Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/632,839

SIDELINK COMMUNICATION METHOD, COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Apr 11, 2024
Priority
Oct 15, 2021 — CN 202111205669.0 +1 more
Examiner
KIM, SUN JONG
Art Unit
2469
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
2m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
234 granted / 292 resolved
+22.1% vs TC avg
Strong +35% interview lift
Without
With
+34.7%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
33 currently pending
Career history
325
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.8%
-38.2% vs TC avg
§103
58.1%
+18.1% vs TC avg
§102
11.2%
-28.8% vs TC avg
§112
25.4%
-14.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 292 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 . Response to Arguments Applicant’s Amendments and Arguments filed 07/21/2026 have been considered for examination. With regard to the objections to Specification, Applicant’s arguments filed 07/21/2026 in view of the amendments have been fully considered and are persuasive. Thus, the objections to Specification have been withdrawn. With regard to the 103 rejections, Applicant’s arguments filed 07/21/2026 in view of the amendments have been fully considered but are moot because the arguments are not applied to any of the references being used in the current 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. The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. Claims 1, 2 and 4 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (EP 3499975 A1) in view of Abendini et al (US Publication No. 2022/0045746 A1). Regarding claim 1, Lin discloses, a sidelink (SL) communication method [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0291, SL communication method, performed by relay UE], comprising: receiving, by a relay from a remote device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0294-0295, (step 1102) the relay UE receives remote UE information from the remote UE], first information comprising a first paging parameter of the remote device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0295, the remote UE information includes emote UE identification information, a remote UE mobility state, and a relay forwarding paging indication]; and sending, by the relay to a first network device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0298, (step 1130) the relay EU transmits the remote UE information to the base station], second information comprising the first paging parameter [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0295, the remote UE information includes remote UE identification information, a remote UE mobility state, and a relay forwarding paging indication], wherein the relay communicates with the remote device by using a sidelink [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0294-0298, the relay UE communicates with the remote UE by using a side link], and the remote device communicates with the first network device by using the relay [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0294-0298, the remote UE communicates with the base station by using the relay UE]. Although Lin discloses, “sending, by the relay to a first network device, second information comprising the first paging parameter,” as set forth above, Lin does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized and bold limitations), the second information comprising delay information, wherein the delay information indicates a first delay of forwarding a message from the first network device by the relay to the remote. However, Abendini discloses, sending, by the relay to a first network device, second information comprising delay information [FIG. 8; its related descriptions; ¶0215, transmitting, by the repeater node to the control node, an indication of the one or more latency values], wherein the delay information indicates a first delay of forwarding a message from the first network device by the relay to the remote device [FIG. 8; its related descriptions; ¶0215, the latency values are associated with the one or more processing modes for repeating the signal by the repeater node from the control node to the wireless node (further see reference numbers 830, 840 and 845 for repeating the signal); note that since the latency values are associated with the processing modes for repeating the signal from the control node to the wireless node is considered as a first delay value of forwarding a message from the first network device to the remote device]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the above-mentioned feature(s) as taught by Abendini in the system of Lin in order to cause the system to be able to reduce or avoid communication errors based on latency of the repeater node [e.g., ¶0171 of Abendini]. Regarding claim 2, Lin in view of Abendini discloses, the method according to claim 1 as set forth above. Lin discloses, wherein the first paging parameter comprises a first identifier of the remote device [¶0135, the remote UE information includes a remote UE identifier]. Regarding claim 4, Lin in view of Abendini discloses, the method according to claim 1 as set forth above. Lin discloses, receiving a first SL discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration from the first network device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0299, (step 1104) the relay UE receives RRC connection reconfiguration information from the base station; further see ¶0301, the RRC connection reconfiguration information may contain and use information related to the PC5 discontinuous reception