Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/424,926

Method And Apparatus For Network Energy Saving In Power Domain In Mobile Communications

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 29, 2024
Examiner
LAFONTANT, GARY
Art Unit
2646
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
MediaTek Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 3m
To Grant
74%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allow Rate
332 granted / 458 resolved
+10.5% vs TC avg
Minimal +2% lift
Without
With
+1.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 3m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
483
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.5%
-36.5% vs TC avg
§103
52.1%
+12.1% vs TC avg
§102
29.8%
-10.2% vs TC avg
§112
10.5%
-29.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 458 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 . 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 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) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Abotabl (US 2023/0345378 A1) Regarding Claims 1, 8 Abotabl discloses a method (See [0005-0006]; method of power measurement), comprising: receiving, by a processor of a communication apparatus (See Fig.1(120x); [037]; [0145]; a UE merely comprise a processor)) , a report configuration (See [0005-0006]; [0075-0076]; UE received information that indicates a plurality of power control offsets associated with a reference signal resource) from a network apparatus (Fig.1(110a); Base Station), wherein the report configuration (See [0075-0076]; UE configuration with power offset signaling) comprises a list of sub-configurations which associates with a plurality of power offset values (See Fig.5; [0075-0076]; the transmit power for the reference signals or the communication channels may differ from each other by an offset, such as by a transmit power offset) configured by the network apparatus Fig.1(110a); Base Station); and transmitting, by the processor (See [0145]; processor of UE), one or more measurement reports generated based on the power offset values (See [0005-0006]; transmitting, to the network node, a measurement that is based at least in part on the reference signal resource and a power control offset of the plurality of power control offsets). Regarding Claim 2, 9 Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 1, 8 and Abotabl further teaches determining, by the processor, a channel quality indicator (CQI) according to at least one of the power offset values (See [0089]; The UE 120 may transmit a CQI report for a first measurement corresponding to a first power control offset value, and the UE 120 may transmit a different kind of report for another measurement associated with another power control offset value)). Regarding Claim 3, 10 Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 1, 8 and Abotabl further teaches wherein each of the power offset values (See [0005-0006]; power offset values) comprises a power offset for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) relative to a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) (See [0076]; The transmit power of the PDSCH 525 may be different from the transmit power of the NZP-CSI-RS, PDCCH, or PDCCH DMRS 520 by a powerControlOffset 550). Regarding Claim 4, 11 Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 3, 10 and Abotabl further teaches measuring, by the processor, the CSI-RS to determine one or more CSI parameters based on at least one of the power offset values (See [0076-0077]; the UE 120 may need to perform a power measurement for each of the NZP-CSI-RS resources) and generating, by the processor, the one or more measurement reports according to the one or more CSI parameters (See [0076-0077]; transmit a CSI report for each of the power measurements associated with the NZP-CSI-RS resources). Regarding Claim 5, 12 Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 1, 8 and Abotabl further teaches wherein the report configuration is received from the network apparatus (See [0005-0006]; [0075-0076]; UE received information that indicates a plurality of power control offsets associated with a reference signal resource) through a radio resource control (RRC) signaling (See [0077]; the transmit power may be linked to the NZP-CSI-RS resource power and the RRC configured offsets). Regarding Claim 6, 13 Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 1, 8 and Abotabl further teaches receiving, by the processor, an indication to select one or more of the sub-configurations from the network apparatus (See [0087]; UE received one of the many power offsets network configuration from the base station) a downlink control information (DCI) (See [0087]; the network node 405 may transmit information, such as a MAC control element (MAC-CE) or DCI) or a media access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) values (See [0087]; the network node 405 may transmit information, such as a MAC control element (MAC-CE) or DCI), Regarding Claim 7, 14 Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 6, 13 and Abotabl further teaches wherein a trigger state corresponding to said one or more of the sub-configurations (See [0087-0088]; the UE 120 may obtain an indication (based at least in part on the