Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/763,891

COMMUNICATION APPARATUS AND COMMUNICATION METHOD

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Jul 03, 2024
Priority
Jan 06, 2022 — JP 2022-001325 +1 more
Examiner
CHANG, KAI J
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Toyota Motor Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
73%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 8m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 73% — above average
73%
Career Allowance Rate
305 granted / 416 resolved
+13.3% vs TC avg
Strong +39% interview lift
Without
With
+39.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 8m
Avg Prosecution
12 currently pending
Career history
428
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
1.0%
-39.0% vs TC avg
§103
90.7%
+50.7% vs TC avg
§102
6.6%
-33.4% vs TC avg
§112
0.2%
-39.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 416 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 . Priority Applicant’s claim for the benefit of a prior-filed application under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) or under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c) is acknowledged with the benefit of an earlier filing date of December 23, 2022 for PCT/JP2022/047582. Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55 with the benefit of a prior-filed application with the priority of Japanese Patent Application No. 2022-001325 filed on January 6, 2022. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on July 3, 2024, May 14, 2025, and April 23, 2026 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner. 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. Claims 7 – 8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Mattam et al (US Patent Application Publication 2022/0132333). Hereinafter Mattam. Regarding claim 7, Mattam discloses a master node managing a master cell group (MCG), the master node configured to connect to a communication apparatus and a secondary node managing a secondary cell group (SCG) (network environment includes user equipments (UEs) and network nodes (eNB/gNB) in master cell group (MCG) and secondary cell group (SCG), Fig. 1), the master node (network node) comprising: a transmitter (the network node includes communication unit, paragraph [0049]) configured to transmit information instructing deactivation of the SCG to the communication apparatus (the UE receives a deactivation request for an activated SCG from the network node, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063]), and a controller (the network node includes activation/deactivation controller, paragraphs [0049] – [0050]) configured to control a beam failure detection (BFD) parameter for performing BFD on the SCG (the UE action set for MAC entities include continuing monitoring for detection of beam failure in SCG, where the network entity indicates whether to continue or stop monitoring BFD upon SCG deactivation to the UE, and the indication is indicated along with the SCG deactivation message, paragraphs [0122] – [0126], [0128]; the network node controls the BFD parameter to transmit the deactivation request to the UE for the UE to perform the BFD on the SCG ), wherein in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is configured to perform the BFD, the BFD parameter is not reset or not stopped in a process of resetting a MAC entity in the communication apparatus (the UE receives a deactivation request, where the UE performs a set of actions for Data Radio Bearers including the timing alignment (TA) timer is maintained after the SCG deactivation and SCG MAC is not reset, and the UE actions for MAC entities correspond to the operations described in Figs. 4 and 5, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063], [0068], [0128]). Regarding claim 8, Mattam discloses the master node according to claim 7, wherein in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is not configured to perform the BFD, the BFD parameter is reset or stopped in the process of resetting the MAC entity in the communication apparatus (the UE receives a deactivation request, where the UE performs resetting of MAC associated with the SCG, and the UE actions for MAC entities correspond to the operations described in Figs. 4 and 5, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063], [0068], [0128]). Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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. 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. 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. Claims 1 – 6, and 9 – 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Mattam et al (US Patent Application Publication 2022/0132333), and further in view of Da Silva et al (US Patent Application Publication 2023/0337020). Hereinafter Mattam and Da Silva. Regarding claim 1, Mattam discloses a communication apparatus configured to perform communication with a master cell group (MCG) managed by a master node and a secondary cell group (SCG) managed by a secondary node (network environment includes user equipments (UEs) and network nodes (eNB/gNB) in master cell group (MCG) and secondary cell group (SCG), Fig. 1), the communication apparatus (UE) comprising: a controller (the UE includes activation/deactivation controller, paragraphs [0054] – [0055]) associated with the SCG (the UE receives a deactivation request for an activated SCG, where the UE action set for MAC entities include continuing monitoring for detection of beam failure in SCG, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063], [0122]); and a receiver (the UE includes communication unit, paragraphs [0054] – [0055]) configured to receive information instructing deactivation of the SCG (the UE receives a deactivation request for an activated