Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 24, 2026
Application No. 18/712,077

TERMINAL, RADIO COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND BASE STATION

Final Rejection §102
Filed
May 21, 2024
Priority
Nov 26, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2021043415
Examiner
LYTLE JR., BRADLEY D
Art Unit
2473
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
45 granted / 56 resolved
+22.4% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+20.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
30 currently pending
Career history
101
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.4%
-38.6% vs TC avg
§103
68.7%
+28.7% vs TC avg
§102
25.4%
-14.6% vs TC avg
§112
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 56 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 Amendment The amendment filed 08/07/2026 has been entered. Claims 10 and 12-14 are amended. Claim 11 is canceled. Response to Arguments Applicant's arguments filed 08/07/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. The Examiner disagrees with the presented arguments that prior art of record Jiang et al. (US 2021/0367655), hereinafter Jiang, does not teach (i) a “field” of SRS resource sets. (ii) transmitting capability information indicating support of multi-panel simultaneous transmission’ or controlling the mutli-panel simultaneous transmission using the two SRS resource sets and (iii) one SRS resource set is indicated by the field for controlling a single-panel transmission using the one SRS resource set. Jiang teaches the following: (i) two SRS resource sets are indicated by the field: “if the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to two SRS resources, for example, SRI=2, then two-panel transmission is performed” (Jiang ¶ 0102) which shows Jiang considers a field in the DCI, the SRI field, which indicates to use two SRS resources; this involves the following: “when the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to two or more SRS resources, the second set of CSRs is used” (Jiang ¶ 0102) which corresponds to the fig. 9B of the applicant’s specification showing the two panels for which an SRS resource is configured, thus two SRS resource sets are used, (ii) this claimed feature is taught for the same reason as stated for the first argument presented, and (iii): “If the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to one SRS resource, for example, SRI=0 or SRI=1, then single-panel transmission is performed. In this case, the function of the CSR is to restrict some indicators about precoding information and number of layers” (Jiang ¶ 0102). 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 (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 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 10-14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Jiang et al. (US 2021/0367655), hereinafter Jiang. Regarding Claim 10, Jiang teaches: A terminal comprising: a receiver that receives downlink control information (DCI) that includes a field indicating one or two sounding reference signal (SRS) resource sets: “To support dynamic switch between multi-panel transmission and single-panel transmission, the base station may indicate one SRS resource or multiple SRS resources, such as two, by using an SRI in the DCI. One SRS resource corresponds to single-panel transmission, multiple SRS resources correspond to a multi-panel transmission, and each resource is configured with two ports” (Jiang ¶ 0101); and a processor that, when transmitting capability information indicating support of multi-panel simultaneous transmission and when two SRS resource sets are indicated by the field, controls to perform the multi-panel simultaneous transmission using the two SRS resource sets: “if the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to two SRS resources, for example, SRI=2, then two-panel transmission is performed” (Jiang ¶ 0102), and when transmitting the capability information and when one SRS resource set is indicated by the field, controls to perform a single-panel transmission using the one SRS resource set: “If the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to one SRS resource, for example, SRI=0 or SRI=1, then single-panel transmission is performed. In this case, the function of the CSR is to restrict some indicators about precoding information and number of layers” (Jiang ¶ 0102). Regarding Claim 12, Jiang teaches: A radio communication method for a terminal, comprising: receiving downlink control information (DCI) that includes a field indicating one or two sounding reference signal (SRS) resource sets: “To support dynamic switch between multi-panel transmission and single-panel transmission, the base station may indicate one SRS resource or multiple SRS resources, such as two, by using an SRI in the DCI. One SRS resource corresponds to single-panel transmission, multiple SRS resources correspond to a multi-panel transmission, and each resource is configured with two ports” (Jiang ¶ 0101); and when transmitting capability information indicating support of multi-panel simultaneous transmission and when two SRS resource sets are indicated by the field, performs the multi-panel simultaneous transmission using the two SRS resource sets: “if the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to two SRS resources, for example, SRI=2, then two-panel transmission is performed” (Jiang ¶ 0102), and when transmitting the capability information and when one SRS resource set is indicated by the field, performs a single-panel transmission using the one SRS resource set: “If the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to one SRS resource, for example, SRI=0 or SRI=1, then single-panel transmission is performed. In this case, the function of the CSR is to restrict some indicators about precoding information and number of layers” (Jiang ¶ 0102). Regarding Claim 13, Jiang teaches: A base station comprising: a transmitter that transmits downlink control information (DCI) that includes a field indicating one or two sounding reference signal (SRS) resource sets: “To support dynamic switch between multi-panel transmission and single-panel transmission, the base station may indicate one SRS resource or multiple SRS resources, such as two, by using an SRI in the DCI. One SRS resource corresponds to single-panel transmission, multiple SRS resources correspond to a multi-panel transmission, and each resource is configured with two ports” (Jiang ¶ 0101); and a processor that, when receiving, from a terminal, capability information indicating support of multi-panel simultaneous transmission and when two SRS resource sets are indicated by the field, controls to perform the multi-panel simultaneous transmission using the two SRS resource sets: “if the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to two SRS resources, for example, SRI=2, then two-panel transmission is performed” (Jiang ¶ 0102), and when receiving the capability information and when one SRS resource set is indicated by the field, controls to perform a single-panel transmission using the one SRS resource set: “If the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to one SRS resource, for example, SRI=0 or SRI=1, then single-panel transmission is performed. In this case, the function of the CSR is to restrict some indicators about precoding information and number of layers” (Jiang ¶ 0102). Regarding Claim 14, Jiang teaches: A system comprising a terminal and a base station, wherein the terminal comprises: a receiver that receives downlink control information (DCI) that includes a field indicating one or two sounding reference signal (SRS) resource sets: “To support dynamic switch between multi-panel transmission and single-panel transmission, the base station may indicate one SRS resource or multiple SRS resources, such as two, by using an SRI in the DCI. One SRS resource corresponds to single-panel transmission, multiple SRS resources correspond to a multi-panel transmission, and each resource is configured with two ports” (Jiang ¶ 0101); and, when transmitting capability information indicating support of dynamic switching between multi-panel simultaneous transmission and when two SRS resource sets are indicated by the field, performs the multi-panel simultaneous transmission using the two SRS resource sets: “if the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to two SRS resources, for example, SRI=2, then two-panel transmission is performed” (Jiang ¶ 0102), and when receiving the capability information and when one SRS resource set is indicated by the field, performs a single-panel transmission using the one SRS resource set: “If the value of the SRI indicated in the DCI corresponds to one SRS resource, for example, SRI=0 or SRI=1, then single-panel transmission is performed. In this case, the function of the CSR is to restrict some indicators about precoding information and number of layers” (Jiang ¶ 0102). Conclusion THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 BRADLEY DAVIS LYTLE whose telephone number is (703)756-4593. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM EST. 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 bin Yao can be reached at 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 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. /BRADLEY D LYTLE JR./Examiner, Art Unit 2473 /B.D.L./Examiner, Art Unit 2473 /KWANG B YAO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2473
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Prosecution Timeline

May 21, 2024
Application Filed
Nov 26, 2024
Response after Non-Final Action
May 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Aug 07, 2026
Response Filed
Oct 01, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (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
80%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+20.8%)
3y 1m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 56 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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