Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/551,519

UPDATING A TRANSMISSION CONFIGURATION INDICATOR (TCI) STATE OR CHANGING A PATH LOSS REFERENCE SIGNAL (PL-RS) BASED ON A REFERENCE SIGNAL RECEIVED WITHIN A THRESHOLD TIME PERIOD

Final Rejection §102§103
Filed
Sep 20, 2023
Examiner
BELUR, DEEPA
Art Unit
2472
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
2 (Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2y 8m
To Grant
94%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allow Rate
485 granted / 582 resolved
+25.3% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
602
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
§103
56.8%
+16.8% vs TC avg
§102
11.3%
-28.7% vs TC avg
§112
16.9%
-23.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 582 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 . This action is in response to the amendment filed on 02/06/2026. Claims 5, 7, 9, 14, 16, 18-19, 25, 27, 29, 34, 36, 38-39, 45-60, 65 and 67-80 are canceled. Independent claims 1, 21, 41 and 61 are amended. Claims 1-4, 6, 8, 10-13, 15, 17, 20-24, 26, 28, 30-33, 35, 37, 40-44, 61-64, 66 have been examined and rejected. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. Claim(s) 1-3, 8, 10, 13, 20-23, 28, 30, 33, 40-43, 61-63 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Li (US 20230362664 A1). Regarding Claim 1, Li, discloses a method for wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE) (see FIG. 8), the method comprising: receiving a reference signal (see FIG. 8, paras 86-87, gNB configures the UE to report L1-RSRP of reference signal… the gNB may transmit to the UE the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal… the gNB may transmit the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal periodically to all UEs in a serving area); receiving a message (see paras 86-92, the gNB may transmit to the UE the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal… the gNB may configure the QCL Type-D relationship between the reference signals and the pathloss reference signals in the QCL chain using TCI states via RRC signaling … the UE may perform L1-RSRP measurement of the target pathloss reference signal … and report by the UE for a number of pathloss reference signals or the QCL Type-D reference signals, the gNB may select the beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal as a candidate beam for downlink or uplink transmission because of its stronger L1-RSRP measurement… the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE/i.e., message, to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control. The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting… the target pathloss reference signal may be considered known when the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal was last received for beam measurement and reporting within a pre-set time interval prior to the reception of the switch command/i.e., receiving a message within a threshold time period after receiving the reference signal. The pre-set time interval is 1280 ms/i.e., within the threshold time period of 1280 ms); and after receiving the reference signal and the message, updating, based on the reference signal being received within a threshold time period associated with the message (see FIG. 8), the target TCI state or using the reference signal as the PL-RS for the uplink channel based on one or more parameters associated with receiving the reference signal prior to receiving the message (see para 91, the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control. The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting/i.e., prior to receiving the message or the MAC_CE command, at step 805) and further based on expiration of an activation delay interval associated with the message, the activation delay interval occurring after the threshold time period (see para 94, when the target pathloss reference signal is determined to be known, the UE may switch, within the switching period (e.g., target pathloss reference signal activation delay) after the reception of the switch command, to an uplink beam corresponding to the downlink beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal. The UE may switch to the uplink beam for uplink transmission by determining the uplink transmit power based on the estimated pathloss of the target pathloss reference signal within a maximum switching period/i.e., as depicted in FIG. 8, the activation delay occurs after the 1280 ms threshold or pre-set time interval). Regarding Claims 2, 22, 42, 62, Li, discloses: the reference signal includes a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) or a synchronization signal block (SSB), and wherein the reference signal has a quasi-colocation (QCL) relation with the target TCI state (see paras 85-86, FIG. 8 depicts a call flow diagram between a BS (e.g., gNB) and a UE for the UE to report RSRP measurement of a target pathloss reference signal or a reference signal QCL Type-D to the target pathloss reference signal, for the BS to activate the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control, and for the UE to estimate the pathloss of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control based on whether the target pathloss reference signal is considered known by considering the reporting of the RSRP measurement of either the target pathloss reference signal or the reference signal. The target pathloss reference signal may be the SS/PBCH block or the CSI-RS. The reference signal QCL Type-D to the target pathloss reference signal may be carried on beam … the gNB may configure the QCL Type-D relationship between the reference signals and the pathloss reference signals in the QCL chain using TCI states via RRC signaling.). Regarding Claims 3, 23, 43, 63, Li discloses: transmitting a measurement report based on the reference signal, and wherein the activation delay interval is further associated with the transmission of the measurement report (see paras 89-92, the UE may report the L1-RSRP measurements of the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal to the gNB… the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control… and