Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/459,512

USER EQUIPMENT TRIGGERED L1 MEASUREMENT AND REPORTING FOR L1/L2 INTER-CELL MOBILITY

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 01, 2023
Examiner
KHAN, SUHAIL
Art Unit
2642
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 6m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allow Rate
447 granted / 561 resolved
+17.7% vs TC avg
Strong +28% interview lift
Without
With
+28.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
24 currently pending
Career history
585
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
§103
44.5%
+4.5% vs TC avg
§102
38.7%
-1.3% vs TC avg
§112
7.7%
-32.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 561 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 3/13/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the Examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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 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 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. Claims 1-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Cui et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2023/0180077) Referring to Claim 1, Ciu et al. disclose a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication (par 12, UE), the UE comprising: one or more memories (par 12, UE; Also, par 58, memory); and one or more processors (par 58) in communication with the one or more memories (par 12, UE), the one or more processors configured to: determine that a first condition is triggered for performing one or more layer 1 (L1) signal measurements for inter-cell mobility (par 12, Layer 1 measurements based on configuration, e.g. during specific gaps, measurement objects, etc., mobility); perform the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in a configured cell set for the UE based on determining that the first condition is triggered (par 12, Layer 1 measurements, gaps, etc.); and send a report of the one or more L1 signal measurements to a network node (par 12, report). Referring to Claim 2 as applied to Claim 1 above, Ciu et al. disclose the UE, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive, from the network node, one or more conditions for triggering the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the one or more conditions includes the first condition (par 12, wireless network configures UE to perform measurements, Layer 1). Referring to Claim 3 as applied to Claim 2 above, Ciu et al. disclose the UE, wherein the one or more conditions include one or more of a UE mobility condition, a channel strength measurement condition associated with the configured cell set, or a predicted blocking condition (pars 12-14, configuration for mobility, communication/handover). Referring to Claim 4 as applied to Claim 3 above, Ciu et al. disclose the UE, wherein the first condition is the channel strength measurement condition, wherein the channel strength measurement condition is a channel strength threshold of one or more cells in the configured cell set (pars 12-14 and 24, measurement, signal power/ration, etc., threshold), and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: determine a channel strength of at least one cell of the one or more cells in the configured cell set; compare the channel strength to the channel strength threshold to generate a comparison; and determine, based on the comparison, that the channel strength measurement condition is triggered for performing the one or more L1 signal measurements for inter-cell mobility (pars 12-14 and 24, measurement, signal power/ration, etc., threshold). Referring to Claim 5 as applied to Claim 1 above, Ciu et al. disclose the UE, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive, from the network node, a measurement configuration that includes one or more measurement parameters for performing the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the one or more measurement parameters indicate one or more specific cells of the one or more cells in the configured cell set for which the one or more L1 signal measurements is to be performed; and perform, based on the one or more measurement parameters, the one or more L1 signal measurements of the one or more cells in the configured cell set (pars 12-14, configuration, objects, cells). Referring to Claim 6 as applied to Claim 1 above, Ciu et al. disclose the UE, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive, from the network node, a reporting configuration that includes reporting parameters for reporting the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the reporting parameters indicate one or more of a duration of the report, a number of reports, or a periodicity of multiple reports; and send, based on the reporting parameters, the report of the one or more L1 signal measurements to the network node using a downlink control information (DCI) signal or using a media access control (MAC) control element (CE) signal (pars 12-23, configuration, report, DCI/MAC CE). Referring to Claim 7 as applied to Claim 1 above, Ciu et al. disclose the UE, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive, from the network node, a dynamic grant of resources to use for reporting the one or more L1 signal measurements; and send, based on the dynamic grant of resources, the report of the one or more L1 signal measurements to the network node (pars 12-14 and 22, grant, report). Referring to Claim 8 as applied to Claim 1 above, Ciu et al. disclose the UE, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: receive, from the network node, a filtering configuration that includes filtering parameters for filtering the one or more L1 signal measurements; and filter, based on the filtering parameters, the one or more L1 signal measurements prior to sending the report (pars 12 and 45, indication, filtering). Referring to Claim 9 as applied to Claim 1 above, Ciu et al. disclose the UE, wherein to perform the one or more L1 signal measurements of the one or