DETAILED ACTION
The office action is in response to the amendments received on May 15, 2026 after a RCE non-final office action.
Claims 1-11, 27-29, and 33 are pending in this application, based on the amended claims on May 15, 2026.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on May 26, 2022 has been considered by the examiner.
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 Amendments and Arguments filed 05/15/2026 have been considered for examination. Claims 1-11, 27-29, and 33 are pending in the instant application.
With regard to the 103 rejections, Applicant’s arguments filed 05/15/2026 (see pages 8-10 of Remarks) in view of the amendments have been fully considered but are not persuasive. The rejections are maintained in this instant office action
Regarding claim 1, Applicant argued:
Regarding the part of the amended clam 1, recited as "to receive from a transmitter or the one or more network entities a transport block (TB), the TB comprising a plurality of code block groups (CBGs) in two or more of the plurality of frequency bands, and each of the CBGs comprising one or more code blocks (CBs) and being confined to one of the plurality of frequency bands," Applicant argue that combination of Tao and Jiang fails to disclose this part.
In the Office Action, Tao, in Paragraph [0064], disclose that a TB may comprise a plurality of CBGs that consists of one or multiple CBs. In this determined reference slot 340, the terminal device 110 …, including the reception state for each subband on which the TB is transmitted. Further, in Paragraph [0065], Tao discloses that the CBG 412 may be transmitted over 2 subbands, i.e. subbands 311 and 312. Thus, according to Tao, there a CBG may span two subbands so that, as a consequence, the respective CBs of such a CBG are in different subbands.
However, this is contradiction to the inventive approach defining “each of the CBGs comprising one or more code blocks (CBs) and being confined to one of the plurality of frequency bands." Thus, since Tao fails to disclose that the CBs are to be confined to one frequency band or sub-band, combination of Tao and Jiang fails to disclose the amended claim 1.
In response to Applicant’s argument, Examiner respectfully disagrees:
Although Applicant argued regarding the part of the amended claim 1 mentioned in the above, combination of Tao and Jiang fails to disclose this part. However, Examiner respectfully disagrees.
Tao, in Fig. 3-4 and in Paragraphs [0064]-[0066], teaches that in Fig. 3 and in Paragraph [0064] TB comprises a plurality of CBG over multiple subbands that consists of one or multiple CBs. For example, TB 320 is composed of the CBGs or CBs 321-323 and 342 over multiple subbands 311 to 314. It is an example of the TB in the claim 1. In the determined reference slot 340, the terminal device 110 selects one or more CBGs in the at least one transport block. As an example, in Fig. 4 and in Paragraph [0065], the subband 311, there are a multiple CBGs (for example, the CBG 411) and each CBG comprises several CBs (for example, the. CB 431 being one of five CB of a CBG). In some embodiment CBG can be also only one CB. It should be understood that one or more TBs are transmitted in one subband within the reference slot(s). Further, as indicated in the argument, Tao also teaches that as shown in FIG. 4, the CBG 412 is transmitted over 2 subbands, i.e. subbands 311 and 312. Thus, FIG. 4 shows that in the reference slot 340, the CBG or CBs of a certain TB is selected for determining the reception state in subband 311. Thus, both cases are disclosed by Tao.
Thus, Tao clearly disclose the part of the amended claim 1, recited as “to receive from a transmitter or the one or more network entities a transport block(TB), … being confined to one of the plurality of frequency bands,” Specifically, Tao clearly discloses that “each of the CBG comprising one or more code blocks (CBs) and being confined to one of the plurality of frequency bands.”
Thus, by this reasoning, the amended claim 1 is clearly disclosed by combination of Tao, Jiang, and Ying.
Therefore, the rejections in the previous office action are maintained, but due to the amendments, the rejection is updated in this instant office action.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 11/24/2025 has been entered.
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.
Claims 1-11, 27-29, and 33 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tao Tao et. al. (USPub No: US 20220167396 A1, hereinafter, “Tao”) in a view of Jing Jiang et. al. (USPub No: US 20180270023 A1, hereinafter, “Jiang”) and further in a view of Kai Ying et. al. (USPub No: US 20190150122 A1, hereinafter, “Ying”).
