Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 18, 2026
Application No. 18/905,037

RELAY COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 02, 2024
Priority
Apr 02, 2022 — CN 202210344116.1 +1 more
Examiner
NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
87%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
6m
Est. Remaining
92%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 87% — above average
87%
Career Allowance Rate
1128 granted / 1295 resolved
+27.1% vs TC avg
Minimal +4% lift
Without
With
+4.5%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 4m
Avg Prosecution
27 currently pending
Career history
1315
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
7.8%
-32.2% vs TC avg
§103
50.0%
+10.0% vs TC avg
§102
20.4%
-19.6% vs TC avg
§112
7.2%
-32.8% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 1295 resolved cases

Office Action

§102
DETAILED ACTION The present application is being examined under the pre-AIA first to invent provisions. 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. Claims 1-2, 4-9, 11-13, and 15-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Kuo (US 20210400746 A1). Considering claim 1, Kuo teaches a method comprising: receiving (relay) a first unicast connection establishment request message from a source terminal (PC5 unicast link, Fig.15-17, [0193] UE-1 broadcasts directly communication request with relay… [0242]-[0244]); sending a second unicast connection establishment request message to a first target terminal (Fig.11, 15-17, [0194] Relay-1 and relay-2 decide to forward the request, [00195] UE-2 receives the requests from relay, [0242]-[0244]); receiving, from the first target terminal ([0193]-[0195] directly communication request with relay…UE-2 receives the requests from relay), a second unicast connection establishment accept message indicating that the first target terminal has established a unicast connection to a relay terminal based on the second unicast connection establishment request message (Fig.11,15-17, [0195]-[0197] UE-2 receives the requests from relay…If UE-2 directly receives the direct communication request from UE-1, it may choose to setup a direct communication link by sending the request accept directly to UE-1. The response message includes indication on the type of communication link being established (e.g. via relay or direct)); allocating a first identifier (ID of UE B) to the first target terminal (Fig.15-17, [0089]-[0090]); receiving a third unicast connection establishment request message from the source terminal ( Fign.11, [0208] On the source UE (i.e. UE1), the application layer provides information to the ProSe layer for PC5 unicast communication (e.g. broadcast Layer-2 ID, ProSe Application ID, UE's Application Layer ID, target UE's Application Layer ID, relay applicable indication)); sending the third unicast connection establishment request message to the first target terminal (Fig.11, [0209] a broadcast Direct Communication Request message to UEs); receiving, from the first target terminal (UE 2, Fig.11), a third unicast connection establishment accept message indicating that the first target terminal has established a unicast connection to the source terminal based on the third unicast connection establishment request message (Fig.11, 15-17, [0210] The UE-to-UE Relay receives the broadcast Direct Communication Request message and verifies if it's configured to relay this application); sending the third unicast connection establishment accept message to the source terminal (Fig.11, 15-17, [0211]); receiving a first data packet from the source terminal (UE1), where the first data packet includes the first identifier and first data ([0160]-[0161] V2X service identified by the V2X service identifier in the DIRECT LINK ESTABLISHMENT REQUEST message); and sending the first data to the first target terminal based on the first identifier (Fig.11, 15-17, [0160]-[0161]). Considering claim 9, Kuo teaches an apparatus, comprising: at least one processor (308) coupled to one or more memories (310) storing programming instructions that are executable by the at least one processor (Fig.3, [0039]) to perform operations comprising: sending a first unicast connection establishment request message to a relay terminal (PC5 unicast link, Fig.15-17, [0193] UE-1 broadcasts directly communication request with relay… [0242]-[0244]); sending a third unicast connection establishment request message to the relay terminal, to request to establish a unicast connection between a source terminal and a first target terminal (Fig.11, [0208] On the source UE (i.e. UE1), the application layer provides information to the ProSe layer for PC5 unicast communication (e.g. broadcast Layer-2 ID, ProSe Application ID, UE's Application Layer ID, target UE's Application Layer ID, relay applicable indication)); receiving, from the relay terminal (Fig.11, [0209] a broadcast Direct Communication Request message to UEs), a third unicast connection establishment accept message indicating that the first target terminal has accepted a request for establishing the unicast connection between the source terminal and the first target terminal (Fig.11, 15-17, [0210] The UE-to-UE Relay receives the broadcast Direct Communication Request message and verifies if it's configured to relay this application, [0211]); receiving an association relationship between the first target terminal and a first identifier from the relay terminal ([0160]-[0161] V2X service identified by the V2X service identifier in the DIRECT LINK ESTABLISHMENT REQUEST message); and sending a first data packet to the relay