Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/681,142

DEVICE REACHABILITY IN A NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORK

Final Rejection §103
Filed
Feb 05, 2024
Priority
Aug 05, 2021 — provisional 63/229,878 +1 more
Examiner
GHAFOERKHAN, FAIYAZKHAN
Art Unit
2476
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
OA Round
2 (Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
498 granted / 572 resolved
+29.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +8% lift
Without
With
+8.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
16 currently pending
Career history
587
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.8%
-39.2% vs TC avg
§103
68.1%
+28.1% vs TC avg
§102
19.4%
-20.6% vs TC avg
§112
6.8%
-33.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 572 resolved cases

Office Action

§103
DETAILED ACTION Claims 8-10 and 18-30 are cancelled. Claims 1-2, 4-6, 11-12, 14-16, 31-32, 34-36, and 38-40 have been amended. Claims 1-7, 11-17, and 31-40 have been examined. 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 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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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 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 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. 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. Claim(s) 1-7, 11-17, and 31-40 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US 20240023011 A1 to Niu et al. (hereinafter “Niu”) and US 20200351822 A1 to Roy et al. (hereinafter “Roy”). As per claim 1, Niu discloses a method performed by a wireless device (Niu Abstract), the method comprising: adapting monitoring of a downlink control channel based on a gap in network coverage overlapping a paging occasion configured for the wireless device, wherein adapting monitoring of the downlink control channel comprises monitoring the downlink control channel during an additional replacement paging occasion (Niu [0062,0065,0127-0128] [0131] When the UE determines that the eDRX paging time window (PTW) or the PSM activation time of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may negotiate eDRX/PSM parameters with the core network. The UE may send a message, such as an attach request message, a TAU request message, etc., to the core network. The message may include a NAS message. The message may carry at least one of: [0132] a desired extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) parameter; [0133] a desired shift time of a Paging Time Window in an eDRX cycle; [0134] a desired Power Saving Mode (PSM) parameter; [0135] a desired shift time of an activation time of a PSM; [0136] a coverage hole information; [0137] an eDRX deactivation indication; [0138] a PSM deactivation indication; [0139] a periodicity of the coverage hole; [0140] a start time of a next coverage hole; or a ratio between a duration of the coverage hole in a predetermined total duration and the predetermined total duration.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the channel to monitor is a downlink control channel (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0039]) and monitoring additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 2, Niu and Roy discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the method comprises monitoring the downlink control channel both during the paging occasion configured for the wireless device and during the additional replacement paging occasion (Niu [0127] When the UE is in an idle or an inactive state, the UE camps on a cell, obtains the paging occasion configuration of the cell, and determines the paging occasion (PO) according to its UE ID. In each Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle, the UE monitors the paging message at its own paging occasion. On the core network side, if there is a paging message for the UE, the core network sends the paging message in the tracking area where the UE is located. On the base station side, if the paging message of the UE arrives, the base station sends the paging message of the UE at the paging occasion associated with the UE. [0128] In the coverage hole scenario, the UE may be in a coverage hole (or, in a silent/mute state, or an access barring state), and is not able to receive data. If the core network or base station does not know the status of the UE, when a paging message arrives, the core network or base station still attempts to page the UE, but no response from the UE may be received, resulting in a call failure. Or, in a coverage hole scenario, the UE may be in a mute state, or the UE may be barred from accessing the network, so the UE is not able to receive data. When the UE leaves the coverage hole, the UE may need to wait until the next DRX cycle or the next extended DRX (eDRX) cycle to receive the paging message, which may lead to a delay to the paging message reception. Additionally, the UE may support a Power Saving Mode (PSM) function. When the UE wakes up in the PSM mode, the UE initiates a Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure to perform cell search. However, the UE may wake up when the UE is in a coverage hole or when the UE is barred from accessing the network, the cell search fails and wastes the UE's energy. As such, it may be beneficial for the UE to take some proactive actions when there is a coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses monitoring paging occasions and additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 3, Niu and Roy discloses the method of claim 1, wherein, based on the gap in the network coverage overlapping the paging occasion configured for the wireless device, the method further comprises abstaining from monitoring the paging occasion configured for the wireless device (Niu [0062,0065]). As per claim 4, Niu and Roy discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the additional replacement paging occasion