Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/147,606

CELL MEASUREMENT INDICATION METHOD, TERMINAL DEVICE, AND NETWORK DEVICE

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Dec 28, 2022
Priority
Aug 03, 2020 — continuation of PCTCN2020106665
Examiner
KIDANE, MEHERET WOLDEGEBREAL
Art Unit
2464
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
17 granted / 19 resolved
+31.5% vs TC avg
Strong +15% interview lift
Without
With
+15.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
50
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§103
89.6%
+49.6% vs TC avg
§102
9.4%
-30.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 19 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 . 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 12/17/2025 has been entered. 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. Claim(s) 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 20 21, 23 and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kaikkonen et al. (US 2022/0007293; hereinafter Kaikkonen) in view of Kim et al. (US 2021/0105643; Kim). Regarding claim 1, Kaikkonen teaches a method for indicating cell measurement, comprising: receiving an evaluation parameter of a low-speed mobility criterion sent by a network device (Paragraph [0025]; [0101] Describes receiving mobility parameters from the network, where the network indicates the user equipment to be in “low mobility”. Paragraph [0099] Shows the network device sending specific threshold parameters for mobility evaluation), wherein the evaluation parameter of the low-speed mobility criterion comprises: a first duration and a change threshold value of a reference signal received signal strength (Paragraphs [0102]; [0104] describes using a timer duration and threshold values applied to signal measurements), wherein the first duration is an evaluation duration of the reference signal received signal strength change (Paragraphs [0128]; [0131] describes by showing continuous evaluation of mobility parameters during timer periods, which inherently involves monitoring signal strength changes over the evaluation duration); evaluating a mobility state of a terminal device according to the evaluation parameter, a measurement result of a serving cell, and a condition of the low-speed mobility criterion (Paragraphs [0126]-[0127] describes mobility state determination (determined to be low or stationary) using evaluation parameters (timer and threshold conditions)), Kaikkonen doesn’t teach comprising: in response to the measurement result continuously satisfying (SrxlevRef-Srxlev) < SsearchDeltaP in the first duration, determining that the mobility state of the terminal device is in low-speed mobility, wherein SrxlevRef is a reference value of the reference signal received signal strength, Srxlev is a measurement value of the reference signal received signal strength of the serving cell, and SsearchDeltaP is a change threshold value of the reference signal received signal strength; However, in analogous art Kim teaches comprising: in response to the measurement result continuously satisfying (SrxlevRef-Srxlev) < SsearchDeltaP in the first duration, determining that the mobility state of the terminal device is in low-speed mobility (Paragraphs [0125]; [0146]-[0151]; [0163]; [0271] describes use formula (SrxlevRef-Srxlev) < SsearchDeltaP) check if it is satisfied continuously over the period TSearchDeltap (first duration) when satisfied, determine the UE is in “ a low-speed state”), wherein SrxlevRef is a reference value of the reference signal received signal strength, Srxlev is a measurement value of the reference signal received signal strength of the serving cell, and SsearchDeltaP is a change threshold value of the reference signal received signal strength (Paragraphs [0132]-[0133]; [0254] describes that SrxlevRef stores a reference point based on Srxlev (signal strength) or reference value of the reference signal received signal strength. Paragraphs [0108]-[0109]; [0131]; [0253] describes that Srxlev is calculated from RSRP, which is a measurement value of the reference signal received signal strength. Paragraphs [0139]; [0143]; [0253] describes that SsearchDeltaP is the threshold for detecting changes in signal strength ); Kaikkonen teaches reporting the mobility state of the terminal device to the network device for the network device to determine a cell measurement state (Paragraph [0136] describes reporting requirements how the user equipment sends mobility-related information to the network using various communication protocols). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Kaikkonen to incorporate the teachings of Kim to provide enhanced mobility state determination with defined continuous evaluation parameters for relaxed RRM measurement. Doing so would improve power saving efficiency while maintaining strong mobility performance (Kim, Paragraph [0003]). Regarding claim 3, Kaikkonen in view of Kim, Kaikkonen teaches wherein the reference signal received signal strength is represented by at least one of the following signals: Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal received Quality (RSRQ) (Paragraph [0138] describes “RSRP” and “RSRQ” as signal quality metrics used in threshold-based evaluations for measurement decisions). Regarding claim 5, Kaikkonen in view of Kim, Kaikkonen teaches wherein the condition of the low-speed mobility criterion comprises at least one of: an entry condition of the low-speed mobility criterion; or, a departure condition of the low-speed mobility criterion (Paragraph [0128] describes the entry condition by describing the specific criteria that must be satisfied for the device to enter the low mobility state). Regarding claim 7, Kaikkonen in view of Kim, Kim teaches wherein an initial value of the SrxlevRef is a current measurement value of the reference signal received signal strength when the terminal device receives the evaluation parameter of the low-speed mobility criterion sent by the network device (Paragraphs [0132]-[0137]; [0259] discloses that when the UE receives configuration parameters (evaluation parameters) through either dedicated signaling or system information, this triggers conditions under which SrxlevRef is initialized to the current measurement value of signal strength). Regarding claim 8, Kaikkonen in view of Kim, Kim teaches further comprising: updating the SrxlevRef to the current measurement value of the reference signal received signal strength when an entry condition of the low-speed mobility criterion is not satisfied; or, updating the SrxlevRef to the current measurement value of the reference signal received signal strength when a departure condition of the low-speed mobility criterion is satisfied (Paragraphs [0136]-[0137];[0163]-[0167]; [0196]-[0198] describes when criterion to enter/maintain low-speed mobility fails update SrxlevRef). Regarding claim 20, Kaikkonen in view of Kim, Kaikkonen teaches a network device comprising: a processor, a memory, and a computer program stored on the memory and executable by the processor, wherein when the computer program is executed by the processor, a method for indicating cell measurement of claim 10 is implemented (Paragraph [0029] describes that the memory stores software modules (computer program) that are executed by the processor to implement the described functions). Claims 10 and 17 are rejected for the same reason as set forth in claim 1 respectively. Claims 12 and 19 are rejected for the same reason as set forth in claim 3 respectively. Claims 14 and 21 are rejected for the same reason as set forth in claim 5 respectively. Claims 16 and 23 are rejected for the same reason as set forth in claim 7 respectively. Claim 24 is rejected for the same reason as set forth in claim 8 respectively. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MEHERET WOLDEGEBREAL KIDANE whose telephone number is (571)270-3642. The examiner can normally be reached M-F8:30-5. 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, Ricky Ngo can be reached at 571-272-3139. 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. /Chandrahas B Patel/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2464 /M.W.K./Examiner, Art Unit 2464
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Show 1 earlier event
Apr 21, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 14, 2025
Response Filed
Sep 18, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Nov 11, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 17, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Dec 21, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 18, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
May 15, 2026
Response Filed

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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
90%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+15.4%)
3y 0m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 19 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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