Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/347,462

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING ENHANCED ASSISTANCE INFORMATION FOR SCHEDULING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Jul 05, 2023
Examiner
BAYARD, DJENANE M
Art Unit
2444
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
3y 2m
To Grant
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allow Rate
655 granted / 783 resolved
+25.7% vs TC avg
Minimal +1% lift
Without
With
+1.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
812
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.5%
-29.5% vs TC avg
§103
40.7%
+0.7% vs TC avg
§102
29.5%
-10.5% vs TC avg
§112
6.7%
-33.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 783 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 . 1. This is in response to communication filed on 10/15/25 in which claims 1-20 are pending. Response to Arguments 2. Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-20 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 3. 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. 4. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by WO 2021/019435 to Yi. a. As per claim 1, Yi teaches a method performed by a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: identifying that a remaining time value for data buffered in a logical channel group (LCG) is less than a threshold (See page 1, Solution to Problem , triggering a Buffer Status Report (BSR) when a remaining time of the data unit is less than a threshold, and page 40); and transmitting, to a base station, information on an identity of the b. As per claim 6, Yi teaches a method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving, from a terminal, information on an identity of a logical channel group (LCG) (See page 38, [0246]), information on a buffer size for the LCG (See page 38, [0248]), and information on a shortest remaining time value for the LCG (See page 40, [0257-0262]), wherein the information on the identity of the LCG, information on the buffer size for the LCG, and the information on the shortest remaining time value for the LCG are received, in case that a remaining time value for data buffered in the LCG is less than a threshold (See page 1, Solution to Problem , triggering a Buffer Status Report (BSR) when a remaining time of the data unit is less than a threshold, and page 40). c. As per claim 11, Yi teaches a terminal in a wireless communication system, the terminal comprising: a transceiver (See page 17, [0098]); and a controller coupled with the transceiver (See paragraph [0090 and 0092]) and configured to:triggering a Buffer Status Report (BSR) when a remaining time of the data unit is less than a threshold, and page 40), and transmit, to a base station, information on an identity of the LCG (See page 38, [0246]), information on a buffer size for the LCG (See page 38 [0248]), and information on a shortest remaining value for the LCG (See page 40, [0257-0262]). d. As per claim 16, Yi teaches a base station in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising: a transceiver (See page 17, [0098]); and a controller coupled with the transceiver (See paragraph [0090 and 0092]) and configured to: receive, from a terminal, information on an identity of a logical channel group (LCG) (See page 38, [0246]), information on a buffer size for the LCG (See page 38 [0248]), and information on a shortest remaining time value for the LCG (See page 40, [0257-0262]),wherein the information on the identity of the LCG, information on the buffer size for the LCG, and the information on the shortest remaining time value for the LCG are received, in case that a remaining time value for data buffered in the LCG is less than a threshold (See page 1, Solution to Problem , triggering a Buffer Status Report (BSR) when a remaining time of the data unit is less than a threshold, and page 40). e. As per claims 2, 7, 12 and 17, Yi teaches the claimed invention as described above. Furthermore, Yi teaches wherein the remaining time value is a smallest remaining time value among all data buffered for the LCG (See page 40, [0257-0264]). f. As per claim 3, 8, 13 and 18, Yi teaches the claimed invention as described above. Furthermore, Yi teaches wherein the threshold is configured by a radio resource control (RRC) signaling for the LCG (See pages 25 and 33 [0210]). g. As per claims 4, 9, 14 and 19, Yi teaches the claimed invention as described above. Furthermore, Yi teaches wherein the data is associated with an extended reality (XR) (See page 11, [0081]). h. As per claims 5, 10, 15 and 20, Yi teaches the claimed invention as described above. Furthermore, Yi teaches wherein the information on the identity of the LCG, the information on the buffer size for the LCG, and the information on the shortest remaining time value for the LCG are included in a medium access control (MAC)control element CE) (See page 37, [0237] and page 38]). Conclusion 5. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. U.S. Publication No. 2021/0360469 to Shrestha et al teaches Buffer Status Report Transmission in Non-Terrestrial Networks. 6. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. 7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DJENANE BAYARD whose telephone number is (571)272-3878. 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, John Follansbee can be reached at (571)272-3964. 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. /DJENANE M BAYARD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2444
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 05, 2023
Application Filed
Jul 12, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102
Oct 15, 2025
Response Filed
Feb 13, 2026
Final Rejection — §102 (current)

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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
84%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (+1.0%)
3y 2m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 783 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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