Regarding claim 1, Tao teaches an apparatus for a wireless communication system, wherein the apparatus is configured to use a plurality of frequency bands for a communication with one or more network entities in the wireless communication system (Tao, Fig. 1 and Paragraph [0039] describes that multiple network devices and multiple terminal devices can be configured in the configuration of Fig. 1. In addition, the wireless communication is operated on the multiple frequency bands or sub-bands as shown in Paragraph [0042].), wherein the apparatus is configured to receive from a transmitter or the one or more network entities a transport block (TB), the TB comprising a plurality of code block groups (CBGs) in two or more of the plurality of frequency bands, and each CBG comprising one or more code blocks (CBs) and being confined to one of the plurality of frequency bands (Tao, in Fig. 3-4 and in Paragraphs [0064]-[0066], teaches that in Fig. 3 and in Paragraph [0064] TB comprises a plurality of CBG over multiple subbands that consists of one or multiple CBs. For example, TB 320 is composed of the CBGs or CBs 321-323 and 342 over multiple subbands 311 to 314. It is an example of the TB in the claim 1. In the determined reference slot 340, the terminal device 110 selects one or more CBGs in the at least one transport block. As an example, in Fig. 4 and in Paragraph [0065], the subband 311, there are a multiple CBGs (for example, the CBG 411) and each CBG comprises several CBs (for example, the. CB 431 being one of five CB of a CBG). In some embodiment CBG can be also only one CB. It should be understood that one or more TBs are transmitted in one subband within the reference slot(s). Further, as indicated in the argument, Tao also teaches that as shown in FIG. 4, the CBG 412 is transmitted over 2 subbands, i.e. subbands 311 and 312. Thus, FIG. 4 shows that in the reference slot 340, the CBG or CBs of a certain TB is selected for determining the reception state in subband 311. Thus, both cases are disclosed.) wherein the apparatus is configured to provide or predict a feedback for each of the CBGs indicating one or more of a successful receipt of a code block group (CBG), a non-successful receipt of the CBG, (Tao, in Paragraphs [0066]-[0067], teaches that The terminal device 110 may determine the reception state based on the successful reception rate of the CBGs in one subband or based on the successful reception rate of the CBs in one subband. The successful reception rate may indicate how many CBGs or CBs in this sub band have been successful received. If the terminal device 110 determines the successful reception rate of the CBGs in one subband or the successful reception rate of the CBs in one subband exceeds a threshold reception rate, the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception of the transport block in this subband. For example, if all CBs or CBGs in the reference slot 340 are "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. Alternatively, if a certain percentage of CBs or CBGs in the reference slot 340 are "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. As an option, if at least one CB or CBG in the reference slot 340 is "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. Therefore, it is clear that a feedback for each of the CBGs indicating one or more of a successful receipt of a code block group (CBG) and/or a non-successful receipt of the CBG may be provided by the apparatus.
However, Tao does not explicitly teach providing or predicting a feedback for each of the CBGs.
Jiang teaches that wherein the apparatus is configured to provide or predict a feedback for each of the CBGs indicating one or more of a successful receipt of a code block group (CBG), a non-successful receipt of the CBG, (Jiang, in Fig. 4 and in Paragraph [0104], teaches that the TB 405 is shown to include twelve CBGs 415. However, four of the CBGs 415 are punctured by a URLLC transmission (indicated by "X''s). Assuming that the UE is unable to decode the CBGs 415 in which resources are punctured, the UE may fail to decode the CBGs 415 marked with "X''s and may NACK receipt of these CBGs in multi-bit HARQ feedback 410 transmitted to the base station. For example, the UE may determine CBG failure information for the TB 405 and transmit the multi-bit HARQ feedback: 111100010111, where each 1 indicates an ACK of a corresponding CBG, and each O indicates a NACK of a corresponding CBG. Therefore, it is clear that a feedback for each of the CBGs indicating one or more of a successful receipt of a code block group (CBG), a non-successful receipt of the CBG may be provided or predicted) no need for redundancy for the CBG, a need for some redundancy for the CBG, and an amount of additional redundancy needed, (Jiang, in Fig. 4-7 and in Paragraphs [0105]-[0106], teaches that The base station may predict the multi-bit HARQ feedback 410 based on its puncture of resources for the URLLC transmission (e.g., the base station may predict which punctures will cause the UE to not receive a CBG
(e.g., based on the locations of the punctures)). When the base station and UE communicate over a channel subject to inter-cell URLLC interference, or random interference, the base station may not be able to predict the multi-bit HARQ feedback 410, or may incorrectly predict the multi-bit HARQ feedback 410. In these latter examples, the base station may have CBG decode pass/fail prediction information y, with y being based on the base station's known puncturing of resources, and the likely effect that the puncturing will have on the UE's ability to decode one or more CBGs in which the punctured resources are located. The UE may have actual CBG decode pass/fail information x, with x=yꚚe and y=xꚚe, where e represents additional CBG decode failures due to UE decoding failures or neighbor cell bursty interference not experienced by the base station, and Ꚛ denotes an exclusive-OR operation. When the UE transmits the CBG decode pass/fail information x to the base station, as multi-bit HARQ feedback, the base station may receive the multi-bit HARQ feedback as z, where z=xꚚn and n represents errors in z (e.g., flipped bits) as a result of channel noise. Signaling x, y, and z back and forth between a base
station and UE can be highly redundant. However, assuming that x=y=z may not be robust and may cause significant loss when e or n is not zero (even when e or n is small). Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate techniques for compressing x to form a compressed representation for over-the-air transmission, and
techniques for transmitting x with redundant information so that x may be correctly decoded in the presence of interference. FIG. 7 illustrates techniques for compressing an indication of CBGs to be retransmitted to a UE, and for transmitting the indication of retransmitted CBGs with redundant information so that the indication of CBGs may be correctly decoded in the presence of interference. Therefore, it is clear that no need for redundancy for the CBG, a need for some redundancy for the CBG, and an amount of additional redundancy needed may be provided or predicted.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Tao and Jiang to include the technique of wherein the apparatus is configured to provide or predict a feedback for each of the CBGs indicating one or more of a successful receipt of a code block group (CBG), a non-successful receipt of the CBG, no need for redundancy for the CBG, a need for some redundancy for the CBG, and an amount of additional redundancy needed of Jiang in the system of Tao to provide the efficient technique for signaling compressed hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) or retransmission information between base stations and a user equipment related to various wireless communication systems (Jiang, see Paragraphs [0002] and [0005])).
