DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . This Office Action is in response to the submission filed 2025-10-24 (herein referred to as the Reply) where claim(s) 10, 12-13, 15-17 are pending for consideration.
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 identified above has been entered.
35 USC §103 - Claim Rejections
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.
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 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 non-obviousness.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over SEO_569 (US20200045569) in view of GUO_456 (US20220312456), in view of TSAI_352 (US20200107352), and further view of ZHOU_644 (US20200120644)
Claim(s) 10, 15
SEO_569 teaches
a receiver that receives downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state
a processor that applies the TCI state from timing after ACK transmission corresponding to a reception of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduled by the DCI, UE may apply the activation command after 3 msec of a slot that transmits HARQ-ACK information about the PDSCH providing the activation command. <para. 0116, 0195>.
SEO_569 does not explicitly teach
a receiver that receives downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state applicable to downlink and uplink; and
wherein the receiver further
receives a list including a plurality of TCI states applicable to downlink and uplink, and
receives a medium access control-control element (MAC CE) activating one or more TCI states, including the TCI state, in the list; and
a transmitter that transmits capability information indicating a maximum number of the one or more TCI states that are activated.
However in a similar endeavor, GUO_456 teaches
a receiver that receives downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state applicable to downlink and uplink; and DCI includes TCI-state information applicable to downlink and uplink. <para. 0117>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by GUO_456. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to reduce network bandwidth consumption and improve network latency <para. 0013>.
However in a similar endeavor, TSAI_352 teaches
wherein the receiver further receives a list including a plurality of TCI states applicable to downlink and uplink, and receives a medium access control-control element (MAC CE) activating one or more TCI states, including the TCI state, in the list; and A TCI state list for the PDCCH reception can be signaled to the UE. In a first scenario, a MAC-CE activates only one TCI state in the configured TCI state list. Accordingly, the activated TCI state is directly applied for the PDSCH reception without an additional DCI signaling in a PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH. In a second scenario, the MAC-CE activates more than one TCI state in the configured TCI state list. Accordingly, an additional DCI signaling in the PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH is used. <para. 0057>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569 and GUO_456 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by TSAI_352. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve the throughput and diversity gains between the UE and BS <FIG(s). 1; para. 0036>.
However in a similar endeavor, ZHOU_644 teaches
a transmitter that transmits capability information indicating a maximum number of the one or more TCI states that are activated. Capability indicating component can indicate the number as an integer number. For example, indicated number of active TCI states can be the maximum number of TCI states supported by the UE. <FIG(s). 4; para. 0028, 0064-0065, 0076-0077>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569, GUO_456 and TSAI_352 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by ZHOU_644. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to allow the UE to more efficiently use the active TCI states for detecting downlink beamformed signals based on its capabilities. <para. 0028>.
Claim(s) 13
SEO_569 teaches
wherein the processor does not apply the TCI state to a specific control resource set (CORESET). The examiner has interpreted this limitation to mean that there needs to exist at least one CORESET (i.e., a specific CORESET), in which the TCI state cannot apply to. Accordingly, SEO teaches several CORESETS that are not selected. For example, a low priority CORESET or CORESET that has a high index ID. In a more broader interpretation, the CORESET can be a CORESET in another network that has nothing to do with the network <para. 187-0195>.
Claim(s) 16
SEO_569 teaches
a transmitter that transmits downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state applicable
a processor that performs a control, by transmitting the DCI, so that a terminal applies the TCI state from timing after a transmission of ACK corresponding to a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduled by the DCI, Upon receiving the DCI and activation command, UE the activation command after 3 msec of a slot that transmits HARQ-ACK information about the PDSCH providing the activation command <para. 0116, 0195>.
SEO_569 does not explicitly teach
a transmitter that transmits downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state applicable to downlink and uplink; and
wherein the transmitter further
transmits a list including a plurality of TCI states applicable to downlink and uplink, and
transmits a medium access control-control element (MAC CE) activating one or more TCI states, including the TCI state, in the list; and
a receiver that receives capability information indicating a maximum number of the one or more TCI states that are activated.
