Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/289,851

RELIABILITY ENHANCEMENT FOR SIDELINK DISCOVERY

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Nov 07, 2023
Priority
May 11, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTCN2021093037
Examiner
BROCKMAN, ANGEL T
Art Unit
2412
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
595 granted / 728 resolved
+23.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
757
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
83.0%
+43.0% vs TC avg
§102
7.5%
-32.5% vs TC avg
§112
0.6%
-39.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 728 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 . 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 1-11 and 20-34 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen et al. (US 11,659,553 B2, hereinafter Chen) in view of Lee et al. (US 20190149279 A1, hereinafter Lee). Regarding claim 1, Chen discloses an apparatus for wireless communications by at a user equipment (UE), comprising: at least one memory comprising computer-executable instructions (figure 11, column 16, lines 65-66, column 17, lines 1-12); and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the UE to (column 17, lines 13-25): decide, when a conflict occurs between a transmission and at least one other transmission in a transmission period one other transmission in the transmission period, in accordance with the decision (column 7, lines 1-20 ). Chen does not disclose sidelink discovery message. Lee discloses sidelink discovery message (¶[0053]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to make the proposed modification of the sidelink discovery message as disclosed by Lee along with the selection and transmission of Chen to avoid collisions and improve efficiency and ensure reliable discovery. Regarding claim 2, Chen discloses wherein the at least one transmission comprises at least one of an uplink transmission to a network entity or a sidelink transmission to another UE (fig 1, figures 3-, column 7, lines 20-30). Regarding claim 3, Chen discloses further comprising receiving wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the UE to receive signaling configuring the UE with transmission gaps for transmitting sidelink discovery messages, wherein the transmission period comprises one of the configured transmission gaps (column 10, lines 20-25_ Regarding claim 4, Chen discloses , wherein separate resource pools are configured for sidelink discovery messages and other sidelink communication (figure 3-5). Regarding claim 5, Chen discloses wherein a resource pool is shared for messages and other sidelink communication (column 1 ,lines 45-57). Chen does not disclose sidelink discovery messages. Lee discloses sidelink discovery message (¶[0053]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to make the proposed modification of the sidelink discovery message as disclosed by Lee along with the selection and transmission of Chen to avoid collisions and improve efficiency and ensure reliable discovery. Regarding claim 6, Chen discloses wherein the decision is made by comparing the priority of the message to a priority of the at least one other transmission (figure 9, column 10, lines 20-35) . Chen does not disclose sidelink discovery messages. Lee discloses sidelink discovery message (¶[0053]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to make the proposed modification of the sidelink discovery message as disclosed by Lee along with the selection and transmission of Chen to avoid collisions and improve efficiency and ensure reliable discovery Regarding claim 7 , Chen discloses , wherein, in an event the priority of the message and the priority of the at least one other transmission are the same, the decision is based on a rule (figure 9, column 10, lines 20-35). Regarding claim 8, Chen discloses wherein the rule dictates that, the event the priority of the discovery message and the priority of the at least one other transmission are the same: the UE always sends the message; or the UE always sends the at least one other transmission (figure 6, figure 9). Chen does not disclose sidelink discovery messages. Lee discloses sidelink discovery message (¶[0053]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to make the proposed modification of the sidelink discovery message as disclosed by Lee along with the selection and transmission of Chen to avoid collisions and improve efficiency and ensure reliable discovery Regarding claim 9, Chen discloses, wherein, when the UE is configured with transmission gaps for transmitting messages, the rule is applied within transmission gaps (figures 3-6, column 10). Chen does not disclose sidelink discovery messages. Lee discloses sidelink discovery message (¶[0053]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to make the proposed modification of the sidelink discovery message as disclosed by Lee along with the selection and transmission of Chen to avoid collisions and improve efficiency and ensure reliable discovery Regarding claim 10, Chen discloses wherein the rule is applied only when the UE is configured with transmission gaps (figures 3-5) Regarding claim 11, Chen discloses an apparatus for wireless communications by a network entity, comprising: at least one memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the network entity to: configure a user equipment (UE) with a priority for sidelink discovery messages (column 17, lines 13-25): decide, when a conflict occurs between a sidelink discovery message and at least one uplink transmission in a transmission period, whether the UE is to transmit the at least one uplink transmission, based at least in part on the priority for messages (column 7, lines 1-20 ). Chen does not disclose sidelink discovery messagse. Lee discloses sidelink discovery message (¶[0053]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to make the proposed modification of the sidelink discovery message as disclosed by Lee along with the selection and transmission of Chen to avoid collisions and improve efficiency and ensure reliable discovery. ; and monitor for the at least one uplink transmission in the transmission period, when the decision is that the UE is to transmit the at least one uplink transmission. Chen does not disclose sidelink discovery messages. Lee discloses sidelink discovery message (¶[0053]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to make the proposed modification of the sidelink discovery message as disclosed by Lee along with the selection and transmission of Chen to avoid collisions and improve efficiency and ensure reliable discovery. Regarding claim 20, Chen disclose an apparatus for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE), comprising: at least one memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the UE to (figure 11, column 16, lines 65-66, column 17, lines 1-12) : signal a capability of the UE to simultaneously receive, during a reception period, on a downlink and a sidelink; and receiving receive on the downlink while also receiving on the sidelink, in accordance with the capability (column 7, lines 1-20). Chen does not disclose sidelink discovery messages. Lee discloses sidelink discovery message (¶[0053]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to make the proposed modification of the sidelink discovery message as disclosed by Lee along with the selection and transmission of Chen to avoid collisions and improve efficiency and ensure reliable discovery Regarding claim 21, Chen discloses the capability is a function of one or more conditions (Fig. 6; col. 10, lines 5–20). Regarding claim 22, Chen discloses wherein the one or more conditions relate to at least one of: a received signal power difference between the