Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/549,721

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DOWNLINK-UPLINK TRANSMISSION/RECEPTION IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §112
Filed
Sep 08, 2023
Priority
Apr 02, 2021 — RE 10-2021-0043489 +2 more
Examiner
NGO, NGUYEN HOANG
Art Unit
2473
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
LG Electronics Inc.
OA Round
3 (Non-Final)
82%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 82% — above average
82%
Career Allowance Rate
501 granted / 608 resolved
+24.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
17 currently pending
Career history
635
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
84.9%
+44.9% vs TC avg
§102
8.5%
-31.5% vs TC avg
§112
3.3%
-36.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 608 resolved cases

Office Action

§112
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 This communication is in response to the RCE of 4/13/2026. All changes made to the claims have been entered. Accordingly, Claims 1-17, 19 are currently pending in the application. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a): (a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112: The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Claim 1, 17, 19 (dependent claims also being rejected since they are dependent upon rejected claims set forth) are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claim 1 recites the subject matter “receiving, by a terminal from a base station through system information, a timing offset related to uplink transmission; receiving, by the terminal from the base station, a downlink channel in a first time unit; and transmitting, by the terminal to the base station, in response to the received downlink channel, an uplink in a second time unit, based on a timing advance value in addition to a number of time units between the first time unit and the second time unit, wherein the number of time units between the first time unit and the second time unit is based on a first time offset or a second time offset, wherein the first time offset is based on the timing offset, base offset information and additional offset information, and wherein the second time offset is based on the timing offset and the base offset information, wherein the base offset information is acquired through downlink control information (DCI) related to the downlink channel, and wherein a size of a field indicating the base offset in the DCI is the same for the first time offset and the second time offset, and wherein the additional offset information is signaled to the terminal”. However such subject matter do not seem to be disclosed in the Specification. Examiner suggests amending the subject matter or specifically pointing out such subject matter. Similar rationale is applied to independent claims 17 and 19 reciting similar subject matter. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-17, 19 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. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Sergeev et al. (US 2022/0191898) disclosing transmitting to the UE a slot offset and a timing advance value for transmission of the PUSCH ([0007]-[0008]). Cheng et al. (US 2021/0105761) disclosing an offset value indicated in the DCI ([0015]-[0018]). Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NGUYEN HOANG NGO whose telephone number is (571)272-8398. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. 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, Kwang Yao can be reached at 571-272-3182. 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. /NGUYEN H NGO/Examiner, Art Unit 2473
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 08, 2023
Application Filed
Sep 04, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112
Nov 17, 2025
Response Filed
Feb 10, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §112
Mar 19, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
Apr 13, 2026
Request for Continued Examination
Apr 23, 2026
Response after Non-Final Action
May 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

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Patent 12615646
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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
82%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+11.8%)
3y 2m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
High
PTA Risk
Based on 608 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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