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 Amendment
This communication is in response to the amendment of 2/23/2026. All changes made to the claims have been entered. Accordingly, Claims 1, 3-5, 7-28, 31-34 are currently pending in the application.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the amended subject matter of “monitor a search space set group (SSSG) in a first bandwidth part (BWP); switch from the first BWP to a second BWP based on an expiration of a timer or a radio resource control (RRC) configuration; and monitor in the second BWP, a previous SSSG or a configured SSSG designated as a first SSSG for the second BWP, wherein the previous SSSG or the first SSSG are monitored in the second BWP during a scheduled monitoring occasion based on a downlink monitoring configuration” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
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.
Claim 1, 9, 17, 18, 28, 33, 34, is 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.
Claim 1 recites the subject matter of “monitor in the second BWP, a previous SSSG or a configured SSSG designated as a first SSSG for the second BWP, wherein the previous SSSG or the first SSSG are monitored in the second BWP during a scheduled monitoring occasion based on a downlink monitoring configuration”. It is however unclear on what is meant by “previous SSSG” as the claim also recites being designated as a first SSSG. It is unclear on how a first SSSG for the second BWP may be a previous SSSG. Examiner suggests clarifying such subject matter. Similar rationale is applied to independent claim 28 reciting similar subject matter.
Claim 9 recites the subject matter of “PDCCH”. It is however unclear on what is meant by such term. Examiner suggests defining such term.
Claim 17 recites the subject matter “the previous SSSG is the SSSG”. It is however unclear on what is meant by such subject matter. Examiner suggests clarifying such subject matter.
Claim 18 recites the subject matter “the previous SSSG is the SSSG”. It is however unclear on what is meant by such subject matter. Examiner suggests clarifying such subject matter.
Claim 33 recites the subject matter “the previous SSSG is the SSSG”. It is however unclear on what is meant by such subject matter. Examiner suggests clarifying such subject matter.
Claim 34 recites the subject matter of “PDCCH”. It is however unclear on what is meant by such term. Examiner suggests defining such term.
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)(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.
Claim(s) 1, 3-5, 9, 17-21, 23-25, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Lai et al. (US 2023/0141378).
Regarding claim 1, 28, Lai discloses a network node for wireless communication, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory, wherein the at least one processor (one or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon; and at least one processor coupled to the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media, and configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to: perform a bandwidth part (BWP) switching from a first BWP to a second BWP, [0017] and abstract and figure 12 and figure 13) is configured to:
monitor a search space set group (SSSG) in a first bandwidth part (BWP)( monitoring a SSSG configured in the first BWP and the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP, [0099] and [0107])
switch from the first BWP to a second BWP based on an expiration of a timer or a radio resource control (RRC) configuration (performing a bandwidth part (BWP) switching from a first BWP to a second BWP during a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) adaptation time period in response to a bwp-InactivityTimer expiration, [0007] and [0017] and [0099] and [0101] and [0103] and [0116]); and
monitor in the second BWP, a previous SSSG or a configured SSSG designated as a first SSSG for the second BWP, wherein the previous SSSG or the first SSSG are monitored in the second BWP during a scheduled monitoring occasion based on downlink monitoring configuration (starting monitoring a default SSSG in the second BWP in response to the default SSSG being configured (correlating to a configured SSSG designated as a first SSSG) and the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP and more than one monitoring occasion can be configured to a UE before the on-duration, [0007]-[0011] and [0107] and [0074]-[0080] and [0017] and [0099] and [0033])
Regarding claim 3, Lai discloses wherein to monitor the previous SSSG, the at least one processor is configured to monitor the previous SSSG before receiving or without receiving an SSSG indication indicative of the previous SSSG in connection with a BWP switch to the second BWP (the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP and In one embodiment, if a UE detects or receives a DCI format in a first BWP with a BWP indicator field that indicates an active DL/UL BWP change for a cell (correlating to without receiving an SSSG indication) and the first SSSG switching timer in the first BWP is running (e.g., searchSpaceSwitchTimer is running), the UE may switch or change from the first BWP to a second BWP according to the BWP indicator field…More specifically, the UE may stop the first SSSG switching timer in the first BWP. In addition, the UE may monitor a default SSSG in the second BWP. Furthermore, the UE may be configured SSSG switching timer in each BWP), [0107] and [0105] and [0017] and [0077]-[0078] and [0092] and [0096] and [0099]).
