Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 04, 2026
Application No. 18/109,831

TRANSMISSION CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND RELATED DEVICE

Final Rejection §102§103
Filed
Feb 14, 2023
Priority
Aug 17, 2020 — CN 202010827367.6 +2 more
Examiner
TORRES, MARCOS L
Art Unit
2647
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Final)
68%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
78%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 68% — above average
68%
Career Allowance Rate
479 granted / 709 resolved
+5.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+10.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
46 currently pending
Career history
756
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.4%
-34.6% vs TC avg
§103
55.2%
+15.2% vs TC avg
§102
15.8%
-24.2% vs TC avg
§112
20.1%
-19.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 709 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 . Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 2-2-2026 has been entered. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 6-23-2026 have been fully considered but they are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection. In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., Chae is silent about waking up the first UE in a power saving configuration indicated in the wakeup signal received by the first UE) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993). 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 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. Claim(s) 1-2, 4-5, 13, 15 and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chae 20200053647 in view Tseng 20200107236. As to claim 1, Chae discloses a transmission control method, performed by a first device, comprising: determining a first resource (see par. 0126) [In D2D communication, the transmission period and transmission resource location of the wake-up signal may be signaled by the network or predetermined.]; and receiving power saving information based on the first resource [WUS] (see par. 0126), wherein: the power saving information is used to [Intended Use] instruct a target device to perform a target operation on a target resource in a power saving configuration and in response to receivingpower saving information, performing the target operation, wherein the target device comprises at least one of the first device or a second device, the target operation comprises wakeup, sleep, activation or deactivation, and the target resource comprises a sidelink resource (see par. 0129). wherein the power saving information corresponds to at least one power saving configuration, wherein the power saving information comprises first power saving information or second power saving information, wherein: the first power saving information corresponds to at least one first-type power saving configuration, and the second power saving information corresponds to at least one second- type power saving configuration (see par. 0124-0126, 0129). Chae does not disclose all the details of the power saving information. In an analogous art, Tseng discloses wherein the first power saving information is power saving information corresponding to a power saving information type 1, wherein the power saving information type 1 is used to control operations of user equipment in L1 power saving configurations corresponding to the power saving information type 1, where the L1 power saving configurations are a part or all of power saving configurations in the first-type power saving configuration, and the second power saving information corresponds to at least one second-type power saving configuration, wherein the second power saving information is power saving information corresponding to a power saving information type 2, wherein the power saving information type 2 is used to control operations of user equipment in L2 power saving configurations corresponding to the power saving information type 2, where the L2 power saving configurations are a part or all of power saving configurations in the second-type power saving configuration [please note as claimed only one power saving information is required with one configuration] (see table 11 in the current and/or provisional). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective day of the present invention to combine the teachings for the simple purpose of saving power; thereby, extending the battery life of the device. As to claim 2, Chae discloses the transmission control method according to claim 1, wherein the power saving information comprises indication information, and the indication information is used to indicate the target operation (see par. 0126). As to claim 4, Chae discloses the transmission control method according to claim 1, wherein: the power saving information is used to indicate a transmission direction of at least one of the first device or the second device [From network] (see par. 0126), the power saving information is used to indicate at least one of the following: at least one resource set associated with a target object (see par. 0129); or at least one resource set that needs to be switched to, wherein the resource set comprises a preset resource pool (see par. 0128), a preset bandwidth part, or a preset carrier, the power saving information corresponds to at least one power saving configuration, wherein the power saving information further comprises third power saving information, wherein the third power saving information corresponds to at least one power saving configuration in target power saving configurations, and the target power saving configurations comprise the first-type power saving configuration and the second-type power saving configuration. As to claim 5, Chae discloses the method according to claim 4, wherein power saving information corresponding to power saving configurations of different types meets at least one of the following: types of the power saving information are different; resources of the power saving information are different; manners of determining the resources of the power saving information are different; or sequences, channels, signals, or signaling of the resources of the power saving information are different [The network may configure some parameters of the wake-up signal, for example, the resource location, period, property, etc., and the UE may determine the remaining parameters.] (see par. 0129). As to claim 13, Chae discloses a transmission control method, performed by a third device, comprising: determining a first resource (see par. 0126) [In D2D communication, the transmission period and transmission resource location of the wake-up signal may be signaled by the network or predetermined.]; and sending power saving information based on the first resource [WUS] (see par. 0126), wherein: the power saving information is used to instruct a target device to perform a target operation on a target resource in a power saving configuration, wherein: the target device comprises at least one of a first device or a second device, the target operation comprises wakeup, sleep, activation or deactivation, the target resource comprises a sidelink resource, and the first device is a device that receives the power saving information, and performs the target operation in response to receiving power saving information, wherein the power saving information corresponds to at least one power saving configuration, wherein the power saving information comprises first power saving information or second power saving information, wherein: the first power saving information corresponds to at least one first-type power saving configuration, and the second power saving information corresponds to at least one second- type power saving configuration (see par. 0124-0126, 0129). Chae does not disclose all the details of the power saving information. In an analogous art, Tseng discloses wherein the first power saving information is power saving information corresponding to a power saving information type 1, wherein the power saving information type 1 is used to control operations of user equipment in L1 power saving configurations corresponding to the power saving information type 1, where the L1 power saving configurations are a part or all of power saving configurations in the first-type power saving configuration, and the second power saving information corresponds to at least one second-type power saving configuration, wherein the second power saving information is power saving information corresponding to a power saving information type 2, wherein the power saving information type 2 is used to control operations of user equipment in L2 power saving configurations corresponding to the power saving information type 2, where the L2 power saving configurations are a part or all of power saving configurations in the second-type power saving configuration [please note as claimed only one power saving information is required with one configuration] (see table 11 in the current and/or provisional). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective day of the present invention to combine the teachings for the simple purpose of saving power; thereby, extending the battery life of the device. As to claim 15, Chae discloses the transmission control method according to claim 13, wherein: the power saving information is used to indicate a transmission direction of at least one of the first device and the second device [From network] (see par. 0126), the power saving information is used to indicate at least one of the following: at least one resource set associated with the target object (see par. 0129); or at least one resource set that needs to be switched to, wherein the resource set comprises a preset resource pool (see par. 0128), a preset bandwidth part, or a preset carrier, or the power saving information further comprises third power saving information, wherein, the third power saving information corresponds to at least one power saving configuration in target power saving configurations, and the target power saving configurations comprise the first-type power saving configuration and the second-type power saving configuration, wherein power saving information corresponding to power saving configurations of different types meets at least one of the following: types of the power saving information are different; resources of the power saving information are different; manners of determining the resources of the power saving information are different; or sequences, channels, signals, or signaling of the resources of the power saving information is different [The network may configure some parameters of the wake-up signal, for example, the resource location, period, property, etc., and the UE may determine the remaining parameters.] (see par. 0129). Regarding claims 19-20, they are the corresponding device claims of method claims 1 and 13. Therefore, claims 19-20 are rejected for the same reasons 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 at (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 2 earlier events
Oct 27, 2025
Response Filed
Nov 21, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Jan 21, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 02, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 10, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 24, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Jun 23, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 27, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
68%
Grant Probability
78%
With Interview (+10.7%)
3y 4m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 709 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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