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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement submitted on 02/13/2023 and 01/22/2025, have been considered by the examiner and made of record in the application file.
Response to Appeal Brief
This Office Action is in response to applicant’s Appeal Brief submitted on February 2, 2026.
Claims, 1-12 and 14-21 are now currently pending in the present application.
EXAMINERS NOTES
Examiner exercised applying broadest reasonable interpretation for the following claims 2, 4, 11 and 17, were examined based on claim limitation “or” and only one limitation were examined.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-12 and 14-21 are rejected under U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Baek et al. (US 20220386093 A1, hereinafter Baek).
Consider Claim 1, Baek discloses a user equipment device (UE), comprising:
at least one antenna; (Paragraph 0014, considers only mobile UEs each equipped with a single antenna of a limited size).
at least one radio, wherein the at least one radio is configured to perform cellular communication using at least one radio access technology (RAT); and (paragraph 0053, FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication based on pre-new radio access technology (NR) RAT and V2X communication based on NR in comparison).
one or more processors coupled to the at least one radio, wherein the one or more processors and the at least one radio are configured to perform communications; and (paragraph 0113, FIG. 7 illustrates UEs that conduct V2X or SL communication between them. Paragraph 0114, Referring to FIG. 7, the term “UE” in V2X or SL communication may mainly refer to a terminal of a user).
wherein the one or more processors are configured to cause the UE to: (Paragraph 0205, FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for performing positioning between a positioning vehicle and a neighbor vehicle in a distributed antenna vehicle network according to an embodiment).
transmit first information indicative of a sidelink positioning reference signal (PRS) capability of the UE, wherein the first information is indicated in a bit included in a 5G Mobility Management (5GMM) capability information element (IE), and wherein the sidelink PRS capability of the UE indicates that the UE supports a sidelink positioning procedure; (Paragraph 0062, FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary architecture of a 5G system capable of positioning a UE connected to an NG-RAN or an E-UTRAN according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Paragraph 0087, The MME has access information or capability information about UEs, which are mainly used for mobility management of the UEs. Paragraph 0209, Here, the preliminary work for SL positioning may include positioning capability reporting (S1411), SL positioning connection (S1412), configured PRS scheduling (S1413), and side information sharing (S1414)).
receive sidelink PRS configuration information for the UE, wherein the sidelink PRS configuration information for the UE is received responsive to transmission of the first information; and (paragraph 0221, Configured PRS Scheduling (S1413). Paragraph 0222, PRS scheduling information configured to perform SL positioning may be provided to the positioning vehicle 1401 and the neighbor vehicle 1402. Paragraph 0231, the positioning vehicle 1401 may transmit positioning-related sidelink control information (SCI) (PSCI), which is positioning-related signaling information, to the neighbor vehicle 1402 before transmitting the request PRS (S1422)).
transmit one or more sidelink PRSs according to the sidelink PRS configuration information. (Paragraph 0246, The positioning vehicle 1401 may transmit a request PRS to the neighbor vehicle 1402 using the selected and reserved request PRS ID (S1425). In this case, the positioning vehicle 1401 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is transmitted. If the number of antenna groups used for positioning is one or more, the positioning vehicle 1401 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is transmitted through each antenna group).
Consider Claim 2, Baek discloses the UE of claim1, wherein the sidelink PRS configuration information for the UE is received via at least one of:
a radio resource control (RRC) sidelink PRS configuration message; or (paragraph 0088, the radio resource control (RRC) layer at L3 functions to control radio resources between the UE and the network. For this purpose, the RRC layer exchanges RRC messages between the UE and an eNB).
a Long Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) communication.
Consider Claim 3, Baek discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:
receive a sidelink PRS transmission activation, wherein the one or more sidelink PRSs are transmitted responsive, at least in part, to receipt of the sidelink PRS transmission activation. (Paragraph 0246, the positioning vehicle 1401 may transmit a request PRS to the neighbor vehicle 1402 using the selected and reserved request PRS ID (S1425). In this case, the positioning vehicle 1401 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is transmitted. If the number of antenna groups used for positioning. Paragraph 0247, upon receiving the request PRS, the neighbor vehicle 1402 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is received from the positioning vehicle 1401 and measure information related to positioning and link quality).
