Prosecution Insights
Last updated: April 19, 2026
Application No. 18/623,340

ENHANCED BROADCAST/MULTICAST TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION ASSOCIATED WITH NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Apr 01, 2024
Examiner
DEAN, RAYMOND S
Art Unit
2645
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
70%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3y 1m
To Grant
85%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 70% — above average
70%
Career Allow Rate
618 granted / 883 resolved
+8.0% vs TC avg
Strong +15% interview lift
Without
With
+15.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
48 currently pending
Career history
931
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
§103
64.2%
+24.2% vs TC avg
§102
19.2%
-20.8% vs TC avg
§112
7.5%
-32.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 883 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 . 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) 1 – 5, 7 – 15, 17 – 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US 2025/0267028) in view of Li et al. (US 2022/0124840) and in further view of Saha et al. (US 2025/0081160). Regarding Claim 1, Kim teaches a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), comprising: a processor, wherein the processor (Figure 1, Section 0054, typical UEs comprise processors) is configured to: receive an indication of one or more session identifiers (IDs) (Section 0200, 0201); determine that a service area associated with the WTRU is a valid service area (Abstract, Section 0007, valid range for service area), wherein being configured to determine that the service area associated with the WTRU is the valid service area comprises the processor being configured to at least: determine that a time is within a service period (Section 0210, broadcast service times), and determine that one or more access requirements have been satisfied (Section 0168, location information is an access requirement); send, based on the determination that the service area associated with the WTRU is the valid service area, an access request to a network node (Section 0168, there will be some kind of handshaking, which would comprise access requests, between the UE and the network node in order to receive the desired broadcast or multicast service). Kim does not teach receive a message, wherein the message indicates a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) and a second RNTI, wherein the first RNTI is associated with a first period of validity and the second RNTI is associated with a second period of validity, and wherein the first RNTI and the second RNTI are associated with a same service; determine that a first time is within the first period of validity; decode data via use of the first RNTI based on the determination that the first time is within the first period of validity; determine that the first period of validity expired or is within a threshold of expiration; determine that a second time is within the second period of validity, wherein the second time is at or after expiration of the first period of validity; and decode the data via use of the second RNTI based on the determination that the second time is within the second period of validity. Li, which also teaches multicast technology, teaches receive a message, wherein the message indicates a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) and a second RNTI, wherein the first RNTI and the second RNTI are associated with a same service (Section 0026). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kim with the above features of Li for the purpose of improving communication efficiency as taught by Li. Kim combination does not teach receive a message, wherein the message indicates a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) and a second RNTI, wherein the first RNTI is associated with a first period of validity and the second RNTI is associated with a second period of validity, and wherein the first RNTI and the second RNTI are associated with a same service; determine that a first time is within the first period of validity; decode data via use of the first RNTI based on the determination that the first time is within the first period of validity; determine that the first period of validity expired or is within a threshold of expiration; determine that a second time is within the second period of validity, wherein the second time is at or after expiration of the first period of validity; and decode the data via use of the second RNTI based on the determination that the second time is within the second period of validity. Saha, which also teaches multicast technology, teaches wherein the first RNTI is associated with a first period of validity and the second RNTI is associated with a second period of validity (Section 0116); determine that a first time is within the first period of validity; decode data via use of the first RNTI based on the determination that the first time is within the first period of validity (decoding the pre-paging data via use of the RNTI (Sections 0103, 0108), period of validity for RNTI (0116) renders a scenario wherein the decoding occurs during a time within the period of validity); determine that the first period of validity expired or is within a threshold of expiration (Section 0116, timer can expire thus rendering a scenario wherein the period of validity expired); determine that a second time is within the second period of validity, wherein the second time is at or after expiration of the first period of validity (Section 0116, there can be multiple periods of validity thus rendering a scenario wherein a second time is at or after expiration of a first period of validity); and decode the data via use of the second RNTI based on the determination that the second time is within the second period of validity (decoding the pre-paging data via use of the RNTI (Sections 0103, 0108), period of validity for RNTI (0116) renders a scenario wherein the decoding occurs during a time within the period of validity). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of the Kim combination with the above features of Saha for the purpose of enabling the paging of UE in a deep coverage zone as taught by Saha. Regarding Claim 11, Kim teaches a method implemented in a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising: receiving an indication of one or more session identifiers (IDs) (Section 0200, 0201); determining that a service area associated with the WTRU is a valid service area (Abstract, Section 0007, valid range for service area), wherein determining that the service area associated with the WTRU is the valid service area comprises: determining that a time is within a service period (Section 0210, broadcast service times), and determining that one or more access requirements have been satisfied (Section 0168, location information is an access requirement); sending, based on the determination that the service area associated with the WTRU is the valid service area, an access request to a network node (Section 0168, there will be some kind of handshaking, which would comprise access requests, between the UE and the network node in order to receive the desired broadcast or multicast service). Kim does not teach receiving a message, wherein the message indicates a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) and a second RNTI, wherein the first RNTI is associated with a first period of validity and the second RNTI is associated with a second period of validity, and wherein the first RNTI and the second RNTI are associated with a same service; determining that a first time is within the first period of validity; decoding data via use of the first RNTI based on the determination that the first time is within the first period of validity; determining that the first period of validity expired or is within a threshold of expiration; determining that a second time is within the second period of validity, wherein the second time is at or after expiration of the first period of validity; and decoding the data via use of the second RNTI based on the determination that the second time is within the second period of validity. Li, which also teaches multicast technology, teaches receive a message, wherein the message indicates a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) and a second RNTI, wherein the first RNTI and the second RNTI are associated with a same service (Section 0026). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kim with the above features of Li for the purpose of improving communication efficiency as taught by Li. Kim combination does not teach receiving a message, wherein the message indicates a first Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) and a second RNTI, wherein the first RNTI is associated with a first period of validity and the second RNTI is associated with a second period of validity, and wherein the first RNTI and the second RNTI are associated with a same service; determining that a first time is within the first period of validity; decoding data via use of the first RNTI based on the determination that the first time is within the first period of validity; determining that the first period of validity expired or is within a threshold of expiration; determining that a second time is within the second period of validity, wherein the second time is at or after expiration of the first period of validity; and decoding the data via use of the second RNTI based on the determination that the second time is within the second period of validity. Saha, which also teaches multicast technology, teaches wherein the first RNTI is associated with a first period of validity and the second RNTI is associated with a second period of validity (Section 0116); determine that a first time is within the first period of validity; decode data via use of the first RNTI based on the determination that the first time is within the first period of validity (decoding the pre-paging data via use of the RNTI (Sections 0103, 0108), period of validity for RNTI (0116) renders a scenario wherein the decoding occurs during a time within the period of validity); determine that the first period of validity expired or is within a threshold of expiration (Section 0116, timer can expire thus rendering a scenario wherein the period of validity expired); determine that a second time is within the second period of validity, wherein the second time is at or after expiration of the first period of validity (Section 0116, there can be multiple periods of validity thus rendering a scenario wherein a second time is at or after expiration of a first period of validity); and decode the data via use of the second RNTI based on the determination that the second time is within the second period of validity (decoding the pre-paging data via use of the RNTI (Sections 0103, 0108), period of validity for RNTI (0116) renders a scenario wherein the decoding occurs during a time within the period of validity). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of the Kim combination with the above features of Saha for the purpose of enabling the paging of UE in a deep coverage zone as taught by Saha. Regarding Claims 2, 12, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 1, 11. Kim further teaches wherein the one or more access requirements comprise: a requirement that the WTRU verify that the WTRU is in a location associated with allowing access to the data; or a requirement that the network node verify a WTRU location (Section 0168). Regarding Claims 3, 13, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 1, 11. Kim further teaches wherein the one or more session IDs comprise a first session ID and a second session ID, and wherein: the first session ID indicates one or more of: a first service area, a first service period associated with the first session ID, or a first access condition associated with the first session ID (Sections 0012, 0168, session IDs associated with MBS service which has associated access conditions (0168)), and the second session ID indicates one or more of: a second service area, a second service period associated with the second session ID, or a second access condition associated with the second session ID (Sections 0012, 0168, session IDs associated with MBS service which has associated access conditions (0168)). Regarding Claims 4, 14, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 3, 13. Kim further teaches wherein the first or second access condition comprises: a condition that a time associated with access by the WTRU is a time when the WTRU is allowed to at least one of: access the data or decode the data; or a condition that the network node verify a WTRU location (Section 0168). Regarding Claims 5, 15, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 3, 13. Kim further teaches wherein the service arca associated with the WTRU is the first service area or the second service area (Section 0164, multiple service areas), and wherein being configured to determine that the service area associated with the WTRU is the valid service area comprises the processor being configured to: determine one or more of: that the time is within the first service period, that a location associated with the WTRU is within the first service arca, or that the first access condition is satisfied, or determine one or more of: that the time is within the second service period, that a location associated with the WTRU is within the second service area, or that the second access condition is satisfied (Section 0168, satisfied access condition is the location). Regarding Claims 7, 17, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 1, 11. Kim further teaches wherein the one or more session IDs are one or more multicast broadcast service (MBS) IDs (Section 0200), wherein the service area is an MBS service area, wherein the service period is an MBS service period, and wherein the data is MBS data (Section 0007, MBS system thus there will be wherein the service area is an MBS service area, wherein the service period is an MBS service period, and wherein the data is MBS data). Regarding Claims 8, 18, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 1, 11. Kim further teaches wherein the data is MBS-type data (Section 0007, MBS system thus there will be wherein the data is MBS-type data). Regarding Claims 9, 19, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 1, 11. Kim further teaches wherein the one or more session IDs are one or more service area IDs (Section 0143). Regarding Claims 10, 20, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 1, 11. Kim does not teach wherein being associated with the same service comprises being associated with a same session. Li, which also teaches multicast technology, teaches wherein being associated with the same service comprises being associated with a same session (Section 0017, a session is setup to facilitate the service). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kim with the above features of Li for the purpose of improving communication efficiency as taught by Li. Claim(s) 6, 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (US 2025/0267028) in view of Li et al. (US 2022/0124840) in view of Saha et al. (US 2025/0081160), as applied to Claim 1 set forth above, and in further view of Baek et al. (US 2022/0417709). Regarding Claims 6, 16, Kim combination teaches all of the claimed limitations recited in Claims 1, 11. Kim combination does not teach wherein the access request indicates one or more of: a session ID, wherein the session ID is one of the one or more session IDs, WTRU location information, or measurement information associated with measurements performed by the WTRU. Baek, which also teaches MBS, teaches wherein the access request indicates one or more of: a session ID, wherein the session ID is one of the one or more session IDs, WTRU location information, or measurement information associated with measurements performed by the WTRU (Section 0012, session ID to an access and mobility management). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art prior to the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the Kim combination with the above features of Baek for the purpose of providing an MBS that takes mobility of the UE into account as taught by Baek. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RAYMOND S DEAN whose telephone number is (571)272-7877. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 6:00-2:30, EST. 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, Anthony S Addy can be reached at 571-272-7795. 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. /RAYMOND S DEAN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2645 Raymond S. Dean March 13, 2026
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 01, 2024
Application Filed
Mar 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection — §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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
70%
Grant Probability
85%
With Interview (+15.3%)
3y 1m
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 883 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allow rate.

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