Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/338,333

ENVIRONMENTAL ELECTROMAGNETIC PROFILING

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jun 20, 2023
Examiner
THAWNG, MANG BOI
Art Unit
2476
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
93%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 93% — above average
93%
Career Allowance Rate
85 granted / 91 resolved
+35.4% vs TC avg
Minimal -1% lift
Without
With
+-1.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
15 currently pending
Career history
103
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
60.0%
+20.0% vs TC avg
§102
20.4%
-19.6% vs TC avg
§112
17.7%
-22.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 91 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 . 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 08/13/2026 has been entered. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 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. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. Claim(s) 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, and 23 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zorgui et al. (US 2022/0099796 A1), hereinafter referred to as Zorgui, in view of Lund et al. (US 2021/0056852 A1), hereinafter referred to as Lund. Regarding claim 1, Zorgui teaches: A network configured to support one or more sensing operations ( see ¶[0002], The following relates to wireless communications, including waveform reporting for cooperative sensing; ¶[0191], FIG. 16 shows a diagram of a system 1600 including a device 1605 that supports waveform reporting for cooperative sensing in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1605 may be an example of or include the components of device 1305, device 1405, or a base station 105), the network including: at least one processor(FIG. 16, Processor (1640) ); and a memory coupled to the at least one processor (FIG. 16, Memory (1630) ), wherein the at least one processor is configured to: initiate transmission of a configuration associated with a sensing operation ( see ¶[0005], the described techniques provide for a user equipment (UE) receiving a configuration for radar waveform reporting from a network node. In some cases, the radar waveform reporting may provide object detection for one or more objects within a detectable range of the UE; ¶[0025]; ¶[0192], transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform); and receive, from a network entity, a report based on the sensing operation performed by the network entity and that indicates an electromagnetic profile associated with an environment ( see ¶[0005], the UE may transmit a radar reporting message to the network node according to the received configuration. In some cases, the radar reporting message may include an indication of the received radar waveform; ¶[0083]; ¶[0093], UE 115-c may emit sensing signal 275. As shown, sensing signal 275 may collide with object 215. In some cases, at least a portion of sensing signal 275 may reflect off of object 215. As shown, at least a portion of sensing signal 275 may reflect back towards UE 115-c. In some cases, a portion of sensing signal 275 reflected off of object 215 may include reflected signal 280. In some cases, reflected signal 280 may be received by UE 115-c; ¶[0094],UE 115-c may emit sensing signal 285. As shown, sensing signal 285 may collide with object 220. In some cases, at least a portion of sensing signal 285 may reflect off of object 220. As shown, at least a portion of sensing signal 285 may reflect back towards UE 115-c. In some cases, a portion of sensing signal 285 reflected off of object 220 may include reflected signal 290. In some cases, reflected signal 290 may be received by UE 115-c; ¶[0095], UE 115-c may analyze one or more aspects of reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both. In some cases, UE 115-c may generate a radar reporting message based on the analysis of reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both. In some cases, the radar reporting message may include one or more indications of reflected signal 280 based on the analysis of reflected signal 280…UE 115-c may transmit, via communication 295, the radar reporting message associated with reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both, to UE 115-b. In some cases, UE 115-b may transmit, via communication 260, the radar reporting message associated with reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both, to base station 105-a; ), wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment, a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. Although Zorgui teaches in (¶[0192] The communications manager 1610 may transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform and in ¶[0011] the one or more parameter values include Doppler information, incident angle information, angular velocity information, or range information, or a combination thereof, for at least one of the one or more objects), Zorgui, however, fails to explicitly teach the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment, a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. However, Lund, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment ( see Lund ¶[0048], The RF characteristics may comprise signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift or any combination thereof; Note: This shows that signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift are a RF transmission characteristic/profile ), a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. (Note: The limitations of claim 1 are written in the alternative “or”. Therefore, it is sufficient to show that the applied reference teaches one of the alternative limitations ) It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Zorgui's teachings with Lund's above teaching in order to measure object’s distance, location, and speed with different levels of accuracy. Regarding claim 6, the combination teaches: The network of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: identify a target in the environment based on the report (see Zorgui ¶[0125] the network device may analyze the combined data received from all of the receiving nodes. In some cases, the network device may perform additional functionalities (e.g., tracking of one or more