Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/730,813

WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS APPARATUSES AND METHODS

Non-Final OA §102§Other
Filed
Jul 22, 2024
Priority
Feb 01, 2022 — EU 22154625.2 +1 more
Examiner
MEJIA, ANTHONY
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Sony Group Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
84%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
10m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 84% — above average
84%
Career Allowance Rate
609 granted / 729 resolved
+23.5% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+18.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 11m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
740
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
15.3%
-24.7% vs TC avg
§103
48.4%
+8.4% vs TC avg
§102
17.2%
-22.8% vs TC avg
§112
10.4%
-29.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 729 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §Other
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 . Priority Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. EP22154625.2, filed on 01 February 2022. Response to Amendment Acknowledgment is made in that claims 19-74 and 77-80 have been canceled in the instant application presented herein. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 10-12 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. 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. (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 1-9, 13-18 and 75-76 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Moderator (NTT Docomo et al.:” Summary on Rel-17 TEIs”, 3GPP Draft; R1-2109722 3rd Gen Partnership Project (3GPP), Mobile Competence Centre; 650, Route DES Lucioles; F-06921 Sophia-Antipolis Cedex; France (see IDS filed on 04/08/2024). Regarding Claim 1. Docomo teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus for use in a wireless telecommunications network, the wireless telecommunications apparatus comprising: communication circuitry configured to transmit or receive wireless signals; and control circuitry configured to: control the communication circuitry to receive a first wireless signal, the first wireless signal being comprised in Downlink Control Information, DCI(p.79, “received with DCI”), and indicating a waveform to be used by the wireless telecommunications apparatus when transmitting a second wireless signal (p.80, “DCI signalling based on dynamic UL waveform switching”); and control the communication circuitry to transmit the second wireless signal using the indicated waveform (p.80 “dynamic switching of waveform in UL transmission”). Regarding Claim 2. Docomo further teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicated waveform is indicated by a bit comprised in the DCI (p.80, “introducing 1 bit in DCI to indicate CP-OFDM or DFT-S-OFDM waveform to be used for PUSCH”). Regarding Claim 3. Docomo teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the DCI is an Activation DCI and a wireless telecommunications resource used to transmit the second wireless signal is part of a Configured Grant, CG, Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH, activated by the DCI (p.123 discusses scheduling grants for PUSCH transmission with a received DCI format). Regarding Claim 4. Docomo teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the DCI is an Activation DCI and the DCI activates a Semi-Persistent Scheduling, SPS, Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH, and a wireless telecommunications resource used to transmit the second wireless signal is a part of a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, for carrying Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request feedback, HARQ-ACK / NACK, for the SPS PDSCH (p.4 discusses HARQ scheduling on PDSCH). Regarding Claim 5. Docomo teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a wireless telecommunications resource used to transmit the second wireless signal is part of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel, PUSCH, scheduled by the DCI ((p.4 discusses HARQ scheduling on PUSCH); and the indicated waveform is indicated by a Time Domain Resource Allocation, TDRA, index of a TDRA field of the DCI (p.80, “introducing 1 bit in DCI to indicate CP-OFDM or DFT-S-OFDM waveform to be used for PUSCH and domain frames”). Regarding Claim 6. Docomo teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the DCI schedules a Physical Downlink Shared Channel, PDSCH, and a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, for carrying Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request feedback, HARQ-ACK / NACK, for the PDSCH (p.4 discusses HARQ scheduling on PDSCH).; a wireless telecommunications resource used to transmit the second wireless signal is a part of the PUCCH for carrying the HARQ-ACK / NACK (p.80, “DCI signalling based on dynamic UL waveform switching”); and the indicated waveform is indicated by a PUCCH Resource Indicator, PRI, index of a PRI field of the DCI (p.91 discusses pool index with DCI configuration) Regarding Claim 7. Docomo teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicated waveform is indicated based on whether the DCI is a normal DCI or a fallback DCI (“p.79. “Dynamic waveform switching is supported when different DCI formats are used to schedule UL transmission, i.e., DCI format 0_0 or 1_1” fallback DCI (DCI format 0_0). Regarding Claim 8. Docomo further teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicated waveform is indicated based