Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/417,722

RADIO FRAME SENDING METHOD AND APPARATUS, AND RADIO FRAME RECEIVING METHOD AND APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 19, 2024
Examiner
BROCKMAN, ANGEL T
Art Unit
2412
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Nokia Technologies Oy
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
88%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allow Rate
593 granted / 726 resolved
+23.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
744
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.3%
-32.7% vs TC avg
§103
53.5%
+13.5% vs TC avg
§102
22.9%
-17.1% vs TC avg
§112
4.7%
-35.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 726 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 . This listing of claims replaces all prior versions and listings of claims in the application: Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 (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. Claim(s) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by VIger et al. (GB 2592931 A1, hereinafter Viger). Regarding claim 1, Viger discloses a radio frame sending method, comprising: generating a radio frame, wherein the radio frame comprises a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE comprises a first information element, the second MLE comprises a second information element (figure 9, wherein the first and second MLE include MLE STA 1 and MLE STA 2) and the first information element and the second information element correspond to station information of a same link (figure 8); and sending the radio frame (figure 9). Regarding claim 2, Viger discloses 2. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein each information element of the first information element and the second information element [[each]] comprises a link identifier field, and a value of the link identifier field of the first information element is the same as a value of the link identifier field of the second information element (page 12 ,lines 16-19 wherein the TID is the same value, page 15, lines 1-7). Regarding claim 3, Viger discloses wherein the first information element comprises first indication information, and the first indication information indicates whether the station information is fragmented (page 24, lines 4-10). Regarding claim 4, Viger discloses, wherein the first indication information is carried in a station control field of the first information element (page 24, lines 6-15). Regarding claim 5, Viger discloses wherein the first information element comprises second indication information, and the second indication information indicates a quantity of information elements that carry the station information (page 15, lines 1-7). Regarding claim 6, Viger discloses wherein the second indication information is carried in a station control field of the first information element (page 24, lines 6-15). Regarding claim 7, Viger discloses wherein the second information element comprises third indication information, and the third indication information indicates that the second information element is a last information element in a plurality of information elements that carry the station information (page 4, lines 1-10). Regarding claim 8, Viger discloses, wherein: the second information element does not comprise a station information field; or the second information element comprises the station information field, and a value of the station information field is a reserved value (page 15, lines 1-7). Regarding claim 9, Viger discloses wherein an element type of the first information element is the same as an element type of the second information element (page 15, lines 1-7). Regarding claim 10, Viger discloses an radio frame sending apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises: a transceiver; [[and]] at least one processor; and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor is configured and storing programming instructions for execution by the at least one processor to generate a radio frame, wherein the radio frame comprises a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE, the first MLE comprises a first information element, the second MLE comprises a second information Element (figure 9, wherein the first and second MLE include MLE STA 1 and MLE STA 2), and the first information element and the second information element correspond to station information of a same link; and wherein the transceiver is configured to send the radio frame (figure 9) . Regarding claim 11, Viger discloses apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each information element of the first information element and the second information element [[each]] comprises a link identifier field, and a value of the link identifier field of the first information element is the same as a value of the link identifier field of the second information element (page 12 ,lines 16-19 wherein the TID is the same value, page 15, lines 1-7). Regarding claim 12, Viger discloses wherein the first information element comprises first indication information, and the first indication information indicates whether the station information is fragmented (page 24, lines 4-10). Regarding claim 13, Viger discloses, wherein the first indication information is carried in a station control field of the first information element (page 24, lines 6-15). Regarding claim 14, Viger discloses an radio frame receiving apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises: a transceiver wherein the radio frame comprises a first multi-link element (MLE) and a second MLE (figure 2, wherein the first and second MLE include MLE STA 1 and MLE STA 2), the first MLE comprises a first information element, the second MLE comprises a second information element, and the first information element and the second information element correspond to station information of a same link (figure 2, links one and 2 are shared by both MLE, page 15, lines 1-7) ; PNG media_image1.png 330 627 media_image1.png Greyscale at least one processor; and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor is configured and storing programming instructions for execution by the at least one processor to determine the station information based on the radio frame (figure 8, wherein the TSID includes the station information , includes priority and traffic stream ID ). PNG media_image2.png 491 665 media_image2.png Greyscale PNG media_image3.png 908 707 media_image3.png Greyscale Regarding claim 15, Viger discloses wherein an element type of the first information element is the same as an element type of the second information element (page 15, lines 1-7). Regarding claim 16, Viger discloses wherein an element type of the first information element is different from an element type of the second information element (figure 8, page 15, lines 10-20). Regarding claim 17, Viger discloses, wherein each information element of the first information element and the second information element [[each]] comprises a type field, and a value of the type field of the first information element is different from a value of the type field of the second information element (page 15, lines 10-20). Regarding claim 18, Viger discloses wherein the type field is a subelement identifier field(page 15, lines 1-10 ). Regarding claim 19, Viger discloses, wherein in the radio frame, the first MLE and the second MLE are adjacent MLEs (figure 8). Regarding claim 20, Viguer discloses wherein: the second MLE does not comprise a common information field; the second MLE comprises the common information field, and a value of the common information field of the second MLE is a reserved value; the second MLE does not comprise a multi-link control field; or the second MLE comprises the multi-link control field, and a value of a status bitmap field in the multi-link control field of the second MLE is all 0s (figure 8, page 15, lines 1-10). Conclusion 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 571-270-7191. 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
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 19, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 26, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Dec 31, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

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COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION METHOD FOR PRIORITIZED TRAFFIC
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Patent 12574918
FRAME EXCHANGE SEQUENCE AND NETWORK ALLOCATION VECTOR (NAV) PROTECTION
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12574949
SIDELINK SIGNAL POSITIONING COORDINATION BASED ON USER DEVICE CAPABILITY
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 10, 2026
Patent 12556436
INSTANTANEOUS AMPLITUDE GAIN SIDE INFORMATION FOR A MULTIPLEXED SIGNAL
2y 5m to grant Granted Feb 17, 2026
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 (+6.5%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 726 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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