objects, identifying a particular object and tracking the identified object, etc.) based on the analysis of the combined data), and wherein: the target includes a stationary object positioned within the environment ( see Zorgui, Figure 2; ¶[0055] The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout a coverage area 110 of the wireless communications system 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary, or mobile, or both; ¶[0085], environment 200 includes base station 105-a, UE 115-a, UE 115-b, UE 115-c, object 205, object 210, object 215, and object 220. In some examples, the environment 200 may provide monostatic radar, bi-static radar, and multi-static radar; ¶[0125], In some cases, the network device may analyze the combined data received from all of the receiving nodes. In some cases, the network device may perform additional functionalities (e.g., tracking of one or more objects, identifying a particular object and tracking the identified object, etc.) based on the analysis of the combined data ), the target includes a mobile object within the environment (¶[0055] The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout a coverage area 110 of the wireless communications system 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary, or mobile, or both; ¶[0125], In some cases, the network device may analyze the combined data received from all of the receiving nodes. In some cases, the network device may perform additional functionalities (e.g., tracking of one or more objects, identifying a particular object and tracking the identified object, etc.) based on the analysis of the combined data), or a combination thereof. Regarding claim 8, Zorgui teaches: A method, performed by a network, to support one or more sensing operations ( see ¶[0002], The following relates to wireless communications, including waveform reporting for cooperative sensing; ¶[0191], FIG. 16 shows a diagram of a system 1600 including a device 1605 that supports waveform reporting for cooperative sensing in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1605 may be an example of or include the components of device 1305, device 1405, or a base station 105), the method comprising: initiating transmission of a configuration associated with a sensing operation ( see ¶[0005], the described techniques provide for a user equipment (UE) receiving a configuration for radar waveform reporting from a network node. In some cases, the radar waveform reporting may provide object detection for one or more objects within a detectable range of the UE; ¶[0025]; ¶[0192], transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform); and receiving, from a network entity, a report based on the sensing operation performed by the network entity and that indicates an electromagnetic profile associated with an environment see ¶[0005], the UE may transmit a radar reporting message to the network node according to the received configuration. In some cases, the radar reporting message may include an indication of the received radar waveform; ¶[0083]; ¶[0093], UE 115-c may emit sensing signal 275. As shown, sensing signal 275 may collide with object 215. In some cases, at least a portion of sensing signal 275 may reflect off of object 215. As shown, at least a portion of sensing signal 275 may reflect back towards UE 115-c. In some cases, a portion of sensing signal 275 reflected off of object 215 may include reflected signal 280. In some cases, reflected signal 280 may be received by UE 115-c; ¶[0094],UE 115-c may emit sensing signal 285. As shown, sensing signal 285 may collide with object 220. In some cases, at least a portion of sensing signal 285 may reflect off of object 220. As shown, at least a portion of sensing signal 285 may reflect back towards UE 115-c. In some cases, a portion of sensing signal 285 reflected off of object 220 may include reflected signal 290. In some cases, reflected signal 290 may be received by UE 115-c; ¶[0095], UE 115-c may analyze one or more aspects of reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both. In some cases, UE 115-c may generate a radar reporting message based on the analysis of reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both. In some cases, the radar reporting message may include one or more indications of reflected signal 280 based on the analysis of reflected signal 280…UE 115-c may transmit, via communication 295, the radar reporting message associated with reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both, to UE 115-b. In some cases, UE 115-b may transmit, via communication 260, the radar reporting message associated with reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both, to base station 105-a) wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment, a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. Although Zorgui teaches in (¶[0192] The communications manager 1610 may transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform and in ¶[0011] the one or more parameter values include Doppler information, incident angle information, angular velocity information, or range information, or a combination thereof, for at least one of the one or more objects), Zorgui, however, fails to explicitly teach the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment, a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. However, Lund, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment ( see Lund ¶[0048], The RF characteristics may comprise signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift or any combination thereof; Note: This shows that signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift are a RF transmission characteristic/profile ), a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. (Note: The limitations of claim 8 are written in the alternative “or”. Therefore, it is sufficient to show that the applied reference teaches one of the alternative limitations ) It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Zorgui's teachings with Lund's above teaching in order to measure object’s distance, location, and speed with different levels of accuracy. Regarding claim 13, the combination teaches: The method of claim 8, wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment ( see Lund ¶[0048], The RF characteristics may comprise signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift or any combination thereof; Note: This shows that signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift are a RF transmission characteristic/profile ), a physical layout of the environment, or a combination thereof, and wherein the method further comprises: identifying a target in the environment based on the report (see Zorgui ¶[0125] the network device may analyze the combined data received from all of the receiving nodes. In some cases, the network device may perform additional functionalities (e.g., tracking of one or more objects, identifying a particular object and tracking the identified object, etc.) based on the analysis of the combined data), and wherein: the target includes a stationary object positioned within the environment ( see Zorgui, Figure 2; ¶[0055] The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout a coverage area 110 of the wireless communications system 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary, or mobile, or both; ¶[0085], environment 200 includes base station 105-a, UE 115-a, UE 115-b, UE 115-c, object 205, object 210, object 215, and object 220. In some examples, the environment 200 may provide monostatic radar, bi-static radar, and multi-static radar; ¶[0125], In some cases, the network device may analyze the combined data received from all of the receiving nodes. In some cases, the network device may perform additional functionalities (e.g., tracking of one or more objects, identifying a particular object and tracking the identified object, etc.) based on the analysis of the combined data ), the target includes a mobile object within the environment (¶[0055] The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout a coverage area 110 of the wireless communications system 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary, or mobile, or both; ¶[0125], In some cases, the network device may analyze the combined data received from all of the receiving nodes. In some cases, the network device may perform additional functionalities (e.g., tracking of one or more objects, identifying a particular object and tracking the identified object, etc.) based on the analysis of the combined data), or a combination thereof. Regarding claim 15, Zorgui teaches: A network entity configured to perform one or more sensing operations ( see ¶[0002], The following relates to wireless communications, including waveform reporting for cooperative sensing; ¶[0166], FIG. 12 shows a diagram of a system 1200 including a device 1205 that supports waveform reporting for cooperative sensing in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1205 may be an example of or include the components of device 905, device 1005, or a UE 115 as described herein), the network entity including: at least one processor (see FIG. 12, Processor (1240)); and a memory coupled to the at least one processor (see FIG. 12, Memory (1230)), wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive a configuration associated with a sensing operation ( see ¶[0005], the described techniques provide for a user equipment (UE) receiving a configuration for radar waveform reporting from a network node. In some cases, the radar waveform reporting may provide object detection for one or more objects within a detectable range of the UE; ¶[0025]; ¶[0192], transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform); and initiate transmission of a report based on the sensing operation performed by the network entity and that indicates an electromagnetic profile associated with an environment ( see ¶[0005], the UE may transmit a radar reporting message to the network node according to the received configuration. In some cases, the radar reporting message may include an indication of the received radar waveform; ¶[0083]; ¶[0093], UE 115-c may emit sensing signal 275. As shown, sensing signal 275 may collide with object 215. In some cases, at least a portion of sensing signal 275 may reflect off of object 215. As shown, at least a portion of sensing signal 275 may reflect back towards UE 115-c. In some cases, a portion of sensing signal 275 reflected off of object 215 may include reflected signal 280. In some cases, reflected signal 280 may be received by UE 115-c; ¶[0094],UE 115-c may emit sensing signal 285. As shown, sensing signal 285 may collide with object 220. In some cases, at least a portion of sensing signal 285 may reflect off of object 220. As shown, at least a portion of sensing signal 285 may reflect back towards UE 115-c. In some cases, a portion of sensing signal 285 reflected off of object 220 may include reflected signal 290. In some cases, reflected signal 290 may be received by UE 115-c; ¶[0095], UE 115-c may analyze one or more aspects of reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both. In some cases, UE 115-c may generate a radar reporting message based on the analysis of reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both. In some cases, the radar reporting message may include one or more indications of reflected signal 280 based on the analysis of reflected signal 280…UE 115-c may transmit, via communication 295, the radar reporting message associated with reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both, to UE 115-b. In some cases, UE 115-b may transmit, via communication 260, the radar reporting message associated with reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both, to base station 105-a), wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment, a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. Although Zorgui teaches in (¶[0192] The communications manager 1610 may transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform and in ¶[0011] the one or more parameter values include Doppler information, incident angle information, angular velocity information, or range information, or a combination thereof, for at least one of the one or more objects), Zorgui, however, fails to explicitly teach the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment, a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. However, Lund, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment ( see Lund ¶[0048], The RF characteristics may comprise signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift