Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/225,255

ENERGY-SAVING INFORMATION DETERMINATION METHOD, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Jul 24, 2023
Priority
Feb 05, 2021 — continuation of PCTCN2021075552
Examiner
WU, JIANYE
Art Unit
2462
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
709 granted / 865 resolved
+24.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+14.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
911
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.0%
-34.0% vs TC avg
§103
56.8%
+16.8% vs TC avg
§102
8.1%
-31.9% vs TC avg
§112
20.5%
-19.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 865 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 . Response to Arguments/Amendments Applicant's arguments regarding 103 rejection filed 6/01/26 have been fully considered but they are moot due to the fact that all independent have been amended, to which new ground rejections have been made bellow. 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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over D1 (CN 112118615 A) in view of R2-2101148 (3GPP R2-2101148). For claim 1, D1 discloses a method for determining power-saving information (p17, 2nd para “… UE can determine the time domain information of the first paging occasion according to the indication information, reduces the blind detection of the paging message, reduces the detection power consumption of the UE”), comprising: determining, by a terminal device, a plurality of bit fields indicating power-saving information in downlink control information (p7, 2nd full para “… It can be understood that the paging indication information may be a plurality of bit values, the bit value can be the first indication value 1 or the second indication value 0, 1 represents the corresponding paging group needs to receive the paging message, 0 represents the corresponding paging group does not need to receive the paging message.” ; p17, 2nd para “… UE can determine the time domain information of the first paging occasion according to the indication information, reduces the blind detection of the paging message, reduces the detection power consumption of the UE”; and p41, last para extending to next page “… For example, paging indication information included in the control message for scheduling RMSI, … is a cyclic redundancy check (cyclic redundancy check, CRC) scrambled downlink control information (DCI).”; note that paging indication information suggests power-saving and the size of bit fields is the number of groups) based on: information of terminal device groups corresponding to the power-saving information (claim 1 “… the terminal device receives the paging indication information sent by the network device; the paging indication information is used for indicating whether at least one paging group needs to receive the paging message …”); information of paging occasions corresponding to the power-saving information (Abstract “… the terminal device determines the paging occasion of the paging group receiving the paging message of the terminal device according to the paging indication information. …”); wherein the information of the terminal device groups comprises a number of the terminal device groups corresponding to the power-saving information, and the information of the paging occasions comprises: a number of the paging occasions, or a number of paging occasion groups, one paging occasion group comprising at least two paging occasions. a number of the terminal device groups corresponding to the power-saving information (claim 3, “… determining a first paging group number m required to receive a paging message; determining the paging group number n of the terminal device.”; note that paging group provides power saving as explained in the parent claims). As to claims 5 and 16, D1 discloses claims 1 and 14, D1 further discloses: wherein the information of the paging occasions comprises: a number of the paging occasions, or a number of paging occasion groups (claim 2, “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.”), or wherein the size of the bit fields for indicating the power-saving information is related to a number of the paging occasions or a number of paging occasion groups corresponding to the power-saving information (claim 2, “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.”; note that the smaller the N, the more the power-saving is because each paging group consume power). D1 does not specifically state a size of bit fields indicating power-saving information. However, D1 recites in claim 2 “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.”, OOSA would have been motivated to select N as a size of the bits as an obvious try providing power saving information for each group according to MPEP 2143(E). Therefore, it would have been obvious to OOSA before the effective filing date of the application to provide a size of the bits for the benefit of indicating power-saving information. Independent claim 9 is rejected because it is the claim of a terminal device that performs the method of claim 1 and has the same subject matter as claim 1. Independent claim 14 is rejected because it is the claim of a network device that performs the method of claim 1 and has the same subject matter as claim 1. As to claims 2 and 15, D1 discloses claims 1 and 14, D1 further discloses: wherein the information of the terminal device groups further comprises: a bit field size of the power-saving information corresponding to each of the terminal device groups (claim 1, “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.”). As to claim 3, D1 discloses claim 2, D1 further discloses: wherein the size of the bit fields for indicating the power-saving information is a sum of bit field sizes of the power-saving information corresponding to all of the terminal device groups (claim 2, “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.” in view of the parent claims). As to claim 4, D1 discloses claim 2, D1 further discloses: wherein the power-saving information corresponding to each of the terminal device groups has a same bit field size (claim 2, “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.”; note