Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/716,428

TERMINAL, AND REPORTING METHOD

Final Rejection §102
Filed
Jun 04, 2024
Priority
Dec 10, 2021 — nonprovisional of PCTJP2021045715
Examiner
IQBAL, KHAWAR
Art Unit
2643
Tech Center
2600 — Communications
Assignee
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
OA Round
2 (Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
3-4
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
483 granted / 661 resolved
+11.1% vs TC avg
Strong +29% interview lift
Without
With
+29.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 5m
Avg Prosecution
29 currently pending
Career history
689
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.2%
-36.8% vs TC avg
§103
55.5%
+15.5% vs TC avg
§102
29.2%
-10.8% vs TC avg
§112
5.0%
-35.0% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 661 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 . 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. Claim(s) 1-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Huang et al (20250142407). Regarding claim 1, Huang et al discloses, a terminal (abstract, UE, fig. 1-9) comprising: a control unit (CPU, fig. 3-4) configured to obtain a plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information using a plurality of reference points that are related to a non-terrestrial network (¶ 0405, 0407, 0478, the CPU 308 could execute program code 312 to: (i) receive information of a first reference location of a cell, (ii) receive assistance information associated with the NTN cell, (iii) derive a second reference location of the cell based on at least the assistance information, and (iv) use the second reference location of the cell to evaluate a location-based measurement event. Moreover, the CPU 308 can execute the program code 312 to perform all of the described actions, steps, and methods described above, below, or otherwise herein.); and a transmission unit configured to report the plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information to a base station (¶ 0407-0408, UE could be configured by the network to measure multiple beams of a cell to derive the cell quality. UE could be configured by the network to measure the distance between the UE and a reference location e.g., cell center of a NTN cell. The (NTN) cell may be a serving cell and a neighbor cell. The UE would trigger a measurement report to send the measurement results (of radio condition and/or location) based on one or more triggering event. In addition, the network may determine whether to trigger a handover for the UE, e.g., based on a measurement report provided by the UE.). Regarding claim 2, Huang et al discloses in claim 1, further, Huang et al discloses, wherein the plurality of reference points include a satellite or a flying object (¶ 0304, 0407-0408, 0468, UE could be configured by the network to measure multiple beams of a cell to derive the cell quality. A UE could be configured by the network to measure the distance between the UE and a reference location e.g., cell center of a NTN cell. The (NTN) cell may be a serving cell and a neighbor cell.). Regarding claim 3, Huang et al discloses in claim 1, further, Huang et al discloses, wherein the plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information include at least any one of a timing advance value between a reference point and the terminal, a round trip delay between a reference point and the terminal, a one-way propagation delay between a reference point and the terminal, and a distance between a reference point and the terminal (¶ 0411-0413, 0423, 0475, The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive UE specific TA. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive distance between UE and a cell reference location. Timing Advance (TA) related parameters, which contain information for deriving/calculating the common TA for each UL transmission. The common TA related parameters include a network controlled common TA. In addition, the common TA related parameters may include other parameters which are still under RAN1 discussion). Regarding claim 4, Huang et al discloses in claim 1, further, Huang et al discloses, wherein the plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information include at least any one of a difference in timing advance values between the terminal and two reference points, a difference in round trip delays between the terminal and two reference points, a difference in one-way propagation delays between the terminal and two reference points, and a difference in distances between the terminal and two reference points (¶ 0253, 0307, 0411-0413, 0423, 0475, Event L1: Distance between UE and a reference location referenceLocation1 becomes larger than configured threshold1 Thresh1 and distance between UE and a reference location referenceLocation2 becomes shorter than configured threshold Thresh2. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive UE specific TA. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive distance between UE and a cell reference location. Timing Advance (TA) related parameters, which contain information for deriving/calculating the common TA for each UL transmission. The common TA related parameters include a network controlled common TA. In addition, the common TA related parameters may include other parameters which are still under RAN1 discussion. TABLE 4.2-2, ¶ 0302-0304, NTN and TN have different characteristics. For example, propagation delay (or round-trip delay) in NTN is longer than the propagation delay (or round-trip delay) in TN. In addition, different NTN platforms could have different characteristics. For example, the propagation delay (or round-trip delay) is shorter in LEO (or NGSO) satellite than in GEO satellite, while the cell coverage is larger in GEO satellite than in LEO (or NGSO) satellite.). Regarding claim 5, Huang et al discloses in claim 1, further, Huang et al discloses, a terminal comprising: a control unit configured to obtain terminal position information by GNSS and convert the terminal position information, by adding an offset to the terminal position information or by inputting the terminal position information into a function (¶ 0405, 0407, 0478, the CPU 308 could execute program code 312 to: (i) receive information of a first reference location of a cell, (ii) receive assistance information associated with the GNSS cell, (iii) derive a second reference location of the cell based on at least the assistance information, and (iv) use the second reference location of the cell to evaluate a location-based measurement event. Moreover, the CPU 308 can execute the program code 312 to perform all of the described actions, steps, and methods described above, below, or otherwise herein.); and a transmission unit configured to report the converted terminal position information to a base station (¶ 0407-0408, UE could be configured by the network to measure multiple beams of a cell to derive the cell quality. A UE could be configured by the network to measure the distance between the UE and a reference location e.g., cell center of a NTN cell. The (NTN) cell may be a serving cell and a neighbor cell. The UE would trigger a measurement report to send the measurement results (of radio condition and/or location) based on one or more triggering event. In addition, the network may determine whether to trigger a handover for the UE, e.g., based on a measurement report provided by the UE.). Regarding claim 6, Huang et al discloses in claim 1, further, Huang et al discloses, a reporting method executed by a terminal, the