Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/672,496

GROUP-BASED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
May 23, 2024
Priority
Feb 03, 2021 — continuation of 12/052,603
Examiner
LU, XUAN
Art Unit
2473
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
10m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
173 granted / 207 resolved
+25.6% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.9%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
227
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
95.3%
+55.3% vs TC avg
§102
3.6%
-36.4% vs TC avg
§112
0.5%
-39.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 207 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §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 § 102 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 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 – (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 2-7, 9-15 and 17-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a2) as being anticipated by Chen et al (US 20230379745 A1, PCT Cont. Jan 29, 2021). Regarding claim 2 (New), Chen’745 discloses a first device for wireless communication (see, Fig. 1 and 16, access network device in 5G radio network, par 0086-0087, 0251), comprising: one or more memories storing processor-executable code (see, Fig. 16, memory storing computer program or instructions, par 0245); and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and operable to execute the code to cause the first device to (see, Fig. 16, processor executes computer program stored in the memory to perform the method, par 0245): receive, via a control path (control plane path from core network element (session management network element) to access network device can be equated to control path, par 0023, 0162), an indication of one or more quality of service parameters (first information in QoS configuration profile can be equated to indication of one or more quality of service parameters, par 0180) associated with a plurality of data bit groups (see, Fig. 12 step S1210, access network device receives first information in QoS configuration profile from session management network element, par 0023, 0162. Noted, session control network element configures access network device with QoS configuration profile, par 0180, 0182), the one or more quality of service parameters (first information in QoS profile, table 1, par 0181) comprising policy information (PDR (packet detection rule) in first information can be equated to policy information, 0035) that indicates whether the plurality of data bit groups (data unit including N data packets can be equated to plurality of data bit groups, and data packet can be equated to data bit group, par 0171) are processed based at least in part on a quantity of successfully received bits of the plurality of data bit groups (see, first information in PDR (packet detection rule) indicates transmission integrity requirement of data unit detected and used to identify N data packets detected belonging to the data unit in QoS flow, to indicate whether data in the QoS flow need to be grouped, table 1, par 0035, 0181. Noted, First identifiers of N data packets belonging to the data unit are detected based on the PDR and used to identify size of data unit including N data packets can be equated to a quantity of successfully received bits of the plurality of data bit groups, par 0035, 0171); and communicate, with one or more second devices (Fig. 12, terminal can be equated to second device, par 0168) during a protocol data unit session (PDU session can be equated to protocol data unit session, par 0168), data associated with one or more bit group protocol data units (N data packets in PDU session can be equated to one or more bit group protocol data units, par 0168) in accordance with the one or more quality of service parameters (first information in QoS configuration profile for integrity requirement of the transmission service can be equated to one or more quality of service parameters, par 0177, 0180) based at least in part on receiving the indication (see, Fig. 12, access network device receives and identifies N data packets in PDU session and communicates with terminal by DRX accordingly based on integrity requirement received in first information of QoS profile, par 0161, 0168-0169, 0177). Regarding claim 3 (New), Chen’745 discloses the first device of claim 2 (see, Fig. 1 and 16, access network device in 5G radio network, par 0086-0087, 0251), wherein the one or more quality of service parameters (initial service cycle and first information in QoS configuration profile can be equated to one or more quality of service parameters, par 0180) comprises an error rate associated with the plurality of data bit groups, a delay budget associated with the plurality of data bit groups, timing information associated with the plurality of data bit groups (see, initial service cycle is a cycle in which an application network element generates a data unit in a transmission process of service data, par 0008), second policy information associated with the plurality of data bit groups, or any combination thereof (note, the examiner picks an option to reject). Regarding claim 4 (New), Chen’745 discloses the first device of claim 3 (see, Fig. 1 and 16, access network device in 5G radio network, par 0086-0087, 0251), wherein the second policy information (MFBR in QoS profile can be equated to second policy information, table 1, par 0181) comprises one or more of: a first indication indicating that the plurality of data bit groups are processed based at least in part on receiving all data bits of the plurality of data bit groups (see, MFBR (Maximum flow bit rate) in QoS profile available only to the GBR QoS flow for both uplink and downlink and it’s defined (as all quantities of data bits receives in time period) for whole flow (with N data packets), table 1, par 0170, 0181), a second indication indicating that the plurality of data bit groups are processed up to a first bit in error of the plurality of data bit groups, or a third indication indicating that the plurality of data bit groups are processed based at least in part on a target quantity of data bits of the plurality of data bit groups (Note, the examiner picks an option to reject). Regarding claim 5 (New), Chen’745 discloses the first device of claim 2 (see, Fig. 1 and 16, access network device in 5G radio network, par 0086-0087, 0251), wherein the control path comprises an assured forwarding (AF) entity, a policy control function (PCF) entity, a session management function (SMF) entity, and an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity (note, Fig. 1, control plane in 5G core network including paths among AF, PCF, SMF and AMF, par 0086, 0097-0099). Regarding claim 6 (New), Chen’745 discloses the first device of claim 5 (see, Fig. 1 and 16, access network device in 5G radio network, par 0086-0087, 0251), wherein, to receive the one or more quality of service parameters via the control path (see, Fig. 12 step S1210, access network device receives first information in QoS configuration profile from session management network element, par 0023, 0162. Noted, session