Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/069,533

CONFIGURATION BASED ON TRAFFIC PRIORITY AND QUALITY-OF-SERVICE AWARENESS BETWEEN USER EQUIPMENT

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Dec 21, 2022
Examiner
ACOLATSE, KODZOVI
Art Unit
2478
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
4 (Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
761 granted / 913 resolved
+25.4% vs TC avg
Strong +22% interview lift
Without
With
+22.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
63 currently pending
Career history
976
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.0%
-35.0% vs TC avg
§103
52.7%
+12.7% vs TC avg
§102
25.0%
-15.0% vs TC avg
§112
8.5%
-31.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 913 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 . Claims 1-7, 9-15, 17-19, and 21-33 are pending in this office action. Claims 1, 5, 9, 12, 15, 17, 26, 27, 29-31 and 33 have been amended. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 33 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the request to the amendment filed 01/21/2026 have been considered but are moot in view of new grounds of rejection. See rejection below, 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. Claims 1-7, 9-15, 17-19, 21-24 and 29-33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rao et al (US 2020/0163005 A1) in view of Khsiba et al (US 2022/0279536 A1) in further view of Wu et al (US 2022/0346118 A1). Regarding claim 1, Rao teaches a method of wireless communication performed by a first user equipment (UE), comprising: transmitting, to a second UE or a controller associated with a sidelink, information indicating a quality-of-service parameter (Rao: Fig. 5 and 21:2118; [0054], [0087], [0091] UE 506 transmit SL-RB configuration comprising QoS parameters to UE 508); wherein the quality-of-service parameter is indicated to the first UE in a configured grant configuration (Rao: [208], UE 506 is configured with configured grant resource pool); and communicating with the second UE in accordance with the information (Rao: Figs. 5 and 21:2122, [02103], UE 506 communicates with UE 508 based on the configuration). Rao does not explicitly disclose the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE in a time interval other than the one or more time intervals. Khsiba teaches the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE (Khsiba: [0053] QoS associated with UE) and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE during the one or more time intervals (Khsiba: Fig. 1; [0051]-[0053] UE1 indicates its resources and UE2 communicates by pre-empting UE1 resources as shown on Fig. 1; i.e. UE communicates in different resource than the resources reserved by UE1). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Rao wherein the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE during the one or more time intervals as disclosed by Khsiba to provide a system for pre-emption in sidelink communication (Khsiba: Abstract). Rao in view of Khsiba does not explicitly disclose wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises receiving a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic. Wu teaches wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises receiving a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic (Wu: [0349], reduced power of sidelink transmission in overlapping area and not reduced power in non-overlapping area). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Rao in view of Khsiba wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises receiving a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic as disclosed by Wu to provide a system for power control for sidelink communication (Wu: Abstract). Regarding claim 12, Rao teaches a method of wireless communication performed by a first user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a second UE or a controller associated with a sidelink, information indicating a quality-of-service parameter (Rao: Fig. 5 and 21:2118; [0054], [0087], [0091] UE 506 transmit SL-RB configuration comprising QoS parameters to UE 508); wherein the quality-of-service parameter is indicated to the first UE in a configured grant configuration (Rao: [208], UE 506 is configured with configured grant resource pool); and communicating in accordance with the information (Rao: Figs. 5 and 21:2122, [02103], UE 506 communicates with UE 508 based on the configuration). Rao does not explicitly disclose the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE in a time interval other than the one or more time intervals. Khsiba teaches the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE (Khsiba: [0053] QoS associated with UE) and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating during the one or more time intervals (Khsiba: Fig. 1; [0051]-[0053] UE1 indicates its resources and UE2 communicates by pre-empting UE1 resources as shown on Fig. 1; i.e. UE communicates in different resource than the resources reserved by UE1). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Rao wherein the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE in a time interval other than the one or more time intervals as disclosed by Khsiba to provide a system for pre-emption in sidelink communication (Khsiba: Abstract). Rao in view of Khsiba does not explicitly disclose wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises receiving a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic. Wu teaches wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises receiving a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic (Wu: [0349], reduced power of sidelink transmission in overlapping area and not reduced power in non-overlapping area). