Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/104,938

SSB DETERMINATION METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Feb 02, 2023
Priority
Aug 07, 2020 — continuation of PCTCN2020107936
Examiner
KANG, SUK JIN
Art Unit
2477
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
67%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
73%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 67% — above average
67%
Career Allowance Rate
428 granted / 640 resolved
+8.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 8m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
698
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.1%
-38.9% vs TC avg
§103
81.4%
+41.4% vs TC avg
§102
7.9%
-32.1% vs TC avg
§112
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 640 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION Applicant’s amendment and arguments filed January 12, 2026 is acknowledged. Claims 1, 3, 5, 13, 15, 17, and 19 have been amended. Claims 2, 4, 9, 14, 16, and 20 are cancelled. Claims 1, 3, 5-8, 10-13, 15, and 17-19 are currently pending. Claim Objections Claims 1, 13, and 19 are objected to because of the following informalities: on line 8 of claim 1, replace “each SSB index” with --each SSB index of the group of SSB indexes--; on line 22 of claim 1, replace “the first index information” with --the first index information of the first SSB--; on line 11 of claim 13, replace “each SSB index” with --each SSB index of the group of SSB indexes--; on line 25 of claim 13, replace “the first index information” with --the first index information of the first SSB--; on line 11 of claim 19, replace “each SSB index” with --each SSB index of the group of SSB indexes--; and on line 24 of claim 19, replace “the first index information” with --the first index information of the first SSB--. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (B) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 1, 3, 5-8, 10-13, 15, and 17-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Consider claim 1, the claim recites “determining a first SSB according to cell indication of a target SSB” on lines 12-13. However, it is unclear whether the “a first SSB” corresponds to “an SSB corresponding to the SSB index” as previously recited on lines 9-10 or whether the “first SSB” corresponds to the “an SSB” as previously recited on line 1 or corresponds to a different SSB. Appropriate clarification is requested. Further, claim 1 recites “an SSB of the serving cell or an SSB of the neighboring cell” on lines 18-19. However, it is unclear whether this “an SSB” is the same SSB or another SSB than the “an SSB of the serving cell or an SSB of the neighboring cell” previously recited on line 9-10. Appropriate clarification is requested. Further claim 1, recites “wherein the cell indication information and the first index information” on line 22. However, it is unclear whether “the cell indication information” is in reference to “the cell indication information” as previously recited on line 9 or “the cell indication information” as previously recited in line 12. Consider claim 13, the claim recites “determining a first SSB according to cell indication of a target SSB” on lines 15-16. However, it is unclear whether the “a first SSB” corresponds to “an SSB corresponding to the SSB index” as previously recited on lines 13-14. Appropriate clarification is requested. Further, claim 13 recites “an SSB of the serving cell or an SSB of the neighboring cell” on lines 20-21. However, it is unclear whether this “an SSB” is the same SSB or another SSB than the “an SSB of the serving cell or an SSB of the neighboring cell” previously recited on line 13-14. Appropriate clarification is requested. Further claim 13, recites “wherein the cell indication information and the first index information” on line 25. However, it is unclear whether “the cell indication information” is in reference to “the cell indication information” as previously recited on line 11 or “the cell indication information” as previously recited in line 15. Consider claim 19, the claim recites “sending a first SSB” on line 14. However, it is unclear whether the “a first SSB” corresponds to “an SSB corresponding to the SSB index” as previously recited on lines 13-14. Appropriate clarification is requested. Further, claim 19 recites “an SSB associated with the configuration information through the SSB index is an SSB of the serving cell or an SSB of the neighboring cell” on line 20. However, it is unclear whether this “an SSB” is the same SSB or another SSB than the “a first SSB” or the “an SSB of the serving cell or an SSB of the neighboring cell” previously recited on line 12-13. Appropriate clarification is requested. Further claim 19, recites “wherein the cell indication information and first index information of the first SSB” on line 25. However, it is unclear whether “the cell indication information” is in reference to “the cell indication information” as previously recited on line 12 or “the cell indication information” as previously recited in line 15, and there is insufficient antecedent basis for “the first index information of the first SSB” in the claim. Claims 3, 5-8, 10-12, 15, and 17-18 rejected based on their dependency on claims 1, 13, and 19, respectively. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 1, 3, 5-8, 10-13, 15, and 17-19 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection as necessitated by Applicant’s amendment. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant’s disclosure. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUK JIN KANG whose telephone number is (571) 270-1771. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. 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, Chirag Shah can be reached on (571) 272-3144. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. 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. Any inquiry of a general nature or relating to the status of this application or proceeding should be directed to the receptionist/customer service whose telephone number is (571) 272-2600. /Suk Jin Kang/ Examiner, Art Unit 2477 April 17, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 02, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 24, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jul 21, 2025
Response Filed
Oct 14, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Jan 12, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
67%
Grant Probability
73%
With Interview (+6.5%)
3y 8m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 640 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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