Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/836,723

MINI SLOT CONFIGURATIONS FOR SIDELINK POSITIONING

Non-Final OA §103
Filed
Aug 07, 2024
Priority
Apr 26, 2022 — GR 20220100337 +1 more
Examiner
LO, DIANE LEE
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Qualcomm Incorporated
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
0m
Est. Remaining
97%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
865 granted / 966 resolved
+29.5% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Fast prosecutor
2y 1m
Avg Prosecution
25 currently pending
Career history
980
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
4.0%
-36.0% vs TC avg
§103
56.0%
+16.0% vs TC avg
§102
28.9%
-11.1% vs TC avg
§112
2.8%
-37.2% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 966 resolved cases

Office Action

§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 is response to Application 18/836,723 filed on 08/07/2024 in which claims 1-30 are presented for examination. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 16 and 17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 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. Claims 1-8, 13-15, 18-20, 22, 23 and 28-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (US 2021/0227602 A1) in view of Qi (US 2021/0167925 A1). 1. Regarding claim 1, Li teaches an apparatus for performing sidelink positioning (Figures 2 and 3, Paragraphs [0131], [0312], and [0361] resources available for SL transmission in a slot), comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one processor configured to: Li does not explicitly disclose receive a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slot portions, a first slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a first sidelink symbol with at least a first sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and a second slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a second sidelink symbol with at least a second SL-PRS resource and process at least one SL-PRS resource in each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot. Qi teaches receive a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slot portions, a first slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a first sidelink symbol with at least a first sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and a second slot portion of the pluralityof slot portions comprising at least a second sidelink symbol with at least a second SL-PRS resource and process at least one SL-PRS resource in each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot (Qi, Fig. 4-6 and Paragraphs [0017] and [0025] distributing a plurality of positioning reference signals on a per-slot basis). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide receive a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slot portions, a first slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a first sidelink symbol with at least a first sidelinkpositioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and a second slot portion of the pluralityof slot portions comprising at least a second sidelink symbol with at least a second SL-PRS resource and process at least one SL-PRS resource in each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot as taught by Qi in the system of Li for improvements in location based services see Paragraph [0002] and title of Qi. 2. Regarding claim 2, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the resource block for a resource reservation period (Li Paragraph [0107] resource reservation period, Qi figure 5). 3. Regarding claim 3, Li in view of Qi teaches, wherein the first SL-PRS resource comprises one of a transmit PRS or a receive PRS, and wherein the second SL-PRS resource comprises one of a transmit PRS or a receive PRS (Qi Paragraph [0032] both uplink and downlink). 4. Regarding claim 4, Li in view of Qi teaches, wherein at least one of the first slot portion or the second slot portion comprises a sidelink control channel resource (Li, Paragraphs [0073] to [0076] PSCCH and PSSCH). 5. Regarding claim 5, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the sidelink control channel resource is a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) resource (Li, Paragraph [0073] PSCCH). 6. Regarding claim 6, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the sidelink control channel resource is frequency division multiplexed with the first SL-PRS resource or the second SL-PRS resource (Li Paragraph [0467] frequency division multiplexed; sidelink slots). 7. Regarding claim 7, Li in view of Qi teaches, wherein the first slot portion comprises a first sidelink control channel resource, and wherein the second slot portion comprises a second sidelink control channel resource (Li, Paragraphs [0073] to [0076] PSCCH and PSSCH). 8. Regarding claim 8, Li in view of Qi teaches, wherein both the first slot portion and the second slot portion do not comprise a sidelink control channel resource (Li Figure 14). 9. Regarding claim 13, Li in view of Qi teaches, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: output, for transmission to a network entity, information associated with an application of at least one of the plurality of slot portions of the slot for sidelink (SL) positioning (Li, Figure 14, Paragraphs [0073] to [0076] PSCCH and PSSCH; Qi, Fig. 4-6 and Paragraphs [0017] and [0025] distributing a plurality of positioning reference signals on a per-slot basis). 10. Regarding claim 14, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to: output, for transmission to a network entity, information associated with a configuration of the plurality of slot portions of the slot for a resource reservation period (Li Paragraph [0107] resource reservation period, Qi figure 5). 11. Regarding claim 15, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive, from a network entity, a configuration for at least one of the plurality of slot portions of the slot for sidelink positioning (Li, Figure 14, Paragraphs [0073] to [0076] PSCCH and PSSCH; Qi, Fig. 4-6 and Paragraphs [0017] and [0025] distributing a plurality of positioning reference signals on a per-slot basis). 12. Regarding claim 18, Li in view of Qi teaches, wherein a SL-PRS resource configuration is repeated in the plurality of slot portions of the slot (Qi Paragraph [0083] and [0084] PRS pattern is repeated on slot). 