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Rao in view of Khsiba wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises receiving a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic as disclosed by Wu to provide a system for power control for sidelink communication (Wu: Abstract). Regarding claim 29, Rao teaches a first user equipment (UE) comprising one or more antennas; and a processing system that includes one or more processors and one or more memories that store code and are coupled with the one or more processors, the processing system configured to cause the first UE to: transmit, to a second UE or a controller associated with a sidelink, information indicating a quality-of-service parameter (Rao: Fig. 5 and 21:2118; [0054], [0087], [0091] UE 506 transmit SL-RB configuration comprising QoS parameters to UE 508); wherein the quality-of-service parameter is indicated to the first UE in a configured grant configuration (Rao: [208], UE 506 is configured with configured grant resource pool); and communicate in accordance with the information (Rao: Figs. 5 and 21:2122, [02103], UE 506 communicates with UE 605 based on the configuration). Rao does not explicitly disclose the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE during the one or more time intervals. Khsiba teaches the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE (Khsiba: [0053] QoS associated with UE) and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE in a time interval other than the one or more time intervals (Khsiba: Fig. 1; [0051]-[0053] UE1 indicates its resources and UE2 communicates by pre-empting UE1 resources as shown on Fig. 1; i.e. UE communicates in different resource than the resources reserved by UE1). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Rao wherein the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE in a time interval other than the one or more time intervals as disclosed by Khsiba to provide a system for pre-emption in sidelink communication (Khsiba: Abstract). Rao in view of Khsiba does not explicitly disclose wherein, to communicate in accordance with the information, the processing system is configured to cause the first UE to receive a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic. Wu teaches wherein, to communicate in accordance with the information, the processing system is configured to cause the first UE to receive a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic (Wu: [0349], reduced power of sidelink transmission in overlapping area and not reduced power in non-overlapping area). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Rao in view of Khsiba wherein, to communicate in accordance with the information, the processing system is configured to cause the first UE to receive a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic as disclosed by Wu to provide a system for power control for sidelink communication (Wu: Abstract). Regarding claim 30, Rao teaches a first user equipment (UE) for wireless communication comprising one or more antennas; and a processing system that includes one or more processors and one or more memories that store code and are coupled with the one or more processors, the processing system configured to cause the first UE to: receive, from a second UE or a controller associated with a sidelink, information indicating a quality-of-service parameter (Rao: Fig. 5 and 21:2118; [0054], [0087], [0091] UE 506 transmit SL-RB configuration comprising QoS parameters to UE 508); wherein the quality-of-service parameter is indicated to the first UE in a configured grant configuration (Rao: [208], UE 506 is configured with configured grant resource pool); and communicate in accordance with the information (Rao: Figs. 5 and 21:2122, [02103], UE 506 communicates with UE 605 based on the configuration). Rao does not explicitly disclose the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE in a time interval other than the one or more time intervals. Khsiba teaches the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE (Khsiba: [0053] QoS associated with UE) and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating during the one or more time intervals (Khsiba: Fig. 1; [0051]-[0053] UE1 indicates its resources and UE2 communicates by pre-empting UE1 resources as shown on Fig. 1; i.e. UE communicates in different resource than the resources reserved by UE1). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Rao wherein the quality-of-service is associated with the first UE and the information indicating one or more time intervals in which traffic of the first UE is expected and communicating with the second UE in a time interval other than the one or more time intervals as disclosed by Khsiba to provide a system for pre-emption in sidelink communication (Khsiba: Abstract). Rao in view of Khsiba does not explicitly disclose wherein, to communicate in accordance with the information, the processing system is configured to cause the first UE to receive a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic. Wu teaches wherein, to communicate in accordance with the information, the processing system is configured to cause the first UE to receive a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic (Wu: [0349], reduced power of sidelink transmission in overlapping area and not reduced power in non-overlapping area). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Rao in view of Khsiba wherein, to communicate in accordance with the information, the processing system is configured to cause the first UE to receive a communication from the second UE in a time interval, of the one or more time intervals, overlapping the traffic, and wherein a transmit power for the communication is lower than another transmit power for another communication from the second UE that does not overlap the traffic as disclosed by Wu to provide a system for power control for sidelink communication (Wu: Abstract). Regarding claims 2 and 13, Rao teaches wherein the information indicates delay information or a priority parameter for the traffic (Rao: [0020], [0113]). Regarding claim 3, Rao teaches wherein transmitting the information comprises transmitting the information to a set of UEs or a set of controllers having a radio resource control connection with the first UE (Rao: Fig. 5; [0091]). Regarding claims 4 and 14, Rao teaches wherein transmitting the information comprises transmitting the information via a groupcast transmission or a broadcast transmission (Rao: Fig. 5; [0091]). Regarding claims 5 and 15, Rao teaches wherein the information indicates the quality-of-service parameter or a priority parameter of a logical channel group of the traffic (Rao: [0021], [0215]). Regarding claim 6, Rao teaches wherein transmitting the information comprises transmitting