at para 94, when the target pathloss reference signal is determined to be known, the UE may switch/i.e., based on the report from UE to gNB, within the switching period (e.g., target pathloss reference signal activation delay) after the reception of the switch command, to an uplink beam corresponding to the downlink beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal. The UE may switch to the uplink beam for uplink transmission by determining the uplink transmit power based on the estimated pathloss of the target pathloss reference signal within a maximum switching period). Regarding Claims 8, 28, Li discloses: transmitting a measurement report based on the reference signal, wherein the measurement report is transmitted periodically, semi-persistently, or non-periodically (see para 80, the UE may periodically or non-periodically report the L1-RSRP measurement made from one instance of the target pathloss reference signal or an average of the L1-RSRP measurements made from a number of repetitions of the target pathloss reference signals received), and wherein the measurement report is based on at least one resource associated with the reference signal having a quasi-colocation (QCL) relation with the target TCI state (see para 86, the gNB may configure the QCL Type-D relationship between the reference signals and the pathloss reference signals in the QCL chain using TCI states via RRC signaling). Regarding Claims 10, 30, Li discloses: the threshold time period is specified by a wireless communication protocol, is configured by a base station for the UE, or is indicated by the UE to the base station (see FIG. 8, see para 92, the target pathloss reference signal and the associated synchronization signal block (SSB) remain detectable during a switching period following the reception of the switch command. In one aspect, the pre-set time interval is 1280 ms/i.e., set by the gNB to be an interval between gNB steps 803 to 811). Regarding Claims 13, 33, Li discloses: the threshold time period corresponds to a number of seconds (see FIG. 8, see para 92, the target pathloss reference signal and the associated synchronization signal block (SSB) remain detectable during a switching period following the reception of the switch command… the pre-set time interval is 1280 ms), Regarding Claims 20, 40, Li discloses: the one or more parameters include a path loss characteristic associated with the uplink channel, and further comprising setting a transmit power level associated with an uplink transmission based on the path loss characteristic (see para 23, Based on the reported RSRP measurements received from the UE, the base station may activate the target pathloss reference signal to command the UE to maintain or update/i.e., representing set power level of uplink transmission, the pathloss measurements of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control of a beam corresponding to the target pathloss reference signal). Regarding Claim 21, Li, discloses a user equipment (UE) (see FIG. 5, paras 65-66, UE) comprising: at least one processor; and a memory coupled with the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, is configured to: receive a reference signal (see FIG. 8, paras 86-87, gNB configures the UE to report L1-RSRP of reference signal… the gNB may transmit to the UE the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal… the gNB may transmit the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal periodically to all UEs in a serving area); receive a message (see paras 86-92, the gNB may transmit to the UE the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal… the gNB may configure the QCL Type-D relationship between the reference signals and the pathloss reference signals in the QCL chain using TCI states via RRC signaling … the UE may perform L1-RSRP measurement of the target pathloss reference signal … and report by the UE for a number of pathloss reference signals or the QCL Type-D reference signals, the gNB may select the beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal as a candidate beam for downlink or uplink transmission because of its stronger L1-RSRP measurement… the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE/i.e., message, to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control. The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting… the target pathloss reference signal may be considered known when the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal was last received for beam measurement and reporting within a pre-set time interval prior to the reception of the switch command/i.e., receiving a message within a threshold time period after receiving the reference signal. The pre-set time interval is 1280 ms/i.e., within the threshold time period of 1280 ms); and after receiving the reference signal and the message, updating, based on the reference signal being received within a threshold time period associated with the message (see FIG. 8), the target TCI state or using the reference signal as the PL-RS for the uplink channel based on one or more parameters associated with receiving the reference signal prior to receiving the message (see para 91, the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control. The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting/i.e., prior to receiving the message or the MAC_CE command, at step 805) and further based on expiration of an activation delay interval associated with the message, the activation delay interval occurring after the threshold time period (see para 94, when the target pathloss reference signal is determined to be known, the UE may switch, within the switching period (e.g., target pathloss reference signal activation delay) after the reception of the switch command, to an uplink beam corresponding to the downlink beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal. The UE may switch to the uplink beam for uplink transmission by determining the uplink transmit power based on the estimated pathloss of the target pathloss reference signal within a maximum switching period/i.e., as depicted in FIG. 8, the