Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/527,185

METHODS FOR CHANGING OPERATING MODE OF A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED DEVICES

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Dec 01, 2023
Priority
Dec 02, 2022 — FR 2212671
Examiner
GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
Art Unit
2648
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Sagemcom Broadband Sas
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
91%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allowance Rate
720 granted / 847 resolved
+23.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
876
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
62.0%
+22.0% vs TC avg
§102
32.5%
-7.5% vs TC avg
§112
1.6%
-38.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 847 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 . Response to Amendment The Examiner acknowledges the receipt of the Applicant’s amendment filed on 05/04/2026. Claims 1-2, 10, 13, and 15 have been amended. Claims 1-17 are currently pending in the present application. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments, see Applicant Arguments/Remarks, filed 05/04/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claims 1-17 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Reial et al. (US 2019/0191392 A1 herein Reial) and further in view of Sun et al. (US 2018/0255514 A1 herein Sun). 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. 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. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. Claims 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Reial et al. (US 2019/0191392 A1 herein Reial), and further in view of Sun et al. (US 2018/0255514 A1 herein Sun). Regarding claim 1, Reial teaches a method carried out by a wireless communication device comprising a wireless communication interface (read as communication system QQ500, host computer QQ510 comprises hardware QQ515 including communication interface QQ516 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system QQ500) (Reial – [0123]), said interface being configured to selectively operate according to several operating modes (read as wireless communication device may operate in one of a number of different modes, e.g., an idle mode and one or more connected modes) (Reial – [0007]-[0008]) comprising - a first active operating mode (read as active mode) (Reial – [0009]); and - a second operating mode with reduced consumption relative to the first mode (read as in idle mode, the wireless communication device typically attempts to minimize its energy consumption by spending as much time as possible in a low power state) (Reial – [0008]); the device being subjected to a constraint of implementing an action that must be carried out continuously (read as maximum transmission power constraint) (Reial – Abstract, [0072]) when the interface operates at an emission power greater than a threshold over a communication channel of a given type (read as emission regulations) (Reial – [0072]), the action being incompatible with the second mode, the second mode alternately comprising standby phases and active phases (read as idle mode or inactive and connected or active mode) (Reial – [0008]-[0009]). However, Reial fails to teach enabling the reception of at least one type of transmission packet; and the method comprising, to change from the first mode to the second mode, a) in a first step, lowering the transmission power below the threshold; b) in a second step, deactivating the action; c) in a third step, activating the second mode. In the related art, Sun teaches enabling the reception of at least one type of transmission packet (read as packet processing unit 243 may process received packets differently, based on the packet type) (Sun – [0048]); and the method comprising, to change from the first mode to the second mode, a) in a first step, lowering the transmission power below the threshold; b) in a second step, deactivating the action; c) in a third step, activating the second mode (read as a receive power consumption of less than one milliwatt; the AP may have to stop operation; send an indication to the AP that the UT will enter a sleep mode) (Sun – [0051], [0057], [0071]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the teachings of Sun into the teachings of Reial for the purpose of reducing power consumption but attempting to stay in the sleep or standby mode while periodically waking up to transmit/receive data. Regarding claim 2 as applied to claim 1, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches wherein the interface being adapted to be able to receive at least one wake-up packet during the active phases of the second operating mode (Reial – [0008]). Regarding claim 3 as applied to claim 1, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches comprising storing the power level before it is lowered (read as information regarding HW limitations may be stored in memory) (Reial – [0072]). Regarding claim 4 as applied to claim 1, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches wherein the action is a detection of the presence of radars on the channel of given type (read as detecting a WUR signal as a radar signal in a DFS channel) (Sun – [0027], [0056]). Regarding claim 5 as applied to claim 1, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches comprising, before steps (a) to (c), a verification that the action is indeed carried out, steps (a) and (b) being carried out only if this verification is positive (read as monitoring for a WUR transmission from the wireless device on the second channel after receiving the indication; after sending the indication, the UE may switch its frequency to the second non-DFS channel) (Sun – [0011], [0071]). Regarding claim 6 as applied to claim 5, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches comprising, in the event of positive