Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/439,539

TRANSMIT RECEIVE POINT CARRIER CONFIGURATION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Feb 12, 2024
Priority
May 12, 2023 — provisional 63/501,983
Examiner
HO, CHUONG T
Art Unit
2412
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
92%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 92% — above average
92%
Career Allowance Rate
950 granted / 1037 resolved
+33.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
1067
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
85.0%
+45.0% vs TC avg
§102
1.9%
-38.1% vs TC avg
§112
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1037 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 office action is in response to the application serial number 18/439,539 filed on 02/12/2024. Claims 1-11, 12-18, 19-20 are pending. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. Claim(s) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over CAO ( US 20250310070, hereinafter, CAO’s 070 ) in view of HE et al. ( US 20260019221, hereinafter, HE’s 221 ). Regarding to the claim 1, US 20250310070 teaches a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors individually or collectively configured to: receive transmission configuration indicator (TCI) activation ( activate the TCI state ) [see Paragraph 0088 & 0089 ] information associated with identifying a set of carriers ( set of component carriers , CC list ) , wherein the set of carriers maps to a set of transmit receive point (TRP) mode values ( the set of TRP mode values includes at least one of a mTRP mode, or a sTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0103 – 0107 ] (receive transmission configuration indicator (TCI) activation information associated with identifying a set of carriers, wherein the set of carriers maps to a set of transmit receive point (TRP) mode values ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ] ; However, US 20250310070, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, does not explicitly teach a communication configuration associated with a TRP mode of the carrier. US 20260019221, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches communicate on a carrier, of the set of carriers (set of component carriers) , using a TCI state of the carrier, of one or more maintained TCI states of the carrier (maintained TCI states of the carrier ) [see Figure 5B and Paragraphs 0047 & 0045 & 0044 ] , and a communication configuration associated with a TRP mode of the carrier (communication configuration associated with sTRP mode, mTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0054 ], the TRP mode being based at least in part on a TRP mode value (the TRP mode being based at least in part a sTRP mode, mTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0054 ] , of the set of TRP mode values [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0010 & 0011 & 0018 & 0026 & 0048 & 0049 & 0054 & 0055 & 0056 ]. Thus, it would obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20250310070 in view of US 20260019221 because US 20260019221 suggests that it is able to support the exponential growth in mobile data traffic in 5G and to enhance the coverage, the wireless devices access networks composed of mTRPs (e.g., macro-cells, small cells, pico-cells, femto-cells, remote radio heads, relay nodes, etc.). Regarding to the claim 2, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the one or more processors are further individually or collectively configured to: receive radio resource control signaling including a bitmap identifying a mapping of the set of carriers to the set of TRP mode values (wherein the one or more processors are further individually or collectively configured to: receive radio resource control signaling including a bitmap identifying a mapping of the set of carriers to the set of TRP mode values ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 3, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the set of carriers includes a set of component carriers or a set of bandwidth parts ( wherein the set of carriers includes a set of component carriers or a set of bandwidth parts ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 4, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the set of TRP mode values includes at least one of: a multi-TRP (mTRP) mode, or a single-TRP (sTRP) mode ( wherein the set of TRP mode values includes at least one of: a multi-TRP (mTRP) mode, or a single-TRP (sTRP) mode ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 5, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the TCI state is a unified TCI state (wherein the TCI state is a unified TCI state) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 6, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the set of carriers maps to the set of TRP mode values based at least in part on a TCI configuration (wherein the set of carriers maps to the set of TRP mode values based at least in part on a TCI configuration ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 12, US 20250310070 teaches a network node for wireless communication, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors individually or collectively configured to: Transmit transmission configuration indicator (TCI) activation ( activate the TCI state ) [see Paragraph 0088 & 0089 ] information associated with identifying a set of carriers ( set of component carriers , CC list ) , wherein the set of carriers maps to a set of transmit receive point (TRP) mode values ( the set of TRP mode values includes at least one of a mTRP mode, or a sTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0103 – 0107 ] (receive transmission configuration indicator (TCI) activation information associated with identifying a set of carriers, wherein the set of carriers maps to a set of transmit receive point (TRP) mode values ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ] ; However, US 20250310070, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, does not explicitly teach a communication configuration associated with a TRP mode of the carrier. US 20260019221, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches communicate on a carrier, of the set of carriers (set of component carriers) , using a TCI state of the carrier, of one or more maintained TCI states of the carrier (maintained TCI states of the carrier ) [see Figure 5B and Paragraphs 0047 & 0045 & 0044 ] , and a communication configuration associated with a TRP mode of the carrier (communication configuration associated with sTRP mode, mTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0054 ], the TRP mode being based at least in part on a TRP mode value (the TRP mode being based at least in part a sTRP mode, mTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0054 ] , of the set of TRP mode values [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0010 & 0011 & 0018 & 0026 & 0048 & 0049 & 0054 & 0055 & 0056 ]. Thus, it would obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20250310070 in view of US 20260019221 because US 20260019221 suggests that it is able to support the exponential growth in mobile data traffic in 