Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 18, 2026
Application No. 18/681,680

DRX COMMUNICATIONS METHOD, TERMINAL AND COMPUTER READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Feb 06, 2024
Priority
Aug 06, 2021 — CN 202110904394.3 +1 more
Examiner
MENSAH, PRINCE AKWASI
Art Unit
2474
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co., Ltd.
OA Round
2 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
2-3
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
410 granted / 528 resolved
+19.7% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+17.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 3m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
568
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.4%
-35.6% vs TC avg
§103
68.0%
+28.0% vs TC avg
§102
13.2%
-26.8% vs TC avg
§112
11.5%
-28.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 528 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 . Response to Arguments 1. Applicant’s arguments filed on 04/23/2026 regarding claims 1-3, 5-8, 10-12, 27-29, 31, 43-44 and 46-49 in the remarks are fully considered and thus persuasive. The rejections are therefore withdrawn; however, upon further consideration, examiner found a prior art (i.e., Kadiri (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0033440)) to address applicant’s claimed invention. Response to Amendments Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 2. 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. 3. Claim(s) 1, 27, 43, and 44 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kadiri (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0033440). As per claim 1: Kadiri teaches a discontinuous reception (DRX) communications method (see paragraph [0004], teaches a method for notifying one or more user equipments (UEs) in a connected mode discontinuous reception (C-DRX) cycle of upcoming multicast or broadcast transmissions), comprising: receiving, by a terminal, configuration information from a network device (see paragraph [0086], the base station 105 may configure a UE 115 with an MBS C-DRX configuration (construed as said configuration information)); determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, one or more target DRX-ON durations within a DRX cycle that are determined based on a plurality of wake-up signals (WUSs) (see paragraph [0097], UE 115 is configured with a C-DRX configuration, which includes C-DRX active durations 310 (construed as said target DRX-ON durations) and WUS monitoring occasions 305 (construed as said time instances corresponding to the wake up signals) corresponding to the C-DRX active durations 310. The UE 115 determines whether to wakeup in the C-DRX active durations 310-a and 310-b based on the received WUSs in monitoring occasions 305-a and 305-b respectively. Thus, based on the received C-DRX configuration and received WUS in the respective WUS monitoring occasions, the UE will be able to determine C-DRX active durations 310-a and 310-b. Note: As shown in figure 3, C-DRX active durations 310a and 310-b are within C-DRX cycle duration 325 and thus within a DRX cycle); and performing, by the terminal, WUS monitoring, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the one or more target DRX-ON durations based on a monitoring result (as explained earlier in paragraph [0097], the UE 115 determines whether to wakeup in the C-DRX active durations 310-a and 310-b based on the received WUSs in WUS monitoring occasions 305-a and 305-b respectively). As per claim 27: Kadiri teaches a discontinuous reception (DRX) communications method (see paragraph [0004], teaches a method for notifying one or more user equipments (UEs) in a connected mode discontinuous reception (C-DRX) cycle of upcoming multicast or broadcast transmissions), comprising: transmitting, by a network device, configuration information to a terminal (see paragraph [0086], the base station 105 may configure a UE 115 with an MBS C-DRX configuration (construed as said configuration information)), wherein the configuration information is used for the terminal to determine, based on the configuration information, one or more target DRX-ON durations within a DRX cycle that are determined based on a plurality of wake-up signals (WUSs) (see paragraph [0097], UE 115 is configured with a C-DRX configuration, which includes C-DRX active durations 310 (construed as said target DRX-ON durations) and WUS monitoring occasions 305 (construed as said time instances corresponding to the wake up signals) corresponding to the C-DRX active durations 310. The UE 115 determines whether to wakeup in the C-DRX active durations 310-a and 310-b based on the received WUSs in monitoring occasions 305-a and 305-b respectively. Thus, based on the received C-DRX configuration and received WUS in the respective WUS monitoring occasions, the UE will be able to determine C-DRX active durations 310-a and 310-b. Note: As shown in figure 3, C-DRX active durations 310a and 310-b are within C-DRX cycle duration 325 and thus within a DRX cycle). As per claim 43: Kadiri teaches a terminal (see Figure 11, paragraph [0181], device 1105 may be UE 115), comprising a memory (see Figure 11, memory 1130), a transceiver (see Figure 11, transceiver 1115) and a processor (see Figure 11, processor 1140), wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program (see Figure 11, memory 1130 comprise of a code 1135); the transceiver is configured to transmit and receive data under control of the processor (see paragraph [0183], transceiver 1115 may communicate bi-directionally via the one or more antennas 1125. Transceiver 1115 is also responsible for providing modulated packets to the one or more antennas for transmission and to demodulate packets received from the one or more antennas. Also, said processor 1140 may be configured to cause the device 1105 to perform various functions, please see paragraph [0185]); and the processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory to perform the following steps (see paragraph [0185], processor 1140 may execute instructions stored in memory 1130 to enable the device to perform various functions or tasks): receiving configuration information from a network device (see paragraph [0086], the base station 105 may configure a UE 115 with an MBS C-DRX configuration (construed as said configuration information)); determining, based on the configuration information, one or more target DRX-ON durations within a DRX cycle that are determined based on a plurality of wake-up signals (WUSs) (see paragraph [0097], UE 115 is configured with a C-DRX configuration, which includes C-DRX active durations 310 (construed as said target DRX-ON durations) and WUS monitoring occasions 305 (construed as said time instances corresponding to the wake up signals) corresponding to the C-DRX active durations 310. The UE 115 determines whether to wakeup in the C-DRX active durations 310-a and 310-b based on the received WUSs in monitoring occasions 305-a and 305-b respectively. Thus, based on the received C-DRX configuration and received WUS in the respective WUS monitoring occasions, the UE will be able to determine C-DRX active durations 310-a and 310-b. Note: As shown in figure 3, C-DRX active durations 310a and 310-b are within C-DRX cycle duration 325 and thus within a DRX cycle); and performing WUS monitoring, and waking up or not waking up the one or more target DRX-ON durations based on a monitoring result (as explained earlier in paragraph [0097], the UE 115 determines whether to wakeup in the C-DRX active durations 310-a and 310-b based on the received WUSs in WUS monitoring occasions 305-a and 305-b respectively). As per claim 44: Kadiri teaches a network device (see Figure 15, paragraph [0210], device 1505 may be base station 105), comprising a memory (see Figure 15. memory 1530), a transceiver (see Figure 15, transceiver 1515) and a processor (see Figure 15, processor 1540), wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program (see Figure 15, memory 1530 comprise code 1535); the transceiver is configured to transmit and receive data under control of the processor (see paragraph [0212], transceiver 1515 for performing bi-directional communication and for providing modulated packets to the antennas 1525. Paragraph [0213] disclose processor 1540 for causing the device 1505 to perform various functions described herein); and the processor is configured to read the computer program in the memory to perform the DRX communications method according to claim 27 (see paragraph [0213], processor 1540 for executing instructions stored in memory 1530 and for causing the device to perform various functions). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 4. 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. 5. Claim(s) 2, 3, 5, 6, 28, 29, 31 and 46-49 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kadiri in view of Lin (US PG Patent No. 12,028,868). As per claim 2: Kadiri teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 1 with the exception of: wherein the determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, the one or more target DRX-ON durations within the DRX cycle that are determined based on the plurality of WUSs comprises: determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, a plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or a plurality of WUS monitoring durations, and/or a plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations within one DRX cycle, wherein starting positions of the plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations are determined based on the plurality of WUS monitoring positions or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations. Lin teaches wherein the determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, the one or more target DRX-ON durations within the DRX cycle that are determined based on the plurality of WUSs comprises: determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, a plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or a plurality of WUS monitoring durations, and/or a plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations within one DRX cycle (see Col 35, lines 29-53, when the UE detects a DCI format with fields for power saving before DRX ON duration period, a first field of 1 bit can indicate whether or not the UE should wake up for next X>=1 DRX ON duration(s) or next X>=1 DRX cycles), wherein starting positions of the plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations are determined based on the plurality of WUS monitoring positions or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations (see Col 36, lines 11-19, when the UE wakes up or does not skip PDCCH monitoring for next X DRX ON duration, yet another field or a third field N2’ bits after the first or second field can indicate minimum K0/K2 for cross slot scheduling, wherein K0/K2 indicate the slot offset between DCI and its scheduled PDSCH/PUSCH). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the DCI format (as disclosed in Lin) into Kadiri as a way of providing an adaptation for at least a power saving purpose especially since the UE can decide whether or not to wake up on specific DRX ON duration(s) or cycles based on the indicted field (in the DCI format) (please see Col 35, lines 19-56 of Lin). As per claim 3: Kadiri in view of Lin teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 2. Kadiri does not teach wherein the configuration information comprises: relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations; and the determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations comprises: determining, by the terminal, the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations based on the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations; wherein the configuration information comprises: relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, and relevant information of candidate DRX-ON donations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations; and the determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, and the plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations within one DRX cycle comprises: determining, by the terminal, the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations based on the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations; and/or determining, by the terminal, the starting positions of the candidate DRX-ON durations based on the