Prosecution Insights
Last updated: October 16, 2026
Application No. 19/196,090

BEAM MANAGEMENT FOR NEW RADIO VEHICLE COMMUNICATIONS

Non-Final OA §103§112
Filed
May 01, 2025
Priority
Aug 16, 2019 — provisional 62/888,002 +2 more
Examiner
TANG, KIET G
Art Unit
2469
Tech Center
2400 — Computer Networks
Assignee
InterDigital Inc.
OA Round
1 (Non-Final)
90%
Grant Probability
Favorable
1-2
OA Rounds
1y 1m
Est. Remaining
99%
With Interview

Examiner Intelligence

Grants 90% — above average
90%
Career Allowance Rate
753 granted / 833 resolved
+32.4% vs TC avg
Moderate +12% lift
Without
With
+11.8%
Interview Lift
resolved cases with interview
Typical timeline
2y 6m
Avg Prosecution
13 currently pending
Career history
850
Total Applications
across all art units

Statute-Specific Performance

§101
10.6%
-29.4% vs TC avg
§103
61.4%
+21.4% vs TC avg
§102
17.1%
-22.9% vs TC avg
§112
8.7%
-31.3% vs TC avg
Black line = Tech Center average estimate • Based on career data from 833 resolved cases

Office Action

§103 §112
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 . Claims 1-20 are pending. Claim Objections Claims 1-20 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claims 1 and 15 recite the limitation "configuration information" in line 8. For clarity and consistency, it is suggested to revise as “the configuration information”. Claims 2-10 are depending on claim 1 and claims 12-20 are depending on claim 15 and therefore they are also objected. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112 The following is a quotation of the second paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112: 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. Claim 3 and 13 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 applicant regards as the invention. Claims 3 and 13 recite “the second set of beams”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claims. Appropriate correction is required. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action: A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made. The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows: 1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art. 2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue. 3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art. 4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention. Claims 1-6, 13-17 and 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Reial et al. (Pub. No.: US 20210360429 A1), hereinafter Reial, in view of Wu et al. (Pub. No.: US 20200359445 A1), hereinafter Wu. With respect to claim 1, Reial teaches A first wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) comprising ([0041], WCD): a processor configured to ([0076], processor): receive configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises beam sweep information ([0006], receiving beam sweeping information from a wireless communication device); the beam sweep information ([0006], receiving beam sweeping information from a wireless communication device); and based on configuration information ([0006], based on beam sweeping information). Although Reial teaches receive configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises beam sweep information as set forth above. Reial does not explicitly teach to determine a set of beams to perform a beam pair link establishment with a second WTRU; determine the set of beams based on; send an indication of the set of beams to the second WTRU; and based on the determined set of beams, perform the beam pair link establishment with the second WTRU. However, Wu teaches to determine a set of beams to perform a beam pair link establishment with a second WTRU ([0029], the second UE indicates a preferred transmission beam for the beam pair link); determine the set of beams based on ([0089], both the first UE 115-c and the second UE 115-d may perform beam sweeping operations to allow the other UE 115 to perform such measurements. Information may be exchanged between the UEs 115 that indicates the preferred beams); send an indication of the set of beams to the second WTRU ([0089], both the first UE 115-c and the second UE 115-d may perform beam sweeping operations to allow the other UE 115 to perform such measurements. Information may be exchanged between the UEs 115 that indicates the preferred beams); and based on the determined set of beams, perform the beam pair link establishment with the second WTRU ([0029, 0089], determined set of beams, [0044], a beam sweeping procedure used to maintain or modify a beam pair link between UEs using beamformed communications). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, receive configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises beam sweep information as set forth above. Reial does not explicitly teach to determine a set of beams to perform a beam pair link establishment with a second WTRU; determine the set of beams based on; send an indication of the set of beams to the second WTRU; and based on the determined set of beams, perform the beam pair link establishment with the second WTRU, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 2, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial does not explicitly teach wherein the set of beams is a first set of beams, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an indication of a second set of beams from the second WTRU, and wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the indication of the second set of beams. However, Wu teaches wherein the set of beams is a first set of beams ([0089]), wherein the processor is further configured to receive an indication of a second set of beams from the second WTRU ([0029, 0089]), and wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the indication of the second set of beams ([0029, 0044, 0089]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, wherein the set of beams is a first set of beams, wherein the processor is further configured to receive an indication of a second set of beams from the second WTRU, and wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the indication of the second set of beams, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 3, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial does not explicitly teach wherein the configuration information comprises reporting configuration information, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the indication of the second set of beams based on the reporting configuration information. However, Wu teaches wherein the configuration information comprises reporting configuration information, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the indication of the second set of beams based on the reporting configuration information ([0089]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, wherein the configuration information comprises reporting configuration information, and wherein the processor is configured to receive the indication of the second set of beams based on the reporting configuration information, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 4, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial teaches wherein the processor is configured to receive an indication from a network node and based on the indication ([0006]). Reial does not explicitly teach to establish the beam pair link with the second WTRU, and wherein the processor is configured to determine the set of beams based on the indication. However, Wu teaches to establish the beam pair link with the second WTRU, and wherein the processor is configured to determine the set of beams based on the ([0029]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, to establish the beam pair link with the second WTRU, and wherein the processor is configured to determine the set of beams based on the, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 5, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial does not explicitly teach wherein the indication comprises a quality of service (QOS) requirement, and wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the QoS requirement. However, Wu teaches wherein the indication comprises a quality of service (QOS) requirement ([0092]), and wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the QoS requirement ([0029, 0092]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, wherein the indication comprises a quality of service (QOS) requirement, and wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the QoS requirement, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 6, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial does not explicitly teach wherein the processor is configured to determine one or more frequency resources or one or more time domain resources, based on the configuration information, to determine the set of beams. However, Wu teaches wherein the processor is configured to determine one or more frequency resources or one or more time domain resources, based on the configuration information, to determine the set of beams ([0029]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, wherein the processor is configured to determine one or more frequency resources or one or more time domain resources, based on the configuration information, to determine the set of beams, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 7, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial does not explicitly teach wherein the processor is configured to send an indicator to the second WTRU, wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the indicator. However, Wu teaches wherein the processor is configured to send an indicator to the second WTRU ([0089]), wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the indicator ([0029, 0044]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, wherein the processor is configured to send an indicator to the second WTRU, wherein the processor is configured to perform the beam pair link establishment based on the indicator, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 8, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial does not explicitly teach wherein the beam link establishment is performed based on one or more of: a quality of service (QOS) value. However, Wu teaches wherein the beam link establishment is performed based on one or more of: a quality of service (QOS) value ([0029, 0092]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, wherein the beam link establishment is performed based on one or more of: a quality of service (QOS) value, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 9, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial teaches wherein the processor is configured to send one or more reference signals via the set of beams ([0051]). With respect to claim 10, the combination of Reial and Wu teaches the WTRU of claim 1. Reial does not explicitly teach wherein the processor is configured to: receive information to perform a beam refinement procedure; and perform the beam refinement procedure based on the received information. However, Wu teaches wherein the processor is configured to: receive information to perform a beam refinement procedure ([0044]); and perform the beam refinement procedure based on the received information ([0044]). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, wherein the processor is configured to: receive information to perform a beam refinement procedure; and perform the beam refinement procedure based on the received information, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 11, Reial teaches A method performed by a first wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU), the method comprising ([0041], a method performed by a WCD): receiving configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises beam sweep information ([0006], receiving beam sweeping information from a wireless communication device); the beam sweep information ([0006], receiving beam sweeping information from a wireless communication device); and based on configuration information ([0006], based on beam sweeping information). Although Reial teaches receive configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises beam sweep information as set forth above. Reial does not explicitly teach to determine a set of beams to perform a beam pair link establishment with a second WTRU; determine the set of beams based on; send an indication of the set of beams to the second WTRU; and based on the determined set of beams, perform the beam pair link establishment with the second WTRU. However, Wu teaches to determine a set of beams to perform a beam pair link establishment with a second WTRU ([0029], the second UE indicates a preferred transmission beam for the beam pair link); determine the set of beams based on ([0089], both the first UE 115-c and the second UE 115-d may perform beam sweeping operations to allow the other UE 115 to perform such measurements. Information may be exchanged between the UEs 115 that indicates the preferred beams); send an indication of the set of beams to the second WTRU ([0089], both the first UE 115-c and the second UE 115-d may perform beam sweeping operations to allow the other UE 115 to perform such measurements. Information may be exchanged between the UEs 115 that indicates the preferred beams); and based on the determined set of beams, perform the beam pair link establishment with the second WTRU ([0029, 0089], determined set of beams, [0044], a beam sweeping procedure used to maintain or modify a beam pair link between UEs using beamformed communications). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skills in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Wu, receive configuration information, wherein the configuration information comprises beam sweep information as set forth above. Reial does not explicitly teach to determine a set of beams to perform a beam pair link establishment with a second WTRU; determine the set of beams based on; send an indication of the set of beams to the second WTRU; and based on the determined set of beams, perform the beam pair link establishment with the second WTRU, into the teachings of Reial, in order to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support radio link maintenance for sidelink wireless communications (Wu, [0005]). With respect to claim 12, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 2, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. With respect to claim 13, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 3, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. With respect to claim 14, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 4, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. With respect to claim 15, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 5, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. With respect to claim 16, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 6, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. With respect to claim 17, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 7, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. With respect to claim 18, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 8, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. With respect to claim 19, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 9, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. With respect to claim 20, this claim recites the WTRU of claim 10, and it is rejected for at least the same reasons. Conclusion The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Pub. No.: US 20190254110 A1; “He”, ([0220]) Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIET TANG whose telephone number is (571)270-7193. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F 8:00-5:00. 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, IAN MOORE can be reached on (571) 272-3085. 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. /KIET TANG/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2469
Read full office action

