Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/441,440

METHOD EXECUTED BY TERMINAL, ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Feb 14, 2024
Priority
Feb 15, 2023 — CN 202310180682.8 +1 more
Examiner
HAILU, KIBROM T
Art Unit
2461
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
4m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
699 granted / 872 resolved
+22.2% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
900
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.3%
-34.7% vs TC avg
§103
52.3%
+12.3% vs TC avg
§102
19.7%
-20.3% vs TC avg
§112
14.6%
-25.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 872 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
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 § 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. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claims 1, 4-5, 15, 17, and 21-27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sakhnini et al. (US 2023/0421324 A1) in view of Li et al. (US 2025/0062809 A1). Regarding claim 1, Sakhnini discloses a method performed by a terminal (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving first information on a first resource set and second information on a second resource set (paragraph [0061]; [0145]-[0151]; [0158]-[0159]; [0161]-[0163]; [0133]; [0136]; [0150]; [0254]-[0258]; and etc., explaining receiving plurality of information on resource set); performing measurements on reference signal resources associated with the first resource set, the reference signal resources associated with the first resource set including channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) resources or synchronization signal block (SSB) resources (paragraph [0056]; [0065]-[0066]; [0089]; [0103]; [0150]; [0160]; [0180]-[0181]; [0250]; [0275]; [0300]; and so on, illustrating measurement for reference signal resources related to the received information comprising CSI-RS or SSB); transmitting a channel state information (CSI) report (paragraph [0143]-[0144]; [0146]-[0147]; [0151]; and etc., describing the transmission of CSI report). Sakhnini does not disclose performing beam prediction based on the measurements; wherein the CSI report includes at least one predicted CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) or at least one predicted SSB resource indicator (SSBRI), and wherein an order of the at least one predicted CRI or the at least one predicted SSBRI in the CSI report is based on rank of the beam prediction. Li teaches performing beam prediction based on the measurements (paragraph [0007]-[0010]; [0060]; [0062]; [0065]; [0069]-[0070]; [0075]-[0085]; [0087]-[0088]; and so on); wherein the CSI report includes at least one predicted CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) or at least one predicted SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) (paragraph [0067]; [0074]; [0078]-[0079]; [0081]; [0083]-[0084]; [0085]-[0087]; [0090]; [0101]-[0106]; and etc.), and wherein an order of the at least one predicted CRI or the at least one predicted SSBRI in the CSI report is based on rank of the beam prediction (paragraph [0075]; [0098]; [0109]; [0148]; [0154]; [0159]; [0176]; [0182]; [0187]; and so on). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use performing beam prediction based on the measurements; wherein the CSI report includes at least one predicted CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) or at least one predicted SSB resource indicator (SSBRI), and wherein an order of the at least one predicted CRI or the at least one predicted SSBRI in the CSI report is based on rank of the beam prediction as taught by Li into Sakhnini in order to improve seamless switch of beams and to increase communication speed. Regarding claim 17, Sakhnini discloses a method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: transmitting, to a terminal, first information on a first resource set and second information on a second resource set (paragraph [0061]; [0145]-[0151]; [0158]-[0159]; [0161]-[0163]; [0133]; [0136]; [0150]; [0254]-[0258]; and etc.), wherein reference signal resources associated with the first resource set include channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) resources or synchronization signal block (SSB) resources (paragraph [0056]; [0065]-[0066]; [0089]; [0103]; [0150]; [0160]; [0180]-[0181]; [0250]; [0275]; [0300]; and so on); and receiving, from the terminal, a channel state information (CSI) report (paragraph [0143]-[0144]; [0146]-[0147]; [0151]; and etc.) Sakhnini does not disclose the reference signal resources are used for measurements for beam prediction of the terminal, wherein the CSI report includes at least one predicted CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) or at least one predicted SSB resource indicator (SSBRI), and wherein an order of the at least one predicted CRI or the at least one predicted SSBRI in the CSI report is based on rank of the beam prediction. Li teaches the reference signal resources are used for measurements for beam prediction of the terminal (paragraph [0007]-[0010]; [0060]; [0062]; [0065]; [0069]-[0070]; [0075]-[0085]; [0087]-[0088]; and so on), wherein the CSI report includes at least one predicted CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) or at least one predicted SSB resource indicator (SSBRI) (paragraph [0067]; [0074]; [0078]-[0079]; [0081]; [0083]-[0084]; [0085]-[0087]; [0090]; [0101]-[0106]; and etc.), and wherein an order of the at least one predicted CRI or the at least one predicted SSBRI in the CSI report is based on rank of the beam prediction (paragraph [0075]; [0098]; [0109]; [0148]; [0154]; [0159]; [0176]; [0182]; [0187]; and so on). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the reference signal resources are used for measurements for beam prediction of the terminal, wherein the CSI report includes at least one predicted CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI) or at least one predicted SSB resource indicator (SSBRI), and wherein an order of the at least one predicted CRI or the at least one predicted SSBRI in the CSI report is based on rank of the beam prediction as taught by Li into Sakhnini in order to improve seamless switch of beams and to increase communication speed. Regrading claim 24, the claim includes features identical to the subject matter mentioned in the rejection to claim 1. The claim is a mere reformulation of claim 1 in order to define the corresponding terminal in a wireless communication system, and the rejection to claim 1 is applied hereto. Regrading claim 27, the claim includes features identical to the subject matter mentioned in the rejection to claim 17. The claim is a mere reformulation of claim 17 in order to define the corresponding base station in a wireless communication system, and the rejection to claim 17 is applied hereto. Regarding claim 4, Sakhnini discloses wherein the CSI report is associated with at least one of the first resource set or the second resource set (paragraph [0145]-[0147]; [0151]). Regarding claim 5, as applied above, Sakhnini further discloses comprising: receiving information and CSI report. However, the receiving information is on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report. Li discloses the receiving information is on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report (paragraph [0067]; [0074]; [0079]; [0101]; [0147]; [0162]; [0175]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the receiving information is on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report as taught by Li into Sakhnini in order to improve seamless switch of beams and to increase communication speed. Regarding claim 15, Sakhnini discloses wherein performing measurements on reference signal resources associated with the first resource set comprises measuring layer 1-reference signal received power (L1-RSRP) on reference signal transmission occasions associated with the reference signal resources, and where the CSI report further includes predicted L1-RSRP values (paragraph [0134]-[0137]; [0146]; [0149]; [0153]; [0214]; and etc.). Regarding claim 21-23, 25, Sakhnini discloses beam IDs. Sakhnini does not disclose wherein a first predicted CRI of predicted CRIs or a first predicted SSBRI of predicted SSBRIs is associated with a best beam of the beam prediction, transmitting, to the terminal, information on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report, wherein the CSI report further includes predicted layer 1-reference signal received power (L1-RSRP) values. Li teaches wherein a first predicted CRI of predicted CRIs or a first predicted SSBRI of predicted SSBRIs is associated with a best beam of the beam prediction, transmitting, to the terminal, information on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report (paragraph [0066]-[0070]; [0073]-[0087]; [0090]-[0093]; [0101]-[0104]; [0148]-[0154]; [0176]-[0182]; and so on), wherein the CSI report further includes predicted layer 1-reference signal received power (L1-RSRP) values (paragraph [0067]; [0074]; [0077]-[0083]; [0085]-[0088]; [0090]-[0096]; [0101]-[0109]; and etc.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use wherein a first predicted CRI of predicted CRIs or a first predicted SSBRI of predicted SSBRIs is associated with a best beam of the beam prediction, transmitting, to the terminal, information on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report, wherein the CSI report further includes predicted layer 1-reference signal received power (L1-RSRP) values as taught by Li into Sakhnini in order to improve quality of service and to increase communication speed. Regarding claim 26, Sakhnini discloses wherein, for performing measurements on the reference signal resources associated with the first resource set, the processor is configured to measure layer 1-reference signal received power (L1-RSRP) on reference signal transmission occasions associated with the reference signal resources, wherein the CSI report further includes predicted L1-RSRP values (paragraph [0134]-[0137]; [0146]; [0149]; [0153]; [0214]; and etc.). Sakhnini does not explicitly disclose wherein information on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report is received from a base station. Li teaches wherein information on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report is received from a base station (paragraph [0066]-[0070]; [0073]-[0087]; [0090]-[0093]; [0101]-[0104]; [0148]-[0154]; [0176]-[0182]; and so on). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use wherein information on a number of predicted CRIs or predicted SSBRIs to be reported in the CSI report is received from a base station as taught by Li into Sakhnini in order to improve quality of service and to increase communication speed. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 2 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. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIBROM T HAILU whose telephone number is (571)270-1209. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM. 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, HUY D VU can be reached at (571)272-3155. 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. /KIBROM T HAILU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2461
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Prosecution Timeline

Feb 14, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 28, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 13, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+6.9%)
2y 10m (~4m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 872 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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