Combination of Tao and Jiang does not explicitly teach that compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks for each of the CBGs.
Ying teaches that wherein the apparatus is configured to compress the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks for each of the CBGs into a compressed feedback based on an interference pattern on one or more of the frequency bands which is detectable at the apparatus and/or at the transmitter or the one or more network entities, and to transmit to one or more of the network entities the compressed feedback, and (Ying, in Fig. 3A to 3D and in Paragraphs [0048]-[0049] and [0054]-[0055], teaches that multiple TBs may require HARQ-ACK feedbacks simultaneously by using same format and/or resource. These TBs may be categorized as follows. The TBs may be from different layers (spatial domain). In this case, the PDSCH can include two transport blocks. The TBs may be from different component carriers (CCs). The TBs may be from different bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TBs may be from different slots or mini-slots (i.e., time domain). The TBs may also be any combination of the categories above. So, TB can be configured CBGs arranged in sub-bands. Different ways to generate HARQ-ACK feedbacks for multiple TBs are described herein. A first approach includes HARQ-ACK multiplexing. In one implementation, the HARQ-ACK multiplexing may include a CBG-level HARQ-ACK codebook. One approach to the CBG-level HARQ-ACK codebook includes a semi-static CBG-level HARQ-ACK codebook. For each TB configured with CBG-based (re)transmission, the number of HARQ-ACK information bits may be semi-statically configured or fixed. NACK (or ACK) may be mapped for the empty CBG index if the actual number of CBGs for a TB is smaller than the configured maximum number of CBGs (HARQ-ACK information bits). A second approach to generating HARQ-ACK feedbacks for multiple TBs includes HARQ-ACK bundling. To save information bits, HARQ-ACK information bits for different CBGs and/or TBs may be combined by AND operation. One implementation includes CBG HARQ-ACK bundling within TB. In this case, any CBG HARQ-ACK information bits within a TB may be combined by AND operation Another implementation of HARQ-ACK bundling includes CBG HARQ-ACK bundling across TBs. A CBG HARQ-ACK information bit of a TB may be combined with a CBG HARQ-ACK information bit of another TB. Any combination of the HARQ-ACK bundling described above may be implemented. Some examples of CBG HARQ-ACK bundling are described in connection if Figs. 3A-3D. In this observation, as shown in the above, the HARQ-Ack decision bits represent the interference patten and the bundling of CBG HARQ-Ack feedback bits can be considered as the variable length compression coding. Therefore, it is clear that CBG based HARQ-Ack feedback bits that represent the interference pattern on one or more of the frequency bands can be compressed redundantly and it may be transmitted to the network entities. Also, it may be detectable at the transmitter or the network entities, and to transmit to one or more of the network entities the compressed feedback) wherein a compression scheme used for compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks is selected dependent on the interference pattern on one or more or all of the frequency bands (Ying, in Fig. 3A-3D and in Paragraphs [0048]-[0049] and [0054]-[0059], teaches that in Paragraphs [0048]-[0049], the CBGs of TB can be arranged on the multiple sub-bands and the HARQ-Ack feedback bits can be generated for each CBGs based on the interference amount on sub-bands for CBGs (as shown in the above). In Figs. 3A-3D and in Paragraphs [0054]-[0055], as shown above, the compressed HARQ-Ack feedback codeword (bits) can be generated based on the HARQ-Ack feedback bits of CBGs on multiple sub-bands by using various method. Therefore, it is clear that a compressed feedback bit sequence can be generated by using various compressing schemes based on the interference pattern (HARQ-Ack bit pattern) on multiple sub-bands of CBGs.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Tao, Jiang, and Ying to include the technique of wherein the apparatus is configured to compress the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks for each of the CBGs into a compressed feedback based on an interference pattern on one or more of the frequency bands which is detectable at the apparatus and/or at the transmitter or the one or more network entities, and to transmit to one or more of the network entities the compressed feedback, and wherein a compression scheme used for compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks is selected dependent on the interference pattern on one or more or all of the frequency bands of Ying in the system of combination of Tao and Jiang to provide the efficient technique for handling CBG-based transmission and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process to fulfil the latency requirement related to various wireless communication systems such as enhanced Mobile Broadband Communication, Ultra Reliable Low Latency communication, or massive Machine Type Communication. (Ying, see Paragraphs [0035] and [0038])).