configuration, the power control offset list, the MACCE, or the DCI) that indicates which power control offset values are to be reported) is initiated using a CSI request field in the DCI (See [0087-0088]; In some aspects, the UE 120 may be configured to transmit a report, such as a CSI report, for each of the power control offset values that are to be reported. For example, the UE 120 may obtain an indication (based at least in part on the configuration, the power control offset list, the MACCE, or the DCI) that indicates which power control offset values are to be reported). Regarding Claim 15, Abotabl discloses a method (See [0005-0006]; method of power measurement), comprising: determining, by a processor (Fig.2(240)) of a network apparatus (Fig.2(200)) , at least one power offset value (See [0077]; network apparatus determined and configured the UE 120 with multiple NZP-CSI-RS resources having different power offsets) for a communication apparatus (Fig.2(120)); and transmitting, by the processor (Fig.2(240)), a report configuration (See [0005-0006]; [0075-0076]; UE received information that indicates a plurality of power control offsets associated with a reference signal resource) to the communication apparatus (Fig.2(120)), wherein the report configuration (See [0075-0076]; UE configuration with power offset signaling) comprises at least one sub-configuration associating with the power offset value (See Fig.5; [0075-0076]; the transmit power for the reference signals or the communication channels may differ from each other by an offset, such as by a transmit power offset). Regarding Claim 16, Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 15 and Abotabl further teaches wherein the power offset value (See Fig.5; [0075-0076]; the transmit power for the reference signals or the communication channels may differ from each other by an offset, such as by a transmit power offset). is configured by the processor for a channel quality indicator (CQI) calculation (See [0089]; The UE 120 may transmit a CQI report for a first measurement corresponding to a first power control offset value). Regarding Claim 17, Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 15 and Abotabl further teaches wherein the power offset value (See [0005-0006]; power offset values) comprises a power offset for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) relative to a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) (See [0076]; The transmit power of the PDSCH 525 may be different from the transmit power of the NZP-CSI-RS, PDCCH, or PDCCH DMRS 520 by a powerControlOffset 550). Regarding Claim 18, Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 15 and Abotabl further teaches wherein the report configuration is transmitted (See [0005-0006]; [0075-0076]; UE received information that indicates a plurality of power control offsets associated with a reference signal resource) through a radio resource control (RRC) signaling (See [0077]; the transmit power may be linked to the NZP-CSI-RS resource power and the RRC configured offsets). . Regarding Claim 19, Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 15 and Abotabl further teaches transmitting, by the processor, an indication to select the sub-configuration to the communication apparatus (See [0087]; UE received one of the many power offsets network configuration from the base station) via a downlink control information (DCI) (See [0087]; the network node 405 may transmit information, such as a MAC control element (MAC-CE) or DCI) or a media access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) (See [0087]; the network node 405 may transmit information, such as a MAC control element (MAC-CE) or DCI). Regarding Claim 20, Abotabl teaches all the features with respect to claim 19 and Abotabl further teaches wherein a trigger state corresponding to the sub-configuration (See [0087-0088]; the UE 120 may obtain an indication (based at least in part on the configuration, the power control offset list, the MACCE, or the DCI) that indicates which power control offset values are to be reported) is initiated using a CSI request field in the DCI (See [0087-0088]; In some aspects, the UE 120 may be configured to transmit a report, such as a CSI report, for each of the power control offset values that are to be reported. For example, the UE 120 may obtain an indication (based at least in part on the configuration, the power control offset list, the MACCE, or the DCI) that indicates which power control offset values are to be reported). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GARY LAFONTANT whose telephone number is (571)272-3037. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00AM -5:00PM. 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, Matthew Anderson can be reached at 571-272-4177. 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. /GARY LAFONTANT/Examiner, Art Unit 2646
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 29, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 10, 2026
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
72%
Grant Probability
74%
With Interview (+1.6%)
2y 3m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 458 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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