Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 01, 2026
Application No. 18/968,922

WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUSES, DEVICE, AND STORAGE MEDIUM

Non-Final OA §102§112
Filed
Dec 04, 2024
Priority
Sep 19, 2022 — continuation of PCTCN2022119735
Examiner
OVEISSI, MANSOUR
Art Unit
Tech Center
Assignee
Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
83%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 2m
Est. Remaining
95%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 83% — above average
83%
Career Allowance Rate
758 granted / 913 resolved
+23.0% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
3y 0m
Avg Prosecution
31 currently pending
Career history
948
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
5.6%
-34.4% vs TC avg
§103
54.9%
+14.9% vs TC avg
§102
9.1%
-30.9% vs TC avg
§112
22.4%
-17.6% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 913 resolved cases

Office Action

§102 §112
DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . Status of Claims 2. This Office Action is in response to the application filed on 12/04/2024. Claims 1 and through 20 are presently pending and are presented for examination. 3. In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 4. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b): (b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph: The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention. Claims 9 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention. Claims 9 and 16 are drawn to an apparatus (machine). Machine - a concrete thing, consisting of parts, or of certain devices and combination of devices. Burrv. Duryee, 68 U.S. (lWall.) 531, 570, 17 L. Ed. 650 (1863). This includes every mechanical device or combination of mechanical powers and devices to perform some function and produce a certain effect or result. Corning v. Burden, 56 U.S. 252, 267, 14 L. Ed. 683 (1854). [Emphasis added].[MPEP 2106.03]. However, the claims do not recite any parts of said apparatus that perform the functions. Since the claims are drawn to an apparatus without any parts, the claims are indefinite. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102 5. 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 Liu et al. (US 2024/0349264 A1). For claim 1 Liu teaches a wireless communication method, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, first configuration information transmitted by a network device, wherein the first configuration information is used to indicate a first time domain resource, and the first time domain resource comprises one or more time units, each time unit comprising a first frequency domain part in frequency domain, wherein for any one time unit comprised in the first time domain resource, a transmission direction of the first frequency domain part is different from a transmission direction of the time unit configured by second configuration information, and the second configuration information is used to configure a transmission direction for each of time units in one period (paragraph 7 “the method may include receiving first configuration information, second configuration information, third configuration information, and fourth configuration information” ”, paragraph 121 “The network device determines first configuration information and second configuration information”, and paragraph 122 “exemplary first configuration information and second configuration information as design option- The first configuration information indicates a frequency domain range of a first downlink subband and a frequency domain range of a second downlink subband on a carrier and a time domain symbol position of a UL DMRS of a current cell, and the second configuration information indicates a frequency domain range of a first time-frequency resource on the first downlink subband and a frequency domain range of a second time-frequency resource on the second downlink subband”). Notice: The limitation after used to indicate is not considered, because it is intended use, the indicting, has not carried out. In addition, the limitation after used to configure is not considered, because it is an intended use, the configuring, has not carried out either by transmitter or receiver node. The dependent claims 2-8 are considered as variation design for varying designs requirements. For claim 2 Liu teaches the method, wherein the first configuration information is used to indicate at least one of: whether each of time units within a first period belonging to the first time domain resource (paragraph 104 “time domain resource may be one OFDM symbol, mini-slot, slot, or the like”, Fig. 5 “time domain”, paragraph 13 “a possible time domain design”, paragraph 15 “a possible time period design”, paragraph 156 “first time range design”, and paragraph 157 “an optional design configuration information indicates the time domain resource of the first time-frequency resource and time domain resource of the second time-frequency resource”); a first number, wherein the first time domain resource comprises the first number of time units in the first period (optional design configuration); or a first position and the first number, wherein the first time domain resource comprises the first number of time units in the first period with the first position as a starting position (optional design configuration) or an ending position, wherein the first period is determined based on the second configuration information (optional design configuration). For claim 3 Liu teaches the method, wherein a transmission mode of a target time unit belonging to the first time domain resource comprises one of: entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (Fig. 10 and Fig. 18 “ a possible design uplink and downlink in frequency domain and time domain”); entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for downlink transmission as a whole (Fig. 10 and Fig. 18 “ a possible design uplink and downlink in frequency domain and time domain”); and a transmission mode of a first frequency domain part of the target time unit being independent of a transmission mode of a second frequency domain part of the target time unit, wherein the second frequency domain part is a frequency domain part of the target time unit other than the first frequency domain part (Fig. 10 and Fig. 18 “ a possible design uplink and downlink in frequency domain and time domain”). For claim 4 Liu teaches the