Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/028,465

DOWNLINK CONTROL INFORMATION INDICATING TRANSMISSION CONTROL INDICATOR STATES

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Mar 24, 2023
Priority
Sep 25, 2020 — nonprovisional of PCTCN2020117678
Examiner
THOMAS, WILFRED
Art Unit
2416
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Lenovo (Beijing) Limited
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
77%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 77% — above average
77%
Career Allowance Rate
214 granted / 277 resolved
+19.3% vs TC avg
Strong +30% interview lift
Without
With
+30.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
316
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
§103
94.0%
+54.0% vs TC avg
§102
3.8%
-36.2% vs TC avg
§112
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 277 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on February 04, 2026 has been entered, wherein claim 13 is cancelled, claims 1-12 and 14-20 are pending and ready for examination. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claims have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 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. Claims 1, 6, and 16, are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura et al. (Matsumura hereafter) (US 20210235453 A1) in view of Dou et al. (Dou hereafter) (US 20200235901 A1). Regarding claim 1 Matsumura teaches, A method for wireless communication, the method comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a downlink control information (DCI) format 1-1 or 1-2 (DCI format 1_1) indicating a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) (PDSCH transmission … received by using the DCI) to the UE, wherein (Matsumura; [0078] By providing the RMI field/TCI field in the DCI (for example, DCI format 1_1) as described above, PDSCH transmission from a single transmission point or PDSCH transmission from a plurality of transmission points can be appropriately received by using the DCI) the PDSCH comprises [[two]] a transmission control indicator (TCI) codepoint comprising two TCI states (the base station reports “10” or “11” to the UE as the bit value of the DCI. [0096-0097] [0115] In contrast, a TCI configuration) corresponding to a plurality of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) antenna ports (CW 1/ DMRS port group 1 (DPG 1) may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the first transmission point, and CW 2/DPG 2 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the second transmission point) (Matsumura; [0083]The base station may report whether PDSCH transmission is transmission from a single transmission point or transmission from a plurality of transmission points to the UE by using DCI. [0085] CW 1/DPG 1 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the first transmission point, and CW 2/DPG 2 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the second transmission point. [0093] When the PDSCH is transmitted from a plurality of transmission points (for example, in a case of NCJT), the base station reports “10” or “11” to the UE as the bit value of the DCI. [0097] [0104] TCI configuration 1 for CW 1/DPG 1 corresponding to TRP #1 and TCI configuration 2 for CW 2/DPG 2 corresponding to TRP #2 are configured in combination.); a first TCI state of the two TCI states is uniquely associated (from a plurality of transmission points is configured) with a first set of DMRS antenna ports (on DPG 1 corresponds to beam 1) of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports (Matsumura; [0095] three measurement targets (sizes of a measurement set), and transmission from a plurality of transmission points is configured in each unit of transmission based on the DMRS port group DMRS port group (DPG). A case in which the size of the measurement set is 3 corresponds to a case in which, for example, three beams (beam 1, beam 2, and beam 3) are used. In this case, it may be assumed that transmission based on DPG 1 corresponds to beam 1); a second TCI state of the two TCI states is uniquely associated with a second set of DMRS antenna ports of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports (Matsumura; [0095] …transmission based on DPG 2 corresponds to beam 2, and transmission based on DPG 3 corresponds to beam 3.); and Matsumura fails to explicitly teach, a first number of DMRS antenna ports of the first set of DMRS antenna ports is equal to a second number of DMRS antenna ports of the second set of DMRS antenna ports Dou teaches, a first number of DMRS antenna ports of the first set of DMRS antenna ports is equal to a second number of DMRS antenna ports of the second set of DMRS antenna ports (Dou; [0191]that the DMRS antenna port group 1 (the DMRS group index 1) includes the antenna ports {1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, and 1005}, the DMRS antenna port group 2 (the DMRS group index 2) includes the antenna ports {1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, and 1011}, ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura to include the above recited limitations as