SCG, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063]), wherein the MAC entity manages a beam failure detection (BFD) parameter for performing BFD on the SCG (the UE action set for MAC entities include continuing monitoring for detection of beam failure in SCG, where the network entity indicates whether to continue or stop monitoring BFD upon SCG deactivation to the UE, and the indication is indicated along with the SCG deactivation message, paragraphs [0122] – [0126], [0128]), and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is configured to perform the BFD, the controller is configured to control not resetting or not stopping the BFD parameter in a process of resetting the MAC entity (the UE receives a deactivation request, where the UE performs a set of actions for Data Radio Bearers including the timing alignment (TA) timer is maintained after the SCG deactivation and SCG MAC is not reset, and the UE actions for MAC entities correspond to the operations described in Figs. 4 and 5, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063], [0068], [0128]). However, Mattam does not explicitly disclose “a controller including a medium access control (MAC) entity.” Da Silva discloses the UE supports MCG, SCG, and split bearers, where the UE includes MAC layers such as LTE MAC and NR MAC (paragraph [0134]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the control plan (CP) protocol stack supporting MCG and SCG as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE actions of Mattam for enabling SCG deactivation. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 2, Mattam and Da Silva disclose the communication apparatus according to claim 1, Mattam discloses wherein, in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is not configured to perform the BFD, the controller is configured to control resetting or stopping the BFD parameter in the process of resetting the MAC entity (the UE receives a deactivation request, where the UE performs resetting of MAC associated with the SCG, and the UE actions for MAC entities correspond to the operations described in Figs. 4 and 5, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063], [0068], [0128]). Regarding claim 3, Mattam and Da Silva disclose the communication apparatus according to claim 1, but Mattam does not explicitly disclose wherein the BFD parameter includes a count value obtained by counting a beam failure instance indicator notified from a physical layer of the communication apparatus to the MAC entity, the MAC entity detects a beam failure in response to the count value reaching a threshold value, and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is configured to perform the BFD, the controller is configured to control not resetting the count value in the process of resetting the MAC entity. Da Silva discloses the network configures the UE with BFD reference signals and the UE declares beam failure when the number of beam failure instance indications from L1 reaches a configured threshold before a configured timer expires, and the UE determines if BFD should be declared while the second cell group is deactivated, where the determination includes MAC entity starts or restarts a BFR timer and increments BFI_COUNTER by one for each BFI received from L1, compares between the BFI_COUNTER and a configured maximum number of BFI instances that can occurs within a pre-determined time and BFI_COUNTER is set to zero if the BFR timer expires, where the BFI_COUNTER is reset when the second cell group enters deactivated mode and/or when it enters the normal mode (paragraphs [0212], [0313] – [0315], [0375]- [0379]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the UE receiving beam failure instance indications from L1 as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE action of Mattam for the MAC entity to utilize the BFR timer and BFI_COUNTER for the SCG entering deactivation mode. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 4, Mattam and Da Silva disclose the communication apparatus according to claim 1, but Mattam does not explicitly disclose wherein, the BFD parameter includes a count value obtained by counting a beam failure instance indicator notified from a physical layer of the communication apparatus to the MAC entity, the MAC entity detects a beam failure in response to the count value reaching a threshold value, and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is not configured to perform the BFD, the controller is configured to control resetting the count value in the process of resetting the MAC entity. Da Silva discloses the network configures the UE with BFD reference signals and the UE declares beam failure when the number of beam failure instance indications from L1 reaches a configured threshold before a configured timer expires, and the UE determines if BFD should be declared while the second cell group is deactivated, where the determination includes MAC entity starts or restarts a BFR timer and increments BFI_COUNTER by one for each BFI received from L1, compares between the BFI_COUNTER and a configured maximum number of BFI instances that can occurs within a pre-determined time and BFI_COUNTER is set to zero if the BFR timer expires, where the BFI_COUNTER is reset when the second cell group enters deactivated mode and/or when it enters the normal mode (paragraphs [0212], [0313] – [0315], [0375]- [0379]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the UE receiving beam failure instance indications from L1 as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE action of Mattam for the MAC entity to utilize the BFR timer and BFI_COUNTER for the SCG entering deactivation mode. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 5, Mattam and Da Silva disclose the communication apparatus according to claim 1, but Mattam does not explicitly disclose wherein the BFD parameter includes a BFD timer for the BFD and a count value obtained by counting a beam failure instance indicator notified from a physical layer of the communication apparatus to the MAC entity, the MAC entity detects the beam failure in response to the count value reaching the threshold value before the BFD timer expires, and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is configured to perform the BFD, the controller is configured to control not stopping the BFD timer in the process of resetting the MAC entity. Da Silva discloses the network configures the UE with BFD reference signals and the UE declares beam failure when the number of beam failure instance indications from L1 reaches a configured threshold before a configured timer expires, and the UE determines if BFD should be declared while the second cell group is deactivated, where the determination includes MAC entity starts or restarts a BFR timer and increments BFI_COUNTER by one for each BFI received from L1, compares between the BFI_COUNTER and a configured maximum number of BFI instances that can occurs within a pre-determined time and BFI_COUNTER is set to zero if the BFR timer expires, where the BFI_COUNTER is reset when the second cell group enters deactivated mode and/or when it enters the normal mode (paragraphs [0212], [0313] – [0315], [0375]- [0379]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the UE receiving beam failure instance indications from L1 as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE action of Mattam for the MAC entity to utilize the BFR timer and BFI_COUNTER for the SCG entering deactivation mode. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 6, Mattam and Da Silva disclose the communication apparatus according to claim 5, but Mattam does not explicitly disclose wherein, the BFD parameter includes a count value obtained by counting a beam failure instance indicator notified from a physical layer of the communication apparatus to the MAC entity, the MAC entity detects a beam failure in response to the count value reaching a threshold value, and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is not configured to perform the BFD, the controller is configured to control stopping the BFD timer in the process of resetting the MAC entity. Da Silva discloses the network configures the UE with BFD reference signals and the UE declares beam failure when the number of beam failure instance indications from L1 reaches a configured threshold before a configured timer expires, and the UE determines if BFD should be declared while the second cell group is deactivated, where the determination includes MAC entity starts or restarts a BFR timer and increments BFI_COUNTER by one for each BFI received from L1, compares between the BFI_COUNTER and a configured maximum number of BFI instances that can occurs within a pre-determined time and BFI_COUNTER is set to zero if the BFR timer expires, where the BFI_COUNTER is reset when the second cell group enters deactivated mode and/or when it enters the normal mode (paragraphs [0212], [0313] – [0315], [0375]- [0379]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the UE receiving beam failure instance indications from L1 as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE action of Mattam for the MAC entity to utilize the BFR timer and BFI_COUNTER for the SCG entering deactivation mode. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 9, Mattam discloses the master node according to claim 7, but does not explicitly disclose wherein the BFD parameter includes a count value obtained by counting a beam failure instance indicator notified from a physical layer of the communication apparatus to the MAC entity, the controller is configured to configure a threshold value of the count value, and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is configured to perform the BFD, the count value is not reset in the process of resetting the MAC entity in the communication apparatus. Da Silva discloses the network configures the UE with BFD reference signals and the UE declares beam failure when the number of beam failure instance indications from L1 reaches a configured threshold before a configured timer expires, and the UE determines if BFD should be declared while the second cell group is deactivated, where the determination includes MAC entity starts or restarts a BFR timer and increments BFI_COUNTER by one for each BFI received from L1, compares between the BFI_COUNTER and a configured maximum number of BFI instances that can occurs within a pre-determined time and BFI_COUNTER is set to zero if the BFR timer expires, where the BFI_COUNTER is reset when the second cell group enters deactivated mode and/or when it enters the normal mode (paragraphs [0212], [0313] – [0315], [0375]- [0379]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the UE receiving beam failure instance indications from L1 as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE action of Mattam for the MAC entity to utilize the BFR timer and BFI_COUNTER for the SCG entering deactivation mode. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 10, Mattam discloses the master node according to claim 7, but does not explicitly disclose wherein, the BFD parameter includes a count value obtained by counting a beam failure instance indicator notified from a physical layer of the communication apparatus to the MAC entity, the controller is configured to configure a threshold value of the count value, and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is not configured to perform the BFD, the count value is reset in the process of resetting the MAC entity in the communication apparatus. Da Silva discloses the network configures the UE with BFD reference signals and the UE declares beam failure when the number of beam failure instance indications from L1 reaches a configured threshold before a configured timer expires, and the UE determines if BFD should be declared while the second cell group is deactivated, where the determination includes MAC entity starts or restarts a BFR timer and increments BFI_COUNTER by one for each BFI received from L1, compares between the BFI_COUNTER and a configured maximum number of BFI instances that can occurs within a pre-determined time and BFI_COUNTER is set to zero if the BFR timer expires, where the BFI_COUNTER is reset when the second cell group enters deactivated mode and/or when it enters the normal mode (paragraphs [0212], [0313] – [0315], [0375]- [0379]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the UE receiving beam failure instance indications from L1 as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE action of Mattam for the MAC entity to utilize the BFR timer and BFI_COUNTER for the SCG entering deactivation mode. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 11, Mattam discloses the master node according to claim 7, but does not explicitly disclose wherein, the BFD parameter further includes a BFD timer for the BFD and a count value obtained by counting a beam failure instance indicator notified from a physical layer of the communication apparatus to the MAC entity, the controller is configured to configure a threshold value of the count value, and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is configured to perform the BFD, the BFD timer is not stopped in the process of resetting the MAC entity in the communication apparatus. Da Silva discloses the network configures the UE with BFD reference signals and the UE declares beam failure when the number of beam failure instance indications from L1 reaches a configured threshold before a configured timer expires, and the UE determines if BFD should be declared while the second cell group is deactivated, where the determination includes MAC entity starts or restarts a BFR timer and increments BFI_COUNTER by one for each BFI received from L1, compares between the BFI_COUNTER and a configured maximum number of BFI instances that can occurs within a pre-determined time and BFI_COUNTER is set to zero if the BFR timer expires, where the BFI_COUNTER is reset when the second cell group enters deactivated mode and/or when it enters the normal mode (paragraphs [0212], [0313] – [0315], [0375]- [0379]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the UE receiving beam failure instance indications from L1 as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE action of Mattam for the MAC entity to utilize the BFR timer and BFI_COUNTER for the SCG entering deactivation mode. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 12, Mattam discloses the master node according to claim 7, but does not explicitly disclose wherein, the BFD parameter includes a count value obtained by counting a beam failure instance indicator notified from a physical layer of the communication apparatus to the MAC entity, the controller is configured to configure a threshold value of the count value, and in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is not configured to perform the BFD, the BFD timer is stopped in the process of resetting the MAC entity in the communication apparatus. Da Silva discloses the network configures the UE with BFD reference signals and the UE declares beam failure when the number of beam failure instance indications from L1 reaches a configured threshold before a configured timer expires, and the UE determines if BFD should be declared while the second cell group is deactivated, where the determination includes MAC entity starts or restarts a BFR timer and increments BFI_COUNTER by one for each BFI received from L1, compares between the BFI_COUNTER and a configured maximum number of BFI instances that can occurs within a pre-determined time and BFI_COUNTER is set to zero if the BFR timer expires, where the BFI_COUNTER is reset when the second cell group enters deactivated mode and/or when it enters the normal mode (paragraphs [0212], [0313] – [0315], [0375]- [0379]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the UE receiving beam failure instance indications from L1 as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE action of Mattam for the MAC entity to utilize the BFR timer and BFI_COUNTER for the SCG entering deactivation mode. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 13, Mattam discloses a communication method of a communication apparatus performing communication with a master cell group (MCG) managed by a master node and a secondary cell group (SCG) managed by a secondary node (network environment includes user equipments (UEs) and network nodes (eNB/gNB) in master cell group (MCG) and secondary cell group (SCG), Fig. 1), the communication apparatus associated with the SCG (the UE receives a deactivation request for an activated SCG, where the UE action set for MAC entities include continuing monitoring for detection of beam failure in SCG, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063], [0122]), the communication method comprising the steps of: receiving information indicating deactivation of the SCG (the UE receives a deactivation request for an activated SCG, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063]); managing, by a media access control (MAC) entity, a beam failure detection (BFD) parameter for performing a BFD on the SCG (the UE action set for MAC entities include continuing monitoring for detection of beam failure in SCG, where the network entity indicates whether to continue or stop monitoring BFD upon SCG deactivation to the UE, and the indication is indicated along with the SCG deactivation message, paragraphs [0122] – [0126], [0128]); and controlling