Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 04, 2026
Application No. 18/261,767

RADIO RESOURCE CONTROL CONFIGURATION FOR POSITIONING REFERENCE SIGNAL AGGREGATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 17, 2023
Priority
Feb 08, 2021 — GR 20210100085 +1 more
Examiner
AREVALO, JOSEPH
Art Unit
2642
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
717 granted / 850 resolved
+22.4% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+20.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
882
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
§103
56.7%
+16.7% vs TC avg
§102
24.6%
-15.4% vs TC avg
§112
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 850 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Art Unit- Location The Art Unit location of your application in the USPTO has changed. To aid in correlating any papers for this application, all further correspondence regarding this application should be directed to Art Unit 2642. Election Requirement and Claim status The Applicant hereby elects, without traverse, the claims of Invention II corresponding to Claims 25-26, 29-32, 35-37, 40-49, 96-97, 100-103, 106-108, and 111-120 for further examination. Claims 1-2, 5, 50-55, 62-66, 72-73, 76, 121-125 and 131-135 are Withdrawn Priority Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/17/2023 and 01/12/2026 are in compliance with the provision of 37 CFR 1.97, have been considered by the Examiner, and made of record in the application file. Claim Objections Claims 40-42, 49, 111-113 and 120 were objected to because of the following informalities: The claims recites different acronyms without be defined. Such as FLs and BWPs. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 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. Claims 25-26, 29-32, 35-37, 40-41, 44-46, 48-49, 96-97, 100-103, 106-108, 111-112, 115-117 and 119-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Cha US Patent No. :( US 11,901,964 B2) hereinafter referred as Cha. For Claim 25, Cha discloses a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a positioning resource configuration that defines an aggregate positioning resource ( 2503 fig. 25) column 2, lines 11-14 discloses the measurement value of the positioning containing the measurement value to the positioning RS which defines the configuration describing a synthetic positioning resource and how the user equipment (UE) utilizes this information for positioning measurements) comprising a plurality of positioning resource blocks that differ from each other in a time domain, in a frequency domain, or both (column 2, lines 23-31), (column 10, lines 49-59) and (column 19, lines 1-8); and performing a positioning measurement using the aggregate positioning resource (column 13, lines 37-44 disclosing the Position Reference Signal ). For Claim 26, Cha discloses the method, wherein performing a positioning measurement using the aggregate positioning resource comprises receiving one or more reference signals within the aggregate positioning resource according to the positioning resource configuration and performing a measurement of the one or more reference signals (column 15, lines 58-61) and (column 17, lines 23-31 and 46-50). For Claim 29, Cha discloses the method, wherein the positioning resource configuration comprises an information element (IE) that associates the plurality of positioning resources together to form the aggregate positioning resource (column 21, lines 30-31) - (column 22, lines 1-5). For Claim 30, Cha discloses the method, wherein the positioning resource configuration comprises a list of positioning resource blocks, each positioning resource block having a specified position in a time domain and in a frequency domain (column 10, lines 10-24). For Claim 31, Cha discloses the method, wherein receiving the positioning resource configuration comprises receiving parameters that define: a positioning resource block; a number of times the positioning resource block is repeated; and an offset in the time domain, an offset in the frequency domain, or both, for each repetition of the positioning resource block (column 38, lines 35-43). For Claim 32, Cha discloses the method, wherein receiving the positioning resource configuration further comprises receiving parameters that define: a bandwidth of each positioning resource block; a frequency gap between repetitions of the positioning resource block; a time gap between repetitions of the positioning resource block; or a positioning resource block comb pattern (column 10, lines 47-64), (column 41, lines 12-16) and (column 11, lines 11-17). For Claim 35, Cha discloses the method, wherein the aggregate positioning resource is associated with its own positioning resource identifier (column 29, lines 33-41). For Claim 36, Cha discloses the method, wherein each positioning resource block comprises a downlink (DL) positioning reference signal (PRS) block or an uplink (UL) sounding reference signal (SRS) block (column 24, lines 18-22). For Claim 37, Cha discloses the method, wherein the positioning resource configuration is received from a positioning server comprising a location management function (LMF) or a secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP), or from a serving base station (column 26, lines 20-23). For Claim 40, Cha discloses the method, wherein the positioning resource configuration associates a set of FLs or BWPs to each other (column 13, lines 39-44). For Claim 41, Cha discloses the method, wherein all positioning resource sets within the set of FLs or BWPs are associated to each other, all positioning resources within the FLs or BWPs are associated to each other, or combinations thereof (column 14, lines 57-60) and (column 13, lines 39-44). For Claim 44, Cha discloses the method, wherein the positioning resource configuration associates a set of positioning resource sets to each other (column 30, lines 51-63 disclosing the UE may be configured/indicated with reference configuration information related to a DL PRS resource to be used as a reference for measurement of a DL RSTD. The reference configuration information may include a list (reference PRS resource ID) of a cell/BS/TRP ID ). For Claim 45, Cha discloses the method, wherein all positioning resources within the set of positioning resource sets are associated to each other (column 21, lines 30-31) - (column 22, lines 1-5 and 16-26). For Claim 46, Cha discloses the method, wherein, among the set of positioning resource sets, only positioning resources having the same positioning resource ID are associated to each other (column 42, lines 26-32). For Claim 48, Cha discloses the method, wherein the positioning resource configuration associates a set of positioning resources to each other (column 30, lines 51-63 disclosing the UE may be configured/indicated with reference configuration information related to a DL PRS resource to be used as a reference for measurement of a DL RSTD. The reference configuration information may include a list (reference PRS resource ID) of a cell/BS/TRP ID ). For Claim 49, Cha discloses the method, wherein the positioning resource configuration: associates a FL or BWP with another FL or BWP; associates a