Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/440,305

METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS DATA RECEPTION AND MEASUREMENT USING LAYER REDUCTION FOR MULTI RX RECEPTION CAPABLE UES

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Feb 13, 2024
Priority
Feb 16, 2023 — IN 202341010434
Examiner
ABELSON, RONALD B
Art Unit
2476
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Nokia Technologies Oy
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
1183 granted / 1311 resolved
+32.2% vs TC avg
Minimal -0% lift
Without
With
+-0.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
1342
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
77.6%
+37.6% vs TC avg
§102
10.6%
-29.4% vs TC avg
§112
3.3%
-36.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1311 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 . D1 Nokia: Discussion on RRM L3 enhancements for multi Rx DL in FR2 Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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, 4-7, and 9-15 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim US 20250309952 in view of D1 and Heo US 20100034176. Regarding claim 1, 15, an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive a physical downlink shared channel with a plurality of layers from at least two network nodes (Here, N TPs transmit one PDSCH, but each TP transmits only some layers of multiple layers included in one PDSCH, [0112]); receive at least one downlink control information, wherein the at least one downlink control information is configured to schedule at least one layer during a measurement window using, at least, a first transmission configuration indication and a second transmission configuration indication, wherein the first transmission configuration indication is associated with a first network node of the at least two network nodes, wherein the second transmission configuration indication is associated with a second network node of the at least two network nodes (Here, N TPs transmit one PDSCH, but each TP transmits only some layers of multiple layers included in one PDSCH, [0112], A CSI measurement window may refer to a time interval (or time unit(s)) during which a channel/interference may be measured for CSI calculation, [0252]); during the measurement window, perform at least one measurement ([0252]). Although Kim teaches a measurement window, the reference is silent on during the measurement window, perform receiving or transmission with the at least one layer, wherein a number of layers of the at least one layer is less than a number of layers of the plurality of layers received by the apparatus outside of the measurement window. D1 teaches during the measurement window, perform receiving or transmission with the at least one layer (fig. 4b, 4c, observation 5). Although D1 does not explicitly state wherein a number of layers of the at least one layer is less than a number of layers of the plurality of layers received by the apparatus outside of the measurement window, it is certainly implied, in addition to (fig. 4b, 4c, observation 5), Proposal 5 D1 states, “scheduling restrictions apply when the UE is performing RRM measurements …, one symbol before and after the SSB symbols are not available for the UE to be scheduled, since one Rx the UE might be changing the spatial filter parameters while doing RRM measurements… Additionally, since the SMTC is the same for several UEs in the network, most of the UEs will be restricted to the same symbols and that leaves very small room for the network to schedule UEs”. Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of Kim by during the measurement window, perform receiving or transmission with the at least one layer, wherein a number of layers of the at least one layer is less than a number of layers of the plurality of layers received by the apparatus outside of the measurement window, as suggested by D1. This modification would benefit the system since simultaneously measuring and receiving data will efficiently use system resources. The combination is silent on transmit, to an anchor network node, one of: an acknowledgment, or a negative acknowledgement, with respect to the received physical downlink shared channel received with the at least one layer. Heo teaches transmit, to an anchor network node, one of: an acknowledgment, or a negative acknowledgement, with respect to the received physical downlink shared channel received (After the data decoding has completed, the UE transmits an ACK/NACK of the anchor cell's HS-PDSCH to the anchor cell via an HS-DPCCH1, [0054]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of the combination by transmit, to an anchor network node, one of: an acknowledgment, or a negative acknowledgement, with respect to the received physical downlink shared channel received with the at least one layer, as suggested by Heo. This modification would benefit the system by enabling the UE to communicate acknowledgement / non acknowledgement of the PDSCH. Regarding claim 4 wherein the at least one measurement is performed based on at least one of: at least one synchronization signal burst, at least one synchronization signal block measurement timing configuration, at least one synchronization