Detail Action
This office action is in response to the communication(s) filed on 10/01/2025.
Claims Status
Claims 1, 7, 26, 32, 51, 61, 65, and 69 have been amended.
Claims 2-3, 5, 8, 10-12, 22-25, 27-28, 30-31, 33-50, 52-57, 59, 62, and 64 have been cancelled.
Claims 1, 4, 7, 9, 13-21, 26, 29, 32, 51, 58, 60, 61, 63, and 65-72 are currently pending.
Notice of 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 .
Prior Art Made of Record
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Yang et al. (US Publication No. 2021/0144722), The prior art discloses that the terminal device may determine the frequency hopping point in the frequency hopping information as the beam switching point; see ¶ 182. That is, before and after the frequency hopping point, different pieces of uplink beam information are used to transmit the PUSCH or PUCCH; see ¶ 182.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 13-15, 18, 20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Response to Arguments
Applicant remarks, filed on 10/01/2025, argues that the cited portion of the prior art, individually or in combination, fails to discloses the features in claim 26, specifically those pertaining to the act of “transmitting, via a medium access control control element (MAC-CE), an activation command to the UE to activate the multiple spatial relations for use in a plurality of beam hops within a transmission using the single PUCCH resource”. Examiner respectfully disagrees. Kang discloses that the parameters related to the PUCCH beam indication are transmitted via a MAC-CE; see ¶ 180. The parameter includes the spatial relation information enabling a PUCCH to which a single beam is applied and a PUCCH to which a plurality of beams is applied, wherein N beams are determined with respect to each of a plurality of PUCCH resources (or symbol groups) repeatedly transmitted N times in one slot [Single PUCCH resource], and wherein each of the N beams may be configured (or indicated or applied) using the same beam or may be configured using different beams [frequency hopping]; see table 5 and ¶ 181-182. The spatial relation information comprises a spatial_relation_info value(s), which configure identically or differently set for each PUCCH symbol group of one PUCCH resource transmitted within one slot may be determined; see ¶ 183.
In particular, Applicant indicates that the prior art discloses “sequential switching of spatial relations for different PUCCH transmissions”. Examiner notes that the claims fail to explicitly disclose whether the transmission is sequential or concurrent. Examiner suggests to amend the claim to incorporate the specific type of transmission (e.g. sequential or concurrent) in order to distinguish from the prior art of record.
For these reasons discussed above that the claim is met by the prior art.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived 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 AIA 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, 4, 6, 26, 29, 51, 58, 60-61, 63, 66-68, and 70-72 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cheng et al. (US Publication No. 2020/0053721, hereinafter referred to as Cheng) in view of Kang et al. (Publication No. US 2021/0136768, hereinafter referred as Kang).
Regarding Claims 1 and 51, Cheng discloses receiving, via a medium access control control element (MAC-CE), an activation command to activate multiple spatial relations for a single physical control channel (PUCCH) resource, the activation command comprising (A UE receive, from a BS, a MAC-CE for configuring a PUCCH spatial relation; see figure 1/5 & ¶ 71.):
a PUCCH resource identifier identifying the single PUCCH resource to be activated (The MAC-CE includes a PUCCH resource ID field, wherein the PUCCH resource ID indicate one PUCCH resource of the configured PUCCH resources; see figure 4/5 & ¶ 71.),
a field indication that information corresponding to a plurality of spatial relation identifier for the single PUCCH resource is present (The MAC-CE includes a first field, wherein the first field indicate at least one of the configured PUCCH spatial relations to be activated; see ¶ 75.), and
the plurality of spatial relation identifiers (The MAC-CE bitmap may be replaced by a spatial relation ID; see ¶ 74. For example, a spatial relation ID {001} may represent the first PUCCH spatial relation in the list, a spatial relation ID {010} may represent the second PUCCH spatial relation in the list, and so on; see ¶ 74.); and
Cheng fails to disclose communicating in the single PUCCH resource using a plurality of beams hops corresponding to the multiple spatial relations. However, in analogous art, Kang discloses that the parameters related to the PUCCH beam indication are transmitted via a MAC-CE; see ¶ 180. The parameter includes the spatial relation information enabling a PUCCH to which a single beam is applied and a PUCCH to which a plurality of beams is applied, wherein N beams are determined with respect to each of a plurality of PUCCH resources (or symbol groups) repeatedly transmitted N times in one slot [Single PUCCH resource], and wherein each of the N beams may be configured (or indicated or applied) using the same beam or may be configured using different beams [frequency hopping]; see table 5 and ¶ 181-182. The spatial relation information comprises a spatial_relation_info value(s), which configure identically or differently set for each PUCCH symbol group of one PUCCH resource transmitted within one slot may be determined; see ¶ 183. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with the capability to transmit a PUCCH either with a single beam or multiple beams in order to enhance the transmission throughput by using multiple beams.