Consider Claim 4, Baek discloses the UE of claim 3, wherein the sidelink PRS transmission activation is received via at least one of:
a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE); or (paragraph 0354, one or more protocol layers may be implemented by, without being limited to, one or more processors 102 and 202. For example, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may implement one or more layers (e.g., functional layers such as PHY, MAC, RLC, PDCP, RRC, and SDAP)).
a Long Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) communication.
Consider Claim 5, Baek discloses the UE of claim 3, wherein the sidelink PRS transmission activation is received in a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) based, at least in part, on information about the sidelink PRS configuration of the UE carried in a New Radio Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa) positioning information response message. (Paragraph 0102, a radio interface between UEs or a radio interface between a UE and a network may include L1, L2, and L3. For example, L2 may refer to at least one of the MAC layer. Paragraph 0136, the UE including the NR SL module and the LTE SL module receives NR SL DCI from the gNB, the NR SL module may convert the NR SL DCI into LTE DCI type 5A, and transmit LTE DCI type 5A to the LTE SL module every X ms. After the LTE SL module receives LTE DCI format 5A from the NR SL module, the LTE SL module may activate and/or release a first LTE subframe after Z ms).
Consider Claim 6, Baek discloses the UE of claim 5, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:
receive the sidelink PRS transmission activation in the MAC CE responsive, at least in part, to an NRPPa positioning activation request carrying a request to start sidelink PRS transmission. (Paragraph 0179, the AMF may then transmit a location service request to an LMF in step 2, and the LMF may start location procedures with the serving-eNB and the serving gNB to obtain positioning data or positioning assistance data in step 3a. Additionally, the LMF may initiate a location procedure for DL positioning with the UE in step 3b).
Consider Claim 7, Baek discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the sidelink PRS configuration information for the UE is received in a radio resource control (RRC) sidelink PRS configuration message responsive, at least in part, to a New Radio Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa) information request carrying a request for sidelink PRS configuration. (paragraph 0088, the radio resource control (RRC) layer at L3 functions to control radio resources between the UE and the network. For this purpose, the RRC layer exchanges RRC messages between the UE and an eNB).
Consider Claim 8, Baek discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
perform sidelink PRS measurements of sidelink PRSs transmitted by other UEs; and (paragraph 0247, Upon receiving the request PRS, the neighbor vehicle 1402 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is received from the positioning vehicle 1401 and measure information related to positioning and link quality (or channel quality), such as AoA or RSRP (S1426). Paragraph 0248, link quality measurement using the request PRS, the neighbor vehicle 1402 according to an embodiment may determine link quality through an RSSI measured using data information received from the positioning vehicle 1401).
report, using Long Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) based communication, the sidelink PRS measurements to a location management function (LMF). (Paragraph 0172, A new generation evolved-NB (ng-eNB) and a gNB, which are network elements of an NG-RAN capable of providing measurement results for positioning, may measure radio signals for the target UE and transmit result values to the LMF (see fig. 2)).
Consider Claim 9, Baek discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the UE to:
receive, in a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), instruction to deactivate sidelink PRS transmissions; and (paragraph 0182, the location of the reference point may be differently defined and configured according to design of those skilled in the art. Although the reference point is configured as a fixed value, the actual location of the reference point may be changed according to the movement of the UE).
discontinue transmission of the one or more PRSs responsive, at least in part, to receiving the instruction. (Paragraph 0090, fig. 3, a next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) may include a next generation Node B (gNB) and/or an eNB, which provides user-plane and control-plane protocol termination to a UE. In FIG. 3, the NG-RAN is shown as including only gNBs).
Consider Claim 10, Baek discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the first information is transmitted in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) communication. (Paragraph 0220, the PRS scheduling information may include PRS information transmitted by the positioning vehicle 1401 and PRS information
transmitted in response by the neighbor vehicle 1402 (see fig. 2)).