includes a paging occasion prior to the gap in network coverage (Niu [0145] When the UE determines that the PTW in the eDRX of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the start time of the PTW. For example, the start time of the PTW obtained by the UE according to the UE ID is T, and after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the PTW no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 5, Niu and Roy disclose the method of claim 1, wherein the additional replacement paging occasion includes a paging occasion after the gap in network coverage (Niu [0145] When the UE determines that the PTW in the eDRX of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the start time of the PTW. For example, the start time of the PTW obtained by the UE according to the UE ID is T, and after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the PTW no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 6, Niu and Roy discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the paging occasion configured for the wireless device is based on an active portion of a discontinuous reception cycle (Niu [0127-0140]) or a power saving mode cycle (Niu [0147] When the UE determines that the wake-up time of the PSM of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the wake-up time of the PSM. For example, the start time of the wake-up time of the UE's PSM is T, after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the wake-up time of the UE's PSM no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.), and wherein the additional replacement paging occasion occurs outside of the active portion of the discontinuous reception cycle or the power saving mode cycle (Niu [0127-0140,0145,0147]). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 7, Niu and Roy discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that the gap in network coverage overlaps the paging occasion configured for the wireless device (Niu [0127-0140,0145,0147]); and sending, to a network node, information indicating that the gap in network coverage overlaps the paging occasion configured for the wireless device (Niu [0127-0140,0145,0147]). As per claim 11, Niu discloses a wireless device comprising processing circuitry (Niu Abstract and [0005]) operable to: adapt monitoring of a downlink control channel based on a gap in network coverage overlapping a paging occasion configured for the wireless device, wherein adapting monitoring of the downlink control channel comprises monitoring the downlink control channel during an additional replacement paging occasion (Niu [0062,0065,0127-0128] [0131] When the UE determines that the eDRX paging time window (PTW) or the PSM activation time of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may negotiate eDRX/PSM parameters with the core network. The UE may send a message, such as an attach request message, a TAU request message, etc., to the core network. The message may include a NAS message. The message may carry at least one of: [0132] a desired extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) parameter; [0133] a desired shift time of a Paging Time Window in an eDRX cycle; [0134] a desired Power Saving Mode (PSM) parameter; [0135] a desired shift time of an activation time of a PSM; [0136] a coverage hole information; [0137] an eDRX deactivation indication; [0138] a PSM deactivation indication; [0139] a periodicity of the coverage hole; [0140] a start time of a next coverage hole; or a ratio between a duration of the coverage hole in a predetermined total duration and the predetermined total duration.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the channel to monitor is a downlink control channel (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0039]) and monitoring additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 12, Niu and Roy disclose the wireless device of claim 11, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to monitor the downlink control channel both during the paging occasion configured for the wireless device and during the additional replacement paging occasion (Niu [0127] When the UE is in an idle or an inactive state, the UE camps on a cell, obtains the paging occasion configuration of the cell, and determines the paging occasion (PO) according to its UE ID. In each Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle, the UE monitors the paging message at its own paging occasion. On the core network side, if there is a paging message for the UE, the core network sends the paging message in the tracking area where the UE is located. On the base station side, if the paging message of the UE arrives, the base station sends the paging message of the UE at the paging occasion associated with the UE. [0128] In the coverage hole scenario, the UE may be in a coverage hole (or, in a silent/mute state, or an access barring state), and is not able to receive data. If the core network or base station does not know the status of the UE, when a paging message arrives, the core network or base station still attempts to page the UE, but no response from the UE may be received, resulting in a call failure. Or, in a coverage hole scenario, the UE may be in a mute state, or the UE may be barred from accessing the network, so the UE is not able to receive data. When the UE leaves the coverage hole, the UE may need to wait until the next DRX cycle or the next extended DRX (eDRX) cycle to receive the paging message, which may lead to a delay to the paging message reception. Additionally, the UE may support a Power Saving Mode (PSM) function. When the UE wakes up in the PSM mode, the UE initiates a Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure to perform cell search. However, the UE may wake up when the UE is in a coverage hole or when the UE is barred from accessing the network, the cell search fails and wastes the UE's energy. As such, it may be beneficial for the UE to take some proactive