FL or BWP with a positioning resource set in another FL or BWP; associates a FL or BWP with a positioning resource in another positioning resource set in the same FL or BWP or in a different FL, or BWP; or combinations thereof (column 13, lines 39-44) and (column 43, lines 43-55). For Claim 96, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), comprising: a memory (230 fig. 27); at least one transceiver (235 fig. 27); and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the at least one transceiver (210 fig. 27), the at least one processor configured to: receive a positioning resource configuration that defines an aggregate positioning resource ( 2503 fig. 25) column 2, lines 11-14 discloses the measurement value of the positioning containing the measurement value to the positioning RS which defines the configuration describing a synthetic positioning resource and how the user equipment (UE) utilizes this information for positioning measurements) comprising a plurality of positioning resource blocks that differ from each other in a time domain, in a frequency domain, or both (column 2, lines 23-31), (column 10, lines 49-59) and (column 19, lines 1-8); and perform a positioning measurement using the aggregate positioning resource (column 13, lines 37-44 disclosing the Position Reference Signal). For Claim 97, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein, to perform the positioning measurement using the aggregate positioning resource, the at least one processor is configured to receive one or more reference signals within the aggregate positioning resource according to the positioning resource configuration and performing a measurement of the one or more reference signals (column 15, lines 58-61) and (column 17, lines 23-31 and 46-50). For Claim 100, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration comprises an information element (IE) that associates the plurality of positioning resources together to form the aggregate positioning resource (column 21, lines 30-31) - (column 22, lines 1-5). For Claim 101, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration comprises a list of positioning resource blocks, each positioning resource block having a specified position in a time domain and in a frequency domain (column 10, lines 10-24). For Claim 102, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration comprises parameters that define: a positioning resource block; a number of times the positioning resource block is repeated; and an offset in the time domain, an offset in the frequency domain, or both, for each repetition of the positioning resource block (column 38, lines 35-43). For Claim 103, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration further comprises parameters that define: a bandwidth of each positioning resource block; a frequency gap between repetitions of the positioning resource block; a time gap between repetitions of the positioning resource block; or a positioning resource block comb pattern (column 10, lines 47-64), (column 41, lines 12-16) and (column 11, lines 11-17). For Claim 106, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the aggregate positioning resource is associated with its own positioning resource identifier (column 29, lines 33-41). For Claim 107, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein each positioning resource block comprises a downlink (DL) positioning reference signal (PRS) block or an uplink (UL) sounding reference signal (SRS) block (column 24, lines 18-22). For Claim 108, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration is received from a positioning server comprising a location management function (LMF) or a secure user plane location (SUPL) location platform (SLP), or from a serving base station (column 26, lines 20-23). For Claim 111, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration associates a set of FLs or BWPs to each other (column 13, lines 39-44). For Claim 112, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein all positioning resource sets within the set of FLs or BWPs are associated to each other, all positioning resources within the FLs or BWPs are associated to each other, or combinations thereof (column 14, lines 57-60) and (column 13, lines 39-44). For Claim 115, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration associates a set of positioning resource sets to each other (column 30, lines 51-63 disclosing the UE may be configured/indicated with reference configuration information related to a DL PRS resource to be used as a reference for measurement of a DL RSTD. The reference configuration information may include a list (reference PRS resource ID) of a cell/BS/TRP ID ). For Claim 116, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein all positioning resources within the set of positioning resource sets are associated to each other. For Claim 117, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein, among the set of positioning resource sets, only positioning resources having the same positioning resource ID are associated to each other (column 42, lines 26-32). For Claim 119, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration associates a set of positioning resources to each other (column 30, lines 51-63 disclosing the UE may be configured/indicated with reference configuration information related to a DL PRS resource to be used as a reference for measurement of a DL RSTD. The reference configuration information may include a list (reference PRS resource ID) of a cell/BS/TRP ID ). For Claim 120, Cha discloses a user equipment (UE), wherein the positioning resource configuration: associates a FL or BWP with another FL or BWP; associates a FL or BWP with a positioning resource set in another FL or BWP; associates a FL or BWP with a positioning resource in another positioning resource set in the same FL or BWP or in a different FL, or BWP; or combinations thereof (column 13, lines 39-44) and (column 43, lines 43-55). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 42-43, 47, 113-114 and 118 are objected as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure is shown in the following table: US-20190261367-A1 Wu; Ming US-12302277-B2 Cha; Hyunsu US-20200266942-A1 Akkarakaran; Sony US-20230208590-A1 LI; Mingju US-20230117493-A1 LI; Mingju US-20220368488-A1 BERGGREN; Anders US-20220256519-A1 Jeon; Jeongho US-20220095296-A1 Franke; Norbert US-20220007354-A1 SI; Ye US-20210091905-A1 SI; Ye US-20100260154-A1 Frank; Colin D. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JOSEPH AREVALO whose telephone number is (571)270-3121. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:30-5:00 PM. 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, Rafael Perez-Gutierrez can be reached on (571)272-7915. 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. /JOSEPH AREVALO/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2642
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Prosecution Timeline

Jul 17, 2023
Application Filed
Apr 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+20.8%)
2y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 850 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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