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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed June 27, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive because the cited prior arts in the previous office action discloses the argued limitations.
On page 10 of the remarks, the Applicant argues that Matsumura does not disclose the claimed limitation, “a current active bandwidth part (BWP) of the user terminal includes a plurality of control resource sets, much less that the CORESET is in the plurality of control resource sets”. The Examiner respectfully disagrees because Matsumura (such as in Par. [0033]-[0034]) describes a plurality of predetermined number (e.g. 3 or less) of CORESETs are provided by or included in the active BWP. Matsumura further discloses a CORESET such initial, default, and so on CORESETs are in the plurality of CORESETs such as the predetermined number (e.g. 3 CORESETs) (e.g. please read paragraph [0033]-[0047]).
Additionally, (e.g. on page 12), the Applicant argues, “Takeda does not teach or suggest that the UE determines that a second control resource set of the current active BWP of the UE enables a field … and the determines that the first DCI format comprises first field”.
The Examiner respectfully disagrees because Takeda the UE monitors the each of the search space associated with CORESETs of an activated BWP #X and determines that CORESET #A of the active BWP #X enables a field (paragraph [0048]-[0068]; [0094]-[0101]; [0105]-[0112]; [0114]-[0116]; [0119]-[0120]; [0123]-[0130]; [0133]-[0134]; [0138]; [0141]; [0143]; and etc.), where the DCI, such as format 1_1 mapped to search space such as #1 associated with CORESET #A of the BWP the first field e.g. TCI field (e.g. please read paragraph [0060]-[0062]; [0069]-[0070]; [0093]; [0098]-[0099]; [0104]; and so on).
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, 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 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.
Claims 1, 3, 5-8, 10, 12-15, 17, 19-20, 22-23, and 26-27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura et al. (US 2021/0306996 A1) in view of Takeda et al. (US 2021/0258936 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Matsumura discloses an information transmission method (abstract), comprising: obtaining, by a terminal, first spatial parameter information of a first channel (paragraph [0049]-[0070]; [0098]-[0099]; and so on, illustrating that the UE is receiving first spatial parameter information such as QCL or TCI for PDCCH); and receiving, by the terminal, the first channel based on the first spatial parameter information (paragraph [0049]-[0070]; [0098]-[0099]; [0082]-[0087]; [0106]; and etc., the channel or PDCCH is received based on the partial parameter information), wherein the first channel is one of a plurality of candidate control channels in a first control resource set (paragraph [0028]; [0046]-[0047]; [0102]; and so on, the channel is one of the candidate control channel), herein a current active bandwidth part (BWP) of the terminal includes a plurality of control resource sets (e.g. paragraph [0033]-[0034], illustrating that plurality of predetermined CORESETs are included in or provided by the current active BWP), wherein the first control resource set is in the plurality of control resource sets, in response to receiving the first channel (e.g. paragraph [0034]-[0047]), and wherein the first control resource set is configured by using a master information block MIB, a system information block type 1 SIB 1, or a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) common configuration parameter (paragraph [0028]-[0032]; [0035]-[0045]; [0206]; [0313]; and so on, explaining first CORESET is configured by using such as MIB, SIB or PDCCH), wherein the first channel carriers downlink control information (DCI),wherein a format of the DCI is a first DCI format (paragraph [0067]; [0145]), and wherein whether the DCI comprises a first field used to indicate spatial parameter information (paragraph [0061]-[0062]; [0070]; [0091]-[0100]; [0142]-[0146]; and so on).
Matsumura doesn’t explicitly disclose determining, that a second control resource set of the current active BWP of the terminal enables a first used indicate spatial parameter information, wherein the second control resource set comprises at least one control resource set other than the first control resource set in the plurality of control resource sets, and in response to determining that the second control resource set of the current active BWP of the terminal enables the first field, determining, by the terminal, that the first DCI format comprised the first field to indicate the spatial parameter information.
wherein in response to receiving the first channel, determining, that a second control resource set (CORESET #A) of the current active BWP of the terminal enables a first used indicate spatial parameter information (paragraph [0061]-[0068]; [0094]-[0101]; [0105]-[0107]; [0110]; [0114]-[0115]; [0119]-[0120]; [0123]-[0130]; [0133]-[0134]; [0138]; [0141]; [0143]), wherein the second control resource set comprises at least one control resource set other than the first control resource set in the plurality of control resource sets (paragraph [0061]-[0062]; [0065]; [0068]; [0097]-[0010]; [0105]-[0107]; [0110]; [0118]-[0119]; and so on); and in response to determining that the second control resource set of the current active BWP of the terminal enables the first field, determining, by the terminal, that the first DCI format comprised the first field to indicate the spatial parameter information (paragraph [0048]-[0068]; [0094]-[0101]; [0105]-[0112]; [0114]-[0116]; [0119]-[0120]; [0123]-[0130]; [0133]-[0134]; [0138]; [0141]; [0143]; and etc.).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to use determining, that a second control resource set of the current active BWP of the terminal enables a first used indicate spatial parameter information, wherein the second control resource set comprises at least one control resource set other than the first control resource set in the plurality of control resource sets, and in response to determining that the second control resource set of the current active BWP of the terminal enables the first field, determining, by the terminal, that the first DCI format comprised the first field to indicate the spatial parameter information as taught by Takeda into Matsumura in order to improve speed or rate of communication, and resource utilization.
