Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/927,414

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR RADIO RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN MULTI-RADIO ACCESS TECHNOLOGY WIRELESS SYSTEMS

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Oct 25, 2024
Priority
Jul 29, 2011 — provisional 61/513,180 +9 more
Examiner
ONAMUTI, GBEMILEKE J
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
InterDigital Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
86%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 86% — above average
86%
Career Allowance Rate
700 granted / 814 resolved
+26.0% vs TC avg
Minimal -0% lift
Without
With
+-0.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
822
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.4%
-31.6% vs TC avg
§103
51.4%
+11.4% vs TC avg
§102
10.8%
-29.2% vs TC avg
§112
14.4%
-25.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 814 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 1. The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Double Patenting 2. 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. 3. Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over Claims 1-22 of Patent No.: US 11,350,341 B2 to Pelletier et al. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the instant claims limitations are transparently found in the claims of the above-mentioned patented claims. Applicants incorporate underlined limitations to the independent claims of this instant application below so as to broaden the patented application. Thus, both sets of claims are obvious variant of each other. See table and claim mapping below: Patent No.: US 11,350,341 B2 Instant Application 18/927,414 Claim 1: A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a transceiver; and a processor, wherein the processor and the transceiver are configured to: receive messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receive, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes first information indicating to the WTRU to use a second cell using the first RAT, and second information indicating to the WTRU to use a third cell using a second RAT, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are different RATs; responsive to receiving the first information, initiate a first random access procedure on the second cell using the first RAT; and responsive to receiving the second information, initiate a second random access procedure on the third cell using the second RAT. Claim 1: A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising: a transceiver; and a processor, wherein the transceiver and the processor are configured to: receive, using a first radio resource control (RRC) connection on a primary cell of a first radio access technology (RAT), a first RRC message including configuration information for a second RRC connection on a secondary cell of a second RAT; transmit, on the secondary cell of the second RAT, radio resource configuration information associated with the second RRC connection; receive notification of a state transition to IDLE in the first RAT; and release, in response to the received notification, the second RRC connection on the secondary cell of the second RAT. The instant application discloses virtually all the limitations of the patented application with the exception of ‘responsive to receiving the first information, initiate a first random access procedure on the second cell using the first RAT; and responsive to receiving the second information, initiate a second random access procedure on the third cell using the second RAT’. It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide ‘responsive to receiving the first information, initiate a first random access procedure on the second cell using the first RAT; and responsive to receiving the second information, initiate a second random access procedure on the third cell using the second RAT’ as disclosed by the patented claim into the instant claim so as to effectively wirelessly communicate information in different radio access technology (RAT). Claim 1: Receive messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receive, on the first cell. Claim 2: Transmit and receive data on the primary cell of the first RAT. Claim 2: Wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is associated with handover. Claim 3: Wherein the first RRC message is an RRC reconfiguration message. Claim 3: Determine, based on the first random access procedure, first uplink timing information for the second cell using the first RAT; and determine, based on the second random access procedure, second uplink timing information for the third cell using the second RAT. Claim 4: Wherein the configuration information indicates to the WTRU to establish the second RRC connection on the secondary cell of the second RAT. Claim 1: Receive, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes first information indicating to the WTRU to use a second cell using the first RAT, and second information indicating to the WTRU to use a third cell using a second RAT, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are different RATs. Claim 5: Wherein the configuration information indicates to add the secondary cell for the second RAT. Claim 11: Wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is received on a first signaling radio bearer (SRB). Claim 6: Wherein the configuration information includes information for establishing a radio bearer for the second RAT. Claim 1: Receive, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes first information indicating to the WTRU to use a second cell using the first RAT. Claim 7: Wherein the first RRC message includes the radio resource configuration information associated with the second RRC connection. Claim 1: Receive, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes first information indicating to the WTRU to use a second cell using the first RAT. Claim 8: Wherein the first RRC connection on the primary cell of the first RAT uses a first RRC instance, and the second RRC connection on the secondary cell of the second RAT uses a second RRC instance. Claim 6: Wherein the processor and the transceiver are further configured to send, on the second cell using the first RAT, transmissions. Claim 9: Wherein data transmissions using the first RAT use at least a first carrier and data transmissions using the second RAT use at least a second carrier. Claim 1: Receive messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receive, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message. Claim 