Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/579,740

DISCONTINUOUS RECEPTION TIMER CONFIGURATIONS FOR JOINT CHANNEL ESTIMATION

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Jan 16, 2024
Examiner
CHOWDHURY, FAHMIDA S
Art Unit
2471
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
93%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
2y 4m
To Grant
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 93% — above average
93%
Career Allow Rate
570 granted / 613 resolved
+35.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
23 currently pending
Career history
636
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.9%
-37.1% vs TC avg
§103
41.8%
+1.8% vs TC avg
§102
31.5%
-8.5% vs TC avg
§112
11.2%
-28.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 613 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 . DETAILED ACTIONThis action is in response to the application filed on 01/16/2024. Claims 1-30 are pending for examination. 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 of this title, 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 1-30 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Yao et al. (US 2024/0063984) in view of Huang et al. (US 2022/0015187). As of claim 1, Yao disclose an apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) (Yao, [FIG. 3] shows UE device 106 or 107) comprising: a memory (memory 306); and one or more processors, coupled to the memory (processor(s) 302 coupled to the memory 306), configured to: transmit at least one physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetition of a plurality of PUSCH repetitions associated with a joint channel estimation configuration that indicates at least one time domain window for transmission of the plurality of PUSCH repetitions (Yao, para [0080] disclose a UL transmission be repeated in any UL time period within the range, para [0087] discloses joint channel estimation (e.g., for type A PUSCH repetitions (=plurality of PUSCH repetitions) covered by one or multiple consecutive or non-consecutive configured time domain windows (TDW) (=at least one time domain window) which corresponds to transmit at least one physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetition associated with a joint channel estimation configuration that indicates at least one time domain window); and Yao does not explicitly disclose activate a discontinuous reception round trip time (RTT) timer however Huang discloses activate, after an end of the at least one time domain window, a discontinuous reception round trip time (RTT) timer based at least in part on the transmission of the at least one PUSCH repetition (Huang, para [0403] [0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) in the first symbol after the end of the first repetition (=after an end of the at least one time domain window) of the corresponding PUSCH transmission). Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of PUSCH repetitions in time domain window as taught by Yao with the teaching of activate a DRX RTT timer based on the transmission of the at least one PUSCH repetition as taught by Huang in order to provide high data throughput and enhance the multimedia services as taught by Huang in para [0004]. As of claim 13, Yao discloses an apparatus for wireless communication at a base station (Yao, [FIG. 4] [0072] shows and discloses base station 102), comprising: a memory (memory 460); and one or more processors, coupled to the memory (the base station include processor(s) 404 coupled to the memory), configured to: transmit a joint channel estimation configuration that indicates at least one time domain window for transmission of a plurality of physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetitions (Yao, [0166] the BS transmit the respective time periods, the UE determine ATDWs (time domain windows) for each of the time periods. para [0087] discloses configured time domain windows (TDW), for joint channel estimation (e.g., PUSCH repetitions), all the repetitions be covered by one or multiple configured time domain windows (TDW) which corresponds to transmit a joint channel estimation configuration that indicates at least one time domain window for transmission of a plurality of physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetitions); and Yao does not explicitly disclose activate a discontinuous reception round trip time (RTT) timer however Huang discloses transmit a discontinuous reception configuration that indicates that a user equipment (UE) is to activate a discontinuous reception round trip time (RTT) timer based at least in part on an occurrence of an end of the at least one time domain window (Huang, para [0809] [0814] discloses the UE receives or base station transmit a configuration related to one or more configured uplink grants to enable the UE to start a first timer related to DRX and para [0403] [0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) in the first symbol after the end of the first repetition (=after an end of the at least one time domain window) of the corresponding PUSCH transmission). Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of PUSCH repetitions in time domain window as taught by Yao with the teaching of activate a DRX RTT timer based on the transmission of the at least one PUSCH repetition as taught by Huang in order to provide high data throughput and enhance the multimedia services as taught by Huang in para [0004]. As of claim 25, Yao disclose a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UL), comprising: transmitting at least one physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetition of a plurality of PUSCH repetitions associated with a joint channel estimation configuration that indicates at least one time domain window for transmission of the plurality of PUSCH repetitions (Yao, para [0080] disclose a UL transmission be repeated in any UL time period within the range, para [0087] discloses joint channel estimation (e.g., for type A PUSCH repetitions (=plurality of PUSCH repetitions) covered by one or multiple consecutive or non-consecutive configured time domain windows (TDW) (=at least one time domain window) which corresponds to transmit at least one physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetition associated with a joint channel estimation configuration that indicates at least one time domain window); and Yao does not explicitly disclose activate a discontinuous reception round trip time (RTT) timer however Huang discloses activating, after an end of the at least one time domain window, a discontinuous reception round trip time (RTT) timer based at least in part on the transmission of the at least one PUSCH repetition (Huang, para [0403] [0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) in the first symbol after the end of the first repetition (=after an end of the at least one time domain window) of the corresponding PUSCH transmission). Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of PUSCH repetitions in time domain window as taught by Yao with the teaching of activate a DRX RTT timer based on the transmission of the at least one PUSCH repetition as taught by Huang in order to provide high data throughput and enhance the multimedia services as taught by Huang in para [0004]. As of claim 28, Yao discloses a method of wireless communication performed by a base station, comprising: transmitting a joint channel estimation configuration that indicates at least one time domain window for transmission of a plurality of physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetitions (Yao, [0166] discloses the BS transmit the respective time periods, the UE determine ATDWs (time domain windows) for each of the time periods. para [0087] discloses configured time domain windows (TDW), for joint channel estimation (e.g., PUSCH repetitions), all the repetitions be covered by one or multiple configured time domain windows (TDW) which corresponds to transmit a joint channel estimation configuration that indicates at least one time domain window for transmission of a plurality of physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetitions); and Yao does not explicitly disclose activate a discontinuous reception round trip time (RTT) timer however Huang discloses transmitting a discontinuous reception configuration that indicates that a user equipment (UE) is to activate a discontinuous reception round trip time (RTT) timer based at least in part on an occurrence of an end of the at least one time domain window (Huang, para [0809] [0814] discloses the UE receives or base station transmit a configuration related to one or more configured uplink grants to enable the UE to start a first timer related to DRX and para [0403] [0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) in the first symbol after the end of the first repetition (=after an end of the at least one time domain window) of the corresponding PUSCH transmission). Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of PUSCH repetitions in time domain window as taught by Yao with the teaching of activate a DRX RTT timer based on the transmission of the at least one PUSCH repetition as taught by Huang in order to provide high data throughput and enhance the multimedia services as taught by Huang in para [0004]. As of claims 2 and 14, rejection of claims 1 and 13 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses wherein the one or more processors, to activate the discontinuous reception RTT timer, are configured to activate the discontinuous reception RTT timer in a first symbol to start after the end of the at least one time domain window (Huang, para [0403][0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) in the first symbol after the end of the first repetition (=after an end of the at least one time domain window). As of claims 3,15, 26 and 29, rejection of claims 1,13, 25 and 28 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to activate a discontinuous reception retransmission timer after an expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0252] discloses start the drx-RetransmissionTimer in the first symbol after the expiry of drx-RTT-Timer). As of claims 4 and 16, rejection of claims 1 and 13 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the at least one time domain window comprises a plurality of time domain windows (Yao, para [0087] discloses the configured TDWs (time domain windows) be consecutive for paired spectrum, which corresponds to one time domain window comprises a plurality of time domain windows). As of claims 5 and 17, rejection of claims 4 and 16 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors, to activate the discontinuous reception RTT timer, are configured to activate the discontinuous reception RTT timer after an end of a first time domain window of the plurality of time domain windows (Huang, para [0403][0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) in the first symbol after the end of the first repetition (=after an end of the at least one time domain window). As of claim 6, rejection of claim 5 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to: determine an occurrence of a start of a second time domain window of the plurality of time domain windows (Yao, para [0087] discloses the start of other configured TDWs (=which corresponds to an occurrence of a start of a second time domain window) be determined); and Yao does not explicitly discloses terminate the discontinuous reception RTT timer however Huang teaches terminate the discontinuous reception RTT timer based at least in part on the determination of the occurrence of the start of the second time domain window (Huang, para [0403] [0417] discloses the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer) be started after the first repetition of the corresponding PUSCH transmission but not be started (=which implies terminate the DRX timer) at other repetitions of the corresponding PUSCH transmission (which implies the occurrence of the start of the second time domain window) and the DRX retransmission timer be stopped). Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Yao with the teaching of Huang in order to provide high data throughput and enhance the multimedia services as taught by Huang in para [0004]. As of claim 7, rejection of claim 5 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to: determine an occurrence of an expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0420] discloses drx-RTT-Timer expires (=determine an occurrence of an expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer); and activate a discontinuous reception retransmission timer based at least in part on the determination of the occurrence of the expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0420] discloses the retransmission timer is started when a RTT timer (=drx-RTT-Timer) expires and the DRX retransmission timer is started in response to expiration of the RTT timer); and a determination that no time domain window is active (Yao, para [0087] discloses the end of the last configured TDW be the end of the last PUSCH transmission which corresponds to no time domain window is active). As of claim 8, rejection of claim 5 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to: determine an occurrence of an expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0420] discloses drx-RTT-Timer expires (=determine an occurrence of an expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer); and refrain from activating a discontinuous