Prosecution Insights
Last updated: July 17, 2026
Application No. 18/813,275

COMMUNICATION METHOD, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Aug 23, 2024
Priority
Feb 24, 2022 — CN 202210173890.0 +1 more
Examiner
RACHEDINE, MOHAMMED
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
3m
Est. Remaining
98%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
670 granted / 771 resolved
+26.9% vs TC avg
Moderate +11% lift
Without
With
+11.4%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
18 currently pending
Career history
783
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
0.7%
-39.3% vs TC avg
§103
85.6%
+45.6% vs TC avg
§102
4.2%
-35.8% vs TC avg
§112
2.9%
-37.1% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 771 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 Receipt is acknowledged of papers submitted under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d), which papers have been placed of record in the file. Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/17/2025, 05/16/2025 and 12/19/2024 have been considered by the examiner and been placed of record in the file. 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 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. Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Byun et al. (US 2022/0264447 A1) in view of Sun (CN109257152 A). Claim 1. Byun et al. disclose A communication method (FIG. 17 all steps), comprising: sending, by a radio unit (read as Distributed Unit (DU) [0202]), a service idleness request to a baseband unit (read as the CU may receive, from the DU, a first message including deactivation request for the DU [0205]); and receiving, by the radio unit, a service idleness allow response (read as the CU may transmit, to the DU, a second message in response to the first message. The second message may include information informing that the deactivation request for the DU is accepted or not based on the determination [0213]), wherein the service idleness allow response (read as the CU may transmit, to the DU, a second message in response to the first message. The second message may include information informing that the deactivation request for the DU is accepted or not based on the determination [0213]) indicates a first resource is an idle resource. Byun et al. do not explicitly disclose: a first resource is an idle resource. However, in the related field of endeavor Sun discloses: ending target data to the second network-side device on the idle time-frequency resources [0011]. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was filed, to modify the teaching of Byun et al. with the teaching of Sun in order to provide a resource indication method, a network-side device, and a terminal to solve the problem of high access latency for terminals accessing 5G networks (Sun [0008]). Claim 2. The method according to claim 1, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, further comprising: executing, by the radio unit, a first component processing task using the first resource, wherein the first component processing task comprises one or more: a task for calibrating a radio frequency channel of the radio unit, a task for calibrating an antenna of the radio unit, or a task for detecting a component in the radio unit (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]). Claim 3. The method according to claim 1, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the first resource comprises a first radio frequency channel, a first time resource, and a first frequency resource, and the first radio frequency channel is on the radio unit (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]). Claim 4. The method according to claim 3, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the service idleness allow response comprises first information indicating the first resource (Sun: read as send indication information to the terminal to indicate the idle time- frequency resources supported by the second network-side device [0032]). Claim 5. The method according to claim 4, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the first information comprises one or more of: a channel identifier of the first radio frequency channel (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]), a start time of the first time resource, a duration of the first time resource, a start location of the first frequency resource, or a resource size of the first frequency resource; or the first information comprises one or more of : a channel identifier of the first radio frequency channel, a start time of the first time resource, a duration of the first time resource, or an identifier of at least one frequency in the first frequency resource. Claim 6. The method according to claim 2, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the service idleness request comprises second information and/or a task identifier of the first component processing task, the second information indicates a second resource (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]. The idea of requesting idle resources and receiving those resources is clearly disclosed by Sun. It is obvious that additional resources can be requested/provided. ), and the first component processing task comprises one or more of: the task for calibrating the radio frequency channel of the radio unit, the task for calibrating the antenna of the radio unit, or the task for detecting the component in the radio unit. Claim 7. The method according to claim 6, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the second resource comprises the first radio frequency channel (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]. The idea of requesting idle resources and receiving those resources is clearly disclosed by Sun. It is obvious that additional resources can be requested/provided. ), a second time resource, and a second frequency resource, and the first radio frequency channel is on the radio unit. Claim 8. The method according to claim 7, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the second information comprises one or more of: the channel identifier of the first radio frequency channel (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]. The idea of requesting idle resources and receiving those resources is clearly disclosed by Sun. It is obvious that additional resources can