activation delay occurs after the 1280 ms threshold or pre-set time interval). Regarding Claim 41, Li, discloses a method for wireless communication performed by a base station, the method comprising: transmitting a reference signal (see FIG. 8, paras 86-87, gNB configures the UE to report L1-RSRP of reference signal… the gNB may transmit to the UE the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal… the gNB may transmit the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal periodically to all UEs in a serving area); transmitting a message to use the reference signal as a path loss reference signal (PL-RS) for an uplink channel (see paras 86-92, the gNB may transmit to the UE the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal… the gNB may configure the QCL Type-D relationship between the reference signals and the pathloss reference signals in the QCL chain using TCI states via RRC signaling … the UE may perform L1-RSRP measurement of the target pathloss reference signal … and report by the UE for a number of pathloss reference signals or the QCL Type-D reference signals, the gNB may select the beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal as a candidate beam for downlink or uplink transmission because of its stronger L1-RSRP measurement… the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE/i.e., message, to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control. The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting… the target pathloss reference signal may be considered known when the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal was last received for beam measurement and reporting within a pre-set time interval prior to the reception of the switch command/i.e., receiving a message within a threshold time period after receiving the reference signal. The pre-set time interval is 1280 ms/i.e., within the threshold time period of 1280 ms); and after receiving the reference signal and the message, communicating, based on the reference signal being received within a threshold time period associated with the message (see FIG. 8), the target TCI state or using the reference signal as the PL-RS for the uplink channel based on one or more parameters associated with receiving the reference signal prior to receiving the message (see para 91, the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control. The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting/i.e., prior to receiving the message or the MAC_CE command, at step 805) and further based on expiration of an activation delay interval associated with the message, the activation delay interval occurring after the threshold time period (see para 94, when the target pathloss reference signal is determined to be known, the UE may switch, within the switching period (e.g., target pathloss reference signal activation delay) after the reception of the switch command, to an uplink beam corresponding to the downlink beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal. The UE may switch to the uplink beam for uplink transmission by determining the uplink transmit power based on the estimated pathloss of the target pathloss reference signal within a maximum switching period/i.e., as depicted in FIG. 8, the activation delay occurs after the 1280 ms threshold or pre-set time interval). Regarding Claim 61, Li, discloses a base station (see FIG. 4, base station, paras 56-57) comprising: at least one processor; and a memory coupled with the at least one processor and storing processor-readable code that, when executed by the at least one processor, is configured to: transmit a reference signal (see FIG. 8, paras 86-87, gNB configures the UE to report L1-RSRP of reference signal… the gNB may transmit to the UE the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal… the gNB may transmit the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal periodically to all UEs in a serving area); transmit a message (see paras 86-92, the gNB may transmit to the UE the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal… the gNB may configure the QCL Type-D relationship between the reference signals and the pathloss reference signals in the QCL chain using TCI states via RRC signaling … the UE may perform L1-RSRP measurement of the target pathloss reference signal … and report by the UE for a number of pathloss reference signals or the QCL Type-D reference signals, the gNB may select the beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal as a candidate beam for downlink or uplink transmission because of its stronger L1-RSRP measurement… the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE/i.e., message, to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control. The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting… the target pathloss reference signal may be considered known when the target pathloss reference signal or the QCL Type-D reference signal was last received for beam measurement and reporting within a pre-set time interval prior to the reception of the switch command/i.e., receiving a message within a threshold time period after receiving the reference signal. The pre-set time interval is 1280 ms/i.e., within the threshold time period of 1280 ms); and after receiving the reference signal and the message, communicate, based on the reference signal being received within a threshold time period associated with the message (see FIG. 8), the target TCI state or using the reference signal as the PL-RS for the uplink channel based on one or more parameters associated with receiving the reference signal prior to receiving the message (see para 91, the gNB may issue a switch command via MAC-CE to activate the UE to maintain or update the pathloss measurement of the target pathloss reference signal for uplink power control. The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting/i.e., prior to receiving the message or the MAC_CE command, at step 805) and further based on expiration of an activation delay interval associated with the message, the activation delay interval occurring after the threshold time period (see para 94, when the target pathloss reference signal is determined to be known, the UE may switch, within the switching period (e.g., target pathloss reference signal activation delay) after the reception of the switch command, to an uplink beam corresponding to the downlink beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal. The UE may switch to the uplink beam for uplink transmission by determining the uplink transmit power based on the estimated pathloss of the target pathloss reference signal within a maximum switching period/i.e., as depicted in FIG. 8, the activation delay occurs after the 1280 ms threshold or pre-set time interval). 