that each group has a same bit field size of 1); or the power-saving information corresponding to each of the terminal device groups has a different bit field size (using a different bit field size for each of the terminal device groups is a design choice which is obvious to OOSA according to MPEP 2143(F)). Note that each device group either has a same bit field size or has a different bit field size. As to claims 6, 10, 17 and 18, D1 discloses claims 1, 9, 14 and 16, D1 further discloses: wherein one bit field of the power-saving information corresponding to each terminal device group corresponds to one paging occasion or one paging occasion group (claim 2, “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.” And claim 3 “… terminal device determines the paging occasion of the paging group …”). As to claims 7 and 19, D1 discloses claims 1 and 14, D1 further discloses: wherein the paging occasions corresponding to the power-saving information are determined by second configuration information transmitted by the network device (p5, 3rd para “… receiving the paging message at the paging occasion of the paging group configuration; and it is necessary to further judge the paging occasion of receiving the paging message according to the paging indication information. That is, in the embodiment of the invention, paging group after receiving the paging indication information, receiving the paging message, the corresponding relation of paging occasion and paging group is not fixed, paging group can flexibly adjust the corresponding relation of the paging occasion and paging group according to the paging indication information. …”); or the paging occasions corresponding to the power-saving information are indicated by the downlink control information (p41, last para extending to next page “… For example, paging indication information included in the control message for scheduling RMSI, … is a cyclic redundancy check (cyclic redundancy check, CRC) scrambled downlink control information (DCI).”). As to claims 8 and 20, D1 discloses claims 1 and 14, D1 further discloses: wherein the downlink control information indicates only the power-saving information (p41, last para extending to next page “… For example, paging indication information included in the control message for scheduling RMSI, … is a cyclic redundancy check (cyclic redundancy check, CRC) scrambled downlink control information (DCI).”), or the downlink control information further indicates first information, the first information being different from the power-saving information (p41, last para extending to next page “… For example, paging indication information included in the control message for scheduling RMSI, … is a cyclic redundancy check (cyclic redundancy check, CRC) scrambled downlink control information (DCI).”; note that CRC is for error detection, different from the power-saving). As to claim 11, D1 discloses claim 9, D1 further discloses: wherein the information of the paging occasions corresponding to the power-saving information is determined by the network device (claim 1 “… the terminal device receives the paging indication information sent by the network device; the paging indication information is used for indicating whether at least one paging group needs to receive the paging message …” and p17, 2nd para “… UE can determine the time domain information of the first paging occasion according to the indication information, reduces the blind detection of the paging message, reduces the detection power consumption of the UE”). As to claim 12, D1 discloses claim 9, D1 further discloses wherein the power-saving information indicates whether the terminal device receives a paging message at a target paging occasion before the target paging occasion arrives (claim 2, “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.”; note that each of N bits indicates whether a target paging to be arrived). As to claim 13, D1 discloses claim 9, D1 further discloses wherein the processor is further configured to determine a position of the power-saving information in the downlink control information (p7, 2nd full para “… It can be understood that the paging indication information may be a plurality of bit values, the bit value can be the first indication value 1 or the second indication value 0, 1 represents the corresponding paging group needs to receive the paging message, 0 represents the corresponding paging group does not need to receive the paging message.”, p41, last para extending to next page “… For example, paging indication information included in the control message for scheduling RMSI, … is a cyclic redundancy check (cyclic redundancy check, CRC) scrambled downlink control information (DCI).” and claim 2, “said paging indication information comprises N bits, each bit in said N bits corresponds to a paging group, and said N is the number of paging groups.”; note that the position of a paging group is determine by its position in the N bits, and each bit carries the power-saving information). 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 JIANYE WU whose telephone number is (571)270-1665. The examiner can normally be reached M-TH 8am-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, Yemane Mesfin can be reached at (571) 272-3927. 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. /JIANYE WU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2462
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 5 earlier events
Feb 02, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Feb 11, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 24, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 07, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary
Apr 07, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Jun 01, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 15, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103 (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

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+14.5%)
2y 11m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 865 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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