method of claim 3, wherein the transmission mode of the target time unit is determined based on the first configuration information (as discussed in claim 1). For claim 5 Liu teaches the method of claim 4, wherein the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part of the target time unit is independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part of the target time unit (as discussed in claim 1). For claim 6 Liu teaches the method of claim 3, wherein the transmission mode of the target time unit is determined based on the first configuration information and the second configuration information (as discussed in claim 1). For claim 7 Liu teaches the method of claim 6, wherein the transmission mode of the target time unit is determined by at least one of following modes: if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, and a transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be uplink by the second configuration information, then the entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, and the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be downlink by the second configuration information, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part, and the second frequency domain part being used for downlink transmission (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, and the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, then the entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission and the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, and the target time unit is scheduled for uplink transmission, then the entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, the target time unit is scheduled for uplink transmission, and a first frequency domain resource is located within the first frequency domain part, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part, wherein the first frequency domain resource is a frequency domain resource of the target time unit in frequency domain that is used for uplink transmission (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, the target time unit is scheduled for uplink transmission, and the first frequency domain resource occupies the second frequency domain part of the target time unit, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, the target time unit is scheduled for uplink transmission, and the first frequency domain resource occupies the first frequency domain part and the second frequency domain part of the target time unit, then the entire frequency domain of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”); or if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, and the target time unit is scheduled for downlink transmission, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part, and the second frequency domain part being used for downlink transmission (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 10, Fig. 11, and Fig. 18 “design options”). For claim 8 Liu teaches the method, wherein the second configuration information comprises at least one of: uplink-downlink common configuration (UL-DL-ConfigCommon) (paragraph 116 “a TDD common configuration (TDD-ConfigCommon) and a terminal device-level configuration parameter such as a TDD dedicated configuration (TDD-ConfigDedicated)”); uplink-downlink dedicated configuration (UL-DL-ConfigDedicated) (paragraph 116 “a TDD common configuration (TDD-ConfigCommon) and a terminal device-level configuration parameter such as a TDD dedicated configuration (TDD-ConfigDedicated)”); or slot format indication (SFI) (paragraph 115 “SFI”). For claim 9 Liu teaches a wireless communication apparatus, comprising: a transceiver, configured to receive first configuration information transmitted by a network device, wherein the first configuration information is used to indicate a first time domain resource, and the first time domain resource comprises one or more time units, each time unit comprising a first frequency domain part in frequency domain, wherein for any one time unit comprised in the first time domain resource, a transmission direction of the first frequency domain part is different from a transmission direction of the time unit configured by second configuration information, and the second configuration information is used to configure a transmission direction for each of time units in one period (as discussed in claim 1). For claim 10 Liu teaches the apparatus, wherein the first configuration information is used to indicate at least one of: whether each of time units within a first period belonging to the first time domain resource (as discussed in claim 2); a first number, wherein the first time domain resource comprises the first number of time units in the first period (as discussed in claim 2); or a first position and the first number, wherein the first time domain resource comprises the first number of time units in the first period with the first position as a starting position or an ending position, wherein the first period is determined based on the second configuration information (as discussed in claim 2). For claim 11 Liu teaches the apparatus, wherein a transmission mode of a target time unit belonging to the first time domain resource comprises one of: entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (as discussed in claim 3); entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for downlink transmission as a whole (as discussed in claim 3); and a transmission mode of a first frequency domain part of the target time unit being independent of a transmission mode of a second frequency domain part of the target time unit, wherein the second frequency domain part is a frequency domain part of the target time unit other than the first frequency domain part (as discussed in claim 3). For claim 12 Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transmission mode of the target time unit is determined based on the first configuration information (as discussed in claim 4). For claim 13 Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 12, wherein the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part of the target time unit is independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part of the target time unit (as discussed in claim 5). For claim 14 Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transmission mode of the target time unit is determined based on the first configuration information and the second configuration