on a Radio Network Temporary Identifier, RNTI, used to mask the DCI (p.79, “PDCCH with CRC scrambled by CS-RNTI by CS-RNTI with NDI=1, RNTI, or MCS-C RNTI or SP-CSI-RNTI”) Regarding Claim 9. Docomo further teaches wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicated waveform is indicated based on a number of repetitions of transmission of the second wireless signal scheduled by the DCI (alt DCIs based on different waveforms and gNB scheduling for the dynamic switching are discussed at p.59, p.124 and p.154). Regarding Claim 13. Docomo further teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a wireless telecommunications resource used to transmit the second wireless signal is part of a Physical Uplink Control Channel, PUCCH, scheduled by the DCI, the wireless telecommunications resource being part of a PUCCH Resource Set; and the indicated waveform is indicated based on the PUCCH Resource Set (p.14, “DCI formats 1_0 and 1_1 may include PRI: indicates a PUCCH resource to be used for UCI transmission” “CP-OFDM’ “DFT-s-OFDM”). Regarding Claim 14. Docomo further teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the DCI is Group Common DCI, GC-DCI (p.36 discusses DL/UL DCI formats and PUSCH over multiple slots). Regarding Claim 15. Docomo teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the indicated waveform is indicated based on a Slot Format Indicator, SFI, carried by the GC- DCI (p.36 discusses DL/UL DCI formats and PUSCH over multiple slots). Regarding Claim 16. Docomo further teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 15, wherein: the GC-DCI carrying the SFI based on which the indicated waveform is indicated is a first type of GC-DCI, the first type of GC-DCI having a characteristic distinguishing it from a second type of GC-DCI which does not indicate the indicated waveform (p.50 “receiving a first radio resource control, RRC, configuration profile”, p.53 “RRC configurations across all BWPs, e.g., slot format indicator”). Regarding Claim 17. Docomo further teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the characteristic distinguishing the first type of GC-DCI and the second type of GC-DCI is a Radio Network Temporary Identifier, RNTI, used to mask the GC-DCI (p.52, “communicating in the cell according to a first uplink waveform indicated in the first RRC configuration profile”) Regarding Claim 18. Docomo further teaches a wireless telecommunications apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the indicated waveform is indicated based on an activated bandwidth part, BWP (p.3, “the DCI includes an indication of the of the BWP associated with a target waveform selected from among the DFT-S-OFDM waveform and the CP-OFDM waveform”, “the UE configures a first bandwidth part (BWP) and a second BWP or UL resources used for UL transmissions from the UE to a base station”). Regarding Claim 75, this method claim comprises limitations(s) substantially the same, as those discussed in claim 1 above, same rationale of rejection is applicable. Regarding Claim 76. Docomo teaches a method of controlling a wireless telecommunications apparatus for use in a wireless telecommunications network, the method comprising controlling the wireless telecommunications apparatus to: receive a first wireless signal, the first wireless signal being comprised in Radio Resource Control, RRC (p.50 “receiving a first RRC configuration profile), signalling and indicating a waveform to be used by the wireless telecommunications apparatus when transmitting a second wireless signal (p.52 “communicating in the cell according to a first uplink waveform indicated in the first RRC configuration profile”), the indicated waveform being indicated based on a Slot Format Indicator, SFI, carried by the RRC signalling p.53 “RRC configurations across all BWPs, e.g., slot format indicator”); and transmit the second wireless signal in a slot formatted according to the SFI using the indicated waveform (p.52, “communicating in the cell according to the first uplink waveform indicated in the first RRC configuration profile”). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANTHONY MEJIA whose telephone number is (571)270-3630. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 10:30 AM-6:30 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, CHRISTOPHER PARRY can be reached at (571)272-8328. 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. /ANTHONY MEJIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2451
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jul 22, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §Other (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12706829
FRAGMENT MODIFICATION OF ROUTING CONTROL FUNCTIONS
3y 4m to grant Granted Aug 11, 2026
Patent 12701576
BASE STATION-AIDED USER EQUIPMENT (UE) ANTENNA SELECTION
2y 8m to grant Granted Aug 04, 2026
Patent 12696329
COMMUNICATION METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM
2y 4m to grant Granted Jul 28, 2026
Patent 12684039
PROTOCOL AND SIGNALING FRAMEWORK ENABLING MACHINE LEARNING MODELS IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
2y 4m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Patent 12683716
METHOD FOR PID-BASED LINK ADAPTATION FOR DYNAMIC MODULATION AND CODING SELECTION
2y 3m to grant Granted Jul 14, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
84%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+18.5%)
2y 11m (~10m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 729 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month