relevant information of the candidate DRX-ON durations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations. Lin teaches wherein the configuration information (See Col 35, lines 29-30, DCI format) comprises: relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 35, lines 34-36, the first field of 1 bit can indicate whether or not the UE wake up for next X>=1 DRX ON duration(s) or next X>=1 DRX cycles. The DCI format comprise said first field, please see Col 35, lines 33-36); and the determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations (as explained earlier in Col 35, lines 33-36, the DCI format comprise of first field of 1 bit for indicating whether or not the UE should wake up for next X>=1 DRX ON duration(s) or next X>=1 DRX cycles) comprises: determining, by the terminal, the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations based on the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 35, lines 55-67, rule1:, when the UE does not wake up or skips PDCCH monitoring for next X DRX ON duration, another field or a second field of one or more bit(s) after the first field can indicate whether the UE wakes up for a number of next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycler(s)); wherein the configuration information (see Col 35, lines 53-56, DCI format) comprises: relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, and relevant information of candidate DRX-ON donations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 35, lines 55-67, the UE is provided with another field or a second field of one or more bit(s) after the first field. The second field indicating whether the UE wakes up for a number of next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)); and the determining, by the terminal based on the configuration information, the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations (see Col 36, lines 55-64, when the DCI format is detected, the UE determines whether a first field indicates to wake up for the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)), and the plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations within one DRX cycle comprises: determining, by the terminal, the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations based on the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 36, lines 65-67, if the determination made in operation 2106 indicates that a UE should wake up for the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s), then flowchart 2100 proceeds to operation 2108. See Col 37, lines 9-15, when the first field indicates the UE not to wake up for the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycles(s), the UE determines whether or not to wake up for the next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)); and/or determining, by the terminal, the starting positions of the candidate DRX-ON durations based on the relevant information of the candidate DRX-ON durations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 37, lines 10-16, the UE determines whether or not to wake up for the next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the DCI format (as disclosed in Lin) into Kadiri as a way of providing an adaptation for at least a power saving purpose especially since the UE can decide whether or not to wake up on specific DRX ON duration(s) or cycles based on the indicted field (in the DCI format) (please see Col 35, lines 19-56 of Lin). As per claim 5: Kadiri in view of Li teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 3. Kadiri does not teach wherein the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations at least comprises one or more of the following: starting positions of one or more WUS monitoring positions; a duration of continuous monitoring. Lin teaches wherein the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations at least (see Col 35, lines 53-56, DCI format) comprises one or more of the following: starting positions of one or more WUS monitoring positions (see Col 35, lines 55-67, the second field indicates whether the UE may wake up for a number of next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)); a duration of continuous monitoring (see Col 35, lines 55-67, the UE may wake up for the ith set of Y consecutive DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the DCI format (as disclosed in Lin) into Kadiri as a way of providing an adaptation for at least a power saving purpose especially since the UE can decide whether or not to wake up on specific DRX ON duration(s) or cycles based on the indicted field (in the DCI format) (please see Col 35, lines 19-56 of Lin). As per claim 6: Kadiri in view of Lin teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 3. Kadiri does not teach wherein the relevant information of the candidate DRX-ON durations comprises at least one of the following: offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring positions; offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring durations; higher-layer signaling configuration. Lin teaches wherein the relevant information of the candidate DRX-ON durations comprises at least one of the following: offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring positions (see Col 36, lines 11-20, another field or third field of N2 bits can indicate minimum K0/K2 for cross slot scheduling, wherein K0/K2 indicate the slot offset between DCI and its scheduled PDSCH/PUSCH); offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 36, lines 11-20, another field or third field of N2 bits can indicate minimum K0/K2 for cross slot scheduling, wherein K0/K2 indicate the slot offset between DCI and its scheduled PDSCH/PUSCH); higher-layer signaling configuration (see Col 35, lines 17-18, DCI content for UE adaptation signaling). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the DCI format (as disclosed in Lin) into Kadiri as a way of providing an adaptation for at least a power saving purpose especially since the UE can decide whether or not to wake up on specific DRX ON duration(s) or cycles based on the indicted field (in the DCI format) (please see Col 35, lines 19-56 of Lin). As per claim 28: Kadiri teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 27 with the exception of: wherein the configuration information comprises: relevant information of WUS monitoring positions and/or WUS monitoring durations, and/or a plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations within one DRX cycle. Lin teaches wherein the configuration information comprises: relevant information of WUS monitoring positions and/or WUS monitoring durations, and/or a plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations within one DRX cycle (see Col 35, lines 34-36, the first field of 1 bit can indicate whether or not the UE wake up for next X>=1 DRX ON duration(s) or next X>=1 DRX cycles. The DCI format comprise said first field, please see Col 35, lines 33-36). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the DCI format (as disclosed in Lin) into Kadiri as a way of providing an adaptation for at least a power saving purpose especially since the UE can decide whether or not to wake up on specific DRX ON duration(s) or cycles based on the indicted field (in the DCI format) (please see Col 35, lines 19-56 of Lin). As per claim 29: Kadiri in view of Lin teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 28. Kadiri does not teach wherein the configuration information comprises: the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations; or, wherein the configuration information comprises: the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, and relevant information of candidate DRX-ON durations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations. Lin teaches wherein the configuration information comprises: the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 35, lines 34-36, the first field of 1 bit can indicate whether or not the UE wake up for next X>=1 DRX ON duration(s) or next X>=1 DRX cycles. The DCI format comprise said first field, please see Col 35, lines 33-36); or, wherein the configuration information comprises: the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 35, lines 55-67, rule1:, when the UE does not wake up or skips PDCCH monitoring for next X DRX ON duration, another field or a second field of one or more bit(s) after the first field can indicate whether the UE wakes up for a number of next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)), and relevant information of candidate DRX-ON durations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations (see Col 35, lines 55-67, the UE is provided with another field or a second field of one or more bit(s) after the first field. The second field indicating whether the UE wakes up for a number of next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the DCI format (as disclosed in Lin) into Kadiri as a way of providing an adaptation for at least a power saving purpose especially since the UE can decide whether or not to wake up on specific DRX ON duration(s) or cycles based on the indicted field (in the DCI format) (please see Col 35, lines 19-56 of Lin). As per claim 31: Kadiri in view of Lin teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 29. Kadiri does not teach wherein the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations at least comprises one or more of the following: starting positions of one or more WUS monitoring positions; a duration of continuous monitoring; or, wherein the relevant information of the candidate DRX-ON durations comprises at least one of the following: offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring positions; offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring durations; higher-layer signaling configuration; or, wherein, in case that the configuration information comprises: the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, and relevant information of candidate DRX-ON durations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, the configuration information further comprises a preset quantity; or, wherein the WUS is a physical layer signal based on a DCI, or the WUS is a physical layer signal based on a sequence. Lin teaches wherein the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations at least comprises one or more of the following: starting positions of one or more WUS monitoring positions (see Col 35, lines 55-67, the second field indicates whether the UE may wake up for a number of next N1*Y DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)); a duration of continuous monitoring (see Col 35, lines 55-67, the UE may wake up for the ith set of Y consecutive DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s) after the next X DRX ON duration(s)/cycle(s)); or, wherein the relevant information of the candidate DRX-ON durations comprises at least one of the following: offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring positions (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art); offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring durations (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art); higher-layer signaling configuration (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art); or, wherein, in case that the configuration information comprises: the relevant information of the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, and relevant information of candidate DRX-ON durations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, the configuration information further comprises a preset quantity (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art); or, wherein the WUS is a physical layer signal based on a DCI, or the WUS is a physical layer signal based on a sequence (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the DCI format (as disclosed in Lin) into Kadiri as a way of providing an adaptation for at least a power saving purpose especially since the UE can decide whether or not to wake up on specific DRX ON duration(s) or cycles based on the indicted field (in the DCI format) (please see Col 35, lines 19-56 of Lin). Claim 46 is rejected in the same scope as claim 2. Claim 47 is rejected in the same scope as claim 3. Claim 48 is rejected in the same scope as claim 5. As pe claim 49: Damnjanovic in view of Shi and further in view of Lin teaches the terminal according to claim 47. Damnjanovic and Shi do not teach wherein the relevant information of the candidate DRX-ON durations comprises at least one of the following: offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring positions; offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring durations; higher-layer signaling configuration. Lin teaches wherein the relevant information of the candidate DRX-ON durations comprises at least one of the following: offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring positions (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art(s) of record); offset values of starting positions of one or more candidate DRX-ON durations relative to the WUS monitoring durations (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art(s) of record); higher-layer signaling configuration (see Col 22, lines 61-67, PDCCH monitoring offset and PDCCH monitoring pattern within a slot configured by RRC signaling). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the DCI format (as disclosed in Lin) into both Damnjanovic and Shi as a way of providing an adaptation for at least a power saving purpose especially since the UE can decide whether or not to wake up on specific DRX ON duration(s) or cycles based on the indicted field (in the DCI format) (please see Col 35, lines 19-56 of Lin). 6. Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kadiri in view of Beale (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0023422). As per claim 7: Kadiri teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 1 with the exception of: wherein the performing, by the terminal, WUS monitoring, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the target DRX-ON durations based on the monitoring result comprises: performing, by the terminal, a plurality of WUS monitoring, determining, by the terminal, a detected target WUS according to a first rule, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, a candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the detected target WUS, wherein the first rule is used for the terminal to determine the target WUS during the plurality of WUS monitoring durations; or wherein the performing, by the terminal, WUS monitoring, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the target DRX-ON durations based on the monitoring result comprises: performing, by the terminal, a plurality of WUS monitoring, determining, by the terminal, a detected target WUS within one DRX cycle according to a second rule, determining, by the terminal, a starting position of a candidate DRX-ON duration associated with the detected target WUS, and determining, by the terminal, to wake up or not wake up the associated DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the detected target WUS, wherein the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations within one DRX cycle correspond to the starting positions of the plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations, and the second rule is used for the terminal to determine the target WUS during the DRX cycle. Beale teaches wherein the performing, by the terminal, WUS monitoring, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the target DRX-ON durations based on the monitoring result comprises: performing, by the terminal, a plurality of WUS monitoring, determining, by the terminal, a detected target WUS according to a first rule, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, a candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the detected target WUS, wherein the first rule is used for the terminal to determine the target WUS during the plurality of WUS monitoring durations (see paragraph [0077], if the UE determines that the number of valid search spaces is less than Nmon, the UE determines to validate one or more invalid search spaces according to a set of pre-defined rules, then the UE wakes up during a subsequent DRX_ON period. The UE monitors valid search spaces which overlap in time with the PS-PDCCH monitoring period for DCI format 2_6 containing WUS); or wherein the performing, by the terminal, WUS monitoring, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal (Note: The limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art(s) of record), the target DRX-ON durations based on the monitoring result comprises: performing, by the terminal, a plurality of WUS monitoring, determining, by the terminal, a detected target WUS within one DRX cycle according to a second rule, determining, by the terminal, a starting position of a candidate DRX-ON duration associated with the detected target WUS, and determining, by the terminal, to wake up or not wake up the associated DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the detected target WUS (Note: The limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art(s) of record), wherein the plurality of WUS monitoring positions and/or the plurality of WUS monitoring durations within one DRX cycle correspond to the starting positions of the plurality of candidate DRX-ON durations, and the second rule is used for the terminal to determine the target WUS during the DRX cycle (Note: The limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art(s) of record). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to incorporate the searching in one or more determined search spaces which overlap with the PS-PDCCH (as disclosed in Beale) into Kadiri as a way of reducing power consumption (please see paragraph [0073] of Beale). 