Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/452,981

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BEAM MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Oct 29, 2021
Examiner
MENSAH, PRINCE AKWASI
Art Unit
2474
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
6 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
6-7
OA Rounds
3y 5m
To Grant
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allow Rate
406 granted / 523 resolved
+19.6% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+17.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
37 currently pending
Career history
560
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.1%
-35.9% vs TC avg
§103
67.0%
+27.0% vs TC avg
§102
14.1%
-25.9% vs TC avg
§112
11.1%
-28.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 523 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION 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 . Response to Arguments 1. Applicant’s arguments filed on 09/04/2025 regarding the amended claims 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 19 have been considered and are persuasive and thus the rejections withdrawn (i.e., specifically withdrawing the Kim (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0141397) prior art); however, examiner respectfully disagrees with applicant’s characterization of the previously applied prior art Matsumura (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0081169). (i) Applicant argues that the previously applied prior art Matsumura (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0081169) does not teach the limitation(s) of determine, from the CSI report configuration, to turn on a group based beam reporting and a number of groups of resource indicators to report (please see page 12 under arguments and remarks). (i) (Response) Paragraph [0095] discloses the UE may perform “groupBasedBeamReporting”, when enabled for each report setting. The UE also has the opportunity of reporting either explicitly or implicitly a group index indicating the group to be report (please see paragraph [0095] as relied upon in the previous Office Action). Also, paragraph [0096] disclose the configured parameter numbers M and N (as disclosed in paragraph [0095] for referring to the plurality of groups and N beam indices respectively) may be provided to the UE by way of higher layer signaling. Thus, it is evident that the UE performs said group- based beam reporting based on a received signaling. Other paragraphs such as paragraph [0068] discloses for UE configured with groupBasedBeamReporting, the UE has the opportunity to divide the DL-RS (e.g., CSI-RS) into two groups and reports the ID and the measurement value for the higher RS in each group. Therefore, since the terminal configured in groupBasedBeamReporting performs division of Dl-RS into groups as well as reporting, it is evident that group based beam-reporting is turned-on. Therefore, the prior art addresses the above limitation(s). Response to Amendments Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 2. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. 3. Claim(s) 1 and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo (US PG Pub. No. 2022/0345191) in view of Matsumura (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0081169) and further in view of Takano (US PG Pub. No. 2022/0158710) and Babaei (US PG Pub. No. 2019/0215870). As per claim 1: Guo teaches a user equipment (UE) (see Figure 2, terminal device 100), comprising: a transceiver (see Figure 2, communication unit 110) configured to: receive information for a channel state information (CSI) report configuration (see paragraph [0120], the terminal device 100 may be configured with a reporting setting configuration with a higher layer parameter to control the terminal device 100 to measure and report receiver unit specific beam measurements. The higher layer parameter may be a radio resource control (RRC) parameter. Said report setting configuration may be generated by any one of the first, second and third network devices 200a, 200b and 200c and transmitted to the terminal device 100 by at least one of the first and second network devices 200a, 200b, please see paragraph [0121]. The terminal may be configured with an information element, such as CSI-ReportConfig for providing said reporting setting configuration, please see paragraph [0122]); and receive information for a CSI resource setting (see paragraph [0187], the terminal device 100 may be configured with one resource setting with N CSI-RS resources or SS/PBCH blocks for channel measurement. The resource setting may be generated by at least one of the first, second and third network devices 200a, 200b and 200c and transmitted to the terminal device 200); and a processor (see Figure 2, processing unit 120) operably coupled to the transceiver (see paragraph [0102], disclose said processing unit 120 is configured to control the overall functionality of the terminal device 100, including that of the communication unit 110 and thus it is operably coupled to the communication unit 110). Guo does not clearly teach the processor configured to: determine, from the CSI report configuration, to turn on a group based beam reporting and a number of groups of resource indicators to report; identify two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting, based on the information for the CSI report configuration indicating to turn on the group based beam reporting, wherein each of the two CSI resource sets includes at least one synchronization signal block (SSB) resource or at least one channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; perform a measurement on the two CSI resource sets; and wherein each of the two resource indicators is an SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) or a CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI). Matsumura teaches the processor (see Figure 15, paragraph [0255], user terminal 20 comprise of processor 1001) configured to: determine, from the CSI report configuration, to turn on a group based beam reporting and a number of groups of resource indicators to report (see paragraph [0095], a UE in which group-based beam reporting is enabled may report beam indices for a plurality of (for example, M) groups for each resource setting. The CSI report may include a plurality of N beam indices for each of the M groups. M may be set by a higher layer parameter (for example, nrofReportedGroup) related to the number of groups to be reported and in addition, N may be set by a higher layer parameter (for example, nrofReportedRS) related to the number of RSs to be reported); identify two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting, based on the information for the CSI report configuration indicating to turn on the group-based beam reporting (paragraph [0087] explicitly states: “…the UE in which group-based beam reporting is enabled can report only two different CRI/SSBRI (which may be replaced with beam indices) for each report setting”. Therefore, it is evident that the UE has the capability of identifying two different CRI/SSBRI per report setting when group-based beam reporting is activated), wherein each of the two CSI resource sets includes at least one synchronization signal block (SSB) resource or at least one channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource (as explained earlier in paragraph [0087], two different CRI/SSBRI for each resource setting. Note: That M (the number of groups to be reported) and N (the number of beam indices) may be M>=2 and N>=2, see paragraph [0099]); perform a measurement on the two CSI resource sets (see Figure 7A, paragraph [0116], the UE measures resources of the reference signals (CSI-RS) transmitted from two TRPs. Therefore, it is evident that the UE performs measurements from two different CSI resource sets (i.e., CSI-RS transmissions from TRP#1 and TRP#2 respectively)); and wherein each of the two resource indicators is an SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) or a CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) (see paragraph [0117], TRP#1 transmits CSI-RS using resources of CRI#1-1 to CRI#1-4 corresponding to different beams. Similarly, TRP#2 transmits CSI-RS using resources of CRI#2-1 to CRI#2-4 also corresponding to different beams. Thus, the resource indicators corresponding to the two different sets (i.e., TRP#1 and TRP#2) are CRIs). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the group based beam measurement and reporting (as disclosed in Matsumura) as a way of enabling both the UE and base station to determine to which group the field in the CSI report corresponds (please see paragraph [0103] of Matsumura). Therefore, by reporting CSI for each group, the control section can determine whether or not resources in a group can be simultaneously received (please see paragraph [0008] of Matsumura). Guo and Matsumura do not clearly teach and determine, based on the measurement, the number of groups to report, wherein each of the number of groups to report includes two resource indicators selecting a CSI-RS resource or an SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting. Takano teaches and determine, based on the measurement, the number of groups to report, wherein each of the number of groups to report includes two resource indicators selecting a CSI-RS resource or an SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting (see paragraph [0172], discloses subsequently, the base station 100 transmits SSBs as groups for each of the antenna panels. That is, each of the antenna panels are associated with group transmission. The terminal 200 then monitors and measures a plurality of SSBs divided into a plurality of groups. The terminal then reports the appropriate SSB (i.e., best beam) and RSRP for each of the groups. In other words, after measurement, the terminal selects the best SSB for each group based on the measurement and reports accordingly. Note: Prior to measurement, the settings of the grouping SSBs are provided to the terminal by the base station, please see paragraph [0171]). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the measurement and reporting of best beams from SSB groups (as disclosed in Takano) as a way of enabling the base station to associate each resource areas that receives a plurality of pieces of control information (PDCCH) with the reported SSB (please see paragraph [0173] of Takano). Therefore, by reporting the appropriate SSBs, the terminal will be able to determine the reception environment when receiving each of the plurality of pieces of control information transmitted from the base station (please see paragraph [0178] of Takano). The combination of Guo Matsumura and Takano do not clearly teach wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit, in a single reporting instance, the number of groups of the two resource indicators. Babaei teaches wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit, in a single reporting instance, the number of groups of the two resource indicators (see paragraph [0515], when group-based-beam reporting set is “ON”, the UE may report in a single reporting instance up to number-of-beams-reporting L1-RSRP and CSI, where up to number-of-beams-reporting [CSI-RS and or SSB] resources may be received simultaneously by the UE). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the reporting of the number of beams in a single instance (as disclosed in Babaei) into Guo, Matsumura and Takano as a way of supporting simultaneous reception of resources (please see paragraph [0515] of Babaei). As per claim 13: Guo teaches a method for operating a user equipment (UE) (see abstract), the method comprising: receiving information for a channel state information (CSI) report configuration (see paragraph [0120], the terminal device 100 may be configured with a reporting setting configuration with a higher layer parameter to control the terminal device 100 to measure and report receiver unit specific beam measurements. The higher layer parameter may be a radio resource control (RRC) parameter. Said report setting configuration may be generated by any one of the first, second and third network devices 200a, 200b and 200c and transmitted to the terminal device 100 by at least one of the first and second network devices 200a, 200b, please see paragraph [0121]. The terminal may be configured with an information element, such as CSI-ReportConfig for providing said reporting setting configuration, please see paragraph [0122]); receiving information for a CSI resource setting (see paragraph [0187], the terminal device 100 may be configured with one resource setting with N CSI-RS resources or SS/PBCH blocks for channel measurement. The resource setting may be generated by at least one of the first, second and third network devices 200a, 200b and 200c and transmitted to the terminal device 200). Guo does not teach determining, from the CSI report configuration, to turn on a group based beam reporting and a number of groups of resource indicators to report; identifying two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting, based on the information for the CSI report configuration indicating to turn on the group based beam reporting, wherein each of the two CSI resource sets includes at least one synchronization signal block (SSB) resource or at least one channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; performing a measurement on the two CSI resource sets; and wherein each of the two resource indicators is an SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) or a CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI). Matsumura teaches determining, from the CSI report configuration, to turn on a group based beam reporting and a number of groups of resource indicators to report (see paragraph [0095], a UE in which group-based beam reporting is enabled may report beam indices for a plurality of (for example, M) groups for each resource setting. The CSI report may include a plurality of N beam indices for each of the M groups. M may be set by a higher layer parameter (for example, nrofReportedGroup) related to the number of groups to be reported and in addition, N may be set by a higher layer parameter (for example, nrofReportedRS) related to the number of RSs to be reported); identifying two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting, based on the information for the CSI report configuration indicating to turn on the group-based beam reporting (paragraph [0087] explicitly states: “…the UE in which group-based beam reporting is enabled can report only two different CRI/SSBRI (which may be replaced with beam indices) for each report setting”. Therefore, it is evident that the UE has the capability of identifying two different CRI/SSBRI per report setting when group-based beam reporting is activated), wherein each of the two CSI resource sets includes at least one synchronization signal block (SSB) resource or at least one channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource (as explained earlier in paragraph [0087], two different CRI/SSBRI for each resource setting. Note: That M (the number of groups to be reported) and N (the number of beam indices) may be M>=2 and N>=2, see paragraph [0099]); performing a measurement on the two CSI resource sets (see Figure 7A, paragraph [0116], the UE measures resources of the reference signals (CSI-RS) transmitted from two TRPs. Therefore, it is evident that the UE performs measurements from two different CSI resource sets (i.e., CSI-RS transmissions from TRP#1 and TRP#2 respectively)); and wherein each of the two resource indicators is an SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) or a CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) (see paragraph [0117], TRP#1 transmits CSI-RS using resources of CRI#1-1 to CRI#1-4 corresponding to different beams. Similarly, TRP#2 transmits CSI-RS using resources of CRI#2-1 to CRI#2-4 also corresponding to different beams. Thus, the resource indicators corresponding to the two different sets (i.e., TRP#1 and TRP#2) are CRIs). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the group based beam measurement and reporting (as disclosed in Matsumura) as a way of enabling both the UE and base station to determine to which group the field in the CSI report corresponds (please see paragraph [0103] of Matsumura). Therefore, by reporting CSI for each group, the control section can determine whether or not resources in a group can be simultaneously received (please see paragraph [0008] of Matsumura). Guo and Matsumura do not clearly teach and determining, based on the measurement, the number of groups to report, wherein each of the number of groups to report includes two resource indicators selecting a CSI-RS resource or an SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting. Takano teaches and determining, based on the measurement, the number of groups to report, wherein each of the number of groups to report includes two resource indicators selecting a CSI-RS resource or an SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting (see paragraph [0172], discloses subsequently, the base station 100 transmits SSBs as groups for each of the antenna panels. That is, each of the antenna panels are associated with group transmission. The terminal 200 then monitors and measures a plurality of SSBs divided into a plurality of groups. The terminal then reports the appropriate SSB (i.e., best beam) and RSRP for each of the groups. In other words, after measurement, the terminal selects the best SSB for each group based on the measurement and reports accordingly. Note: Prior to measurement, the settings of the grouping SSBs are provided to the terminal by the base station, please see paragraph [0171]). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the measurement and reporting of best beams from SSB groups (as disclosed in Takano) as a way of enabling the base station to associate each resource areas that receives a plurality of pieces of control information (PDCCH) with the reported SSB (please see paragraph [0173] of Takano). Therefore, by reporting the appropriate SSBs, the terminal will be able to determine the reception environment when receiving each of the plurality of pieces of control information transmitted from the base station (please see paragraph [0178] of Takano). The combination of Guo Matsumura and Takano do not clearly teach transmitting, in a single reporting instance, the number of groups of the two resource indicators. Babaei teaches transmitting, in a single reporting instance, the number of groups of the two resource indicators (see paragraph [0515], when group-based-beam reporting set is “ON”, the UE may report in a single reporting instance up to number-of-beams-reporting L1-RSRP and CSI, where up to number-of-beams-reporting [CSI-RS and or SSB] resources may be received simultaneously by the UE). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the reporting of the number of beams in a single instance (as disclosed in Babaei) into Guo, Matsumura and Takano as a way of supporting simultaneous reception of resources (please see paragraph [0515] of Babaei). 4. Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Babaei. As per claim 9: Guo teaches a base station (BS) (see Figure 3, network device 200), comprising: a transceiver (see Figure 3, communication unit 210) configured to: transmit, to a user equipment (UE), information for a channel state information (CSI) report configuration (see paragraph [0120], the terminal device 100 may be configured with a reporting setting configuration with a higher layer parameter to control the terminal device 100 to measure and report receiver unit specific beam measurements. The higher layer parameter may be a radio resource control (RRC) parameter. Said report setting configuration may be generated by any one of the first, second and third network devices 200a, 200b and 200c and transmitted to the terminal device 100 by at least one of the first and second network devices 200a, 200b, please see paragraph [0121]. The terminal may be configured with an information element, such as CSI-ReportConfig for providing said reporting setting configuration, please see paragraph [0122]); transmit, to the UE, information for a channel state information CSI resource setting (see paragraph [0187], the terminal device 100 may be configured with one resource setting with N CSI-RS resources or SS/PBCH blocks for channel measurement. The resource setting may be generated by at least one of the first, second and third network devices 200a, 200b and 200c and transmitted to the terminal device 200). Guo does not clearly teach wherein the CSI report configuration indicates to turn on a group-based beam reporting and a number of groups of resource indicators to report; wherein two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting are identified based on the information for the CSI report configuration indicating to turn on the group based beam reporting and wherein each of the two CSI resource sets include at least one synchronization signal block (SSB) resource or at least one channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource; wherein each of the two resource indicators is an SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) or a CSI- RS resource indicator (CRI). Matsumura teaches wherein the CSI report configuration indicates to turn on a group-based beam reporting and a number of groups of resource indicators to report (see paragraph [0095], a UE in which group-based beam reporting is enabled may report beam indices for a plurality of (for example, M) groups for each resource setting. The CSI report may include a plurality of N beam indices for each of the M groups. M may be set by a higher layer parameter (for example, nrofReportedGroup) related to the number of groups to be reported and in addition, N may be set by a higher layer parameter (for example, nrofReportedRS) related to the number of RSs to be reported); wherein two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting are identified based on the information for the CSI report configuration indicating to turn on the group based beam reporting (paragraph [0087] explicitly states: “…the UE in which group-based beam reporting is enabled can report only two different CRI/SSBRI (which may be replaced with beam