Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 17/916,570

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING REFERENCE SIGNAL, ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Oct 01, 2022
Examiner
CROMPTON, CHRISTOPHER R
Art Unit
2463
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Spreadtrum Communications (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
3y 0m
To Grant
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allow Rate
476 granted / 595 resolved
+22.0% vs TC avg
Strong +17% interview lift
Without
With
+16.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
12 currently pending
Career history
607
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.7%
-32.3% vs TC avg
§103
43.3%
+3.3% vs TC avg
§102
27.1%
-12.9% vs TC avg
§112
11.8%
-28.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 595 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 Applicant's arguments filed 12/31/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. For claim 1, Applicant state that R1 does not disclose “wherein the PDCCH comprises a paging PDCCH, and the determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first result comprises: if the paging PDCCH is monitored, obtaining first paging indication information in the paging PDCCH: and determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first paging indication information”; however, R1 discloses this limitation in paragraphs 134-142, 162-175, 182-208, as previously cited, a PDCCH is received and reviewed, the information in said PDCCH triggers a determination of whether the reference signal is valid and measured (i.e. CSI-RS). Therefore, since R1 discloses the claimed limitations, the rejections under the prior art are maintained and updated based on the amendments to the claims accordingly. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action: A person shall be entitled to a patent unless – (a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1,3,7-9, 18, and 39-40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Onggosanusi Eko et al (US 2019/0305837)[R1]. For claim 1, R1 discloses detecting a downlink signal or monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to obtain a first result, wherein the first result is a detection result or a monitoring result (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208); and determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first result (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208 determine valid based on the previously receiving paging PDCCH) wherein a PDCCH comprises a paging PDCCH, and the determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first result comprises: if the paging PDCCH is monitored, obtaining first paging indication information in the paging PDCCH; and determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first paging indication information (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208). For claim 3, R1 discloses wherein the determining that the reference signal is valid, wherein the reference signal is after the paging PDCCH, comprises: determining that the reference signal in a first preset time is valid, wherein the first preset time is after the paging PDCCH (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208). For claim 7, R1 discloses the determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first paging indication information comprises: if the first paging indication information indicates that a UE subgroup needs to receive a paging message or to be woken up, determining that the reference signal is valid, wherein a target UE belongs to the UE subgroup and the reference signal is after obtaining the first paging indication information (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208 additionally contingent limitation in method claim). For claim 8, R1 discloses the determining that the reference signal is valid, wherein the reference signal is after obtaining the first paging indication information comprises: determining that the reference signal in a third preset time is valid, wherein the third preset time is after obtaining the first paging indication information (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208). For claim 9, R1 discloses the first paging indication information is carried in a reserved bit of the paging PDCCH (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208). For claim 18, R1 discloses wherein the reference signal is a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208). For claim 39, R1 discloses at least one a processor (paragraphs 6-12); and a memory connected with the at least one processor in a communication way; wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions being executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to perform the method of (paragraphs 6-12): detect a downlink signal or monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to obtain a first result, wherein the first result is a detection result or a monitoring result (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208); and determine whether the reference signal is valid according to the first result (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208) wherein the PDCCH comprises a paging PDCCH, and the determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first result comprises: if the paging PDCCH is monitored, obtaining first paging indication information in the paging PDCCH; and determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first paging indication information (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208). For claim 40, R1 discloses non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions, wherein the computer instructions are used to cause a computer to perform the method (paragraphs 6-12): detecting a downlink signal or monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to obtain a first result, wherein the first result is a detection result or a monitoring result (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208); and determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first result (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208) wherein the PDCCH comprises a paging PDCCH, and the determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first result comprises: if the paging PDCCH is monitored, obtaining first paging indication information in the paging PDCCH; and determining whether the reference signal is valid according to the first paging indication information (paragraphs 6-8, 118, 134-142, 162-175, 182-208). Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER R CROMPTON whose telephone number is (571)270-3678. The examiner can normally be reached 10AM-4PM ET M-Th. 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. /CHRISTOPHER R CROMPTON/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2463
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 01, 2022
Application Filed
Sep 27, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Dec 31, 2025
Response Filed
Mar 16, 2026
Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12587324
TECHNIQUES FOR TRANSMITTING CHANNEL STATE INFORMATION FEEDBACK FOR A MULTI-CELL DOWNLINK CONTROL INFORMATION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12587326
Performing Physical Uplink Shared Channel Transmissions with Improved Reliability
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Patent 12581465
RADIO COMMUNICATION METHOD, RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, RADIO BASE STATION, AND REPEATER
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 17, 2026
Patent 12574193
METHODS AND APPARATUS OF ENHANCED PDCCH CANDIDATE MONITORING
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12562857
USER EQUIPMENT CAPABILITY SIGNALING ENHANCEMENT
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 24, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+16.8%)
3y 0m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 595 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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