7. Claims 8 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kadiri in view of Beale and further in view of Bala (US PG Pub. No. 2022/0303795). As per claim 8: Kadiri in view of Beale teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 7 with the exception of: wherein the performing, by the terminal, the plurality of WUS monitoring, determining, by the terminal, the detected target WUS according to the first rule, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the candidate DRX-ON duration based on the indication information of the detected target WUS comprises one or more of the following: for each WUS monitoring duration among the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, in a case where the terminal has detected a WUS, stopping, by the terminal, WUS monitoring on other monitoring occasions in the WUS monitoring duration, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the most recently detected WUS; in a case where the terminal performs WUS monitoring on each WUS monitoring occasion within each WUS monitoring duration among the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, and has detected a plurality of WUSs, waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of a WUS that is most recently detected; in a case where the terminal has detected a WUS within the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, stopping, by the terminal, WUS monitoring in other WUS monitoring durations of the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the WUS that has been detected. Bala teaches wherein the performing, by the terminal, the plurality of WUS monitoring, determining, by the terminal, the detected target WUS according to the first rule, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal (see paragraph [0096], the WTRU may decide whether or not to monitor the in the ON duration based on contents of the wake-up signal), the candidate DRX-ON duration based on the indication information of the detected target WUS comprises one or more of the following: for each WUS monitoring duration among the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, in a case where the terminal has detected a WUS, stopping, by the terminal, WUS monitoring on other monitoring occasions in the WUS monitoring duration, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the most recently detected WUS (see paragraph [0096], the WTRU may decide to skip the DRX ON duration and not monitor PDCCH in the skipped ON_duration, for example, if a wake-up signal is not detected or if a wake-up signal is detected but the contents of the wake-up signal indicate skipping the DRX ON duration. The WTRU may skip decoding WUS and monitor search spaces configured in ON-duration, for example, if a WUS is not detected M consecutive times); in a case where the terminal performs WUS monitoring on each WUS monitoring occasion within each WUS monitoring duration among the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, and has detected a plurality of WUSs, waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of a WUS that is most recently detected (see paragraph [0096], the WTRU may decide to skip the DRX ON duration and not monitor PDCCH in the skipped ON_duration, for example, if a wake-up signal is not detected or if a wake-up signal is detected but the contents of the wake-up signal indicate skipping the DRX ON duration. The WTRU may skip decoding WUS and monitor search spaces configured in ON-duration, for example, if a WUS is not detected M consecutive times); in a case where the terminal has detected a WUS within the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, stopping, by the terminal, WUS monitoring in other WUS monitoring durations of the plurality of WUS monitoring durations, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, the candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the WUS that has been detected (Note: limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art of record). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement specific timers upon receipt of the power saving signal or wake up signal (as disclosed in Bala) into Kadiri and Beale as a way of performing measurements in different active times (please see paragraph [0098] of Bala). As per claim 10: Kadiri in view of Beale teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 7 with the exception of: wherein the performing, by the terminal, the plurality of WUS monitoring, determining, by the terminal, the detected target WUS within one DRX cycle according to the second rule, determining, by the terminal, the starting position of the candidate DRX-ON duration associated with the detected target WUS, and determining, by the terminal, to wake up or not wake up the associated DRX-ON duration based on the indication information of the detected target WUS comprises one or more of the following: for each WUS monitoring duration in one DRX cycle, in a case where the terminal has detected a WUS, stopping, by the terminal, monitoring for other WUSs in the WUS monitoring duration, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, an associated candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the detected WUS; for each WUS monitoring duration in one DRX cycle, in a case where the terminal performs monitoring on all monitoring occasions within the WUS monitoring duration, and the terminal has detected a plurality of WUSs and indication information of the plurality of WUSs are different, waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, an associated candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of a WUS that is most recently detected. Bala teaches wherein the performing, by the terminal, the plurality of WUS monitoring, determining, by the terminal, the detected target WUS within one DRX cycle according to the second rule, determining, by the terminal, the starting position of the candidate DRX-ON duration associated with the detected target WUS (see paragraph [0096], the WTRU may decide whether or not to monitor the in the ON duration based on contents of the wake-up signal), and determining, by the terminal, to wake up or not wake up the associated DRX-ON duration based on the indication information of the detected target WUS comprises one or more of the following: for each WUS monitoring duration in one DRX cycle, in a case where the terminal has detected a WUS, stopping, by the terminal, monitoring for other WUSs in the WUS monitoring duration, and waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, an associated candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of the detected WUS (see paragraph [0096], the WTRU may decide to skip the DRX ON duration and not monitor PDCCH in the skipped ON_duration, for example, if a wake-up signal is not detected or if a wake-up signal is detected but the contents of the wake-up signal indicate skipping the DRX ON duration. The WTRU may skip decoding WUS and monitor search spaces configured in ON-duration, for example, if a WUS is not detected M consecutive times); for each WUS monitoring duration in one DRX cycle, in a case where the terminal performs monitoring on all monitoring occasions within the WUS monitoring duration, and the terminal has detected a plurality of WUSs and indication information of the plurality of WUSs are different, waking up or not waking up, by the terminal, an associated candidate DRX-ON duration based on indication information of a WUS that is most recently detected (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art(s) of record). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement specific timers upon receipt of the power saving signal or wake up signal (as disclosed in Bala) into Kadiri and Beale as a way of performing measurements in different active times (please see paragraph [0098] of Bala). 8. Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kadiri in view of Lin and further in view of Laselva (US PG Pub. No. 2024/0080772). As per claim 11: Kadiri in view of Lin teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 3 with the exception of: wherein, in case that the configuration information comprises: relevant information of the monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, and relevant information of candidate DRX-ON durations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, the configuration information further comprises a preset quantity, and the method further comprises: in a case where a quantity of the target DRX-ON durations waked up by the terminal reaches the preset quantity, stopping, by the terminal, WUS monitoring, and stopping, by the terminal, the waking up or not waking up of remaining candidate DRX-ON durations. Laselva teaches wherein, in case that the configuration information comprises: relevant information of the monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, and relevant information of candidate DRX-ON durations associated with the WUS monitoring positions and/or the WUS monitoring durations, the configuration information further comprises a preset quantity (see paragraph [0056], the network provides the UE with WUS configuration indicating whether the presence of the WUS indicates skipping of one or multiple consecutive DRX On-Durations), and the method further comprises: in a case where a quantity of the target DRX-ON durations waked up by the terminal reaches the preset quantity, stopping, by the terminal, WUS monitoring, and stopping, by the terminal, the waking up or not waking up of remaining candidate DRX-ON durations (see paragraph [0056], the information can indicate the UE is allowed to relax RLM, BFD, RR and/or the like measurements if it is configured that N consecutive DRX On-Durations can be skipped). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement the WUS configuration (as disclosed in Laselva) into Kadiri and Lin as a way of enabling the UE to determine whether no to perform specific measurements in the DRX On-Durations (please see paragraph [0056] of Laselva). 9. Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kadiri in view of Lin and further in view of Wei (US PG Pub. No. 2023/0171698). As per claim 12: Kadiri in view of Lin teaches the DRX communications method according to claim 2 with the exception of: wherein in a case where the WUS monitoring position or the WUS monitoring duration overlaps or does not overlap with a monitoring window of downlink control information (DCI) in a target format, the method comprises one or more of the following: monitoring, by the terminal, for the WUS; monitoring, by the terminal, for the DCI in the target format; monitoring, by the terminal, for both the WUS and the DCI in the target format; or wherein the WUS is physical layer signal based on a DCI, or the WUS is a physical layer signal based on a sequence. Wei teaches wherein in a case where the WUS monitoring position or the WUS monitoring duration overlaps or does not overlap with a monitoring window of downlink control information (DCI) in a target format (see paragraph [0083], the UE may continuously monitor a set of wakeup signal monitoring occasions associated with an MBMS session until the UE receives DCI (e.g., in the set of wakeup signal monitoring occasions or another set of wakeup signal monitoring occasions overlapping in time with the set of wakeup signal monitoring occasions) that indicates that the UE is to initiate an on duration timer for the next DRX cycle for the MBMS session), the method comprises one or more of the following: monitoring, by the terminal, for the WUS (see paragraph [0083], the UE may continuously monitor a set of wakeup signal monitoring occasions associated with an MBMS session); monitoring, by the terminal, for the DCI in the target format (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art of record); monitoring, by the terminal, for both the WUS and the DCI in the target format (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art of record); or wherein the WUS is physical layer signal based on a DCI, or the WUS is a physical layer signal based on a sequence (Note: Limitation(s) is/are recited in alternate form and thus not addressed by the prior art of record). Thus, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the application to implement monitoring of wakeup signals in overlapping monitoring occasions (as disclosed Wei) into Kadiri and Lin as a way of providing the UE with the opportunity of whether or not to initiate an on-duration timer for a subsequent DRX cycle (please see paragraph [0077] of Wei). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PRINCE AKWASI MENSAH whose telephone number is (571)270-7183. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:00pm. 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, MICHAEL THIER can be reached at 571-272-2832. 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. PRINCE AKWASI. MENSAH Examiner Art Unit 2474 /PRINCE A MENSAH/Examiner, Art Unit 2474 /Michael Thier/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2474
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Prosecution Timeline

Feb 06, 2024
Application Filed
Jan 28, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103
Apr 23, 2026
Response Filed
Jul 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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