Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/284,915

NR POSITIONING - METHODS FOR RESOURCE PROVISION IN SIDELINK POSITIONING

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 29, 2023
Examiner
CAIRNS, THOMAS R
Art Unit
2468
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allow Rate
241 granted / 297 resolved
+23.1% vs TC avg
Strong +28% interview lift
Without
With
+27.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
321
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.8%
-37.2% vs TC avg
§103
51.0%
+11.0% vs TC avg
§102
22.5%
-17.5% vs TC avg
§112
15.6%
-24.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 297 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
DETAILED ACTION This action is responsive to claims filed on 29 September 2023 and Information Disclosure Statement filed on 12 January 2024. 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. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on FILLIN "Enter date IDS was filed" \* MERGEFORMAT 12 January 2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered and attached by the examiner. Response to Amendment Claims 1-20 were originally filed on 23 September 2023. The Specification and claims 1 and 12-16 have been amended by preliminary amendments filed on 23 September 2023. Claims 1-20 remain pending for examination. Claim Objections Claim FILLIN "Enter claim indentification information" \* MERGEFORMAT s 1, 9, 11, 16, and 20 are objected to because of the following informalities: Regarding Claim 1 : Line 1 — “WTRU” should be spelled out; Line 5 — “DL” should be spelled out; Line 10 — “the group” lacks an antecedent basis; Line 11 — “QoS” should be spelled out; Line 16 — “a SL-PRS” should read as “a n SL-PRS”; Regarding Claim 9, lines 1-2 — “the performing a PRS measurement” lacks and antecedent basis; Regarding Claim 11, line 2 — “LMR/ gNB ” should be spelled out; Regarding Claim 16 : Line 7 — “DL” should be spelled out; Line 14 — “QoS” should be spelled out; Line 19 — “a SL-PRS” should read as “a n SL-PRS”; and Regarding Claim 20, line 1 — “the performing a PRS measurement” lacks and antecedent basis. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b ) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the appl icant regards as his invention. Claim FILLIN "Enter claim indentification information" \* MERGEFORMAT s 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention . Regarding Claim 1, “ transmitting a request using the destination ID, the request including at least one parameter … and an indication if the request is initiating a SL-PRS transmission for at least one other WTRU or an SL-PRS reception for the at least one other WTRU ” is indefinite, because it is unclear how the “if” statement affects the scope of the claim: if the “if” statement is not satisfied (i.e., not true), does the claimed transmission of a request need not occur, the request need not include the claimed parameter or indication, or the request need not include the claimed indication. The Specification does not appear to clarify the issue; therefore, the intended scope of the claim cannot be ascertained, preventing further consideration. Regarding Claims 2-15, by virtue of ultimately depending on claim 1, claims 2-15 at least inherit the deficiencies of claim 1, and are likewise excluded from further consideration. Regarding Claim FILLIN "Pluralize the word 'Claim' if necessary and then identify the claim(s) being rejected." \* MERGEFORMAT 16 , though of a different scope, the limitations of claim 16 are substantially similar or identical to those of claim 1 , and is rejected under the same reasoning. Regarding Claims 17-20, by virtue of ultimately depending on claim 16, claims 17-20 at least inherit the deficiencies of claim 16, and are likewise excluded from further consideration. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d): (d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph: Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers. Claim FILLIN "Pluralize \“Claim\” if necessary, insert \“is\” or \“are\” as appropriate, and insert the claim number(s) which are under rejection." s 9 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends. Regarding Claim 9, assuming “the performing a PRS measurement” is intended to refer to claim 1’s “performing a SL-PRS measurement”, claim 9’s feature that the performing “includes one of a SL-PRS and a DL (downlink)-PRS” is not further limiting, because claim 1 already requires the performing to be an “SL-PRS measurement,” which must inherently include an SL-PRS to be measured. Regarding Claim 20 , assuming “the performing a PRS measurement” is intended to refer to claim 16’s “performing a SL-PRS measurement”, claim 20’s feature that the performing “includes one of a SL-PRS and a DL (downlink)-PRS” is not further limiting, because claim 16 already requires the performing to be an “SL-PRS measurement,” which must inherently include an SL-PRS to be measured. Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Thomas et al. (US 2024/0163835) , at Figs. 6- 7B, 11, 12 , 14 and associated description, discloses a UE receiving DL-PRS resources and radio bearer configurations for sidelink (SL) positioning from a base station, requesting resources for SL positioning, and receiving SL positioning time-frequency resources, the UE providing SL positioning control information to another UE and transmitting a SL PRS via PSSCH ; Thomas et al. (US 2023/0296752) , at Figs. 1, 3, 6-8 and associated description, discloses a UE being configured with SL-PRS resources and target identifier and DL-PRS resources; Ganesan et al. (US 2023/0199802) , at Figs. 4-7, 12-14 and associated description, discloses a UE being configured with SL-PRS and DL-PRS resources , the UE receiving DL-PRS and transmitting or receiving SL-PRS and transmitting a measurement report to the gNB ; Hong et al. (US 2023/0198708) , at Figs. 9A, 13, 20-30 and associated description, discloses a UE receiving PRS resources for DL PRS and SL PRS and performing positioning service procedures; Cha et al. (US 2021/0006372) , at Figs. 15-19B and associated description, discloses a network providing PRS resource configuration to a UE which provides a PRS report back to the network ; Cha et al. (US 2022/0271888) , at Figs. 14-26 and associated description, discloses a UE receiving PRS resource configuration from a TRP/BS or LMF, which may include a PRS muting pattern, and the UE providing positioning information to the network accordingly; and Akkarakaran et al. (US 2020/0028648) , at Figs. 10-12 and associated description, discloses a UE requesting to participate in a UE positioning procedure and the UE receiving PRS resources accordingly . A shortened statutory period for reply to this action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. An extension of time may be obtained under 37 CFR 1.136(a). However, in no event, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of the action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FILLIN "Examiner name" \* MERGEFORMAT THOMAS R CAIRNS whose telephone number is FILLIN "Phone number" \* MERGEFORMAT (571)270-0487 . The examiner can normally be reached FILLIN "Work Schedule?" \* MERGEFORMAT 9AM-5PM ET 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, FILLIN "SPE Name?" \* MERGEFORMAT MARCUS SMITH can be reached at FILLIN "SPE Phone?" \* MERGEFORMAT (571) 270-1096 . 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. /Thomas R Cairns/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2468
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 29, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 12, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §112 (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
81%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+27.5%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 297 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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