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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments have been fully considered.
Applicant argues generally that the previous rejections have been overcome. Examiner agrees that the 103 rejections have been overcome. However, there are more 112 issues and claim objects that need attention. Please see the rejections that follow.
It is recommended that Applicant carefully review the claims.
Claim Objections
Claim 37 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 37 recites in line 5 ‘an New Radio’; this should read ‘a New Radio’. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 37 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 37 recites in line 7 ‘a NR’; this should read ‘an NR system’. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 37 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 37 recites in line 5 ‘an New Radio’; this should read ‘a New Radio’. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 45 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 35 recites in line 5 ‘an NR’; this should read ‘a NR’. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim 52 is objected to because of the following informalities: claim 52 recites in line 9 ‘a NR’; this should read ‘an NR system’. Appropriate correction is required.
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 37-46, 49-51 and 52-58 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claims 37-46, and 49-51, claim 37 recites ‘the first RCC’. It is unclear what this is referring to. Claims 38-46, 49-51 do not cure the deficiencies of claim 37 and are rejected for similar reasons.
Regarding claims 37-46, and 49-51, claim 37 lacks an ‘and’ after the ‘establishing’ limitation and before the ‘sending’ limitation. Therefore, the claims are unclear. It is assumed Applicant intended there to be an ‘and’. Claims 38-46, 49-51 do not cure the deficiencies of claim 37 and are rejected for similar reasons.
Regarding claim 38, claim 38 recites ‘…releasing, in response to the RRC connection release message, a second local resource of the second RRC connection…’ This limitation is unclear. That is, this limitation contradicts the independent claim which states that the NR connection does not exist. It is unclear if possibly this should read ‘the third RRC connection’ or something else.
Regarding claim 49, claim 49 recites ‘…releasing the second RRC connection…’ Claim 37 does not state that the ‘second RRC connection is released’ That is, it is unclear how a first message can be sent when releasing the second RRC connection when it has not been released. In other words, the claim reads as though the first message is the message that causes the release but it is not when releasing (occurring at the same time).
Regarding claims 52-58, claim 52 recites in line 5, 8, 9, 10 ‘…the terminal…’ There is no terminal mentioned previously in the claim. It is unclear what Applicant is referring to. It is unclear if the terminal is in fact the claimed ‘an apparatus’. It is believed that throughout these claims ‘the terminal’ should be ‘the apparatus’. Claims 53-58 do not cure the deficiencies of claim 52 and are rejected for similar reasons.
Regarding claim 53, claim 53 recites ‘…release a second local resource of the RRC connection…’ This limitation is unclear. That is, this limitation contradicts the independent claim which states that the NR connection does not exist. It is unclear if possibly this should read ‘the third RRC connection’ or something else.
Regarding claim 57, claim 57 recites ‘…releasing the second RRC connection…’ Claim 52 does not state that the ‘second RRC connection is released’ That is, it is unclear how a first message can be sent when releasing the second RRC connection when it has not been released. In other words, the claim reads as though the first message is the message that causes the release but it is not when releasing (occurring at the same time).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 37-46, 49-51 and 52-58 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to STEPHEN J CLAWSON whose telephone number is (571)270-7498. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30-5:00 pm est.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Huy D Vu can be reached at (571) 272-3155. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/Stephen J Clawson/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2461
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