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 .
DETAILED 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 06/23/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
Applicant’s amendment, filed 06/23/2026, has been entered and carefully considered. Claims 7, 9, 18, 20-22 are cancelled. Claims 1, 6, 11 and 19 are independent claims, claims 1, 2, 4, 6, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, and 23-32 are pending in the application. Claims 1, 11, 25, and 30 are amended.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-2,4,11-12,14 and 16-17 all are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Regarding claims 1 and 11, recites first slot and second slot, determining a second slot related to the HARQ-ACK information for SPS PDSCH receptions, wherein the HARQ-ACK information for SPS PDSCH receptions is associated with the information related to the SPS HARQ deferral. recite at various places the limitation, is considered indefinite as its not clear if first slot or specifically second slot are part of “a number of slots for deferral” and the mechanism of determining a second slot….” is not clear.
Examiner recommend to clarify the claim language.
An appropriate correction is required.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6,19 and 23-32 are allowable over prior art of record, respectively.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Zhang et al. (US 2024/0356677 A1), Paragraphs 0078-0081 discloses while the SPS HARQ-ACK deferral rule is also enabled, it may be specified that a resource determination based on the DCI indication has priority over a resource determination based on SPS HARQ-ACK deferral rule. FIG. 6, the terminal device 110 is configured with the SPS HARQ-ACK deferral rule, while the PUCCH resource 616 on CC #1 allocated for initial SPS HARQ-ACK transmission for SPS PDSCH 612).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ROMANI OHRI whose telephone number is (571)272-5420. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00am-5:00pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, UN C CHO can be reached at 5712727919. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ROMANI OHRI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413
Prosecution Insights