Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 16, 2026
Application No. 18/712,853

NODE, WIRELESS DEVICE, AND METHODS PERFORMED THEREBY, FOR HANDLING A TIME GAP

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Sep 12, 2024
Priority
Nov 26, 2021 — provisional 63/264,587 +1 more
Examiner
RENNER, BRANDON M
Art Unit
2469
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 2m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
774 granted / 952 resolved
+23.3% vs TC avg
Strong +21% interview lift
Without
With
+21.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 1m
Avg Prosecution
52 currently pending
Career history
1006
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.8%
-35.2% vs TC avg
§103
52.0%
+12.0% vs TC avg
§102
17.8%
-22.2% vs TC avg
§112
16.0%
-24.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 952 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 17-19 and 25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being incomplete for omitting essential structural cooperative relationships of elements, such omission amounting to a gap between the necessary structural connections. See MPEP § 2172.01. Claims 17-19 and 25 are apparatus claims; however, the claims do not recite any structural components of the apparatus claims. Appropriate correction required. Claims 15 and 16 recites the limitation "the node". There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Appropriate correction required. 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)(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. Claim(s) 1-19 and 25 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hwang et al. “Hwang” US 2020/0396687 (cited in Applicant’s IDS). Regarding claims 1 and 17, Hwang teaches a method and a node, for handling a time gap, the node being configured to operate in a wireless communications network, and the node being further configured to: determine a respective duration of a time gap between a transmission of one or more respective signals to wake-up one or more wireless devices configured to operate in the wireless communications network and a beginning of one or more respective paging occasions, the determining being configured to be based on a condition, the condition being configured to be independent of whether or not the one or more wireless devices are configured to use discontinuous reception or extended discontinuous reception (configuration information includes a gap that is between a wakeup signal (WUS) and a paging occasion (PO) see Figure 25 and paragraph 293. This determination is not directly based on whether or not DRX is used thus the condition is satisfied); and initiate transmission of the one or more respective signals to the one or more wireless devices based on the respective duration configured to be determined (the WUS can be transmitted during the maximum WUS duration; Figure 25 and paragraph 293). Regarding claims 2 and 18, Hwang teaches the condition is one of a type of UE, capability of the device to receive signals to wakeup, duration of the time gap supported and an identity of the wireless devices (Paragraph 289 (and 379) teaches a UE monitoring a PO based on the UE_ID (identify of the device). The plurality of UEs expect paging in one PO and the UEs may be determined according to a configuration transmitted by a base station (identity of the cell, capability of the device to receive the wakeup signals). Regarding claim 3 and 19, Hwang teaches obtaining first indication indicating the respective capability of the devices to receive the respective signals to wakeup the devices supporting one time gap or a plurality of time gaps (Paragraph 379 discusses WUS-to-PO gap capabilities of UEs). Regarding claim 4, Hwang teaches sending indications towards the devices indicating a result of the determined duration of the time gap (Paragraph 292 teaches a UE receives configuration information from a base station. Paragraph 293 states the configuration information includes gap information. Thus the base station sends indications towards the devices with respect to the time gap). Regarding claim 5, Hwang teaches initiating the transmission of the respective signals includes at least one of the devices supporting reception of the signals, WUS being supported in a cell the UEs are located (Paragraph 289 teaches a UE monitoring a PO based on the UE_ID. The plurality of UEs expect paging in one PO and the UEs may be determined according to a configuration transmitted by a base station (supported in a cell where the UEs are located. Paragraph 379 discusses WUS-to-PO gap capabilities of UEs. This shows the devices support reception of the signals as claimed). Regarding claim 6, Hwang teaches determining which paging from or PO to use for the devices wherein the duration of the gap is based on the determining paging frame or PO or determining, based on the gap, a search spare or random access occasion (Paragraph 289 teaches UEs monitor paging based on a PO and Paging frame (PF). Which one to monitor is based on the user ID as there are a plurality of PO/PFs (Paragraphs 290 and 293). The gap is based on the PO as shown in Figure 25). Regarding claim 7 Hwang teaches the duration of the time gap is based on a correspondence between the capability of the wireless device and duration of the time gap (Paragraph 379) and further, sending a previous indication to the devices, the previous indication indicating the correspondence (Paragraph 292 teaches a UE receives configuration information from a base station. Paragraph 293 states the configuration information includes gap information. Thus the base station sends a previous