or any combination thereof; Note: This shows that signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift are a RF transmission characteristic/profile ), a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. (Note: The limitations of claim 15 are written in the alternative “or”. Therefore, it is sufficient to show that the applied reference teaches one of the alternative limitations ) It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Zorgui's teachings with Lund's above teaching in order to measure object’s distance, location, and speed with different levels of accuracy. Regarding claim 23, Zorgui teaches: A method, performed by a network entity, to support one or more sensing operations, the method comprising: receiving a configuration associated with a sensing operation ( see ¶[0005], the described techniques provide for a user equipment (UE) receiving a configuration for radar waveform reporting from a network node. In some cases, the radar waveform reporting may provide object detection for one or more objects within a detectable range of the UE; ¶[0025]; ¶[0192], transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform); and initiating transmission of a report based on the sensing operation performed by the network entity and that indicates an electromagnetic profile associated with an environment ( see ¶[0005], the UE may transmit a radar reporting message to the network node according to the received configuration. In some cases, the radar reporting message may include an indication of the received radar waveform; ¶[0083]; ¶[0093], UE 115-c may emit sensing signal 275. As shown, sensing signal 275 may collide with object 215. In some cases, at least a portion of sensing signal 275 may reflect off of object 215. As shown, at least a portion of sensing signal 275 may reflect back towards UE 115-c. In some cases, a portion of sensing signal 275 reflected off of object 215 may include reflected signal 280. In some cases, reflected signal 280 may be received by UE 115-c; ¶[0094],UE 115-c may emit sensing signal 285. As shown, sensing signal 285 may collide with object 220. In some cases, at least a portion of sensing signal 285 may reflect off of object 220. As shown, at least a portion of sensing signal 285 may reflect back towards UE 115-c. In some cases, a portion of sensing signal 285 reflected off of object 220 may include reflected signal 290. In some cases, reflected signal 290 may be received by UE 115-c; ¶[0095], UE 115-c may analyze one or more aspects of reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both. In some cases, UE 115-c may generate a radar reporting message based on the analysis of reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both. In some cases, the radar reporting message may include one or more indications of reflected signal 280 based on the analysis of reflected signal 280…UE 115-c may transmit, via communication 295, the radar reporting message associated with reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both, to UE 115-b. In some cases, UE 115-b may transmit, via communication 260, the radar reporting message associated with reflected signal 280 or reflected signal 290, or both, to base station 105-a), wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment, a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. Although Zorgui teaches in (¶[0192] The communications manager 1610 may transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform and in ¶[0011] the one or more parameter values include Doppler information, incident angle information, angular velocity information, or range information, or a combination thereof, for at least one of the one or more objects), Zorgui, however, fails to explicitly teach the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment, a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. However, Lund, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: wherein the electromagnetic profile indicates a radio frequency (RF) profile of the environment ( see Lund ¶[0048], The RF characteristics may comprise signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift or any combination thereof; Note: This shows that signal strength, round trip time, time difference of arrival, doppler shift are a RF transmission characteristic/profile ), a physical layout of the environment, multipath characterization of the environment, or a combination thereof. (Note: The limitations of claim 23 are written in the alternative “or”. Therefore, it is sufficient to show that the applied reference teaches one of the alternative limitations ) It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Zorgui's teachings with Lund's above teaching in order to measure object’s distance, location, and speed with different levels of accuracy. Claim(s) 2, 9, 17, and 25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zorgui in view of Lund, and further in view of Ali et al. (WO 2022/107050 A1), IDS submitted on 10/31/2021, hereinafter referred to as Ali. Regarding claim 2, Zorgui and Lund combination teaches the network of claim 1. The combination, however, fails to explicitly teach information related to the configuration indicates a format of the report, the format indicates reporting per resource and the resource corresponds to a scan signal. However, Ali, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: the network of claim 1, wherein: the configuration indicates a format of the report, the format indicates reporting per resource, aggregated reporting across a plurality of resources, or a combination thereof, and the resource corresponds to a scan signal ( see Ali, claim 15, reporting the radar-sensing information comprises one of: reporting after each measurement or reporting a combined report after multiple measurements; ¶[0083], The gNB may configure the UEs to perform repetition of radar signal transmission/reception and report the time information after each period or report a combined/averaged measurement information after multiple repetitions). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the combination with Ali's above teaching, for identifying and localizing radio blockages via radar sensing ( see Ali, ¶[0004] ). Known work in one field of endeavor (Ali prior art) may prompt variations of it for use in either the same field or different one (Zorgui prior art) based on design incentives ( identifying and localizing radio blockages via radar sensing ) or other market forces if the variations are predictable to one or ordinary skill in the art. Regarding claim 9, Zorgui and Lund combination teaches the method of claim 8. The combination, however, fails to explicitly teach information related to the configuration indicates a format of the report, the format indicates reporting per resource, aggregated reporting across a plurality of resources, or a combination thereof, and the resource corresponds to a scan signal. However, Ali, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: The method of claim 8, wherein: the configuration indicates a format of the report, the format indicates reporting per resource, aggregated reporting across a plurality of resources, or a combination thereof, and the resource corresponds to a scan signal ( see Ali, claim 15, reporting the radar-sensing information comprises one of: reporting after each measurement or reporting a combined report after multiple measurements; ¶[0083], The gNB may configure the UEs to perform repetition of radar signal transmission/reception and report the time information after each period or report a combined/averaged measurement information after multiple repetitions). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the combination with Ali's above teaching, for identifying and localizing radio blockages via radar sensing ( see Ali, ¶[0004] ). Known work in one field of endeavor (Ali prior art) may prompt variations of it for use in either the same field or different one (Zorgui prior art) based on design incentives ( identifying and localizing radio blockages via radar sensing ) or other market forces if the variations are predictable to one or ordinary skill in the art. Regarding claim 17, Zorgui and Lund combination teaches the network entity of claim 15. The combination, however, fails to explicitly teach information related to the configuration indicates a format of the report, the format indicates reporting per resource, aggregated reporting across a plurality of resources, or a combination thereof, and the resource corresponds to a scan signal. However, Ali, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: The network entity of claim 15, wherein: the configuration indicates a format of the report, the format indicates reporting per resource, aggregated reporting across a plurality of resources, or a combination thereof, and the resource corresponds to a scan signal ( see Ali, claim 15, reporting the radar-sensing information comprises one of: reporting after each measurement or reporting a combined report after multiple measurements; ¶[0083], The gNB may configure the UEs to perform repetition of radar signal transmission/reception and report the time information after each period or report a combined/averaged measurement information after multiple repetitions). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the combination with Ali's above teaching, for identifying and localizing radio blockages via radar sensing ( see Ali, ¶[0004] ). Known work in one field of endeavor (Ali prior art) may prompt variations of it for use in either the same field or different one (Zorgui prior art) based on design incentives ( identifying and localizing radio blockages via radar sensing ) or other market forces if the variations are predictable to one or ordinary skill in the art. Regarding claim 25, Zorgui and Lund combination teaches the method of claim 23. The combination, however, fails to explicitly teach information related to the configuration indicates a format of the report, the format indicates reporting per resource, aggregated reporting across a plurality of resources, or a combination thereof, and the resource corresponds to a scan signal. However, Ali, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: The method of claim 23, wherein: the configuration indicates a format of the report, the format indicates reporting per resource, aggregated reporting across a plurality of resources, or a combination thereof, and the resource corresponds to a scan signal ( see Ali, claim 15, reporting the radar-sensing information comprises one of: reporting after each measurement or reporting a combined report after multiple measurements; ¶[0083], The gNB may configure the UEs to perform repetition of radar signal transmission/reception and report the time information after each period or report a combined/averaged measurement information after multiple repetitions). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the combination with Ali's above teaching, for identifying and localizing radio blockages via radar sensing ( see Ali, ¶[0004] ). Known work in one field of endeavor (Ali prior art) may prompt variations of it for use in either the same field or different one (Zorgui prior art) based on design incentives ( identifying and localizing radio blockages via radar sensing ) or other market forces if the variations are predictable to one or ordinary skill in the art. Claim(s) 16 and 24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zorgui in view of Lund, and further in view of Li et al. ( US 2024/0353523 A1), hereinafter referred to as Li. Regarding claim 16, Zorgui and Lund combination teaches: The network entity of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: perform a sensing operation (see Zorgui ¶[0192], transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform); identify an object positioned within the environment based on the sensing operation (Zorgui ¶[0192], transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform); and determine a path to the object, the path corresponds to a direction of the object relative to the network entity and a distance separating the object and the network entity. The combination, however, fails to explicitly teach information related to determine a path to the object, the path corresponds to a direction of the object relative to the network entity and a distance separating the object and the network entity. However, Li, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: determine a path to the object, the path corresponds to a direction of the object relative to the network entity and a distance