13. Regarding claim 19, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive, from a network entity, information associated with a SL-PRS resource configuration for each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot (Qi Paragraph [0083] and [0084] PRS pattern is repeated on slot). 14. Regarding claim 20, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the information is an indication of one or more slot portions of the plurality of slot portions of the slot that are enabled or disabled for one or more SL-PRS resources (Qi Paragraphs [0083] to [0086]and [0084] PRS pattern is repeated on slot). 15. Regarding claim 22, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the information specifies the SL-PRS resource configuration on at least one of a slot portion level or a slot level (Li, Figure 14, Paragraphs [0073] to [0076] PSCCH and PSSCH; Qi, Fig. 4-6 and Paragraphs [0017] and [0025] distributing a plurality of positioning reference signals on a per-slot basis). 16. Regarding claim 23, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the SL-PRS resource configuration is independent for each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot (Li, Figure 14, Paragraphs [0073] to [0076] PSCCH and PSSCH; Qi, Fig. 4-6 and Paragraphs [0017] and [0025] distributing a plurality of positioning reference signals on a per-slot basis). 17. Regarding claim 28, Li in view of Qi teaches wherein the apparatus is configured as a user equipment (UE), and further comprising: at least one transceiver configured to receive the resource block (Li, Figures 2 and 3, Paragraphs [0131], [0312], and [0361] resources available for SL transmission in a slot). 18. Regarding claim 29, Li teaches a method for performing sidelink positioning at a user equipment (UE) (Figures 2 and 3, Paragraphs [0131], [0312], and [0361] resources available for SL transmission in a slot), comprising: Li does not explicitly disclose receiving a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slot portions, a first slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a first sidelink symbol with at least a first sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and a second slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a second sidelink symbol with at least a second SL-PRS resource and processing at least one SL-PRS resource in each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot. Qi teaches receiving a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slot portions, a first slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a first sidelink symbol with at least a first sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and a second slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a second sidelink symbol with at least a second SL-PRS resource and processing at least one SL-PRS resource in each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot (Qi, Fig. 4-6 and Paragraphs [0017] and [0025] distributing a plurality of positioning reference signals on a per-slot basis). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide receiving a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot comprises a plurality of slot portions, a first slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a first sidelink symbol with at least a first sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and a second slot portion of the plurality of slot portions comprising at least a second sidelink symbol with at least a second SL-PRS resource and processing at least one SL-PRS resource in each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot as taught by Qi in the system of Li for improvements in location based services see Paragraph [0002] and title of Qi. 19. Regarding claim 30, Li teaches an apparatus for performing sidelink positioning ), comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one processor configured to (Figures 2 and 3, Paragraphs [0131], [0312], and [0361] resources available for SL transmission in a slot): Li does not explicitly disclose generate a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot includes a plurality of slot portions, each slot portion from the plurality of slot portions of the slot comprising at least one sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and transmit the resource block to a user equipment (UE). Qi teaches generate a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot includes a plurality of slot portions, each slot portion from the plurality of slot portions of the slot comprising at least one sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and transmit the resource block to a user equipment (UE). (Qi, Fig. 4-6 and Paragraphs [0017] and [0025] distributing a plurality of positioning reference signals on a per-slot basis). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide generate a resource block comprising a plurality of sidelink symbols in a slot, wherein the slot includes a plurality of slot portions, each slot portion from the plurality of slot portions of the slot comprising at least one sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource and transmit the resource block to a user equipment (UE) as taught by Qi in the system of Li for improvements in location based services see Paragraph [0002] and title of Qi. Claims 9-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (US 2021/0227602 A1) in view of Qi (US 2021/0167925 A1) in further view of Baek et al. (WO 2021/086114 A1). 20. Regarding claim 9, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly disclose wherein one of the first slot portion or the second slot portion comprises an automatic gain control (AGC) resource. Baek teaches wherein one of the first slot portion or the second slot portion comprises an automatic gain control (AGC) resource (Figure 11a and 11b AGC symbol). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein one of the first slot portion or the second slot portion comprises an automatic gain control (AGC) resource as taught by Baek in the system of Li in view of Qi for a slot structure see Figure 11a. 21. Regarding claim 10, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly disclose wherein the first slot portion comprises a first automatic gain control (AGC) resource, and wherein the second slot portion comprises a second AGC resource. Baek teaches wherein the first slot portion comprises a first automatic gain control (AGC) resource, and wherein the second slot portion comprises a second AGC resource (Figure 11a, 12 and 13 AGC symbol). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein the first slot portion comprises a first automatic gain control (AGC) resource, and wherein the second slot portion comprises a second AGC resource as taught by Baek in the system of Li in view of Qi for a slot structure see Figure 11a, 12 and 13. 22. Regarding claim 11, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly disclose wherein one of the first slot portion or the second slot portion comprises a gap, wherein a gap is a symbol without data. Baek teaches wherein one of the first slot portion or the second slot portion comprises a gap, wherein a gap is a symbol without data. (Figure 11a, 12 and 13 AGC symbol). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein one of the first slot portion or the second slot portion comprises a gap, wherein a gap is a symbol without data as taught by Baek in the system of Li in view of Qi for a slot structure see Figure 11a, 12 and 13. 23. Regarding claim 12, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly disclose wherein the first slot portion comprises a first gap and the second slot portion comprises a second gap, and wherein the first gap and the second gap are each a symbol without data. Baek teaches wherein the first slot portion comprises a first gap and the second slot portion comprises a second gap, and wherein the first gap and the second gap are each a symbol without data (Figure 11a, 12 and 13 AGC symbol). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein the first slot portion comprises a first gap and the second slot portion comprises a second gap, and wherein the first gap and the second gap are each a symbol without data as taught by Baek in the system of Li in view of Qi for a slot structure see Figure 11a, 12 and 13. Claims 21 and 24-27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li et al. (US 2021/0227602 A1) in view of Qi (US 2021/0167925 A1) in further view of Xiao et al. (US 2022/0279310 A1) . 24. Regarding claim 21, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly disclose wherein the information is included as part of assistance data (AD). Xiao teaches wherein the information is included as part of assistance data (AD) (Paragraphs [0122] and [0131] assistance data). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein the information is included as part of assistance data as taught by Xiao in the system of Li in view of Qi for location determination see abstract of Xiao. 25. Regarding claim 24, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly disclose wherein the at least one processor is configured to: output sidelink control information (SCI) for transmission to a receive user equipment (UE). Xiao teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to: output sidelink control information (SCI) for transmission to a receive user equipment (UE) (Paragraphs [0122] and [0131] transmits assistance data through SCI). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein the at least one processor is configured to: output sidelink control information (SCI) for transmission to a receive user equipment (UE) as taught by Xiao in the system of Li in view of Qi for location determination see abstract of Xiao. 26. Regarding claim 25, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly disclose wherein the SCI comprises information related to a SL-PRS resource configuration for each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot. . Xiao teaches wherein the SCI comprises information related to a SL-PRS resource configuration for each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot (Paragraphs [0122] and [0131] assistance data through SCI; PRS slots). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein the SCI comprises information related to a SL-PRS resource configuration for each of the plurality of slot portions of the slot as taught by Xiao in the system of Li in view of Qi for location determination see abstract of Xiao. 27. Regarding claim 26, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly wherein the information specifies the SL-PRS resource configuration on at least one of a slot portion level or a slot level. . Xiao teaches wherein the information specifies the SL-PRS resource configuration on at least one of a slot portion level or a slot level (Paragraphs [0122] and [0131] assistance data through SCI; PRS slots). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein the information specifies the SL-PRS resource configuration on at least one of a slot portion level or a slot level. as taught by Xiao in the system of Li in view of Qi for location determination see abstract of Xiao. 28. Regarding claim 27, Li in view of Qi does not explicitly wherein the information is an indication of one or more slot portions of the plurality of slot portions of the slot that are enabled or disabled for one or more SL-PRS resources. . Xiao teaches wherein the information is an indication of one or more slot portions of the plurality of slot portions of the slot that are enabled or disabled for one or more SL-PRS resources (Paragraphs [0122] and [0131] assistance data through SCI; PRS slots). It would have been obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide wherein the information is an indication of one or more slot portions of the plurality of slot portions of the slot that are enabled or disabled for one or more SL-PRS resources as taught by Xiao in the system of Li in view of Qi for location determination see abstract of Xiao. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure: Panteleev et al. (US 2022/0086860 A1) Paragraph [0675] AGC and gap Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DIANE LEE LO whose telephone number is (571)270-1952. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm. 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, Faruk Hamza can be reached at (571)272-7969. 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. /DIANE L LO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2466
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Aug 07, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 22, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
97%
With Interview (+7.3%)
2y 1m (~0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 966 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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