Prosecution Insights
Last updated: May 29, 2026
Application No. 18/558,303

MULTI-CELL COMMUNICATION WITH MULTI-PDSCH/PUSCH SCHEDULING VIA A SINGLE DCI

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Oct 31, 2023
Priority
Aug 05, 2021 — provisional 63/229,803 +1 more
Examiner
ABELSON, RONALD B
Art Unit
2476
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Intel Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
90%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
1183 granted / 1311 resolved
+32.2% vs TC avg
Minimal -0% lift
Without
With
+-0.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 5m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
1342
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
77.6%
+37.6% vs TC avg
§102
10.6%
-29.4% vs TC avg
§112
3.3%
-36.7% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1311 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 . 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) 26, 27, 31, 32, 38, 39, 40, and 44 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Babaei US 20220210800. Regarding claims 26, 32, and 38, Babaei teaches one or more non-transitory computer readable computer-readable media comprising instructions that, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), are to cause the UE to: identify, in a received physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a single downlink control information (DCI) that is related to a first set of one or more physical shared channels on a first component carrier (CC) and a second set of two or more physical shared channels on a second CC, a field of the DCI being applied to respective physical shared channels of the first set and the second set; transmit or receive, based on the DCI, the first set of one or more physical shared channels; and transmit or receive, based on the DCI, the second set of two or more physical shared channels (In response to the downlink signaling indicating that the DCI is used for multi-cell scheduling (e.g., scheduling a plurality of TBs/physical channels (e.g., PDSCHs/PUSCHs) via a plurality of cell cell), the wireless device may use a value of the first field to determine first scheduling information for a first TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a first cell and second scheduling information for a second TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a second cell, [0295]). Regarding claims 27, 40, the first set or second set include a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) (Babaei: PUSCH, PDSCH, [0295]). Regarding claims 31, 44, a first field of the DCI is applied to the first set and a second field of the DCI is applied to the second set (Babaei: In response to the downlink signaling indicating that the DCI is used for multi-cell scheduling (e.g., scheduling a plurality of TBs/physical channels (e.g., PDSCHs/PUSCHs) via a plurality of cell cell), the wireless device may use a value of the first field to determine first scheduling information for a first TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a first cell and second scheduling information for a second TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a second cell, [0295]). Regarding claim 39, the first set or the second set includes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) (Babaei: In response to the downlink signaling indicating that the DCI is used for multi-cell scheduling (e.g., scheduling a plurality of TBs/physical channels (e.g., PDSCHs/PUSCHs) via a plurality of cell cell), the wireless device may use a value of the first field to determine first scheduling information for a first TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a first cell and second scheduling information for a second TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a second cell, [0295]). 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) 26, 27, 32, 38, 40, and 43 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yuan US 12349129 in view of Babaei US 20220210800. Regarding claims 26, 32, 38, Yuan teaches one or more non-transitory computer readable media comprising instructions that, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), are to cause the UE to: identify, in a received physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), a single downlink control information (DCI) (fig. 4, Thus, the PDCCH 410/420 includes DCI that schedules PUSCHs on a group of cells including the cell 1 and the cell 2, col. 10 lines 58) that is related to a first set of one or more physical shared channels on a first component carrier (CC) and a second CC (wherein the indication is associated with a group of multiple component carriers (CCs) on which respective PUSCH transmissions are scheduled by a single downlink control information (DCI), claim 1); transmit or receive, based on the DCI, the first set of one or more physical shared channels (claim 1); and Yuan is silent on the DCI identifying a second set of two or more physical shared channels on a second CC; a field of the DCI being applied to respective physical shared channels of the first set and the second set; and transmit or receive, based on the DCI, the second set of two or more physical shared channels. Babaei teaches the DCI identifying a second set of two or more physical shared channels; a field of the DCI being applied to respective physical shared channels of the first set and the second set; and transmit or receive, based on the DCI, the second set of two or more physical shared channels (In response to the downlink signaling indicating that the DCI is used for multi-cell scheduling (e.g., scheduling a plurality of TBs/physical channels (e.g., PDSCHs/PUSCHs) via a plurality