downlink and the sidelink; or a difference in subcarrier spacing (SCS) between the downlink and the sidelink. Regarding claim 23, Chen discloses wherein the one or more conditions relate to at least one of: an aligned physical resource block (PRB) grid; a bandwidth part (BWP) configuration for the downlink; or a bandwidth part (BWP) configuration for the sidelink (Fig. 3–5). Regarding claim 24, Chen discloses wherein the UE supports reduced capability reception on at least one of the downlink or sidelink, when simultaneously receiving on the downlink or sidelink (Fig 6). Regarding claim 25, Chen discloses wherein the reduced capability reception involves decoding physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) with a smaller number of blind decodes (BDs) or control channel elements (CCEs) within an occasion as compared to regular PDCCHs. Regarding claim 26, Chen discloses wherein the reduced capability reception involves the UE supporting at least one of: a reduced downlink control information (DCI) size budget per slot; or a reduced number of DCIs with pending physical downlink shared channels (PDSCHs) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) (¶[0168]). Regarding claim 27, Chen discloses all subject matter of the claimed invention with the exception of wherein the reduced capability reception involves the UE monitoring for physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) on a reduced number of search spaces or control resource sets (CORESETs). Lee discloses wherein the reduced capability reception involves the UE monitoring for physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) on a reduced number of search spaces or control resource sets (CORESETs) . Lee discloses wherein the reduced capability reception involves the UE monitoring for physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) on a reduced number of search spaces or control resource sets (CORESETs). Lee discloses wherein the reduced capability reception involves the UE monitoring for physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) on a reduced number of search spaces or control resource sets (CORESETs) (figure 5). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the invention to make the proposed modification of the PDCCH along with the system of Chen to increase the efficiency of the network. Regarding claim 28, Chen discloses all subject matter of the claimed invention with the exception of further comprising receiving wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the UE to receive signaling configuring the UE with discovery reception gaps for monitoring for sidelink discovery messages from other UEs, wherein the reception period comprises one of the configured discovery reception gaps. Lee discloses further comprising receiving wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the UE to receive signaling configuring the UE with discovery reception gaps for monitoring for sidelink discovery messages from other UEs, wherein the reception period comprises one of the configured discovery reception gaps (figure 5). Regarding claim 29 , Chen discloses all subject matter of the claimed invention with the exception of wherein, during the discovery reception gaps, the UE applies a prioritization between physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission and discovery reception by comparing a priority of discovery messages to a priority of a PUSCH Lee discloses wherein, during the discovery reception gaps, the UE applies a prioritization between physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission and discovery reception by comparing a priority of discovery messages to a priority of a PUSCH (figure 5). Regarding claim 30, Chen discloses all subject matter of the claimed invention with the exception of wherein, during the discovery reception gaps, the UE receives both a discovery message and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Lee discloses of wherein, during the discovery reception gaps, the UE receives both a discovery message and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Lee discloses wherein, during the discovery reception gaps, the UE receives both a discovery message and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Lee discloses of wherein, during the discovery reception gaps, the UE receives both a discovery message and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) (¶[0063], wherein the IDLE period include the reception gaps) Regarding claim 31, Chen discloses wherein the reduced capability reception involves monitoring for PDSCH transmissions based on restrictions on at least one of: a number of resource blocks, a number of layers, a transport block size (TBS), a modulating and coding scheme (MCS), or scheduling PSDCH on a reduced number of carriers (figure 5-6) Regarding claim 32, Chen discloses all subject matter of the claimed invention with the exception of the UE is configured with at least one semi persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration; and one or more SPS occasions are skipped during discovery gaps. Lee discloses the UE is configured with at least one semi persistent scheduling (SPS) configuration; and one or more SPS occasions are skipped during discovery gaps (¶[0114],¶[0116]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the invention to make the proposed modification of the SPS as disclosed by Lee along with the system of Chen to increase the bandwidth and reliability of the transmission. Regarding claim 33, Chen discloses all subject matter of the claimed invention with the exception of wherein, the UE refrains from sending acknowledgment feedback when one or more SPS occasions are skipped. Lee discloses wherein, the UE refrains from sending acknowledgment feedback when one or more SPS occasions are skipped (¶[0114],¶[0116]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the invention to make the proposed modification of the SPS as disclosed by Lee along with the system of Chen to increase the bandwidth and reliability of the transmission. Regarding claim 34, Chen discloses an apparatus for wireless communications by a network entity, comprising: at least one memory comprising computer-executable instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the computer-executable instructions and cause the network entity to (figure 11, column 16, lines 65-66, column 17, lines 1-12) receiving receive signaling, from a user equipment (UE), indicating a capability of the UE to simultaneously receive, during a reception period, on a downlink and a sidelink (Fig. 6; col. 10, lines 5–20).; and transmitting transmit to the UE on the downlink during the reception period, in accordance with the capability (Fig. 6; col. 10, lines 5–20). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Agiwal et a. (US 2015/0208440 A1). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANGEL T BROCKMAN whose telephone number is (571)270-5664. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Thursday 6:00 AM-4:30 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, Charles Jiang can be reached at Monday-Thursday 6:00 AM-4:30 PM. 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. /ANGEL T BROCKMAN/Examiner, Art Unit 2412
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Prosecution Timeline

Nov 07, 2023
Application Filed
May 06, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jun 29, 2026
Interview Requested

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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
82%
Grant Probability
88%
With Interview (+6.4%)
2y 8m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 728 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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