the information in accordance with a periodicity (Rao: [0193]). Regarding claim 7, Rao teaches wherein transmitting the information comprises transmitting the information via one of physical layer signaling, medium access control layer signaling, or radio resource control layer signaling (Rao: [0020]). Regarding claims 9 and 17, Rao teaches wherein the information indicates a configured grant for the traffic (Rao: Fig. 5; [0054], [0208]). Regarding claims 10 and 18, Rao teaches wherein the traffic is sidelink traffic (Rao: Fig. 5; [0091]). Regarding claims 11 and 19, Rao teaches wherein the traffic is uplink traffic (Rao: Fig. 4; [0027], [0090]). Regarding claim 21, Rao in view of Khsiba teaches transmitting another communication in a time interval other than the one or more time intervals based at least in part on a packet delay budget of the traffic indicated by the information (Khsiba: [0030], [0060]-[0065]). Regarding claim 22, Rao in view of Khsiba teaches wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises transmitting the communication using a transmission configuration based at least in part on the communication overlapping with the traffic (Khsiba: Fig. 1; [0051]-[0053] UE1 indicates its resources and UE2 communicates by pre-empting UE1 resources as shown on Fig. 1; i.e. UE communicates in different resource than the resources reserved by UE1). Regarding claim 23, Rao in view of Khsiba teaches wherein the transmission configuration indicates a modification of at least one of a modulation and coding scheme (Khsiba: [0079, or a power control parameter based at least in part on the communication overlapping with the traffic. Regarding claim 24, Rao in view of Khsiba teaches wherein the transmission configuration indicates a modification of a resource allocation for the communication based at least in part on the communication overlapping with the traffic (Khsiba: Fig. 1; [0051]-[0053] UE1 indicates its resources and UE2 communicates by pre-empting UE1 resources as shown on Fig. 1; i.e. UE communicates in different resource than the resources reserved by UE1). Regarding claim 31, Rao in view of Khsiba teaches transmit another communication in the time interval other than the one or more time intervals based at least in part on a packet delay budget of the traffic indicated by the information (Khsiba: [0030], [0060]-[0065]). Regarding claim 32, Rao in view of Khsiba teaches wherein the information indicates delay information or a priority parameter for the traffic (Khsiba: [0030], [0060]-[0065]). Claims 25-28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rao et al (US 2020/0163005 A1) in view of Khsiba et al (US 2022/0279536 A1) in further view of Wu et al (US 2022/0346118 A1) in further view of Hahn (US 2022/0330304 A1). Regarding claim 25, Rao in view of Khsiba does not explicitly disclose but Hahn teaches wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises transmitting a communication on a first resource that is non-overlapped with a second resource of the traffic (Hahn: Fig. 11; [0016], multiple configured grants configured for sidelink communication and they are used for different terminals). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Rao wherein communicating in accordance with the information comprises transmitting a communication on a first resource that is non- overlapped with a second resource of the traffic as disclosed by Hahn to provide a system for aperiodic data transmission in sidelink communication (Hahn: Abstract). Regarding claim 26, Rao in view of Khsiba and Hahn teaches wherein the first resource is a configured grant resource (Hahn: Fig. 11; [0016]). Regarding claim 27, Rao in view of Khsiba and Hahn teaches wherein the configured grant resource is one of a plurality of configured grant resources of the first UE (Hahn: Fig. 11; [0016]). Regarding claim 28, Rao in view of Khsiba and Hahn teaches wherein the information indicates the second resource of the traffic (Hahn: Fig. 11; [0016]). Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 KODZOVI ACOLATSE whose telephone number is (571)270-1999. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 10 am to 6pm. 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, Avellino Joseph can be reached on (571) 272-3905. 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. /KODZOVI ACOLATSE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2478
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 21, 2022
Application Filed
Mar 20, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Jun 09, 2025
Response Filed
Jul 31, 2025
Final Rejection — §103
Sep 09, 2025
Interview Requested
Sep 26, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 26, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Sep 29, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 07, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Oct 10, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 18, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Dec 02, 2025
Interview Requested
Dec 10, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Dec 10, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Jan 21, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 17, 2026
Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12604218
PERFORMANCE DEGRADATION HANDLING BETWEEN RADIO ACCESS NETWORK NODES
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12604166
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DYNAMIC APN SELECTION
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12598028
COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12598620
TERMINAL, RADIO COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND BASE STATION
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12593341
METHOD FOR CARRIER DETERMINATION, TERMINAL DEVICE, AND NETWORK DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

AI Strategy Recommendation

Get an AI-powered prosecution strategy using examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Powered by AI — typically takes 5-10 seconds

Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
83%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+22.3%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 913 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month