DETAILED ACTION
This office action is in reply communication filed on 10/25/2025.
Claims 1-4, 6-13, and 16-21 are pending.
Claim 5, 14-15 are cancelled.
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 10/16/2025 has been entered.
Response to Argument
Applicant’s arguments, see pages 11-12, filled on 02/21/2025, with respect to 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 of claims 1-4, 6-13, and 16-21 have been fully considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
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 1-4 and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by KHOSHNEVISAN et al. (US 2020/0413427).
Regarding claim 1, KHOSHNEVISAN discloses a method of operating a wireless device in a wireless communication network [Fig. 5, ¶¶ 98-104; a method performed by a UE for assigning HARQ process IDs for grant-based uplink transmissions], the method comprising:
receivinq a control information message comprisinq an acknowledgement signalinq group indication that indicates, for each of a group of acknowledgement processes, an acknowledgement mode [Fig. 5, ¶ 100; receivinq DCI scheduling a plurality of TTIs for grant-based UL transmissions, wherein HARQ process IDs are assigned to the grant-based transmissions starting from a HARQ ID indicated in the DCI and by incrementing the HARQ IDs by one for each subsequent grant-based transmission]; the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use [¶¶ 97, 128; wherein the DCI includes NDI field indicating whether the HARQ ID indicated is used or not to be used (e.g., NDI= 0 or 1); and
transmitting acknowledgement signaling based on the received control information message [¶¶ 104; transmitting the grant-based uplink transmissions based on the assigned HARQ IDs; wherein the assigns HARQ IDs for the set of grant-based transmissions based on the received indication in the DCI, See ¶ 103].
Regarding claim 2, the claims recite a wireless device for a wireless communication network to perform the method of operating a wireless device in a wireless communication network recited as in claim 1; therefore, claim 2 is rejected along the same rationale that rejected in claim 1.
Regarding claim 3, KHOSHNEVISAN discloses a method of operating a radio node in a wireless communication network [Fig. 6, ¶¶ 105-116; a method performed by a base station (BS) for assigning HARQ process IDs for grant-based uplink transmissions], the method comprising:
transmitting a control information message, the control information message comprising an acknowledgement signaling group indication indicating, for each of a group of acknowledgement processes, an acknowledgement mode [Fig. 6, ¶ 107; transmitting a DCI scheduling a plurality of TTIs for grant-based UL transmissions, wherein HARQ process IDs are to be assigned to the grant-based UL transmissions starting from a HARQ ID indicated in the DCI and by incrementing the HARQ IDs by one for each subsequent grant based transmission]
the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use [¶¶ 97, 128; wherein the DCI includes NDI field indicating whether the HARQ ID indicated is used or not to be used (e.g., NDI= 0 or 1); and
receiving acknowledgement signaling based on the received control information message [¶ 110; receiving the grant-based uplink transmissions based on the assigned HARQ IDs; wherein the assigns HARQ IDs for the set of grant-based transmissions based on the received indication in the DCI, See ¶ 109].
Regarding claim 4, the claims recite a radio node for a wireless communication network to perform the method of operating a radio node in a wireless communication network recited as in claim 3; therefore, claim 4 is rejected along the same rationale that rejected in claim 3.
Regarding claim 13, the claim recites a computer storage medium storing a computer program to perform the method steps recited as in claim 1; therefore, claim 13 are rejected along the same rationale that rejected in claim 1.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
(a) 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 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, 6-7, 13, and 16-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 unpatentable over ISLAM et al. (US 2019/0246378) in view of KHOSHNEVISAN et al. (US 2020/0413427).
Regarding claim 1, ISLAM discloses a method of operating a wireless device in a wireless communication network [Fig. 5, ¶¶ 98-104; a method performed by a UE for assigning HARQ process IDs for grant-based uplink transmissions], the method comprising:
receivinq a control information message comprisinq an acknowledgement signalinq group indication that indicates, for each of a group of acknowledgement processes, an acknowledgement mode [Fig. 8, ¶¶ 85-87; receivinq a DCI comprising a scheduling grant/(acknowledgement signaling group indication) that indicating HARQ process ID of the TB transmission: (5) whether the transmission is a new (initial transmission) of the TB or a retransmission of the TB/(referred as new data indicator (NDI))]; and
transmitting acknowledgement signaling based on the received control information message [¶¶ 65, 87; transmitting HARQ feedback (ACK/NACK)/(acknowledgement signaling) based on a received DCI/control information message].
Although, ISLAM discloses all aspect set forth above but does not explicitly disclose the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use.
However, KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use [¶¶ 97, 128; wherein the DCI includes NDI field indicating whether the HARQ ID indicated is used or not to be used (e.g., NDI= 0 or 1); and
transmit acknowledgement signaling based on the received control information message [¶¶ 104; transmit the grant-based uplink transmissions based on the assigned HARQ IDs; wherein the assigns HARQ IDs for the set of grant-based transmissions based on the received indication in the DCI, See ¶ 103].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to provide “the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use” as taught by KHOSHNEVISAN in the system of ISLAM, so that it would provide advantages that include improved communications between access points and stations in a wireless network [see KHOSHNEVISAN; ¶ 7].
Regarding claim 2, ISLAM discloses a wireless device for a wireless communication network, the wireless device configured to:
receive a control information message comprisinq an acknowledgement signalinq group indication that indicates, for each of a group of acknowledgement processes, an acknowledgement mode [Fig. 8, ¶¶ 85-87; receivinq a DCI comprising a scheduling grant/(acknowledgement signaling group indication) that indicating HARQ process ID of the TB transmission: (5) whether the transmission is a new (initial transmission) of the TB or a retransmission of the TB/(referred as new data indicator (NDI))]; and
transmit acknowledgement signaling based on the received control information message [¶¶ 65, 87; transmit HARQ feedback (ACK/NACK)/(acknowledgement signaling) based on a received DCI/control information message].
Although, ISLAM discloses all aspect set forth above but does not explicitly disclose the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use.
However, KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use [¶¶ 97, 128; wherein the DCI includes NDI field indicating whether the HARQ ID indicated is used or not to be used (e.g., NDI= 0 or 1); and
transmit acknowledgement signaling based on the received control information message d [¶¶ 104; transmit the grant-based uplink transmissions based on the assigned HARQ IDs; wherein the assigns HARQ IDs for the set of grant-based transmissions based on the received indication in the DCI, See ¶ 103].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to provide “the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use” as taught by KHOSHNEVISAN in the system of ISLAM, so that it would provide advantages that include improved communications between access points and stations in a wireless network [see KHOSHNEVISAN; ¶ 7].
Regarding claim 3, ISLAM discloses a method of operating a radio node in a wireless communication network [Fig. 6, ¶¶ 105-116; a method performed by a base station (BS) for assigning HARQ process IDs for grant-based uplink transmissions], the method comprising:
transmitting a control information message, the control information message comprising an acknowledgement signaling group indication indicating, for each of a group of acknowledgement processes, an acknowledgement mode [Fig. 8, ¶¶ 85-87; receivinq a DCI comprising a scheduling grant/(acknowledgement signaling group indication) that indicating HARQ process ID of the TB transmission: (5) whether the transmission is a new (initial transmission) of the TB or a retransmission of the TB/(referred as new data indicator (NDI))]; and
receiving acknowledgement signaling based on the received control information message [¶¶ 65, 87; receiving HARQ feedback (ACK/NACK)/(acknowledgement signaling) based on a received DCI/control information message].
Although, ISLAM discloses all aspect set forth above but does not explicitly disclose the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use.
However, KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use [¶¶ 97, 128; wherein the DCI includes NDI field indicating whether the HARQ ID indicated is used or not to be used (e.g., NDI= 0 or 1); and
receiving acknowledgement signaling based on the received control information message [¶¶ 104; receiving the grant-based uplink transmissions based on the assigned HARQ IDs; wherein the assigns HARQ IDs for the set of grant-based transmissions based on the received indication in the DCI, See ¶ 103].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to provide “the acknowledgement mode indicating whether its correspondinq acknowledgement process is in use” as taught by KHOSHNEVISAN in the system of ISLAM, so that it would provide advantages that include improved communications between access points and stations in a wireless network [see KHOSHNEVISAN; ¶ 7].
Regarding claim 4, the claims recite a radio node for a wireless communication network to perform the method of operating a radio node in a wireless communication network recited as in claim 3; therefore, claim 4 is rejected along the same rationale that rejected in claim 3.
Regarding claim 6, the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the method according to claim 1,
ISLAM further discloses wherein an acknowledgement mode indicates retransmission or new transmission for the acknowledgment process it pertains to [¶¶ 85, 104, 106; wherein an acknowledgement mode indicates retransmission or new transmission for the acknowledgment process it pertains to].
Regarding claim 7, the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the method according to claim 1,
ISLAM further discloses wherein an acknowledgement mode of an acknowledgment process indicates whether the acknowledgement process is in use or not in use [¶ 104; Whether the transmission is a new (initial transmission) of the TB or a retransmission of the TB, e.g. a new data indicator (NDI) flag. (e.g. which may be 1 bit)].