control network element configures access network device with QoS configuration profile, par 0180, 0182), the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the first device to (see, Fig. 16, processor executes computer program stored in the memory to perform the method, par 0245): receive the indication of the one or more quality of service parameters from the SMF entity (see, Fig. 12 step S1210, access network device receives first information in QoS configuration profile from core network element (session management network element), par 0023, 0162). Regarding claim 7 (New), Chen’745 discloses the first device of claim 2 (see, Fig. 1 and 16, access network device in 5G radio network, par 0086-0087, 0251), wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the first device to (see, Fig. 16, processor executes computer program stored in the memory to perform the method, par 0245): receive, in a header (header information, par 0168) associated with the plurality of data bit groups (first identifier in header information used to identify the data unit with N data packets, par 0166, 0168), protocol layer information (first identifier in header information of general packet radio system tunneling protocol GTP can be equated to protocol layer information, par 0035) associated with transporting the plurality of data bit groups (see, Fig. 12, access network device receives first identifier in header information of general packet radio system tunneling protocol GTP to identify the data unit with N data packets, par 0035, 0166, 0168). Regarding claim 9 (New), Chen’745 discloses the first device of claim 2 (see, Fig. 1 and 16, access network device in 5G radio network, par 0086-0087, 0251), wherein the first device comprises a radio access network (RAN) entity and the one or more second devices comprise one or more user equipment (UEs) (see, Fig. 12, access network device communicates with terminal , par 0166, 0168). Regarding claim 10 (New), Claim 10 recites a method of wireless communication at a first device in a wireless communication system performing the steps recited in claim 2 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 2. Regarding claim 11 (New), Claim 11 recites a method of wireless communication at a first device in a wireless communication system performing the steps recited in claim 3 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 3. Regarding claim 12 (New), Claim 12 recites a method of wireless communication at a first device in a wireless communication system performing the steps recited in claim 4 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 4. Regarding claim 13 (New), Claim 13 recites a method of wireless communication at a first device in a wireless communication system performing the steps recited in claim 5 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 5. Regarding claim 14 (New), Claim 14 recites a method of wireless communication at a first device in a wireless communication system performing the steps recited in claim 6 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 6. Regarding claim 15 (New), Claim 15 recites a method of wireless communication at a first device in a wireless communication system performing the steps recited in claim 7 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 7. Regarding claim 17 (New), Claim 17 recites a method of wireless communication at a first device in a wireless communication system performing the steps recited in claim 9 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 9. Regarding claim 18 (New), Claim 18 recites a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication performing the steps recited in claim 2 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 2. Regarding claim 19 (New), Claim 19 recites a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication performing the steps recited in claim 3 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 3. Regarding claim 20 (New), Claim 20 recites a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication performing the steps recited in claim 4 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 4. Regarding claim 21 (New), Claim 21 recites a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication performing the steps recited in claim 5 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 5. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 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 col. 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. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. 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 8 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen’745 in view of Wang et al (US20230019215A1, Priority Date: Jan 7, 2021). Regarding claim 8 (New), Chen’745 discloses the first device of claim 7 (see, Fig. 1 and 16, access network device in 5G radio network, par 0086-0087, 0251). Chen’745 discloses all the claim limitations but fails to explicitly teach: wherein the header includes an indication of a priority of the data associated with the one or more bit group protocol data units. However Wang’215 from the same field of endeavor (see, Fig. 4, wireless 5G communication system with core NFs, par 0112) discloses: wherein the header includes an indication of a priority of the data associated with the one or more bit group protocol data units (see, ethernet frame header field PCP contains priority information of TSN traffic with QoS flows with multiple PDU sessions, par 0217, 0259). In view of the above, it would have been obvious before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains to implement the first device as taught by Wang’215 into that of Chen’745. The motivation would have been to improve performance when supporting Time Sensitive Communication (TSC) to 5G QoS mapping and associated QoS binding (par 0020). Regarding claim 16 (New), Claim 16 recites a method of wireless communication at a first device in a wireless communication system performing the steps recited in claim 8 and thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respect to claim 8. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Dao et al (US 20190394279 A1) discloses: a QoS profile provided by an SMF 92 to the AN 84 via the AMF 90 (par 0015). This applies to claim 1: first device receives, via a control path, an indication of one or more quality of service parameters. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to XUAN LU whose telephone number is (571)272-2844. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday 7:30am-5:30pm. 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, KWANG Yao can be reached on (571)272-3182. 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. /XUAN LU/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2473
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 23, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 23, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
May 07, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+11.9%)
3y 0m (~10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 207 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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