information (as discussed in claim 6). For claim 15 Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transmission mode of the target time unit is determined by at least one of following modes: if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, and a transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be uplink by the second configuration information, then the entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (as discussed in claim 7); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, and the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be downlink by the second configuration information, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part, and the second frequency domain part being used for downlink transmission (as discussed in claim 7); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, and the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, then the entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (as discussed in claim 7); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission and the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part (as discussed in claim 7); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, and the target time unit is scheduled for uplink transmission, then the entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (as discussed in claim 7); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, the target time unit is scheduled for uplink transmission, and a first frequency domain resource is located within the first frequency domain part, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part, wherein the first frequency domain resource is a frequency domain resource of the target time unit in frequency domain that is used for uplink transmission (as discussed in claim 7); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, the target time unit is scheduled for uplink transmission, and the first frequency domain resource occupies the second frequency domain part of the target time unit, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part (as discussed in claim 7); if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, the target time unit is scheduled for uplink transmission, and the first frequency domain resource occupies the first frequency domain part and the second frequency domain part of the target time unit, then the entire frequency domain of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (as discussed in claim 7); or if the first frequency domain part is used for uplink transmission, the transmission direction of the target time unit is configured to be flexible by the second configuration information, and the target time unit is scheduled for downlink transmission, then the transmission mode of the first frequency domain part being independent of the transmission mode of the second frequency domain part, and the second frequency domain part being used for downlink transmission (as discussed in claim 7). For claim 16 Liu teaches a wireless communication apparatus, comprising: a transceiver, configured to transmit first configuration information to a terminal device, wherein the first configuration information is used to indicate a first time domain resource, and the first time domain resource comprises one or more time units, each time unit comprising a first frequency domain part in frequency domain, wherein for any one time unit comprised in the first time domain resource, a transmission direction of the first frequency domain part is different from a transmission direction of the time unit configured by second configuration information, and the second configuration information is used to configure a transmission direction for each of time units in one period (as discussed in claim 1). For claim 17 Liu teaches the apparatus, wherein the first configuration information is used to indicate at least one of: whether each of time units within a first period belonging to the first time domain resource (as discussed in claim 2); a first number, wherein the first time domain resource comprises the first number of time units in the first period (as discussed in claim 2); or a first position and the first number, wherein the first time domain resource comprises the first number of time units in the first period with the first position as a starting position or an ending position, wherein the first period is determined based on the second configuration information (as discussed in claim 2). For claim 18 Liu teaches the apparatus, wherein a transmission mode of a target time unit belonging to the first time domain resource comprises one of: entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for uplink transmission as a whole (as discussed in claim 3); entire frequency domain resource of the target time unit being used for downlink transmission as a whole (as discussed in claim 3); and a transmission mode of a first frequency domain part being independent of a transmission mode of a second frequency domain part, wherein the second frequency domain part is a frequency domain part of the target time unit other than the first frequency domain part (as discussed in claim 3). For claim 19 Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 18, wherein the transmission mode of the target time unit is determined based on the first configuration information (as discussed in claim 4). For claim 20 Liu teaches the apparatus of claim 18, wherein the transmission mode of the target time unit is determined based on the first configuration information and the second configuration information (as discussed in claim 5). Conclusion 7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to David M OVEISSI whose telephone number is (571)270-3127. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8Am-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, Jeffrey Rutkowski can be reached at (571) 270-1215. 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. /MANSOUR OVEISSI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

Dec 04, 2024
Application Filed
Sep 15, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §102, §112 (current)

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Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
83%
Grant Probability
95%
With Interview (+11.8%)
3y 0m (~1y 2m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 913 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

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