Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/807,841

CELL SELECTION FOR UPLINK TRANSMISSION

Non-Final OA §102§103
Filed
Aug 16, 2024
Priority
Mar 11, 2021 — provisional 63/159,608 +1 more
Examiner
CHOWDHURY, FAHMIDA S
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
93%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 93% — above average
93%
Career Allowance Rate
590 granted / 634 resolved
+33.1% vs TC avg
Moderate +6% lift
Without
With
+6.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
649
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
3.1%
-36.9% vs TC avg
§103
42.7%
+2.7% vs TC avg
§102
30.9%
-9.1% vs TC avg
§112
11.6%
-28.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 634 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §103
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 . DETAILED ACTION This action is in response to the application filed on 08/16/2024. Claims 1-20 have been examined. 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)(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, 4, 5, 8, 11, 12, 15 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) (2) as being anticipated by HUANG et al. (US 2022/0116938). As of claim 1, HUANG discloses a method comprising: receiving information for a first resource on a first cell and for a second resource on a second cell (para [0079] discloses the receiver of a UE receives, from a base station, a repetition configuration indicating a number of repetitions of a PUCCH transmission that includes at least a first repetition and a second repetition. para [0088] [0046] discloses receiving a slot index from the base station, wherein the first repetition of the PUCCH transmission is transmitted in the first slot (=first resource) on the first component carrier (=first cell) and a slot index (second resource) for the second component carrier (=second cell) wherein second repetition of the PUCCH transmission is transmitted in the first candidate slot (=second resource) on the second component carrier (=second cell)); determining a number of more than one repetitions for transmission of a channel (para [0087] discloses receiving, from a base station, a repetition configuration indicating a number of repetitions of a PUCCH (channel) transmission including at least a first repetition and a second repetition which corresponds to UE determine a number of more than one repetitions for transmission of a channel); and transmitting: a first repetition of the channel using the first resource on the first cell (para [0087] discloses transmitting, to the base station, the first repetition of the PUCCH transmission in a first slot (=first resource) on a first component carrier (=first cell)), and a second repetition of the channel using the second resource on the second cell (para [0087] transmitting, the second repetition of the PUCCH transmission on a second component carrier (=second cell) having an earliest slot (=second resource), after the first slot, that is available to carry the second repetition. As of claim 8, HUANG discloses a user equipment (UE) comprising: a transceiver ([Fig.2] shows the UE 120 comprises a transceiver 258 and 264) configured to receive information for a first resource on a first cell and for a second resource on a second cell (para [0079] discloses the receiver of a UE receives, from a base station, a repetition configuration indicating a number of repetitions of a PUCCH transmission that includes at least a first repetition and a second repetition, para [0088] [0046] discloses receiving a slot index from the base station, wherein the first repetition of the PUCCH transmission is transmitted in the first slot (=first resource) on the first component carrier (=first cell) and a slot index (second resource) for the second component carrier (=second cell) wherein second repetition of the PUCCH transmission is transmitted in the first candidate slot (=second resource) on the second component carrier (=second cell)); and a processor operably coupled to the transceiver (see [Fig. 2] controller /processor 280 is coupled to the transceiver 258 and 264), the processor configured to determine a number of more than one repetitions for transmission of a channel (para [0087] discloses receiving, from a base station, a repetition configuration indicating a number of repetitions of a PUCCH (channel) transmission including at least a first repetition and a second repetition which corresponds to the processor of a UE determines a number of more than one repetitions for transmission of a channel), wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit: a first repetition of the channel using the first resource on the first cell (para [0087] discloses transmitting, to the base station, the first repetition of the PUCCH transmission in a first slot (=first resource) on a first component carrier (=first cell)), and a second repetition of the channel using the second resource on the second cell (para [0087] transmitting, the second repetition of the PUCCH transmission on a second component carrier (=second cell) having an earliest slot (=second resource), after the first slot, that is available to carry the second repetition). As of claim 15, HUANG discloses a base station comprising: a transceiver ([Fig.2] shows the base station 110 includes a transmit and receive processors 220 and 238 (= transceiver) configured to transmit information for a first resource on a first cell and for a second resource on a second cell (para [0079] discloses from a base station transmit to the receiver of a UE, a repetition configuration indicating a number of repetitions of a PUCCH transmission that includes at least a first repetition and a second repetition, para [0088][0046] discloses the base station transmits a slot index , wherein the first repetition of the PUCCH transmission is transmitted in the first slot (=first resource) on the first component carrier (=first cell) and a slot index (second resource) for the second component carrier (=second cell) wherein second repetition of the PUCCH transmission is transmitted in the first candidate slot (=second resource) on the second component carrier (=second cell)); and a processor operably coupled to the transceiver (See [Fig. 2] controller /processor 