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 .
Withdrawn Rejections
The examiner hereby withdraws the prior art rejections set forth in the previous Office Action mailed on 12/23/2025. It should be noted, however, that the examiner was not necessarily persuaded by applicant's arguments filed on 03/23/2026. Instead, the examiner feels that a stronger rejection exists and that, in the interest of speeding up prosecution, the stronger rejection should be applied. All of applicant’s arguments pertaining to the previously presented reference that has since been removed and replaced are moot in light of the new grounds of rejection.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
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.
Claims 1, 3-9, 11-14, and 17-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu et al. (CN 111919490 A), hereinafter Liu in view of Pi et al. (2023/0276436), hereinafter Pi.
Re. Claims 1, 9, and 14, Liu teaches a network device, comprising: a processor and a memory configured to store a computer program runnable on the processor (Fig. 7 & Pg. 24, Line 17 - The device 3000 may include one or more of the following components: Processing assembly 3002, memory 3004), a terminal device, comprising: a processor and a memory configured to store a computer program runnable on the processor (Pg. 6, Line 8- Provided a communication device, comprising a processor, a transceiver, a memory and an executable program stored on the memory and capable of running by the processor), and a method for random access, comprising: determining, by a terminal device, a transmission parameter of a random access procedure (Pg. 2, Line 20 - The enhanced control parameter is used for enhancing the message transmission in the random access process of the first type of UE.) according to at least one of: a type of the terminal device (Pg. 2, Line 18 - Sending the downlink control information DCI carried with the enhanced control indication, wherein the enhanced control indication comprises: for the enhanced control parameter of the random access of the first type of user equipment UE. Additionally, Examiner interprets that only one of the claimed features needs to be mapped because of the presence of “Or”) OR indication information sent by a network device.
Yet, Liu does not expressly teach wherein there is a correspondence between the type of the terminal device and a resource used by the terminal device to send a Message 1 (Msg1) and wherein the transmission parameter of the random access procedure comprises a transmission parameter of a Message 3 (Msg3); the transmission parameter of the Msg3 comprises: a repetition factor of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) carrying the Msg3; and the repetition factor of the PUSCH carrying the Msg3 is: a number of time domain units for sending the Msg3
However, Pi explicitly teaches wherein there is a correspondence between the type of the terminal device and a resource used by the terminal device to send a Message 1 (Msg1) (¶0051 - based on predetermined information in transmitted physical random access channel (PRACH) and a mapping relationship between the predetermined information and the number of repetitions, the first number of repetitions for the first transmission of the PUSCH, wherein the predetermined information includes a set to which PRACH resources belong and a set to which a preamble format belongs) and wherein the transmission parameter of the random access procedure comprises a transmission parameter of a Message 3 (Msg3) (¶0080 - before transmitting the Msg3 PUSCH to the network device, the user equipment may determine the number of repetitions of the Msg3 PUSCH firstly); the transmission parameter of the Msg3 comprises: a repetition factor of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) carrying the Msg3 (¶0080 - before transmitting the Msg3 PUSCH to the network device, the user equipment may determine the number of repetitions of the Msg3 PUSCH firstly); and the repetition factor of the PUSCH carrying the Msg3 is: a number of time domain units for sending the Msg3 (¶0081 - UE may determine time domain resources for the repetitions of the Msg3 PUSCH. After determining the time domain resources for the repetitions of the Msg3 PUSCH, the Msg3 PUSCH may be transmitted to the network device with the number of repetitions according to the determined time domain resources for the repetitions of the Msg3 PUSCH).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add the teachings of Pi to the teaching of Liu. The motivation for such would be to improve transmission efficiency by including a preamble and MSG3 communication between a UE and Base Station as Pi provides both a correspondence sent in Msg1 or preamble and a resource used by the terminal device to send the message (¶0051, Pi) and Pi provides a transmission parameter of a Msg3 which includes a repetition (¶0081, Pi). All of the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one skilled in the art could have combined the elements, as claimed by known methods, and the combination would have yielded predictable results to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention.
Re. Claims 3, 11, and 16, Liu, and Pi teach 1, 9 and 14.
Yet, Liu does not expressly teach wherein the resource used by the terminal device to send the Msg1 comprises: a reserved resource of an RACH or an RACH resource corresponding to a reserved RACH ID.
However, Pi explicitly teaches wherein the resource used by the terminal device to send the Msg1 comprises: a reserved resource of an RACH (¶0051 - based on predetermined information in transmitted physical random access channel (PRACH) and a mapping relationship between the predetermined information and the number of repetitions, the first number of repetitions for the first transmission of the PUSCH, wherein the predetermined information includes a set to which PRACH resources belong and a set to which a preamble format belongs. Additionally, Examiner interprets that only one of the claimed features needs to be mapped because of the presence of “Or”.) OR an RACH resource corresponding to a reserved RACH ID.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add the teaching of Fan to the teachings of Liu and Pi. The motivation for such would be to further improve communication efficiency as Pi provides that the terminal device sends the Msg1 comprising a reserved resource of a RACH (¶0051, Pi). All of the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one skilled in the art could have combined the elements, as claimed by known methods, and the combination would have yielded predictable results to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention.
