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 .
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.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 6/12/26 have been fully considered.
Applicant’s arguments, starting on page 7, with respect to the 35 U.S.C. 103 rejection(s) of claim(s) 1, 3, 7 and 10-19 have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Kurita (US 20230034003 A1).
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.
Claim(s) 1, 7, 10-12, 14, and 17-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ying (US 20210345279 A1) in view of Kurita (US 20230034003 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Ying discloses:
“A method for timing offset value indication, performed by a first communications device, comprising: receiving first signaling from a second communications device,” ([¶ 0059]: “At operation 505, the IAB node 410 may exchange signaling with the IAB donor 405.”)
“wherein the first signaling comprises Media Access Control… signaling, wherein 12 bits of information in the MAC … signaling” ([¶ 0086]: “In some embodiments, a TA Command in MAC Random Access Response (RAR) may be used. This is the case that during initial access, the base station estimates the initial TA from Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) and sends TA Command 805 in RAR 800. The payload of MAC RAR is shown in FIG. 8. The size of the TA Command field is 12 bits.”)
“indicates a timing offset value in an interval range of [-A, B] …” ([¶ 0092]: “Note that since (N.sub.TA−N.sub.TA,Δ) values can be negative, Rel-15 TA command of MAC RAR can be extended to signal negative TA value.”; [¶ 0093]: “Other ranges of N.sub.TA,Δ may also be possible and the exact number of bits in MAC RAR and MAC CE may depend on one or more factors, including but not limited to a range of N.sub.TA,Δ.”)
“…obtaining an initial timing offset value based on Random Access Response (RAR) information;” ([¶ 0081]: “In 5G new radio (NR) current Release 15 specifications, TA command transmitted from a base station is defined in MAC RAR during initial access and in MAC CE during connected mode. This TA command can indicate an N.sub.TA value (initial value and updated value) for UL Tx timing calculation.”)
“and adjusting timing of the first communications device based on the timing offset value indicated by the 12 bits of information in the MAC … signaling and one of the initial timing offset value or a last determined timing offset value.” ([¶ 0087]: “For a subcarrier spacing of 2.sup.μ*15 kHz, with a current N.sub.TA value, N.sub.TA_old, the new N.sub.TA value, N.sub.TA_new, can be calculated as N.sub.TA_new=N.sub.TA_old+(T.sub.A−31)*16*64/2.sup.μ.”)
Ying does not explicitly disclose the MAC signalling is MAC CE nor “the first interval range is broader than a second interval range [-a, b] of a second value indicated by second signaling, wherein the second signaling is timing advance (TA) signaling supported by an existing protocol and used to indicate or configure TA for the first communications device, wherein A, B, a, and b are positive values, A>a, and B>b.”
However, Kurita discloses the missing features:
the MAC signalling is MAC CE ([¶ 0157]: “Also, in other cases, TA is also indicated via TAC of MAC CE.”)
“the first interval range is broader than a second interval range [-a, b] of a second value indicated by second signaling, wherein the second signaling is timing advance (TA) signaling supported by an existing protocol and used to indicate or configure TA for the first communications device, wherein A, B, a, and b are positive values, A>a, and B>b.” ([¶ 0073]: “Alternatively, the TA value (NTA) may be an expanded value. Specifically, in 3GPP Release-15, NTA can take a value of 0, 1, 2, . . . , 3846, but the alignment value of the reception timing based on the TA may be a negative value obtained by subtraction from 3846 using the value of 3847 to 4095. It should be noted that, in the case of 3847 or later, it may be treated as an implicitly applied negative value without necessarily subtracting.”)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, having the teachings of Ying and Kurita, to modify the technique as disclosed by Ying, to utilize a MAC CE that can indicate negative values of a broader range as disclosed by Kurita. The motivation for doing so is that it increases flexibility, thus allowing for better optimization to the specific network context, thus improving service quality. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine Ying with Kurita to obtain the invention as specified in the instant claim.
Regarding claim 6, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying further discloses “wherein the first signaling is used to indicate a first value, wherein an interval range of the first value is [−A, +B], or the interval range of the first value is [−A, −(a+1)] and [b+1, +B], or the interval range of the first value is [−C, −(a+1)]; and second signaling is used to indicate a second value, and an interval range of the second value is [−a, +b], wherein A>a, C>a, B>b, and b>−a.” ([¶ 0093]: “Other ranges of N.sub.TA,Δ may also be possible and the exact number of bits in MAC RAR and MAC CE may depend on one or more factors, including but not limited to a range of N.sub.TA,Δ.”)
