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 .
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, 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 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
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.
Claim(s) 1, 17-19, 21-23 and 31 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al., US 2023/0254862 A1 (using foreign application priority date of February 9, 2022 corresponding to KR 17977869; referred to as Park hereinafter), in view of Du et al., US 2023/0180215 A1 (using continuation of PCT application filing date of May 10, 2021 corresponding to PCT/CN21/92616; referred to as Du hereinafter).
Here is how the references teach the claims.
Regarding claim 1, Park discloses a first user equipment (UE) for wireless communication (Park, paragraph [0026], FIG. 15 shows another example of a wireless device, based on an embodiment of the present disclosure), comprising:
a memory (Park, paragraph [0214], For example, each of the wireless devices 100 and 200 may include a communication unit 110, a control unit 120, a memory unit 130, and additional components 140); and
one or more processors, coupled to the memory (Park, paragraph [0214], The communication unit may include a communication circuit 112 and transceiver(s) 114. For example, the communication circuit 112 may include the one or more processors 102 and 202 and/or the one or more memories 104 and 204 of FIG. 13), configured to:
transmit, to a second UE, an inter-UE coordination (IUC) request (Park, paragraph [0146], In step S820, the transmitting UE may transmit an IUC information request (i.e., IUC request) to the receiving UE);
start an IUC timer after transmitting the IUC request (Park, paragraph [0146], In step S830, the receiving UE may trigger an IUC information reporting procedure based on a reception of the IUC information request (or the fulfillment of a condition related to the IUC information reporting procedure). In step S840, the receiving UE may start a timer for reporting the IUC information based on the triggered IUC information reporting procedure), wherein a duration of the IUC timer is based at least in part on a latency bound for the IUC (Park, paragraph [0005], starting an IUC report timer related to a transmission of IUC information, based on the triggered IUC information report, wherein a timer value (i.e., the duration of the timer) of the IUC report timer may be the same as the latency bound (i.e., a timer value based on the latency bound));
receive, from the second UE, an IUC response prior to expiration of the IUC timer (Park, paragraph [0147], In step S850, based on the timer for reporting the IUC information being running (i.e., prior to expiration of the IUC timer), the receiving UE may transmit the IUC information (i.e., IUC response) to the transmitting UE);
Regarding claim 31, Park discloses a method of wireless communication performed by a first user equipment (UE) (Park, paragraph [0026], FIG. 15 shows another example of a wireless device, based on an embodiment of the present disclosure), comprising:
transmitting, to a second UE, an inter-UE coordination (IUC) request (Park, paragraph [0146], In step S820, the transmitting UE may transmit an IUC information request (i.e., IUC request) to the receiving UE);
starting an IUC timer after transmitting the IUC request (Park, paragraph [0146], In step S830, the receiving UE may trigger an IUC information reporting procedure based on a reception of the IUC information request (or the fulfillment of a condition related to the IUC information reporting procedure). In step S840, the receiving UE may start a timer for reporting the IUC information based on the triggered IUC information reporting procedure), wherein a duration of the IUC timer is based at least in part on a latency bound for the IUC (Park, paragraph [0005], starting an IUC report timer related to a transmission of IUC information, based on the triggered IUC information report, wherein a timer value (i.e., the duration of the timer) of the IUC report timer may be the same as the latency bound (i.e., a timer value based on the latency bound));
receiving, from the second UE, an IUC response prior to expiration of the IUC timer (Park, paragraph [0147], In step S850, based on the timer for reporting the IUC information being running (i.e., prior to expiration of the IUC timer), the receiving UE may transmit the IUC information (i.e., IUC response) to the transmitting UE);
Regarding claims 1 and 31, Park does not explicitly disclose and stop the IUC timer based on a determination that the IUC response has been received. In the same field of endeavor (e.g., communication system) Du discloses a method related to sidelink communication that comprises and stop the IUC timer based on a determination that the IUC response has been received (Du, paragraph [0094], after UE-B sends the inter-UE coordination request, UE-B may start a timer, and if the timer is running, UE-B may consider that the set of resource provided by UE-A is available. UE-B stops the timer if a response (i.e., an IUC response) including a new set of resource is received from UE-A).
