Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 18, 2026
Application No. 18/854,790

SPATIAL REUSE TRANSMISSIONS IN WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 07, 2024
Priority
Apr 07, 2022 — provisional 63/328,550 +2 more
Examiner
PATEL, CHANDRAHAS B
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
InterDigital Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
8m
Est. Remaining
96%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 88% — above average
88%
Career Allowance Rate
804 granted / 909 resolved
+28.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +7% lift
Without
With
+7.1%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 7m
Avg Prosecution
20 currently pending
Career history
925
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
8.0%
-32.0% vs TC avg
§103
40.5%
+0.5% vs TC avg
§102
40.9%
+0.9% vs TC avg
§112
5.6%
-34.4% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 909 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION Specification The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification. 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 1-5, 8-12 and 15-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Shellhammer et al. (USPN 11,924,812). Regarding claim 1, Shellhammer teaches a method for parameterized spatial reuse (PSR), implemented in a station (STA) the method comprising receiving, from an access point (AP), a parameterized spatial reuse reception (PSRR) Physical Layer protocol data unit (PPDU) which includes a trigger frame [Col. 21, lines 4-32, receives spatial reuse frame which includes a trigger frame]; and transmitting, based on information in the PSRR PPDU, a parameterized spatial reuse transmission (PSRT) PPDU [Col. 21, line 33 – Col. 22, line 26, spatial reuse transmission is done in the uplink]; wherein the PSRT PPDU includes at least one padding field [Col. 21, line 33 – Col. 22, line 26, uplink transmission includes additional fields used for padding]. Regarding claims 2 and 9, Shellhammer teaches the padding field is configured to align an end of the PSRT PPDU to an end of a trigger based (TB) PPDU transmitted by a station (STA) in a basic service set (BSS) of the AP [Col. 9, line 65 – Col. 10, line 19]. Regarding claims 3 and 10, Shellhammer teaches the STA is not within the BSS of the AP [Col. 8, lines 31-56]. Regarding claims 4 and 11, Shellhammer teaches the trigger frame comprises an EHT spatial reuse subfield having a value based on a 20-megahertz (MHz) subchannel [Fig. 8]. Regarding claims 5 and 12, Shellhammer teaches the trigger frame includes a spatial reuse subfield in a common info field [Col. 21, lines 4-32]. Regarding claim 8, Shellhammer teaches a station (STA) configured for parameterized spatial reuse (PSR), the STA comprising: circuitry configured to receive, from an access point (AP), a parameterized spatial reuse reception (PSRR) Physical Layer protocol data unit (PPDU) which includes a trigger frame [Col. 21, lines 4-32, receives spatial reuse frame which includes a trigger frame]; and circuitry configured to transmit, based on information in the PSRR PPDU, a parameterized spatial reuse transmission (PSRT) PPDU [Col. 21, line 33 – Col. 22, line 26, spatial reuse transmission is done in the uplink]; wherein the PSRT PPDU includes at least one padding field [Col. 21, line 33 – Col. 22, line 26, uplink transmission includes additional fields used for padding]. Regarding claim 15, Shellhammer teaches a method for enhanced spatial reuse (ESR), the method comprising: receiving an enhanced spatial reuse reception (ESRR) physical protocol data unit PPDU which includes a trigger frame that indicates that at least one subchannel may be punctured, and a duration of an ESR operation [Col. 21, lines 4-32 and Col. 22, lines 27-45]; transmitting an enhanced spatial reuse transmission (ESRT) PPDU on at least one punctured subchannel, on an ESR opportunity based on the ESRR PPDU [Col. 22, lines 27-45]; and receiving a response to the ESRT PPDU on the at least one punctured subchannel [Col. 22, lines 46-62]. Regarding claim 16, Shellhammer teaches the duration is indicated in a common info field [Col. 21, lines 4-32]. Regarding claim 17, Shellhammer teaches the ESRR PPDU carries a MAC frame which solicits a response frame [Fig. 3]. Allowable Subject Matter Claims 6, 7, 13, 14 and 18-20 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. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure is cited on the form PTO-892. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHANDRAHAS PATEL whose telephone number is (571)270-1211. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 7:30 - 17:30. 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, Ricky Ngo can be reached at 571-272-3139. 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. /Chandrahas B Patel/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2464
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Oct 07, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 21, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

Precedent Cases

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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
88%
Grant Probability
96%
With Interview (+7.1%)
2y 7m (~8m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 909 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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