Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/793,190

MECHANISM FOR USER EQUIPMENT PERFORMANCE FEEDBACK MEASUREMENT REPORTING

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Aug 02, 2024
Priority
Aug 11, 2023 — FI 20235908
Examiner
NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Nokia Corporation
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
5m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
1121 granted / 1288 resolved
+27.0% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
1315
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
2.0%
-38.0% vs TC avg
§103
63.4%
+23.4% vs TC avg
§102
20.2%
-19.8% vs TC avg
§112
4.5%
-35.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1288 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. 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. Claims 1-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Soldati et al. (US 20220110039 A1). Considering claim 1, Soldati teaches a first apparatus (target node) comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (Fig.20, [0240]-[0243]), cause the first apparatus to: receive (RESOURCE STATUS REQUEST message to potential target eNBs), from a second apparatus (source node) (Fig.5, 14, [0049], [0122]), a request for user equipment, UE, performance feedback, wherein the request indicates a set of measurement requirements (Fig.14, [0172] source node can trigger a signaling exchange with the potential target network node to communicate a change in one or more handover offsets ΔHO for UE mobility…, [0177] the source node receives a Mobility Settings Change Response message from the target node. This message may acknowledge the handover offset configuration for a beam or group of beams as signaled by the source network node to the target network node, or it may include a different handover offset configuration determined by the target node); perform a measurement (beam-level information) for the UE performance feedback for a third apparatus (UE), wherein the third apparatus is handed over from the second apparatus to the first apparatus (Fig.5, 14-19, [0119],[0178] handed over between beams of the source network node and beams the target network node, [0186]-[0187]; in accordance with a determination that a termination condition (threshold) for the measurement is satisfied ([0118], [0122]), determine whether the set of measurement requirements (specific load information) is satisfied based on the measurement for the UE performance feedback (Fig.5, 14-19, [0121]-[0122], [0125]); and transmit, to the second apparatus (source node), information related to the UE performance feedback that is based on the determination (Fig. 5, 14-19, [0158] source node can receive a Handover Request Acknowledge message from the target network node including beam-level information to be sent to the UE, [0185]-[0186] operation 1756, the source node can receive a Handover Response message from the target node, which may include a handover acknowledgment). Considering claim 9, Soldati teaches a second apparatus (source node) comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (Fig.20, [0240]-[0243]), cause the second apparatus to: transmit, to a first apparatus (RESOURCE STATUS REQUEST message to potential target eNBs) (Fig.5, 14, [0049], [0122]), a request for user equipment, UE, performance feedback for a third apparatus, wherein the request indicates a set of measurement requirements (Fig.14, [0172] source node can trigger a signaling exchange with the potential target network node to communicate a change in one or more handover offsets ΔHO for UE mobility…, [0177] the source node receives a Mobility Settings Change Response message from the target node. This message may acknowledge the handover offset configuration for a beam or group of beams as signaled by the source network node to the target network node, or it may include a different handover offset configuration determined by the target node), and wherein the third apparatus (UE) is handed over from the second apparatus to the first apparatus (Fig.5, 14-19, [0119], [0178] handed over between beams of the source network node and beams the target network node, [0186]-[0187]); and receive, from the first apparatus, information related to the UE performance feedback that is based on the determination (Fig. 5, 14-19, [0158] source node can receive a Handover Request Acknowledge message from the target network node including beam-level information to be sent to the UE, [0185]-[0186] operation 1756, the source node can receive a Handover Response message from the target node, which may include a handover acknowledgment). Considering claim 16, Soldati teaches a third apparatus (UE, Fig.21, [0268]) comprising: at least one processor (2101); and at least one memory (2115) storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (Fig.21, [0268], cause the third apparatus to: perform a handover from a second apparatus to a first apparatus (Fig.5, 14-19, [0119], [0178] handed over between beams of the source network node and beams the target network node, [0186]-[0187]); and transmit, to the first apparatus (Fig.5, 14-19, [0152]-[0153] MLB between a source node and a target node), at least one positioning signaling that facilitate a measurement for a user equipment, UE, performance feedback for third apparatus ([0178] UEs can be handed over between beams of the source network node and beams the target network node, [0186]-[0187]). Considering claims 2, 10, Soldati teaches wherein the set of measurement requirements indicates at least one of: a precision level of metric for the UE performance feedback, a maximum reporting time for the UE performance feedback, a distance between the third apparatus and the second apparatus, or available resources for the UE performance feedback ([0118]-[0119]). Considering claims 3, 11, Soldati teaches wherein the precision level of metric for the UE performance feedback comprises at least one of: a precision level of measured UE data rate ([0125]), a precision level of measured packet loss rate, or a precision level of measure packet delay. Considering claim 4, Soldati teaches wherein the termination condition for the measurement comprises at least one of: an expiration of a timer set by the second apparatus, a trigger of another handover event for the third apparatus during the measurement for the UE performance feedback, a distance between the third apparatus and the second apparatus exceeding a threshold distance, a precision level of the measurement being equal to or above a precision level indicated in the set of measurement requirements, available resources at the first apparatus being below a threshold value, the third apparatus connecting to a beam which is different from that used in during handover, a radio condition reported by the third apparatus dropping below a first threshold value, the radio condition reported by the third apparatus becoming higher than a second threshold value, or a dual connectivity being enabled at the third apparatus ([0135]). Considering claim 5, Soldati teaches wherein the first apparatus is caused to: in accordance with a determination that the set of measurement requirements is satisfied (threshold), transmit, to the second apparatus, the information indicating a result of the measurement for the UE performance feedback (Fig.5, 14-19, [0121]-[0122], [0125]). Considering claim 6, Soldati teaches wherein the first apparatus is caused to: in accordance with a determination that the set of measurement requirements is unsatisfied, transmit, to the second apparatus, the information indicating a cause of a failure in the measurement for the UE performance feedback ([0167]). Considering claims 7, 14, Soldati teaches wherein the cause of the failure comprises at least one of: an insufficient measurement precision withing running time of the timer, an insufficient measurement precision after a context limit of the UE performance feedback is reached, partial out of context measurements, or insufficient computing resources for the measurement for the UE performance feedback ([0167]). Considering claims 8, 15, 17, Soldati teaches wherein the first apparatus is a target network device (Fig.17), the second apparatus is a source network device, and the third apparatus is a terminal device (Fig.17). Considering claim 12, Soldati teaches wherein the second apparatus is caused to: receive, from the first apparatus ([0162]), the information indicating a result of the measurement for the UE performance feedback (Fig.5, 14-19, [0166]-[0167]). Considering claim 13, Soldati teaches wherein the second apparatus is caused to: receive, from the first apparatus, the information indicating a cause of a failure in the measurement for the UE performance feedback ([0167]). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KHAI MINH NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-7923. The examiner can normally be reached 6-3. 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, Charles Appiah can be reached at 571-272-7904. 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. /KHAI M NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2641
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 02, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 12, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+4.5%)
2y 4m (~5m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1288 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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