Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/361,045

METHOD OF RADIO RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR A TN-NTN NETWORK

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jul 28, 2023
Examiner
JAHANGIR, KABIR U
Art Unit
2464
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
National Taiwan University
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allow Rate
394 granted / 450 resolved
+29.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +9% lift
Without
With
+8.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
21 currently pending
Career history
471
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.8%
-36.2% vs TC avg
§103
46.8%
+6.8% vs TC avg
§102
26.0%
-14.0% vs TC avg
§112
9.2%
-30.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 450 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Claims 1-20 are pending. 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 § 102 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. Claims 1-4 and 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ravishankar, Channasandra (US 20190239082, Ravishankar hereinafter). As to claim 1: Ravishankar discloses a method of radio resource allocation for a terrestrial network (TN) cell, the method comprising: determining that the TN cell is outside a coverage of a first non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, identifying the terrestrial base stations 555b (interpreted as TN cell is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite) as operating within the geographical coverage area 512b prior to allocating the resources.); and in response to the TN cell being outside the coverage of the first NTN cell, allocating a radio resource to the TN cell based on a radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, at 630, resources within the frequency spectrum are allocated towards the one or more base stations of the terrestrial network based on the location (terrestrial base station 555b is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite).). As to claim 2: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses wherein a frequency range of the radio resource allocated to the TN cell overlaps with a frequency range of the radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraph [0041], an interference may be caused by the location of wireless terminal 532b in an overlap region of geographical coverage areas 512b and 556b. Thus, the allocation of resources may be based or adjusted on the interference.). As to claim 3: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses wherein a time duration of the radio resource allocated to the TN cell overlaps with a time duration of the radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraph [0041], an interference may be caused by the location of wireless terminal 532b in an overlap region of geographical coverage areas 512b and 556b. Thus, the allocation of resources may be based or adjusted on the interference.). As to claim 4: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses wherein a polarization of the radio resource allocated to the TN cell is the same as a polarization of the radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraph [0041], the amount of the resources can be allocated towards terrestrial base stations 555a, 555b based on an interference caused therefrom and reported within geographical coverage areas 512a, 512b, 556a, 556b, and overlap regions thereof.). As to claim 16: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses further comprising: transmitting reference signal configuration information to at least one of a satellite associated with the second NTN cell or a base station of the TN cell (see at least paragraph [0040], a transceiver 522 which transmits/receives information to/from the satellite 510). As to claim 17: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses further comprising: transmitting a cell configuration message from a base station of the TN cell to a user equipment to inform the user equipment to access the TN cell (see at least paragraph [0040], the system 500 further includes terrestrial base stations 555a and 555b, which are associated with a terrestrial network and which respectively facilitate communication between terminal 532a and 532b). As to claim 18: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses further comprising: transmitting a cell de-configuration message from a base station of the TN cell to a user equipment to inform the user equipment to leave the TN cell (see at least paragraph [0040], the system 500 further includes terrestrial base stations 555a and 555b, which are associated with a terrestrial network and which respectively facilitate communication between terminal 532a and 532b). As to claim 19: Ravishankar discloses an apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry configured to determine that a terrestrial network (TN) cell is outside a coverage of a first non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, identifying the terrestrial base stations 555b (interpreted as TN cell is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite) as operating within the geographical coverage area 512b prior to allocating the resources.), and in response to the TN cell being outside the coverage of the first NTN cell, allocate a radio resource to the TN cell based on a radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, at 630, resources within the frequency spectrum are allocated towards the one or more base stations of the terrestrial network based on the location (terrestrial base station 555b is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite).). As to claim 20: Ravishankar discloses a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: determining that a terrestrial network (TN) cell is outside a coverage of a first non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, identifying the terrestrial base stations 555b (interpreted as TN cell is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite) as operating within the geographical coverage area 512b prior to allocating the resources.); and in response to the TN cell being outside the coverage of the first NTN cell, allocating a radio resource to the TN cell based on a radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, at 630, resources within the frequency spectrum are allocated towards the one or more base stations of the terrestrial network based on the location (terrestrial base station 555b is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite).). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 5-15 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 The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Chen et al. (US 20250047369) discloses Satellite Communication Method and Apparatus. HSIEH et al. (US 20240224317) discloses HAPS and Terrestrial Network Interference Coordination. Prasad et al. (US 20230309127) discloses Resource Configuration in Non-Terrestrial Networks. Ananth et al. (US 20170272131) discloses Interference Mitigation Systems in High Altitude Platform Overlaid With a Terrestrial Network. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KABIR U JAHANGIR whose telephone number is (571)272-0796. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 10am to 6:30pm. 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, Ricky Ngo can be reached at (571)272-3139. 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. /K. J./ Examiner, Art Unit 2464 /RICKY Q NGO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2464
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Prosecution Timeline

Jul 28, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 27, 2025
Non-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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
88%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+8.9%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 450 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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