Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/714,129

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR INDICATING WORKING MODE, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING WORKING MODE, AND COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
May 29, 2024
Priority
Nov 30, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTCN2021134665
Examiner
AHMED, NIZAM U
Art Unit
2461
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
75%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 75% — above average
75%
Career Allowance Rate
259 granted / 344 resolved
+17.3% vs TC avg
Strong +24% interview lift
Without
With
+23.6%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 2m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
373
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
§103
91.0%
+51.0% vs TC avg
§102
6.8%
-33.2% vs TC avg
§112
1.6%
-38.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 344 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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 05/29/2024 and 10/01/2024 ware for consideration. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 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. (a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claims 1-5, 9-12, 14, 16 and 19-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhou et al (US 2023/0164674 A1), hereinafter, “Zhou”. Regarding claim 1, Zhou discloses: A method for indicating a working mode performed by a terminal (Zhou: fig 5, para [0074], where, the UE send capability information indicating full duplex operating mode equivalent to “working mode”), the method comprising: sending indication information to a network side device for indicating duplex mode information of the terminal to the network side device (Zhou: fig 5, para [0074], where, the UE1 send capability information indicating full duplex operating mode equivalent to “working mode” to the base station BS1). Regarding claims 2 and 10, Zhou discloses: wherein the duplex mode information of the terminal comprises at least one of: a duplex mode supported by the terminal (Zhou: fig 5, para [0068], where, the UE may support full-duplexing mode); a duplex mode expected by the terminal to be adopted for scheduling the terminal by the network side device; or a duplex mode expected by the terminal to be adopted by the network side device (Zhou: fig 5, para [0080], where, determining full-duplexing capability based on a random access channel (RACH) completion latency equivalent to “specific a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”, where, “an uplink packet delivery latency, an end-to-end latency, a scheduling request (SR) completion latency, a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”). . Regarding claims 3 and 11, Zhou discloses: wherein the duplex mode information of the terminal comprises the duplex mode supported by the terminal (Zhou: fig 5, para [0068], where, the UE may support full-duplexing mode), and sending the indication information to the network side device (Zhou: fig 5, para [0074], where, the UE1 send capability information indicating full duplex operating mode equivalent to “working mode” to the base station BS1) comprises: sending type information of the terminal to the network side device, wherein the type information is associated with whether the terminal supports a full-duplex mode (Zhou: fig 5, para [0074], where, the UE1 send capability information indicating full duplex operating mode equivalent to “working mode” to the base station BS1). Regarding claim 4, Zhou discloses: The method of claim 2, wherein the duplex mode information of the terminal comprises the duplex mode supported by the terminal (Zhou: fig 5, para [0068], where, the UE may support full-duplexing mode), and sending the indication information to the network side device (Zhou: fig 5, para [0074], where, the UE1 send capability information indicating full duplex operating mode equivalent to “working mode” to the base station BS1). comprises: sending capability information of the terminal to the network side device, wherein the capability information of the terminal is used to indicate the duplex mode supported by the terminal (Zhou: fig 5, para [0074], where, the UE1 send capability information indicating full duplex operating mode equivalent to “working mode” to the base station BS1). Regarding claims 5 and 12, Zhou discloses: The method of claim 2, wherein the duplex mode information of the terminal (Zhou: fig 5, para [0068], where, the UE may support full-duplexing mode) comprises the duplex mode expected to be adopted for scheduling the terminal by the network side device (Zhou: fig 5, para [0074], where, the UE1 send capability information indicating full duplex operating mode equivalent to “working mode” to the base station BS1), and sending the indication information to the network side device comprises: sending the indication information to the network side device during a random access process (Zhou: fig 5, para [0080], where, determining full-duplexing capability based on a random access channel (RACH) completion latency equivalent to “specific a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”, where, “an uplink packet delivery latency, an end-to-end latency, a scheduling request (SR) completion latency, a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”). Regarding claim 9, Zhou discloses: A method for determining a working mode