Thus, 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 system of Park by using the features, as taught by Du, in order to support method for reducing power consumption and increasing battery life in mobile devices using sidelink communication (see Du, paragraph [0003]).
Regarding claim 22, Park further disclose wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
transmit, based at least in part on receiving the IUC response prior to expiration of the IUC timer (Park, paragraph [0110], UE A may operate a timer set to a latency bound (restriction of latency that must transmit IUC information within time), may have to transmit the IUC information MAC CE to UE B before the timer expires, that is, in a state in which transmission is triggered and has not yet been transmitted), at least one of:
a unicast sidelink transmission to the second UE,
a multicast sidelink transmission to the second UE and one or more third UEs, or
a broadcast sidelink transmission to the second UE and the one or more third UEs (Park, paragraph [0116], According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is proposed in which a timer-based mechanism for transmitting IUC information of UE A is applied only when UE A meets a specific condition and the transmission cast type is unicast in a condition-based IUC operation (i.e. condition-based and unicast transmission)).
Park does not disclose the following features.
Regarding claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
selectively transmit, to the second UE, a second IUC request based at least in part on whether the IUC timer expires prior to the first UE receiving an IUC response from the second UE for the IUC request.
Regarding claim 18, wherein the one or more processors, to selectively transmit the second IUC request, are configured to:
transmit the second IUC request based at least in part on the IUC timer expiring prior to receiving an IUC response from the second UE for the IUC request.
Regarding claim 19, wherein the IUC request further indicates at least one of:
a priority,
a resource selection window, or
a periodicity.
Regarding claim 21, wherein the wherein the IUC response indicates at least one of:
one or more preferred sidelink resources, or one or more non-preferred sidelink resources.
Regarding claim 23, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
transmit, to the second UE, a sidelink configuration that indicates one or more parameters associated with the IUC timer.
In the same field of endeavor (e.g., communication system) Du discloses a method related to sidelink communication that comprises the following features.
Regarding claim 17, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
selectively transmit, to the second UE, a second IUC request based at least in part on whether the IUC timer expires prior to the first UE receiving an IUC response from the second UE for the IUC request (Du, paragraph [0031], The UE-B may request assistance information for transmission resource selection from a UE-A via an inter-UE coordination process. Specifically, the UE-B may send an inter-UE coordination request to the UE-A when certain conditions are met, for example, when a periodical timer expires, or when the assistance information is considered to be stale).
Regarding claim 18, wherein the one or more processors, to selectively transmit the second IUC request, are configured to:
transmit the second IUC request based at least in part on the IUC timer expiring prior to receiving an IUC response from the second UE for the IUC request (Du, paragraph [0082], If the TX UE receives no reply for an inter-UE coordination request. For example, the TX UE may start another timer once an inter-UE coordination request is transmitted to a UE-A. Once the timer expires, TX UE retransmits the inter-UE coordination request, and the TX UE stops the timer once TX UE receives the assistance information from UE-A).
Regarding claim 19, wherein the IUC request further indicates at least one of:
a priority,
a resource selection window, or
a periodicity (Du, paragraph [0009], Performed by a first UE, the method may include comprising initiating an inter-UE coordination to a second UE in response to at least one of following conditions being satisfied: a priority or a reliability requirement of a sidelink data to be transmitted being higher than a pre-configured threshold. Also see paragraph [0031], Specifically, the UE-B may send an inter-UE coordination request to the UE-A when certain conditions are met, for example, when a periodical timer expires, or when the assistance information is considered to be stale).
Regarding claim 21, wherein the wherein the IUC response indicates at least one of:
one or more preferred sidelink resources, or one or more non-preferred sidelink resources (Du, paragraph [0010], the method may include at least one of: in response to the transmission resource being in a set of preferred resources provided by the second UE … in response to the transmission resource being not in a set of non-preferred resources provided by the second UE).
