Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/735,043

TECHNIQUES FOR BEAM DESIGN INCORPORATING SELF-INTERFERENCE IN FULL-DUPLEX CAPABLE WIRELESS DEVICES

Non-Final OA §103§112
Filed
Jun 05, 2024
Examiner
HAILE, AWET A
Art Unit
2474
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
80%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 80% — above average
80%
Career Allowance Rate
554 granted / 696 resolved
+21.6% vs TC avg
Strong +25% interview lift
Without
With
+25.2%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
34 currently pending
Career history
718
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
6.5%
-33.5% vs TC avg
§103
62.8%
+22.8% vs TC avg
§102
11.5%
-28.5% vs TC avg
§112
12.1%
-27.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 696 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §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 . Election/Restriction Applicant's election of Group I: Claims 1-19 without traverse in the reply filed on 06/17/2026 is acknowledged. Claim 20 is withdrawn/cancelled from further consideration pursuant to 37 CFR 1.142(b) as being drawn to a nonelected group. 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 3-8 and 14-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention. Claim 3, recites the limitation “the second set of antennas” in line 5. It is unclear as to whether “the second set of antennas” in line 5 is related to the “a second set of receive antennas” in claim 1 line 6, if they are the same it is suggested to applicant to change “the second set of antennas” in line 5, to -- the second set of receive antennas--. Claim 14, recites the limitation “the second set of antennas” in line 3. It is unclear as to whether “the second set of antennas” in line 3 is related to the “a second set of receive antennas” in claim 12 line 4, if they are the same it is suggested to applicant to change “the second set of antennas” in line 3, to -- the second set of receive antennas--. Claims 4-8 and 15-19 are rejected as being dependent of rejected claim(s). 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 factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied 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. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. Claims 1-8, 11-19 and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo et al (WO 2022/160204 A1) in view of Huang et al (US 2022/0329308 A1). Regarding claims 1, 12 and 21, Guo ‘204 teaches, a full-duplex capable wireless device([0016], [0071]-[0073] and Fig. 2, a UE capable of simultaneous transmission and reception), comprising: one or more memories storing processor-executable code([0133], [0136] and Fig. 8, device 805(UE) including memory 830); and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the full-duplex capable wireless device to([0136]-[0137] and Fig. 8, device 805(UE) comprising processor 840): transmit a request for self-calibration resources for self-calibration between a first set of transmit antennas at the wireless device and a second set of receive antennas at the wireless device([0004], [0018], [0078], [0086] and Fig. 4, the UE transmitting scheduling request(SR) to a base station to request resources. The SR message includes an indication of an intended self-interference measurement between a firs TRP configured for transmission and a second TRP configured for reception); receive a resource allocation that includes the self-calibration resources ([0004], [0018], [0088], [0103] and Fig. 4, the UE receiving grant that schedules the resource for the self-interference measurement by the UE); transmit, using the first set of transmit antennas, one or more reference signals via one or more resources of the resource allocation ([0091], [0093] and Fig. 7, the station granting CSI-RS resource for the self-interference measurement. The UE performs the measurement by transmitting signaling via the CSI-RS resources using the first TRP). Guo ‘204 does not explicitly teach, determine an estimated channel matrix between the first set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas based at least in part on measurements of the one or more reference signals at the second set of receive antennas. Huang ‘308 teaches, determine an estimated channel matrix between the first set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas based at least in part on measurements of the one or more reference signals at the second set of receive antennas ([0115], [0171]- [0174] and Fig. 4, calculating self-interference matrix H, according to the UE’s receive and transmit antennas. It further calculates self-interference matrices based on the firs receive-antenna set, second transmit antenna set, and uplink precoding matrix indicator). Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the communication system of Guo ‘204, by incorporating the teaching of Huang ‘308, since such modification would provide efficient techniques for mitigating self-interference to help enhance system performance and reliability, as suggested by Huang ‘308([0003], [0004]). Regarding claims 2 and 13, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Guo ‘204 further teaches, wherein, to receive the resource allocation, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the full-duplex capable wireless device to: receive one or more reference signal allocations from a network entity([0088], [0091], [0092], [0128] and Fig. 4, 7, the UE receiving grant that schedules the resource for the self-interference measurement by the UE), and wherein the one or more reference signals are transmitted over the one or more reference signal allocations from the first set of antennas( [0091], [0092], [0128] and Fig. 4, 7, the UE 115-b transmits signaling through the sequence of allocated CSI-RS resources . The CSI RS signaling is transmitted using TRP 205-a). Regarding claims 3 and 14, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Guo ‘204 further teaches, wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the full-duplex capable wireless device to: measure one or more channel parameters using the one or more reference signals at the second set of antennas([0088], [0093], [0094], [0132] and Fig. 7, the UE measuring received signal metric level (RSRP) level at the second TRP (TRP 205-b). This measurement being performed using the signaling transmitted via the scheduled CSI-RS resource from the first TRP). Regarding claims 4 and 15, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Huang ‘308 further teaches, determine and use an uplink beam for uplink communications and a downlink beam for downlink communications at the wireless device based at least in part on the measurements of the one or more reference signals([0102], [0111], [0121], [0123], Figs. 4, 5, the downlink precoding matrix indicator (PMMI) being measured based on CSI-RS, and the UE determining uplink and downlink precoding matrix). Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the communication system of Guo ‘204, by incorporating the teaching of Huang ‘308, since such modification would provide efficient techniques for mitigating self-interference to help enhance system performance and reliability, as suggested by Huang ‘308([0003], [0004]). Regarding claims 5 and 16, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Guo ‘204 further teaches, wherein the uplink beam and the downlink beam are associated with a same transmission-reception point (TRP) or are associated with different TRPs([0065]-[0066], [0070]-[0073] and Fig.2, transmit and receive beams maybe associated with different TRP or the same TRPs). Regarding claims 6 and 17, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Huang ‘308 further teaches, adjust at least one of the uplink beam or the downlink beam based at least in part on the measurements of the one or more reference signals at the wireless device at the second set of receive antennas([0121]-[0123], [0170], [0173] and Fig. 5, the UE selecting PMI based on downlink reference signal (CSI-RS) measurement). Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the communication system of Guo ‘204, by incorporating the teaching of Huang ‘308, since such modification would provide efficient techniques for mitigating self-interference to help enhance system performance and reliability, as suggested by Huang ‘308([0003], [0004]). Regarding claims 7 and 18, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Huang ‘308 further teaches, determine an adjusted downlink beam based at least in part on the estimated channel matrix between the first set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas ([0106], [0104], [0115], determining a downlink precoding matrix (downlink beam) based on self -interference matrix); and determine an adjusted uplink beam based at least in part on the adjusted downlink beam and the estimated channel matrix between the first set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas ([0121], [0123], [0124] and Fig. 4, determining a uplink precoding matrix (downlink beam) based on self -interference matrix). Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the communication system of Guo ‘204, by incorporating the teaching of Huang ‘308, since such modification would provide efficient techniques for mitigating self-interference to help enhance system performance and reliability, as suggested by Huang ‘308([0003], [0004]). Regarding claims 8 and 19, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Huang ‘308 further teaches, transmit, to a network entity, an indication of the use of an adjustment process associated with the downlink beam or the uplink beam([0005], [0121], [0127], [0130], the UE transmitting the results of the adjustment process (subset of adjusted/selected matrices ) to the base station). Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the communication system of Guo ‘204, by incorporating the teaching of Huang ‘308, since such modification would provide efficient techniques for mitigating self-interference to help enhance system performance and reliability, as suggested by Huang ‘308([0003], [0004]). Regarding claim 11, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Guo ‘204 further teaches, wherein the resource allocation that includes the self-calibration resources is based at least in part on the request for self-calibration resource ([0086], [0103] and Fig. 4, the UE sends a request and receives resource grant for self-interference measurement). Claims 9 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 as applied to claims above, and further in view of Raghavan et al(US 2023/0077568 A1). Regarding claim 9, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Guo ‘204 further teaches, wherein the first set of transmit antennas are associated with a first antenna panel and the second set of receive antennas are associated with a second antenna panel ([0065], [0067], [0073] and Fig. 2, TRP 205-a associated with antenna panel and TRP 205-b associated with another antenna panel). The combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 does not explicitly teach, wherein the first antenna panel and the second antenna panel are mechanically displaceable at the wireless device. Raghavan ‘568 teaches, wherein the first antenna panel and the second antenna panel are mechanically displaceable at the wireless device ([0136], UE could have one or more antenna panels that move, e.g., relative to each other, etc.). Regarding claim 10, the combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 teaches all of the claim limitations, Huang ‘308 further teaches, movement of one or more of the first antenna panel and the second antenna panel triggers a determination of the estimated channel matrix between the first set of transmit antennas and the second set of receive antennas([0069], [0287], the UE which comprises the antenna panels is mobile, and the movement of the UE may trigger the estimating channel matrices). The combination of Guo ‘204 and Huang ‘308 does not explicitly teach, wherein the first antenna panel is movable relative to the second antenna panel. Raghavan ‘568 teaches, wherein the first antenna panel is movable relative to the second antenna panel ([0136], UE could have one or more antenna panels that move, e.g., relative to each other, etc.). Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the communication system of Guo ‘204, by incorporating the teaching of Raghavan ‘568, since such modification would enable to enhance signaling efficiencies and reduce latency by monitoring the physical relationship between first and second antenna elements, as suggested by Raghavan ‘568([0002]-[0004]). Internet Communications Applicant is encouraged to submit a written authorization for Internet communications (PTO/SB/439, which can be found: http://www.uspto.gov/sites/default/files/documents/sb0439.pdf) in the instant patent application to authorize the examiner to communicate with the applicant via email. The authorization will allow the examiner to better practice compact prosecution. The written authorization can be submitted via one of the following methods only: (1) Central Fax which can be found in the Conclusion section of this Office action; (2) regular postal mail; or (3) EFS WEB. Written authorization submitted via other methods, such as direct fax to the examiner or email, will not be accepted. See MPEP § 502.03. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AWET A HAILE whose telephone number is (571)270-3114. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 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, Michael Thier can be reached at (571)272-2832. 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. /AWET HAILE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2474
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Jun 05, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 11, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12739073
APERIODIC REFERENCE SIGNAL MEASUREMENTS FOR MULTIPLE TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION POINTS
3y 6m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12739664
UPDATING A DISTRIBUTED UNIT IN A 5G VIRTUAL RADIO ACCESS NETWORK
2y 7m to grant Granted Sep 15, 2026
Patent 12733069
Control of Inactivity Timer Triggering for NR UE
3y 7m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12733056
METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING MESSAGE INCLUDING TERMINAL INFORMATION IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS THEREFOR
2y 9m to grant Granted Sep 08, 2026
Patent 12726947
USER EQUIPMENT RESOURCE ALLOCATION
3y 6m to grant Granted Sep 01, 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
80%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+25.2%)
3y 0m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 696 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