Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/617,051

COMMUNICATION METHOD, TERMINAL DEVICE AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Mar 26, 2024
Priority
Sep 30, 2021 — continuation of PCTCN2021122100
Examiner
ACOLATSE, KODZOVI
Art Unit
2478
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
777 granted / 929 resolved
+25.6% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+21.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
51 currently pending
Career history
985
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
§103
85.1%
+45.1% vs TC avg
§102
12.1%
-27.9% vs TC avg
§112
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 929 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 . Claims 1-5, 7-18 and 20 are ending in this office action. Response to Arguments Applicant’s arguments with respect to the amendment filed 4/23/26 have been considered but are moot in view of new grounds of rejection. 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 1-3, 5, 8-10, 12 and 15-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang et al (US 2023/0413286 A1) in view of Lei (US 2024/0340117 A1). Regarding claim 1, Wang teaches a method for communication, comprising: determining, by a terminal device, that a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is a group-common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) (Wang: Fig. 1; [0037], UE receiving PDCCH for group of UE, i.e. GC-PDCCH for multicast transmission on PDSCH using scrambling by G-RNTI); and determining, by the terminal device, that data carried on a first physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduled by the first PDCCH is new multicast data initially transmitted (Wang: Fig. 1; [0053], [0066], [0100], determining whether a transmission is an initial/new transmission based on scrambling by G-RNTI). Wang does not explicitly disclose after determining, by the terminal device, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, receiving, by the terminal device, a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID; and determining, by the terminal device based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted. Lei teaches after determining, by the terminal device, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, receiving, by the terminal device, a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID; and determining, by the terminal device based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted (Lei: Fig. 2; [0031], a PTM is first transmitted with GC- PDCCH; then a PTP based retransmission, in which the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI is scrambled by a UE-specific RNTI (e.g., C-RNTI), can be used for scheduling the retransmission of the TB, with the same HARQ process ID and an untoggled NDI). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Wang wherein after determining, by the terminal device, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, receiving, by the terminal device, a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID; and determining, by the terminal device based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted as disclosed by Lei to provide a system for error case handling during multicast HARQ retransmission (Lei: Abstract). Regarding claim 8, Wang teaches a terminal device, comprising: a processor; and a memory for storing a program, wherein the processor is configured to invoke the program in the memory to: determine that a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is a group-common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) (Wang: Fig. 1; [0037], UE receiving PDCCH for group of UE, i.e. GC-PDCCH for multicast transmission on PDSCH using scrambling by G-RNTI); and determine that data carried on a first physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduled by the first PDCCH is new multicast data initially transmitted (Wang: Fig. 1; [0053], [0066], [0100], determining whether a transmission is an initial/new transmission based on scrambling by G-RNTI). Wang does not explicitly disclose wherein the terminal device further comprises :a transceiver, configured to receive a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted. Lei teaches wherein the terminal device further comprises :a transceiver, configured to receive a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted (Lei: Fig. 2; [0031], a PTM is first transmitted with GC- PDCCH; then a PTP based retransmission, in which the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI is scrambled by a UE-specific RNTI (e.g., C-RNTI), can be used for scheduling the retransmission of the TB, with the same HARQ process ID and an untoggled NDI). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Wang wherein the terminal device further comprises :a transceiver, configured to receive a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID, wherein the processor is further configured to determine, based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted as disclosed by Lei to provide a system for error case handling during multicast HARQ retransmission (Lei: Abstract). Regarding claim 15, Wang teaches a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer to: determine that a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) is a group-common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) (Wang: Fig. 1; [0037], UE receiving PDCCH for group of UE, i.e. GC-PDCCH for multicast transmission on PDSCH using scrambling by G-RNTI); and determine that data carried on a first physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduled by the first PDCCH is new multicast data initially transmitted (Wang: Fig. 1; [0051], [0053], [0066], [0100], determining whether a transmission is an initial/new transmission based on scrambling by G-RNTI). Wang does not explicitly disclose wherein the program further causes the computer to: receive a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID, and determine, based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted. Lei teaches wherein the program further causes the computer to: receive a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID, and determine, based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted (Lei: Fig. 2; [0031], a PTM is first transmitted with GC- PDCCH; then a PTP based retransmission, in which the cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the DCI is scrambled by a UE-specific RNTI (e.g., C-RNTI), can be used for scheduling the retransmission of the TB, with the same HARQ process ID and an untoggled NDI). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Wang wherein the program further causes the computer to: receive a third PDCCH, wherein the third PDCCH is a user equipment (UE)-specific PDCCH, and a third hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the third PDCCH is the same with a first HPID, and determine, based on a third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and a first NDI, whether data carried on a third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or new unicast data initially transmitted as disclosed by Lei to provide a system for error case handling during multicast HARQ retransmission (Lei: Abstract). Regarding claims 2, 9 and 16, Wang teaches wherein determining, by the terminal device, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH comprises: determining, by the terminal device based on first information, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, wherein the first information comprises at least one of: a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the first PDCCH is scrambled with a group-common radio network temporary identifier (G-RNTI) (Wang: Fig. 1; [0037], UE receiving PDCCH for group of UE, i.e. GC-PDCCH for multicast transmission on PDSCH using scrambling by G-RNTI; [0051], [0053], [0066], [0100], determining whether a transmission is an initial/new transmission based on scrambling by G-RNTI); or an N-bit information field in the first PDCCH indicates that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, wherein N is a positive integer. Regarding claims 3, 10 and 17, Wang teaches wherein determining, by the terminal device, that the data carried on the first PDSCH scheduled by the first PDCCH is the new multicast data initially transmitted comprises: determining, by the terminal device based on second information, that the data carried on the first PDSCH scheduled by the first PDCCH is the new multicast data initially transmitted, wherein the second information comprises at least one of: a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) of the first PDCCH is scrambled with a group-common radio network temporary identifier (G-RNTI) (Wang: Fig. 1; [0037], UE receiving PDCCH for group of UE, i.e. GC-PDCCH for multicast transmission on PDSCH using scrambling by G-RNTI; [0051], [0053], [0066], [0100], determining whether a transmission is an initial/new transmission based on scrambling by G-RNTI); a first hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) carried on the first PDCCH; or a first new data indicator (NDI) carried on the first PDCCH. Regarding claims 5, 12 and 18, Wang teaches after determining, by the terminal device, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, comparing, by the terminal device, a first new data indicator (NDI) carried on the first PDCCH with an NDI of the terminal device; and in response to the first NDI being different from the NDI of the terminal device, toggling, by the terminal device, the NDI of the terminal device to make the NDI of the terminal device the same with the first NDI (Wang: [0047], [0107]-[0109], [0124]). Claims 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 19 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang et al (US 2023/0413286 A1) in view of Lei (US 2024/0340117 A1) in further view of Baek et al (US 2022/0322293 A1). Regarding claims 4 and 11, Wang in view of Lei does not explicitly disclose after determining, by the terminal device, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, clearing, by the terminal device, data corresponding to a second hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) stored in a cache to store, in the cache, at least one of the data carried on the first PDSCH or data retransmitted on the first PDSCH, wherein the second HPID is the same with a first HPID, a second PDCCH carries the second HPID, and the second PDCCH is received by the terminal device before the first PDCCH is received by the terminal device. Baek teaches after determining, by the terminal device, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, clearing, by the terminal device, data corresponding to a second hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) stored in a cache to store, in the cache, at least one of the data carried on the first PDSCH or data retransmitted on the first PDSCH, wherein the second HPID is the same with a first HPID, a second PDCCH carries the second HPID, and the second PDCCH is received by the terminal device before the first PDCCH is received by the terminal device (Baek: Fig. 8; [0086]-[0088], flush the buffer with the same HPI). It would have been obvious to a person having an ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of he claimed invention to modify the system of Wang in view of Lei wherein after determining, by the terminal device, that the first PDCCH is the GC-PDCCH, clearing, by the terminal device, data corresponding to a second hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process identifier (HPID) stored in a cache to store, in the cache, at least one of the data carried on the first PDSCH or data retransmitted on the first PDSCH, wherein the second HPID is the same with a first HPID, a second PDCCH carries the second HPID, and the second PDCCH is received by the terminal device before the first PDCCH is received by the terminal device as disclosed by Baek to provide a system for resource allocation for MBS (Baek: Abstract). Regarding claims 6, 13 and 19, Wang in view of Baek teaches (Baek: Fig. 8; [0086]-[0088], flush the buffer with the same HPI). Regarding claims 7, 14 and 20, Wang in view of Baek teaches wherein determining, by the terminal device based on the third NDI carried on the third PDCCH and the first NDI, whether the data carried on the third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted or the new unicast data initially transmitted comprises: in response to the third NDI being the same with the first NDI, determining, by the terminal device, that the data carried on the third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the multicast data retransmitted; or in response to the third NDI being different from the first NDI, determining, by the terminal device, that the data carried on the third PDSCH scheduled by the third PDCCH is the new unicast data initially transmitted (Baek: Fig. 8; [0086]-[0088], flush the buffer with the same HPI). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KODZOVI ACOLATSE whose telephone number is (571)270-1999. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 10 am to 6pm. 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, Avellino Joseph can be reached at (571) 272-3905. 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. /KODZOVI ACOLATSE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2478
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Mar 26, 2024
Application Filed
Feb 26, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 23, 2026
Response Filed
May 19, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

2-3
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+21.4%)
2y 6m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 929 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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