taught by Dou in order to satisfy a quasi-co-location QCL relationship(Dou; [0143]). Regarding claim 6 Matsumura teaches, A method for wireless communication, the method comprising: receiving, at a user equipment (UE), a downlink control information (DCI) format 1-1 or 1-2 (DCI format 1_1) indicating a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) (PDSCH transmission … received by using the DCI) to the UE, wherein (Matsumura; [0078] By providing the RMI field/TCI field in the DCI (for example, DCI format 1_1) as described above, PDSCH transmission from a single transmission point or PDSCH transmission from a plurality of transmission points can be appropriately received by using the DCI) the PDSCH comprises a transmission control indicator (TCI) codepoint comprising two TCI states (the base station reports “10” or “11” to the UE as the bit value of the DCI. [0096-0097] [0115] In contrast, a TCI configuration) corresponding to a plurality of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) antenna ports (CW 1/ DMRS port group 1 (DPG 1) may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the first transmission point, and CW 2/DPG 2 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the second transmission point) (Matsumura; [0083]The base station may report whether PDSCH transmission is transmission from a single transmission point or transmission from a plurality of transmission points to the UE by using DCI. [0085] CW 1/DPG 1 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the first transmission point, and CW 2/DPG 2 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the second transmission point. [0093] When the PDSCH is transmitted from a plurality of transmission points (for example, in a case of NCJT), the base station reports “10” or “11” to the UE as the bit value of the DCI. [0096-0097], [0104] TCI configuration 1 for CW 1/DPG 1 corresponding to TRP #1 and TCI configuration 2 for CW 2/DPG 2 corresponding to TRP #2 are configured in combination.); a first TCI state of the two TCI states is uniquely associated (from a plurality of transmission points is configured) with a first set of DMRS antenna ports (on DPG 1 corresponds to beam 1) of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports (Matsumura; [0095] three measurement targets (sizes of a measurement set), and transmission from a plurality of transmission points is configured in each unit of transmission based on the DMRS port group DMRS port group (DPG). A case in which the size of the measurement set is 3 corresponds to a case in which, for example, three beams (beam 1, beam 2, and beam 3) are used. In this case, it may be assumed that transmission based on DPG 1 corresponds to beam 1); a second TCI state of the two TCI states is uniquely associated with a second set of DMRS antenna ports of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports (Matsumura; [0095] …transmission based on DPG 2 corresponds to beam 2, and transmission based on DPG 3 corresponds to beam 3.); and Matsumura fails to explicitly teach, a first number of DMRS antenna ports of the first set of DMRS antenna ports is equal to a second number of DMRS antenna ports of the second set of DMRS antenna ports Dou teaches, a first number of DMRS antenna ports of the first set of DMRS antenna ports is equal to a second number of DMRS antenna ports of the second set of DMRS antenna ports (Dou; [0191]that the DMRS antenna port group 1 (the DMRS group index 1) includes the antenna ports {1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, and 1005}, the DMRS antenna port group 2 (the DMRS group index 2) includes the antenna ports {1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, and 1011}, ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura to include the above recited limitations as taught by Dou in order to satisfy a quasi-co-location QCL relationship(Dou; [0143]). Regarding claim 16 Matsumura teaches, an apparatus for wireless communication, the apparatus comprising: a processor (Matsumura; [0220] a processor 1001 Fig. 17) ; and a memory coupled to the processor (Matsumura; [0220] apparatus that includes a processor 1001, a memory 1002, Fig. 17), the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor (Matsumura; [0223] the memory 1002, and by allowing the processor 1001 to perform calculations to control communication via the communication apparatus 1004 Fig. 17)to cause the apparatus to: transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a downlink control information (DCI) format 1-1 or 1-2 (DCI format 1_1) indicating a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) (PDSCH transmission … received by using the DCI) to the UE, wherein (Matsumura; [0078] By providing the RMI field/TCI field in the DCI (for example, DCI format 1_1) as described above, PDSCH transmission from a single transmission point or PDSCH transmission from a plurality of transmission points can be appropriately received by using the DCI) the PDSCH comprises [[two]] a transmission control indicator (TCI) codepoint comprising two TCI states (the base station reports “10” or “11” to the UE as the bit