Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 19/006,302

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING CARRIER AGGREGATION AND METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UPDATING SYSTEM INFORMATION THEREOF

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Dec 31, 2024
Priority
Jan 08, 2010 — CN 201010002920.9 +9 more
Examiner
PASIA, REDENTOR M
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Sony Group Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 6m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
542 granted / 682 resolved
+19.5% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+21.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
722
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.8%
-34.2% vs TC avg
§103
57.0%
+17.0% vs TC avg
§102
17.3%
-22.7% vs TC avg
§112
12.3%
-27.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 682 resolved cases

Office Action

§DP
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. Priority Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 12/31/2024 and 04/14/2026 are considered. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. 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 1-8, 10-22, 24 and 26-34 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over respective claims of U.S. Patent No. 12,219,613 (hereinafter US Pat. ‘613). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because: Regarding claim 1 of the application, claim 1 of US Pat. ‘613 shows: Application US Pat. ‘613 1. An electronic device at a user equipment, comprising a transceiver; and control circuitry configured to cause the device to at least: communicate with a base station via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides predetermined mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide at least one of uplink or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment, receive first information, which comprises updated system information for the second cell, via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the electronic device at the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. 1. An electronic device at a user equipment, comprising at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, where the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor, to cause the device to at least: communicate with a base station via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides non access stratum (NAS) mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide uplink and/or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment, receive first information, which comprises updated system information for the second cell, via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the electronic device at the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. Regarding claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the application, claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of US Pat. ‘613 teaches the claimed subject matter, respectively. Regarding claim 17 of the application, claim 17 of US Pat. ‘613 shows: Application US Pat. ‘613 17. An electronic device at a base station, comprising a transceiver; and control circuitry, configured to communicate with a user equipment via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides predetermined mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide at least one of uplink or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment: generate first information which comprises updated system information for the second cell; and transmit the first information via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. 17. An electronic device at a base station, comprising circuitry, configured to communicate with a user equipment via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides non access stratum (NAS) mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide uplink and/or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment: generate first information which comprises updated system information for the second cell; and transmit the first information via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. Regarding claims 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 of the application, claims 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 of US Pat. ‘613 teaches the claimed subject matter, respectively. Regarding claim 33 of the application, claim 33 of US Pat. ‘613 shows: Application US Pat. ‘613 33. A method performed by an electronic device at a user equipment, the method comprising communicating with a base station via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides predetermined mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide at least one of uplink or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment, receiving first information, which comprises updated system information for the second cell, via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the electronic device at the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. 33. A method performed by an electronic device at a user equipment, the method comprising communicating with a base station via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides non access stratum (NAS) mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide uplink and/or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment, receiving first information, which comprises updated system information for the second cell, via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the electronic device at the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. Regarding claim 34 of the application, claim 34 of US Pat. ‘613 shows: Application US Pat. ‘613 34. A method performed by an electronic device at a base station, the method comprising communicating with a user equipment via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides predetermined mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide at least one of uplink or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment: generating first information which comprises updated system information for the second cell; and transmitting the first information via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. 34. A method performed by an electronic device at a base station, the method comprising communicating with a user equipment via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides non access stratum (NAS) mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide uplink and/or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment: generating first information which comprises updated system information for the second cell; and transmitting the first information via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. Claims 1-8, 10-22, 24 and 26-34 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over respective claims of U.S. Patent No. 11,871,221 (hereinafter US Pat. ‘221). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because: Regarding claim 1 of the application, claim 1 of US Pat. ‘221 shows: Application US Pat. ‘221 1. An electronic device at a user equipment, comprising a transceiver; and control circuitry configured to cause the device to at least: communicate with a base station via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides predetermined mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide at least one of uplink or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment, receive first information, which comprises updated system information for the second cell, via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the electronic device at the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. 1. An electronic device at user equipment side, comprising circuitry configured to: communicate with a base station via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides non access stratum (NAS) mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide uplink and/or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment, receive first information, which comprises updated system information for the second cell, via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the electronic device at the user side need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises one or more of: uplink Power Control information associated with the second cell, soundingRS-UL-Config information associated with the second cell, or ul-CyclicPrefixLength information associated with the second cell. Regarding claims 2 and 3 of the application, claim 1 of US Pat. ‘221 teaches the claimed subject matter. Regarding claims 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the application, claims 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 1 and 6 of US Pat. ‘221 teaches the claimed subject matter, respectively. Regarding claim 17 of the application, claim 13 of US Pat. ‘221 shows: Application US Pat. ‘221 17. An electronic device at a base station, comprising a transceiver; and control circuitry, configured to communicate with a user equipment via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides predetermined mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide at least one of uplink or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment: generate first information which comprises updated system information for the second cell; and transmit the first information via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. 13. An electronic device at base station side, comprising circuitry, configured to communicate with a user equipment via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides non access stratum (NAS) mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide uplink and/or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment: generate first information which comprises updated system information for the second cell; and transmit the first information via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises one or more of: uplink Power Control information associated with the second cell, soundingRS-UL-Config information associated with the second cell, or ul-CyclicPrefixLength information associated with the second cell. Regarding claims 18 and 19 of the application, claim 13 of US Pat. ‘221 teaches the claimed subject matter. Regarding claims 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 of the application, claims 14, 15, 16, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 13 and 17 of US Pat. ‘221 teaches the claimed subject matter, respectively. Regarding claim 33 of the application, claim 23 of US Pat. ‘221 shows: Application US Pat. ‘221 33. A method performed by an electronic device at a user equipment, the method comprising communicating with a base station via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides predetermined mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide at least one of uplink or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment, receiving first information, which comprises updated system information for the second cell, via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the electronic device at the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. 23. A method for user equipment, comprising communicating with a base station via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides non access stratum (NAS) mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide uplink and/or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment, receiving first information, which comprises updated system information for the second cell, via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the electronic device at the user side need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises one or more of: uplink Power Control information associated with the second cell, soundingRS-UL-Config information associated with the second cell, or ul-CyclicPrefixLength information associated with the second cell. Regarding claim 34 of the application, claim 25 of US Pat. ‘221 shows: Application US Pat. ‘221 34. A method performed by an electronic device at a base station, the method comprising communicating with a user equipment via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides predetermined mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide at least one of uplink or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment: generating first information which comprises updated system information for the second cell; and transmitting the first information via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises uplink cyclic prefix length information associated with the second cell. 25. A method for base station, comprising: communicating with a user equipment via a plurality of component carriers with carrier aggregation, each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers corresponding to a cell in a plurality of cells, wherein a first cell among the plurality of the cells provides non access stratum (NAS) mobility information to the user equipment, wherein one or more other cells among the plurality of the cells, different from the first cell, provide uplink and/or downlink resources to the user equipment, and wherein the one or more other cells, different from the first cell, include a second cell that is activated for the user equipment; and in response to a change in system information for the second cell that is activated for the user equipment: generating first information which comprises updated system information for the second cell; and transmitting the first information via a dedicated signaling through the first cell such that the user equipment need not acquire the updated system information from a broadcast channel of the second cell, wherein the updated system information for the second cell comprises one or more of: uplink Power Control information associated with the second cell, soundingRS-UL-Config information associated with the second cell, or ul-CyclicPrefixLength information associated with the second cell. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 11363564 B2 Paging in a wireless network US 7433334 B2 Method for establishing a communication link between a user equipment and a radio network Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to REDENTOR M PASIA whose telephone number is (571)272-9745. The examiner can normally be reached Mondays-Fridays 5am-245pm. 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. /REDENTOR PASIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413
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Prosecution Timeline

Dec 31, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+21.9%)
3y 3m (~1y 6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 682 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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