Regarding claim 13, the claim recites a computer storage medium storing a computer program to perform the method steps recited as in claim 1; therefore, claim 13 are rejected along the same rationale that rejected in claim 1.
Regarding claims 16 and 17, the claims recite the method according to claim 3 to perform the method steps recited as in claims 6, and 7 respectively; therefore, claims 16 and 17 are rejected along the same rationale that rejected in claims 6 and 7 respectively.
Claims 8-12 and 18-21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 unpatentable over ISLAM et al. (US 2019/0246378) in view of KHOSHNEVISAN et al. (US 2020/0413427), and further in view of ZHOU et al. (US 2021/0050950).
Regarding claim 8, the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the method according to claim 1, but does not explicitly disclose wherein the group of acknowledgement processes represents a range of processes.
However, ZHOU discloses wherein the group of acknowledgement processes represents a range of processes [¶¶ 504-505; wherein, the first threshold range/second threshold range/third threshold range may be indicated by range of the value of the QoS].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to provide “wherein the group of acknowledgement processes represents a range of processes” as taught by ZHOU in the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN, so that it would reduce the path loss of radio waves in such a super-high frequency band and to increase a transmission distance of radio waves [see ZHOU; ¶ 4].
Regarding claim 9, the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the method according to claim 1, but does not explicitly disclose wherein the group indication comprises a bit map, each bit of the bit map pertaining to a different one of the acknowledgement processes.
However, ZHOU discloses wherein the group indication comprises a bit map, each bit of the bit map pertaining to a different one of the acknowledgement processes [¶¶ 37, 167-169, 192-196; wherein the group indication comprises a bit map, each bit of the bit map pertaining to a different one of the acknowledgement processes].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to provide “wherein the group indication comprises a bit map, each bit of the bit map pertaining to a different one of the acknowledgement processes” as taught by ZHOU in the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN, so that it would reduce the path loss of radio waves in such a super-high frequency band and to increase a transmission distance of radio waves [see ZHOU; ¶ 4].
Regarding claim 10, the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the method according to claim 1, but does not explicitly disclose wherein the group of acknowledgement processes is a subgroup of a second group of acknowledgment processes.
However, ZHOU discloses wherein the group of acknowledgement processes is a subgroup of a second group of acknowledgment processes [¶¶ 275, 648; wherein the group of acknowledgement processes is a subgroup of a second group of acknowledgment processes].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to provide “wherein the group of acknowledgement processes is a subgroup of a second group of acknowledgment processes” as taught by ZHOU in the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN, so that it would reduce the path loss of radio waves in such a super-high frequency band and to increase a transmission distance of radio waves [see ZHOU; ¶ 4].
Regarding claim 11, the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the method according to claim 1, but does not explicitly disclose wherein an anchor process is one or both of an anchoring subgroup of the group of acknowledgement processes and a second group of acknowledgement processes.
However, ZHOU discloses wherein an anchor process is one or both of an anchoring subgroup of the group of acknowledgement processes and a second group of acknowledgement processes [¶ 275; group ID of the group in which the UE is located, ID of the UE within the group and ID index of the UE within the group].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to provide “wherein an anchor process is one or both of an anchoring subgroup of the group of acknowledgement processes and a second group of acknowledgement processes” as taught by ZHOU in the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN, so that it would reduce the path loss of radio waves in such a super-high frequency band and to increase a transmission distance of radio waves [see ZHOU; ¶ 4].
Regarding claim 12, the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN discloses the method according to claim 1, but does not explicitly disclose wherein transmitting acknowledgement signaling is based on a codebook, the codebook being determined based on the group indication.
However, ZHOU discloses wherein transmitting acknowledgement signaling is based on a codebook, the codebook being determined based on the group indication [¶¶ 167-169, 275; wherein transmitting acknowledgement signaling is based on a codebook, the codebook being determined based on the group indication].
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention was made to provide “wherein transmitting acknowledgement signaling is based on a codebook, the codebook being determined based on the group indication” as taught by ZHOU in the combined system of ISLAM and KHOSHNEVISAN, so that it would reduce the path loss of radio waves in such a super-high frequency band and to increase a transmission distance of radio waves [see ZHOU; ¶ 4].
Regarding claims 18-21, the claims recite the method according to claim 3 to perform the method steps recited as in claims 8-11 respectively; therefore, claims 18-21 are rejected along the same rationale that rejected in claims 8-11 respectively.
Conclusion
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/PHONG LA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2469