be requested/provided. ), a start time of the second time resource, a duration of the second time resource, a start location of the second frequency resource, or a resource size of the second frequency resource; or the second information comprises one or more of: the channel identifier of the first radio frequency channel, a start time of the second time resource, a duration of the second time resource, or an identifier of at least one frequency in the second frequency resource. Claim 9. The method according to claim 6, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein before sending the service idleness request to the baseband unit, the method further comprises: determining, by the radio unit, the second information based on the first component processing task (Sun: read as When the second frequency domain resources supported by the target terminal overlap with the first frequency domain resources, the target terminal sends the target data to the second network-side device on the third frequency domain resources and the first time domain resources [00063]). Claim 10. Byun et al. disclose A communication method (FIG. 17 all steps), wherein the method comprising: receiving, by a baseband unit, a service idleness request (read as the CU may receive, from the DU, a first message including deactivation request for the DU [0205]); determining (read as the CU may transmit, to the DU, a second message in response to the first message. The second message may include information informing that the deactivation request for the DU is accepted or not based on the determination [0213]), by the baseband unit, a first resource based on the service idleness request; and sending (read as the CU may transmit, to the DU, a second message in response to the first message. The second message may include information informing that the deactivation request for the DU is accepted or not based on the determination [0213]), by the baseband unit, a service idleness allow response to a radio unit, wherein the service idleness allow response indicates the first resource is an idle resource. Byun et al. do not explicitly disclose: a first resource is an idle resource. However, in the related field of endeavor Sun discloses: ending target data to the second network-side device on the idle time-frequency resources [0011]. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was filed, to modify the teaching of Byun et al. with the teaching of Sun in order to provide a resource indication method, a network-side device, and a terminal to solve the problem of high access latency for terminals accessing 5G networks (Sun [0008]). Claim 11. The method according to claim 10, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the first resource comprises a first radio frequency channel (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]. The idea of requesting idle resources and receiving those resources is clearly disclosed by Sun. It is obvious that additional resources can be requested/provided. ), a first time resource, and a first frequency resource, and the first radio frequency channel on the radio unit. Claim 12. The method according to claim 11, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the service idleness allow response comprises first information, indicating the first resource (Sun: read as send indication information to the terminal to indicate the idle time- frequency resources supported by the second network-side device [0032]). Claim 13. The method according to claim 12, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the first information comprises one or more of: a channel identifier of the first radio frequency channel, a start time of the first time resource, a duration of the first time resource, a start location of the first frequency resource, or a resource size of the first frequency resource (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]. The idea of requesting idle resources and receiving those resources is clearly disclosed by Sun. It is obvious that additional resources can be requested/provided. ); or the first information comprises one or more of: a channel identifier of the first radio frequency channel, a start time of the first time resource, a duration of the first time resource, or an identifier of at least one frequency in the first frequency resource. Claim 14. The method according to claim 11, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, further comprising: stopping, by the baseband unit and in a period of time corresponding to the first time resource, transmission of a first service using the first frequency resource, wherein the first service is of the radio unit (Sun: read as When the second frequency domain resources supported by the target terminal overlap with the first frequency domain resources, the target terminal sends the target data to the second network-side device on the third frequency domain resources and the first time domain resources [00063]. First frequency as idle resource is stopped.). Claim 15. The method according to claim 10, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the service idleness request comprises second information and/or a task identifier of a first component processing task, the second information indicates a second resource, and the first component processing task comprises one or more of: a task for calibrating a radio frequency channel of the radio unit, a task for calibrating an antenna of the radio unit, or a task for detecting a component in the radio unit (Sun: read as When the second frequency domain resources supported by the target terminal overlap with the first frequency domain resources, the target terminal sends the target data to the second network-side device on the third frequency domain resources and the first time domain resources [00063]). Claim 16. The method according to claim 15, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the second resource comprises the first radio frequency channel, a second time resource, and a second frequency resource, and the first radio frequency channel is on the radio unit (Sun: read as When the second frequency domain resources supported by the target terminal overlap with the first frequency domain resources, the target terminal sends the target data to the second network-side device on the third frequency domain