Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/886,432

SYNCHRONIZATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BASED MICROSERVICES

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Sep 16, 2024
Priority
Feb 23, 2021 — continuation of 11/622,418 +1 more
Examiner
LINDENBAUM, ALAN LOUIS
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
AT&T Intellectual Property I L.P.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
48%
Grant Probability
Moderate
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 9m
Est. Remaining
64%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 48% of resolved cases
48%
Career Allowance Rate
208 granted / 429 resolved
-11.5% vs TC avg
Strong +16% interview lift
Without
With
+15.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 8m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
491
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.1%
-36.9% vs TC avg
§103
58.0%
+18.0% vs TC avg
§102
17.8%
-22.2% vs TC avg
§112
18.2%
-21.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 429 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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 09/16/2024 was considered by the examiner. 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 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). 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). 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. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,120,776. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other. Present Application 18/886,432 U.S. Patent No. 12,120,776 1. A device, comprising: a processing system including a processor, wherein the processing system is associated with a first radio access network (RAN) that includes a first RAN intelligent controller (RIC); and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: 1. A device, comprising: a processing system including a processor, wherein the processing system is associated with a first radio access network (RAN) that includes a first RAN intelligent controller (RIC); and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising: obtaining, from an artificial intelligence (AI) model synchronization system associated with a second RAN, data relating to an AI model deployed by a second RIC of the second RAN, wherein the processing system is communicatively coupled with the AI model synchronization system to facilitate exchanges of deployed AI models, and 1. obtaining, from an artificial intelligence (AI) model synchronization system associated with a second RAN, data relating to an AI model deployed wherein the processing system, the first RAN, and the first RIC are operated by a first network provider, wherein the AI model synchronization system, the second RAN, and the second RIC are operated by a second network provider different from the first network provider, and wherein the processing system is communicatively coupled with the AI model synchronization system to facilitate exchanges of deployed AI models between the first network provider and the second network provider; by a second RIC of the second RAN, wherein the data relating to the AI model includes telemetry data, network performance information, network traffic information, information regarding performance of the AI model under one or more operating conditions, information regarding performance of the AI model across one or more configurations of the AI model, or a combination thereof; 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the data relating to the AI model includes metadata, and wherein the metadata includes telemetry data, network performance information, network traffic information, information regarding performance of the AI model under one or more operating conditions, information regarding performance of the AI model across one or more configurations of the AI model, or a combination thereof. determining, based on the data relating to the AI model and network-related information associated with the first RAN, that the AI model can be leveraged by the first RAN to improve traffic management of the first RAN, throughput of the first RAN, resource allocation of the first RAN, or a combination thereof; 1. determining, based on the data relating to the AI model and network-related information associated with the first RAN, that the AI model can be leveraged by the first RAN to improve traffic management of the first RAN, throughput of the first RAN, resource allocation of the first RAN, or a combination thereof; responsive to the determining, receiving the AI model from the AI model synchronization system; and 1. responsive to the determining, receiving the AI model from the AI model synchronization system, wherein the receiving the AI model is in accordance with one or more AI model subscriptions with the AI model synchronization system; and causing the first RIC to deploy the AI model in the first RAN after the receiving the AI model, wherein the first RIC comprises a RIC message router (RMR) message bus, wherein the AI model is configured with a Representational State Transfer (REST) interface, and wherein the AI model is deployed in a container along with an AI microservice adapter that facilitates intra-container function calls for providing protocol conversion between the REST interface and the RMR message bus. 1. causing the first RIC to deploy the AI model in the first RAN after the receiving the AI model, wherein the first RIC comprises a RIC message router (RMR) message bus, wherein the AI model is configured with a Representational State Transfer (REST) interface, and wherein the AI model is deployed in a container along with an AI microservice adapter that facilitates intra-container function calls for providing protocol conversion between the REST interface and the RMR message bus. 2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first RAN and the second RAN is a virtualized RAN (vRAN). 2. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first RAN and the second RAN is a virtualized RAN (vRAN). 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the network-related information includes telemetry data, network performance information, network traffic information, or a combination thereof. 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the network-related information includes telemetry data, network performance information, network traffic information, or a combination thereof. 4. The device of claim 1, wherein the processing system, the first RAN, and the first RIC are operated by a first network provider, and wherein the AI model synchronization system, the second RAN, and the second RIC are operated by a second network provider different from the first network provider. 