Prosecution Timeline

May 01, 2025
Application Filed
Oct 01, 2026
Non-Final Rejection mailed — §103, §112 (current)

Precedent Cases

Applications granted by this same examiner with similar technology

Patent 12764746
REPORTING METHOD FOR USER EQUIPMENT ASSISTANCE INFORMATION, USER EQUIPMENT, AND STORAGE MEDIUM
3y 9m to grant Granted Oct 13, 2026
Patent 12764730
Beam Indication Method and Device
3y 3m to grant Granted Oct 13, 2026
Patent 12757293
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR BANDWIDTH PART SWITCHING FOR A MULTICAST SESSION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM
2y 10m to grant Granted Oct 06, 2026
Patent 12757116
COMMUNICATION TIME FRAME FOR ENERGY HARVESTING DEVICE
2y 4m to grant Granted Oct 06, 2026
Patent 12757290
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PARAMETER CONFIGURATION, NETWORK DEVICE, AND TERMINAL
2y 1m to grant Granted Oct 06, 2026
Study what changed to get past this examiner. Based on 5 most recent grants.

Strategy Recommendation AI-generated — please review before filing

Get a prosecution strategy drawn from examiner precedents, rejection analysis, and claim mapping.
Typically takes 5-10 seconds — AI-generated, attorney review required before filing

Prosecution Projections

1-2
Expected OA Rounds
90%
Grant Probability
99%
With Interview (+11.8%)
2y 6m (~1y 1m remaining)
Median Time to Grant
Low
PTA Risk
Based on 833 resolved cases by this examiner. Grant probability derived from career allowance rate.

Sign in with your work email

Enter your email to receive a magic link. No password needed.

Personal email addresses (Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) are not accepted.

Free tier: 3 strategy analyses per month