10: Wherein the first RRC message further includes configuration information for the first RRC connection on the primary cell of the first RAT. Claim 12: A method performed by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising: receiving messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receiving, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes first information indicating to the WTRU to use a second cell using the first RAT, and second information indicating to the WTRU to use a third cell using a second RAT, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are different RATs; responsive to receiving the first information, initiating a first random access procedure on the second cell using the first RAT; and responsive to receiving the second information, initiating a second random access procedure on the third cell using the second RAT. Claim 11: A method performed by a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising: receiving, using a first radio resource control (RRC) connection on a primary cell of a first radio access technology (RAT), a first RRC message including configuration information for a second RRC connection on a secondary cell of a second RAT; transmitting, on the secondary cell of the second RAT, radio resource configuration information associated with the second RRC connection; receiving a notification of a state transition to IDLE in the first RAT; and releasing, in response to the received notification, the second RRC connection on the secondary cell of the second RAT. The instant application discloses virtually all the limitations of the patented application with the exception of ‘responsive to receiving the first information, initiate a first random access procedure on the second cell using the first RAT; and responsive to receiving the second information, initiate a second random access procedure on the third cell using the second RAT’. It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to provide ‘responsive to receiving the first information, initiate a first random access procedure on the second cell using the first RAT; and responsive to receiving the second information, initiate a second random access procedure on the third cell using the second RAT’ as disclosed by the patented claim into the instant claim so as to effectively wirelessly communicate information in different radio access technology (RAT). Claim 12 Receiving messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receive, on the first cell. Claim 12: Transmitting and receiving data on the primary cell of the first RAT. Claim 13: Wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is associated with handover. Claim 13: Wherein the first RRC message is an RRC reconfiguration message. Claim 14: Determining, based on the first random access procedure, first uplink timing information for the second cell using the first RAT; and determining, based on the second random access procedure, second uplink timing information for the third cell using the second RAT. Claim 14: Wherein the configuration information indicates to the WTRU to establish the second RRC connection on the secondary cell of the second RAT. Claim 15: Wherein uplink transmissions on the second cell using the first RAT are synchronized according to the first uplink timing information, and wherein uplink transmissions on the third cell using the second RAT are synchronized according to the second uplink timing information. Claim 15: Wherein the configuration information indicates to add the secondary cell for the second RAT. Claim 22: Wherein the RRC reconfiguration message is received on a first signaling radio bearer (SRB). Claim 16: Wherein the configuration information includes information for establishing a radio bearer for the second RAT. Claim 12: Receiving messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receiving, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes first information indicating to the WTRU to use a second cell using the first RAT, and second information indicating to the WTRU to use a third cell using a second RAT, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are different RATs. Claim 17: Wherein the first RRC message includes the radio resource configuration information associated with the second RRC connection. Claim 12: Receiving messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receiving, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes first information indicating to the WTRU to use a second cell using the first RAT. Claim 18: Wherein the first RRC connection on the primary cell of the first RAT uses a first RRC instance, and the second RRC connection on the secondary cell of the second RAT uses a second RRC instance. Claim 12: Receiving messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receiving, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message, wherein the RRC reconfiguration message includes first information indicating to the WTRU to use a second cell using the first RAT, and second information indicating to the WTRU to use a third cell using a second RAT, wherein the first RAT and the second RAT are different RATs. Claim 19: Wherein data transmissions using the first RAT use at least a first carrier and data transmissions using the second RAT use at least a second carrier. Claim 12: Receiving messages on a first cell using a first radio access technology (RAT); receiving, on the first cell, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message. Claim 20: Wherein the first RRC message further includes configuration information for the first RRC connection on the primary cell of the first RAT. Conclusion 4. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GBEMILEKE J ONAMUTI whose telephone number is (571) 270-5619. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. 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, ASAD NAWAZ can be reached at (571)272-3988. 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. /GBEMILEKE J ONAMUTI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2463
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 25, 2024
Application Filed
Apr 29, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 22, 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
86%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (-0.2%)
2y 6m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 814 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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