Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/858,938

INTER-CELL BEAM MANAGEMENT IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 22, 2024
Priority
Apr 22, 2022 — provisional 63/363,481 +2 more
Examiner
ASRES, HERMON
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Google LLC
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
81%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 0m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 81% — above average
81%
Career Allowance Rate
309 granted / 383 resolved
+20.7% vs TC avg
Strong +18% interview lift
Without
With
+18.3%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
22 currently pending
Career history
400
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
13.4%
-26.6% vs TC avg
§103
53.1%
+13.1% vs TC avg
§102
16.2%
-23.8% vs TC avg
§112
9.5%
-30.5% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 383 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
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 . Information Disclosure Statement The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 10/22/2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner. 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)(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 1-13, and 16-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhou et al. (USPGPub 2022/0322115). As per claim 1, Zhou teaches a method for configuring inter-cell measurements at a user equipment (UE), (Zhou, see paragraph [0007], inter-cell mobility of a UE across serving and non-serving cells is based on layer 1 measurements) the method implemented in a radio access network (RAN) node (Zhou, see paragraph [0051], radio access technology (RAT) mobility) and comprising: transmitting, to the UE, a resource set including (i) a list of N resources including synchronization signal block (SSB) indices for signal measurement (Zhou, see paragraph [0007], The UE also receives the one or more reference signals from the non-serving cell. The UE may perform the L1 measurements on a synchronization signal block (SSB) (Note: this is transmitted to the UE)) and (ii) a list of N indices corresponding to the N resources, each index in the list of N indices referencing an identifier of a cell with which the signal measurement is associated (Zhou, see paragraph [0082], the UE receives, from the serving cell, a resource configuration configuring resources of one or more reference signals from a non-serving cell. The one or more reference signals may include at least one of a SSB, a CSI-RS, or a PRS from the non-serving cell. The reception of the resource configuration may be performed, e.g., by a reception component 830 and/or a configuration component 840 of the apparatus) and receiving, from the UE, a measurement report based on the resource set (Zhou, see paragraph [0076], the UE may report, by transmitting to the serving cell, the L1 measurements of the one or more reference signals received from the one or more non-serving cells. The transmission of the report may be performed, e.g., by the report component 846 and/or the transmission component 834 of the apparatus 802). As per claim 2, Zhou teaches the method of claim 1, wherein: the identifier of a cell is a physical cell identifier (PCI), and the index is a PCI index (Zhou, see paragraph [0048], the UE can determine a physical cell identifier (PCI). Based on the PCI). As per claim 3, Zhou teaches the method of claim 2, wherein: the PCI index is in a range of [0, 7]. (Zhou, see paragraph [0029], an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 160, and another core network 190 (e.g., a 5G Core (5GC)). (Note: physical cell identity for 5G ranges from 0 to 1007)). As per claim 4, Zhou teaches the method of claim 2 wherein: the PCI is in a range of [0, 1007]. (Zhou, see paragraph [0029], an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 160, and another core network 190 (e.g., a 5G Core (5GC)). (Note: physical cell identity for 5G ranges from 0 to 1007)). As per claim 5, Zhou teaches the method of claim 2 further comprising: transmitting, to the UE, a ServingCellConfig information element (IE) including a list of PCIs, wherein the PCI index refers to the list of PCIs (Zhou, see paragraph [0067], csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17   SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF SSB-Index, csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF PhysCellID  } where the parameter csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17 configures the SSB resource set identifier, the list csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17 configures a sequence of SSB indexes, and the list csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 configures a sequence of physical cell identifiers for the sequence of SSB indexes.). As per claim 6, Zhou teaches the method of claim 1 wherein: the index set to zero references a serving cell. (Zhou, see paragraph [0043], The L1 measurement configuration component 199 may also be configured to transmit to the UE 104, via the serving cell, a report configuration to report the L1 measurements of the one or more reference signals from the non-serving cell. Also see paragraph [0045], For slot configuration 0, each slot may include 14 symbols, and for slot configuration 1, each slot may include 7 symbols. The symbols on DL may be cyclic prefix (CP) OFDM (CP-OFDM) symbols). As per claim 7, Zhou teaches the method of claim 1 wherein the transmitting of the resource set includes: transmitting a CSI-SSB-ResourceSet information element (IE), wherein the list of the resources and the list of indices are respective fields in the IE. (Zhou, see paragraph [0085], …CSI-SSB-ResourceSet-17 ::= SEQUENCE {csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17  CSI-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17,  csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17   SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF SSB-Index, csi-SSB-PcIList-r17  SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF PhysCellID } where the parameter csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17 configures the SSB resource set identifier, the list csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17 configures a sequence of SSB indexes, and the list csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 configures a sequence of physical cell identifiers for the sequence of SSB indexes). As per claim 8, a method for performing inter-cell measurements, the method implemented in a user equipment (UE) (Zhou, see paragraph [0007], inter-cell mobility of a UE across serving and non-serving cells is based on layer 1 measurements) and comprising: receiving, from a radio access network (RAN), a resource set including (i) a list of N resources including synchronization signal block (SSB) indices for signal measurement (Zhou, see paragraph [0007], The UE also receives the one or more reference signals from the non-serving cell. The UE may perform the L1 measurements on a synchronization signal block (SSB) (Note: this is transmitted to the UE)) and (ii) a list of N indices corresponding to the N resources , each index in the list referencing an identifier of a cell with which the signal measurement is associated; (Zhou, see paragraph [0082], the UE receives, from the serving cell, a resource configuration configuring resources of one or more reference signals from a non-serving cell. The one or more reference signals may include at least one of a SSB, a CSI-RS, or a PRS from the non-serving cell. The reception of the resource configuration may be performed, e.g., by a reception component 830 and/or a configuration component 840 of the apparatus) and transmitting, to the RAN, a measurement report based on the resource set (Zhou, see paragraph [0076], the UE may report, by transmitting to the serving cell, the L1 measurements of the one or more reference signals received from the one or more non-serving cells. The transmission of the report may be performed, e.g., by the report component 846 and/or the transmission component 834 of the apparatus 802). As per claim 9, Zhou teaches the method of claim 8, wherein: the identifier of a cell is a physical cell identifier (PCI), and the index is a PCI index. (Zhou, see paragraph [0048], the UE can determine a physical cell identifier (PCI). Based on the PCI). As per claim 10, Zhou teaches the method of any of claim 8 further comprising: receiving, from the RAN, a ServingCellConfig information element (IE) including a list of PCIs, wherein the PCI index refers to the list of PCIs. (Zhou, see paragraph [0067], csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17   SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF SSB-Index, csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF PhysCellID  } where the parameter csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17 configures the SSB resource set identifier, the list csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17 configures a sequence of SSB indexes, and the list csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 configures a sequence of physical cell identifiers for the sequence of SSB indexes.). As per claim 11, Zhou teaches the method of claim 8 wherein: the index set to zero references a serving cell. (Zhou, see paragraph [0043], The L1 measurement configuration component 199 may also be configured to transmit to the UE 104, via the serving cell, a report configuration to report the L1 measurements of the one or more reference signals from the non-serving cell. Also see paragraph [0045], For slot configuration 0, each slot may include 14 symbols, and for slot configuration 1, each slot may include 7 symbols. The symbols on DL may be cyclic prefix (CP) OFDM (CP-OFDM) symbols). As per claim 12, Zhou teaches the method of claim 8 wherein the receiving of the resource set includes: receiving a CSI-SSB-ResourceSet information element (IE), wherein the list of the resources and the list of indices are respective fields in the IE. (Zhou, see paragraph [0085], …CSI-SSB-ResourceSet-17 ::= SEQUENCE {csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17  CSI-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17,  csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17   SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF SSB-Index, csi-SSB-PcIList-r17  SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF PhysCellID } where the parameter csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17 configures the SSB resource set identifier, the list csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17 configures a sequence of SSB indexes, and the list csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 configures a sequence of physical cell identifiers for the sequence of SSB indexes). As per claim 13, Zhou teaches radio access network (RAN) node radio access technology (RAT) mobility) comprising: an antenna set; (Zhou, see paragraph [0037], The base station 180 and the UE 104 may each include a plurality of antennas, such as antenna elements, antenna panels, and/or antenna arrays to facilitate