the communication along the data connection associated with the first identity, or said disconnecting of the data connection associated with the first identity is selectively executed depending on at least one of a type of the service, a type of a further service associated with a further data connection associated with the second identity, and a user-preference setting. Regarding claim 12, Patent 12,160,637 with Subbarayudu teaches claim 13, claim 10 of Patent 12,160,637 further teaches. Instant Application Pat # 12,120,637 The method of claim 1, wherein the request is selectively transmitted depending on at least one of a type of the service, a type of a further service associated with a further data connection associated with the second identity, and a user-preference setting. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is selectively transmitted depending on at least one of a type of the service, a type of a further service associated with a further data connection associated with the second identity, and a user-preference setting. Regarding claim 13, the claim substantially has same limitations as claim 1, thus the same rejection is applicable. Allowable Subject Matter 7. Claims 2 – 3 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. Conclusion 8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to TANMAY K SHAH whose telephone number is (571)270-3624. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri - 8:00 - 5:00. 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, Chieh Fan can be reached at 571-272-3042. 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. TANMAY K. SHAH Primary Examiner Art Unit 2632 /TANMAY K SHAH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2632
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 12, 2024
Application Filed
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
89%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+9.3%)
2y 4m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1020 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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