verification, storing information indicative of the fact that the action was indeed performed (Sun – [0088], [0092]). Regarding claim 7 as applied to claim 1, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches wherein the channel of the given type is a channel with dynamic frequency selection (read as dynamic frequency selection (DFS) channel) (Sun – [0026]). Regarding claim 8 as applied to claim 1, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches comprising, before lowering the power, transmitting a message to an access point with which the wireless communication device is associated, said message indicating the targeted power level after lowering (read as at access point 110 receives traffic data from a data source for user terminals scheduled for downlink transmission) (Sun – [0043], [0048]). Regarding claim 9 as applied to claim 8, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches the message further comprising a datum indicative of the reason for lowering the power (read as based on at least one of a transmit power difference) (Sun – [0064]). Regarding claim 10, Reial teaches a method carried out by a wireless communication device comprising a wireless communication interface (read as communication system QQ500, host computer QQ510 comprises hardware QQ515 including communication interface QQ516 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system QQ500) (Reial – [0123]), said interface being configured to selectively operate according to several operating modes (read as wireless communication device may operate in one of a number of different modes, e.g., an idle mode and one or more connected modes) (Reial – [0007]-[0008]) comprising - a first active operating mode (read as active mode) (Reial – [0009]); and - a second operating mode with reduced consumption relative to the first mode (read as in idle mode, the wireless communication device typically attempts to minimize its energy consumption by spending as much time as possible in a low power state) (Reial – [0008]); the device being subjected to a constraint of implementing an action that must be carried out continuously (read as maximum transmission power constraint) (Reial – Abstract, [0072]) when the interface operates at an emission power greater than a threshold over a communication channel of a given type (read as emission regulations) (Reial – [0072]), the action being incompatible with the second mode, the second mode alternately comprising standby phases and active phases (read as idle mode or inactive and connected or active mode) (Reial – [0008]-[0009]). However, Reial fails to teach enabling the reception of at least one type of transmission packet; and the method comprising, to change from the second mode to the first mode, (a) in a first step, activating the first mode; (b) in a second step, activating the action; (c) in a third step, increasing the transmission power above the threshold. In the related art, Sun teaches enabling the reception of at least one type of transmission packet (read as packet processing unit 243 may process received packets differently, based on the packet type) (Sun – [0048]); and the method comprising, to change from the second mode to the first mode, (a) in a first step, activating the first mode; (b) in a second step, activating the action; (c) in a third step, increasing the transmission power above the threshold (read as a receive power consumption of less than one milliwatt; the AP may have to stop operation; send an indication to the AP that the UT will enter a sleep mode) (Sun – [0051], [0057], [0071]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the teachings of Sun into the teachings of Reial for the purpose of reducing power consumption but attempting to stay in the sleep or standby mode while periodically waking up to transmit/receive data. Regarding claim 11 as applied to claim 10, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches comprising, before increasing the power, transmitting a message to an access point with which the wireless communication device is associated, said message indicating the targeted power level after increasing (read as at access point 110 receives traffic data from a data source for user terminals scheduled for downlink transmission) (Sun – [0043], [0048]). Regarding claim 12 as applied to claim 11, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches the message further comprising a datum indicative of the reason for increasing the power (read as based on at least one of a transmit power difference) (Sun – [0064]). Regarding claim 13, Reial teaches a wireless communication device comprising a wireless communication interface (read as communication system QQ500, host computer QQ510 comprises hardware QQ515 including communication interface QQ516 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system QQ500) (Reial – [0123]), said interface being configured to selectively operate according to several operating modes (read as wireless communication device may operate in one of a number of different modes, e.g., an idle mode and one or more connected modes) (Reial – [0007]-[0008]) comprising - a first active operating mode (read as active mode) (Reial – [0009]); and - a second operating mode with reduced consumption relative to the first mode (read as in idle mode, the wireless communication device typically attempts to minimize its energy consumption by spending as much time as possible in a low power state) (Reial – [0008]); the device being subjected to a constraint of implementing an action that must be carried out continuously (read as maximum transmission power constraint) (Reial – Abstract, [0072]) when the interface operates at an emission power greater than a threshold over a communication channel of a given type (read as emission regulations) (Reial – [0072]), the action being incompatible with the second mode, the second mode alternately comprising