terminal based on the association relationship, where the first data packet includes the first identifier and first data (Fig.11, 15-17, [0160]-[0161] V2X service identified by the V2X service identifier). Considering claim 12, Kuo teaches an apparatus, comprising: at least one processor coupled to one or more memories storing programming instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: receiving (relay) a first unicast connection establishment request message from a source terminal (PC5 unicast link, Fig.15-17, [0193] UE-1 broadcasts directly communication request with relay… [0242]-[0244]); sending a second unicast connection establishment request message to a first target terminal (Fig.11, 15-17, [0194] Relay-1 and relay-2 decide to forward the request, [00195] UE-2 receives the requests from relay, [0242]-[0244]); receiving, from the first target terminal ([0193]-[0195] directly communication request with relay…UE-2 receives the requests from relay), a second unicast connection establishment accept message indicating that the first target terminal has established a unicast connection to a relay terminal based on the second unicast connection establishment request message (Fig.11,15-17, [0195]-[0197] UE-2 receives the requests from relay…If UE-2 directly receives the direct communication request from UE-1, it may choose to setup a direct communication link by sending the request accept directly to UE-1. The response message includes indication on the type of communication link being established (e.g. via relay or direct)); allocating a first identifier (ID of UE B) to the first target terminal (Fig.15-17, [0089]-[0090]); receiving a third unicast connection establishment request message from the source terminal ( Fign.11, [0208] On the source UE (i.e. UE1), the application layer provides information to the ProSe layer for PC5 unicast communication (e.g. broadcast Layer-2 ID, ProSe Application ID, UE's Application Layer ID, target UE's Application Layer ID, relay applicable indication)); sending the third unicast connection establishment request message to the first target terminal (Fig.11, [0209] a broadcast Direct Communication Request message to UEs); receiving, from the first target terminal (UE 2, Fig.11), a third unicast connection establishment accept message indicating that the first target terminal has established a unicast connection to the source terminal based on the third unicast connection establishment request message (Fig.11, 15-17, [0210] The UE-to-UE Relay receives the broadcast Direct Communication Request message and verifies if it's configured to relay this application); sending the third unicast connection establishment accept message to the source terminal (Fig.11, 15-17, [0211]); receiving a first data packet from the source terminal (UE1), where the first data packet includes the first identifier and first data ([0160]-[0161] V2X service identified by the V2X service identifier in the DIRECT LINK ESTABLISHMENT REQUEST message); and sending the first data to the first target terminal based on the first identifier (Fig.11, 15-17, [0160]-[0161]). Considering claims 2, 13, Kuo teaches wherein the method further comprises: sending an association relationship between the first identifier and the first target terminal to the source terminal (Fig.11, 15-17, [0087]-[0090]). Considering claims 4, 11, 15, Kuo teaches receiving a second data packet from the source terminal, wherein the second data packet comprises a second identifier, second data, and a layer 2 address of the relay terminal, and the first data packet further comprises the layer 2 address of the relay terminal (Fig.15-17, [0202] relay L2 ID). Considering claims 5, 16, Kuo teaches wherein the sending the first data to the first target terminal based on the first identifier comprises: sending the first data packet to the first target terminal based on the first identifier (Fig.11, 15-17, [0160]-[0161]). Considering claims 6, 17, Kuo teaches receiving a third data packet from the first target terminal (Fig.11, , wherein the third data packet comprises third data and the first identifier; and sending the third data packet to the source terminal based on the first identifier (Fig.11, [0209]-[0211]). Considering claims 7, 18, Kuo teaches sending the first identifier to the first target terminal (Fig.11, 15-17, [0160]-[0161]). Considering claims 8, 19, Kuo teaches receiving fourth data from the first target terminal; configuring the first identifier for the fourth data based on an association relationship, to obtain a fourth data packet; and sending the fourth data packet to the source terminal, wherein the fourth data packet comprises the fourth data and the first identifier (Fig.11, [0160]-[0161], [0209]-[0211]). Allowable Subject Matter Claims 3, 10, and 14 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 Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KHAI MINH NGUYEN whose telephone number is (571)272-7923. The examiner can normally be reached 6-3. 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, Charles Appiah can be reached at 571-272-7904. 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. /KHAI M NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2641
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Prosecution Timeline

Oct 02, 2024
Application Filed
Jul 16, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
87%
Grant Probability
92%
With Interview (+4.5%)
2y 4m (~6m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 1295 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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