Regarding claim 4, Lai discloses wherein the at least one processor is configured to monitor a downlink channel in the second BWP according to the first SSSG (monitor PDCCH on the one active BWP and SS set group switching feature was introduced by which UE can be configured to switch between sparse and frequent PDCCH monitoring, [0073] and [0076] and [0080] and [0105]) based on the at least one processor being configured to switch from the first BWP to the second BWP before receiving or without receiving an SSSG indication associated with the second BWP (In one embodiment, if a UE detects or receives a DCI format in a first BWP with a BWP indicator field that indicates an active DL/UL BWP change for a cell (correlating to without receiving an SSSG indication) and the first SSSG switching timer in the first BWP is running (e.g., searchSpaceSwitchTimer is running), the UE may switch or change from the first BWP to a second BWP according to the BWP indicator field…More specifically, the UE may stop the first SSSG switching timer in the first BWP. In addition, the UE may monitor a default SSSG in the second BWP. Furthermore, the UE may be configured SSSG switching timer in each BWP), [0105] and [0017] and [0077]-[0078] and [0092] and [0096] and [0099]).
Regarding claim 5, 32, Lai discloses wherein the downlink monitoring configuration indicates one SSSG of a plurality of SSSGs configured for the second BWP as the first SSSG for the second BWP (if a UE detects or receives a DCI with a PDCCH adaptation field that indicates a SSSG switching (ID) and a BWP indicator field that indicates an active DL/UL BWP change for a cell in a first BWP, the UE may switch or change from the first BWP to a second BWP according to the BWP indicator field…the UE may monitor a default SSSG in the second BWP, [0114]-[0115] and [0092] and [0096]-[0097])
Regarding claim 9, 34, Lai discloses, wherein the downlink monitoring configuration indicates that the first BWP is associated with a PDCCH skipping configuration and the second BWP is associated with the SSSG switching configuration (a UE receives a DCI indicating BWP switching and PDCCH adaptation (i.e., PDCCH skipping, and/or SSSG switching), when the PDCCH adaptation may start should be determined. Specifically, the PDCCH adaption may start after the application delay (e.g., the PDCCH skipping application delay and/or the SSSG switching delay) from receiving the DCI and/or after the PDCCH switching delay from receiving the DCI. For example, the UE may start monitor a SSSG (e.g., default SSSG) after an application delay from receiving the DCI by the UE.), [0094] and [0081] and [0096]-[0099] and [0104]-[0105] and [0110]).
Regarding claim 17, 33, Lai discloses wherein the previous SSSG is the SSSG and corresponds to a previous SSSG index that the network node monitored in the first BWP in a previous downlink monitoring occasion (the UE may switch or change from the first BWP to a second BWP according to the BWP indicator field…and continue the first SSSG switching timer in the second BWP. More specifically, the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP (correlating to a previous SSSG in the first BWP) and UE may start monitoring a default SSSG with SSSG index 0, [0107] and [0092] and [0114]-[0115] and figure 1 and 2).
Regarding claim 18, Lai discloses wherein the previous SSSG is the SSSG and corresponds to a previous SSSG index that the network node monitored in the first BWP in a previous downlink monitoring occasion based on each of the first BWP and the second BWP being associated with information indicative of performing SSSG switching respectively in the first BWP and the second BWP (the UE may switch or change from the first BWP to a second BWP according to the BWP indicator field…and continue the first SSSG switching timer in the second BWP. More specifically, the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP (correlating to a previous SSSG in the first BWP) and UE may start monitoring a default SSSG with SSSG index 0 and a DCI indicating BWP switching and PDCCH adaptation (i.e., PDCCH skipping, and/or SSSG switching), [0107] and [0092] and [0094] and [0114]-[0115] and figure 1 and 2).