standby phases and active phases (read as idle mode or inactive and connected or active mode) (Reial – [0008]-[0009]). However, Reial fails to teach enabling the reception of at least one type of transmission packet; and the device being configured, to change from the first mode to the second mode, to: a) in a first step, lower the transmission power below the threshold; b) in a second step, deactivate the action; c) in a third step, activate the second mode. In the related art, Sun teaches enabling the reception of at least one type of transmission packet (read as packet processing unit 243 may process received packets differently, based on the packet type) (Sun – [0048]); and the device being configured, to change from the first mode to the second mode, to: a) in a first step, lower the transmission power below the threshold; b) in a second step, deactivate the action; c) in a third step, activate the second mode (read as a receive power consumption of less than one milliwatt; the AP may have to stop operation; send an indication to the AP that the UT will enter a sleep mode) (Sun – [0051], [0057], [0071]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the teachings of Sun into the teachings of Reial for the purpose of reducing power consumption but attempting to stay in the sleep or standby mode while periodically waking up to transmit/receive data. Regarding claim 14 as applied to claim 13, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches configured to carry out a method according to claim 2 (Reial – [0067], Sun – [0028]). Regarding claim 15, Reial teaches a wireless communication device comprising a wireless communication interface (read as communication system QQ500, host computer QQ510 comprises hardware QQ515 including communication interface QQ516 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system QQ500) (Reial – [0123]), said interface being configured to selectively operate according to several operating modes (read as wireless communication device may operate in one of a number of different modes, e.g., an idle mode and one or more connected modes) (Reial – [0007]-[0008]) comprising a first active operating mode (read as active mode) (Reial – [0009]); and a second operating mode with reduced consumption relative to the first mode (read as in idle mode, the wireless communication device typically attempts to minimize its energy consumption by spending as much time as possible in a low power state) (Reial – [0008]); the device being subjected to a constraint of implementing an action that must be carried out continuously (read as maximum transmission power constraint) (Reial – Abstract, [0072]) when the interface operates at an emission power greater than a threshold over a communication channel of a given type (read as emission regulations) (Reial – [0072]), the action being incompatible with the second mode, the second mode alternately comprising standby phases and active phases (read as idle mode or inactive and connected or active mode) (Reial – [0008]-[0009]). However, Reial fails to teach enabling the reception of at least one type of transmission packet; and the device being configured, to change from the second mode to the first mode, to (a) in a first step, activate first mode; (b) in a second step, activate the action; (c) in a third step, increase the transmission power above the threshold. In the related art, Sun teaches enabling the reception of at least one type of transmission packet (read as packet processing unit 243 may process received packets differently, based on the packet type) (Sun – [0048]); and the device being configured, to change from the second mode to the first mode, to (a) in a first step, activate first mode; (b) in a second step, activate the action; (c) in a third step, increase the transmission power above the threshold (read as a receive power consumption of less than one milliwatt; the AP may have to stop operation; send an indication to the AP that the UT will enter a sleep mode) (Sun – [0051], [0057], [0071]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to incorporate the teachings of Sun into the teachings of Reial for the purpose of reducing power consumption but attempting to stay in the sleep or standby mode while periodically waking up to transmit/receive data. Regarding claim 16 as applied to claim 15, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches said device being configured to, before increasing the power, transmit a message to an access point with which the wireless communication device is associated, said message indicating the targeted power level after increasing (read as at access point 110 receives traffic data from a data source for user terminals scheduled for downlink transmission) (Sun – [0043], [0048]). Regarding claim 17 as applied to claim 15, Reial as modified by Sun further teaches wherein the message further comprises a datum indicative of the reason for increasing the power (read as based on at least one of a transmit power difference) (Sun – [0064]). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to APRIL GUZMAN GONZALES whose telephone number is (571)270-1101. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm EST. 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, Wesley L. Kim can be reached at (571) 272-7867. 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. /APRIL G GONZALES/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2648
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 01, 2023
Application Filed
Feb 01, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
Feb 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
May 04, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
85%
Grant Probability
91%
With Interview (+6.2%)
2y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 847 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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