Consider Claim 11, Baek discloses an apparatus, comprising:
a memory; and (paragraph 0346, the first wireless device 100 may include one or more memories 104).
at least one processor in communication with the memory and configured to: (Paragraph 0347, the UE or the vehicle may include the processor 102 and the memory 104 that are connected to the RF transceiver).
generate instructions to transmit first information indicative of a sidelink positioning reference signal (PRS) capability, wherein the first information is indicated in a bit included in a 5G Mobility Management (5GMM) capability information element (IE), and wherein the sidelink PRS capability indicates support of a sidelink positioning procedure; and (paragraph 0062, FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary architecture of a 5G system capable of positioning a UE connected to an NG-RAN or an E-UTRAN according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Paragraph 0087, The MME has access information or capability information about UEs, which are mainly used for mobility management of the UEs. Paragraph 0209, Here, the preliminary work for SL positioning may include positioning capability reporting (S1411), SL positioning connection (S1412), configured PRS scheduling (S1413), and side information sharing (S1414)).
receive, sidelink PRS configuration information associated with the apparatus responsive to transmission of the first information via at least one of: (Paragraph 0221, Configured PRS Scheduling (S1413). Paragraph 0222, PRS scheduling information configured to perform SL positioning may be provided to the positioning vehicle 1401 and the neighbor vehicle 1402. Paragraph 0231, the positioning vehicle 1401 may transmit positioning-related sidelink control information (SCI) (PSCI), which is positioning-related signaling information, to the neighbor vehicle 1402 before transmitting the request PRS (S1422)).
a radio resource control (RRC) sidelink PRS configuration message; or (paragraph 0088, the radio resource control (RRC) layer at L3 functions to control radio resources between the UE and the network. For this purpose, the RRC layer exchanges RRC messages between the UE and an eNB).
a Long Term Evolution (LTE) positioning protocol (LPP) communication; and
generate instructions to transmit one or more sidelink PRSs according to the sidelink PRS configuration information. (Paragraph 0246, The positioning vehicle 1401 may transmit a request PRS to the neighbor vehicle 1402 using the selected and reserved request PRS ID (S1425). In this case, the positioning vehicle 1401 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is transmitted. If the number of antenna groups used for positioning is one or more, the positioning vehicle 1401 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is transmitted through each antenna group).
Consider Claim 12, Baek discloses the apparatus of The apparatus of wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
generate instructions to transmit, in a non-access stratum (NAS) registration request message to an access and mobility management function (AMF), an indication of support of sidelink positioning; and (paragraph 0171, the AMF may then transmit a location service request to a location management function (LMF). Upon receipt of the location service request, the LMF may process the location service request and return a processing result including information about an estimated location of the UE to the AMF).
receive, from the AMF, an indication of authorization to use sidelink positioning based on a determination usage of sidelink positioning is authorized, wherein the indication is received via NAS registration accept message. (Paragraph 0180, In step 4, the LMF may provide a location service response to the AMF. The location service response may include information indicating whether location estimation of the UE was successful and the location estimate of the UE. Then, when the procedure of FIG. 11 is initiated in step 1a, the AMF may deliver the location service response to the 5GC entity such as the GMLC).
Consider Claim 14, Baek discloses the apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
generate instructions to transmit, in a Proximity Services (ProSe) sidelink discovery announcement message, an indication of support of sidelink positioning. (Paragraph 0212, the positioning vehicle 1401 may report positioning capability information, positioning status information, and location information to a network or to the network, a BS, or the neighbor vehicle 1402 through a Uu link between the BS and a vehicle or through SL between vehicles).
Consider Claim 15, Baek discloses a method for sidelink positioning in wireless communications, comprising:
a user equipment device (UE), (paragraph 0078, Sidelink (SL) refers to a communication scheme in which a direct link is established between user equipment (UEs)).
transmitting first information indicative of a sidelink positioning reference signal (PRS) capability of the UE, wherein the first information is indicated in a bit included in a 5G Mobility Management (5GMM) capability information element (IE), and wherein the sidelink PRS capability of the UE indicates that the UE supports a sidelink positioning procedure; (Paragraph 0062, FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary architecture of a 5G system capable of positioning a UE connected to an NG-RAN or an E-UTRAN according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Paragraph 0087, The MME has access information or capability information about UEs, which are mainly used for mobility management of the UEs. Paragraph 0209, Here, the preliminary work for SL positioning may include positioning capability reporting (S1411), SL positioning connection (S1412), configured PRS scheduling (S1413), and side information sharing (S1414)).