240 is coupled to the transceiver 220 and 238), the processor configured to determine a number of more than one repetitions for reception of a channel, (para [0087] discloses a base station transmit to the UE, a repetition configuration indicating a number of repetitions of a PUCCH (channel) transmission including at least a first repetition and a second repetition which corresponds to a processor of a base station determines a number of more than one repetitions for transmission of a channel), wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive: a first repetition of the channel using the first resource on the first cell (para [0087] discloses the base station receives, the first repetition of the PUCCH transmission in a first slot (=first resource) on a first component carrier (=first cell),and a second repetition of the channel using the second resource on the second cell (para [0087] discloses base station receive the second repetition of the PUCCH transmission on a second component carrier (=second cell) having an earliest slot (=second resource), after the first slot, that is available to carry the second repetition). As of claims 4 and 11, rejection of claims 1 and 8 cited above incorporated herein, in addition HUANG discloses: receiving information for first power control parameters and for second power control parameters; determining: a first power based on the first power control parameters, and a second power based on the second power control parameters; and transmitting: the first repetition of the channel using the first power, and the second repetition of the channel using the second power (para [0052][0075] discloses the receiver receive one or more channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) and a channel processor determine reference signal received power (RSRP), received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), channel quality indicator (CQI), para [0098] discloses receiving, from the base station based on the number of repetitions satisfying a repetition criterion, a component carrier parameter indicating a component carrier, an RRC parameter that configures a PUCCH carrier switch, a repetition configuration indicating a number of repetitions of a PUCCH transmission including at least a first repetition and a second repetition). As of claims 5, 12 and 18, rejection of claims 1, 8 and 15 cited above incorporated herein, in addition HUANG discloses the channel is a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) (para [0086] disclose a number of repetitions of a PUCCH (=channel), and the first resource and the second resource have a same index (para [0088] receiving a slot index from the base station (=same index) and it’s a design choice that first resource and the second resource have a same index). 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 of this title, 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 6, 13 and 19 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over HUANG et al. (US 2022/0116938) in view of YUAN et al. (US 2026/0155881). As of claims 6, 13 and 19, rejection of claims 1, 8 and 15 cited above incorporated herein, in addition HUANG does not explicitly disclose but YUAN teaches the channel is a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) (YUAN, para [0069] disclose channel repetition comprises at least one of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) repetition or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetition), and the first resource and the second resource have a same number of resource blocks in frequency and a same number of symbols in time (YUAN, para [0078] discloses the resource index be an index of resource blocks or resource elements, the PUCCH repetitions be transmitted over a number of slots corresponds to number of symbols and it’s a design choice that a first resource and the second resource have a same number of resource blocks in frequency and a same number of symbols in time). Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of HUANG with the teaching of YUAN in order to improve transmission reliability by using a channel repetition. Allowable Subject Matter Claim 2-3, 7, 9-10,14, 16-17, and 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if the Applicant rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: As to claims 2, 9 and 16, the prior arts of record do not teach or reasonably suggest the limitation “the number of slots is equal to a size of the bitmap, the mapping repeats periodically over the number of slots, and a value of a bit from the bitmap indicates that a repetition of the channel in a slot from the number of slots is on either the first cell or the second cell; determining the value of a first bit in the bitmap that maps to a first slot; and transmitting a third repetition of the channel on either the first cell or the second cell during the first slot based on the value of the first bit” with the claimed invention as a whole. Accordingly claims 3, 10 and 17 are also objected as being dependent upon claims 2, 9 and 16 respectively. As to claims 7, 14 and 20, the prior arts of record do not teach or reasonably suggest the limitation “the first resource and the second resource have a same number of resource elements excluding resource elements used for demodulation reference signal” with the claimed invention as a whole. Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FAHMIDA S CHOWDHURY whose telephone number is (571)272-2547. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8am to 5pm. 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, Sujoy K Kundu can be reached at 571-272-8586. 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. /FAHMIDA S CHOWDHURY/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2471
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Prosecution Timeline

Aug 16, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 27, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §103 (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
93%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+6.1%)
2y 1m (~1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 634 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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