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) 4, 24, 44, 64 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of Takeda (US 20190356379 A1). Regarding Claims 4, 24, 44, 64, Li discloses: receiving a report configuration message including a configuration bit and a field, wherein a value of the configuration bit indicates whether the reference signal is to trigger the transmission of the measurement report, and wherein the field indicates at least one parameter of the one or more parameters to include in the measurement report. Li does not include details regarding the limitation: the report configuration message including a field indicates at least one parameter of the one or more parameters to include in the measurement report. In the same field of endeavor Takeda teaches this limitation: see para 64, The content to be reported, is indicated by the value of the trigger field for reporting (also referred to as the “trigger field value,” “trigger information,” etc.), is at least one of the indicator of a beam (beam indicator), its CSI (at least one of the CQI, RI and PMI) and the RSRP/RSRQ of the beam. The reporting content specified by the trigger field value may be determined in advance by the specification or may be configured by higher layer signaling. Also, the content to be reported may be specified by the mode of reporting and/or the type of reporting and the like. Also, the trigger field value may indicate “no report.”; also see FIG. 4., para 66, FIG. 4 is a diagram to show examples of trigger fields according to the first aspect. In FIG. 4, the two-bit trigger field values indicate which beam's CSI and beam indicator are to be reported. For example, referring to FIG. 3, if the user terminal receives DCI including the trigger field value “01” of FIG. 4, the user terminal may report the CSI of best Tx beam B23 and the beam indicator of this Tx beam B23 (for example, a CRI that specifies CSI-RS resource #3) to the radio base station. It would have been obvious, to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of Li, to include configuration information having trigger field for reporting, and RSRP/RSRQ of the beams as taught by Takeda, so that beams can be managed properly (for example, beams can be reported and/or indicated properly) (see Takeda, para 13). Claim(s) 6, 26, 66 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of Ahmed Salem (US 20230283342 A1). Regarding Claims 6, 26, 66, Li discloses the method of claim 1, but does not disclose detials regarding a reporting mode, i.e., the limitation: the reference signal is associated with one or both of a reporting mode or a non-repetition mode. Ahmed Salem teaches this limitation: see para 89, comprising receiving configuration information via a radio resource control (RRC), the configuration information indicating a mode in which the UE generates the plurality of dependent CSI reports, the mode including at least one of a differential quantization mode, a relative CSI feedback mode, and a partial relative CSI feedback mode. It would have been obvious, to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of Li, to include a CSI reporting mode beams as taught by Takeda, so that beams can be managed properly (for example, beams can be reported and/or indicated properly) (see Takeda, para 13). Claim(s) 11-12, 15, 17, 31-32, 35, 37 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of Hu (WO 2022126663 A1). Regarding Claims 11, 31, Li discloses that the gNB sets the threshold time period for switching. Li does not disclose: the threshold time period is indicated by the UE to the base station based on one or more of a capability of the UE to store the one or more parameters or a mobility of the UE. In the same field of endeavor, Hu teaches this limitation: see paras 162-163, the duration threshold is a threshold reported by the terminal device based on the supported TCI state switching capability. Specifically, the duration threshold may alternatively be determined by the terminal device based on the TCI state switching capability supported by the terminal device, and reported to a threshold of the network device. It would have been obvious, to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of Li, to include the UE determining the threshold time period based on its switching capability as taught by Hu, to reduce a large time waste and a large loss of terminal throughput (see Hu, para 4). Regarding Claims 12, 32, Li does not disclose details regarding: the threshold time period is less than a TCI activation time associated with the target TCI state. In the same field of endeavor, Hu teaches this limitation: see paras 200-201, when receiving the first TCI state list sent by the network device, the terminal device may analyze the period of the reference signal of each TCI state in the first TCI state list, and then select the shortest period from all the cycles of all the reference signals, to determine the first activated TCI state of the reference signal with the shortest period. It may be understood that the first activated TCI state is a target switching TCI state of the terminal device. It would have been obvious, to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of Li, so that the threshold time period is less than a TCI activation time associated with the target TCI state as taught by Hu, to reduce a large time waste and a large loss of terminal throughput (see Hu, para 4). Regarding Claims 15, 35, Li does not disclose details regarding: receiving a second message