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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 January 14, 2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed January 14, 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
The argument features Schmidt does not disclose “receiving, before a paging occasion of the terminal, a first paging indication” and “determining, based on the first paging indication, to monitor downlink control information (DCI).”
The examiner respectfully disagrees with the applicant’s statement and asserts that, using the broadest reasonable interpretation, Schmidt discloses receiving, before a paging occasion of the terminal (col. 11, lines 15-20), a first paging indication [e.g. P-RNTI (col. 11, lines 15-20)], determining, based on the first paging indication [e.g. P-RNTI (col. 11, lines 15-20)], to monitor downlink control information (DCI) (col.11, lines 20-23; col. 13, lines 22, 23, 25).
The argument features Schmidt is totally silent about the first paging indication comprises a first field which comprises R pieces of indication information corresponding to R paging occasions, each of the R pieces of indication information corresponds to a respective paging occasion of the R paging occasions and comprises M bits indicating whether paging is monitored on the paging occasion corresponding to the respective indication information, and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1, the R paging occasions comprises the paging occasion of the terminal, and R is an integer greater than 1.
The examiner respectfully disagrees with the applicant’s statement and asserts that, using the broadest reasonable interpretation, Schmidt discloses the first paging indication comprises a first field which comprises R pieces of indication information corresponding to R paging occasions (col. 11, lines 15-23), each of the R pieces of indication information corresponds to a respective paging occasion of the R paging occasions (col. 11, lines 15-23) and comprises M bits indicating whether paging is monitored on the paging occasion corresponding to the respective indication information (col. 11, lines 15-23; col. 13, lines 19, 20, 22, 23), and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 [e.g. 16 bits (col. 13, lines 22, 23), the R paging occasions comprises the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 11, lines 22, 23), and R is an integer greater than 1 [e.g. paging occasions (col. 11, lines 22, 23)].
In view of the above, the rejection using Schmidt and Fu is maintained as repeated below.
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 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.
Claims 40, 42-46, 48, 53, 55, 56, 58-64 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being unpatentable by Schmidt et al. (U.S. Patent Number: 8,892,091).
Consider claim 40; Schmidt discloses a method, performed by a terminal or a chip configured for a terminal, the method comprising:
receiving, before a paging occasion of the terminal (col. 11, lines 15-20), a first paging indication [e.g. P-RNTI (col. 11, lines 15-20)], wherein the first paging indication comprises a first field which comprises R pieces of indication information corresponding to R paging occasions (col. 11, lines 15-23), each of the R pieces of indication information corresponds to a respective paging occasion of the R paging occasions (col. 11, lines 15-23) and comprises M bits indicating whether paging is monitored on the paging occasion corresponding to the respective indication information (col. 11, lines 15-23; col. 13, lines 19, 20, 22, 23), and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 [e.g. 16 bits (col. 13, lines 22, 23), the R paging occasions comprises the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 11, lines 22, 23), and R is an integer greater than 1 [e.g. paging occasions (col. 11, lines 22, 23)]; and
determining, based on the first paging indication [e.g. P-RNTI (col. 11, lines 15-20)], to monitor downlink control information (DCI) on the paging occasion of the terminal (col.11, lines 20-23; col. 13, lines 22, 23, 25), wherein the DCI schedules a paging message (col. 13, lines 25-28).
Consider claim 42; Schmidt discloses determining (col. 13, lines 17-20), based on a location of the paging occasion of the terminal in the R paging occasions (col. 13, lines 12, 17-18), indication information corresponding to the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20); and determining, based on the indication information corresponding to the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20), to monitor DCI on the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20, 22-23, 25).
Consider claim 43; Schmidt discloses the R paging occasions are different paging occasions in a same discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle (col. 12, lines 13-23).
Consider claim 44; Schmidt discloses receiving, in a monitoring time interval (col. 13, lines 22-23), the first paging indication (col. 13, lines 19-20).
Consider claim 45; Schmidt discloses receiving monitoring time window configuration information (col. 13, lines 12-16); and determining the monitoring time interval (col. 13, lines 22-23, 26-28) based on the monitoring time window configuration information (col. 13, lines 12-16).
Consider claim 46; Schmidt discloses determining a start point of the monitoring time interval based on the monitoring time window configuration information (col. 13, lines 12-16); and determining the monitoring time interval (col. 13, lines 22-23) based on the start point of the monitoring time window configuration information (col. 13, lines 12-16).
Consider claim 48; Schmidt discloses indication information of a plurality of terminals which are grouped into M groups (col. 11, lines 18-23), and wherein each of the M bits indicates whether a terminal in a corresponding group in the M groups monitors on a corresponding paging occasion (col. 11, lines 18-23; col. 13, lines 19, 20, 22, 23).