Regarding claim 2, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Jiang further discloses wherein, to compress the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks, the apparatus is configured to apply a lossless compression scheme or a lossy compression scheme (Jiang, in Fig. 6 and Paragraphs [0117] and [0118], teaches the compressed representation of the CBG failure information may include fewer bits of information than the CBG failure information, and may be determined by encoding the CBG failure information based at least in part on an encoding scheme known to the base station 605. In some examples, the encoding may be performed when the UE 615 does not receive an indication of resources that are punctured in the TB. In some examples, the encoding scheme may be based at least in part on a syndrome matrix, a linear block channel code, a Hamming code, a polar code, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the compressed representation of the CBG failure information may be a matrix, S, determined by encoding the CBG failure information (x) to syndromes according to the equation:
S = Hx = Hx + He
where H is a syndrome matrix based on a Hamming code. For example, when the total number of CBGs in a TB is N=15, H may be a Hamming code of (15, 4) that compresses 15 bits of information to 4 bits of information. In other examples, other linear block channel codes may be used to compress the CBG failure information. For example, a polar code may be used to compress the CBG failure information by forming syndromes on the information bits. Based on this observation, Jiang already teaches that by using known coding methods, the CBG based failure information (or ACK/NCK information) can be compressed to retransmit to transmitters.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Tao and Jiang to include the technique of wherein, to compress the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks, the apparatus is configured to apply a lossless compression scheme or a lossy compression scheme of Jiang in the system of Tao to provide the efficient technique for signaling compressed hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) or retransmission information between base stations and a user equipment related to various wireless communication systems (Jiang, see Paragraphs [0002] and [0005])).
Regarding claim 3, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Jiang further discloses wherein a successful receipt of the CBG is indicated by a first value, and a non-successful receipt of the CBG is indicated by a second value. (Jiang, in Paragraph [0098], teaches that in some examples, a bit of the multi-bit HARQ feedback may be set to 1 to acknowledge (ACK) receipt of a CBG, and to 0 to non-acknowledge (NACK) receipt of a CBG. As shown in this example, the ACK or NACK value can be defined as some values based on the system rule, namely, the first value can be “0” and the second value can be “1”, or vice versa.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Tao and Jiang to include the technique of wherein a successful receipt of the CBG is indicated by a first value, and a non-successful receipt of the CBG is indicated by a second value of Jiang in the system of Tao to provide the efficient technique for signaling compressed hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) or retransmission information between base stations and a user equipment related to various wireless communication systems (Jiang, see Paragraphs [0002] and [0005])).
Regarding claim 4, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 3, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Jiang further discloses to compress the feedbacks or the predicted feedbacks, the apparatus is configured to apply a variable length code book, the codebook comprising codes identifying some or all patterns of acknowledgements (ACKs) and non-acknowledgements (NACKs) for the plurality of CBGs, the length of a code increasing with the number of NACKs in case ACKs comprise a higher probability than NACKs, or increasing with the number of ACKs in case NACKs comprise a higher probability than ACKs (Jiang, in Fig. 6 and Paragraphs [0117] and [0118], teaches that by using known coding methods, the CBG based failure information (or ACK/NCK information) can be compressed to retransmit to transmitters. To compress, the coding methods can be applied on the ACK/NACK bit pattern and the compressed feedback can have different length. Therefore, one of the candidate or coding method to compress can be the variable length coding.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Tao and Jiang to include the technique of to compress the feedbacks or the predicted feedbacks, the apparatus is configured to apply a variable length code book, the codebook comprising codes identifying some or all patterns of acknowledgements (ACKs) and non-acknowledgements (NACKs) for the plurality of CBGs, the length of a code increasing with the number of NACKs in case ACKs comprise a higher probability than NACKs, or increasing with the number of ACKs in case NACKs comprise a higher probability than ACKs of Jiang in the system of Tao to provide the efficient technique for signaling compressed hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) or retransmission information between base stations and a user equipment related to various wireless communication systems (Jiang, see Paragraphs [0002] and [0005]))
Regarding claim 5, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 3, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further discloses wherein, to compress the feedbacks or the predicted feedbacks, the apparatus is configured to represent the feedback or the predicted feedback for each frequency band by one value, the one value comprising the first value in case all of the CBGs in a frequency band are or are predicted to be successfully received, or the second value in case one of the CBGs in a frequency band is or is predicted to be not successfully received (Tao, in Fig. 4 and Paragraphs [0066] and [0067], teaches the terminal device 110 may determine the reception state based on the successful reception rate of the CBGs in one sub-band or based on the successful reception rate of the CBs in one sub-band. The successful reception rate may indicate how many CBGs or CBs in this sub band have been successful received. If the terminal device 110 determines the successful reception rate of the CBGs in one sub-band or the successful reception rate of the CBs in one sub-band exceeds a threshold reception rate, the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception of the transport block in this sub-band. For example, if all CBs or CBGs in the reference slot 340 are "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. Alternatively, if a certain percentage of CBs or CBGs in the reference slot 340 are "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. As an option, if at least one CB or CBG in the reference slot 340 is "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. According to this observation, the reception state can be represented by one value per sub-band, based on CBGs’ reception states of that sub-band. The decision rule can be various according to the system. The value that represents the reception state can be “1” for a successful sub-band and can be “0” for a failed sub-band, as shown for TB in Paragraph [0058]).
