Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/597,132

SOUNDING REFERENCE SIGNAL DESIGN FOR MULTIPLE USE CASES

Final Rejection §102§103
Filed
Mar 06, 2024
Examiner
PATEL, CHANDRAHAS B
Art Unit
2464
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
2 (Final)
89%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 89% — above average
89%
Career Allowance Rate
814 granted / 919 resolved
+30.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.0%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
19 currently pending
Career history
927
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.8%
-32.2% vs TC avg
§103
40.5%
+0.5% vs TC avg
§102
41.1%
+1.1% vs TC avg
§112
5.5%
-34.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 919 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
DETAILED ACTION Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 6/16/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Applicant argues that FMCW waveform is not OFDM compatible waveform in Jiang. However, examiner disagrees. Jiang teaches that the technology discussed in the reference is compatible with OFDMA systems as described in paragraph 92. Further, Jiang teaches at paragraphs 209 and 210 using subcarrier spacing and transmitting signals in OFDM systems. Hence, the FMCW waveform is compatible with OFDM as stated in the claim. Examiner withdraws objections to claims 12 and 26 in view of the amendment made to the claims. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. Claims 1-4, 12, 14, 19-21, 26, 29 and 30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Jiang et al. (US-PGPUB 2024/0098534). Regarding claim 1, Jiang teaches a user equipment (UE), comprising: one or more memories [Fig. 7, 709]; one or more transceivers [Fig. 7, 701]; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories and the one or more transceivers, the one or more processors, either alone or in combination, configured to: transmit, via the one or more transceivers, one or more sounding reference signal (SRS) resources, wherein a waveform of the one or more SRS resources is an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) compatible frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) waveform [Para 198-207, SRS resource is transmitted using OFDM FMCW waveform]. Regarding claim 2, Jiang teaches a configuration of the one or more SRS resources is based on one or more capabilities of the UE [Para 198-207, SRS resource configuration is determined based on other signal and UE parameters]. Regarding claims 3 and 20, Jiang teaches one or more capabilities of the UE indicate: whether the UE supports OFDM compatible FMCW waveforms, whether the UE supports multiplexing between FMCW transmissions and OFDM transmissions, whether the UE supports OFDM compatible FMCW transmission with different comb offsets in different symbols, whether the UE supports gap symbols between SRS symbols, or any combination thereof [Para 198-213, capability is determined based on type of supported waveform, subcarrier spacing etc.] Regarding claims 4 and 21, Jiang teaches the one or more capabilities indicate that the UE supports OFDM compatible FMCW waveforms, and the one or more capabilities further indicate one or more types of OFDM compatible FMCW waveforms the UE supports [Para 198-207, type of OFDM FMCW waveform supported is determined]. Regarding claims 12 and 26, Jiang teaches the one or more SRS resources are transmitted: over a larger BWP than a baseband BWP of the UE, or during one or more measurement gaps for SRS transmission [Para 198-207, SRS transmission is done during measurement gaps]. Regarding claim 14, Jiang teaches the one or more SRS resources comprise at least two SRS resources, the at least two SRS resources occupy the same OFDM resources, and the at least two SRS resources are Doppler-division multiplexed on the same OFDM resources [Para 208-213]. Regarding claim 19, Jiang teaches a network entity, comprising: one or more memories [Fig. 8, 805]; one or more transceivers [Fig. 8, 801]; and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the one or more memories and the one or more transceivers, the one or more processors, either alone or in combination, configured to: transmit, via the one or more transceivers, to a user equipment (UE), a request for capabilities of the UE related to transmission of sounding reference signal (SRS) resources by the UE [Para 197-207, sends configuration information for UE’s capability information]; and receive, via the one or more transceivers, from the UE, one or more capabilities of the UE in response to the request, wherein the one or more capabilities of the UE indicate whether the UE supports an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) compatible frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) waveform for the transmission of SRS resources [Para 198-207, SRS resource is transmitted using OFDM FMCW waveform]. Regarding claim 29, Jiang teaches a method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: transmitting one or more sounding reference signal (SRS) resources, wherein a waveform of the one or more SRS resources is an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) compatible frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) waveform [Para 198-207, SRS resource is transmitted using OFDM FMCW waveform]. Regarding claim 30, Jiang teaches a method of communication performed by a network entity, comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a request for capabilities of the UE related to transmission of sounding reference signal (SRS) resources by the UE [Para 197-207, sends configuration information for UE’s capability information]; and receiving from the UE, one or more capabilities of the UE in response to the request, wherein the one or more capabilities of the UE indicate whether the UE supports an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) compatible frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) waveform for the transmission of SRS resources [Para 198-207, SRS resource is transmitted using OFDM FMCW waveform]. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Jiang et al. (US-PGPUB 2024/0098534) in view of Li et al. (US-PGPUB 2024/0310508). Regarding claim 11, Jiang teaches a UE as discussed in rejection of claim 2. However, Jiang does not teach receiving, via the one or more transceivers, from a network entity, a request for the one or more capabilities; and transmitting, via the one or more transceivers, to the network entity, the one or more capabilities of the UE in response to the request. Li teaches receiving, via the one or more transceivers, from a network entity, a request for the one or more capabilities; and transmitting, via the one or more transceivers, to the network entity, the one or more capabilities of the UE in response to the request [Para 367-380]. It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention communicate capability information so that appropriate functionality can be provided based on capability information. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 5-10, 13, 15-18, 22-25, 27 and 28 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. 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 CHANDRAHAS PATEL whose telephone number is (571)270-1211. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:30 - 17:30. 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, Ricky Ngo can be reached at 571-272-3139. 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. /Chandrahas B Patel/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2464
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 06, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 25, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Jun 16, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 24, 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
89%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+7.0%)
2y 7m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 919 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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