Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 19/006,737

AUTOMATICALLY IDENTIFYING A CALL ASSOCIATED WITH A WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORK AS AN OPEN-LINE CALL

Non-Final OA §DP
Filed
Dec 31, 2024
Priority
Mar 15, 2022 — continuation of 12/200,592
Examiner
EL-ZOOBI, MARIA
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
T-Mobile USA Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
79%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
93%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 79% — above average
79%
Career Allowance Rate
873 granted / 1108 resolved
+18.8% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
1127
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.5%
-35.5% vs TC avg
§103
54.5%
+14.5% vs TC avg
§102
14.5%
-25.5% vs TC avg
§112
12.6%
-27.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1108 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 . 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 non-statutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-20 of U.S. Patent No. 12,200592. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because for example both claims 1 in the patent and instant application teaches { receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) call from a mobile device associated with a user, wherein the SIP call includes a call setup phase, wherein the call setup phase includes an exchange of multiple header fields; obtain the multiple header fields from the SIP call; determine that the SIP call is an open-line call by identifying a first field within the multiple header fields, wherein the first field indicates that the SIP call is the open-line call; upon determining that the SIP call is the open-line call, notify the receiver of the open- line call to not engage in an audible conversation with the user; upon determining that the SIP call is the open-line call, determine a geographical location associated with the mobile device; and upon determining that the SIP call is the open-line call, send a notification to dispatch assistance to the geographical location associated with the mobile device). The patent is narrower than the instant application, because the patent teaches (wherein the optional field includes an additional-identity field defined by 3GPP TS 24.229), however, this limitation included in claim 2 on the instant application, therefore combining claim 1 and 2 and rewording some of the claim limitations will obtain the paten. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 1-20 would be allowable if overcome the DP rejection. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: During search, Examiner found the following closest arts to the claimed invention: Bentley (US 20140169534) teaches, a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) may utilize a new model to handle Open Line emergency calls (abstract), The capture and analysis of call elements by separating call streams in real-time, delivery of an audio speech intelligibility-optimized stream to the emergency call-taker and/or dispatcher, the use of automated sound identification libraries and tools, the use of a spectrogram display, and the automatic use of pop-up notification or auto-dispatch based on policies, facilitate immediate specific (and possibly automatic) actions on all incoming calls, including 9-1-1 Open Line calls (Paragraph 12). Ravichandran (US 20200274964) teaches, SIP emergency call (Paragraph 26), identity header, registration messages (Paragraph 31, 50). None of the cited arts alone or in reasonable combination, found by Examiner teaches { determine that the SIP call is an open-line call by identifying a first field within the multiple header fields,wherein the first field indicates that the SIP call is the open-line call;upon determining that the SIP call is the open-line call, notify the receiver of the open- line call to not engage in an audible conversation with the user; upon determining that the SIP call is the open-line call, determine a geographical location associated with the mobile device; and upon determining that the SIP call is the open-line call, send a notification to dispatch assistance to the geographical location associated with the mobile device}. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARIA EL-ZOOBI whose telephone number is (571)270-3434. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7-4. 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, Carolyn Edward can be reached at (571)270-7136. 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. /MARIA EL-ZOOBI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2692
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 31, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §DP (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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SYSTEM FOR REQUESTING EMERGENCY SERVICE IN AN ONLINE COLLABORATION CONTEXT
3y 10m to grant Granted Sep 22, 2026
Patent 12726883
FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK IMPROVEMENTS FOR HIGH-CAPACITY ENVIRONMENT
2y 10m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12725509
WEARABLE PANIC BUTTON
2y 8m to grant Granted Sep 01, 2026
Patent 12701638
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ASSISTED EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMUNICATION SERVICES (EPCS)
2y 10m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12696066
WIRELESS NETWORK CALL BLOCKING CONTROL
3y 7m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
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
79%
Grant Probability
93%
With Interview (+14.2%)
2y 6m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1108 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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