reception retransmission timer based at least in part on the determination of the occurrence of the expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0403] [0406] disclose the UE stop the DRX retransmission timer, stops the retransmission timer at a transmission occasion following expiration of the RTT timer); and a determination that a second time domain window is active (Huang, para [0403] discloses the DRX retransmission timer be stopped at each repetition, and Yao, para [0087] discloses the start of other configured TDWs) which corresponds to second time window is active). As of claim 9, rejection of claim 8 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to activate the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0403] [0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) after the end of the first repetition) based at least in part on a determination of an occurrence of an end of the second time domain window (Yao, para [0087] discloses the end of the last configured TDW be the end of the last PUSCH transmission (=end of the second time domain window). As of claim 10, rejection of claim 9 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to deactivate the discontinuous reception retransmission timer based at least in part on a determination of an occurrence of a start of a second time domain window (Huang, para [0403] discloses the DRX retransmission timer be stopped at each repetition, and Yao, para [0087] discloses the start of other configured TDWs) which corresponds to second time window is active). As of claims 11, 23, 27 and 30, rejection of 1, 13, 25 and 28 cited above incorporated herein, in addition Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to receive a discontinuous reception configuration including an indication that the UE is to activate the discontinuous reception RTT timer only after a specified time domain window of a plurality of time domain windows (Yao, (Yao para [0082] discloses a UE determine available slots for a given number (e.g., K) repetitions based on radio resource control (RRC) configuration(s) scheduling the PUSCH, para [0087] discloses all the repetitions be covered by one or multiple time domain windows (TDW) (=specified time domain window) and Huang discloses in para [0403][0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) in the first symbol after the end of the first repetition (=specified time domain) of the corresponding PUSCH transmission which corresponds to activate the discontinuous reception RTT timer after a specified time domain). As of claims 12 and 24, rejection of 11, and 23 cited above incorporated herein, in addition Yao-Huang discloses the at least one time domain window comprises the specified time domain window (para [0087] discloses the start of the first configured TDW be the first PUSCH transmission (=specified time domain window). As of claim 18, rejection of claim 17 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to terminate the discontinuous reception RTT timer based at least in part on a determination of the occurrence of a start of a second time domain window (Yao, para [0087] discloses the start of other configured TDWs (=a second time domain window) be determined and Huang para [0403] [0417] discloses the DRX RTT timer be started after the first repetition of the corresponding PUSCH transmission but not be started (=which implies terminate the DRX timer) at other repetitions of the corresponding PUSCH transmission (=at second time domain window). As of claim 19, rejection of claim 17 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to activate a discontinuous reception retransmission timer based at least in part on a determination of the occurrence of an expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0252] discloses start the drx-RetransmissionTimer after the expiry of discontinuous reception RTT timer (drx-RTT-Timer)); and a determination that no time domain window is active (Yao, para [0087] discloses the end of the last configured TDW be the end of the last PUSCH transmission which corresponds to no time domain window is active). As of claim 20, rejection of claim 17 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to refrain from activating a discontinuous reception retransmission timer based at least in part on a determination of the occurrence of an expiry of the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0403] [0406] disclose the UE stop the DRX retransmission timer, stops the retransmission timer at a transmission occasion following expiration of the RTT timer); and a determination that a second time domain window is active (Huang, para [0403] discloses the DRX retransmission timer be stopped at each repetition, and Yao, para [0087] discloses the start of other configured TDWs) which corresponds to second time window is active). As of claim 21, rejection of claim 20 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to activate the discontinuous reception RTT timer (Huang, para [0403] [0407] discloses the UE start (=activate) the DRX RTT timer (e.g., drx-RTT-Timer) after the end of the first repetition) based at least in part on a determination of an occurrence of an end of the second time domain window (Yao, para [0087] discloses the end of the last configured TDW be the end of the last PUSCH transmission (=end of the second time domain window). As of claim 22, rejection of claim 21 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Yao-Huang discloses the one or more processors are further configured to deactivate the discontinuous reception retransmission timer based at least in part on a determination of an occurrence of a start of a second time domain window (Huang, para [0403] discloses the DRX retransmission timer be stopped at each repetition, and Yao, para [0087] discloses the start of other configured TDWs (=second window) which corresponds to occurrence of a start of a second time domain window). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FAHMIDA S CHOWDHURY whose telephone number is (571)272-2547. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am to 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, Sujoy K Kundu can be reached at 571-272-8586. 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. /FAHMIDA S CHOWDHURY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2471
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Prosecution Timeline

Jan 16, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 17, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
93%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+6.0%)
2y 4m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 613 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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