Regarding claim 6, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 3, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Jiang further discloses wherein, to compress the feedbacks or the predicted feedbacks, the apparatus is configured with a certain number of feedback values to transmit the feedbacks or the predicted feedbacks, the certain number of bits being less than a maximum number of CBGs possible in the TB (Jiang, in Paragraph [0098], describes in some examples, the multi-bit HARQ feedback may include a bit per CBG of a TB and it is the maximum number of feedback bits. By the compression, the number of feedback bits will be reduced. For example, in Paragraph [0118], the compression by using Hamming code (15, 4) produce 4 feedback bits when the total number of CBGs in a TB is 15. Therefore, the compressed feedback bit is less than the maximum number of CBGs in the TB.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Tao and Jiang to include the technique of wherein, to compress the feedbacks or the predicted feedbacks, the apparatus is configured with a certain number of feedback values to transmit the feedbacks or the predicted feedbacks, the certain number of bits being less than a maximum number of CBGs possible in the TB of Jiang in the system of Tao to provide the efficient technique for signaling compressed hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) or retransmission information between base stations and a user equipment related to various wireless communication systems (Jiang, see Paragraphs [0002] and [0005])).
Regarding claim 7, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 6, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further discloses wherein the apparatus is configured to rearrange a mapping of the feedback values using a pre-defined set of rules (Tao, in Fig. 3 and 4 and Paragraphs [0058] to [0061] and [0066] to [0067], shows the various mapping rules can be applied for the feedback. In Paragraph [0058] and [0059], For a TB transmitted in all sub-bands in the predetermined BWP, the length of TB may correspond to the number of the sub-bands in the predetermined BWP. That is, for example, there are 4 sub-bands in the predetermined BWP, and then the sequence may comprise 4 bits. In Paragraph [0061], for a TB transmitted only in a part of sub-bands in the predetermined BWP, as an option, the sequence may only reflect the reception states of sub-bands on which the TB is transmitted. For example, for the TB 330 shown in FIG. 3, if the CBG blocks 331 and 332 are received successfully in sub-bands 312 and 313, respectively, and the CBG block 333 is not received successfully in the sub-band 314, the sequence of bits generated by the terminal device 110 may be represented as "110." In Paragraphs [0066] and [0067], the feedback may indicate the reception state of the transport block for each sub-band based on the successful reception rate of the CBGs in the corresponding TB. According to this observation, the feedback values can be rearranged by various predefined mapping rules).
Regarding claim 8, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 6, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further discloses wherein in case there is a sufficient number of feedback values, the apparatus is configured to represent the feedback or the predicted feedback for each CBG by one value, the one value comprising the first value in case the CBG is or is predicted to be successfully received, or the second value in case the CBG is or is predicted to be not successfully received (Tao, in Fig. 3 and Paragraph [0058] and [0061], shows that as an example, for the TB shown in FIG. 3, if the CBG blocks 321-323 are received successfully in sub-bands 311-313, respectively, and the CBG block 324 is not received successfully in the sub-band 314, the sequence of bits generated by the terminal device 110 may be represented as "1110," wherein the bit of "1" may represent "ACK" for the reception of TB or CBG and the bit of "0" may represent "NACK" for the reception of TB or CBG.), and wherein, in case there is an insufficient number of feedback values, the apparatus is configured to represent the feedback or the predicted feedback for each frequency band by one value, the one value comprising the first value in case all of the CBGs in a frequency band are successfully received, or the second value in case one of the CBGs in a frequency band is not successfully received (Tao, in Paragraph [0066] and [0067], shows that the terminal device 110 may determine the reception state based on the successful reception rate of the CBGs in one sub-band. The successful reception rate may indicate how many CBGs in this sub band have been successful received. If the terminal device 110 determines the successful reception rate of the CBGs in one sub-band exceeds a threshold reception rate, the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception of the transport block in this sub-band. For example, if all CBGs in the corresponding sub-band of the reference slot 340 are "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. Alternatively, if a certain percentage of CBGs in the corresponding sub-band of the reference slot 340 are "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. As an option, if at least one CBG in the corresponding sub-band in the reference slot 340 is "ACK", the terminal device 110 may determine the successful reception. Here, the bit of "1" may represent "ACK" for the reception of TB or CBG and the bit of "0" may represent "NACK" for the reception of TB or CBG, as shown in Paragraph [0058]).
Regarding claim 9, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 6, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further discloses wherein in case of a failure of one or more of the frequency bands, the apparatus is configured to - represent the feedback or the predicted feedback for each failed frequency band by one value, the one value indicating that all of the CBGs in the failed frequency band are not successfully received, or (Tao, in Paragraphs [0066] and [0067], shows that the feedback value can be ACK for the sub-band when all CBG in the sub-band have been successfully received. As another example, the feedback value for the sub-band can be ACK based on the percentage of successfully received CBGs among the CBGs of the sub-band. In similar, the terminal can represent the feedback value as NACK when all CBG have not been successfully received. It can be predictable).
