Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/258,155

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MBS RECEPTION IN RRC IDLE AND RRC INACTIVE STATE IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Jun 16, 2023
Priority
Dec 17, 2020 — RE 10-2020-0177524 +1 more
Examiner
SEFCHECK, GREGORY B
Art Unit
2477
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Final)
69%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 69% — above average
69%
Career Allowance Rate
481 granted / 695 resolved
+11.2% vs TC avg
Strong +20% interview lift
Without
With
+19.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 6m
Avg Prosecution
46 currently pending
Career history
748
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
§103
60.3%
+20.3% vs TC avg
§102
20.3%
-19.7% vs TC avg
§112
7.7%
-32.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 695 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Amendment filed 8/12/2026 is acknowledged. Claims 1, 2, 4-9, 11-13, and 15 have been amended. The previous objection to claims 4, 7, 11, and 15 is withdrawn in light of the present amendments. Claims 1-15 remain pending. 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 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al. (US20200351818A1), hereafter Park, in view of Fujishiro et al. (US20230171791A1), hereafter Fujishiro. Regarding claims 1 and 8, Park discloses a method performed by a terminal (Fig. 3, wireless device 110) in a wireless communication system comprising at least one transceiver (Fig. 3, communication interfaces 310) and at least one processor (Fig. 3, processor 314) coupled to the at least one transceiver and at least one memory (Fig. 3, memory 315) coupled to the at least one processor storing instructions (Fig. 3, instructions 316) executable by the processor to cause the terminal to receive, from a base station (Fig. 3, base station 120A/B), a search space configuration for MBS in a SIB including a search space ID (paragraph 126, 185-187, 249; base station configures wireless device with MBMS service via common, device-specific, paging search spaces including search space ID via SIB1). Park further shows receiving configuration information associated with the MBS including information on a duration of a window (paragraph 141, 146, 185-187; various time window configurations, length of DRX, PDCCH monitoring occasions), identifying at least one PDCCH monitoring occasion within the window based on the search space configuration for the MBS (paragraph 187; PDCCH monitoring occasions according to a paging search space and/or monitoring occasion parameter), and monitoring a PDCCH addressed to a RNTI associated with the MBS in a PDCCH monitoring occasion of the at least one PDCCH monitoring occasion within the window (paragraph 106-110, 145-149, 187, 247; base station dynamically allocates resources to the wireless device via RNTI one or more PDCCHs; paging information scrambled with RNTI is received on monitored PDCCH occasions). Park further shows information associated with a period (paragraph 95, 107-116, 187-188; periodicity of PDCCH monitoring/SSB reception configured by the network) and offset (paragraph 184-185, 249-251; ssb-subcarrier offset) of the window as well as PDCCH monitoring starts based on a SFN where SFN modulo the period equals the offset (paragraph 138, 184; SFN for a PF determined based on the disclosed equations) but fails to expressly disclose an MBS window and information on a period and offset from which an identified SFN is based where the window starts. Fujishiro discloses a communication control method for MBS control channels (Title: Abstract; Fig. 7, 8) including an MBS window and information on a period and offset from which an identified SFN is based where the window starts (paragraph 104-120; MBS scheduling information includes On duration timer, scheduling period and start offset (SFN offset value)). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of effective filing to modify Park by providing for an MBS window and information on a period and offset from which an identified SFN is based where the window starts, as shown by Fujishiro, thereby enabling directly pointing/receiving MBS traffic channels for each MBS service identifier without use of the conventional MBS control channel. Regarding claims 5 and 12, Park discloses a method performed by a base station (Fig. 3, base station 120A/B) in a wireless communication system comprising at least one transceiver (Fig. 3, communication interfaces 320A/B) and at least one processor (Fig. 3, processor 321A/B) coupled to the at least one transceiver and at least one memory (Fig. 3, memory 322A/B) coupled to the at least one processor storing instructions (Fig. 3, instructions 323A/B) executable by the processor to cause the transmitting, to a terminal (Fig. 3, wireless device 110), a search space configuration for MBS in a SIB including a search space ID (paragraph 126, 185-187, 249; base station configures wireless device with MBMS service via common, device-specific, paging search spaces including search space ID via SIB1). Park further shows transmitting