actions when there is a coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 13, Niu and Roy disclose the wireless device of claim 11, wherein, based on the gap in the network coverage overlapping the paging occasion configured for the wireless device, the processing circuitry is operable to abstain from monitoring the paging occasion configured for the wireless device (Niu [0062,0065]). As per claim 14, Niu and Roy disclose the wireless device of claim 11, wherein the additional replacement paging occasion includes a paging occasion prior to the gap in network coverage (Niu [0145] When the UE determines that the PTW in the eDRX of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the start time of the PTW. For example, the start time of the PTW obtained by the UE according to the UE ID is T, and after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the PTW no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 15, Niu and Roy disclose the wireless device of claim 11, wherein the additional replacement paging occasion includes a paging occasion after the gap in network coverage (Niu [0145] When the UE determines that the PTW in the eDRX of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the start time of the PTW. For example, the start time of the PTW obtained by the UE according to the UE ID is T, and after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the PTW no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 16, Niu and Roy disclose the wireless device of claim 11, wherein the paging occasion configured for the wireless device is based on an active portion of a discontinuous reception cycle (Niu [0127-0140]) or a power saving mode cycle (Niu [0147] When the UE determines that the wake-up time of the PSM of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the wake-up time of the PSM. For example, the start time of the wake-up time of the UE's PSM is T, after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the wake-up time of the UE's PSM no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.), and wherein the additional replacement paging occasion occurs outside of the active portion of the discontinuous reception cycle or the power saving mode cycle (Niu [0127-0140,0145,0147]). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 17, Niu and Roy disclose the wireless device of claim 11, the processing circuitry further operable to: determine that the gap in network coverage overlaps the paging occasion configured for the wireless device (Niu [0127-0140,0145,0147]); and send, to a network node, information indicating that the gap in network coverage overlaps the paging occasion configured for the wireless device (Niu [0127-0140,0145,0147]). As per claim 31, Niu disclose a network node comprising processing circuitry (Niu Fig. 1) operable to: adapt when to page a wireless device via a downlink control channel based on a gap in network coverage of the wireless device overlapping a paging occasion configured for the wireless device, wherein adapting when to page the wireless device comprises paging the wireless device during an additional replacement paging occasion (Niu [0062,0065,0127-0128] [0131] When the UE determines that the eDRX paging time window (PTW) or the PSM activation time of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may negotiate eDRX/PSM parameters with the core network. The UE may send a message, such as an attach request message, a TAU request message, etc., to the core network. The message may include a NAS message. The message may carry at least one of: [0132] a desired extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) parameter; [0133] a desired shift time of a Paging Time Window in an eDRX cycle; [0134] a desired Power Saving Mode (PSM) parameter; [0135] a desired shift time of an activation time of a PSM; [0136] a coverage hole information; [0137] an eDRX deactivation indication; [0138] a PSM deactivation indication; [0139] a periodicity of the coverage hole; [0140] a start time of a next coverage hole; or a ratio between a duration of the coverage hole in a predetermined total duration and the predetermined total duration.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the channel to monitor is a downlink control channel (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0039]) and monitoring additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 32, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 31, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to page the wireless device both during the paging occasion configured for the wireless device and during the additional replacement paging occasion (Niu [0127] When the UE is in an idle or an inactive state, the UE camps on a cell, obtains the paging occasion configuration of the cell, and determines the paging occasion (PO) according to its UE ID. In each Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle, the UE monitors the paging message at its own paging occasion. On the core network side, if there is a paging message for the UE, the core network sends the paging message in the tracking area where the UE is located. On the base station side, if the paging message of the UE arrives, the base station sends the paging message of the UE at the paging occasion associated with the UE. [0128] In the coverage hole scenario, the UE may be in a coverage hole (or, in a silent/mute state, or an access barring state), and is not able to receive data. If the core network or base station does not know the status of the UE, when a paging message arrives, the core network or base station still attempts to page the UE, but no response from the UE may be received, resulting in a call failure. Or, in a coverage hole scenario, the UE may be in a mute state, or the UE may be barred from accessing the network, so the UE is not able to receive data. When the UE leaves the coverage hole, the UE may need to wait until the next DRX cycle or the