Regarding claim 19 Lai discloses wherein an SSSG timer and a BWP inactivity timer independently operate (A BWP inactivity timer (which is independent from the DRX inactivity-timer described above) is used to switch the active BWP and The switching mechanisms for SS set group switching may further include a timer-based SS switching: a timer (e.g., searchSpaceSwitchingTimer) may be configured for SS switching (correlating to independent as one timer is used for BWP switching and one timer is used for SSSG switching), [0073] and [0079] and [0076])
Regarding claim 20, Lai discloses wherein an SSSG timer is dependent on a BWP inactivity timer ( A BWP inactivity timer…is used to switch the active BWP and the timer for SSSG switching, and/or the searchSpaceSwitchTimer may be configured per BWP and/or per cell, [0073] and [0103] and [0105]-[0106] and [0110] and [0104]-[0105])
Regarding claim 21, Lai discloses, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: suspend or terminate the SSSG timer after switching from the first BWP to the second BWP (the UE may switch or change BWP from BWP 0 to BWP 1 (i.e., the UE is not required to receive or transmit during a BWP switching delay) and perform at least one of the following steps:…the UE may stop the timer for SSSG switching (e.g., searchSpaceSwitchTimer) in the BWP 0; the timer for SSSG switching (e.g., searchSpaceSwitchTimer) in the BWP 0 may be stopped (e.g., by the UE) (correlating to suspend or terminate), [0096]-[0099]).
Regarding claim 23, Lai discloses wherein to switch from the first BWP to the second BWP, the at least one processor is configured to switch from the first BWP to the second BWP based on information indicative of whether to perform BWP switching (perform a bandwidth part (BWP) switching from a first BWP to a second BWP during a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) adaptation time period in response to a bwp-InactivityTimer expiration; and start monitoring a default SSSG in the second BWP in response to the default SSSG being configured, [0017] and [0074]-[0080] and [0033] and [0092]-[0096] and [0105]-[0106] and [0114]-[0015] and [0116]).
Regarding claim 24, Lai discloses, wherein the information indicative of whether to perform the BWP switching comprises: RRC configuration information; the expiration of a BWP inactivity timer; or the expiration of an SSSG timer (perform a bandwidth part (BWP) switching from a first BWP to a second BWP during a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) adaptation time period in response to a bwp-InactivityTimer expiration; and start monitoring a default SSSG in the second BWP in response to the default SSSG being configured, [0017] and [0074]-[0080] and [0033] and [0092]-[0096] and [0105]-[0106] and [0114]-[0015] and [0116]).
Regarding claim 25, Lai discloses, wherein the information indicative of whether to perform the BWP switching comprises the expiration of a BWP inactivity timer (in response to a bwp-InactivityTimer expiration; and start monitoring a default SSSG in the second BWP in response to the default SSSG being configured, [0017] and [0074]-[0080] and [0033] and [0092]-[0096] and [0105]-[0106] and [0114]-[0015] and [0116]).
Regarding claim 27, Lai discloses wherein the first SSSG is associated with an SSSG timer and the first BWP or the second BWP is associated with a BWP inactivity timer (A BWP inactivity timer is used to switch the active BWP and The switching mechanisms for SS set group switching may further include a timer-based SS switching: a timer (e.g., searchSpaceSwitchingTimer) may be configured for SS switching, [0073] and [0079] and [0076]).