receiving sidelink PRS configuration information for the UE, wherein the sidelink PRS configuration information for the UE is received responsive to transmission of the first information; and (paragraph 0221, Configured PRS Scheduling (S1413). Paragraph 0222, PRS scheduling information configured to perform SL positioning may be provided to the positioning vehicle 1401 and the neighbor vehicle 1402. Paragraph 0231, the positioning vehicle 1401 may transmit positioning-related sidelink control information (SCI) (PSCI), which is positioning-related signaling information, to the neighbor vehicle 1402 before transmitting the request PRS (S1422)).
transmitting one or more sidelink PRSs according to the sidelink PRS configuration information. (Paragraph 0246, The positioning vehicle 1401 may transmit a request PRS to the neighbor vehicle 1402 using the selected and reserved request PRS ID (S1425). In this case, the positioning vehicle 1401 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is transmitted. If the number of antenna groups used for positioning is one or more, the positioning vehicle 1401 may record information about a time at which the request PRS is transmitted through each antenna group).
Consider Claim 16, Baek discloses the method of claim 15, further comprising:
the UE, transmitting, in a Proximity Services (ProSe) sidelink discovery solicitation message, a first indication that the UE supports sidelink positioning; (Paragraph 0221, Configured PRS Scheduling (S1413). Paragraph 0222, PRS scheduling information configured to perform SL positioning may be provided to the positioning vehicle 1401 and the neighbor vehicle 1402. Paragraph 0231, the positioning vehicle 1401 may transmit positioning-related sidelink control information (SCI) (PSCI), which is positioning-related signaling information, to the neighbor vehicle 1402 before transmitting the request PRS (S1422)).
receiving, in response from a neighboring UE, a second indication that the neighboring UE supports sidelink positioning via a ProSe discovery response message; (Paragraph 0181, a UE according to an embodiment to be described later may communicate with neighbor UEs through SL and communicate with a network through a Uu interface. Paragraph 0240, the neighbor vehicle 1422 may re-perform the process of determining and reserving the response PRS ID for transmitting the response PRS through each antenna group. In FIG. 14, a second indicator 1404 is an indicator indicating whether a process of reselecting the response PRS ID is necessary).
determining, responsive to the first indication and the second indication, to use sidelink positioning with the neighboring UE; and (paragraph 0346, to generate first information/signals and then transmit radio signals including the first information/signals through the transceiver(s) 106. The processor(s) 102 may receive radio signals including second information/signals through the transceiver 106).
exchanging, with the neighboring UE sidelink positioning configuration and capabilities via UE Capability Enquiry Sidelink information elements (IEs). (Paragraph 0353, the operation may include selecting a neighbor vehicle to participate in positioning by performing a preliminary operation for sidelink positioning, exchanging sidelink control information for positioning with the selected neighbor vehicle).
Consider Claim 17, Baek discloses the method of claim 16, further comprising: the UE,
requesting the neighboring UE to transmit a sidelink positioning reference signal (PRS); (Paragraph 0019, another object to be solved is to provide a sidelink positioning method which provides fast link connection between a positioning vehicle and a neighbor vehicle by performing sidelink positioning).
performing sidelink PRS measurements based at least in part on the transmitted PRS; (Paragraph 0173, he E-SMLC may enable the LMF to support observed time difference of arrival (OTDoA), which is one of positioning methods in the E-UTRAN, by using DL measurements obtained by the target UE through signals transmitted by the eNB and/or the PRS-dedicated TPs in the E-UTRAN).
calculating a relative position of the UE with respect to at least the second UE, based at least in part on the sidelink PRS measurements; and (paragraph 0175, The UE may include an LCS application and access the LCS application through communication with a network to which the UE is connected or through another application included in the UE. The LCS application may include a measurement and calculation function required to determine the location of the UE).