indices) for each report setting”. Therefore, it is evident that the UE has the capability of identifying two different CRI/SSBRI per report setting when group-based beam reporting is activated) and wherein each of the two CSI resource sets include at least one synchronization signal block (SSB) resource or at least one channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource (as explained earlier in paragraph [0087], two different CRI/SSBRI for each resource setting. Note: That M (the number of groups to be reported) and N (the number of beam indices) may be M>=2 and N>=2, see paragraph [0099]); wherein each of the two resource indicators is an SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) or a CSI- RS resource indicator (CRI) (see paragraph [0117], TRP#1 transmits CSI-RS using resources of CRI#1-1 to CRI#1-4 corresponding to different beams. Similarly, TRP#2 transmits CSI-RS using resources of CRI#2-1 to CRI#2-4 also corresponding to different beams. Thus, the resource indicators corresponding to the two different sets (i.e., TRP#1 and TRP#2) are CRIs). Guo and Matsumura do not clearly teach and receive, from the UE in a single reporting instance, the number of groups, wherein each of the number of groups to report includes two resource indicators selecting a CSI-RS resource or an SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting. Babaei teaches and receive, from the UE in a single reporting instance, the number of groups, wherein each of the number of groups to report includes two resource indicators selecting a CSI-RS resource or an SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets in the CSI resource setting (see paragraph [0515], when group-based-beam reporting set is “ON”, the UE may report in a single reporting instance up to number-of-beams-reporting L1-RSRP and CSI, where up to number-of-beams-reporting [CSI-RS and or SSB] resources may be received simultaneously by the UE). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the reporting of the number of beams in a single instance (as disclosed in Babaei) into Guo and Matsumura as a way of supporting simultaneous reception of resources (please see paragraph [0515] of Babaei). 5. Claims 2 and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Takano and further in view of Babaei and Yuan (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0232267). As per claim 2: Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Takano and Babaei teaches the UE of claim 1 with the exception of: wherein the CSI-RS resource or the SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets indicated by the at least one number of groups of two resource indicators are received simultaneously by the UE. Yuan teaches wherein the CSI-RS resource or the SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets indicated by the at least one number of groups of two resource indicators are received simultaneously by the UE (see paragraph [0053], the UE shall report in a single reporting instance two different CRI or SSBRI for each report setting, where CSI-RS and/or SSB resources can be received simultaneously by the UE. Paragraph [0054] disclose UE is configured with CSI-RS resource setting with up to 16 resource sets, with a total of up to 64 CSI-RS resources). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the reporting of CRI or SSBRI into Guo, Matsumura, Takano and Babaei as a way of enabling the network to implement analog beam transmission by using training signals when a service is transmitted next time (please see paragraph [0039] of Yuan). Claim 14 is rejected in the same scope as claim 2. 6. Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Babaei and Yuan. As per claim 10: Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Babaei teaches the BS of claim 9 with the exception of: wherein the CSI-RS resource or the SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets indicated by the number of groups of two resource indicators are transmitted simultaneously. Yuan teaches wherein the CSI-RS resource or the SSB resource from each of the two CSI resource sets indicated by the number of groups of two resource indicators are transmitted simultaneously (see paragraph [0053], the UE shall report in a single reporting instance two different CRI or SSBRI for each report setting, where CSI-RS and/or SSB resources can be received simultaneously by the UE. Paragraph [0054] disclose UE is configured with CSI-RS resource setting with up to 16 resource sets, with a total of up to 64 CSI-RS resources). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the reporting of CRI or SSBRI into Guo, Matsumura and Babaei as a way of enabling the network to implement analog beam transmission by using training signals when a service is transmitted next time (please see paragraph [0039] of Yuan). 7. Claims 3, 5, 15 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Takano, Babaei and Faxer (US PG Pub. No. 2020/0395989). As per claim 3: Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Takano and Babaei teaches the UE of claim 1 with the exception of: wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive information on a non-zero power (NZP) CSI-RS resource set including a first group of a first number of one or more resources and a second group of a second number of one or more resources, and the information includes the first number and the second number. Faxer teaches wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive information on a non-zero power (NZP) CSI-RS resource set including a first group of a first number of one or more resources and a second group of a second number of one or more resources, and the information includes the first number and the second number (see paragraph [0139], the WD 22 is configured with a first NZP CSI-RS resource set for channel measurement and an associated second NZP CSI-RS resource set for interference measurement. The number of resources in the two resource sets may be the same. The configuration of the first and second resource sets are received by the wireless device from the network, please see Figure 15, step 134 and figure 16, step 138). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the first and second configured non-zero power resource sets (as disclosed in Faxer) into Guo, Matsumura, Takano and Babaei as a way of enabling the wireless device to perform different types of measurements such as channel and interference measurements respectively (please see paragraph [0139] of Faxer). As per claim 5: Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Takano, Babaei and Faxer teaches the UE of claim 3. Guo, Matsumura, Kim and Babaei do not teach the transceiver is further configured to: receive, from a base station, information (i) configuring a number of resource pairs, each resource pair including a first resource from the first group and a second resource from the second resource group, and (ii) including the number, and transmit, to the base station, a CSI report based on the one or more resource pairs and the CSI report includes at least one of: a rank indicator (RI), a CRI, a layer indicator (LI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), or a channel quality indicator (CQI). Faxer teaches the transceiver is further configured to: receive, from a base station, information (i) configuring a number of resource pairs, each resource pair including a first resource from the first group and a second resource from the second resource group, and (ii) including the number (see paragraph [0139], the WD 22 is configured with a first NZP CSI-RS resource set for channel measurement and an associated second NZP CSI-RS resource set for interference measurement. The number of resources in the two resource sets may be the same. The configuration of the first and second resource sets are received by the wireless device from the network, please see Figure 15, step 134 and figure 16, step 138), and transmit, to the base station, a CSI report based on the one or more resource pairs and the CSI report includes at least one of: a rank indicator (RI), a CRI, a layer indicator (LI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), or a channel quality indicator (CQI) (see paragraph [0037] disclose reporting information such as CQI and PMI). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the first and second configured non-zero power resource sets (as disclosed in Faxer) into Guo, Matsumura, Takano and Babaei as a way of enabling the wireless device to perform different types of measurements such as channel and interference measurements respectively (please see paragraph [0139] of Faxer). Claim 15 is rejected in the same scope as claim 3. Claim 17 is rejected in the same scope as claim 5. 8. Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Babaei and Faxer. As per claim 11: Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Babaei teaches the BS of claim 9 with the exception of: wherein the transceiver is further configured to: transmit to the UE, information on a non zero power (NZP) CSI-RS resource set including a first group of a first number of one or more resources and a second group of a second number of one or more resources, wherein the information includes the first number and the second number, transmit, to the UE, information (i) configuring a number of resource pairs, each resource pair including a first resource from the first group and a second resource from the second group, and (ii) include the number, and receive from the UE, a CSI report based on the one or more resource pairs. Faxer teaches transmit, to the UE, information (i) configuring a number of resource pairs, each resource pair including a first resource from the first group and a second resource from the second group, and (ii) include the number (see paragraph [0139], the WD 22 is configured with a first NZP CSI-RS resource set for channel measurement and an associated second NZP CSI-RS resource set for interference measurement. The number of resources in the two resource sets may be the same. The configuration of the first and second resource sets are received by the wireless device from the network, please see Figure 15, step 134 and figure 16, step 138), and receive from the UE, a CSI report based on the one or more resource pairs (see paragraph [0037] disclose reporting information such as CQI and PMI). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the first and second configured non-zero power resource sets (as disclosed in Faxer) into Guo, Matsumura, Kim and Babaei as a way of enabling the wireless device to perform different types of measurements such as channel and interference measurements respectively (please see paragraph [0139] of Faxer). 