value of the DCI. [0096-0097] [0115] In contrast, a TCI configuration) corresponding to a plurality of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) antenna ports (CW 1/ DMRS port group 1 (DPG 1) may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the first transmission point, and CW 2/DPG 2 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the second transmission point) (Matsumura; [0083]The base station may report whether PDSCH transmission is transmission from a single transmission point or transmission from a plurality of transmission points to the UE by using DCI. [0085] CW 1/DPG 1 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the first transmission point, and CW 2/DPG 2 may correspond to the PDSCH transmitted from the second transmission point. [0093] When the PDSCH is transmitted from a plurality of transmission points (for example, in a case of NCJT), the base station reports “10” or “11” to the UE as the bit value of the DCI. [0097] [0104] TCI configuration 1 for CW 1/DPG 1 corresponding to TRP #1 and TCI configuration 2 for CW 2/DPG 2 corresponding to TRP #2 are configured in combination.); a first TCI state of the two TCI states is uniquely associated (from a plurality of transmission points is configured) with a first set of DMRS antenna ports (on DPG 1 corresponds to beam 1) of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports (Matsumura; [0095] three measurement targets (sizes of a measurement set), and transmission from a plurality of transmission points is configured in each unit of transmission based on the DMRS port group DMRS port group (DPG). A case in which the size of the measurement set is 3 corresponds to a case in which, for example, three beams (beam 1, beam 2, and beam 3) are used. In this case, it may be assumed that transmission based on DPG 1 corresponds to beam 1); a second TCI state of the two TCI states is uniquely associated with a second set of DMRS antenna ports of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports (Matsumura; [0095] …transmission based on DPG 2 corresponds to beam 2, and transmission based on DPG 3 corresponds to beam 3.); and Matsumura fails to explicitly teach, a first number of DMRS antenna ports of the first set of DMRS antenna ports is equal to a second number of DMRS antenna ports of the second set of DMRS antenna ports Dou teaches, a first number of DMRS antenna ports of the first set of DMRS antenna ports is equal to a second number of DMRS antenna ports of the second set of DMRS antenna ports (Dou; [0191]that the DMRS antenna port group 1 (the DMRS group index 1) includes the antenna ports {1000, 1001, 1002, 1003, 1004, and 1005}, the DMRS antenna port group 2 (the DMRS group index 2) includes the antenna ports {1006, 1007, 1008, 1009, 1010, and 1011}, ). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura to include the above recited limitations as taught by Dou in order to satisfy a quasi-co-location QCL relationship(Dou; [0143]). Claims 2, 7, 12-14 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura- Dou as applied to claims 1, 6, and 16 above, and further in view of Muruganathan et al. (Muruganathan hereafter) (US 20220124761 A1). Regarding claims 2, 7, and 17 Matsumura-Dou teaches, The claims 1, 6, and 16 Matsumura-Dou fails to explicitly teach, wherein: the plurality of DMRS antenna ports is in a single DMRS code-division multiplexing (CDM) group. However, in the same field of endeavor Muruganathan teaches, wherein: the plurality of DMRS antenna ports is in a single DMRS code-division multiplexing (CDM) group (Muruganathan; [0019] DMRS ports within the same CDM group are Quasi Co-Located (QCL) in terms of wireless propagation channel properties [0118] the DMRS ports belonging to the same DMRS port group are included within {} and different DMRS port groups are separated by ‘,’. Only a single RV per DMRS port group is assumed in this example where RV(s) associated with different DMRS port groups are separated by ‘,’. It should be noted that this embodiment can also be extended to the case where two RV(s) are associated with a DMRS port group containing more than one port.) (given in Table 5). the first set of DMRS antenna ports correspond to a first half of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports (Muruganathan; See table 5 value 10, CDM group 2, DMRS ports {0,1},), the second set of DMRS antenna ports correspond to a second half of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports (Muruganathan; See table 5 - value 10, CDM group 2, DMRS ports, {2,3} ),. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura- Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Muruganathan in order to support data transmission over multiple TRPs, (Muruganathan; [0046]). Regarding claim 12 Muruganathan-Jiang teaches, The method of claim 6, Matsumura-Dou fails to explicitly teach, further comprising receiving the PDSCH with the two TCI states and the plurality of DMRS antenna ports based on the DCI format Muruganathan further teaches, further comprising receiving the PDSCH with the two TCI states and the plurality of DMRS antenna ports based on the DCI format (Muruganathan; [0105] TCI state or TCI state ID may also be associated with the DMRS port group and the associated RV. Which TCI state or set of TCI states the UE shall use for demodulating the PDSCH is indicated to the UE in the DCI that schedules the PDSCH…). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura- Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Muruganathan in order to support data transmission over multiple TRPs, (Muruganathan; [0046]). Regarding claim 13 Muruganathan-Jiang teaches, The method of claim 6, Matsumura-Dou fails to explicitly teach, wherein the DCI format comprises a DCI format 1_1 or a DCI format 1_2 Muruganathan further teaches, wherein the DCI format comprises a DCI format 1_1 or a DCI format 1_2 (Muruganathan; [0038] For PDSCH transmission, one of the down-selected/activated TCI states is indicated by the TCI filed present in DCI format 1_1 to indicate the QCL relations for PDSCH transmission). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura- Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Muruganathan in order to support data transmission over multiple TRPs, (Muruganathan; [0046]). Regarding claim 14 Muruganathan-Jiang teaches, The method of claim 6, Matsumura-Dou fails to explicitly teach, further comprising transmitting a capability report of the UE, wherein the capability report comprises information indicating an ability of the UE to receive the DCI format Muruganathan further teaches, further comprising transmitting a capability report of the UE, wherein the capability report comprises information indicating an ability of the UE to receive the DCI format (Muruganathan; [0107] the association between DMRS port group(s) and RV(s) are configured to the UE via at least RRC signaling. In some further embodiments, the TCI field in DCI format 1_1 is used for joint signaling of DMRS port group(s) and associated RV(s)). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura- Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Muruganathan in order to support data transmission over multiple TRPs, (Muruganathan; [0046]). Claims 3, 8, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura- Dou as applied to claims 1, 6, and 16 above, and further in view of Kim et al. (Kim hereafter) (US 20220239433 A1). Regarding claims 3, 8, and 18 Matsumura- Dou teaches, The claims 1, 6, and 16 Matsumura- Dou fails to explicitly teach, wherein: the plurality of DMRS antenna ports is in two DMRS code-division multiplexing (CDM) groups the first set of DMRS antenna ports correspond to a first DMRS CDM group of the two DMRS CDM groups the second set of DMRS antenna ports correspond to a second DMRS CDM group of the two DMRS CDM groups However, in the same field of endeavor Kim teaches, the plurality of DMRS antenna ports is in two DMRS code-division multiplexing (CDM) groups (Kim; [0355] a case that {TCI state A, TCI state B} is indicated to the UE may be assumed. In the case that DMRS port 0 (CDM group 0), 1 (CDM group 0), and 6 (CDM group 1) are indicated to the UE,); the first set of DMRS antenna ports correspond to a first DMRS CDM group of the two DMRS CDM groups (Kim; [0355] DMRS port 0/1 may be referred to as the first DMRS port, and the corresponding CDM group 0 may be referred to as the first CDM group…the first TCI state, TCI state A may correspond to CDM group 0, the first CDM group (or DMRS port(s) included in CDM group 0),); and the second set of DMRS antenna ports correspond to a second DMRS CDM group of the two DMRS CDM groups (Kim; [0355] DMRS port 6 may be referred to as the second DMRS port, and the corresponding CDM group 1 may be referred to as the second CDM group…the second TCI state, TCI state B may correspond to CDM group 1, the second CDM group (or DMRS port(s) included in CDM group 1).) It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura- Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Kim in order to minimizing mutual interference in channel estimation (Kim; [0337]). Claims 4, 5, 9, 10, 19, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura-Dou as applied to claims 1, 6, and 16 above, and further in view of Gao et al. (Gao hereafter) (US 20240259078 A1). Regarding claims 4, 9, and 19 Matsumura- Dou teaches, The claims 1, 6, and 16 Matsumura- Dou fails to explicitly teach, wherein each data layer of the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH is configured to be transmitted using a pair of DMRS ports of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports with different TCI states However, in the same field of endeavor Gao teaches, wherein each data layer of the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH is configured to be transmitted using a pair of DMRS ports of the plurality of DMRS antenna ports with different TCI states (Gao; [0057] the network device 110 may need to indicate the selected DMRS ports for the TRP 130-1 and the TCI state for the first DMRS group as well as the selected DMRS ports for the TRP 130-2 and the TCI state for the second DMRS group to the termina). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura-Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Gao in order to successfully receive DMRSs transmitted (Gao; [0052]). Regarding claims 5, 10, and 20 Matsumura- Dou-Gao teaches, The claims 4, 9, and 19 Matsumura- Dou fails to explicitly teach, wherein a first DMRS port of the first set of DMRS antenna ports is paired with a corresponding second DMRS port of the second set of DMRS antenna ports for transmission of a corresponding data layer of the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH. Gao further teaches, wherein a first DMRS port of the first set of DMRS antenna ports is paired with a corresponding second DMRS port of the second set of DMRS antenna ports for transmission of a corresponding data layer of the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH (Gao; [0046] grouping of the DMRS ports, for DMRS type 2 as defined in 3GPP specifications, up to 2 DMRS groups (DMRS group G1 and/or DMRS group G2) may be configured. For example, if two DMRS groups are configured, DMRS group G1 may include at least one DMRS port from DMRS ports {0,1,6,7, 4,5,10,11}, and DMRS group G2 may include at least one DMRS port from DMRS ports {2,3,8,9} … if two DMRS groups are configured, DMRS group G1 may include at least one DMRS port from DMRS ports {0,1,6,7,2,3,8,9}, and DMRS group G2 may include at least one DMRS port from DMRS ports {4,5,10,11}). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura- Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Gao in order to successfully receive DMRSs transmitted (Gao; [0052]). Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura- Dou as applied to claims 6 above, and further in view of Frenne et al. (Frenne hereafter) (US 20220039124 A1) Regarding claim11 Muruganathan-Jiang teaches, The method of claim 6, Matsumura- Dou fails to explicitly teach, wherein the first TCI state represents a type A quasi-colocation (QCL) and a type D QCL for frequency range 2 for a first transmission reception point, and the second TCI state represents a type A QCL and a type D QCL for frequency range 2 for a second transmission reception point. However, in the same field of endeavor Frenne teaches, wherein the first TCI state represents a type A quasi-colocation (QCL) and a type D QCL for frequency range 2 for a first transmission reception point, and the second TCI state represents a type A QCL and a type D QCL for frequency range 2 for a second transmission reception point (Frenne; [0025] A TCI state may contain two reference signal (RSs), one for time/frequency QCL source (e.g. Type A) and one for spatial QCL source (Type D) … operating in FR1and FR2, [0069]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura- Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Frenne in order to determine a PDSCH scheduling (Frenne; [0033]). Claim 15 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura- Dou as applied to claims 6 above, and further in view of Matsumura et al. (Matsumura763 hereafter) (US 20230199763 A1). Regarding claim15 Matsumura-Dou teaches, The method of claim 6, Matsumura-Dou fails to explicitly teach, further comprising receiving an indication of DMRS ports used based on a first DMRS indication table having a first size, wherein the first size is smaller than a second size of a second DMRS indication table However, in the same field of endeavor Matsumura763 teaches, receiving an indication of DMRS ports used based on a first DMRS indication table having a first size, wherein the first size is smaller than a second size of a second DMRS indication table (Matsumura763; [0143] Whether the UE supports a plurality of (for example, two) TCI states for the same DMRS port for PDSCH (for each layer). [UE Capability 2] [0144] The maximum number of TCI states for the same DMRS port for PDSCH (for each layer). The maximum number may be reported when the maximum number is larger than two). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Matsumura-Dou to include the above recited limitations as taught by Matsumura763 in order to configured and correspond to all DMRS ports for PDSCH reception. (Matsumura763; [0149]). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WILFRED THOMAS whose telephone number is (571)270-0353. The examiner can normally be reached Mon -Thurs 9:00 am-4:00 pm. Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Noel R Beharry can be reached at 571-270-5630. 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. /W. T/Examiner, Art Unit 2416 /NOEL R BEHARRY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2416
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 5 earlier events
Sep 02, 2025
Response Filed
Dec 03, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jan 16, 2026
Interview Requested
Jan 27, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jan 29, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Feb 04, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 12, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
77%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+30.0%)
3y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
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