Regarding claim 8 and 15, the claims include features identical to subject matter mentioned in the rejection to claim 1 above. The claims are mere reformulation of claim 1 in order to define the corresponding an information transmission at the transmitting side and a communication apparatus, and the rejection to claim 1 is applied hereto. Claim 8 is an information transmission at the transmitting side. However, the subject matter is the same as in claim 1.
Regarding claim 3, 10, and 17, the modified communication of Matsumura discloses control resource sets and active BWP of the terminal. The modified communication of Matsumura doesn’t disclose wherein: the second control resource set is all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; the second control resource set is a control resource set with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; or the second control resource set is a control resource set that is associated with a UE search space set (USS) and that is of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set.
Takeda teaches wherein: the second control resource set is all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; the second control resource set is a control resource set with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; or the second control resource set is a control resource set that is associated with a UE search space set (USS) and that is of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set (paragraph [0054]-[0055]; [0140]; [0248]; [0097]-[0100]; [0104]-[0107]; [0110]-[0112]; [0118]-[0119]; [0123]; [0127]-[0133]; [0138]; [0141]; [0143]; [0061]-[0062]; [0065]; [0068]; and so on).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use wherein: the second control resource set is all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; the second control resource set is a control resource set with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; or the second control resource set is a control resource set that is associated with a UE search space set (USS) and that is of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set as taught by Takeda into the modified communication of Matsumura in order to reduce delay, and to improve resource utilization and efficiency of communication.
Regarding claim 5, 12, and 19, Matsumura discloses wherein the first channel schedules a second channel, the second channel is used to carry broadcast information (paragraph [0067]; [0082]; [0140]-[0144]; [0147]; [0206]; and so on), and spatial parameter information of the second channel is second spatial parameter information (paragraph [0065]-[0067]; [0069]-[0070]; [0082]-[0086]; [0127]; [0138]-[0153]; [0155]-[0156]; [0159]-[0163]; [0185]-[0188]; [0206]-[0209]; and etc.), and wherein the broadcast information comprises at least one of the following information: system information, remaining minimum system information, other system information, a paging message, or a random access message (paragraph [0206]; [0313]; and so on).
Regarding claim 6, 13, and 20, Matsumura discloses wherein the second spatial parameter information is the same as spatial parameter information of a fourth control resource set, and wherein the fourth control resource set is a control resource set 0 (paragraph [0078]-[0081]; [0101]).
Regarding claim 7, 14, and 23, Matsumura discloses wherein the second spatial parameter information is the same as the first spatial parameter information, or the second spatial parameter information is the same as spatial parameter information of the first control resource set (paragraph [0052]; [0241]-[0243]; [0080]-[0081]; [0099]; and so on).
Regarding claim 22, Matsumura further discloses comprising: determining, by the terminal, whether the DCI comprises the first field (e.g. paragraph [0084]; [0062]; [0070]; and etc.); and in response to determining that the DCI comprises the first field, determining, by the terminal, based on the first field, a narrow beam to receive data (fig. 1; paragraph [0085]-[0086]; [0065]-[0070]; [0197]; [0205]; [0119]-[0122]; [0124]-[0133]; [0139]-[0189]; and so on).
Regarding claim 26, as applied above, Matsumura discloses plurality of control resource sets of the current active BWP of terminal. Matsumura does not explicitly disclose the first control resource set and the second control resource set constitute the plurality of control resource sets.
Takeda teaches the first control resource set and the second control resource set constitute the plurality of control resource sets (paragraph [0061]-[0062]; [0065]; [0068]; [0097]-[0010]; [0105]-[0107]; [0110]; [0118]-[0119]; and so on).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date to use the first control resource set and the second control resource set constitute the plurality of control resource sets as taught by Takeda into the modified communication of Matsumura in order to reduce delay, and to improve resource utilization and efficiency of communication.
Regarding claim 27, Matsumura discloses wherein each control resource set of the plurality of control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal has a corresponding identifier, and the second control resource set is a control resource set with a smallest identifier in the plurality of control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set (paragraph [0035]-[0047]).
Claims 4, 11, and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura in view of Harada and Takeda, and further in view of Tiirola et al. (US 2019/0150073 A1).
Regarding claim 4, 11, and 18, as applied above, Matsumura ‘996 discloses control resource set. However, Matsumura ‘996 doesn’t disclose wherein the control resource set that is associated with the USS and that is of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set is: a control resource set with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets that are associated with the USS and that are of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; or a control resource set associated with the USS with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set.
Tiirola teaches wherein the control resource set that is associated with the USS and that is of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set is: a control resource set with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets that are associated with the USS and that are of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; or a control resource set associated with the USS with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set (paragraph [0048]-[0050]; [0040]; [0080]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use wherein the control resource set that is associated with the USS and that is of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set is: a control resource set with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets that are associated with the USS and that are of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set; or a control resource set associated with the USS with a smallest identifier in all control resource sets of the current active BWP of the terminal other than the first control resource set as taught by Tiirola into Matsumura ‘996 in order to improve resource utilization.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KIBROM T HAILU whose telephone number is (571)270-1209. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
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/KIBROM T HAILU/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2461
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