Consider claim 53; Schmidt discloses a terminal or a communication apparatus configured for a terminal, comprising:
one or more processors (col. 17, lines 23-37); and
a communication interface (col. 17, lines 23-26);
a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program that is executable by the one or more processors (col. 17, lines 23-37), the program including instructions to:
receive, before a paging occasion of the terminal (col. 11, lines 15-20), a first paging indication [e.g. P-RNTI (col. 11, lines 15-20)], wherein the first paging indication comprises a first field which comprises R pieces of indication information corresponding to R paging occasions (col. 11, lines 15-23), each of the R pieces of indication information corresponds to a respective paging occasion of the R paging occasions (col. 11, lines 15-23) and comprises M bits indicating whether paging is monitored on the paging occasion corresponding to the respective indication information (col. 11, lines 15-23; col. 13, lines 19, 20, 22, 23), and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 [e.g. 16 bits (col. 13, lines 22, 23), the R paging occasions comprises the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 11, lines 22, 23), and R is an integer greater than 1 [e.g. paging occasions (col. 11, lines 22, 23)]; and
determine, based on the first paging indication [e.g. P-RNTI (col. 11, lines 15-20)], to monitor downlink control information (DCI) on the paging occasion of the terminal (col.11, lines 20-23; col. 13, lines 22, 23, 25), wherein the DCI schedules a paging message (col. 13, lines 25-28).
Consider claim 55; Schmidt discloses determining (col. 13, lines 17-20), based on a location of the paging occasion of the terminal in the R paging occasions (col. 13, lines 12, 17-18), indication information corresponding to the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20); and determining, based on the indication information corresponding to the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20), to monitor DCI on the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20, 22-23, 25).
Consider claim 56; Schmidt discloses a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein the computer-readable storage medium comprises computer instructions, and when the computer instructions are run on a terminal, the terminal is enabled to perform the following:
receive, before a paging occasion of the terminal (col. 11, lines 15-20), a first paging indication [e.g. P-RNTI (col. 11, lines 15-20)], wherein the first paging indication comprises a first field which comprises R pieces of indication information corresponding to R paging occasions (col. 11, lines 15-23), each of the R pieces of indication information corresponds to a respective paging occasion of the R paging occasions (col. 11, lines 15-23) and comprises M bits indicating whether paging is monitored on the paging occasion corresponding to the respective indication information (col. 11, lines 15-23; col. 13, lines 19, 20, 22, 23), and M is an integer greater than or equal to 1 [e.g. 16 bits (col. 13, lines 22, 23), the R paging occasions comprises the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 11, lines 22, 23), and R is an integer greater than 1 [e.g. paging occasions (col. 11, lines 22, 23)]; and
determine, based on the first paging indication [e.g. P-RNTI (col. 11, lines 15-20)], to monitor downlink control information (DCI) on the paging occasion of the terminal (col.11, lines 20-23; col. 13, lines 22, 23, 25), wherein the DCI schedules a paging message (col. 13, lines 25-28).
Consider claim 58; Schmidt discloses determining (col. 13, lines 17-20), based on a location of the paging occasion of the terminal in the R paging occasions (col. 13, lines 12, 17-18), indication information corresponding to the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20); and determining, based on the indication information corresponding to the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20), to monitor DCI on the paging occasion of the terminal (col. 13, lines 17-20, 22-23, 25).
Consider claim 59; Schmidt discloses the R paging occasions are different paging occasions in a same discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle (col. 12, lines 13-23).
Consider claim 60; Schmidt discloses the R paging occasions are different paging occasions in a same discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle (col. 12, lines 13-23).
Consider claim 61; Schmidt discloses receiving, in a monitoring time interval (col. 13, lines 22-23), the first paging indication (col. 13, lines 19-20).
Consider claim 62; Schmidt discloses receiving (col. 13, lines 12-16), monitoring time window configuration information (col. 13, lines 12-16); and determining the monitoring time interval (col. 13, lines 22-23, 26-28) based on the monitoring time window configuration information (col. 13, lines 12-16).
Consider claim 63; Schmidt discloses determining a start point of the monitoring time interval based on the monitoring time window configuration information (col. 13, lines 12-16); and determining the monitoring time interval (col. 13, lines 22-23) based on the start point of the monitoring time window configuration information (col. 13, lines 12-16).
Consider claim 64; Schmidt discloses indication information of a plurality of terminals which are grouped into M groups (col. 11, lines 18-23), and wherein each of the M bits indicates whether a terminal in a corresponding group in the M groups monitors on a corresponding paging occasion (col. 11, lines 18-23; col. 13, lines 19, 20, 22, 23).
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 of this title, 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 49-52, 65-68 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Schmidt et al. (U.S. Patent Number: 8,892,091) in view of Fu et al. (U.S. Patent Application Number: 2020/0022105).
