Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/557,192

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MULTICAST SESSION SIGNALING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Final Rejection §102§103
Filed
Oct 25, 2023
Priority
Apr 27, 2021 — IN 202141019437 +1 more
Examiner
VU, HUY DUY
Art Unit
2461
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
39%
Grant Probability
At Risk
3-4
OA Rounds
9m
Est. Remaining
86%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants only 39% of cases
39%
Career Allowance Rate
13 granted / 33 resolved
-18.6% vs TC avg
Strong +47% interview lift
Without
With
+47.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 6m
Avg Prosecution
14 currently pending
Career history
50
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.5%
-35.5% vs TC avg
§103
57.0%
+17.0% vs TC avg
§102
19.9%
-20.1% vs TC avg
§112
15.8%
-24.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 33 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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s amendment and arguments, with respect to claims 16-29 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the previous rejections have been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, new ground(s) of rejection are made in view of Wang et al (WO 2022/056806 A1) and Xu et al (US 2022/0303729 A1) as discussed below. 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. (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) 16-17, 19-22, 24-26 & 28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wang et al (WO 2022/056806 A1) (hereinafter “Wang”). Regarding claims 16 & 26, Wang teaches a user equipment (120) in a wireless communication system (1), wherein the UE comprising: a transceiver (630); and a processor (610) coupled with the transceiver and configured to receive, from a base station, RRC release message including a multicast configuration for a multicast and broadcast (MBS) session and transition from a radio resource control (RRC) connected state to an RRC inactive state and stop receiving the MBS session based on the RRC release message (Wang teaches that the terminal device receives an RRC release msg from the BS and suspend the MBS service; par [74]); receive, from the base station (200), a paging message for a group notification, wherein the paging message includes a temporary mobile group identity (TMGI) (Wang teaches that when the MBS data is reached, the network pages the terminal device to wake up the terminal device to receive the MBS service in par [75]; Wang further teaches that the paging message includes TMGI in par [115])); identify that the UE has joined the MBS session based on the TMGI (Wang teaches that when the terminal receives the RRC release, it stores the TMGI in par [97]; and then when it receives the MBS paging message, it uses the TMGI to identify/use the MBS service in par[115]), and apply the multicast configuration received in the RRC release message based on the identification (see par [83,84,87,97,105,115]). Regarding claims 17 & 22, Wang further teaches monitoring that the paging channel for group notification addressed with a paging RNTI (see par [103-114]). Regarding claims 19 & 24, Wang further teaches that the UE transmits to the base station its capability regarding a support for one or more group-radio network temporary identifiers (G-RNTIs) for an MBS multicast service (see par [90-97] where the terminal sends 1st configuration information to the network to determine the MBS paging area supported by the terminal for an MBS service with a corresponding G-RNTI). Regarding claim 20, Wang further teach that RRC release include PTM config information (Wang teaches that the RRC release message includes TMGI & G-RNTI in par [83] and that TMGI/G-RNTI is/are PTM configuration information in par [58]). Regarding claims 21 & 28, Wang teaches a base station (110) in a wireless communication system (1), the base station comprising: a transceiver (630); and a processor (610) coupled with the transceiver and configured to transmit, to a user equipment (terminal), RRC release message including a multicast configuration for a multicast and broadcast (MBS) session and transition from a radio resource control (RRC) connected state to an RRC inactive state and stop transmitting the MBS session based on the RRC release message (Wang teaches that the network sends terminal device an RRC release msg to suspend the MBS service; par [74]); Transmit to the UE a paging message for a group notification, wherein the paging message includes a temporary mobile group identity (TMGI) (Wang teaches that when the MBS data is reached, the network pages the terminal device to wake up the terminal device to receive the MBS service in par [75]; Wang further teaches that the paging message includes TMGI in par [115])) so that the UE could join the MBS session based on the TMGI and resume the MBS session (Wang teaches that when the terminal receives the RRC release, it stores the TMGI in par [97]; and then when it receives the MBS paging message, it uses the TMGI to join the MBS service in par[115]; See also par [83,84,87,105]). Regarding claim 25, Wang further teach that RRC release include PTM config information (Wang teaches that the RRC release message includes TMGI & G-RNTI in par [83] and that TMGI/G-RNTI is/are PTM configuration information in par [58]). 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. Claims 18, 23, 27 & 29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang (WO 2022/056806 A1) in view of Xu et al (US 2022/0303729 A1) (hereinafter “Xu”). Regarding claims 18 and 23, Wang does not explicitly teach that the terminal remains in inactive state while receiving the MBS service. However, Xu explicitly teaches that the terminal receives MBS service while remaining in the inactive state to lower power consumption (See par [71, 101, 102]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to apply Xu’s teaching of UE receiving MBS service while in inactive state in Wang’s system with the motivation being to reduce power consumption. Regarding claim 27, Wang further teaches monitoring that the paging channel for group notification addressed with a paging RNTI (see par [103-114]). Wang does not explicitly teach that resuming MBS session while UE remains in inactive state. However, Xu explicitly teaches that the terminal resumes the MBS service while remaining in the inactive state to lower power consumption (See par [71, 101, 102]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to apply Xu’s teaching of UE receiving MBS service while in inactive state in Wang’s system with the motivation being to reduce power consumption. Regarding claim 29, Wang does not explicitly teach that UE stays in inactive state. However, Xu explicitly teaches that the terminal resumes the MBS service while remaining in the inactive state to lower power consumption (See par [71, 101, 102]). Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to apply Xu’s teaching of UE receiving MBS service while in inactive state in Wang’s system with the motivation being to reduce power consumption. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Lee et al (US 2022/0046689 A1) teaches RRC release message including MBS config information. Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 HUY D VU whose telephone number is (571)272-3155. The examiner can normally be reached 7:00a-to 5:00p Mon-Thurs. 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, Deborah Reynolds can be reached at (571)272-0734. 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. HUY D. VU Supervisory Patent Examiner Art Unit 2461 /HUY D VU/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2461
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 25, 2023
Application Filed
Nov 06, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Feb 06, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 03, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102, §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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
39%
Grant Probability
86%
With Interview (+47.0%)
3y 6m (~9m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 33 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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