5G and to enhance the coverage, the wireless devices access networks composed of mTRPs (e.g., macro-cells, small cells, pico-cells, femto-cells, remote radio heads, relay nodes, etc.). Regarding to the claim 13, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the one or more processors are further individually or collectively configured to: transmit radio resource control signaling including a bitmap identifying a mapping of the set of carriers to the set of TRP mode values (wherein the one or more processors are further individually or collectively configured to: transmit radio resource control signaling including a bitmap identifying a mapping of the set of carriers to the set of TRP mode values) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 14, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the set of carriers includes a set of component carriers or a set of bandwidth parts ( wherein the set of carriers includes a set of component carriers or a set of bandwidth parts ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 15, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the set of TRP mode values includes at least one of: a multi-TRP (mTRP) mode, or a single-TRP (sTRP) mode ( wherein the set of TRP mode values includes at least one of: a multi-TRP (mTRP) mode, or a single-TRP (sTRP) mode ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 16, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the TCI state is a unified TCI state ( wherein the TCI state is a unified TCI state ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 17, US 20250310070 further teaches wherein the set of carriers maps to the set of TRP mode values based at least in part on a TCI configuration ( wherein the set of carriers maps to the set of TRP mode values based at least in part on a TCI configuration ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ]. Regarding to the claim 19, US 20250310070 teaches a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment ( UE ), comprising: Receiving transmission configuration indicator (TCI) activation ( activate the TCI state ) [see Paragraph 0088 & 0089 ] information associated with identifying a set of carriers ( set of component carriers , CC list ) , wherein the set of carriers maps to a set of transmit receive point (TRP) mode values ( the set of TRP mode values includes at least one of a mTRP mode, or a sTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0103 – 0107 ] (receive transmission configuration indicator (TCI) activation information associated with identifying a set of carriers, wherein the set of carriers maps to a set of transmit receive point (TRP) mode values ) [see Paragraphs 0086 & 0087 & 0088 & 0089 & 0096 & 0098 & 0099 & 0100 & 0103 & 0105 & 0107 & 0108 & 0110 & 0111 & 0113 & 0114 & 0140 & 0160 & 0177 & 0178 & 0180 & 0181 & 0186 & 0190 & 0194 & 0196 & 0200 & 0238 & 0239 & 0253 & 0257 & 0261 & 0277 & 0278 & 0292 & 0296 ] ; However, US 20250310070, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, does not explicitly teach a communication configuration associated with a TRP mode of the carrier. US 20260019221, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches communicate on a carrier, of the set of carriers (set of component carriers) , using a TCI state of the carrier, of one or more maintained TCI states of the carrier (maintained TCI states of the carrier ) [see Figure 5B and Paragraphs 0047 & 0045 & 0044 ] , and a communication configuration associated with a TRP mode of the carrier (communication configuration associated with sTRP mode, mTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0054 ], the TRP mode being based at least in part on a TRP mode value (the TRP mode being based at least in part a sTRP mode, mTRP mode ) [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0054 ] , of the set of TRP mode values [see Paragraphs 0008 & 0009 & 0010 & 0011 & 0018 & 0026 & 0048 & 0049 & 0054 & 0055 & 0056 ]. Thus, it would obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20250310070 in view of US 20260019221 because US 20260019221 suggests that it is able to support the exponential growth in mobile data traffic in 5G and to enhance the coverage, the wireless devices access networks composed of mTRPs (e.g., macro-cells, small cells, pico-cells, femto-cells, remote radio heads, relay nodes, etc.). Regarding to the claim 20, US 20250310070 further teaches receiving radio resource control signaling including a bitmap identifying a mapping of the set of carriers to the set of TRP mode values (receiving RRC signaling including a bitmap identifying a mapping of the set of component carriers such first CC supports a sTRP transmission mode, the second CC supports an sDCI-mTRP transmission mode, the third CC supports an mDCI-mTRP transmission mode) [see Paragaraphs 0101 & 0100 & 0099 ]. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 7 is 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. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art fails to disclose wherein the TRP mode of the carrier is based at least in part on at least one of: a quantity of the one or more maintained TCI states of the carrier, or a quantity of control resource set pool indices of the one or more maintained TCI states of the carrier. Claim 9 is 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. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art fails to disclose wherein the TRP mode of the carrier is based at least in part on: a quantity of configured control resource set pool indices of the TCI state of the carrier. Claim 11 is 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. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art fails to disclose wherein the MAC control element type corresponds to a quantity of TCI codepoints or a quantity of TCI states activatable by a MAC control element configuring the carrier. Claim 18 is 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. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art fails to disclose wherein the TRP mode of the carrier is based at least in part on at least one of: a quantity of the one or more maintained TCI states of the carrier, or a quantity of control resource set pool indices of the one or more maintained TCI states of the carrier. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHUONG T HO whose telephone number is (571)272-3133. The examiner can normally be reached 7:30-4:00. 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 C 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. /CHUONG T HO/Examiner, Art Unit 2412 /CHARLES C JIANG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2412
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 12, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 01, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 08, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 08, 2026
Response Filed

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
92%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+12.7%)
2y 6m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1037 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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