indicating a time duration during which the reference signal is to be tracked by the UE. In the same field of endeavor, Hu teaches this limitation: see para 226, the fixed target period in the first activated TCI state may be indicated by the network device by using a DCI instruction, or may be configured by using a MAC CE instruction, and specifically, an RS (reference signal) with the target period/i.e., time duration, is carried in the DCI instruction or the MAC CE instruction/i.e., second message. It would have been obvious, to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to receive a message indicating a time duration during which the reference signal is to be tracked by the UE as taught by Hu, to reduce a large time waste and a large loss of terminal throughput (see Hu, para 4). Regarding Claims 17, 37, Li does not disclose details regarding: the message corresponds to a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE). In the same field of endeavor, Hu teaches this limitation: see para 226, the fixed target period in the first activated TCI state may be configured by using a MAC CE instruction, and specifically, an RS (reference signal) with the target period/i.e., time duration, is carried in the MAC CE instruction/i.e., second message. It would have been obvious, to one having ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to receive a message indicating a time duration during which the reference signal is to be tracked by the UE as taught by Hu, to reduce a large time waste and a large loss of terminal throughput (see Hu, para 4). Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 2/6/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive as detailed below: On page 11, regarding the independent claim 1, the applicant argues that: “… the update described by Li does not involve parameters associated with a previous reception of a reference signal. For example, in describing the switch command at para. [0091], Li does not disclose or suggest that the update involves the previously determined L1-RSRP measurement (which is described at paras [0088] and [0089] of Li). As a result, Li does not disclose or suggest "after receiving the reference signal and the message, updating, based on the reference signal being received within a threshold time period associated with the message, the target TCI state or using the reference signal as the PL-RS for the uplink channel based on one or more parameters associated with receiving the reference signal prior to receiving the message," as in claim 1”. The Examiner respectfully disagrees. The claim 1 limitation cites: “… receiving a reference signal; receiving a message within a threshold time period after receiving the reference signal, the message indicating an update to a target transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state for the UE or indicating that the UE is to use the reference signal as a path loss reference signal (PL- RS) for an uplink channel; and after receiving the reference signal and the message, updating, based on the reference signal being received within a threshold time period associated with the message, the target TCI state or using the reference signal as the PL-RS for the uplink channel based on one or more parameters associated with receiving the reference signal prior to receiving the message and further based on expiration of an activation delay interval associated with the message, the activation delay interval occurring after the threshold time period.” Li teaches in FIG. 8., paragraphs 85-91, and step 805, that the UE measures RSRP of the target PL-RS (or RS QCLed to the target PL-RS). These measurements are reported by the UE to the gNB (step 807). Based on these reports measurements, the gNB selects the beam carrying the target pathloss reference signal as a candidate beam for downlink or uplink transmission because of its stronger L1-RSRP measurement (step 809). The gNB uses MAC-CE to issue a switch command and identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting (step 811). Paragraph 91, of Li states: “… The MAC-CE may identify the target pathloss reference signal as the one to update from the pathloss reference signals that were configured for L1-RSRP measurement reporting.” The underlined text clearly explains that L-RSRP measurements “were” measured by UE, and then a switch command is issued by the gNB. Hence Li clearly discloses that the gNB will identifies the PL-RS having the strongest L1-RSRP measurement as the candidate beam for the UE, and clearly teaches that the UE switches to the target PL-RS based on the L1-RSRP (parameters associated with the measured PL-RS) which were measured by the UE, before receiving the message (MAC-CE) as indicated at step 805 in FIG. 8. Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a). A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DEEPA BELUR whose telephone number is (571)270-3722. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 am - 4:30 pm. 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, Kevin Bates can be reached at 571-272-3980. 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. /DEEPA BELUR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2472
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 20, 2023
Application Filed
Nov 12, 2025
Non-Final Rejection — §102, §103
Feb 06, 2026
Response Filed
Mar 19, 2026
Final Rejection — §102, §103 (current)

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Patent 12603745
TERMINAL, BASE STATION, AND RADIO COMMUNICATION METHOD
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 14, 2026
Patent 12598493
MEASUREMENT GAP CONFIGURATION FOR A NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK CELL
2y 5m to grant Granted Apr 07, 2026
Patent 12592786
NETWORK NODE, USER EQUIPMENT AND METHODS IN A RADIO ACCESS NETWORK
2y 5m to grant Granted Mar 31, 2026
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
83%
Grant Probability
94%
With Interview (+11.2%)
2y 8m
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 582 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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