next extended DRX (eDRX) cycle to receive the paging message, which may lead to a delay to the paging message reception. Additionally, the UE may support a Power Saving Mode (PSM) function. When the UE wakes up in the PSM mode, the UE initiates a Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure to perform cell search. However, the UE may wake up when the UE is in a coverage hole or when the UE is barred from accessing the network, the cell search fails and wastes the UE's energy. As such, it may be beneficial for the UE to take some proactive actions when there is a coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 33, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 31, wherein, based on the gap in the network coverage overlapping the paging occasion configured for the wireless device, the processing circuitry is operable to abstain from paging the wireless device during the paging occasion configured for the wireless device (Niu [0062,0065]). As per claim 34, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 31, wherein the additional replacement paging occasion includes a paging occasion prior to the gap in network coverage (Niu [0145] When the UE determines that the PTW in the eDRX of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the start time of the PTW. For example, the start time of the PTW obtained by the UE according to the UE ID is T, and after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the PTW no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 35, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 31, wherein the additional replacement paging occasion includes a paging occasion after the gap in network coverage (Niu [0145] When the UE determines that the PTW in the eDRX of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the start time of the PTW. For example, the start time of the PTW obtained by the UE according to the UE ID is T, and after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the PTW no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 36, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 31, wherein the paging occasion configured for the wireless device is based on an active portion of a discontinuous reception cycle (Niu [0127-0140]) or a power saving mode cycle (Niu [0147] When the UE determines that the wake-up time of the PSM of the UE conflicts with the coverage hole, the UE may shift forward/backward the wake-up time of the PSM. For example, the start time of the wake-up time of the UE's PSM is T, after shifting forward, it becomes T+t; or after shifting backward, it becomes T-t, where t is the offset. The offset may be determined by the coverage loophole information. After the shift, the wake-up time of the UE's PSM no longer conflicts with the coverage hole.), and wherein the additional replacement paging occasion occurs outside of the active portion of the discontinuous reception cycle or the power saving mode cycle (Niu [0127-0140,0145,0147]). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 37, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 31, the processing circuitry further operable to: receive, from the wireless device, information indicating that the gap in network coverage overlaps the paging occasion configured for the wireless device (Niu [0127-0140]); and wherein the processing circuitry is operable to adapt when to page the wireless device based at least in part on receiving the information (Niu [0127-0140]). As per claim 38, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 31, the processing circuitry further operable to determine information to enable the wireless device to determine a configuration of the additional replacement paging occasion (Niu [0127-0140]). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 39, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 38, wherein the configuration of the additional replacement paging occasion indicates when the additional replacement paging occasion occurs (Niu [0127-0140]). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). As per claim 40, Niu and Roy disclose the network node of claim 38, the processing circuitry further operable to send, to the wireless device, the information that enables the wireless device to determine the configuration of the additional replacement paging occasion (Niu [0127-0140]). Niu may not explicitly disclose, but Roy, which is in the same field of endeavor, discloses where the paging occasions is an additional backup paging occasions (Roy Fig. 4, 5, 6 and [0008,0025,0029-0030,0039]). The purpose of Roy is to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Roy with Niu, to improve paging process by including additional backup paging opportunities (Roy [0008]). Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments with respect to claims 1-2, 4-6, 11-12, 14-16, 31-32, 34-36, and 38-40 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground(s) of rejection. 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 FAIYAZKHAN GHAFOERKHAN whose telephone number is (571)270-7161. The examiner can normally be reached Flex. 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, Ayaz R Sheikh can be reached at (571) 272-3795. 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. FAIYAZKHAN GHAFOERKHAN Primary Examiner Art Unit 2476 /FAIYAZKHAN GHAFOERKHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476
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Prosecution Timeline

Feb 05, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 29, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103
Apr 27, 2026
Response Filed
Jun 15, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §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

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+8.4%)
2y 8m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 572 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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