Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/506,999

PUSCH REPETITION METHOD AND DEVICE

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Nov 10, 2023
Priority
May 11, 2021 — CN 202110513045.9 +1 more
Examiner
HO, CHUONG T
Art Unit
2412
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
92%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 92% — above average
92%
Career Allowance Rate
950 granted / 1037 resolved
+33.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +13% lift
Without
With
+12.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
38 currently pending
Career history
1067
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.9%
-39.1% vs TC avg
§103
85.0%
+45.0% vs TC avg
§102
1.9%
-38.1% vs TC avg
§112
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1037 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 amendment filed 03/25/2026. Claims 1-5, 7-11, 13-17 are pending. Priority Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. CHINA 202110513045.9, filed on 05/11/2021. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-5, 7-11, 13-17 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. 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, 7, 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang et al. ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) in view of GAO ( US 20220256549, hereinafter, GAO’s 549 ) . Regarding to the claim 1, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) teaches a PUSCH repetition method, comprising: restricting , by a network side device, configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) uplink transmission skipping function for a terminal (Restricting , by a network side device, configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) uplink transmission skipping function for a terminal) [see Paragraphs 0004 & 0031 & 0032 & 0033 & 0082 & 0102 & 0104 & 0123 ] , and preventing configuring the terminal to perform more than one PUSCH repetition (preventing configuring the terminal to perform more than one PUSCH repetition ) [see Paragraphs 0004 & 0031 & 0032 & 0033 & 0082 & 0102 & 0104 & 0123 ] configuring PUSCH repetitions of more than X times (configuring PUSCH repetitions of more than N times ) [see Paragraph 0107 ] ; or when the terminal is configured to enable the PUSCH uplink transmission skipping function and is configured to perform PUSCH repetitions of more than X times, prohibiting, by the network side device, a resource conflict between scheduled or configured first uplink control information (UCI) and a first transmission opportunity, and the first UCI comprises at least one of the following: hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment ( HARQ – ACK), channel state information (CSI), OR a scheduling request (SR) ; wherein the first transmission opportunity is the last Y transmission opportunities among K transmission opportunities; However, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) does not explicitly teach prohibiting configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel ( PUSCH) uplink transmission for a terminal. US 20220256549, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches preventing resource conflict of a physical uplink shared channel ( PUSCH) uplink transmission for a terminal (0278] In embodiments of the disclosure, when the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK overlaps with the PUCCH resource used for carrying the CSI/SR, after a multiplexing PUCCH resource is selected for these UCI on the basis of the multiplexing transmission rule, the multiplexing PUCCH resource may need to simultaneously transmit a plurality of HARQ-ACKs on the same PUCCH, consequently, a resource conflict between the HARQ-ACKs is caused, that is, overlapping of the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK with the PUCCH resource used for carrying the SR leads to a situation that the plurality of HARQ-ACKs which do not overlap originally need to be simultaneously transmitted on the same PUCCH, that is, overlapping of the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK and the PUCCH resource used for carrying the CSI/SR leads to the resource conflict between the plurality of HARQ-ACKs, thus the CSI/SR can be dropped, and the plurality of HARQ-ACKs which do not overlap originally are prevented from being simultaneously transmitted on the same PUCCH resource, and effectiveness and timeliness of HARQ-ACK transmission are improved ) [see Paragraph 0278 and Figure 17 ] 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 20220338215 in view of US 20220256549 because US 20220256549 suggests that effectiveness and timeliness of HARQ-ACK transmission are improved. Regarding to the claim 7, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) teaches a network side device, comprising: a memory storing a computer program; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to execute the computer program to perform operations comprising: restricting , by a network side device, configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) uplink transmission skipping function for a terminal (Restricting , by a network side device, configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) uplink transmission skipping function for a terminal) [see Paragraphs 0004 & 0031 & 0032 & 0033 & 0082 & 0102 & 0104 & 0123 ] , and preventing configuring the terminal to perform more than one PUSCH repetition (preventing configuring the terminal to perform more than one PUSCH repetition ) [see Paragraphs 0004 & 0031 & 0032 & 0033 & 0082 & 0102 & 0104 & 0123 ] configuring PUSCH repetitions of more than X times (configuring PUSCH repetitions of more than N times ) [see Paragraph 0107 ] ; or when the terminal is configured to enable the PUSCH uplink transmission skipping function and is configured to perform PUSCH repetitions of more than X times, prohibiting, by the network side device, a resource conflict between scheduled or configured first uplink control information (UCI) and a first transmission opportunity, and the first UCI comprises at least one of the following: hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment ( HARQ – ACK), channel state information (CSI), OR a scheduling request (SR) ; wherein the first transmission opportunity is the last Y transmission opportunities among K transmission opportunities; However, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) does not explicitly teach prohibiting configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel ( PUSCH) uplink transmission for a terminal. US 20220256549, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches preventing resource conflict of a physical uplink shared channel ( PUSCH) uplink transmission for a terminal (0278] In embodiments of the disclosure, when the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK overlaps with the PUCCH resource used for carrying the CSI/SR, after a multiplexing PUCCH resource is selected for these UCI on the basis of the multiplexing transmission rule, the multiplexing PUCCH resource may need to simultaneously transmit a plurality of HARQ-ACKs on the same PUCCH, consequently, a resource conflict between the HARQ-ACKs is caused, that is, overlapping of the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK with the PUCCH resource used for carrying the SR leads to a situation that the plurality of HARQ-ACKs which do not overlap originally need to be simultaneously transmitted on the same PUCCH, that is, overlapping of the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK and the PUCCH resource used for carrying the CSI/SR leads to the resource conflict between the plurality of HARQ-ACKs, thus the CSI/SR can be dropped, and the plurality of HARQ-ACKs which do not overlap originally are prevented from being simultaneously transmitted on the same PUCCH resource, and effectiveness and timeliness of HARQ-ACK transmission are improved ) [see Paragraph 0278 and Figure 17 ] 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 20220338215 in view of US 20220256549 because US 20220256549 suggests that effectiveness and timeliness of HARQ-ACK transmission are improved. Regarding to the claim 13, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) teaches a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, storing a computer program, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor of a network side device, causes the processor to perform operations comprising: restricting , by a network side device, configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) uplink transmission skipping function for a terminal (Restricting , by a network side device, configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) uplink transmission skipping function for a terminal) [see Paragraphs 0004 & 0031 & 0032 & 0033 & 0082 & 0102 & 0104 & 0123 ] , and preventing configuring the terminal to perform more than one PUSCH repetition (preventing configuring the terminal to perform more than one PUSCH repetition ) [see Paragraphs 0004 & 0031 & 0032 & 0033 & 0082 & 0102 & 0104 & 0123 ] configuring PUSCH repetitions of more than X times (configuring PUSCH repetitions of more than N times ) [see Paragraph 0107 ] ; or when the terminal is configured to enable the PUSCH uplink transmission skipping function and is configured to perform PUSCH repetitions of more than X times, prohibiting, by the network side device, a resource conflict between scheduled or configured first uplink control information (UCI) and a first transmission opportunity, and the first UCI comprises at least one of the following: hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment ( HARQ – ACK), channel state information (CSI), OR a scheduling request (SR) ; wherein the first transmission opportunity is the last Y transmission opportunities among K transmission opportunities; However, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) does not explicitly teach prohibiting configuring enabling of a physical uplink shared channel ( PUSCH) uplink transmission for a terminal. US 20220256549, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches preventing resource conflict of a physical uplink shared channel ( PUSCH) uplink transmission for a terminal (0278] In embodiments of the disclosure, when the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK overlaps with the PUCCH resource used for carrying the CSI/SR, after a multiplexing PUCCH resource is selected for these UCI on the basis of the multiplexing transmission rule, the multiplexing PUCCH resource may need to simultaneously transmit a plurality of HARQ-ACKs on the same PUCCH, consequently, a resource conflict between the HARQ-ACKs is caused, that is, overlapping of the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK with the PUCCH resource used for carrying the SR leads to a situation that the plurality of HARQ-ACKs which do not overlap originally need to be simultaneously transmitted on the same PUCCH, that is, overlapping of the PUCCH resource carrying the HARQ-ACK and the PUCCH resource used for carrying the CSI/SR leads to the resource conflict between the plurality of HARQ-ACKs, thus the CSI/SR can be dropped, and the plurality of HARQ-ACKs which do not overlap originally are prevented from being simultaneously transmitted on the same PUCCH resource, and effectiveness and timeliness of HARQ-ACK transmission are improved ) [see Paragraph 0278 and Figure 17 ] 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 20220338215 in view of US 20220256549 because US 20220256549 suggests that effectiveness and timeliness of HARQ-ACK transmission are improved. Claim(s) 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Huang et al. ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) in view of GAO ( US 20220256549, hereinafter, GAO’s 549 ), and further in view of CHIEN ( US 20230146487, hereinafter, CHIEN’s 487 ) . Regarding to the claim 2, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) and US 20220256549 teach the limitations of the claim 1 above. ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) teaches : the PUSCH repetition, and the network side device configures enabling of the PUSCH uplink transmission skipping function for the terminal [see Paragraphs 0004 & 0031 & 0032 & 0033 & 0082 & 0102 & 0104 & 0123 ] , and configures PUSCH repetitions less than or equal to X times [see Paragraphs 0123] or configures a time domain resource allocation list where transmission opportunities for transmission repetition are less than or equal to X; or the PUSCH repetition comprises type B repetition, and the network side device configures enabling of the PUSCH uplink transmission skipping function for the terminal, and configures a time domain resource allocation list less than or equal to X. However, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) and US 20220256549 do not explicitly teach wherein: the PUSCH repetition comprises type A repetition. US 20230146487, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches wherein: the PUSCH repetition comprises type A repetition [see Paragraphs 0050 & 0054]. 