1. obtaining, from an artificial intelligence (AI) model synchronization system associated with a second RAN, data relating to an AI model deployed wherein the processing system, the first RAN, and the first RIC are operated by a first network provider, wherein the AI model synchronization system, the second RAN, and the second RIC are operated by a second network provider different from the first network provider, and wherein the processing system is communicatively coupled with the AI model synchronization system to facilitate exchanges of deployed AI models between the first network provider and the second network provider; by a second RIC of the second RAN, 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises comparing the data relating to the AI model and the network-related information associated with the first RAN. 5. The device of claim 1, wherein the determining comprises comparing the data relating to the AI model and the network-related information associated with the first RAN. 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiving the AI model involves utilizing one or more application programming interfaces (APIs). 6. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiving the AI model involves utilizing one or more application programming interfaces (APIs). 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiving the AI model is conducted over an interface between the processing system and the AI model synchronization system. 7. The device of claim 1, wherein the receiving the AI model is conducted over an interface between the processing system and the AI model synchronization system. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the AI microservice adapter is configured to run as an xApp. 8. The device of claim 1, wherein the AI microservice adapter is configured to run as an xApp. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the AI model and the AI microservice adapter are executed in the container as separate processes. 9. The device of claim 1, wherein the AI model and the AI microservice adapter are executed in the container as separate processes. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the AI microservice adapter is configured to adapt the AI model based on configuration data, and wherein the configuration data includes: information regarding functions relating to an AI microservice; information regarding inputs; information regarding outputs; identification of messages, to detect for on a bus associated with the first RIC, that call or utilize the functions; identification of messages to deliver on the bus relating to the functions; information regarding how messages are to be translated into calls; information regarding how responses to messages from an AI microservice are to be translated and placed onto the bus; information regarding endpoints of an AI microservice; information regarding a location at which an AI microservice is running; or a combination thereof. 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the AI microservice adapter is configured to adapt the AI model based on configuration data, and wherein the configuration data includes: information regarding functions relating to an AI microservice; information regarding inputs; information regarding outputs; identification of messages, to detect for on a bus associated with the first RIC, that call or utilize the functions; identification of messages to deliver on the bus relating to the functions; information regarding how messages are to be translated into calls; information regarding how responses to messages from an AI microservice are to be translated and placed onto the bus; information regarding endpoints of an AI microservice; information regarding a location at which an AI microservice is running; or a combination thereof. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the AI model provides one or more RAN-based microservices. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the AI model provides one or more RAN-based microservices. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving the AI model from the second AI model synchronization system is in accordance with one or more AI model subscriptions with the second AI model synchronization system. 1. responsive to the determining, receiving the AI model from the AI model synchronization system, wherein the receiving the AI model is in accordance with one or more AI model subscriptions with the AI model synchronization system; and 20. The method of claim 16, wherein the first AI model synchronization system, the first RAN, and the first RIC are operated by a first network provider, and wherein the second AI model synchronization system, the second RAN, and the second RIC are operated by a second network provider different from the first network provider. 1. obtaining, from an artificial intelligence (AI) model synchronization system associated with a second RAN, data relating to an AI model deployed wherein the processing system, the first RAN, and the first RIC are operated by a first network provider, wherein the AI model synchronization system, the second RAN, and the second RIC are operated by a second network provider different from the first network provider, and wherein the processing system is communicatively coupled with the AI model synchronization system to facilitate exchanges of deployed AI models between the first network provider and the second network provider; by a second RIC of the second RAN, Claims 11-15 are rejected under substantially the same rationale as claims 1-5. Claims 16-17 are rejected under substantially the same rationale as claims 1-2. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Bega et al. (US 20240046148) discloses to train the AI/ML model that is being sent to the AI/ML model consumer for inference (AI/ML inference model, also mentioned as machine learning inference model). If the ground truth data (i.e., real outputs of respective inputs) is not available to evaluate the performance of the inference model, the 5GS is also responsible to train another AI/ML model (AI/ML monitoring model, also mentioned as machine learning monitoring model) to profile the dataset used to train the AI/ML inference model. Wang et al. (US 20220247634) discloses a Non-real time RAN intelligent controller (Non-RT RIC) is a logical entity built into SMO, which supports non-real-time control and optimization of RAN network elements and resources, artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) model establishing, reasoning and updating, RAN is optimized through data analysis and AI/ML training/reasoning, and it provides strategic guidance and ML model management to the near-real Time RAN intelligent controller (Near-RT RIC) through the AI interface. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ALAN LOUIS LINDENBAUM whose telephone number is (571)270-3858. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM 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, Un Cho can be reached at (571) 272-7919. 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. /A.L.L/Examiner, Art Unit 2413 /UN C CHO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2413
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 16, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 07, 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
48%
Grant Probability
64%
With Interview (+15.6%)
3y 8m (~1y 9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 429 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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