performed by a network side device (Zhou: fig 5, para [0010], where, “The method may include determining full-duplexing capability (equivalent to “working mode”) information associated with one or more candidate cells (equivalent to “network side device”)), the method comprising: determining duplex mode information of a terminal (Zhou: fig 5, para [0012], where, “The apparatus (equivalent to “terminal”) may include means for determining full-duplexing capability (equivalent to “working mode”) information associated with one or more candidate cells information associated with one or more candidate cells (equivalent to “network side device”)), according to at least one of: indication information sent by the terminal (Zhou: fig 1, para [0041], where, “the UE 120 may include a communication manager 140. As described in more detail elsewhere herein, the communication manager 140 may receive signaling that indicates full-duplexing capability information associated with one or more candidate cells”); channel state information sent by the terminal (Zhou: fig 1, para [0045]-[0046], where, the UE 120 send/transmit channel state information or CQI to the base station); a power parameter configured for the terminal; or interference-related information (Zhou: fig 1, para [0046], where, the power parameter is configured). Regarding claim 14, Zhou discloses: The method of claim 12, wherein determining the duplex mode information of the terminal according to the indication information (Zhou: fig 5, para [0012], where, “The apparatus (equivalent to “terminal”) may include means for determining full-duplexing capability (equivalent to “working mode”) information associated with one or more candidate cells information equivalent to “indication”) comprises: determining a specific random access occasion where the indication information is located (Zhou: fig 5, para [0080], where, determining full-duplexing capability based on a random access channel (RACH) completion latency equivalent to “specific a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”); and determining, according to an association relationship between a random access occasion and a duplex mode expected by the terminal to be adopted for scheduling the terminal by the network side device (Zhou: para [0052], where, detect the full-duplex mode and selected or adopted from one or more cells and selection for communication), a duplex mode corresponding to the specific random access occasion as the duplex mode expected by the terminal to be adopted for scheduling the terminal by the network side device (Zhou: fig 5, para [0080], where, determining full-duplexing capability based on a random access channel (RACH) completion latency equivalent to “specific a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”, where, “an uplink packet delivery latency, an end-to-end latency, a scheduling request (SR) completion latency, a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”). Regarding claim 16, Zhou discloses: The method of claim 9, wherein the interference-related information comprises at least one of: a transmission power of the network side device; an antenna configuration of the network side device; or interference measurement information (Zhou: fig 1, para [0032], where, “These different types of base stations 110 may have different transmit power levels, different coverage areas, and/or different impacts on interference in the wireless network 100”). Regarding claims 19-20, Zhou discloses: A communication device (Zhou: fig 1, para [0028], the communication device UE 120), comprising: a processor (Zhou: fig 2, processor 258, para [0045]); memory for storing a computer program (Zhou: fig 2, memory 282, para [0049], “the memory 282 to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (e.g., with reference to FIGS. 6-10)”); wherein the computer program, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the method for determining the working mode of claims 1 and 9 (Zhou: fig 2, memory 282, para [0049], “the memory 282 to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (e.g., with reference to FIGS. 6-10)”). Regarding claim 21, Zhou discloses: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program (Zhou: para [0011], where, “a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions for wireless communication by a base station”) which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps in the method for indicating the working mode of claim 1 (Zhou: para [0005] and [0011], where, “a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions for wireless communication by a base station. The set of instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the base station, may cause the base station to determine full-duplexing capability information associated with one or more candidate cells”). Regarding claim 22, Zhou discloses: A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program (Zhou: para [0011], where, “a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions for wireless communication by a base station”) which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform steps in the method for determining the working mode of claim 9 (Zhou: para [0011], where, “a non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores a set of instructions for wireless communication by a base station. The set of instructions, when executed by one or more processors of the base station, may cause the base station to determine full-duplexing capability information associated with one or more candidate cells”). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action. 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. Claims 6-8, 13 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou et al (US 2023/0164674 A1), hereinafter, “Zhou” in view of Zhang et al (US 2021/0409095 A1), hereinafter, “Zhang” Regarding claims 6 and 7, Zhou discloses: Zhou does not explicitly teach however, Zhang teaches: The method of claim 5, wherein sending the indication information to the network side device during the random access process (Zhang: fig 7B, para [0112], where, the UE 115 sends the preamble in a msg1 to the BS 105) comprises: sending a random access preamble to the network side device, wherein the preamble is associated with the duplex mode expected by the terminal, wherein the specific random access occasion is associated with the duplex mode expected by the terminal (Zhang: fig 7B and 10, para [0112] and para , where, the UE 115 sends the preamble in a msg1 to the BS 105, and in fig 10,step 1010, para [0148], where, indicating the preamble was related to the full-duplexing mode). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use “wherein sending the indication information to the network side device during the random access process comprises: sending a random access preamble to the network side device, wherein the preamble is associated with the duplex mode expected by the terminal, wherein the specific random access occasion is associated with the duplex mode expected by the terminal” as taught by Zhang into Zhou in order to sustain multiple transmission links (Zhang: para [0166]). Regarding claim 8 Zhou modified by Zhang disclose: The method of claim 5, wherein sending the indication information to the network side device during the random access process (Zhang: fig 7B, para [0112], where, the UE 115 sends the preamble in a msg1 to the BS 105) comprises: sending a random access message Msg3 or MsgA to the network side device (Zhang: fig 7B, step 770, para [0115], where, the UE 115 sends/transmit the UE 115 may transmit the MSG3 in the resource indicated by the scheduling grant), wherein the random access message carries information associated with the duplex mode expected by the terminal (Zhang: fig 7B, step 770, para [0115], where, the UE 115 sends/transmit the UE 115 may transmit the MSG3 in the resource indicated by the scheduling grant, for full-duplexing mode). Regarding claim 13, Zhou modified by Zhang disclose: The method of claim 12, wherein the indication information comprises a random access preamble (Zhang: fig 7B and 10, para [0112], where, the UE 115 sends the preamble in a msg1 to the BS 105), and determining the duplex mode information of the terminal according to the indication information (Zhang: fig 7B and 10, para [0079], where, the BS105 determines the full-duplexing mode of the terminal UE 115) comprises: determining, according to an association relationship between a preamble and a duplex mode expected by the terminal to be adopted for scheduling the terminal by the network side device (Zhang: fig 7B and 10, para [0057]-[0058], where, the preamble and duplex mode are adapted for scheduling the terminal by the BS105), a duplex mode corresponding to the random access preamble as the duplex mode expected by the terminal to be adopted for scheduling the terminal by the network side device (Zhou: fig 5, para [0057]-[0058], where, determining full-duplexing capability based on a random access channel (RACH) completion latency equivalent to “specific a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”, where, “an uplink packet delivery latency, an end-to-end latency, a scheduling request (SR) completion latency, a random access channel (RACH) completion latency”). Regarding claim 15, Zhou modified by Zhang disclose: The method of claim 12, wherein determining the duplex mode information of the terminal according to the indication information (Zhang: fig 7B and 10, para [0079], where, the BS105 determines the full-duplexing mode of the terminal UE 115) comprises: acquiring the indication information from a random access message Msg3 or MsgA sent by the terminal (Zhang: fig 7B, step 770, para [0115], where, the UE 115 sends/transmit the UE 115 may transmit the MSG3 in the resource indicated by the scheduling grant); and determining a duplex mode indicated by the indication information as the duplex mode expected by the terminal to be adopted for scheduling the terminal by the network side device (Zhang: fig 7B and 10, para [0057]-[0058], where, the preamble and duplex mode are adapted for scheduling the terminal by the BS105). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NIZAM U AHMED whose telephone number is (571)272-9561. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fry, 7:00 AM-6:00 PM PST. 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, Huy Vu can be reached at 571-272-3155. 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. /NIZAM U AHMED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2461
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Prosecution Timeline

May 29, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
75%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+23.6%)
3y 2m (~1y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 344 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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