Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/910,553

VOICE CALL MANAGEMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS THEREOF

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 09, 2024
Priority
Oct 12, 2023 — provisional 63/589,652
Examiner
CHEN, PETER
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
MediaTek Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
416 granted / 474 resolved
+27.8% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+21.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
490
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.6%
-35.4% vs TC avg
§103
49.4%
+9.4% vs TC avg
§102
20.3%
-19.7% vs TC avg
§112
17.9%
-22.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 474 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION This Office action is a response to an Application No. 18/910,553 filed on 10/09/2024 in which claims 1-10 are pending for examination. 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 . In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. Drawings The Examiner contends that the drawings submitted on 10/09/2024 are acceptable for examination proceedings. 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)(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 1-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Telang et al. (US 2017/0223597 A1) hereinafter “Telang”. Regarding claim 1, Telang discloses a voice call management method, comprising: determining, by a processor of an apparatus (see FIG. 8; see ¶ [0080], UE includes processor), a current scenario associated with an operation environment of the apparatus (see FIG. 2-4; see ¶ [0044], A user utilizing UE 115-a originates a voice call over an LTE network using an IMS via communications link 125-a and base station 105-a); and determining, by the processor, to perform a voice call through a modem (MD) voice engine or through an application processor (AP) voice engine according to the current scenario (see FIG. 2-4; see ¶ [0045-47], the UE 115-a also detects that a WiFi network is available via wireless link 127-a to AP 107-a and determines that the WiFi network is capable of supporting a transfer of the active voice call). Regarding claims 2 and 7, Telang discloses wherein the current scenario comprises at least one of following scenarios: the apparatus currently only supports a Wi-Fi service; the apparatus currently only supports a cellular network service; and the apparatus supports the Wi-Fi service and the cellular network service at the same time (see ¶ [0046], the UE 115-a may include a plurality of radio resources or modems, including at least one VoLTE-capable modem and at least one VoWiFi-capable modem). Regarding claims 3 and 8, Telang discloses further comprising: disabling, by the processor, the AP voice engine in an event that the apparatus currently only supports the cellular network service (see ¶ [0028] [0087], entering an operating mode that disables one or more radio resources and disabling the second radio resource). Regarding claims 4 and 9, Telang discloses further comprising: disabling, by the processor, the MD voice engine in an event that the apparatus currently only supports the Wi-Fi service (see ¶ [0047], a mode where all modems designated for cellular service are disabled and at least one modem designated for WiFi is active). Regarding claims 5 and 10, Telang discloses further comprising: disabling, by the processor, the AP voice engine in an event that the apparatus supports the Wi-Fi service and the cellular network service at the same time (see ¶ [0047] [0087], the UE 115-a will then disable the VoLTE-capable modem as well as any other cellular-based radio resources of the UE 115-a while keeping the VoWiFi-capable modem active and disabling the second radio resource). Regarding claim 6, Telang discloses an apparatus (see FIG. 8; see ¶ [0079], UE), comprising: a transceiver, configured to perform wireless transmission and reception to and from a network node (see FIG. 8; see ¶ [0080], UE includes transceiver); and a processor, coupled to the transceiver (see FIG. 8; see ¶ [0080], UE includes processor and transceiver), and performing operations comprising: determining a current scenario associated with an operation environment of the apparatus (see FIG. 2-4; see ¶ [0044], A user utilizing UE 115-a originates a voice call over an LTE network using an IMS via communications link 125-a and base station 105-a); and determining to perform a voice call through a modem (MD) voice engine or through an application processor (AP) voice engine according to the current scenario (see FIG. 2-4; see ¶ [0045-47], the UE 115-a also detects that a WiFi network is available via wireless link 127-a to AP 107-a and determines that the WiFi network is capable of supporting a transfer of the active voice call). Conclusion The prior art made of record (see attached PTO-892) and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Singh et al. (US 2016/0174191 A1) teach a method for reception of calls on a mobile device that includes Wi-Fi and cellular radios (see Abstract). KIM et al. (US 2018/0359663 A1) teaches a method for processing handover by a terminal includes determining whether the terminal is required to perform handover of another wireless network included in the heterogeneous wireless networks, and upon determining that the handover is required, performing handover to the another wireless network, wherein the handover is determined by applying at least one handover condition to each of predetermined operation modes in the terminal conducting the voice call service (see Abstract). A shortened statutory period for reply to this action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of the action. An extension of time may be obtained under 37 CFR 1.136(a). However, in no event, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PETER CHEN whose telephone number is (571)270-7241. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm. 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, Yemane Mesfin can be reached at (571) 272-3927. 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. /PETER CHEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2462
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 09, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 22, 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
88%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+21.2%)
2y 7m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 474 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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