Regarding Claims 4, 29, 58, and 63, Cheng discloses that the MAC-CE includes a first field that indicates a first spatial relation identifier of the plurality of spatial relation identifiers, and a second field that indicates a second spatial relation identifier of the plurality of spatial relation identifiers (The MAC-CE bitmap may be replaced by a spatial relation ID; see ¶ 74. For example, a spatial relation ID {001} may represent the first PUCCH spatial relation in the list, a spatial relation ID {010} may represent the second PUCCH spatial relation in the list, and so on; see ¶ 74.).
Regarding Claims 6 and 60, Cheng discloses that the UE is to communicate in the single PUCCH resource when the MAC-CE is received (A UE receive, from a BS, a MAC-CE for configuring a PUCCH spatial relation; see figure 1/5 & ¶ 71. The MAC-CE includes a PUCCH resource ID field, wherein the PUCCH resource ID indicate one PUCCH resource of the configured PUCCH resources; see figure 4/5 & ¶ 71. The UE and a BS communicate based on the configured list of PUCCH spatial relations; see figure 1.).
Regarding Claims 26 and 61, Cheng discloses determining multiple spatial relations that are to be activated, for a user equipment (UE), in a single physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) (It is inherent that the base station determined the multiple spatial relations in order to send the MAC-CE including the spatial relations.); and
transmitting, via a medium access control control element (MAC-CE), an activation command to the UE to activate the multiple spatial relations for a transmission using the single PUCCH resource, the activation command comprising (A UE receive, from a BS, a MAC-CE for configuring a PUCCH spatial relation; see figure 1/5 & ¶ 71.):
a PUCCH resource identifier identifying the single PUCCH resource to be activated (The MAC-CE includes a PUCCH resource ID field, wherein the PUCCH resource ID indicate one PUCCH resource of the configured PUCCH resources; see figure 4/5 & ¶ 71.),
a field indication that information corresponding to a plurality of spatial relation identifier for the single PUCCH resource is present (The MAC-CE includes a first field, wherein the first field indicate at least one of the configured PUCCH spatial relations to be activated; see ¶ 75.), and
the plurality of spatial relation identifiers (The MAC-CE bitmap may be replaced by a spatial relation ID; see ¶ 74. For example, a spatial relation ID {001} may represent the first PUCCH spatial relation in the list, a spatial relation ID {010} may represent the second PUCCH spatial relation in the list, and so on; see ¶ 74.); and
communicating in the single PUCCH resource using the multiple spatial relations (The UE and a BS communicate based on the configured list of PUCCH spatial relations; see figure 1.).
Cheng fails to disclose that the multiple spatial relations is using a plurality of beams hops. However, in analogous art, Kang that the parameters related to the PUCCH beam indication are transmitted via a MAC-CE; see ¶ 180. The parameter includes the spatial relation information enabling a PUCCH to which a single beam is applied and a PUCCH to which a plurality of beams is applied, wherein N beams are determined with respect to each of a plurality of PUCCH resources (or symbol groups) repeatedly transmitted N times in one slot [Single PUCCH resource], and wherein each of the N beams may be configured (or indicated or applied) using the same beam or may be configured using different beams [frequency hopping]; see table 5 and ¶ 181-182. The spatial relation information comprises a spatial_relation_info value(s), which configure identically or differently set for each PUCCH symbol group of one PUCCH resource transmitted within one slot may be determined; see ¶ 183. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with the capability to transmit a PUCCH either with a single beam or multiple beams in order to enhance the transmission throughput by using multiple beams.
Regarding Claims 66, 68, 70, and 72, Cheng discloses that the activation command comprises a field indicating an identity of a serving cell for which the MAC-CE applies (The MAC-CE includes a serving cell ID, wherein the serving cell ID may indicate the identity of the serving cell to which the MAC-CE applies; see figure 5 & ¶ 0071.).
Regarding Claims 67 and 71, Cheng discloses that the field is set to one to indicate that the plurality of spatial relation identifiers is present (The MAC-CE includes a first field, wherein the first field indicate at least one of the configured PUCCH spatial relations to be activated [present]; see ¶ 75. The value of the field has been equated to one, given that the value generates the same outcome of indicating that the spatial relation is to be activated [present].).
Claims 7, 9, 16, 21, 32, 65, and 69 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cheng et al. (US Publication No. 2020/0053721, hereinafter referred to as Cheng) in view of Kang et al. (Publication No. US 2021/0136768, hereinafter referred as Kang) and further in view of Gao et al. (Publication No. US 2023/0077264 hereinafter referred as Gao).
Regarding Claim 7, Cheng fails to disclose that a first spatial relation, of the multiple spatial relations, is associated with a first beam hop of the plurality of beam hops, and a second spatial relation, of the multiple spatial relations, is associated with a second beam hop of the plurality of beams hops, and wherein the first beam hop is to use a first portion of symbols allocated to the single PUCCH resource, and the second beam hop is to use a second portion of the symbols allocated to the single PUCCH resource. However, in analogous art, Miao discloses that a 14-symbol PUCCH with Frequency Hopping (FH) turned on is sent according to a first spatial relation in the first 7 symbols and a second spatial relation in the last 7 symbols; see figure 13B & ¶ 0137. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with FH mechanism in order to increase the maximum number of RRC configured spatial relations for PUCCH; see ¶ 0058.