Regarding claim 23, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to:
transmit, to the second UE, a sidelink configuration that indicates one or more parameters associated with the IUC timer (Du, paragraph [0031], The UE-B may request assistance information for transmission resource selection from a UE-A via an inter-UE coordination process. Specifically, the UE-B may send an inter-UE coordination request to the UE-A when certain conditions are met (i.e., parameters associated with inter-UE request timer), for example, when a periodical timer expires, or when the assistance information is considered to be stale).
Thus, 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 system of Park by using the features, as taught by Du, in order to support method for reducing power consumption and increasing battery life in mobile devices using sidelink communication (see Du, paragraph [0003]).
Claim(s) 2-9, 20, and 32-34 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Park et al., US 2023/0254862 A1 (using foreign application priority date of February 9, 2022 corresponding to KR 17977869; referred to as Park hereinafter), in view of Du et al., US 2023/0180215 A1 (using continuation of PCT application filing date of May 10, 2021 corresponding to PCT/CN21/92616; referred to as Du hereinafter), as applied to the claims above and further in view of Hui et al., US 2022/0330267 A1 (using US provisional application filing date of April 5, 2021 related to provisional application 63/170,612; referred to as Hui hereinafter).
Here is how the references teach the claims.
Regarding claims 2-9, 20 and 32-34, Park and Du disclose the first UE of claim 1 and the method of claim 31. Park and Du do not explicitly disclose the following features.
Regarding claim 2, wherein the IUC request indicates at least one of:
one or more sidelink carriers,
one or more sidelink bandwidth parts (BWPs), or
one or more sidelink resource pools; and
wherein the IUC response indicates at least one of:
one or more sidelink time domain resources associated with at least one of the one or more sidelink carriers, the one or more sidelink BWPs, or the one or more sidelink resource pools, or one or more sidelink frequency domain resources associated with at least one of the one or more sidelink carriers, the one or more sidelink BWPs, or the one or more sidelink resource pools.
Regarding claim 3, wherein the one or more processors, to transmit the IUC request, are configured to:
transmit the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE); wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink carriers; and
wherein the one or more sidelink carriers are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink carrier index fields in the MAC-CE.
Regarding claim 4,wherein the one or more processors, to transmit the IUC request, are configured to:
transmit the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE);
wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink BWPs; and
wherein the one or more sidelink BWPs are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink BWP identifier fields in the MAC-CE.
Regarding claim 5, wherein the one or more processors, to transmit the IUC request, are configured to:
transmit the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE);
wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink resource pools; and
wherein the one or more sidelink resource pools are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink resource pools identifier fields in the MAC-CE.
Regarding claim 6, wherein the one or more processors, to receive the IUC response, are configured to:
receive the IUC response in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE).
Regarding claim 7, wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink carriers;
wherein the IUC response is received in a MAC-CE; and
wherein at least one of:
a sidelink BWP identifier field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink BWP in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included, or a sidelink resource pool identifier field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink resource pool in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included.
Regarding claim 8, wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink BWPs;
wherein the IUC response is received in a MAC-CE: and
wherein at least one of:
a sidelink carrier index field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink carrier in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included, or a sidelink resource pool identifier field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink resource pool in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included.
Regarding claim 9,wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink resource pools;
wherein the IUC response is received in a MAC-CE; and
wherein at least one of:
a sidelink carrier index field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink carrier in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included, or a sidelink BWP identifier field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink BWP in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included.
Regarding claim 20, wherein the second IUC request indicates at least one of:
a different sidelink carrier than a sidelink carrier indicated in the IUC request, a different sidelink bandwidth part (BWP) than a sidelink BWP indicated in the IUC request, or a different resource pool than a resource pool indicated in the IUC request.