configuration], wherein the first SL DRX configuration is used by the relay device to send a first message to the remote device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0304-0308, the PC5 discontinuous reception configuration information is used by the relay UE to send paging information to the remote UE; further see ¶0303, the PC5 discontinuous reception configuration information transmitted to the remote UE is used for the UE to listen to the paging information forwarded by the relay UE subsequently], and the first message is used for paging the remote device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0303-0308, (step 1105) the paging information is used for paging the remote UE]; and sending the first SL DRX configuration to the remote device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0304-0308, the relay UE transmits the PC5 DRX configuration to the remote UE]. Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (EP 3499975 A1) in view of Abendini et al (US Publication No. 2022/0045746 A1) and further in view of Cheng et al (US Publication No. 2023/0246701 A1)1. Regarding claim 3, Lin in view of Abendini discloses, the method according to claim 1 as set forth above. Lin in view of Abendini does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized limitations), but Cheng discloses, wherein the first paging parameter further comprises cycle information [¶0154, the PO-related information may be the remote UE's 1104 PO, or the paging cycle and an identifier of the remote UE 1104]. It is noted that the above-mentioned feature is a known technique in the field Applicant's endeavor, e.g., telecommunication art. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to combine the system of Lin in view of Abendini with "the above-mentioned known feature(s)" taught by Cheng to reach the claimed invention as set forth above. Since one having ordinary skill in the art could have recognized that applying the known technique taught by Cheng into the system of Lin in view of Abendini would have yield predictable results and/or resulted in the improved system, such as e.g., enabling to inform devices of monitoring cycle used for sidelink or relay communication, such a modification (or application) would have involved the mere application of a known technique to a piece of prior art ready for improvement," the claim is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). Ex Parte Smith, 83 USPQ.2d 1509, 1518-19 (BPAI, 2007) (citing KSR v. Teleflex, 127 S.Ct. 1727, 1740, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1396 (2007)). Claims 5, 8-11, 15-16 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (EP 3499975 A1) in view of Abendini et al (US Publication No. 2022/0045746 A1) and further in view of Kang et al (US Publication No. 2023/0107246 A1). Regarding claim 5, Lin in view of Abendini discloses, the method according to claim 4 as set forth above. Lin in view of Abendini does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized limitations), but Kang discloses, wherein the first SL DRX configuration is determined based on the second information [FIG. 10A; its related descriptions; ¶0053, the obtaining of the SL DRX configuration information may include receiving, from the BS, SL DRX configuration information generated based on the SL DRX assistance information; further see ¶0168, the SL DRX assistance information may include at least one or a combination of . . . traffic pattern information of the service of interest of the terminal (a period, a message size, a time offset, etc.); note that the SL DRX configuration information is generated based on the SL DRX assistance information]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the above-mentioned feature(s) as taught by Kang in the system of Lin in view of Abendini in order to cause the system to be able to support sidelink discontinuous reception procedure adapted to various services being demanded [e.g., ¶0009-0010 of Kang]. Regarding claim 8, Lin in view of Abendini discloses, a sidelink (SL) discontinuous reception based communication method, performed by a first network device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0291, SL communication method, performed by base station (eNB)], comprising: receiving second information from a relay device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0298, (step 1130) the base station receives remote UE information from relay UE], wherein the second information comprises a first paging parameter of a remote device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0295, the remote UE information includes remote UE identification information, a remote UE mobility state, and a relay forwarding paging indication]; and performing SL configuration . . . the second information [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; further see ¶0081, the apparatus further includes: a first transmission unit, which is configured to, when the received PC5 discontinuous reception configuration information is configured by the base station, transmit remote user equipment (UE) information to a base station or transmit the remote UE information to the base station through a relay UE; note that the base station configures PC5 discontinuous reception configuration information], wherein the relay device communicates with the remote device by using an SL [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0294-0298, the relay UE communicates with the remote UE by using a side link], and the remote device communicates with the first network device by using the relay