Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 02, 2026
Application No. 18/885,365

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING POSITIONING REFERENCE SIGNAL CONFIGURATION IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Sep 13, 2024
Priority
Sep 15, 2023 — RE 10-2023-0123161
Examiner
SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
78%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
7m
Est. Remaining
87%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 78% — above average
78%
Career Allowance Rate
789 granted / 1016 resolved
+17.7% vs TC avg
Moderate +10% lift
Without
With
+9.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 8m
Avg Prosecution
32 currently pending
Career history
1050
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.5%
-32.5% vs TC avg
§103
49.5%
+9.5% vs TC avg
§102
28.9%
-11.1% vs TC avg
§112
2.1%
-37.9% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1016 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 . 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by 3GPP TS-RAN WG2 Meeting #116-e Remaining issues for on-demand DL-PRS, hereinafter, ‘3GPP’. Consider Claims 1 and as applied to Claims 11 and 15(see UE and RAN ), 3GPP teaches a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising: receiving, from a network entity performing a location management function (LMF), pre-defined positioning reference signal (PRS) configuration information (see 6 , 8 and 12 – see PRS configuration ); transmitting, to the network entity performing the LMF, a request for an on-demand PRS (see PRS request pages 6 ,8 and 12), wherein the request for the on-demand PRS includes periodicity information associated with a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of a synchronization signal block (SSB) (pages 3-5 which specifically discuss subcarrier spacing (SCS) of a synchronization signal block (SSB)); and as a response to the transmission of the request for the on-demand PRS, receiving, from the network entity performing the LMF, PRS configuration information(see PRS request pages 6 ,8 and 12). Consider claims 2, 6, 12 and 16, 3GPP teaches wherein the periodicity information is for a requested periodicity of a downlink (DL)—PRS resource set, and wherein the requested periodicity is associated with the SCS of the SSB of a current primary cell of the UE (e.g., see DL-PRS response – pages 1-5 and 12). Consider claims 3, 8, 13 and 18, 3GPP teaches wherein the PRS configuration information is received via a long term evolution positioning protocol (LPP) provide assistance data message(e.g., see pages 1-5 and 12 “long term evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) provide assistance data message”). Consider claims 4, 9, 14 and 19, 3GPP teaches wherein the pre-defined positioning reference signal (PRS) configuration information is received via a long term evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) provide assistance data message, and wherein the request for the on-demand PRS is transmitted via a LPP request assistance data message (e.g., see pages 1-5 and 12 “long term evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) provide assistance data message”). Consider Claim 5, 3GPP teaches a method performed by a network entity (e.g., this is met based on the context of RAN ) in a communication system, the method comprising: transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), pre-defined positioning reference signal (PRS) configuration information(see 6 , 8 and 12 – see PRS configuration ); receiving, from the UE, a request for an on-demand PRS, wherein the request for the on-demand PRS includes periodicity information associated with a subcarrier spacing (SCS) of a synchronization signal block (SSB) (pages 3-5 which specifically discuss subcarrier spacing (SCS) of a synchronization signal block (SSB)); and as a response to the reception of the request for the on-demand PRS, determining a need for a PRS transmission or a change of an ongoing PRS transmission(e.g., see DL-PRS response – pages 1-5 and 12). Consider Claims 7 and 17, 3GPP teaches the method further comprising: based on the determination, transmitting, to the UE, PRS configuration information (see response information noted in at last pages 6, 8 and 12). Consider Claim 20, 3GPP teaches wherein the controller is further configured to: transmit, to at least one base station (e.g., this is met based on RAN architecture noted in pages 6,8 and 12 ), a PRS configuration request message for a new PRS transmission or a change of the pre-defined PRS configuration information, and receive, from the at least one base station, a PRS configuration response message including PRS configuration information(e.g., this is met based on RAN architecture noted in pages 6,8 and 12 and based on repeating the steps already outlined ). Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. US 20220132463 A1 teaches apparatus for retransmitting/transmitting a positioning reference signal (PRS) based on UE-requested resource allocation (on-demand resource allocation) -0007, FIG. 5 illustrates a synchronization signal block (SSB) structure. US 20240259150 A1 teaches on-demand type RS (reference signal) configuration and/or measurement reporting requested by the UE to the network. FIG. 16 is a simplified diagram illustrating a method of operating a UE, a transmission and reception point (TRP), a location server, and/or a location management function (LMF) according to various embodiments. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHARLES TERRELL SHEDRICK whose telephone number is (571)272-8621. The examiner can normally be reached 8A-5P. 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, Matthew D Anderson can be reached at 571 272 4177. 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. /CHARLES T SHEDRICK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2646
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Sep 13, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 26, 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
78%
Grant Probability
87%
With Interview (+9.5%)
2y 8m (~7m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1016 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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