- represent the feedback or the predicted feedback for each CBG in the one or more failed frequency bands by one value, the one value indicating that the CBG is not successfully received. (Tao, in Fig. 3 and Paragraph [0058], shows that if each CBG in the sub-band is not successfully received, the terminal reparents as NACK for that CBG.).
Regarding claim 10, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 6, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further discloses wherein a failure of one or more of the frequency bands is due to an interference in a band exceeding a certain threshold or another channel condition not meeting a certain criterion, or one or more or all of the plurality of frequency bands are unlicensed subbands on which a communication is allowed for a certain transmission time (COT) responsive to a successful Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) and a failure of one or more of the frequency bands is due to a failed LBT for one or more of the unlicensed subbands (Tao, in Paragraph [0043], teaches that for efficient CWS adjustment in NR-U (New Radio -Unlicensed) with wideband operation, CWS (Contention Window Size: it can be considered as COT) should be adjusted on a LBT sub-band (per 20 MHz) basis. However, a single data transport block (TB), comprising of certain number of Code Blocks (CBs) may be transmitted/scheduled across multiple sub-bands. Therefore, a single HARQ-ACK for a TB covering multiple LBT sub-bands is insufficient for CWS adjustment. The channel utilization/interference on different sub-bands of a BWP (Band Width Part) may be different. For example, there is interference resulting in failed decoding of some Code Block Groups (CBGs) on just one LBT sub-band, the HARQ-ACK will be "NACK" for the whole TB and correspondingly CWS will be increased for all LBT sub-bands on which the TB is transmitted, which may lead to unnecessary increased delays for the access of the channel. Based on this observation, according to the interference or channel condition for the sub-band, the reception can be failed. As shown in this example, in LBT based communication on NR-U, the reception can be failed according to the CWS (or COT) condition or adjustment).
Regarding claim 11, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further teaches wherein one or more or all of the frequency bands are unlicensed subbands, and wherein - following a successful Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) for one or more unlicensed subbands, a communication is allowed during a certain transmission time (COT) in an available unlicensed subband. - following a failed Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) for one or more unlicensed subbands, a communication is not allowed in a non-available unlicensed subband (Tao, in Paragraph [0043], teaches that for efficient CWS adjustment in NR-U (New Radio -Unlicensed) with wideband operation, CWS (Contention Window Size: it can be considered as COT) should be adjusted on a LBT sub-band (per 20 MHz) basis. However, a single data transport block (TB), comprising of certain number of Code Blocks (CBs) may be transmitted/scheduled across multiple sub-bands. Therefore, a single HARQ-ACK for a TB covering multiple LBT sub-bands is insufficient for CWS adjustment. The channel utilization/interference on different sub-bands of a BWP (Band Width Part) may be different. For example, there is interference resulting in failed decoding of some Code Block Groups (CBGs) on just one LBT sub-band, the HARQ-ACK will be "NACK" for the whole TB and correspondingly CWS will be increased for all LBT sub-bands on which the TB is transmitted, which may lead to unnecessary increased delays for the access of the channel. Therefore, in NR-U, the reception of the CBG or TB in LBT sub-band can be successfully received with sufficient CWS adjustment, but the reception with insufficient CWS adjustment, namely, outside of available unlicensed sub-band, will be failed.).
Regarding claim 27, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further discloses wherein the apparatus comprises a user device, UE, wherein the UE comprises one or more of a mobile terminal, or a stationary terminal, or a cellular loT-UE, or a vehicular UE, or a vehicular group leader (GL) UE, or an loT, or a narrowband loT, NB-loT, device, or a WiFi non Access Point STAtion, non-AP STA, or a ground based vehicle, or an aerial vehicle, or a drone, or a moving base station, or a road side unit, or a building, or any other item or device provided with network connectivity enabling the item/device to communicate using the wireless communication network, and/or the apparatus comprises a base station, BS, wherein the BS is implemented as mobile or immobile base station and comprises one or more of a macro cell base station, or a small cell base station, or a central unit of a base station, or a distributed unit of a base station, or a road side unit, or a UE, or a group leader (GL), or a relay, or a remote radio head, or an AMF, or an SMF, or a core network entity, or mobile edge computing entity, or a network slice as in the NR or 5G core context, or a WiFi AP STA, or any transmission/reception point, TRP, enabling an item or a device to communicate using the wireless communication network, the item or device being provided with network connectivity to communicate using the wireless communication network. (Tao, in Paragraphs [0027], [0029], and [0030], describes that UEs (the terminals) and Base Stations (the network devices) can be belonged to various wireless communication system or environments. Therefore, it is predictable that UE and base station can be belonged to the system mentioned in this claim.).
Regarding claim 28, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 1, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further discloses a wireless communication system, comprising one or more user devices and one or more base station, wherein one or more of the user devices and/or one or more of the base stations comprise an apparatus of claim 1 (Tao, Fig. 1 and Paragraph [0039] describes that multiple network devices (base stations) and multiple terminal devices (UEs) can be configured in the configuration of Fig. 1.).
