Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/488,745

FREQUENCY RESOURCE ALLOCATION OF A BANDWIDTH PART FOR MULTIPLE COMMUNICATION TYPES

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Oct 17, 2023
Examiner
ABELSON, RONALD B
Art Unit
2476
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
5 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
5-6
OA Rounds
2y 7m
To Grant
89%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allow Rate
1179 granted / 1307 resolved
+32.2% vs TC avg
Minimal -1% lift
Without
With
+-1.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
1338
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
58.1%
+18.1% vs TC avg
§102
25.3%
-14.7% vs TC avg
§112
7.2%
-32.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1307 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 . 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, 11-13, 15-17, 23, and 24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cirik US 20200106573 in view of Wibowo US 20010043613. Regarding claims 1, 11, 17, Cirik teaches a method of wireless communication by a user equipment (UE) (fig. 1 box 110A), the method comprising: the control information further indicating a first communication type and a second communication type are associated with a common set of time resources of the BWP; and based on a first data type of first data corresponding to a first communication type and further based on a second data type of second data corresponding to a second communication type, performing a wireless communication using the one or more first frequency resources to communicate the first data and using the one or more second frequency resources to communicate the second data ([0389] In an example, when configured with multiple BWPs for a cell, a gNB and a UE may communicate on multiple active BWPs of the multiple BWPs in parallel (e.g., simultaneously or overlapped in time) to accommodate multiple services (e.g., eMBB, URLLC, or MTC). In an example, on a first active BWP, a gNB may transmit an eMBB data packet to a UE. In an example, on a second active BWP, the gNB may transmit an URLLC data packet to the UE. In an example, on a third active BWP, the gNB may transmit an MTC data packet to the UE. Transmitting multiple data packets for different services on different active BWPs in parallel (e.g., simultaneously or overlapped in time) may reduce latency). Although Cirik teaches control information indicating the control information further indicating a first communication type and a second communication type are associated with a common set of time resources of the BWP, the reference is silent on receiving control information indicating one or more first frequency resources of a bandwidth part (BWP) and further indicating one or more second frequency resources of the BWP. Wibowo teaches receiving control information indicating one or more first frequency resources of a bandwidth part (BWP) and further indicating one or more second frequency resources of the BWP (fig. 1, Upon receiving its assignment message, the access device 100 scans each assignment frame for the time/frequency slots it can use and transmits its input data upstream to the base station for follow-on distribution to the respective base station client(s) 104, [0040], One of the combinations is Multi-Frequency Time Division Multiple Access (MF-TDMA)--a frame-based protocol structure whose transmission bandwidth is divided into both frequency and time slots, as shown in FIG. 2. Under this multiple access scheme a user terminal can transmit its message at different carrier frequencies and during any time slot, [0004]). 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 Cirik by teaches receiving control information indicating one or more first frequency resources of a bandwidth part (BWP) and further indicating one or more second frequency resources of the BWP, as shown by Wibowo. This modification would benefit the system by providing a proven, reliable method for the UE to receive the control information. Regarding claim 12, one of the first communication type or the second communication type is associated with a first part of a frequency spectrum that is different than a second part of the frequency spectrum associated with the other of the first communication type or the second communication type (Cirik: [0389]). Regarding claim 13, the first communication type or the second communication type is associated with a first latency sensitivity that is greater than a second latency sensitivity associated with the other of the first communication type or the second communication type (Cirik: [0389]: Note, different communication types are associated with different latencies. Regarding claim 15, the control information indicates one or more first slots for a downlink communication of the first communication type, one or more second slots for an uplink communication of the first communication type (Wibowo: fig. 1, Upon receiving its assignment message, the access device 100 scans each assignment frame for the time/frequency slots it can use and transmits its input data upstream to the base station for follow-on distribution to the respective base station client(s) 104, [0040]), one or more third slots corresponding to a gap between the one or more first slots and the one or more second slots, or a combination thereof. Regarding claim 16, given the rejection to claim 15 above with respect to the first communication type, the rejection with respect to the second communication type would have been obvious in view of the combination. Claim(s) 23 and 24 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Cirik and Wibowo and as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Xiao 20210136763. Regarding claim 23, the combination is silent on receiving an indication of a mapping of one or more of the first frequency resources or the second frequency resources to one or more of the first communication type or the second communication type, wherein the wireless communication is performed in accordance with the mapping. Xiao teaches on receiving an indication of a mapping of one or more of the first frequency resources or the second frequency resources to one or more of the first communication type or the second communication type, wherein the wireless communication is performed in accordance with the mapping ([0081]). 