indications towards the devices with respect to the time gap/correspondence. The UE’s capabilities correspond to the gap). Regarding claim 8, Hwang teaches the node is a network node, core network node or another wireless device (Figures 27-32 shows communications between wireless devices and base stations. Thus the node can be a network node or wireless device. Paragraphs 292-293 and 379 disclose a UE communicating with a base station). Regarding claims 9 and 25, Hwang teaches a method and a wireless device, for handling a time gap, the wireless device being configured to operate in a wireless communications network, and the node being further configured to: determine a respective duration of a time gap between a transmission of a signal to wake-up the wireless device, and a beginning of a respective paging occasion for the wireless device, the determining being based on a condition being independent of whether or not the wireless device uses discontinuous reception or extended discontinuous reception (configuration information includes a gap that is between a wakeup signal (WUS) and a paging occasion (PO) see Figure 25 and paragraph 293. This determination is not directly based on whether or not DRX is used thus the condition is satisfied); and receive the respective signal based on the respective duration (the WUS can be transmitted (thus received) during the maximum WUS duration. This is performed by communications between the base station and UE; Figure 25 and paragraph 293). Regarding claim 10, Hwang teaches the condition is one of a type of UE, capability of the device to receive signals to wakeup, duration of the time gap supported and an identity of the wireless devices (Paragraph 289 (and 379) teaches a UE monitoring a PO based on the UE_ID (identify of the device). The plurality of UEs expect paging in one PO and the UEs may be determined according to a configuration transmitted by a base station (identity of the cell, capability of the device to receive the wakeup signals). Regarding claim 11, Hwang teaches sending the first indication indicating the respective capability of the wireless device to receive the respective signals to wakeup the device supporting one time gap or a plurality of time gaps (Paragraph 379 discusses WUS-to-PO gap capabilities of UEs transmit between the base station and UE). Regarding claim 12, Hwang teaches receiving an indication from a node indicating a result of the determined duration of the time gap (Paragraph 292 teaches a UE receives configuration information from a base station. Paragraph 293 states the configuration information includes gap information. Thus the base station sends indications towards the devices with respect to the time gap). Regarding claim 13, Hwang teaches receiving the respective signal includes at least one of the devices supporting reception of the signals, WUS being supported in a cell the UEs are located (Paragraph 289 teaches a UE monitoring a PO based on the UE_ID. The plurality of UEs expect paging in one PO and the UEs may be determined according to a configuration transmitted by a base station (supported in a cell where the UEs are located. Paragraph 379 discusses WUS-to-PO gap capabilities of UEs. This shows the devices support reception of the signals as claimed). Regarding claim 14, Hwang teaches determining which paging from or PO to use for the devices wherein the duration of the gap is based on the determining paging frame or PO or determining, based on the gap, a search spare or random access occasion (Paragraph 289 teaches UEs monitor paging based on a PO and Paging frame (PF). Which one to monitor is based on the user ID as there are a plurality of PO/PFs (Paragraphs 290 and 293). The gap is based on the PO as shown in Figure 25). Regarding claim 15 Hwang teaches the duration of the time gap is based on a correspondence between the capability of the wireless device and duration of the time gap (Paragraph 379) and further, receiving a previous indication to the devices, the previous indication indicating the correspondence (Paragraph 292 teaches a UE receives configuration information from a base station. Paragraph 293 states the configuration information includes gap information. Thus the base station sends a previous indications towards the devices with respect to the time gap/correspondence. The UE’s capabilities correspond to the gap). Regarding claim 16, Hwang teaches the node is a network node, core network node or another wireless device (Figures 27-32 shows communications between wireless devices and base stations. Thus the node can be a network node or wireless device. Paragraphs 292-293 and 379 disclose a UE communicating with a base station). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BRANDON M RENNER whose telephone number is (571)270-3621. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 7am-5pm 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, Derrick Ferris can be reached at (571)-272-3123. 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. /BRANDON M RENNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2411
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Prosecution Timeline

Sep 12, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 20, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (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

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
81%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+21.1%)
3y 1m (~1y 2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 952 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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