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 20220338215 and US 20220256549), and further in view of US 20230146487 because US 20230146487 suggests that If a repetition collides with one or more invalid symbol(s), the repetition is dropped. A method to harmonize UL configured-grant enhancements in NR-U and URLLC introduced in Rel-16 is desirable to be applicable for unlicensed spectrum. Regarding to the claim 3, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) and US 20220256549 teach the limitations of the claim 2 above. However, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) does not explicitly teach sending first information, wherein the first information is used to schedule or configure first UCI transmission, the first UCI has a resource conflict with a second transmission opportunity, and the second transmission opportunity is any one of the K transmission opportunities; and receiving a PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity, wherein the PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity comprises the first UCI. US 20220256549, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches sending first information, wherein the first information is used to schedule or configure first UCI transmission, the first UCI has a resource conflict with a second transmission opportunity, and the second transmission opportunity is any one of the K transmission opportunities; and receiving a PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity, wherein the PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity comprises the first UCI (sending first information, wherein the first information is used to schedule or configure first UCI transmission, the first UCI has a resource conflict with a second transmission opportunity, and the second transmission opportunity is any one of the K transmission opportunities; and receiving a PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity, wherein the PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity comprises the first UCI) [see Paragraph 0278 and Figure 17 ]. 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 20220338215 in view of US 20220256549 because US 20220256549 suggests that effectiveness and timeliness of HARQ-ACK transmission are improved. Regarding to the claim 4, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) further teaches wherein: the PUSCH repetition comprises type A repetition, and the network side device configures enabling of the PUSCH uplink transmission skipping function for the terminal, and configures PUSCH repetitions of more than X times [see Paragraphs 0004 & 0031 & 0032 & 0033 & 0082 & 0102 & 0104 & 0123 ] ; or the PUSCH repetition comprises type A repetition, the network side device configures enabling of the PUSCH uplink transmission skipping function for the terminal, and configures a time domain resource allocation list greater than X, and the terminal is scheduled to perform PUSCH repetitions greater than X times; or the PUSCH repetition comprises type B repetition, the network side device configures enabling of the PUSCH uplink transmission skipping function for the terminal, configures a time domain resource allocation list greater than X, and the terminal is scheduled to perform PUSCH repetitions greater than X times. Regarding to the claim 5, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) and US 20220256549 teach the limitations of the claim 4 above. However, ( US 20220338215, Provisional Application No. 63175050 ) does not explicitly teach sending first information, wherein the first information is used to schedule or configure first UCI transmission, the first UCI has a resource conflict with a second transmission opportunity, and the second transmission opportunity is any one of the first (K-Y) transmission opportunities of the K transmission opportunities; and receiving a PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity, wherein the PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity comprises the first UCI. US 20220256549, from the same or similar fields of endeavor, teaches sending first information, wherein the first information is used to schedule or configure first UCI transmission, the first UCI has a resource conflict with a second transmission opportunity, and the second transmission opportunity is any one of the first (K-Y) transmission opportunities of the K transmission opportunities; and receiving a PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity, wherein the PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity comprises the first UCI ( sending first information, wherein the first information is used to schedule or configure first UCI transmission, the first UCI has a resource conflict with a second transmission opportunity, and the second transmission opportunity is any one of the first (K-Y) transmission opportunities of the K transmission opportunities; and receiving a PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity, wherein the PUSCH of the second transmission opportunity comprises the first UCI) [see Figure 17 and Paragraph 0278 ]. 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 20220338215 in view of US 20220256549 because US 20220256549 suggests that effectiveness and timeliness of HARQ-ACK transmission are improved. Regarding to the claim 8, claim 8 is rejected the same limitations of the claim 2 above. Regarding to the claim 9, claim 9 is rejected the same limitations of the claim 3 above. Regarding to the claim 10, claim 10 is rejected the same limitations of the claim 4 above. Regarding to the claim 11, claim 11 is rejected the same limitations of the claim 5 above. Regarding to the claim 14, claim 14 is rejected the same limitations of the claim 2 above. Regarding to the claim 15, claim 15 is rejected the same limitations of the claim 3 above. Regarding to the claim 16, claim 16 is rejected the same limitations of the claim 4 above. Regarding to the claim 17, claim 17 is rejected the same limitations of the claim 5 above. 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

Nov 10, 2023
Application Filed
Jan 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Mar 25, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
92%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+12.7%)
2y 6m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 1037 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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