Prosecution Insights
Last updated: August 17, 2026
Application No. 18/920,507

MULTICAST SERVICE FEEDBACK METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS

Non-Final OA §102
Filed
Oct 18, 2024
Priority
Apr 22, 2022 — CN 202210432263.4 +1 more
Examiner
PATEL, CHANDRAHAS B
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
88%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
9m
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 Objections Claim 18 is objected to because of the following informalities: In claim 18, a apparatus should be an apparatus. Appropriate correction is required. 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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Fu et al. (USPN 12,684,574). Regarding claim 1, Fu teaches a method, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, first configuration information from a network device, wherein the first configuration information indicates a second reporting mode, and the second reporting mode indicates to feedback hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ-ACK) information based on a negative acknowledgment (NACK) only (NACK-only) [Col. 12, lines 36-52, sends NACK-only feedback on HARQ-ACK feedback mode]; and when determining that a resource set overlaps a unicast uplink resource, sending, by the terminal device, the HARQ-ACK information for a multicast service to the network device in a first reporting mode, wherein the first reporting mode indicates to feed back the HARQ-ACK information based on an acknowledgment (ACK) or a NACK, wherein the resource set comprises a plurality of multicast physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources, and the unicast uplink resource comprises a unicast PUCCH resource or a unicast physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resource, wherein the HARQ-ACK information comprises an ACK value or a NACK value [Col. 13, lines 14-60, feeds back HARQ-ACK information including ACK or NACK value on PUCCH resource]. Further, the limitation, when determining that a resource set overlaps a unicast uplink resource, is a conditional limitation in the claim and rest of the steps of the claim do not need to take place. If the resource set does not overlap a unicast uplink resource, then the steps further stated in the claim do not need to take place. Regarding claims 2-9, 11-17, 19 and 20 the steps are further dependent on the conditional limitation and do not need to take place if the condition stated in claims 1, 10 and 18 is not satisfied. Regarding claim 10, Fu teaches a method, comprising: sending, by a network device, first configuration information to a terminal device, wherein the first configuration information indicates a second reporting mode, and the second reporting mode indicates to feedback hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ-ACK) information based on a negative acknowledgment (NACK) only (NACK-only) [Col. 12, lines 36-52, sends NACK-only feedback on HARQ-ACK feedback mode]; and when determining that a resource set overlaps a unicast uplink resource, receiving, by the network device in a first reporting mode, HARQ-ACK information sent by the terminal device for a multicast service, wherein the first reporting mode indicates to feed back the HARQ-ACK information based on an acknowledgment (ACK)or a NACK, the resource set comprises a plurality of multicast physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources, and the unicast uplink resource comprises a unicast PUCCH resource or a unicast physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resource, wherein the HARQ-ACK information comprises an ACK value or a NACK value [Col. 13, lines 14-60, feeds back HARQ-ACK information including ACK or NACK value on PUCCH resource]. Further, the limitation, when determining that a resource set overlaps a unicast uplink resource, is a conditional limitation in the claim and rest of the steps of the claim do not need to take place. If the resource set does not overlap a unicast uplink resource, then the steps further stated in the claim do not need to take place. Regarding claim 18, Fu teaches an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises at least one processor and at least one communication interface, the at least one communication interface is configured to input or output information, and the at least one processor is configured to execute at least one computer program stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable memory, wherein the at least one processor executing the at least one computer program causes the apparatus to: receive first configuration information from a network device, wherein the first configuration information indicates a second reporting mode, and the second reporting mode indicates to feedback hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ-ACK) information based on a negative acknowledgment (NACK) only (NACK-only) [Col. 12, lines 36-52, sends NACK-only feedback on HARQ-ACK feedback mode]; and when determining that a resource set overlaps a unicast uplink resource, send the HARQ-ACK information for a multicast service to the network device in a first reporting mode, wherein the first reporting mode indicates to feed back the HARQ-ACK information based on an acknowledgment (ACK) or a NACK, wherein the resource set comprises a plurality of multicast physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources, and the unicast uplink resource comprises a unicast PUCCH resource or a unicast physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) resource, wherein the HARQ-ACK information comprises an ACK value or a NACK value [Col. 13, lines 14-60, feeds back HARQ-ACK information including ACK or NACK value on PUCCH resource]. Further, the limitation, when determining that a resource set overlaps a unicast uplink resource, is a conditional limitation in the claim and rest of the steps of the claim do not need to take place. If the resource set does not overlap a unicast uplink resource, then the steps further stated in the claim do not need to take place. 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 18, 2024
Application Filed
Aug 05, 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 (~9m 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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