configuration, at least one physical broadcast channel block measurement timing configuration, at least one measurement timing configuration ([0252]), at least one channel state information reference signal (Kim: CSI-RS, [0211]), or at least one reference signal, other than the at least one channel state information reference signal, of which the apparatus is required to perform measurements. Regarding claim 5, wherein the at least one measurement is performed with a first receiver chain of the apparatus, wherein the receiving with the at least one layer is performed with a second receiver chain of the apparatus (D1: fig. 4b, 4c, Proposal 7). Regarding claim 6, wherein the at least one non-transitory memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: determine to use the first receiver chain to perform the at least one measurement; and determine to use the second receiver chain to receive with the at least one layer (D1: fig. 4b, 4c, Proposal 7). Regarding claim 7, wherein the physical downlink shared channel is received with the at least one layer from at least one of: the first network node, or the second network node (Kim: Here, N TPs transmit one PDSCH, but each TP transmits only some layers of multiple layers included in one PDSCH, [0112]). Regarding claim 9, wherein the at least two network nodes are non-collocated (Kim: fig. 7). Regarding claim 10, wherein the apparatus is using single downlink control information scheduling (Meanwhile, a scheme in which one representative TP delivers scheduling information on data transmitted by itself and data transmitted by a different TP (i.e., a TP participating in NCJT) through one DCI is referred to as ‘single DCI based NCJT, [0112]). Regarding claim 12, wherein the apparatus is operating in a non-single frequency network (Kim: FR1, FR2, [0078). Regarding claim 13, wherein the apparatus is operating in a single frequency network (Kim: SDM, TDM, [0126]). Regarding claim 14, wherein the at least one downlink control information is received from a same network node, of the at least two network nodes, as the physical downlink shared channel (As each of N TPs participating in NCJT transmission transmits DL grant DCI and a PDSCH to UE, UE receives N DCI and N PDSCHs from N TPs. Meanwhile, a scheme in which one representative TP delivers scheduling information on data transmitted by itself and data transmitted by a different TP (i.e., a TP participating in NCJT) through one DCI is referred to as ‘single DCI based NCJT’. Here, N TPs transmit one PDSCH, but each TP transmits only some layers of multiple layers included in one PDSCH, [0112]). Claim(s) 2, 3, is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Kim and D1 as applied to claims 1 above, and further in view of Ang US 20160330782. Regarding claim 2, although D1 teaches layer reduction during the measurement window (Proposal 5), the reference does not explicitly state, transmit, to at least one of the at least two network nodes, an indication of support for layer reduction. Ang teaches transmit, to at least one of the at least two network nodes, an indication of support for layer reduction ([0122]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of the combination by transmit, to at least one of the at least two network nodes, an indication of support for layer reduction during the measurement window, as suggested by Ang. This modification would benefit the system by enabling the UE to inform the network of its capabilities with respect to layer reduction. Regarding claims 3, indication of support for layer reduction during the measurement window comprises a capability indication (Ang: [0122]). Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the amended independent claim(s) have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RONALD B ABELSON whose telephone number is (571)272-3165. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-4:30. 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, Ayaz Sheikh can be reached at 571-272-3795. 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. /RONALD B ABELSON/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Feb 13, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 22, 2026
Response Filed
Apr 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12634079
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING DOWNLINK REFERENCE SIGNAL, AND READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM
3y 7m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634947
METHOD FOR PROCESSING MULTIPLE RESOURCE CONFLICTS AND TERMINAL DEVICE
3y 7m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634954
Method And Apparatus For Scheduling Of Multi-Cell Uplink And Downlink Transmissions With Single Downlink Control Information
2y 9m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634950
DOWNLINK CONTROL INFORMATION (DCI) FORMAT FOR BEAM INDICATION WITHOUT SCHEDULING DATA AND CAPABILITY REPORTING
2y 10m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634926
TERMINAL, RADIO COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND BASE STATION
2y 9m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (-0.5%)
2y 5m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1311 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month