Regarding claim 32, wherein the IUC request indicates at least one of:
one or more sidelink carriers, one or more sidelink bandwidth parts (BWPs), or one or more sidelink resource pools; and
wherein the IUC response indicates at least one of:
one or more sidelink time domain resources associated with at least one of the one or more sidelink carriers, the one or more sidelink BWPs, or the one or more sidelink resource pools, or one or more sidelink frequency domain resources associated with at least one of the one or more sidelink carriers, the one or more sidelink BWPs, or the one or more sidelink resource pools.
Regarding claim 33, wherein transmitting the IUC request further comprises:
transmitting the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE);
wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink carriers; and
wherein the one or more sidelink carriers are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink carrier index fields in the MAC-CE.
Regarding claim 34, wherein transmitting the IUC request comprises:
transmitting the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE);
wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink BWPs; and
wherein the one or more sidelink BWPs are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink BWP identifier fields in the MAC-CE.
In the same field of endeavor (e.g., communication system) Hui discloses a method related to inter-UE coordination (IUC) that comprises the following features.
Regarding claim 2, wherein the IUC request indicates (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination) at least one of:
one or more sidelink carriers,
one or more sidelink bandwidth parts (BWPs), or
one or more sidelink resource pools (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers/BWPs) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0121], NR defines bandwidth parts (BWPs) to support UEs not capable of receiving the full carrier bandwidth and to support bandwidth adaptation. In an example, a BWP may be defined by a subset of contiguous RBs on a carrier); and
wherein the IUC response indicates at least one of:
one or more sidelink time domain resources associated with at least one of the one or more sidelink carriers, the one or more sidelink BWPs, or the one or more sidelink resource pools, or one or more sidelink frequency domain resources associated with at least one of the one or more sidelink carriers, the one or more sidelink BWPs, or the one or more sidelink resource pools (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0230]-[0231], The resource pool may be continuous or non-continuous in the frequency domain and/or the time domain (for example, comprising contiguous resource units or non-contiguous resource units) … Sidelink resource pools may be arranged in any suitable manner. In the figure, the example resource pool is non-contiguous in the time domain and confined to a single sidelink BWP).
Regarding claim 3, wherein the one or more processors, to transmit the IUC request (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination), are configured to:
transmit the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) (Hui, paragraph [0376], FIG. 32 illustrates an example of information indicated in a coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination. A coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination may be conveyed by an RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI); wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink carriers (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device); and
wherein the one or more sidelink carriers are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink carrier index fields in the MAC-CE (Hui, paragraph [0276], the RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may comprise at least one field indicating a SCI format of a first stage of the SCI. The at least one field may indicate a set of resources for a requesting wireless device of the inter-UE coordination. The at least one field may indicate a flag. The flag may indicate whether the set of resources (i.e., resource/carrier index) being a set of preferred resources or a set of non-preferred resources).
Regarding claim 4,wherein the one or more processors, to transmit the IUC request (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination), are configured to:
transmit the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) (Hui, paragraph [0376], FIG. 32 illustrates an example of information indicated in a coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination. A coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination may be conveyed by an RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI);
wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink BWPs (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers/BWPs) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0121], NR defines bandwidth parts (BWPs) to support UEs not capable of receiving the full carrier bandwidth and to support bandwidth adaptation. In an example, a BWP may be defined by a subset of contiguous RBs on a carrier); and
wherein the one or more sidelink BWPs are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink BWP identifier fields in the MAC-CE (Hui, paragraph [0276], the RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may comprise at least one field indicating a SCI format of a first stage of the SCI. The at least one field may indicate a set of resources for a requesting wireless device of the inter-UE coordination. The at least one field may indicate a flag. The flag may indicate whether the set of resources (i.e., resource/carrier index) being a set of preferred resources or a set of non-preferred resources. Also see paragraph [0121], NR defines bandwidth parts (BWPs) to support UEs not capable of receiving the full carrier bandwidth and to support bandwidth adaptation. In an example, a BWP may be defined by a subset of contiguous RBs on a carrier (i.e., resource/carrier/BWP)).