communicating coordinates corresponding to an absolute position of the UE via one or more of sidelink radio resource control signaling or a ProSe message, wherein the coordinates are included in at least one of:
a Capability Enquiry Sidelink information element (IE);
a UE Capability Information Sidelink IE;
a ProSe Direct Link modification request IE;
a ProSe Direct Link modification accept IE;
a ProSe Direct Link keepalive request IE; or
a ProSe Direct Link keepalive response IE. (Paragraph 0196, fig. 13, {X.sub.G,Y.sub.G} denotes global coordinates {x,y}, and {x.sub.L,Y.sub.L} denotes local coordinates {x,y}. The local coordinates of a positioning vehicle may or may not be equal to the local coordinates of a neighbor vehicle. In this case, the longer of a horizontal length and a vertical length of a vehicle may be configured as the x-axis of the local coordinates or other criteria may be used to configure the x-axis of the local coordinates)
Consider Claim 18, Baek discloses the method of claim 15, further comprising: the UE,
transmitting, over a V5 interface, a first indication of support of sidelink positioning via at least one of a Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) basic safety message or a European Telecommunications Standards Institute Intelligent Transport Systems Cooperative Awareness Basic Service message; (Paragraph 0007, a technique of providing safety service based on V2X messages such as basic safety message (BSM), cooperative awareness message (CAM), and decentralized environmental notification message (DENM) was mainly discussed in the pre-NR RAT)
receiving, over the VS interface from a neighboring UE, a second indication that the neighboring UE supports sidelink positioning via at least one of an SAE basic safety message or a European Telecommunications Standards Institute Intelligent Transport Systems Cooperative Awareness Basic Service message; (Paragraph 0007, a technique of providing safety service based on V2X messages such as basic safety message (BSM), cooperative awareness message (CAM), and decentralized environmental notification message (DENM) was mainly discussed in the pre-NR RAT)
determining, responsive to the first indication and the second indication, to use sidelink positioning with the neighboring UE; and (paragraph 0346, to generate first information/signals and then transmit radio signals including the first information/signals through the transceiver(s) 106. The processor(s) 102 may receive radio signals including second information/signals through the transceiver 106).
establishing a sidelink radio resource control (RRC) connection with the neighboring UE in response to the determination to use sidelink positioning with the neighboring UE. (paragraph 0088, the radio resource control (RRC) layer at L3 functions to control radio resources between the UE and the network. For this purpose, the RRC layer exchanges RRC messages between the UE and an eNB).
Consider Claim 19, Baek discloses the method of claim 18, further comprising: the UE,\
exchanging, with the neighboring UE sidelink positioning configuration and capabilities. (Paragraph 0353, the operation may include selecting a neighbor vehicle to participate in positioning by performing a preliminary operation for sidelink positioning, exchanging sidelink control information for positioning with the selected neighbor vehicle).
Consider Claim 20, Baek discloses the method of claim 19, further comprising: the UE,
requesting the neighboring UE to transmit a sidelink PRS using a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration sidelink information element; (paragraph 0088, the radio resource control (RRC) layer at L3 functions to control radio resources between the UE and the network. For this purpose, the RRC layer exchanges RRC messages between the UE and an eNB).
performing sidelink PRS measurements based at least in part on the transmitted PRS; and (paragraph 0173, he E-SMLC may enable the LMF to support observed time difference of arrival (OTDoA), which is one of positioning methods in the E-UTRAN, by using DL measurements obtained by the target UE through signals transmitted by the eNB and/or the PRS-dedicated TPs in the E-UTRAN).
calculating a relative position of the UE with respect to at least the neighboring UE based, at least in part, on the sidelink PRS measurements. (Paragraph 0175, The UE may include an LCS application and access the LCS application through communication with a network to which the UE is connected or through another application included in the UE. The LCS application may include a measurement and calculation function required to determine the location of the UE).
Claim 21, Baek discloses the apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sidelink PRS configuration information is received in a radio resource control (RRC) sidelink PRS configuration message responsive, at least in part, to a New Radio Positioning Protocol A (NRPPa) information request carrying a request for sidelink PRS configuration. (Paragraph 0179, the AMF may then transmit a location service request to an LMF in step 2, and the LMF may start location procedures with the serving-eNB and the serving gNB to obtain positioning data or positioning assistance data in step 3a. Additionally, the LMF may initiate a location procedure for DL positioning with the UE in step 3b).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHELE CAMILLE DOUGLAS whose telephone number is (571)270-0458. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 6:30 am - 5:00 pm.
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/MICHELE C DOUGLAS/Examiner, Art Unit 2646
/MATTHEW D. ANDERSON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2646
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