separating the object and the network entity ( see Li, Abstract, obtaining, by a computing node, a sensing measurement quantity result, where the sensing measurement quantity result is obtained by performing, by a sensing node, signal processing on a first signal that is sent by the sensing node itself and that is reflected by a to-be-sensed target; and determining, by the computing node, a positioning sensing result of the to-be-sensed target based on the sensing measurement quantity result; ¶[0070], A computing node obtains a sensing measurement quantity result, where the sensing measurement quantity result is obtained by performing, by a sensing node, signal processing on a first signal that is sent by the sensing node itself and that is reflected by a to-be-sensed target; ¶[0073] The computing node determines a positioning sensing result of the to-be-sensed target based on the sensing measurement quantity; and ¶[0074] The sensing measurement quantity result may include at least one of the following: a Doppler spectrum; a Doppler frequency of a dynamic reflection path; ¶[0203]-¶[0204]; ¶[0284]-¶[0303]). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the combination with Li's above teachings in order to improve positioning accuracy (see Li ¶[0056]). Known work in one field of endeavor (Li prior art) may prompt variations of it for use in either the same field or different one (Zorgui prior art) based on design incentives ( improve positioning accuracy ) or other market forces if the variations are predictable to one or ordinary skill in the art. Regarding claim 24, Zorgui and Lund combination teaches: The method of claim 23, further including: performing a sensing operation (¶[0192], transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform); identifying an object positioned within the environment based on the sensing operation (¶[0192], transmit, to a UE, a configuration for radar waveform reporting, receive, from the UE according to the transmitted configuration, an indication of one or more parameter values associated with a radar waveform received at the UE, and determine location information for one or more objects based on the received indication of the one or more parameter values associated with the received radar waveform); and determining a path to the object, the path corresponds to a direction of the object relative to the network entity and a distance separating the object and the network entity. The combination, however, fails to explicitly teach information related to determining a path to the object, the path corresponds to a direction of the object relative to the network entity and a distance separating the object and the network entity. However, Li, in the same or similar field of endeavor teaches: determining a path to the object, the path corresponds to a direction of the object relative to the network entity and a distance separating the object and the network entity ( see Li, Abstract, obtaining, by a computing node, a sensing measurement quantity result, where the sensing measurement quantity result is obtained by performing, by a sensing node, signal processing on a first signal that is sent by the sensing node itself and that is reflected by a to-be-sensed target; and determining, by the computing node, a positioning sensing result of the to-be-sensed target based on the sensing measurement quantity result; ¶[0070], A computing node obtains a sensing measurement quantity result, where the sensing measurement quantity result is obtained by performing, by a sensing node, signal processing on a first signal that is sent by the sensing node itself and that is reflected by a to-be-sensed target; ¶[0073] The computing node determines a positioning sensing result of the to-be-sensed target based on the sensing measurement quantity; and ¶[0074] The sensing measurement quantity result may include at least one of the following: a Doppler spectrum; a Doppler frequency of a dynamic reflection path; ¶[0203]-¶[0204]; ¶[0284]-¶[0303]). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the combination with Li's above teachings to improve positioning accuracy (see Li, ¶[0056]). Known work in one field of endeavor (Li prior art) may prompt variations of it for use in either the same field or different one (Zorgui prior art) based on design incentives ( improve positioning accuracy ) or other market forces if the variations are predictable to one or ordinary skill in the art. Examiner's Note: Examiner has cited particular paragraphs or columns and line numbers in the references applied to the claims above for the convenience of the applicant. Although the specified citations are representative of the teachings of the art and are applied to specific limitations within the individual claim, other passages and figures may apply as well. It is respectfully requested from the applicant in preparing responses, to fully consider the references in entirety as potentially teaching all or part of the claimed invention, as well as the context of the passage as taught by the prior art or disclosed by the Examiner. Allowable Subject Matter Claim(s) 3-5, 7, 10-12, 14, 18-22, and 26-30 are objected to 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 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MANG BOI THAWNG whose telephone number is (703)756-4751. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30 am - 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, Ayaz Sheikh can be reached at (571)272-3795. 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. /MANG BOI THAWNG/Examiner, Art Unit 2476 /AYAZ R SHEIKH/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2476
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 20, 2023
Application Filed
Aug 13, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Oct 30, 2025
Response Filed
Jun 22, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103
Aug 13, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Aug 16, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Sep 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
93%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (-1.2%)
2y 9m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 91 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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