However in a similar endeavor, GUO_456 teaches
a transmitter that transmits downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state applicable to downlink and uplink; and DCI includes TCI-state information applicable to downlink and uplink. <para. 0117>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by GUO_456. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to reduce network bandwidth consumption and improve network latency <para. 0013>.
However in a similar endeavor, TSAI_352 teaches
wherein the transmitter further transmits a list including a plurality of TCI states applicable to downlink and uplink, and transmits a medium access control-control element (MAC CE) activating one or more TCI states, including the TCI state, in the list; and A TCI state list for the PDCCH reception can be signaled, from a network node, to the UE via RRC signaling. In a first scenario, a MAC-CE activates only one TCI state in the configured TCI state list. Accordingly, the activated TCI state is directly applied for the PDSCH reception without an additional DCI signaling in a PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH. In a second scenario, the MAC-CE activates more than one TCI state in the configured TCI state list. Accordingly, an additional DCI signaling in the PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH is used. <para. 0057>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569 and GUO_456 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by TSAI_352. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve the throughput and diversity gains between the UE and BS <FIG(s). 1; para. 0036>.
However in a similar endeavor, ZHOU_644 teaches
a receiver that receives capability information indicating a maximum number of the one or more TCI states that are activated. Capability indicating component can indicate the number as an integer number. For example, indicated number of active TCI states can be the maximum number of TCI states supported by the UE. UE provides the indication to a network node. <FIG(s). 4; para. 0028, 0064-0065, 0076-0077>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569, GUO_456 and TSAI_352 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by ZHOU_644. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to allow the UE to more efficiently use the active TCI states for detecting downlink beamformed signals based on its capabilities. <para. 0028>.
Claim(s) 17
SEO_569 teaches
a terminal and a base station, wherein the terminal comprises: a receiver that receives downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state
a processor that applies the TCI state from timing after ACK transmission corresponding to a reception of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduled by the DCI, UE may apply the activation command after 3 msec of a slot that transmits HARQ-ACK information about the PDSCH providing the activation command. <para. 0116, 0195>.
the base station comprises: a transmitter that transmits the DCI. The UE may decode a PDSCH according to a (detected) PDCCH that includes DCI of the UE and may be configured with a list that includes up to M TCI-state configurations within a higher layer parameter called ‘PDSCH-config’ for the decoding. Also, UE receives information mapping up to 8 TCI states to the code points of DCI field ‘Transmission Configuration Indication.' <para. 0193-0195>.
SEO_569 does not explicitly teach
wherein the terminal comprises:
a receiver that receives downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state applicable to downlink and uplink; and
wherein the receiver further
receives a list including a plurality of TCI states applicable to downlink and uplink, and
receives a medium access control-control element (MAC CE) activating one or more TCI states, including the TCI state, in the list; and
a transmitter that transmits capability information indicating a maximum number of the one or more TCI states that are activated, and
However in a similar endeavor, GUO_456 teaches
downlink control information (DCI) indicating a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state applicable to downlink and uplink; and DCI includes TCI-state information applicable to downlink and uplink. <para. 0117>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by GUO_456. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to reduce network bandwidth consumption and improve network latency <para. 0013>.
However in a similar endeavor, TSAI_352 teaches
wherein the receiver further receives a list including a plurality of TCI states applicable to downlink and uplink, and receives a medium access control-control element (MAC CE) activating one or more TCI states, including the TCI state, in the list; and A TCI state list for the PDCCH reception can be signaled to the UE. In a first scenario, a MAC-CE activates only one TCI state in the configured TCI state list. Accordingly, the activated TCI state is directly applied for the PDSCH reception without an additional DCI signaling in a PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH. In a second scenario, the MAC-CE activates more than one TCI state in the configured TCI state list. Accordingly, an additional DCI signaling in the PDCCH scheduling the PDSCH is used. <para. 0057>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569 and GUO_456 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by TSAI_352. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve the throughput and diversity gains between the UE and BS <FIG(s). 1; para. 0036>.