not resetting or not stopping the BFD parameter in a process of resetting the MAC entity in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is configured to perform the BFD (the UE receives a deactivation request, where the UE performs a set of actions for Data Radio Bearers including the timing alignment (TA) timer is maintained after the SCG deactivation and SCG MAC is not reset, and the UE actions for MAC entities correspond to the operations described in Figs. 4 and 5, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063], [0068], [0128]). However, Mattam does not explicitly disclose “the communication apparatus including a media access control (MAC) entity.” Da Silva discloses the UE supports MCG, SCG, and split bearers, where the UE includes MAC layers such as LTE MAC and NR MAC (paragraph [0134]). Before the effective filing date of the invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, having the teachings of Mattam and Da Silva before him or her, to incorporate the control plan (CP) protocol stack supporting MCG and SCG as taught by Da Silva, to improve the UE actions of Mattam for enabling SCG deactivation. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide an efficient activation/deactivation procedure for SCG/SCell (paragraph [0018] of Da Silva). Regarding claim 14, Mattam and Da Silva disclose the communication method according to claim 13, Mattam discloses further comprising controlling resetting or stopping the BFD parameter in the process of resetting the MAC entity in a case where the deactivation of the SCG is instructed and the communication apparatus is not configured to perform the BFD (the UE receives a deactivation request, where the UE performs resetting of MAC associated with the SCG, and the UE actions for MAC entities correspond to the operations described in Figs. 4 and 5, paragraphs [0059], [0061] – [0063], [0068], [0128]). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure: DONG et al (US Patent Application Publication 2022/0123823) – a first device receives parameters configured to carry out beam failure detection and beam failure recovery for secondary cells associated with the first device, determines whether a beam failure event has occurred on at least one of the secondary cells based on at least one of the parameters, performs a beam failure recovery procedure for the secondary cell with the beam failure event upon a determination that the beam failure event has occurred, and terminating the beam failure recovery procedure upon an occurrence of a termination event JANG et al (US Patent Application Publication 2023/0371109) – a terminal receives a deactivation command regarding a secondary cell group (SCG) from a first base station related to a master cell group (MCG), performs measurement on at least one beam related to the SCG in a deactivated state regarding the SCG, and performs a random access with a second base station related to the SCG on the basis of a random access preamble related to a downlink beam when beam failure is detected on the basis of the measurement XU et al (US Patent Application Publication 2024/0196464) – detecting whether beam failure occurs to a specific SCG in response to a secondary cell group (SCG) and/or a primary SCG cell (PSCell) being in a deactivated state, in which the specific SCG is the SCG in the deactivated state or an SCG to which the PSCell in the deactivated state belongs, and reporting a message indicating beam failure to a report node in response to detecting that beam failure occurs to the specific SCG KIM et al (US Patent Application Publication 2024/0388931) – the UE initiates a transmission of failure information for a cell group upon detecting a failure on the cell group, and determines whether to suspend a transmission on the cell group based on a cause of initiating the transmission of the failure information KAWANO et al (US Patent Application Publication 2024/0430718) – the terminal apparatus determines whether to perform beam failure detection in the terminal apparatus based on whether information indicating whether to perform beam failure detection is included in an SCG deactivation command transmitted from the previous base station apparatus, and determines whether to perform beam failure detection based on a determination of whether to perform beam failure detection WALLENTIN et al (US Patent Application Publication 2025/0007596) – performing beam failure detection (BFD) for at least one cell in the SCG while the SCG is deactivated according to a first BFD configuration, transmitting a first message indicating the initial beam failure to a RAN node configured to provide the MCG in response to detecting an initial beam failure in the deactivated SCG, and refraining from transmitting to the RAN any messages indicating the one or more subsequent beam failures (e.g., until receiving another BFD configuration) in response to detecting one or more subsequent beam failures in the deactivated SCG Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KAI J CHANG whose telephone number is (571)270-5448. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 10AM-6PM 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, Marcus Smith can be reached at (571)270-1096. 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. /Kai Chang/Examiner, Art Unit 2468 /Thomas R Cairns/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2468
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Prosecution Timeline

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

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
73%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+39.4%)
3y 8m (~1y 8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 416 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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