reporting method comprising: obtaining a plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information using a plurality of reference points that are related to a non-terrestrial network (¶ 0405, 0407, 0478, the CPU 308 could execute program code 312 to: (i) receive information of a first reference location of a cell, (ii) receive assistance information associated with the cell, (iii) derive a second reference location of the cell based on at least the assistance information, and (iv) use the second reference location of the cell to evaluate a location-based measurement event. Moreover, the CPU 308 can execute the program code 312 to perform all of the described actions, steps, and methods described above, below, or otherwise herein.); and reporting the plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information to a base station (¶ 0407-0408, UE could be configured by the network to measure multiple beams of a cell to derive the cell quality. A UE could be configured by the network to measure the distance between the UE and a reference location e.g., cell center of a NTN cell. The (NTN) cell may be a serving cell and a neighbor cell. The UE would trigger a measurement report to send the measurement results (of radio condition and location) based on one or more triggering event. In addition, the network may determine whether to trigger a handover for the UE, e.g., based on a measurement report provided by the UE.). Regarding claim 7, Huang et al discloses in claim 1, further, Huang et al discloses, wherein the plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information include at least any one of a timing advance value between a reference point and the terminal, a round trip delay between a reference point and the terminal, a one-way propagation delay between a reference point and the terminal, and a distance between a reference point and the terminal (¶ 0253, 0307, 0411-0413, 0423, 0475, Event L1: Distance between UE and a reference location referenceLocation1 becomes larger than configured threshold1 Thresh1 and distance between UE and a reference location referenceLocation2 becomes shorter than configured threshold Thresh2. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive UE specific TA. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive distance between UE and a cell reference location. Timing Advance (TA) related parameters, which contain information for deriving/calculating the common TA for each UL transmission. The common TA related parameters include a network controlled common TA. In addition, the common TA related parameters may include other parameters which are still under RAN1 discussion. TABLE 4.2-2, ¶ 0302-0304, NTN and TN have different characteristics. For example, propagation delay (or round-trip delay) in NTN is longer than the propagation delay (or round-trip delay) in TN. In addition, different NTN platforms could have different characteristics. For example, the propagation delay (or round-trip delay) is shorter in LEO (or NGSO) satellite than in GEO satellite, while the cell coverage is larger in GEO satellite than in LEO (or NGSO) satellite.). Regarding claim 8, Huang et al discloses in claim 1, further, Huang et al discloses, wherein the plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information include at least any one of a difference in timing advance values between the terminal and two reference points, a difference in round trip delays between the terminal and two reference points, a difference in one-way propagation delays between the terminal and two reference points, and a difference in distances between the terminal and two reference points (¶ 0253, 0307, 0411-0413, 0423, 0475, Event L1: Distance between UE and a reference location referenceLocation1 becomes larger than configured threshold1 Thresh1 and distance between UE and a reference location referenceLocation2 becomes shorter than configured threshold Thresh2. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive UE specific TA. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive distance between UE and a cell reference location. Timing Advance (TA) related parameters, which contain information for deriving/calculating the common TA for each UL transmission. The common TA related parameters include a network controlled common TA. In addition, the common TA related parameters may include other parameters which are still under RAN1 discussion. TABLE 4.2-2, ¶ 0302-0304, NTN and TN have different characteristics. For example, propagation delay (or round-trip delay) in NTN is longer than the propagation delay (or round-trip delay) in TN. In addition, different NTN platforms could have different characteristics. For example, the propagation delay (or round-trip delay) is shorter in LEO (or NGSO) satellite than in GEO satellite, while the cell coverage is larger in GEO satellite than in LEO (or NGSO) satellite.). Regarding claim 9, Huang et al discloses in claim 1, further, Huang et al discloses, wherein the plurality of pieces of terminal position-related information include at least any one of a difference in timing advance values between the terminal and two reference points, a difference in round trip delays between the terminal and two reference points, a difference in one-way propagation delays between the terminal and two reference points, and a difference in distances between the terminal and two reference points (¶ 0253, 0307, 0411-0413, 0423, 0475, Event L1: Distance between UE and a reference location referenceLocation1 becomes larger than configured threshold1 Thresh1 and distance between UE and a reference location referenceLocation2 becomes shorter than configured threshold Thresh2. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive UE specific TA. The (information of) (or related to) satellite ephemeris may be used by the UE to derive distance between UE and a cell reference location. Timing Advance (TA) related parameters, which contain information for deriving/calculating the common TA for each UL transmission. The common TA related parameters include a network controlled common TA. In addition, the common TA related parameters may include other parameters which are still under RAN1 discussion. TABLE 4.2-2, ¶ 0302-0304, NTN and TN have different characteristics. For example, propagation delay (or round-trip delay) in NTN is longer than the propagation delay (or round-trip delay) in TN. In addition, different NTN platforms could have different characteristics. For example, the propagation delay (or round-trip delay) is shorter in LEO (or NGSO) satellite than in GEO satellite, while the cell coverage is larger in GEO satellite than in LEO (or NGSO) satellite.). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KHAWAR IQBAL whose telephone number is (571)272-7909. The examiner can normally be reached M-F. 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, Jinsong Hu can be reached at 5712723965. 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. /KHAWAR IQBAL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2643
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Prosecution Timeline

Jun 04, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 04, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102
Sep 02, 2026
Response Filed
Sep 29, 2026
Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

3-4
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+29.2%)
3y 5m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Moderate
PTA Risk
Based on 661 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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