Regarding claim 7, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying further discloses “wherein the first signaling further comprises first indication information, and the first indication information is used to indicate whether the timing offset value is a positive or negative value, or whether the timing offset value is reversed.” ([¶ 0092]: “Note that since (N.sub.TA−N.sub.TA,Δ) values can be negative, Rel-15 TA command of MAC RAR can be extended to signal negative TA value. A simple way is to add a “sign” indicator in the TA command of MAC RAR.”)
Regarding claim 10, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying further discloses “wherein the first signaling is used to indicate a timing offset value of the first communications device in a timing offset value group or a timing offset value of the first communications device in a cell.” ([¶ 0022]: “In some embodiments, one or more operations, methods and/or techniques (such as those described herein) may be practiced by a base station component (and/or other component), including but not limited to a gNB 105, an eNB 104, a serving cell, a transmit receive point (TRP) and/or other.”)
Regarding claim 11, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying further discloses “wherein the first signaling is used to indicate a first value, and the obtaining a timing offset value based on the first signaling comprises: determining the timing offset value based on the first value and at least one of the following: a time domain unit offset value, or subcarrier spacing (SCS).” ([¶ 0087]: “For subcarrier spacing of it indicates an index value of T.sub.A=0, 1, 2, . . . , 3846. For a subcarrier spacing of 2.sup.μ*15 kHz, with a current N.sub.TA value, N.sub.TA_old, the new N.sub.TA value, N.sub.TA_new, can be calculated as N.sub.TA_new=N.sub.TA_old+(T.sub.A−31)*16*64/2.sup.μ.”)
Regarding claim 12, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying further discloses “receiving third signaling, wherein the third signaling is used to indicate or configure the time domain unit offset value.” ([¶ 0077]: “In some embodiments, the signaling from the IAB node 410 may include: 1) an RAR message that indicates the first and second TA offsets, or 2) a first RAR message that indicates the first TA offset and a second RAR message that indicates the second TA offset.”)
Regarding claim 14, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying further discloses “wherein the obtaining a timing offset value based on the first signaling comprises: obtaining the timing offset value by superposing or combining first values separately indicated by a plurality of pieces of the first signaling.” ([¶ 0092]: “Note that since (N.sub.TA−N.sub.TA,Δ) values can be negative, Rel-15 TA command of MAC RAR can be extended to signal negative TA value. A simple way is to add a “sign” indicator in the TA command of MAC RAR.”)
Regarding claim 17, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying further discloses “wherein the first signaling is dynamic scheduling signaling, and the dynamic scheduling signaling is used to: indicate a timing offset value of corresponding uplink UL information; or schedule an RAR, and the dynamic scheduling signaling is further used to indicate whether TA is negative or positive, wherein the TA is obtained based on the RAR.” ([¶ 0092]: “Note that since (N.sub.TA−N.sub.TA,Δ) values can be negative, Rel-15 TA command of MAC RAR can be extended to signal negative TA value. A simple way is to add a “sign” indicator in the TA command of MAC RAR.”)
Regarding claim 18, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying further discloses “wherein the timing offset value is TA, and TA is positive or negative.” ([¶ 0092]: “Note that since (N.sub.TA−N.sub.TA,Δ) values can be negative, Rel-15 TA command of MAC RAR can be extended to signal negative TA value. A simple way is to add a “sign” indicator in the TA command of MAC RAR.”)
Claims 19, and 20 are substantially similar to claims 1 and 2 with the differences amounting to that claims 1, and 2 are method claims while claims 19, 20, and 21 are apparatus claims containing generic hardware. Such hardware is taught by Ying in paragraph 32. Thus claims 19 and 20 are rejected for substantially similar reasons to claims 1 and 2.
Claim(s) 3 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ying (US 20210345279 A1) in view of Kurita (US 20230034003 A1) and further in view of Nam (US 20200059879 A1).
Regarding claim 3, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying does not explicitly disclose “wherein the receiving first signaling from a second communications device comprises at least one of the following: receiving the first signaling from the second communications device based on configuration information; or receiving the first signaling from the second communications device based on capability information of the first communications device.”