more cells in the configured cell set, the one or more processors are configured to: perform the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in an activated cell set of the configured cell set; perform the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in a deactivated cell set of the configured cell set; or perform the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in the activated cell set of the configured cell set and perform the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in the deactivated cell set of the configured cell set (pars 12-14 and 38, configured cells for measurement). Referring to Claim 10, Ciu et al. disclose a method for wireless communication (par 12, wireless), the method comprising: determining, at a user equipment (UE), that a first condition is triggered for performing one or more layer 1 (L1) signal measurements for inter-cell mobility (par 12, Layer 1 measurements based on configuration, e.g. during specific gaps, measurement objects, etc., mobility); performing the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in a configured cell set for the UE based on determining that the first condition is triggered (par 12, Layer 1 measurements, gaps, etc.); and sending a report of the one or more L1 signal measurements to a network node (par 12, report). Referring to Claim 11 as applied to Claim 10 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: receiving, from the network node, one or more conditions for triggering the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the one or more conditions includes the first condition (par 12, wireless network configures UE to perform measurements, Layer 1). Referring to Claim 12 as applied to Claim 11 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, wherein the one or more conditions include one or more of a UE mobility condition, a channel strength measurement condition associated with the configured cell set, or a predicted blocking condition (pars 12-14, configuration for mobility, communication/handover). Referring to Claim 13 as applied to Claim 12 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, wherein the first condition is the channel strength measurement condition, wherein the channel strength measurement condition is a channel strength threshold of one or more cells in the configured cell set (pars 12-14 and 24, measurement, signal power/ration, etc., threshold), and wherein the method further comprises: determining a channel strength of at least one cell of the one or more cells in the configured cell set; comparing the channel strength to the channel strength threshold to generate a comparison; and determining, based on the comparison, that the channel strength measurement condition is triggered for performing the one or more L1 signal measurements for inter-cell mobility (pars 12-14 and 24, measurement, signal power/ration, etc., threshold). Referring to Claim 14 as applied to Claim 10 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: receiving, from the network node, a measurement configuration that includes one or more measurement parameters for performing the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the one or more measurement parameters indicate one or more specific cells of the one or more cells in the configured cell set for which the one or more L1 signal measurements is to be performed; and performing, based on the one or more measurement parameters, the one or more L1 signal measurements of the one or more cells in the configured cell set (pars 12-14, configuration, objects, cells). Referring to Claim 15 as applied to Claim 10 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: receiving, from the network node, a reporting configuration that includes reporting parameters for reporting the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the reporting parameters indicate one or more of a duration of the report, a number of reports, or a periodicity of multiple reports; and sending, based on the reporting parameters, the report of the one or more L1 signal measurements to the network node using a downlink control information (DCI) signal or using a media access control (MAC) control element (CE) signal (pars 12-23, configuration, report, DCI/MAC CE). Referring to Claim 16 as applied to Claim 10 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: receiving, from the network node, a dynamic grant of resources to use for reporting the one or more L1 signal measurements; and sending, based on the dynamic grant of resources, the report of the one or more L1 signal measurements to the network node (pars 12-14 and 22, grant, report). Referring to Claim 17 as applied to Claim 10 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: receiving, from the network node, a filtering configuration that includes filtering parameters for filtering the one or more L1 signal measurements; and filtering, based on the filtering parameters, the one or more L1 signal measurements prior to sending the report (pars 12 and 45, indication, filtering). Referring to Claim 18 as applied to Claim 10 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, wherein performing the one or more L1 signal measurements of the one or more cells in the configured cell set comprises: performing the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in an activated cell set of the configured cell set; performing the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in a deactivated cell set of the configured cell set; or performing the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in the activated cell set of the configured cell set and perform the one or more L1 signal measurements of one or more cells in the deactivated cell set of the configured cell set (pars 12-14 and 38, configured cells for measurement). Referring to Claim 19, Ciu et al. disclose a network node for wireless communication (par 12, network/component that sends configuration), the network node comprising: one or more memories (par. 0058); and one or more processors (par. 0058) in communication with the one or more memories, the one or more processors configured (par 12, network/component that sends configuration) to: send, to a user equipment (UE), one or more conditions for triggering one or more layer 1 (L1) signal measurements of one or more cells in a configured cell set for the UE for inter-cell mobility (par 12, Layer 1 measurements based on configuration, e.g. during specific gaps, measurement objects, etc., mobility, cells for measurements); receive, from the UE, a report of the one or more L1 signal measurements (par 12, report); and perform an inter-cell mobility operation based on the one or more L1 signal measurements (pars 12-14, mobility/handover/ change cells). Referring to Claim 20 as applied to Claim 19 above, Ciu et al. disclose the network node, wherein the one or more conditions include one or more of a UE mobility condition, a channel strength measurement condition associated with the configured cell set, or a predicted blocking condition (pars 12-14, configuration for mobility, communication/handover). Referring to Claim 21 as applied to Claim 19 above, Ciu et al. disclose the network node, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: send, to the UE, a measurement configuration that includes one or more measurement parameters for performing the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the one or more measurement parameters indicate one or more specific cells of the one or more cells in the configured cell set for which the one or more L1 signal measurements is to be performed (pars 12-14, configuration, objects, cells). Referring to Claim 22 as applied to Claim 19 above, Ciu et al. disclose the network node, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: send, to the UE, a reporting configuration that includes reporting parameters for reporting the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the reporting parameters indicate one or more of a duration of the report, a number of reports, or a periodicity of multiple reports (pars 12-23, configuration, report, DCI/MAC CE). Referring to Claim 23 as applied to Claim 19 above, Ciu et al. disclose the network node, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: send, to the UE, a dynamic grant of resources to use for reporting the one or more L1 signal measurements (pars 12-14 and 22, grant, report). Referring to Claim 24 as applied to Claim 19 above, Ciu et al. disclose the network node, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: filter the one or more L1 signal measurements (pars 12 and 45, filtering). Referring to Claim 25, Ciu et al. disclose a method for wireless communication, the method comprising: sending, to a user equipment (UE), one or more conditions for triggering one or more layer 1 (L1) signal measurements of one or more cells in a configured cell set for the UE for inter-cell mobility (par 12, Layer 1 measurements based on configuration, e.g. during specific gaps, measurement objects, etc., mobility); receiving, from the UE, a report of the one or more L1 signal measurements (par 12, report); and performing an inter-cell mobility operation based on the one or more L1 signal measurements (pars 12-14, mobility/handover/change cells). Referring to Claim 26 as applied to Claim 25 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, wherein the one or more conditions include one or more of a UE mobility condition, a channel strength measurement condition associated with the configured cell set, or a predicted blocking condition (pars 12-14, configuration for mobility, communication/handover). Referring to Claim 27 as applied to Claim 25 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: sending, to the UE, a measurement configuration that includes one or more measurement parameters for performing the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the one or more measurement parameters indicate one or more specific cells of the one or more cells in the configured cell set for which the one or more L1 signal measurements is to be performed (pars 12-14, configuration, objects, cells). Referring to Claim 28 as applied to Claim 25 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: sending, to the UE, a reporting configuration that includes reporting parameters for reporting the one or more L1 signal measurements, wherein the reporting parameters indicate one or more of a duration of the report, a number of reports, or a periodicity of multiple reports (pars 12-23, configuration, report, DCI/MAC CE). Referring to Claim 29 as applied to Claim 25 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: sending, to the UE, a dynamic grant of resources to use for reporting the one or more L1 signal measurements node (pars 12-14 and 22, grant, report). Referring to Claim 30 as applied to Claim 25 above, Ciu et al. disclose the method, further comprising: filtering the one or more L1 signal measurements (pars 12 and 45, filtering). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant's disclosure. The following patents/patent application publications are cited to further show the state of the art with respect to L1 measurements: U.S. Pat. Application Pub. No. 2025/0227577 to Jia et al. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SUHAIL KHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-7187. The examiner can normally be reached on M-TH 8:30am-6:30pm. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Rafael Perez-Gutierrez can be reached on 5712727915. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. 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. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /Suhail Khan/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2642
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 01, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+28.2%)
2y 6m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 561 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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