Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 26, 2026
Application No. 18/285,153

TERMINAL, RADIO COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND BASE STATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 29, 2023
Priority
Mar 31, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2021013985
Examiner
GUADALUPE CRUZ, AIXA AMYR
Art Unit
2466
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
378 granted / 518 resolved
+15.0% vs TC avg
Strong +20% interview lift
Without
With
+19.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 6m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
569
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.3%
-34.7% vs TC avg
§103
48.6%
+8.6% vs TC avg
§102
30.1%
-9.9% vs TC avg
§112
10.3%
-29.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 518 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 . 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 07/27/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-9 remain pending. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments have been fully considered but they are moot in light of the new grounds of rejection presented below. 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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. Claim(s) 1-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Li et al. (US Patent Application Publication 2022/011036; hereinafter Li). Regarding claim 1 Li discloses a terminal (fig. 11) comprising: a receiving section (transceiver in wireless device 1110) that receives a downlink signal with at least a part of parameters of the downlink signal being fixed, in an initial access procedure (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; wherein the wireless device receives, for example, SSB configuration information which can be configured in fixed downlink resources, including fixed resources for PDCCH/PDSCH); and a control section (processing circuitry in wireless device 1110) that controls transmission of an uplink signal with at least a part of parameters of the uplink signal being fixed, in the initial access procedure (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0154; wherein the wireless device can transmit PUSCH in configured fixed resources). Regarding claim 2 Li discloses the terminal according to claim 1, wherein the downlink signal includes a synchronization signal block (SSB) (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; SS/PBCH), and at least one of a transmission periodicity of the SSB, a synchronization raster of the SSB, a configuration of the SSB, and physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) configuration information in a master information block of the SSB is fixed (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; wherein the wireless device receives, for example, SSB configuration information which can be configured in fixed downlink resources, including fixed resources for PDCCH/PDSCH). Regarding claim 3 Li discloses the terminal according to claim 1, wherein the downlink signal includes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and a parameter related to at least one of a frequency resource and a time resource for the PDSCH is fixed (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; wherein the wireless device receives, for example, SSB configuration information which can be configured in fixed downlink resources, including fixed resources for PDCCH/PDSCH). Regarding claim 4 Li discloses the terminal according to claim1, wherein the uplink signal includes a random access channel (RACH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and a parameter related to at least one of a frequency resource and a time resource, for the RACH or the PUSCH, is fixed (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; PRACH/PUSCH configured in fixed resources). Regarding claim 5 Li discloses a radio communication method for a terminal, the radio communication method comprising: receiving a downlink signal with at least a part of parameters of the downlink signal being fixed, in an initial access procedure (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; wherein the wireless device receives, for example, SSB configuration information which can be configured in fixed downlink resources, including fixed resources for PDCCH/PDSCH); and controlling transmission of an uplink signal with at least a part of parameters of the uplink signal being fixed, in the initial access procedure (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0154; wherein the wireless device can transmit PUSCH in configured fixed resources). Regarding claim 6 Li discloses a base station (fig. 11) comprising: a transmitting section (transceiver 1172) that transmits a downlink signal with at least a part of parameters of the downlink signal being fixed, in an initial access procedure (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; wherein the wireless device receives, for example, SSB configuration information which can be configured in fixed downlink resources, including fixed resources for PDCCH/PDSCH); and a control section (processing circuitry 1170) that controls reception of an uplink signal with at least a part of parameters of the uplink signal being fixed, in the initial access procedure (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0154; wherein the wireless device can transmit PUSCH in configured fixed resources). Regarding claim 7 Li discloses the terminal according to claim 2, wherein the downlink signal includes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and a parameter related to at least one of a frequency resource and a time resource for the PDSCH is fixed (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; wherein the wireless device receives, for example, SSB configuration information which can be configured in fixed downlink resources, including fixed resources for PDCCH/PDSCH). Regarding claim 8 Li discloses the terminal according to claim 2, wherein the uplink signal includes a random access channel (RACH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and a parameter related to at least one of a frequency resource and a time resource, for the RACH or the PUSCH, is fixed (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; PRACH/PUSCH configured in fixed resources). Regarding claim 9 Li discloses the terminal according to claim 3, wherein the uplink signal includes a random access channel (RACH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), and a parameter related to at least one of a frequency resource and a time resource, for the RACH or the PUSCH, is fixed (paragraphs 0076, 0080, 0086, 0154; PRACH/PUSCH configured in fixed resources). Citation of Pertinent Prior Art The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US Patent Application Publication 2024/0008014 to Li et al. – that discloses a communication apparatus detects a first common signal, determines a first control resource based on first indication information, and receives first DCI on the first control resource, where the first common signal belongs to a first set, the first set includes at least two common signals whose frequency positions are different, the first common signal carries the first indication information, and the first DCI is used to schedule a system message. In an FDM transmission scenario for a plurality of common signals using the foregoing method, common signals in different frequency domain positions may indicate that respective corresponding indication information is flexibly associated with control resources, for example, control resources in a same position or in different positions, so that the control resources can be easily and flexibly indicated. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Aixa A Guadalupe-Cruz whose telephone number is (571)270-7523. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 6AM - 4:00PM. 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, Faruk Hamza can be reached at 571-272-7969. 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. /Aixa Guadalupe-Cruz/ Examiner Art Unit 2466 /FARUK HAMZA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2466
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 29, 2023
Application Filed
Oct 03, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Dec 31, 2025
Response Filed
Apr 29, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102
Jun 29, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Jul 27, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 31, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Oct 05, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+19.5%)
3y 6m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 518 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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