Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/060,436

TECHNIQUES FOR SENSING WAKEUP SIGNAL

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Nov 30, 2022
Examiner
TORRES, MARCOS L
Art Unit
2647
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
4 (Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
79%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
471 granted / 701 resolved
+5.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
35 currently pending
Career history
751
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
87.6%
+47.6% vs TC avg
§102
6.2%
-33.8% vs TC avg
§112
4.1%
-35.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 701 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
571DETAILED 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 with respect to the claim(s) have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground of rejection. Please see below the new grounds of rejection. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. Claim(s) 1-5, 18-22 and 29-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nam 20220368487 in view of Ang 20200221384 and further in view of Cheng 20240015655. As to claim 1, Nam discloses an apparatus for wireless communications at a user equipment (UE) [115,805] comprising: a processor [840]; memory [830] coupled with the processor (see par. 0007, 0122); and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive control signaling indicating one or more parameters for a wakeup signal associated with a sensing reference signal [410] (see par. 0097); receive, while operating in an idle mode, the wakeup signal based at least in part on the one or more parameters, the wakeup signal indicating for the UE to wake up [415,425] (see par. 0005-0006, 0098); and communicate the sensing reference signal based at least in part on reception of the wakeup signal [440] (see par. 0084, 0097, 0099). Nam fails to disclose the intended use to communicate the sensing reference signal. In an analogous art, Ang discloses the wakeup signal indicating for the UE to wake up to communicate the sensing reference signal in accordance with the configuration (see par. 0071). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the at before the effective filing date of the present invention to combine the teachings for the simple purpose of improving power efficiency of the DRX cycle while assist in measurement and/or feedback of channel and improve the communication (see par. 0007). The previous references fail to disclose the one or more parameters including a sensing wakeup signal waveform for the wakeup signal. In an analogous art, Cheng discloses the one or more parameters including a sensing [Low Power] wakeup signal waveform for the wakeup signal [The network node may indicate the modulation types of LP-WUS, e.g., OFDM-based, DFT-s-OFDM-based, or ideal OOK, through RRC or SIB] (see par. 0087-0088 [support in section 5.1.2]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the at before the effective filing date of the present invention to combine the teachings for the simple purpose of indicating the required LP-WUS configuration for a successful reception of the LP-WUS; thereby, communicating as intended while minimizing power consumption. As to claim 2, Nam discloses the apparatus of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: monitor for the wakeup signal during one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions, wherein the one or more parameters for the wakeup signal indicates the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions (see par. 0006, 0010, 0040). As to claim 3, Nam discloses the apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions are periodic or semi-persistent (see par. 0011). As to claim 4, Nam discloses the apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions correspond to synchronization signal block occasions, paging occasions, portions of a discontinuous reception cycle, or wakeup signal monitoring occasions, or any combination thereof (see par. 0040). As to claim 5, Nam discloses the apparatus of claim 2, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive a control message activating the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions, wherein monitoring for the wakeup signal is based at least in part on the control message activating the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions (see par. 0040, 0077, 0082-0083). As to claim 18, Nam discloses an apparatus [105,805] for wireless communications at a network entity, comprising: a processor [840]; memory [830] coupled with the processor (see par. 0018, 0122); and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit control signaling indicating one or more parameters for a wakeup signal associated with a sensing reference signal [410] (see par. 0097); transmit, to a user equipment (UE) operating in an idle mode, the wakeup signal based at least in part on the one or more parameters, the wakeup signal indicating for the UE to wake up [415,425] (see par. 0005-0006, 0098); and communicate the sensing reference signal based at least in part on transmission of the wakeup signal [440] (see par. 0084, 0097, 0099). Nam fails to disclose the intended use to communicate the sensing reference signal. In an analogous art, Ang discloses the wakeup signal indicating for the UE to wake up to communicate the sensing reference signal (see par. 0071). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the at before the effective filing date of the present invention to combine the teachings for the simple purpose of improving power efficiency of the DRX cycle while assist in measurement and/or feedback of channel and improve the communication (see par. 0007). The previous references fail to disclose the one or more parameters including a sensing wakeup signal waveform for the wakeup signal. In an analogous art, Cheng discloses the one or more parameters including a sensing [Low Power] wakeup signal waveform for the wakeup signal [The network node may indicate the modulation types of LP-WUS, e.g., OFDM-based, DFT-s-OFDM-based, or ideal OOK, through RRC or SIB] (see par. 0087-0088 [support in section 5.1.2]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the at before the effective filing date of the present invention to combine the teachings for the simple purpose of indicating the required LP-WUS configuration for a successful reception of the LP-WUS; thereby, communicating as intended while minimizing power consumption. As to claim 19, Nam discloses the apparatus of claim 18, wherein the instructions to transmit the wakeup signal are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit the wakeup signal during one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions, wherein the one or more parameters for the wakeup signal indicates the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions (see par. 0006, 0010, 0040). As to claim 20, Nam discloses the apparatus of claim 19, wherein: the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions are periodic or semi-persistent (see par. 0011). As to claim 21, Nam discloses the apparatus of claim 19, wherein the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions correspond to synchronization signal block occasions, paging occasions, portions of a discontinuous reception cycle, or wakeup signal monitoring occasions, or any combination thereof (see par. 0040). As to claim 22, Nam discloses the apparatus of claim 19, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: transmit a control message activating the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions at the UE, wherein transmitting the wakeup signal is based at least in part on the control message activating the one or more sensing wakeup signal monitoring occasions (see par. 0040, 0077, 0082-0083). Regarding claims 29-30, they are the corresponding method claims of device claims 1 and 18. Therefore, claims 29-30 are rejected for the same reason as shown above. 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 MARCOS L TORRES whose telephone number is (571)272-7926. The examiner can normally be reached 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM M-F. 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, Alison Slater can be reached on (571)270-0375. 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. MARCOS L. TORRES Primary Examiner Art Unit 2647 /MARCOS L TORRES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2647
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 4 earlier events
Aug 01, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 07, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 10, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 21, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Dec 23, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 23, 2025
Response Filed
Apr 15, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 11, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §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

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
67%
Grant Probability
79%
With Interview (+11.4%)
3y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 701 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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