Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/344,225

INDICATION METHOD, TERMINAL DEVICE, AND RADIO ACCESS NETWORK DEVICE

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jun 29, 2023
Examiner
NGUYEN, STEVEN H D
Art Unit
2414
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
4 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
4-5
OA Rounds
3y 4m
To Grant
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allow Rate
757 granted / 945 resolved
+22.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 4m
Avg Prosecution
40 currently pending
Career history
985
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.4%
-32.6% vs TC avg
§103
44.0%
+4.0% vs TC avg
§102
23.6%
-16.4% vs TC avg
§112
14.0%
-26.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 945 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 . Notice Applicant must amend the language of withdraw claim according the amended limitation of the independent claim in order to avoid 112. Claim Objections Claim 1, 15, 21, 23, 25 and 27 objected to because of the following informalities: As claims 1, 15 and 21, “the two SRS resource sets” must be changed to - the two same SRS resource sets -. Appropriate correction is required. As claims 23, 25 and 27, “the two SRS resource sets” must be changed to - the two same SRS resource sets -. 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 (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, 15, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 and 33 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102[a2] as being anticipated by Varatharaajan [US 2022/0123799]. As claims 1, 15 and 21, Varatharaajan [US 2022/0123799] discloses an indication method, comprising: receiving indication information that indicates a plurality of sounding reference signal (SRS) resources [Fig 2, Ref SRI example 1/2 which indicates plurality of SRS resources, Fig 3, Ref 301], wherein the indication information comprises an index value, the index value belongs to a first index value set [Fig 2, Ref SRI example 1/2 has index value for a first index value set, Fig 3, Ref 301], the first index value set comprises a first index value and a second index value [Fig 2, Ref SRI example 1/2 discloses a first index value set includes first index value Fig 2, Ref 1010 and second index value, Fig 2, Ref 1031, Fig 3, Ref 301], wherein the first index value and the second index value correspond to two same SRS resource sets [Fig 2, Ref 1010 and 1031 are corresponding to two same “same read on configured with same usage as CB or NCB”, Par. 0046, number of SRS resources in each SRS resource set, Fig 3, Ref 301], and the first SRS resource set of the two SRS resource sets and the second SRS resource set of the two same SRS resource sets corresponding to the first index value and the second index value are in different orders [Fig 2, Ref SRI discloses 1010 is mapped to a first resource of two resources of the first SRS resource set 101 and 1031 is mapped to a second resource of two resources of the second SRS resource set 103, so the mapping of SRS sets is in different orders wherein the first SRS resource set is started from top and the second SRS resource set is started from bottom] and sending physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) data based on the indication information [Fig 3, Ref 302 discloses PUSCH based on SRIs]. As claims 23, 25 and 27, Varatharaajan [US 2022/0123799] discloses the first index value set further comprises a third index value, and the third index value corresponds to one of the two SRS resource sets [Fig 2, Ref SRI example 1/2 discloses 1030 wherein 103 is one of the two same SRS resource sets]. As claims 29, 31 and 33, Varatharaajan [US 2022/0123799] discloses the first index value and the second index value indicate a mapping order between the respective SRS resource set and different PUSCH time-frequency resources [Fig 2, Ref SRI sample 1/2 indicates mapping order between the SRS resource set and different PUSCH time-frequency resource, Fig 1-2]. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEVEN HIEU D NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-3159. The examiner can normally be reached 9-5. 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, Edan Orgad can be reached at 571-272-7884. 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. /STEVEN HIEU D NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2414
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 29, 2023
Application Filed
May 15, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Jul 02, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Sep 29, 2025
Response Filed
Oct 30, 2025
Final Rejection — §102
Oct 31, 2025
Final Rejection — §102
Jan 26, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 10, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Feb 26, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Mar 26, 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

4-5
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+11.8%)
3y 4m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 945 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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