9. Claims 7 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Takano, Babaei and Liu (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0262503), hereinafter referred to as Liu’503. As per claim 7: Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Takano and Babaei teaches the UE of claim 1 with the exception of: wherein a first resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a first CSI resource set of the two CSI resource set and a second resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a second CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets. Liu’503 teaches wherein first resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a first CSI resource set of the two CSI resource set and a second resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a second CSI resource set of the two CSI resource set (see paragraph [0058], CSI parameters CRI #1, RI #1, PMI #1, LI #1 and CQI #1 (CSI #1) are obtained with respect to the first resource set that is related to TRP #1; and CSI parameters CRI #2, RI #2, PMI #2, LI #2 and CQI #2 (CSI #2) are obtained with respect to the second resource set that is related to TRP #2). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the report quantity parameter (as disclosed in Liu’503 into Guo, Matsumura, Takano and Babaei as a way of enabling the UE report CRI, RI, PMI, LI and CQI of the respective resources sets (please paragraph [0057] of Liu’503). As per claim 19: Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Kim and Babaei teaches the method of claim 13 with the exception of: wherein a first resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a first CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets and a second resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a second CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets. Liu’503 teaches wherein a first resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a first CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets and a second resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a second CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets (see paragraph [0057], disclose reportQuantity contained in the ‘CSI-ReportConfig’. For example, when reportQuantity in the CSI-ReportCnnfig is set to ‘cri-RI-LI-PMI-CQI’, CRI, RI, LI and CQI for both the first resource set in the first resource setting and the second resource set in the second resource setting. Note: The CSI-ReportConfig IE configured by RRC signaling is a CSI reporting setting to notify the UE the quantities (parameters) to be reported, the resources to be measured and the reporting manner). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the report quantity parameter (as disclosed in Liu’503 into Guo, Matsumura, Takano and Babaei as a way of enabling the UE report CRI, RI, PMI, LI and CQI of the respective resources sets (please paragraph [0057] of Liu’503). 10. Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Babaei and Liu’503. As per claim 12: Guo in view of Matsumura and further in view of Babaei teaches the BS of claim 9 with the exception of: wherein a first resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a first CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets and a second resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a second CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets. Liu’503 teaches wherein a first resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a first CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets and a second resource indicator of the two resource indicators corresponds to a second CSI resource set of the two CSI resource sets (see paragraph [0058], CSI parameters CRI #1, RI #1, PMI #1, LI #1 and CQI #1 (CSI #1) are obtained with respect to the first resource set that is related to TRP #1; and CSI parameters CRI #2, RI #2, PMI #2, LI #2 and CQI #2 (CSI #2) are obtained with respect to the second resource set that is related to TRP #2). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the report quantity parameter (as disclosed in Liu’503 into Guo, Matsumura and Babaei as a way of enabling the UE report CRI, RI, PMI, LI and CQI of the respective resources sets (please paragraph [0057] of Liu’503). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PRINCE AKWASI MENSAH whose telephone number is (571)270-7183. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:00pm. 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, MICHAEL THIER can be reached at 571-272-2832. 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. PRINCE AKWASI. MENSAH Examiner Art Unit 2474 /PRINCE A MENSAH/Examiner, Art Unit 2474 /HABTE MERED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2474
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 29, 2021
Application Filed
Aug 25, 2023
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Jan 05, 2024
Response Filed
Feb 16, 2024
Final Rejection — §103
Apr 22, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
May 22, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
May 22, 2024
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
May 29, 2024
Request for Continued Examination
Jun 04, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Jun 10, 2024
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Sep 11, 2024
Response Filed
Dec 11, 2024
Final Rejection — §103
Feb 18, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 28, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Mar 06, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
May 31, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Sep 04, 2025
Response Filed
Sep 10, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 29, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Dec 27, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (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

6-7
Expected OA Rounds
78%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+17.4%)
3y 5m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 523 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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