Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/578,657

METHOD AND UE FOR MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL (MAC) RESET AND OTHER RRC PROCEDURES IN NR MBS COMMUNICATION

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Jan 11, 2024
Examiner
NGUYEN, TU X
Art Unit
2642
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
85%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 9m
To Grant
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 85% — above average
85%
Career Allow Rate
763 granted / 899 resolved
+22.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+6.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 9m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
924
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.3%
-37.7% vs TC avg
§103
47.1%
+7.1% vs TC avg
§102
42.3%
+2.3% vs TC avg
§112
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 899 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION 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. Claims 16-19 and 26-29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chin (US Pub. 2022/0286818). Regarding claim 16, Chin discloses a method performed by a terminal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving a multicast and broadcast service (MBS) broadcast service (par.078-079 “MBS data transmission”); determining a predetermined event associated with the terminal (par.078-079 “timer”); and performing a medium access control (MAC) reset based on the MBS broadcast service and the predetermined event (par.0178 “The MAC PDU may correspond to …….retransmission timer”, par.0227 “a MAC PDU…..timer……may be (re)started”). Regarding claims 17 and 27, Chin discloses in case that the predetermined event includes an expiry of a timer-T300 (par.0178 “The MAC PDU may correspond to …….retransmission timer”, par.0227 “a MAC PDU…..timer……may be (re)started”), the MAC reset is performed, an MAC configuration is released and a radio link control (RLC) for (par.051, 202-206) radio bearers (RBs) established is re-established except for a broadcast MBS radio bearer (MRB) (par. 058”An NR MBS radio bearer may be referred to as an MRB”, par.0201, 0242). Regarding claims 18 and 28, Chin discloses the predetermined event includes an abortion of a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure, the MAC reset is performed, an MAC configuration is released and a radio link control (RLC) for radio bearers (RBs) established is re-established except for a broadcast MBS radio bearer (MRB) (par.058, 0242). Regarding claims 19 and 29, Chin discloses in case that the predetermined event includes that an RRC state of the terminal is switched to an RRC idle state, the MAC reset is performed, radio resources for established RBs except for a broadcast MRB are released (par.0153, 0242). Regarding claim 26, Chin discloses everything as claim 16 above. More specifically, Chin discloses a terminal in a wireless communication system, the terminal comprising: a transceiver; and at least one processor (par.016 “a UE….at least one processor….to receive…..”, par.048 “UL packet transmissions”). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 20-25 and 30 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. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Examiner Tu Nguyen whose telephone number is (571)272-7883. The examiner can normally be reached on 8AM-5PM Eastern Time. 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 Rafael Perez-Gutierrez can be reached on 571-272-7915. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300 or mailed to: Commissioner for Patents P.O. Box 1450 Alexandria, VA 22313-1450 Hand-delivered responses should be brought to Customer Service Window Randolph Building 401 Delany Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /TU X NGUYEN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2642
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jan 11, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 14, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
85%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+6.6%)
2y 9m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 899 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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