configuration information associated with the MBS including information on a duration of a window (paragraph 141, 146, 185-187; various time window configurations, length of DRX, PDCCH monitoring occasions), and transmitting control information for the MBS in a PDCCH monitoring occasion of at least one PDCCH monitoring occasion within the window based on the search space configuration for the MBS (paragraph 106-110, 145-149, 187, 247; PDCCH monitoring occasions according to a paging search space and/or monitoring occasion parameter). Park further shows information associated with a period (paragraph 95, 107-116, 187-188; periodicity of PDCCH monitoring/SSB reception configured by the network) and offset (paragraph 184-185, 249-251; ssb-subcarrier offset) of the window as well as PDCCH monitoring starts based on a SFN where SFN modulo the period equals the offset (paragraph 138, 184; SFN for a PF determined based on the disclosed equations) but fails to expressly disclose an MBS window and information on a period and offset from which an identified SFN is based where the window starts. Fujishiro discloses a communication control method for MBS control channels (Title: Abstract; Fig. 7, 8) including an MBS window and information on a period and offset from which an identified SFN is based where the window starts (paragraph 104-120; MBS scheduling information includes On duration timer, scheduling period and start offset (SFN offset value)). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the time of effective filing to modify Park by providing for an MBS window and information on a period and offset from which an identified SFN is based where the window starts, as shown by Fujishiro, thereby enabling directly pointing/receiving MBS traffic channels for each MBS service identifier without use of the conventional MBS control channel. Regarding claims 2, 6, 9, and 13, The combination of Park and Fujishiro further discloses the at least one PDCCH monitoring occasion is sequentially numbered from one in the window, and wherein a (x*N+k)-th PDCCH monitoring occasion corresponds to a k-th SSB, where x = 0, 1, .., X-1, X is equal to ceil{(number of PDCCH monitoring occasions for the MBS in the window)/N}, N is number of the at least one actual transmitted SSB, and K=1,2,..N (paragraph 187; sequentially numbered from zero starting from the first PDCCH monitoring occasion for paging in the PF, starting PDCCH monitoring occasion number/quantity of (i_s+1)th PO may be the (i_s+1)th value of the monitoring occassion parameter (e.g., firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO), for example, if the monitoring occassion parameter (e.g., firstPDCCH-MonitoringOccasionOfPO) is present). Regarding claim 3, 4, 7, 10, 11, 14, and 15, The combination of Park and Fujishiro further discloses the search space configuration for the MBS includes information associated with a search space type (paragraph 126, 185-187; base station configures wireless device with common, device-specific, paging search spaces including search space ID via SIB1) and further includes information associated with a period (paragraph 95, 107-116, 187-188; periodicity of PDCCH monitoring/SSB reception configured by the network) and offset (paragraph 184-185, 249-251; ssb-subcarrier offset) of the window for the PDCCH monitoring for the MBS that starts based on a SFN where SFN modulo the period satisfies the offset (paragraph 138, 184; SFN for a PF determined based on the disclosed equations). Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection relies on newly-cited Fujishiro reference for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Rastegardoost et al. (US20230189232A1); Bandwidth Part with Subband Hopping. Paragraph 235 discusses period/duration/offset with respect to SFN via multicast signaling. 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 GREGORY B SEFCHECK whose telephone number is (571)272-3098. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 6AM-4PM. 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 at 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 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. /GREGORY B SEFCHECK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2477
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Prosecution Timeline

Show 3 earlier events
Oct 23, 2025
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jan 23, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jan 29, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
May 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Aug 12, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 26, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Sep 14, 2026
Applicant Interview (Telephonic)
Sep 14, 2026
Examiner Interview Summary

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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
69%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (+19.6%)
3y 6m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 695 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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