Regarding claim 29, Tao teaches A method for providing feedback in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: receiving, by a receiver, from one or more network entities in the wireless communication system, (Tao, Fig. 1 and Paragraph [0039] describes that multiple network devices and multiple terminal devices can be configured in the configuration of Fig. 1.) a transport block (TB) using a plurality of frequency bands, the TB comprising a plurality of code block groups (CBGs) in two or more of the plurality of frequency bands, each CBG comprising one or more code blocks (CBs) and being confined to one of the plurality of frequency bands (Tao, in Fig. 3-4 and in Paragraphs [0064]-[0066], teaches that in Fig. 3 and in Paragraph [0064] TB comprises a plurality of CBG over multiple subbands that consists of one or multiple CBs. For example, TB 320 is composed of the CBGs or CBs 321-323 and 342 over multiple subbands 311 to 314. It is an example of the TB in the claim 1. In the determined reference slot 340, the terminal device 110 selects one or more CBGs in the at least one transport block. As an example, in Fig. 4 and in Paragraph [0065], the subband 311, there are a multiple CBGs (for example, the CBG 411) and each CBG comprises several CBs (for example, the. CB 431 being one of five CB of a CBG). In some embodiment CBG can be also only one CB. It should be understood that one or more TBs are transmitted in one subband within the reference slot(s). Further, as indicated in the argument, Tao also teaches that as shown in FIG. 4, the CBG 412 is transmitted over 2 subbands, i.e. subbands 311 and 312. Thus, FIG. 4 shows that in the reference slot 340, the CBG or CBs of a certain TB is selected for determining the reception state in subband 311. Thus, both cases are disclosed.)
However, Tao does not explicitly teach providing or predicting a feedback for each of the CBGs.
Jiang teaches that providing or predicting a feedback for each of the CBGs, the feedback indicating one or more of a successful receipt of a CBG, a non-successful receipt of the CBG, (Jiang, in Fig. 4 and in Paragraph [0104], teaches that the TB 405 is shown to include twelve CBGs 415. However, four of the CBGs 415 are punctured by a URLLC transmission (indicated by "X''s). Assuming that the UE is unable to decode the CBGs 415 in which resources are punctured, the UE may fail to decode the CBGs 415 marked with "X''s and may NACK receipt of these CBGs in multi-bit HARQ feedback 410 transmitted to the base station. For example, the UE may determine CBG failure information for the TB 405 and transmit the multi-bit HARQ feedback: 111100010111, where each 1 indicates an ACK of a corresponding CBG, and each O indicates a NACK of a corresponding CBG. Therefore, it is clear that a feedback for each of the CBGs indicating one or more of a successful receipt of a code block group (CBG), a non-successful receipt of the CBG may be provided or predicted) no need for redundancy for the CBG, a need for some redundancy for the CBG, and an amount of additional redundancy needed, (Jiang, in Fig. 4-7 and in Paragraphs [0105]-[0106], teaches that The base station may predict the multi-bit HARQ feedback 410 based on its puncture of resources for the URLLC transmission (e.g., the base station may predict which punctures will cause the UE to not receive a CBG (e.g., based on the locations of the punctures)). When the base station and UE communicate over a channel subject to inter-cell URLLC interference, or random interference, the base station may not be able to predict the multi-bit HARQ feedback 410, or may incorrectly predict the multi-bit HARQ feedback 410. In these latter examples, the base station may have CBG decode pass/fail prediction information y, with y being based on the base station's known puncturing of resources, and the likely effect that the puncturing will have on the UE's ability to decode one or more CBGs in which the punctured resources are located. The UE may have actual CBG decode pass/fail information x, with x=yꚚe and y=xꚚe, where e represents additional CBG decode failures due to UE decoding failures or neighbor cell bursty interference not experienced by the base station, and Ꚛ denotes an exclusive-OR operation. When the UE transmits the CBG decode pass/fail information x to the base station, as multi-bit HARQ feedback, the base station may receive the multi-bit HARQ feedback as z, where z=xꚚn and n represents errors in z (e.g., flipped bits) as a result of channel noise. Signaling x, y, and z back and forth between a base station and UE can be highly redundant. However, assuming that x=y=z may not be robust and may cause significant loss when e or n is not zero (even when e or n is small). Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate techniques for compressing x to form a compressed representation for over-the-air transmission, and techniques for transmitting x with redundant information so that x may be correctly decoded in the presence of interference. FIG. 7 illustrates techniques for compressing an indication of CBGs to be retransmitted to a UE, and for transmitting the indication of retransmitted CBGs with redundant information so that the indication of CBGs may be correctly decoded in the presence of interference. Therefore, it is clear that no need for redundancy for the CBG, a need for some redundancy for the CBG, and an amount of additional redundancy needed may be provided or predicted.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Tao and Jiang to include the technique of providing or predicting a feedback for each of the CBGs, the feedback indicating one or more of a successful receipt of a code block group (CBG), a non-successful receipt of the CBG, no need for redundancy for the CBG, a need for some redundancy for the CBG, and an amount of additional redundancy needed of Jiang in the system of Tao to provide the efficient technique for signaling compressed hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) or retransmission information between base stations and a user equipment related to various wireless communication systems (Jiang, see Paragraphs [0002] and [0005])).