of cell cell), the wireless device may use a value of the first field to determine first scheduling information for a first TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a first cell and second scheduling information for a second TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a second cell, [0295]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of Yuan by the DCI identifying a second set of two or more physical shared channels on a second CC; a field of the DCI being applied to respective physical shared channels of the first set and the second set; and transmit or receive, based on the DCI, the second set of two or more physical shared channels, as shown by Babaei. This modification would benefit the system by enabling the UE to transmit on multiple PUSCHs based upon receiving a single DCI. Regarding claims 27, 40, the first set or second set include a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) (Babaei: PUSCH, PDSCH, [0295]). Regarding claims 31, 44, a first field of the DCI is applied to the first set and a second field of the DCI is applied to the second set (Babaei: In response to the downlink signaling indicating that the DCI is used for multi-cell scheduling (e.g., scheduling a plurality of TBs/physical channels (e.g., PDSCHs/PUSCHs) via a plurality of cell cell), the wireless device may use a value of the first field to determine first scheduling information for a first TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a first cell and second scheduling information for a second TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a second cell, [0295]). Regarding claim 39, the first set or the second set includes a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) (Babaei: In response to the downlink signaling indicating that the DCI is used for multi-cell scheduling (e.g., scheduling a plurality of TBs/physical channels (e.g., PDSCHs/PUSCHs) via a plurality of cell cell), the wireless device may use a value of the first field to determine first scheduling information for a first TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a first cell and second scheduling information for a second TB/physical channel (e.g., PDSCH/PUSCH) on a second cell, [0295]). Regarding claim 43, a field of the DCI is applied to respective physical shared channels of the first set and the second set (Yuan: fig. 4, Thus, the PDCCH 410/420 includes DCI that schedules PUSCHs on a group of cells including the cell 1 and the cell 2, col. 10 lines 58) Claim(s) 28, 29, 41, 42 are is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Yuan and Babaei as applied to claims 26, 38 above, and further in view of Li US 20230199735. Regarding claims 28, 41, the combination is silent on the second set of two or more physical shared channels are transmitted or received in consecutive slots. Li teaches a set of two or more physical shared channels are transmitted or received in consecutive slots ([0168]). Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify the system of the combination by the second set of two or more physical shared channels are transmitted or received in consecutive slots, as suggested by Li. This modification would benefit the system by efficiently using time domain resources for transmitting the PUSCH. Regarding claim 29, 42, the second set of two or more physical shared channels are transmitted or received in non- consecutive slots (Li: [0168]). Claim(s) 33 are is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over the combination of Yuan and Babaei as applied to claim 26 above, and further in view of Bang US 20210329608. Regarding claim 33, the combination is silent on the DCI includes a first indication of a first frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA) that is to be applied to the first set. Bang teaches the DCI includes a first indication of a first frequency domain resource allocation (FDRA) that is to be applied to the first set ([0261]). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 30 and 34-37 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the amended independent claim(s) 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 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RONALD B ABELSON whose telephone number is (571)272-3165. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00-4:30. 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, Ayaz Sheikh can be reached at 571-272-3795. 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. /RONALD B ABELSON/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 31, 2023
Application Filed
Dec 09, 2025
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12634079
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROCESSING DOWNLINK REFERENCE SIGNAL, AND READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM
3y 7m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634947
METHOD FOR PROCESSING MULTIPLE RESOURCE CONFLICTS AND TERMINAL DEVICE
3y 7m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634954
Method And Apparatus For Scheduling Of Multi-Cell Uplink And Downlink Transmissions With Single Downlink Control Information
2y 9m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634950
DOWNLINK CONTROL INFORMATION (DCI) FORMAT FOR BEAM INDICATION WITHOUT SCHEDULING DATA AND CAPABILITY REPORTING
2y 10m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Patent 12634926
TERMINAL, RADIO COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND BASE STATION
2y 9m to grant Granted May 19, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
90%
With Interview (-0.5%)
2y 5m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1311 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month