Re. Claims 4, 12, and 17, Liu, and Pi teach Claims 1, 9, and 14.
Additionally, Liu further teaches wherein the indication information is carried in Downlink Control Information (DCI) (Pg. 2, Line 18 - Sending the downlink control information (DCI) carried with the enhanced control indication).
Re. Claims 5, 13, and 18, Liu, and Pi teach Claims 1, 9, and 14.
Additionally, Liu further teaches wherein the indication information is used for indicating (Pg. 3, Line 9 - The enhanced control indication is further used for indicating whether to apply the enhanced control parameter) a transmission parameter of a channel (Pg. 11, Line 25- The enhanced control parameter may be… a transmission parameter configuration of the radio frequency component) after transmitting the indication information during the random access procedure (Pg. 3, Lines 13-16 - The method comprising: receiving downlink control information DCI; obtaining the enhanced control indication carried by the DCI, the enhanced control indication, comprising: aiming at the enhanced control parameter of the random access of the first type of UE).
Re. Claims 6, and 19, Liu, and Pi teach Claims 1, and 14.
Additionally, Liu further teaches wherein the transmission parameter of the Msg3 comprises at least one of: a frequency hopping manner of the Msg3, a modulation parameter of the Msg3 (Pg. 11, Line 17- DCI can be used for… modulation and coding policy information indicating PDSCH signaling and so on. Additionally, Examiner interprets that only one of the claimed features needs to be mapped because of the presence of “Or”), OR a resource parameter of the Msg3.
Re. Claims 7, and 20, Liu, and Pi teach Claims 6, and 19.
Additionally, Liu further teaches wherein the aggregation factor of the PUSCH carrying the Msg3 is: a number of time domain units for sending the Msg3 (Pg. 3, Line 7 - The enhanced control parameter of the Msg3 for the first type of UE indicates the offset value of the number of repeating transmission times of the Msg3).
Claims 2, 10, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu et al. (CN 111919490 A), hereinafter Liu in view of Pi and Islam et al. (2019/0053271), hereinafter Islam.
Re. Claims 2, 10, and 15, Liu, and Pi teach Claims 1, 9, and 14.
Yet, the combination of Liu and Pi does not expressly teach wherein there is a correspondence between the type of the terminal device and at least one of: a capability of the terminal device; or a Random Access Channel Identifier (RACH ID) for the terminal device to initiate random access.
However, Islam explicitly teaches wherein there is a correspondence between the type of the terminal device and at least one of: a capability of the terminal device; or a Random Access Channel Identifier (RACH ID) for the terminal device to initiate random access (¶0156 - the additional information may include additional selected SSB indexes, link gains or layer 1 (L1) RSRP for a selected SSB index, or any other parameters relevant to a RACH procedure).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add the teaching of Islam to the teaching of Liu and Pi. The motivation for such would be to improve transmission efficiency as the correspondence includes an ID to initiate random access procedures as Islam provides that the correspondence sent in Msg1 may include any parameter relevant to a RACH procedure, which could include RACH ID (¶0156, Islam). All of the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one skilled in the art could have combined the elements, as claimed by known methods, and the combination would have yielded predictable results to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention.
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu in view of Pi and Zhang et al. (CN 117641592 A), hereinafter Zhang.
Re. Claims 8, Liu, and Pi teach 7 and 20.
Yet, the combination of Liu, and Pi does not expressly teach wherein the modulation parameter comprises at least one of: a modulation multi-access mode, or a modulation order limit.
However, Zhang explicitly teaches wherein the modulation parameter comprises at least one of: a modulation multi-access mode (Pg. 45, Line 40-41 - The modulation mode used by the Msg3, for example, fixed as QPSK modulation. Additionally, Examiner interprets that only one of the claimed features needs to be mapped because of the presence of “Or”.), OR a modulation order limit.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to add the teaching of Zhang to the teachings of Liu and Pi. The motivation for such would be to improve communication efficiency between the UE and BS via implementing a specific modulation parameter as Zhang provides that the modulation parameter can be a modulation multi-access mode (Zhang, Pg. 45, Line 40). All of the claimed elements were known in the prior art and one skilled in the art could have combined the elements, as claimed by known methods, and the combination would have yielded predictable results to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed on 03/23/26 with respect to claims 1, 9, and 14, have been considered but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection. Applicant previously argued that the previously presented reference Su et al. (2024/0215015) is unapplicable due to issues surrounding the reference’s claim to foreign priority. As such, in the interest of expedient and efficient prosecution, Examiner has replaced Su with new reference Pi et al. (2023/0276436). As such, Examiner upholds the rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 103 under these new grounds and finds the previously presented arguments against Claims 1, 9, and 14, as well as all claims depending therein, to be moot.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Chen et al. (WO 2020173415 A1) – Pg. 1, Line 8 – Pg. 9, Line 3;
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/N.J.S./Examiner, Art Unit 2475
/KHALED M KASSIM/supervisory patent examiner, Art Unit 2475
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