However, combination of Tao and Jiang does not explicitly teach that compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks for each of the CBGs.
Ying teaches that that compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks for each of the CBGs into a compressed feedback based on an interference pattern on one or more of the frequency bands which is detectable at the receiver and/or at the one or more network entities, and transmitting to one or more of the network entities the compressed feedback, (Ying, in Fig. 3A to 3D and in Paragraphs [0048]-[0049] and [0054]-[0055], teaches that multiple TBs may require HARQ-ACK feedbacks simultaneously by using same format and/or resource. These TBs may be categorized as follows. The TBs may be from different layers (spatial domain). In this case, the PDSCH can include two transport blocks. The TBs may be from different component carriers (CCs). The TBs may be from different bandwidth parts (BWPs). The TBs may be from different slots or mini-slots (i.e., time domain). The TBs may also be any combination of the categories above. So, TB can be configured CBGs arranged in sub-bands. Different ways to generate HARQ-ACK feedbacks for multiple TBs are described herein. A first approach includes HARQ-ACK multiplexing. In one implementation, the HARQ-ACK multiplexing may include a CBG-level HARQ-ACK codebook. One approach to the CBG-level HARQ-ACK codebook includes a semi-static CBG-level HARQ-ACK codebook. For each TB configured with CBG-based (re)transmission, the number of HARQ-ACK information bits may be semi-statically configured or fixed. NACK (or ACK) may be mapped for the empty CBG index if the actual number of CBGs for a TB is smaller than the configured maximum number of CBGs (HARQ-ACK information bits). A second approach to generating HARQ-ACK feedbacks for multiple TBs includes HARQ-ACK bundling. To save information bits, HARQ-ACK information bits for different CBGs and/or TBs may be combined by AND operation. One implementation includes CBG HARQ-ACK bundling within TB. In this case, any CBG HARQ-ACK information bits within a TB may be combined by AND operation Another implementation of HARQ-ACK bundling includes CBG HARQ-ACK bundling across TBs. A CBG HARQ-ACK information bit of a TB may be combined with a CBG HARQ-ACK information bit of another TB. Any combination of the HARQ-ACK bundling described above may be implemented. Some examples of CBG HARQ-ACK bundling are described in connection if Figs. 3A-3D. In this observation, as shown in the above, the HARQ-Ack decision bits represent the interference patten and the bundling of CBG HARQ-Ack feedback bits can be considered as the variable length compression coding. Therefore, it is clear that CBG based HARQ-Ack feedback bits that represent the interference pattern on one or more of the frequency bands can be compressed redundantly and it may be transmitted to the network entities. Also, it may be detectable at the transmitter or the network entities, and to transmit to one or more of the network entities the compressed feedback) wherein a compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks comprises selection a compression scheme for compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks dependent on the interference pattern on one or more or all of the frequency bands (Ying, in Fig. 3A-3D and in Paragraphs [0048]-[0049] and [0054]-[0059], teaches that in Paragraphs [0048]-[0049], the CBGs of TB can be arranged on the multiple sub-bands and the HARQ-Ack feedback bits can be generated for each CBGs based on the interference amount on sub-bands for CBGs (as shown in the above). In Figs. 3A-3D and in Paragraphs [0054]-[0055], as shown above, the compressed HARQ-Ack feedback codeword (bits) can be generated based on the HARQ-Ack feedback bits of CBGs on multiple sub-bands by using various method. Therefore, it is clear that a compressed feedback bit sequence can be generated by using various compressing schemes based on the interference pattern (HARQ-Ack bit pattern) on multiple sub-bands of CBGs.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine Tao, Jiang, and Ying to include the technique of compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks for each of the CBGs into a compressed feedback based on an interference pattern on one or more of the frequency bands which is detectable at the receiver and/or at the one or more network entities, and transmitting to one or more of the network entities the compressed feedback, wherein a compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks comprises selection a compression scheme for compressing the feedbacks and/or the predicted feedbacks dependent on the interference pattern on one or more or all of the frequency bands of Ying in the system of combination of Tao and Jiang to provide the efficient technique for handling CBG-based transmission and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process to fulfil the latency requirement related to various wireless communication systems such as enhanced Mobile Broadband Communication, Ultra Reliable Low Latency communication, or massive Machine Type Communication. (Ying, see Paragraphs [0035] and [0038])).
Regarding claim 33, combination of Tao and Jiang teaches the method defined in the claim 29, -refer to the indicated claim for reference(s).
Tao further discloses a non-transitory digital storage medium having a computer program stored thereon to perform the method of claim 29, when said computer program is run by a computer (Tao, in Paragraph [0115] teaches that the disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the methods 500 and 600 as described above with reference to FIGS. 2-6. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.).
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 JAEYOUNG KWAK whose telephone number is (703)756-1768. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9 AM -5 PM.
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/JAEYOUNG KWAK/Examiner, Art Unit 2472
/KEVIN T BATES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2472
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