device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0294-0298, the remote UE communicates with the base station by using the relay UE]. Although Lin discloses, “performing SL configuration . . . the second information”, Lin in view of Abendini does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized and bold limitations), performing SL configuration based on the second information. However, Kang discloses, performing SL configuration based on the second information [FIG. 10A; its related descriptions; ¶0053, BS the obtaining of the SL DRX configuration information may include receiving, from the BS, SL DRX configuration information generated based on the SL DRX assistance information; further see ¶0168, the SL DRX assistance information may include at least one or a combination of . . . traffic pattern information of the service of interest of the terminal (a period, a message size, a time offset, etc.); note that the BS (NW) generates SL DRX configuration information based on the SL DRX assistance information]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the above-mentioned feature(s) as taught by Kang in the system of Lin in view of Abendini in order to cause the system to be able to support sidelink discontinuous reception procedure adapted to various services being demanded [e.g., ¶0009-0010 of Kang]. Regarding claim 9, Lin in view of Abendini and Kang discloses, the method according to claim 8 as set forth above. Lin discloses, wherein the first paging parameter comprises a first identifier of the remote device [¶0135, the remote UE information includes a remote UE identifier]. Regarding claim 10, Lin in view of Abendini and Kang discloses, the method according to claim 8 as set forth above. Lin discloses, sending a first SL discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration to the relay device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0299, (step 1104) the base station transmits RRC connection reconfiguration information to the relay UE; further see ¶0301, the RRC connection reconfiguration information may contain and use information related to the PC5 discontinuous reception configuration], wherein the first SL DRX configuration is for transmitting a first message [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0304-0308, the PC5 DRX configuration is for transmitting the paging information], the first message is a message sent by the relay device to the remote device, and the first message is used for paging the remote device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0304-0308, the paging information is transmitted by the relay UE to the remote UE and is used for paging the remote UE]. Regarding claim 11, claim 11 is rejected at least based on a similar rationale applied to claim 5. Regarding claim 15, Lin in view of Abendini discloses, all the limitations except for “wherein the first SL DRX configuration is determined based on second information” for similar rationes set forth above in claim 1. Lin in view of Abendini does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized and bold limitations), wherein the first SL DRX configuration is determined based on second information. However, Kang discloses, wherein the first SL DRX configuration is determined based on second information [FIG. 10A; its related descriptions; ¶0053, the obtaining of the SL DRX configuration information may include receiving, from the BS, SL DRX configuration information generated based on the SL DRX assistance information; further see ¶0168, the SL DRX assistance information may include at least one or a combination of . . . traffic pattern information of the service of interest of the terminal (a period, a message size, a time offset, etc.); note that the BS (NW) generates SL DRX configuration information based on the SL DRX assistance information]. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the above-mentioned feature(s) as taught by Kang in the system of Lin in view of Abendini for similar rationales set forth in claim 8. Regarding claim 16, claim 16 is rejected at least based on a similar rationale applied to claim 9. Regarding claim 18, Lin in view of Kang discloses, the method according to claim 15 as set forth above. Lin discloses, wherein the first message is used for paging the remote device [FIG. 11; its related descriptions; ¶0303-0308, the paging information transmitted from the relay UE is used for paging the remote UE]. Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (EP 3499975 A1) in view of Abendini et al (US Publication No. 2022/0045746 A1) and further in view of Chae et al (US Publication No. 2021/0176720 A1). Regarding claim 7, Lin in view of Abendini discloses, the method according to claim 4 as set forth above. Lin in view of Abendini does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized limitations), but Chae discloses, wherein the second information further comprises a time interval between a system frame number and a direct frame number [¶0269, the UE may signal offset information between the SFN and the DFN by a physical layer signal or a higher layer signal (e.g., some field of a PSBCH)]. It is noted that the above-mentioned feature is a known technique in the field Applicant's endeavor, e.g., telecommunication art. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to combine the system of Lin in view of Abendini with "the above-mentioned known feature(s)" taught by Chae to reach the claimed invention as set forth above. Since one having ordinary skill in the art could have recognized that applying the known technique taught by Chae into the system of Lin in view of Abendini would have yield predictable results and/or resulted in the improved system, such as e.g., ensuring to help relay or sidelink devices accurately align transmission and reception timing for reliable communication in different communication domains, such a modification (or application) would have involved the mere application of a known technique to a piece of prior art ready for improvement," the claim is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). Ex Parte Smith, 83 USPQ.2d 1509, 1518-19 (BPAI, 2007) (citing KSR v. Teleflex, 127 S.Ct. 1727, 1740, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1396 (2007)). Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (EP 3499975 A1) in view of Abendini et al (US Publication No. 2022/0045746 A1) and further in view of Kang et al (US Publication No. 2023/0107246 A1) and further in view of Wu et al (US Publication No. 2023/0101557 A1)2. Regarding claim 13, Lin in view of Abendini and Kang discloses, the method according to claim 10 as set forth above. Although Lin discloses, wherein the first SL DRX configuration comprises information indicating a start moment of a first SL DRX on-duration timer [¶0010, a discontinuous reception period and an on-duration], Lin in view of Abendini and Kang does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized limitations), but Wu discloses, a difference between the start moment of the first SL DRX on-duration timer and a start moment of a paging occasion of the remote device is less than or equal to the first delay [¶0070, the starting time of the on-duration period may be right after the relay UE 104 monitors and decodes the paging occasion of the remote UE 106. In some embodiments, a small offset may be provided from the paging occasion to the start of the on-duration period to account for the relay operations of the relay UE 104; further see ¶0072] (see also e.g., ¶0069-0071 of US Provisional App. No. 63/248,427). It is noted that the above-mentioned feature is a known technique in the field Applicant's endeavor, e.g., telecommunication art. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to combine the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang with "the above-mentioned known feature(s)" taught by Wu to reach the claimed invention as set forth above. Since one having ordinary skill in the art could have recognized that applying the known technique taught by Wu into the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang would have yield predictable results and/or resulted in the improved system, such as e.g., enabling remote UE to reliably receive messages forwarded from relay UE, such a modification (or application) would have involved the mere application of a known technique to a piece of prior art ready for improvement," the claim is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). Ex Parte Smith, 83 USPQ.2d 1509, 1518-19 (BPAI, 2007) (citing KSR v. Teleflex, 127 S.Ct. 1727, 1740, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1396 (2007)). Claim 14 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (EP 3499975 A1) in view of Abendini et al (US Publication No. 2022/0045746 A1) and further in view of Kang et al (US Publication No. 2023/0107246 A1) and further in view of Chae et al (US Publication No. 2021/0176720 A1). Regarding claim 14, Lin in view of Abendini and Kang discloses, the method according to claim 10 as set forth above. Lin in view of Abendini and Kang does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized limitations), but Chae discloses, wherein the second information further comprises a time interval between a system frame number and a direct frame number [¶0269, the UE may signal offset information between the SFN and the DFN by a physical layer signal or a higher layer signal (e.g., some field of a PSBCH)]. It is noted that the above-mentioned feature is a known technique in the field Applicant's endeavor, e.g., telecommunication art. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to combine the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang with "the above-mentioned known feature(s)" taught by Chae to reach the claimed invention as set forth above. Since one having ordinary skill in the art could have recognized that applying the known technique taught by Chae into the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang would have yield predictable results and/or resulted in the improved system, such as e.g., such a modification (or application) would have involved the mere application of a known technique to a piece of prior art ready for improvement," the claim is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). Ex Parte Smith, 83 USPQ.2d 1509, 1518-19 (BPAI, 2007) (citing KSR v. Teleflex, 127 S.Ct. 1727, 1740, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1396 (2007)). Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (EP 3499975 A1) in view of Abendini et al (US Publication No. 2022/0045746 A1) and further in view of Kang et al (US Publication No. 2023/0107246 A1) and further in view of Cheng et al (US Publication No. 2023/0246701 A1). Regarding claim 17, Lin in view of Abendini and Kang discloses, the method according to claim 15 as set forth above. Lin in view of Abendini and Kang does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized limitations), but Cheng discloses, wherein the first paging parameter comprises cycle information [¶0154, the PO-related information may be the remote UE's 1104 PO, or the paging cycle and an identifier of the remote UE 1104]. It is noted that the above-mentioned feature is a known technique in the field Applicant's endeavor, e.g., telecommunication art. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to combine the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang with "the above-mentioned known feature(s)" taught by Cheng to reach the claimed invention as set forth above. Since one having ordinary skill in the art could have recognized that applying the known technique taught by Cheng into the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang would have yield predictable results and/or resulted in the improved system, such as e.g., enabling to inform devices of monitoring cycle used for sidelink or relay communication, such a modification (or application) would have involved the mere application of a known technique to a piece of prior art ready for improvement," the claim is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). Ex Parte Smith, 83 USPQ.2d 1509, 1518-19 (BPAI, 2007) (citing KSR v. Teleflex, 127 S.Ct. 1727, 1740, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1396 (2007)). Claims 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al (EP 3499975 A1) in view of Abendini et al (US Publication No. 2022/0045746 A1) and further in view of Kang et al (US Publication No. 2023/0107246 A1) and further in view of Wu et al (US Publication No. 2023/0101557 A1). Regarding claim 19, Lin in view of Abendini and Kang discloses, the method according to claim 15 as set forth above. Lin in view of Abendini and Kang does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized limitations), but Wu discloses, wherein the first SL DRX configuration further comprises a first SL DRX cycle, and the first SL DRX cycle is the same as a paging cycle of the remote device [¶0072, the DRX cycle of the paging SL-DRX configuration may be set equal to the RAN/core network paging cycle of the remote UE] (see also e.g., ¶0071 of US Provisional App. No. 63/248,427). It is noted that the above-mentioned feature is a known technique in the field Applicant's endeavor, e.g., telecommunication art. It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to combine the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang with "the above-mentioned known feature(s)" taught by Wu to reach the claimed invention as set forth above. Since one having ordinary skill in the art could have recognized that applying the known technique taught by Wu into the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang would have yield predictable results and/or resulted in the improved system, such as e.g., ensuring the relay transmission timing matches the remote device’s paging and DRX wake-up timing, such a modification (or application) would have involved the mere application of a known technique to a piece of prior art ready for improvement," the claim is unpatentable under 35 U.S.C. 103(a). Ex Parte Smith, 83 USPQ.2d 1509, 1518-19 (BPAI, 2007) (citing KSR v. Teleflex, 127 S.Ct. 1727, 1740, 82 USPQ2d 1385, 1396 (2007)). Regarding claim 20, Lin in view of Abendini and Kang discloses, the method according to claim 15 as set forth above. Lin in view of Abendini and Kang does not explicitly disclose (see, italicized limitations), but Wu discloses, wherein the first SL DRX configuration further comprises duration of a first SL DRX on-duration timer, and the duration of the first SL DRX on-duration timer is greater than or equal to duration of a paging occasion of the remote device [¶0072, The DRX cycle of the paging SL-DRX configuration may be set equal to the RAN/core network paging cycle of the remote UE. an on-duration period may correspond to each paging occasion to provide the relay UE 104 with the opportunity to forward a paging indication in the event an MT-paging message is received] (see also e.g., ¶0071 of US Provisional App. No. 63/248,427). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide the above-mentioned feature(s) as taught by Wu in the system of Lin in view of Abendini and Kang for similar rationales set forth in claim 19. Conclusion Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 SUN JONG KIM whose telephone number is (571)270-3216. The examiner can normally be reached on 7:30am-5:30pm (M-T). 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.f attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ian Moore can be reached on (571) 272-3085. 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 the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see https://ppair-my.uspto.gov/pair/PrivatePair. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000. /SUN JONG KIM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2469 1 Since Cheng is relying on PCT publication (WO 2022017195 A1) (see attached) to claim a priority date 07/09/2021, Cheng is qualified as a prior art under 102(a)(2) for the instant application with the effective filing date 10/15/2021. 2 Wu claims priority of US Provisional Application No. 63/248,427 filed on 09/24/2021, thus Wu is qualified as a prior art under 102(a)(2) for the instant application with the effective filing date 10/15/2021.
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Prosecution Timeline

Apr 11, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 27, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
May 13, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Jul 21, 2026
Response Filed
Aug 10, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
80%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+34.7%)
2y 8m (~2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
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