Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/090,812

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ENHANCED INDICATION OF TPC COMMAND VALUE FOR UPLINK TRANSMISSION IN MULTI-TRP OPERATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Dec 29, 2022
Priority
May 11, 2021 — continuation of PCTCN2021093028
Examiner
NGUYEN, TU X
Art Unit
2642
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
ZTE CORPORATION
OA Round
6 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
6-7
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
767 granted / 903 resolved
+22.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
929
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
67.0%
+27.0% vs TC avg
§102
31.0%
-9.0% vs TC avg
§112
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 903 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Response to Amendment Applicant's arguments filed 11/21/25 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant refers to Zhang par.042, 058-059 a scenario in which power control parameters for PUCCH resource are configured without PUCH-SpatialRelation IE. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The Examiner does not rely on this scenario. The Examiner rely on other embodiments of Zhang is the below rejections. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-3 and 9-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhang (US Pub. 20230097691). Regarding claim 1, Zhang discloses a wireless communication method, comprising: selecting (par.0100 “select first PC parameters to be used for first repletion of PUCCH transmission and…selecting second PD parameters to be used for second repetition of PUCCH”), by a wireless communication device, a closed loop index from a plurality of closed loop indices (par.058 “PC parameter set 1….PC parameter set 2 is mapped to PUCCH repetitions”, par.098-99 “The PC configuration information……a group of PUCCH resources…..The PC configuration information may configure a plurality of PC parameters including…..closed-loop indices”) that (i) corresponds to a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resource configured for a plurality of PUCCH repeated transmissions (par.051 “power control processes are enable for the PUCCH, different closed-loop power control process indices may be applied to different repetitions”), and (ii) is associated with a plurality of spatial relations associated with the PUCCH resource (par.077 “a first spatial relation configuration may be applied to the PUCCH repetition…….a second spatial relation…..PUCCH repetition 408”); receiving, by the wireless communication device from a wireless communication node, a downlink signaling that comprises a plurality of Transmission Power Control (TPC) command fields which indicate a plurality of TPC command values (par.035-036 “TPC commands…….1 dB, 0 dB, and 3 dB”, par.038 “The fields of the PUCCH-PowerControl”, par.0113, 0115); and sending, by the wireless communication device responsive to receiving the downlink signaling the plurality of PUCCH repeated transmissions using the selected closed loop index value (par.100-102 “PUCCH repetitions…..at 516, transmitting the repetition with first PC parameters……the second repetition may be transmitted to a second TRP”). Regarding claims 2 and 10, Zhang discloses the PUCCH resource is associated with a plurality of power control parameters sets including a respective closed loop index (par.051 “parameter sets are applied for PUCCH repetitions……the value of I may be different in the two power control parameter sets…a different g would be applied to different repetitions corresponding to each PC parameter set” par.098-99 “The PC configuration information……a group of PUCCH resources…..The PC configuration information may configure a plurality of PC parameters including…..closed-loop indices. These parameters may be configured in one or more sets or subsets”). Regarding claims 3 and 11, Zhang discloses a TPC command value of a first one of the plurality of TPC command fields is applied for all the plurality of PUCCH repeated transmissions (par.052, 086, 092-093). Regarding claim 9, Zhang discloses everything as claim 1 above. More specifically, Zhang discloses at least one processor and a memory (fig.9 element 904, 912, par.0127 “computer-executable instructions, such as program code”), wherein the at least one processor is configured to read code from the memory and implement a method (par.0130). 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 Examiner Tu Nguyen whose telephone number is (571)272-7883. The examiner can normally be reached on 8AM-5PM Eastern Time. 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 Rafael Perez-Gutierrez can be reached on 571-272-7915. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300 or mailed to: Commissioner for Patents P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /TU X NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2642
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 9 earlier events
Aug 15, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Aug 18, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 22, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Nov 12, 2025
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Nov 12, 2025
Examiner Interview Summary
Nov 21, 2025
Response Filed
Dec 08, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Feb 06, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action

Precedent Cases

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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
85%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+6.5%)
2y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 903 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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