the beamforming) and a processing hardware configured the RAN node configured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a resource set including (i) a list of N resources including synchronization signal block (SSB) indices for signal measurement (Zhou, see paragraph [0007], The UE also receives the one or more reference signals from the non-serving cell. The UE may perform the L1 measurements on a synchronization signal block (SSB) (Note: this is transmitted to the UE)) and (ii) a list of N indices corresponding to the N resources, each index in the list of N indices referencing an identifier of a cell with which the signal measurement is associated; (Zhou, see paragraph [0082], the UE receives, from the serving cell, a resource configuration configuring resources of one or more reference signals from a non-serving cell. The one or more reference signals may include at least one of a SSB, a CSI-RS, or a PRS from the non-serving cell. The reception of the resource configuration may be performed, e.g., by a reception component 830 and/or a configuration component 840 of the apparatus) and receive, from the UE, a measurement report based on the resource set (Zhou, see paragraph [0076], the UE may report, by transmitting to the serving cell, the L1 measurements of the one or more reference signals received from the one or more non-serving cells. The transmission of the report may be performed, e.g., by the report component 846 and/or the transmission component 834 of the apparatus 802). As per claim 16, Zhou teaches the RAN node of claim 13, wherein: the identifier of a cell is a physical cell identifier (PCI), and the index is a PCI index. (Zhou, see paragraph [0048], the UE can determine a physical cell identifier (PCI). Based on the PCI). As per claim 17, Zhou teaches the RAN node of claim 16, wherein: the PCI index is in a range of [0, 7]. (Zhou, see paragraph [0029], an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 160, and another core network 190 (e.g., a 5G Core (5GC)). (Note: physical cell identity for 5G ranges from 0 to 1007)). As per claim 18, Zhou teaches the RAN node of claim 16, wherein: the PCI is in a range of [0, 1007]. (Zhou, see paragraph [0029], an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) 160, and another core network 190 (e.g., a 5G Core (5GC)). (Note: physical cell identity for 5G ranges from 0 to 1007)). As per claim 19, Zhou teaches the RAN node of claim 13, further configured to: transmitting, to the UE, a ServingCellConfig information element (IE) including a list of PCIs, wherein the PCI index refers to the list of PCIs. (Zhou, see paragraph [0067], csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17   SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF SSB-Index, csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF PhysCellID  } where the parameter csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17 configures the SSB resource set identifier, the list csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17 configures a sequence of SSB indexes, and the list csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 configures a sequence of physical cell identifiers for the sequence of SSB indexes.). As per claim 20, Zhou teaches the RAN node of claim 13, wherein: the index set to zero references a serving cell. (Zhou, see paragraph [0043], The L1 measurement configuration component 199 may also be configured to transmit to the UE 104, via the serving cell, a report configuration to report the L1 measurements of the one or more reference signals from the non-serving cell. Also see paragraph [0045], For slot configuration 0, each slot may include 14 symbols, and for slot configuration 1, each slot may include 7 symbols. The symbols on DL may be cyclic prefix (CP) OFDM (CP-OFDM) symbols). As per claim 21, Zhou teaches the RAN node of claim 13, wherein to transmitting the resource set, the RAN node is configured to: transmit a CSI-SSB-ResourceSet information element (IE), wherein the list of the resources and the list of indices are respective fields in the IE. (Zhou, see paragraph [0085], …CSI-SSB-ResourceSet-17 ::= SEQUENCE {csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17  CSI-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17,  csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17   SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF SSB-Index, csi-SSB-PcIList-r17  SEQUENCE (SIZE(1..maxNrofCSI-SSB- ResourcePerSet)) OF PhysCellID } where the parameter csi-SSB-ResourceSetId-r17 configures the SSB resource set identifier, the list csi-SSB-ResourceList-r17 configures a sequence of SSB indexes, and the list csi-SSB-PcIList-r17 configures a sequence of physical cell identifiers for the sequence of SSB indexes). Conclusion Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HERMON ASRES whose telephone number is (571)272-4257. The examiner can normally be reached Monday to Friday 9AM 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, Vivek Srivastava can be reached at (571)272-7304. 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. /HERMON ASRES/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2449
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 22, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 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
81%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+18.3%)
3y 0m (~1y 0m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 383 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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