Regarding Claim 9, Cheng fails to disclose that the first beam hop is to use a first set of power control parameters indicated by the first spatial relation, and the second beam hop is to use a second set of power control parameters indicated by the second spatial relation. However, in analogous art, Miao discloses that in addition to proving the spatial relation for PUCCH, each PUCCH_SpatialRelationInfo also provides some PUCCH power control parameters; see ¶ 0057. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with FH mechanism in order to increase the maximum number of RRC configured spatial relations for PUCCH; see ¶ 0058.
Regarding Claim 16, Cheng fails to disclose that the first beam hop uses a first PUCCH power value and the second beam hop uses a second PUCCH power value. However, in analogous art, Miao discloses that in addition to proving the spatial relation for PUCCH, each PUCCH_SpatialRelationInfo also provides some PUCCH power control parameters; see ¶ 0057. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with FH mechanism in order to increase the maximum number of RRC configured spatial relations for PUCCH; see ¶ 0058.
Regarding Claim 21, Cheng fails to disclose that the first beam hop is to use a first frequency hop and a second frequency hop of the single PUCCH resource, and the second beam hop is to use the first frequency hop and the second frequency hop. However, in analogous art, Miao discloses that a 14-symbol PUCCH with Frequency Hopping (FH) turned on is sent according to a first spatial relation in the first 7 symbols and a second spatial relation in the last 7 symbols; see figure 13B & ¶ 0137. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with FH mechanism in order to increase the maximum number of RRC configured spatial relations for PUCCH; see ¶ 0058.
Regarding Claim 32, Cheng fails to disclose that a first spatial relation, of the multiple spatial relations, is associated with a first beam hop of the plurality if beams hops, and
a second spatial relation, of the multiple spatial relations, is associated with a second beam hop of the plurality of beam hops, and
wherein the first beam hop, and the second beam hop correspond to different portions of the transmission. However, in analogous art, Miao discloses that a 14-symbol PUCCH with Frequency Hopping (FH) turned on is sent according to a first spatial relation in the first 7 symbols and a second spatial relation in the last 7 symbols; see figure 13B & ¶ 0137. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with FH mechanism in order to increase the maximum number of RRC configured spatial relations for PUCCH; see ¶ 0058.
Regarding Claims 65 and 69, Cheng fails to disclose that a first spatial relation, of the multiple spatial relation, is associated with a first beam hop of the plurality of beam hops in the single PUCCH resource, and a second spatial relation, of the multiple spatial relations, is associated with a second beam hop in the single PUCCH resource, and wherein the first beam hop corresponds to a first transmit receive point (TRP), and the second beam hop of the plurality of beam hops correspond to a second TRP. However, in analogous art, Miao discloses that a 14-symbol PUCCH with Frequency Hopping (FH) turned on is sent according to a first spatial relation in the first 7 symbols and a second spatial relation in the last 7 symbols; see figure 13B & ¶ 0137. Furthermore, the first spatial relation is toward TRP1 and the second spatial relation is toward TPR2; see ¶ 0137. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with FH mechanism in order to increase the maximum number of RRC configured spatial relations for PUCCH; see ¶ 0058.
Claims 17 and 19 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cheng, Miao, and further in view of Yao et al. (Publication No. US 2021/0105726, hereinafter referred as Yao).
Regarding Claim 17, Cheng, as modified by Miao, fails to disclose that the first PUCCH power value is based at least in part on at least one of a first pathloss reference signal, a first offset value, or a first closed loop index, and the second PUCCH power value is based at least in part on at least one of a second pathloss reference signal, a second offset value, or a second closed loop index. However, in analogous art, Yao discloses that configuring at least one set of power control parameters for each spatial relationship, where each set of power control parameters corresponds to one power influence factor set such as a PUCCH is subjected to frequency hopping; see ¶ 0006. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with power control mechanism in order to accurately reflected multiple factor (e.g. FH) in the power control of the PUCCH; see ¶ 0003.
Regarding Claim 19, Cheng, as modified by Miao, fails to disclose that the first PUCCH power value is based at least in part on at least one of a first quantity of resource elements or a first quantity of symbols, and the second PUCCH power value is based at least in part on at least one of a second quantity of resource elements or a second quantity of symbols. However, in analogous art, Yao discloses that configuring at least one set of power control parameters for each spatial relationship, where each set of power control parameters corresponds to one power influence factor set such as number of OFDM symbols occupied by the PUCCH transmission; see ¶ 0006. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Cheng with power control mechanism in order to accurately reflected multiple factor (e.g. FH) in the power control of the PUCCH; see ¶ 0003.
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 HECTOR REYES whose telephone number is (571)270-0239. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6-5.
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/H.R/Examiner, Art Unit 2472
/KEVIN T BATES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2472
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