Regarding claim 5, wherein the one or more processors, to transmit the IUC request (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination), are configured to:
transmit the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) (Hui, paragraph [0376], FIG. 32 illustrates an example of information indicated in a coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination. A coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination may be conveyed by an RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI);
wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink resource pools (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0231], Sidelink resource pools may be arranged in any suitable manner. In the figure, the example resource pool is non-contiguous in the time domain and confined to a single sidelink BWP); and
wherein the one or more sidelink resource pools are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink resource pools identifier fields in the MAC-CE (Hui, paragraph [0276], the RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may comprise at least one field indicating a SCI format of a first stage of the SCI. The at least one field may indicate a set of resources for a requesting wireless device of the inter-UE coordination. The at least one field may indicate a flag. The flag may indicate whether the set of resources (i.e., resource/carrier index) being a set of preferred resources or a set of non-preferred resources. Also see paragraph [0121], NR defines bandwidth parts (BWPs) to support UEs not capable of receiving the full carrier bandwidth and to support bandwidth adaptation. In an example, a BWP may be defined by a subset of contiguous RBs on a carrier (i.e., resource/carrier/BWP) and paragraph [0231], Sidelink resource pools may be arranged in any suitable manner. In the figure, the example resource pool is non-contiguous in the time domain and confined to a single sidelink BWP).
Regarding claim 6, wherein the one or more processors, to receive the IUC response, are configured to:
receive the IUC response in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) (Hui, paragraph [0342]-[0343], In response to the triggering of the first inter-UE coordination (i.e., IUC request), the second wireless device may select a second set of resources for the first inter-UE coordination … The second wireless device may transmit, to the first wireless device (i.e., IUC response), a first coordination/assistance information comprising/indicating the second set of resources. An RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may be a container of the first coordination/assistance information (i.e., IUC response is received in a MAC-CE)).
Regarding claim 7, wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink carriers;
wherein the IUC response is received in a MAC-CE (Hui, paragraph [0342]-[0343], In response to the triggering of the first inter-UE coordination (i.e., IUC request), the second wireless device may select a second set of resources for the first inter-UE coordination … The second wireless device may transmit, to the first wireless device (i.e., IUC response), a first coordination/assistance information comprising/indicating the second set of resources. An RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may be a container of the first coordination/assistance information (i.e., IUC response is received in a MAC-CE)); and
wherein at least one of:
a sidelink BWP identifier field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink BWP in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included, or a sidelink resource pool identifier field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink resource pool in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0230]-[0231], The resource pool may be continuous or non-continuous in the frequency domain and/or the time domain (for example, comprising contiguous resource units or non-contiguous resource units) … Sidelink resource pools may be arranged in any suitable manner. In the figure, the example resource pool is non-contiguous in the time domain and confined to a single sidelink BWP).
Regarding claim 8, wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink BWPs (Hui, paragraph [0130], FIG. 9 illustrates an example of bandwidth adaptation using three configured BWPs for an NR carrier. AUE configured with the three BWPs may switch from one BWP to another BWP at a switching point. Also see abstract, A method for inter-UE coordination is disclosed. The method includes transmitting, by a first wireless device to a second wireless device, a request message for a set of resources for a sidelink transmission by the first wireless device);
wherein the IUC response is received in a MAC-CE (Hui, paragraph [0373], In response to the receiving of the first coordination/assistance information ( e.g., the first coordination/assistance information may be conveyed by a RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI) and/or the second SCI): and
wherein at least one of:
a sidelink carrier index field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink carrier in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included, or a sidelink resource pool identifier field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink resource pool in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0230]-[0231], The resource pool may be continuous or non-continuous in the frequency domain and/or the time domain (for example, comprising contiguous resource units or non-contiguous resource units) … Sidelink resource pools may be arranged in any suitable manner. In the figure, the example resource pool is non-contiguous in the time domain and confined to a single sidelink BWP).