However in a similar endeavor, ZHOU_644 teaches
a transmitter that transmits capability information indicating a maximum number of the one or more TCI states that are activated, and UE includes capability indicating component can indicate the number as an integer number. For example, indicated number of active TCI states can be the maximum number of TCI states supported by the UE. <FIG(s). 4; para. 0028, 0064-0065, 0076-0077>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569, GUO_456 and TSAI_352 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by ZHOU_644. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to allow the UE to more efficiently use the active TCI states for detecting downlink beamformed signals based on its capabilities. <para. 0028>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over SEO_569 (US20200045569) in view of GUO_456 (US20220312456), in view of TSAI_352 (US20200107352), in view of ZHOU_644 (US20200120644), and further view of PAPASAKELLARIOU_296 (US20200007296)
Claim(s) 12
SEO_569 does not explicitly teach
wherein the processor controls to transmit a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) including the ACK corresponding to the reception of the PDSCH, using an other TCI state indicated prior to the TCI state indicated by the DCI.
However in a similar endeavor, PAPASAKELLARIOU_296 teaches
wherein the processor controls to transmit a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) including the ACK corresponding to the reception of the PDSCH, using an other TCI state indicated prior to the TCI state indicated by the DCI. second one or more sets of PUCCH resources associated with a second TCI state configuration, that is same or different than the first TCI state configuration, for PUCCH transmission to convey second HARQ-ACK information corresponding to PDSCH receptions scheduled by DCI formats in PDCCH reception in the second CORESET. <para. 0201-0202>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by SEO_569, GUO_456, TSAI_352 and ZHOU_644 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by PAPASAKELLARIOU_296. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to enhance reception reliability for control information or data information. <para. 0005>.
Relevant Cited References
US20210092729
US20220116177
US20220304038
US20230122786
Response to Arguments
The following arguments in the Reply have been fully considered but they are not persuasive:
Remarks regarding Advisory Action
Remarks were considered but not persuasive. Again, the remarks fail to show where in the specification, implicitly or explicitly, that capability information indicates *how* TCI states are activated. The key being the capability information providing some information or data that indicates activation by MAC-CE.
The Applicant’s argument is analogous to this erroneous logic:
A document (“capability information”) includes a first and last name; hence the document indicates a person (“maximum number”).
That person was born in January (“activation by way of MAC-CE”).
Therefore, the document, despite not having a listed birthdate, also indicates a person born in January.
The fact that 2 exist and even when there is an absence of any explicit disclosure that the document contains date information, is implicit enough for 3 to be true.
Again, what the claim feature is modifying is the capability information such that it has information must indicate two things: the maximum number and the manner in which the TCI states are activated. Nowhere does the Specification disclose, implicitly or explicitly, that the capability information is modified or configured to additionally indicate that the TCI activation is performed by way of a MAC-CE.
Because this feature was removed in the Reply’s amendments, the Examiner considers this matter closed and will not continue this discussion regarding this feature until it is a claimed feature. If the Applicant’s wishes to rebut and have their rebuttal considered, the Applicant must re-introduce the feature of “activation by the MAC-CE” back into the independent claims. Otherwise, any rebuttal or counterargument related to this particular issue will be moot as it’s not a claimed feature.
The Reply’s arguments with respect to the other matters have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to the rejection(s), which was necessitated by the Applicant’s amendments, being used in the current rejection.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDRE TACDIRAN whose telephone number is 571-272-1717. The examiner can normally be reached on M-TH, 10-5PM EST. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jeffrey Rutkowski can be reached on 571-270-1215. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANDRE TACDIRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415