Consider claim 49, as applied in claim 48; Schmidt discloses the claimed invention except: an order of the M bits in each of the R pieces of indication information is based on an order of group numbers of the M groups.
In an analogous art Fu discloses an order of the M bits in each of the R pieces of indication information is based on an order of group numbers of the M groups (par. 96, lines 4-10).
It is an object of Schmidt’s invention to provide a method of ensuring paging messages are correctly received by a mobile terminal. It is an object of Fu’s invention to provide a method for receiving paging information. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Schmidt by including a group order, as taught by Fu, for the purpose of effectively managing communication in a telecommunications network.
Consider claim 50, as applied in claim 49; Fu discloses Sth bits in the M bits indicates whether there is paging for an sthgroup, and s is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than M (par. 96, line 4 – par. 97, line 12).
Consider claim 51, as applied in claim 40; Schmidt discloses the claimed invention except: M is configured by a network device for the terminal.
In an analogous art Fu discloses M is configured by a network device for the terminal (par. 94, lines 1-9).
It is an object of Schmidt’s invention to provide a method of ensuring paging messages are correctly received by a mobile terminal. It is an object of Fu’s invention to provide a method for receiving paging information. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Schmidt by including a network device such as MME, as taught by Fu, for the purpose of effectively managing communication in a telecommunications network.
Consider claim 52, as applied in claim 40; Schmidt discloses the claimed invention except: the first paging indication further comprises a fourth field, and wherein the fourth field indicates availability of an assistance reference signal, and wherein the assistance reference signal is: an assistance reference signal configured by a network device for one or more terminals in an idle mode or an inactive mode, or an assistance reference signal associated with the R paging occasions.
In an analogous art Fu discloses the first paging indication further comprises a fourth field (par. 35), and wherein the fourth field indicates availability of an assistance reference signal (par. 32, 35), and wherein the assistance reference signal is: an assistance reference signal configured by a network device for one or more terminals in an idle mode or an inactive mode, or an assistance reference signal associated with the R paging occasions (par. 32, 35, 123).
It is an object of Schmidt’s invention to provide a method of ensuring paging messages are correctly received by a mobile terminal. It is an object of Fu’s invention to provide a method for receiving paging information. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Schmidt by including assistance, as taught by Fu, for the purpose of effectively managing communication in a telecommunications network.
Consider claim 65, as applied in claim 64; Schmidt discloses the claimed invention except: an order of the M bits in each of the R pieces of indication information is based on an order of group numbers of the M groups.
In an analogous art Fu discloses an order of the M bits in each of the R pieces of indication information is based on an order of group numbers of the M groups (par. 96, lines 4-10).
It is an object of Schmidt’s invention to provide a method of ensuring paging messages are correctly received by a mobile terminal. It is an object of Fu’s invention to provide a method for receiving paging information. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Schmidt by including a group order, as taught by Fu, for the purpose of effectively managing communication in a telecommunications network.
Consider claim 66, as applied in claim 65; Fu discloses Sth bit in the M bits indicates whether there is paging for an sthgroup, and s is an integer greater than or equal to 1 and less than M (par. 96, line 4 – par. 97, line 12).
Consider claim 67, as applied in claim 53; Schmidt discloses the claimed invention except: M is configured by a network device for the terminal.
In an analogous art Fu discloses M is configured by a network device for the terminal (par. 94, lines 1-9).
It is an object of Schmidt’s invention to provide a method of ensuring paging messages are correctly received by a mobile terminal. It is an object of Fu’s invention to provide a method for receiving paging information. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Schmidt by including a network device such as MME, as taught by Fu, for the purpose of effectively managing communication in a telecommunications network.
Consider claim 68, as applied in claim 53; Schmidt discloses the claimed invention except: the first paging indication further comprises a fourth field, and wherein the fourth field indicates availability of an assistance reference signal, and wherein the assistance reference signal is: an assistance reference signal configured by a network device for one or more terminals in an idle mode or an inactive mode, or an assistance reference signal associated with the R paging occasions.
In an analogous art Fu discloses the first paging indication further comprises a fourth field (par. 35), and wherein the fourth field indicates availability of an assistance reference signal (par. 32, 35), and wherein the assistance reference signal is: an assistance reference signal configured by a network device for one or more terminals in an idle mode or an inactive mode, or an assistance reference signal associated with the R paging occasions (par. 32, 35, 123).
It is an object of Schmidt’s invention to provide a method of ensuring paging messages are correctly received by a mobile terminal. It is an object of Fu’s invention to provide a method for receiving paging information. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teaching of Schmidt by including assistance, as taught by Fu, for the purpose of effectively managing communication in a telecommunications network.
Conclusion
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/JOEL AJAYI/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2646