Regarding claim 9,wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink resource pools (Hui, paragraphs [0364] The first wireless device may be a first requesting wireless device of a first inter-UE coordination. The second wireless device may be a first coordinating wireless device of the first inter-UE coordination. Also see paragraph [0366], In response to the triggering of the first inter-UE coordination, the second wireless device may select a second set of resources for the first inter-UE coordination. The second wireless device may transmit, to the first wireless device, a first coordination/assistance information comprising/indicating the second set of resources);
wherein the IUC response is received in a MAC-CE (Hui, paragraph [0342]-[0343], In response to the triggering of the first inter-UE coordination (i.e., IUC request), the second wireless device may select a second set of resources for the first inter-UE coordination … The second wireless device may transmit, to the first wireless device (i.e., IUC response), a first coordination/assistance information comprising/indicating the second set of resources. An RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may be a container of the first coordination/assistance information (i.e., IUC response is received in a MAC-CE)); and
wherein at least one of:
a sidelink carrier index field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink carrier in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included, or a sidelink BWP identifier field in the MAC-CE indicates a sidelink BWP in which at least one of the one or more sidelink time domain resources are included or the one or more sidelink frequency domain resources are included (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0230]-[0231], The resource pool may be continuous or non-continuous in the frequency domain and/or the time domain (for example, comprising contiguous resource units or non-contiguous resource units) … Sidelink resource pools may be arranged in any suitable manner. In the figure, the example resource pool is non-contiguous in the time domain and confined to a single sidelink BWP).
Regarding claim 20, wherein the second IUC request indicates at least one of:
a different sidelink carrier than a sidelink carrier indicated in the IUC request, a different sidelink bandwidth part (BWP) than a sidelink BWP indicated in the IUC request, or a different resource pool than a resource pool indicated in the IUC request (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., resource pool) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. The second set of resources may comprise preferred resources and/or non-preferred resources of the desired receiver).
Regarding claim 32, wherein the IUC request indicates (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination) at least one of:
one or more sidelink carriers, one or more sidelink bandwidth parts (BWPs), or one or more sidelink resource pools (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers/BWPs) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0121], NR defines bandwidth parts (BWPs) to support UEs not capable of receiving the full carrier bandwidth and to support bandwidth adaptation. In an example, a BWP may be defined by a subset of contiguous RBs on a carrier); and
wherein the IUC response indicates at least one of:
one or more sidelink time domain resources associated with at least one of the one or more sidelink carriers, the one or more sidelink BWPs, or the one or more sidelink resource pools, or one or more sidelink frequency domain resources associated with at least one of the one or more sidelink carriers, the one or more sidelink BWPs, or the one or more sidelink resource pools (Hui, paragraph [0325], Embodiments of the present disclosure enables the third wireless device not to select resources in the second set of resources. In an example embodiment, in response to receiving a first set of resources for inter-UE coordination (i.e., IUC response), a wireless device may exclude the first set of resources from a candidate resource set. The wireless device may select a second set of resource from the candidate resource set after the excluding of the first set of resources … The wireless device may determine the RSRP threshold based on a priority associated with the first set of resources. In an example embodiment, a RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may comprise/indicate a set of resources for inter-UE coordination).
Regarding claim 33, wherein transmitting the IUC request (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination) further comprises:
transmitting the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) (Hui, paragraph [0376], FIG. 32 illustrates an example of information indicated in a coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination. A coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination may be conveyed by an RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI);
wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink carriers (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device); and
wherein the one or more sidelink carriers are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink carrier index fields in the MAC-CE (Hui, paragraph [0276], the RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may comprise at least one field indicating a SCI format of a first stage of the SCI. The at least one field may indicate a set of resources for a requesting wireless device of the inter-UE coordination. The at least one field may indicate a flag. The flag may indicate whether the set of resources (i.e., resource/carrier index) being a set of preferred resources or a set of non-preferred resources).