However, Nam discloses the missing feature “wherein the receiving first signaling from a second communications device comprises at least one of the following: receiving the first signaling from the second communications device based on configuration information; or receiving the first signaling from the second communications device based on capability information of the first communications device.” ([¶ 0074]: “Features of the present disclosure provide techniques for the IAB node 150 signaling to one or more child nodes 420 the mode selection (e.g., when the IAB node 150 may change the operating mode), in addition to the timing advance value associated with each mode. Specifically, the IAB node 150 may provide a timing offset value (T.sub.offset) that may affect the T.sub.TA value for the child node 420 based on the adjustment of operational mode at the IAB node 150.”)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, having the teachings of Ying and Nam, to modify the technique as disclosed by Ying, to be based on configuration information as disclosed by Nam. The motivation for doing so is that it allows for better optimization to the specific network context, thus improving service quality. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine Ying with Nam to obtain the invention as specified in the instant claim.
Claim(s) 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ying (US 20210345279 A1) in view of Kurita (US 20230034003 A1) and further in view of Islam (US 20200322976 A1).
Regarding claim 13, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying does not explicitly disclose “wherein the SCS is indicated or configured by a received fourth signaling; the SCS is predefined; or the SCS is obtained based on a predefined rule.”
However, Islam discloses the missing feature “wherein the SCS is indicated or configured by a received fourth signaling; the SCS is predefined; or the SCS is obtained based on a predefined rule.” ([¶ 0069]: “As shown by reference number 545, node 510 may determine a transmission (Tx) timing accuracy parameter based at least in part on an SCS of a synchronization signal block (SSB) received from parent node 505, and based at least in part on the DL SCS of the link with child node 515.”)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, having the teachings of Ying and Islam, to modify the SCS as disclosed by Ying, to be configured through signalling as disclosed by Islam. The motivation for doing so is that it allows for more flexibility thus allowing for improved optimization, thus improving service quality. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine Ying with Islam to obtain the invention as specified in the instant claim.
Claim(s) 15-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ying (US 20210345279 A1) in view of Kurita (US 20230034003 A1) and further in view of Kim (US 20200351957 A1).
Regarding claim 15, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying does not explicitly disclose “wherein the first signaling is used to separately indicate a timing offset value of at least one cell.”
However, Kim discloses the missing feature “wherein the first signaling is used to separately indicate a timing offset value of at least one cell.” ([¶ 0079]: “In the case that the common TA is base station-specific or cell-specific, one or more information units each of which is (common TA), (base station ID, common TA), (cell ID, common TA), or (base station ID, cell ID, common TA) may be signaled to the terminal by at least one of the aforementioned signaling schemes.”)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, having the teachings of Ying and Kim, to modify the technique as disclosed by Ying, to be cell specific as disclosed by Kim. The motivation for doing so is that it allows for the technique to be performed in a more efficient manner, thus improving service quality. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine Ying with Kim to obtain the invention as specified in the instant claim.
Regarding claim 16, Ying in view of Kurita discloses all the features of the parent claim.
Ying does not explicitly disclose “an identity of the cell; or SCS information, wherein the SCS information is used to obtain SCS, and the SCS is used to obtain the timing offset value.”
However, Kim discloses the missing feature “an identity of the cell; or SCS information, wherein the SCS information is used to obtain SCS, and the SCS is used to obtain the timing offset value.” ([¶ 0079]: “In the case that the common TA is base station-specific or cell-specific, one or more information units each of which is (common TA), (base station ID, common TA), (cell ID, common TA), or (base station ID, cell ID, common TA) may be signaled to the terminal by at least one of the aforementioned signaling schemes.”)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, having the teachings of Ying and Kim, to modify the technique as disclosed by Ying, to be cell specific as disclosed by Kim. The motivation for doing so is that it allows for the technique to be performed in a more efficient manner, thus improving service quality. Therefore, it would have been obvious to combine Ying with Kim to obtain the invention as specified in the instant claim.
Conclusion
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 SAAD KHAWAR whose telephone number is (571)272-7948. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 9:00am - 5:00pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Charles Jiang can be reached at (571)-270-7191. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SAAD KHAWAR/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2412
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