Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/626,192

TECHNIQUES FOR PROVIDING FEEDBACK IN A PILOT SYMBOL

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Apr 03, 2024
Examiner
JAIN, RAJ K
Art Unit
2411
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
724 granted / 826 resolved
+29.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+7.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 10m
Avg Prosecution
26 currently pending
Career history
868
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.5%
-38.5% vs TC avg
§103
70.7%
+30.7% vs TC avg
§102
18.4%
-21.6% vs TC avg
§112
4.7%
-35.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 826 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Election/Restrictions Applicant's election with traverse of group 1 (claims 1-7,20) in the reply filed on June 22, 2026 is acknowledged. The traversal is on the ground(s) that the prior art search would not place a burden and also why the prior art applicable to one would not apply to the another invention. This is not found persuasive because the groups in question are clearly and explicitly distinct with different class searches and distinct limitations that place undue burden on the examiner for searching. Based on the claim limitations for claim 1 against claim 8 it is clear 8 recites limitations which are not part of claim 1 therefore requires different searches and thus the restriction is proper. The requirement is still deemed proper and is therefore made FINAL. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102(a)1 In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of pre-AIA 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 – (b) the invention was patented or described in a printed publication in this or a foreign country or in public use or on sale in this country, more than one year prior to the date of application for patent in the United States. Claim(s) 1-7,20 are/is rejected under pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(a)1 as being clearly anticipated by Kim et al (US 20160373225 A1) hereinafter as Kim. Regarding claim(s) 1,20, Kim discloses an apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) (See Fig(s). 1 with UE 110), comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors, coupled to the one or more memories (See Fig(s). 1 process 150, memory 160), configured to cause the UE to: receive a configuration associated with transmitting acknowledgment (ACK) or negative ACK (NACK) feedback in a pilot symbol (See Fig(s). 1, See ¶ 38), wherein the pilot symbol is associated with an uplink reference signal (See Fig(s). 5, See ¶ 98, The SRS is a reference signal used for uplink channel measurement and as a pilot signal transmitted from each mobile station to the base station); receive a communication (See Fig(s). 1, UE receives communication via receiver 140); and transmit the ACK or NACK feedback regarding the communication in the pilot symbol in accordance with the configuration (See Fig(s). 1, See ¶ 41, the Tx data processor 165 of the mobile station 110 processes traffic data and provides data symbols. The symbol modulator 170 receives the data symbols, multiplexes the received data symbols with the pilot symbols, performs modulation for the multiplexed symbols, and provides the streams of the symbols to the transmitter 175. The transmitter 175 receives and processes the streams of the symbols and generates uplink signals. The uplink signals are transmitted to the base station 105 through the antenna 135.). Regarding claim(s) 2, Kim discloses wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to relating to multiple code block groups (See ¶ 36). Regarding claim(s) 3, Kim discloses wherein the one or more processors, to cause the UE to transmit the ACK or NACK feedback regarding the communication, are configured to cause the UE to transmit the ACK or NACK feedback in accordance with a set of constellation symbols, wherein the set of constellation symbols are associated with the ACK or NACK feedback relating to the multiple code block groups (See ¶ 36,41, “constellation symbol” in this context, means the modulated signal representation of the ACK/NACK bit in the PUCCH See ¶ abstract, 96, 124). Regarding claim(s) 4, Kim discloses wherein the ACK or NACK feedback is multiplexed with data subcarriers in the pilot symbol (See Fig(s). 1, See ¶ 42, 95-96, The symbol modulator 170 receives the data symbols, multiplexes the received data symbols with the pilot symbols, performs modulation for the multiplexed symbols, and provides the streams of the symbols to the transmitter 175.). Regarding claim(s) 5, Kim discloses wherein the one or more processors, to cause the UE to transmit the ACK or NACK feedback, are configured to cause the UE to transmit the ACK or NACK feedback on one or more data subcarriers in the pilot symbol (See Fig(s). 1, See ¶ 42, 95-96, The symbol modulator 170 receives the data symbols, multiplexes the received data symbols with the pilot symbols, performs modulation for the multiplexed symbols, and provides the streams of the symbols to the transmitter 175.). Regarding claim(s) 6, Kim discloses wherein the configuration indicates a set of subcarriers on which the ACK or NACK feedback is to be transmitted (See ¶ 96). Regarding claim(s) 7, Kim discloses wherein the configuration indicates whether the ACK or NACK feedback should be provided in the pilot symbol or via a control channel (See ¶ 99, . The subframe for which the SRS is transmitted by the mobile station within the cell may be indicated by cell-specific broadcast signaling. A 4-bit sized cell-specific ‘srsSubframeConfiguration’ parameter indicates 15 available subframe sets for which the SRS may be transmitted within each radio frame. This structure provides flexibility in controlling SRS overhead). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Raj Jain whose telephone number is (571) 272-3145. The examiner can normally be reached on M-Th ~8 ~6. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Derrick Ferris can be reached on 571-272-3123. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center for authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to Patent Center, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). 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) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form. /RAJ JAIN/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2411
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Apr 03, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 10, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §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
88%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+7.6%)
2y 10m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 826 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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