Regarding claim 34, wherein transmitting the IUC request comprises:
transmitting the IUC request in a medium access control (MAC) control element (MAC-CE) (Hui, paragraph [0376], FIG. 32 illustrates an example of information indicated in a coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination. A coordination/assistance information for an inter-UE coordination may be conveyed by an RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI);
wherein the IUC request indicates the one or more sidelink BWPs (Hui, paragraph [0323], the first wireless device may send, to the second wireless device, a request message for the inter-UE coordination. In an example, the second wireless device may trigger the inter-UE coordination based on a triggering condition. The second wireless device may perform, based on the request message and/or the triggering condition, a second resource selection procedure for selecting a second set of resources (i.e., one or more sidelink carriers/BWPs) for the one or more first sidelink transmissions by the first wireless device. Also see paragraph [0121], NR defines bandwidth parts (BWPs) to support UEs not capable of receiving the full carrier bandwidth and to support bandwidth adaptation. In an example, a BWP may be defined by a subset of contiguous RBs on a carrier); and
wherein the one or more sidelink BWPs are indicated in the MAC-CE in one or more sidelink BWP identifier fields in the MAC-CE (Hui, paragraph [0276], the RRC, MAC CE, and/or SCI may comprise at least one field indicating a SCI format of a first stage of the SCI. The at least one field may indicate a set of resources for a requesting wireless device of the inter-UE coordination. The at least one field may indicate a flag. The flag may indicate whether the set of resources (i.e., resource/carrier index) being a set of preferred resources or a set of non-preferred resources. Also see paragraph [0121], NR defines bandwidth parts (BWPs) to support UEs not capable of receiving the full carrier bandwidth and to support bandwidth adaptation. In an example, a BWP may be defined by a subset of contiguous RBs on a carrier (i.e., resource/carrier/BWP)).
Thus, 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 system of Park and Du by using the features, as taught by Hui, in order to support improve network efficiency and efficiently solve the hidden node problem at a desired receiver (see Hui, paragraph [0326]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 10-15, 28-30 and 35 are allowed.
Response to Amendment
This action is responsive to applicant’s amendment and remarks received on 04/01/2026. Claims 1-15, 17-23 and 28-34 are currently pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s argument, filed on 04/01/2026, with respect to the claims 1-15, 17-23 and 28-34 have been fully considered but they are moot in view of the new ground (s) of rejection.
Regarding claims 1 and 31, the amended features of the claims are not sufficient to overcome the teachings of the prior art of record. Park explicitly disclose the features of the amended claims, such as, “start an IUC timer after transmitting the IUC request, wherein a duration of the IUC timer is based at least in part on a latency bound for the IUC”. As noted in the office action above, Park discloses upon receiving an IUC information request the receiving UE starts a timer for reporting the IUC information based on the triggered IUC information reporting procedure. Park further discloses wherein a timer value of the IUC report timer may be the same as the latency bound, i.e., duration of the IUC timer is based at least in part on a latency bound for the IUC (see Park, paragraphs [0005] and [0146]).
On page 15 third paragraph of remarks applicant argues that, “Applicant respectfully submits that PARK and DU, taken alone or in any reasonable combination, do not disclose each and every feature recited in amended claim 1. For example, PARK and DU, taken alone or in any reasonable combination, at least do not disclose "start an IUC timer after transmitting the IUC request, wherein a duration of the IUC timer is based at least in part on a latency bound for IUC," as recited in amended claim 1”. This argument is not persuasive for the reasons as explained above.
On page 16, first paragraph of remarks applicant alleges that, “Accordingly, as agreed upon during the interview, PARK does not teach or suggest, at least, "start an IUC timer after transmitting the IUC request, wherein a duration of the IUC timer is based at least in part on a latency bound for IUC" as recited in amended claim 1. Examiner respectfully disagrees. In the interview applicant did not proposed any specific amendment, other than citing a paragraph from the specification. Examiner specifically mentioned further search and “consideration would be required once the proposed amendment is formally filed” and “no agreement was reached” (see Examiner Interview Summary of 03/26/2026).
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
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/OBAIDUL HUQ/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2473 Dated: 05/08/2026
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