Regarding claim 31, Lai discloses wherein monitoring the previous SSSG or the configured SSSG includes monitoring the previous SSSG or the configured SSSG before receiving or without receiving an SSSG indication in connection with a BWP switch to the second BWP (the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP and In one embodiment, if a UE detects or receives a DCI format in a first BWP with a BWP indicator field that indicates an active DL/UL BWP change for a cell (correlating to without receiving an SSSG indication) and the first SSSG switching timer in the first BWP is running (e.g., searchSpaceSwitchTimer is running), the UE may switch or change from the first BWP to a second BWP according to the BWP indicator field…More specifically, the UE may stop the first SSSG switching timer in the first BWP. In addition, the UE may monitor a default SSSG in the second BWP. Furthermore, the UE may be configured SSSG switching timer in each BWP), [0107] and [0105] and [0017] and [0077]-[0078] and [0092] and [0096] and [0099]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 16, 22, is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Claims 7-8, 10-15, 26 is allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
7. 7 is allowable over the prior art of record since the cited references taken individually or in combination fail to particularly disclose wherein the downlink monitoring configuration indicates that the first BWP is associated with a first SSSG switching configuration indicating a first number of search space set groups and the second BWP is associated with a second SSSG switching configuration indicating a second number of search space set groups greater than the first number of search space set groups, wherein the DCI indicates a portion of the second number of search space set groups that corresponds up to the first number of search space set groups based on the second number of search space set groups being greater than the first number of search space set groups. It is noted that the closest prior art, Lai et al. (US 2023/0141378) discloses a method of search space set group (SSSG) monitoring, including: performing a bandwidth part (BWP) switching from a first BWP to a second BWP during a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) adaptation time period in response to a bwp-InactivityTimer expiration; and starting monitoring a default SSSG in the second BWP in response to the default SSSG being configured. However the stated prior art fails to disclose or render obvious to the above underline limitations as claimed.
8. 8 is allowable over the prior art of record since the cited references taken individually or in combination fail to particularly disclose wherein the downlink monitoring configuration indicates that the first BWP is associated with a first SSSG switching configuration indicating a first number of search space set groups and the second BWP is associated with a second SSSG switching configuration indicating a second number of search space set groups smaller than the first number of search space set groups, wherein the DCI indicates each of the second number of search space set groups based on the second number of search space set groups being smaller than the first number of search space set groups. It is noted that the closest prior art, Lai et al. (US 2023/0141378) discloses a method of search space set group (SSSG) monitoring, including: performing a bandwidth part (BWP) switching from a first BWP to a second BWP during a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) adaptation time period in response to a bwp-InactivityTimer expiration; and starting monitoring a default SSSG in the second BWP in response to the default SSSG being configured. However the stated prior art fails to disclose or render obvious to the above underline limitations as claimed.
Response to Arguments
1. Applicant's arguments filed 2/23/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant submits that Lai fails to disclose “monitor in the second BWP, a previous SSSG or a configured SSSG designated as a first SSSG for the second BWP, wherein the previous SSSG or the first SSSG are monitored in the second BWP during a scheduled monitoring occasion based on downlink monitoring configuration” (remarks page 11-12). Examiner however respectfully disagrees as Lai discloses “starting monitoring a default SSSG in the second BWP in response to the default SSSG being configured (correlating to a configured SSSG designated as a first SSSG in which is monitored) and the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP and more than one monitoring occasion can be configured to a UE before the on-duration” ([0007]-[0011] and [0107] and [0074]-[0080] and [0017] and [0099] and [0033]) in which Examiner correlates a default SSSG in the second BWP that is monitored first, in which the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP to “a previous SSSG or a configured SSSG designated as a first SSSG for the second BWP”. Applicant further submits that provisional patent application 63/263655 does not provide support for the cited statement in paragraph [0107] regarding “UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP” (remarks page 11). Examiner however respect disagrees as provisional patent application 63/263655 clearly discloses “the UE may monitor same SSSG in the second BWP as in the first BWP” on page 17.
Conclusion
1. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Lai et al. (US 2023/0397224) disclosing receiving downlink control information (DCI) on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) while monitoring the PDCCH on a UE-specific search space, the DCI including an information field indicating a value associated with the first SSSG ID; and starting PDCCH monitoring in the first SSSG and stopping PDCCH monitoring in the one or more second SSSGs from a slot that is at least a time offset after the last symbol of the DCI and BWP switching (abstract and [0142])
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to NGUYEN HOANG NGO whose telephone number is (571)272-8398. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kwang Yao can be reached at 571-272-3182. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NGUYEN H NGO/Examiner, Art Unit 2473
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