Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/439,738

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SATELLITE BAND ALLOCATION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Feb 12, 2024
Examiner
HO, CHUONG T
Art Unit
2412
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Apple Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
92%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 92% — above average
92%
Career Allow Rate
940 granted / 1025 resolved
+33.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
28 currently pending
Career history
1053
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.3%
-36.7% vs TC avg
§103
71.5%
+31.5% vs TC avg
§102
3.2%
-36.8% vs TC avg
§112
9.0%
-31.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1025 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 18/439,738 filed 02/12/2024. Claims 1-9, 10-14, 15-20 are pending. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 02/12/2024, 02/18/2025 was filed. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Objections Claims 1-8 are objected to because of the following informalities: “ A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium” should be replaced by ---- A non-transitory computer-readable medium ----. Appropriate correction is required. 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, 2-6, 9, 10, 11-14, 15, 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over POLAGANGA et al. ( US 20230413266, hereinafter, POLAGANGA’s 266 ) in view of FUKURA et al. ( US 20210144586, hereinafter, FUKURA’s 586 ). Regarding to the claim 1, US 20230413266 allocate a first portion of the band ( the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)) to a first channel of a first cellular type ( LTE or NR service) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]; Allocate a second portion of the band ( the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)) to a second channel of a second cellular type ((Cat-M1 IoT ) service ) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]; Transmit or receive first data via the first portion of the band ( the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)), transmit or receive second data via the second portion of the band ( the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)), or both ( Transmit or receive first data via the first portion of the the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS), transmit or receive second data via the second portion of the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)), or both ) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach the satellite. US 20210144586, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches receive a request to communicate via a satellite band (receive a request to communicate via a satellite band) [see Paragraphs 0022 & 0023]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20230413266 in view of US 20210144586 because US 20210144586 suggests that the subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Regarding to the claim 2, US 20230413266 and US 20210144586 teach the limitations of the claim 1 above. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach wherein the first channel is shifted away from an edge of the satellite band. US 20210144586, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches wherein the first channel is shifted away from an edge of the satellite band (wherein the first channel is shifted away from an edge of the satellite band ) [see Paragraphs 0022 & 0023]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20230413266 in view of US 20210144586 because US 20210144586 suggests that the subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Regarding to the claim 3, US 20230413266 further teaches wherein the first cellular type is New Radio ( wherein the first cellular type is New Radio) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. Regarding to the claim 4, US 20230413266 and US 20210144586 teach the limitations of the claim 1 above. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach wherein the second channel is disposed at an edge of the satellite band. US 20210144586, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches wherein the second channel is disposed at an edge of the satellite band ( wherein the second channel is disposed at an edge of the satellite band ) [see Paragraphs 0022 & 0023]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20230413266 in view of US 20210144586 because US 20210144586 suggests that the subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Regarding to the claim 5, US 20230413266 further teaches wherein the second cellular type comprises Long-Term Evolution (LTE) ( wherein the second cellular type comprises Long-Term Evolution (LTE) ) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. Regarding to the claim 6, US 20230413266 further teaches wherein the second cellular type comprises LTE Category M1 or LTE Narrowband Internet of Things ( wherein the second cellular type comprises LTE Category M1 or LTE Narrowband Internet of Things) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. Regarding to the claim 9, US 20230413266 and US 20210144586 teach the limitations of the claim 1 above. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to allocate the first channel based on a carrier center frequency range. US 20210144586, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to allocate the first channel based on a carrier center frequency range ( wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to allocate the first channel based on a carrier center frequency range ) [see Paragraphs 0022 & 0023]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20230413266 in view of US 20210144586 because US 20210144586 suggests that the subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Regarding to the claim 10, US 20230413266 teaches a method comprising: receiving, via a receiver of the user equipment, an indication of the band ( portion of frequency values of the dynamic spectrum sharing ) , the band ( portion of frequency values of the dynamic spectrum sharing ) comprising a first portion of a first cellular type ( LTE or NR service) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ] and a second portion of a second cellular type ( Cat-M1 IoT service ) (receiving, via a receiver of the user equipment, an indication of the band, the band comprising a first portion of a first cellular type and a second portion of a second cellular type) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]; transmitting or receiving first data via the first portion of the band, transmitting or receiving second data via the second portion of the band, or both (transmitting or receiving first data via the first portion of the band, transmitting or receiving second data via the second portion of the band, or both) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach the satellite. US 20210144586, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches transmitting, via a transmitter of user equipment, a request to communicate via a satellite band (transmitting a request to communicate via a satellite band) [see Paragraphs 0022 & 0023]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20230413266 in view of US 20210144586 because US 20210144586 suggests that the subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Regarding to the claim 11, US 20230413266 and US 20210144586 teach the limitations of the claim 10 above. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach wherein a first edge of the second portion is disposed at an edge of the satellite band, and a second edge of the second portion is disposed at an edge of the first portion. US 20210144586, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches wherein a first edge of the second portion is disposed at an edge of the satellite band, and a second edge of the second portion is disposed at an edge of the first portion ( wherein a first edge of the second portion is disposed at an edge of the satellite band, and a second edge of the second portion is disposed at an edge of the first portion ) [see Paragraphs 0022 & 0023]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20230413266 in view of US 20210144586 because US 20210144586 suggests that the subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Regarding to the claim 12, US 20230413266 further teaches wherein the first cellular type comprises New Radio and the second cellular type comprises Long-Term Evolution (LTE) ( wherein the first cellular type comprises New Radio and the second cellular type comprises Long-Term Evolution (LTE) ) [see Paragraphs 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. Regarding to the claim 13, US 20230413266 further teaches transmitting or receiving the first data and transmitting or receiving the second data during a first time period ( transmitting or receiving the first data and transmitting or receiving the second data during a first time period ) [see Paragraphs 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. Regarding to the claim 14, US 20230413266 further teaches transmitting or receiving the first data during a first time period and transmitting or receiving the second data during a second time period ( transmitting or receiving the first data during a first time period and transmitting or receiving the second data during a second time period ) [see Paragraphs 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. Regarding to the claim 15, US 20230413266 teaches an electronic device comprising: a transmitter; a receiver; and processing circuitry coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, the processing circuitry configured to: send an indication of the band ( portion of the dynamic spectrum sharing ) , the band ( portion of the dynamic spectrum sharing ) comprising a first portion of a first cellular type ( LTE or NR service) [see Paragraph 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ] and a second portion of a second cellular type (Long-Term Evolution (LTE)) (sending an indication of the band, the band comprising a first portion of a first cellular type and a second portion of a second cellular type) [see Paragraphs 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]; send or receive first data via the first portion of the band, send or receive second data via the second portion of the band, or both ( send or receive first data via the first portion of the band, send or receive second data via the second portion of the band, or both) [ see Figure 5 and Paragraphs 0019 & 0040 ]. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach the satellite. US 20210144586, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches receive a request to communicate via a satellite band ( receive a request to communicate via a satellite band) [see Paragraphs 0022 & 0023]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20230413266 in view of US 20210144586 because US 20210144586 suggests that the subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Regarding to the claim 16, US 20230413266 and US 20210144586 teach the limitations of the claim 15 above. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach wherein the second portion is disposed at an edge of the satellite band and the first portion is not disposed at the edge of the satellite band. US 20210144586, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches wherein the second portion is disposed at an edge of the satellite band and the first portion is not disposed at the edge of the satellite band ( wherein the second portion is disposed at an edge of the satellite band and the first portion is not disposed at the edge of the satellite band ) [see Paragraphs 0022 & 0023]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the system of US 20230413266 in view of US 20210144586 because US 20210144586 suggests that the subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Claim(s) 7, 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over POLAGANGA et al. ( US 20230413266, hereinafter, POLAGANGA’s 266 ) in view of FUKURA et al. ( US 20210144586, hereinafter, FUKURA’s 586 ), and further in view of Zhou et al. ( US 20220150713, hereinafter, Zhou’s 713 ). Regarding to the claim 2, US 20230413266 and US 20210144586 teach the limitations of the claim 1 above. However, US 20230413266 does not explicitly teach wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to align a first set of resource blocks of the first channel and a second set of resource blocks of the second channel. US 20220150713, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to align a first set of resource blocks of the first channel and a second set of resource blocks of the second channel ( wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to align a first set of resource blocks of the first channel and a second set of resource blocks of the second channel ) [see Paragraphs 0063 & 0065 & 0066 ]. Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing data of the claimed invention to modify the combined system ( US 20230413266 and US 20210144586), and further in view of US 20220150713 because US 20220150713 suggests that The subject application relates to wireless communications systems in general, and more particularly to New Radio (NR) including fifth generation (5G) cellular wireless communications systems and/or other next generation networks, in which dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) LTE-NR coexistence, or LNC), allows for deployment in overlapping spectrum. Regarding to the claim 8, US 20230413266 further teaches wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to execute dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) operations between the first channel and the second channel based on the alignment ( wherein the instructions are configured to cause the one or more processors to execute dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) operations between the first channel and the second channel based on the alignment ) [see Paragraphs 0019 & 0040 and Figure 5 ]. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 17, 18, 19, 20 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. The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance: The prior art fails to disclose wherein the processing circuitry is configured to identify a first set of allowed additional maximum power reduction values based on a first switching point, and identify a second set of allowed additional maximum power reduction values based on a second switching point. 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
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 12, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (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
92%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+12.6%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1025 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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