resources and the first time domain resources [00063]). Claim 17. The method according to claim 16, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, wherein the second information comprises one or more of: a channel identifier of the first radio frequency channel, a start time of the second time resource, a duration of the second time resource, a start location of the second frequency resource, or a resource size of the second frequency resource (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]. The idea of requesting idle resources and receiving those resources is clearly disclosed by Sun. It is obvious that additional resources can be requested/provided. ); or the second information comprises one or more of: the channel identifier of the first radio frequency channel, a start time of the second time resource, a duration of the second time resource, or an identifier of at least one frequency in the second frequency resource. Claim 18. The method according to claim 15, the combination of Byun et al. and Sun teaches, further comprising: determining, by the baseband unit and based on service information of the first service, whether transmission of the first service can be suspended, wherein the first service is a service of the radio unit (read as a radio remote unit (RRU) [0078]); and determining, the first resource based on the service idleness request comprises: in association with determining that transmission of the first service can be suspended (Byun et al.: read as the CU may transmit, to the DU, a second message in response to the first message. The second message may include information informing that the deactivation request for the DU is accepted or not based on the determination [0213]), determining, by the baseband unit, the first resource based on the service idleness request (Sun: read as idle time-frequency resources include first frequency domain resources and first time domain resources… [0062] … (i.e., the first frequency domain resources) are frequency domain resources in different frequency bands [0065]). Claim 19. Byun et al. disclose A radio unit (FIG. 3), comprising: a processor (FIG. 3, item 120); and a memory (FIG. 3, item 130) configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor (read as a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a Central Unit (CU) is provided [0012]), cause the radio unit to: send a service idleness request to a baseband unit (read as the CU may receive, from the DU, a first message including deactivation request for the DU [0205]); and receive a service idleness allow response (read as the CU may transmit, to the DU, a second message in response to the first message. The second message may include information informing that the deactivation request for the DU is accepted or not based on the determination [0213]), wherein the service idleness allow response indicates a first resource is an idle resource. Byun et al. do not explicitly disclose: a first resource is an idle resource. However, in the related field of endeavor Sun discloses: ending target data to the second network-side device on the idle time-frequency resources [0011]. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was filed, to modify the teaching of Byun et al. with the teaching of Sun in order to provide a resource indication method, a network-side device, and a terminal to solve the problem of high access latency for terminals accessing 5G networks (Sun [0008]). Claim 20. Byun et al. disclose A baseband unit (FIG. 3), comprising: a processor (FIG. 3, item 120); and a memory configured to store computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor (read as a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, which, when executed by a processor of a Central Unit (CU) is provided [0012]), cause the baseband unit to: receive a service idleness request (read as the CU may receive, from the DU, a first message including deactivation request for the DU [0205]); determine a first resource based on the service idleness request; and send a service idleness allow response to a radio unit (read as the CU may transmit, to the DU, a second message in response to the first message. The second message may include information informing that the deactivation request for the DU is accepted or not based on the determination [0213]), wherein the service idleness allow response indicates the first resource is an idle resource. Byun et al. do not explicitly disclose: a first resource is an idle resource. However, in the related field of endeavor Sun discloses: ending target data to the second network-side device on the idle time-frequency resources [0011]. Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was filed, to modify the teaching of Byun et al. with the teaching of Sun in order to provide a resource indication method, a network-side device, and a terminal to solve the problem of high access latency for terminals accessing 5G networks (Sun [0008]). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Refer to PTO-892. Prior art included in PTO-892 taches ideas related to the claimed invention. In this regard, Moon et al. (US 2018/0043827 A1) disclose the idea of a communication modem sending a request to a telemetric vehicular unit to cut off power. Ljung (US 2016/0021616 A1), on the other hand, disclose (FIG. 6 all steps) a communication device requesting to enter power saving mode. Also, Xu et al. (US 2012/0207070 A1) disclose, FIG. 4, a mobile phone requesting a base station to transition to idle mode. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMED RACHEDINE whose telephone number is (571)272-9249. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 8-5. 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, Jeanette J. Parker can be reached at (571)270-3647. 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. MOHAMMED . RACHEDINE Examiner Art Unit 2649 /MOHAMMED RACHEDINE/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2646
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Prosecution Timeline

Aug 23, 2024
Application Filed
Jun 03, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
98%
With Interview (+11.4%)
2y 1m (~3m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 771 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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