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 receiving an indication of a mapping of one or more of the first frequency resources or the second frequency resources to one or more of the first communication type or the second communication type, wherein the wireless communication is performed in accordance with the mapping, as shown by Xiao. This modification would benefit the system by enabling the UE to know which frequency resources to use for each communication type. Regarding claim 24, receiving a message indicating a pattern of uplink to downlink slots associated with one or more of the first communication type or the second communication type, wherein the wireless communication is performed in accordance with the pattern (Xiao: [0112]). Claim(s) 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Cirik and Wibowo as applied to claims 17 above, and further in view of Ryu 20200413348. Regarding claim 18, the combination is silent on sending a request indicating one or more characteristics of the control information. Ryu teaches sending a request indicating one or more characteristics of the control information (When the TX UE requests a resource, the resource may information about whether the resource is for unicast communication, groupcast communication, or broadcast communication (a V2X communication type, [0303]). 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 on sending a request indicating one or more characteristics of the control information, as shown by Ryu. This modification would benefit the system by enabling the system to choose an optimal method of communication. Claims 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Cirik, Wibowo, and Ryu as applied to claim 18 above, and further in view of Liu US 20090042581. The combination is silent on the request indicates a first bandwidth of the one or more first frequency resources. Liu teaches a request indicates a first bandwidth/frequency of the one or more first frequency resources (time frequency resource request, [0100]). 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 the request indicates a first bandwidth of the one or more first frequency resources, as shown by Liu. This modification would benefit the system by enabling the UE to select an optimal bandwidth for communication. Claims 4, 5 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Cirik, Wibowo, and Ryu as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Zarifi US 10333688. Regarding claim 4 the combination is silent on the request indicates one or more of a first ratio associated with the first communication type or a second ratio associated with the second communication type. Zarifi teaches the request indicates one or more of a first ratio associated with the first communication type or a second ratio associated with the second communication type (the request is based on characteristics of the UE, the characteristics including at least one of a downlink to uplink (DL/UL) traffic load ratio of the UE, possible device-to-device (D2D) communication, the UE's traffic type, and a factor relating to interference of the UE, claim 18). 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 the request indicates one or more of a first ratio associated with the first communication type or a second ratio associated with the second communication type, as shown by Zarifi. This modification would benefit the system by allocating an optimal ratio of UL/DL slots to the UE. Regarding claim 5, the first ratio is based on one or more first slots for a downlink communication of the first communication type, one or more second slots for an uplink communication of the first communication type (Ryu: request based on (DL/UL) traffic load ratio, possible D2D communication, claim 18). Claim(s) 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Cirik and Wibowo as applied to claim 11 above, and further in view of Sun US 20190246419. The combination is silent on the first communication type corresponds to one of an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) communication type or a ultra-reliable low- latency communications (URLLC) communication type, and wherein the second communication type corresponds to the other of the eMBB communication type or the URLLC communication type. Sun teaches the first communication type corresponds to one of an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) communication type or a ultra-reliable low- latency communications (URLLC) communication type, and wherein the second communication type corresponds to the other of the eMBB communication type or the URLLC communication type ([0067]). 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 the first communication type corresponds to one of an enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) communication type or a ultra-reliable low- latency communications (URLLC) communication type, and wherein the second communication type corresponds to the other of the eMBB communication type or the URLLC communication type, as shown by Sun. This modification would benefit the system by providing a method for concurrently transmitting eMBB and URLLC communication types. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 6, 7, 9, 10, 21, and 22 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. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) the amended independent claims have been considered but are moot because the Examiner has clarified the rejection by making the independent claims rejectable using Cirik in view of Wibowo. Applicant has not defined a specific BWP with respect to the claims. 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 on 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/
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 17, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 27, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Apr 14, 2025
Response Filed
Apr 22, 2025
Final Rejection — §103
Jun 18, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Jul 14, 2025
Request for Continued Examination
Jul 18, 2025
Response after Non-Final Action
Aug 26, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Nov 21, 2025
Response Filed
Dec 29, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §103
Mar 17, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 30, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12604303
SIGNAL TRANSMISSION METHOD AND APPARATUS
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12598623
COMMUNICATION METHOD AND RELATED DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12598499
INTERFERENCE MEASUREMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS, TERMINAL, AND NETWORK SIDE DEVICE
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12598532
Session Management Function Entity Selection Method, Apparatus, and System
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12587309
BLIND DECODING LIMIT TECHNIQUES FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 24, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

AI Strategy Recommendation

Get an AI-powered prosecution strategy using examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Powered by AI — typically takes 5-10 seconds

Prosecution Projections

5-6
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
89%
With Interview (-1.0%)
2y 7m
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 1307 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow 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