Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/434,572

METHOD FOR DATA TRANSMISSION, TERMINAL DEVICE, AND COMPUTER STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Feb 06, 2024
Priority
Nov 01, 2021 — continuation of PCTCN2021127933
Examiner
HUYNH, CHUCK
Art Unit
2644
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
72%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 72% — above average
72%
Career Allowance Rate
350 granted / 488 resolved
+9.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +14% lift
Without
With
+13.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 6m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
521
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
82.4%
+42.4% vs TC avg
§102
15.6%
-24.4% vs TC avg
§112
0.3%
-39.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 488 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Information Disclosure Statement IDS(es) submitted on 2/6/2024 has/have been considered. Oath/Declaration Oath/Declaration filed on 2/6/2024 has been acknowledged. Drawings Drawing(s) submitted on 2/6/2024 have been acknowledged. 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)(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) 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Tsai et al. (US 2023/0040421; hereinafter Tsai). Regarding claims 1, 10 and 19, Tsai discloses a method for data transmission ([0214], [0215]; Fig. 6; [0239]: wherein the second transmission is a retransmission of the first transmission), comprising: determining a target Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) ([0215]: determining the CG and SSB for retransmission); and retransmitting first data to a network device using a Configured Grant (CG) resource associated with the target SSB ([0224]-[0227]: determining of SSB and corresponding CG for retransmission/second UL transmission). Regarding claims 2, 11 and 20, Tsai discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising: initially transmitting the first data using a first CG resource associated with a first SSB, wherein a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) process corresponding to the first CG resource is a first HARQ process, wherein determining the target SSB comprises: determining the first SSB as the target SSB ([0145]-[0147]: initiate first UL using determined SSB, CG configuration using first HARQ process). Regarding claims 3 and 12, Tsai discloses the method of claim 1, wherein determining the target SSB comprises: when second data is transmitted using a CG resource associated with a second SSB before determining the target SSB, determining the second SSB as the target SSB ([0224]-[0227]: determining of SSB and corresponding CG for retransmission/second UL transmission); otherwise, determining a first SSB as the target SSB; or determining whether a third SSB is present that exceeds a pre-configured threshold and is configured with a CG resource; when the third SSB is present, determining the third SSB as the target SSB; and when the third SSB is not present, determining a first SSB as the target SSB or initiating a random access procedure. Regarding claims 4 and 13, Tsai discloses the method of claim 2, further comprising: starting a first timer for the first HARQ process, wherein retransmitting the first data to the network device using the CG resource associated with the target SSB comprises: retransmitting, during a running time of the first timer, the first data to the network device using a second CG resource corresponding to the first HARQ process in CG resources associated with the target SSB ([0215]: Fig. 6 wherein the second transmission/ retransmission of the first transmission is allowed before the receiving a feedback/end of the timer). Regarding claims 5 and 14, Tsai discloses the method of claim 4, wherein an occasion for starting the first timer comprises at least one of: an occasion at a starting symbol of the second CG resource; an occasion at an ending symbol of the second CG resource; or an occasion at a first Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for monitoring after completing uplink data transmission using the second CG resource ([0210]: timer for monitoring PDCCH). Regarding claims 6 and 15, Tsai discloses the method of claim 4, further comprising: starting a second timer after completing an initial transmission of the first data using the first CG resource associated with the first SSB, and starting the second timer after completing each data transmission using the second CG resource associated with the target SSB, wherein retransmitting, during the running time of the first timer, the first data to the network device using the second CG resource corresponding to the first HARQ process in the CG resources associated with the target SSB comprises: when the second timer expires during the running time of the first timer, retransmitting the first data to the network device using the second CG resource associated with the target SSB ([0212]: wherein the length of the timer is longer than the CG retransmission timer, and therefore the CG retransmission timer expires earlier allowing for retransmission before the first timer expires). Regarding claims 7 and 16, Tsai discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising: after a trigger condition for Small Data Transmission (SDT) is satisfied and a transmission of a first message is completed, transmitting the first data to the network device using a first CG resource associated with a first SSB ([0090]-[0092]: performing SDT based on determined CG and SSB): . Regarding claims 8, and 17 Tsai discloses the method of claim 7, wherein the first SSB refers to an SSB that exceeds a pre-configured threshold and is configured with a CG resource ([0092]: use of RSRP threshold for an SSB selection and association between the SSB and CG resource; [0259]). Regarding claim 9, Tsai discloses the method of claim 7, further comprising: determining that a first timer for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) process corresponding to the first CG resource associated with the first SSB expires or in a non-running state ([0244]-[0246]: HARQ timers). Regarding claim 18, Tsai discloses the terminal device of claim 16, wherein the first message is transmitted using a CG resource or a dynamic resource scheduled by a network, and the first message comprises one or more of: a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message ([0231]: RRC), terminal data, or a Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE) ([0231]: MAC CE). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHUCK HUYNH whose telephone number is (571)272-7866. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10am - 6pm. 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, Kathy Wang-Hurst can be reached at 571-270-5371. 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. /CHUCK HUYNH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2644
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Prosecution Timeline

Feb 06, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §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
86%
With Interview (+13.9%)
3y 6m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 488 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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