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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on December 24, 2025 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed December 24, 2025 has been accepted and entered. Accordingly, claims 1, 5, 7-9, 12, 14, and 17-19 have been amended.
Claims 1-20 are pending in this application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed December 24, 2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. More specifically, Applicant argues that Bienas et al. and Lee et al. do not teach “and in a case that a third condition is met, the first operation comprises: continuing performing the first RACH process; wherein the third condition being met comprises a RACH resource being used in the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined by the at least one SFN or an object in an SFN range” because Bienas et al. teaches “RACH resources corresponding to different cells are the same”, which is evident that Bienas does not involve the process that the RACH resources used in the RACH process are coordinated and determined by the SFN or by the cells/TRPs in an SFN range, let alone continuing performing the original RACH process under such condition” (page 21). Examiner respectfully disagrees with the Applicant.
Amended claim recites “and in a case that a third condition is met, the first operation comprises: continuing performing the first RACH process; wherein the third condition being met comprises a RACH resource being used in the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined by the at least one SFN or an object in an SFN range.” Bienas et al. teaches that when a UE moves within the SFN, the first RACH process is continuously performed as SFN specific cells use the same RACH parameters (para. [0075]-[0081]). If the cells within SFN share the same RACH parameters, then such is coordinated and determined by one SFN. Recited “the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined”, claim does not define the specifics of coordinated and determined. Therefore, it does not preclude RACH parameters being the same.
In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., first RACH process that is coordinated and determined does not include using the same RACH parameters) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
However, in order to advance the prosecution, a new reference is introduced as below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claim 1 is directed to a random access method, and recites “performing a first operation in a case of moving in at least one single frequency network (SFN)…” and “in a case that a third condition is met, the first operation comprises: continuing…” (annotation added).
As shown above, these steps are contingent on meeting a condition. Therefore, there would be no steps to perform under this method claim if conditions are not met. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a method (or process) claim having contingent limitations requires only those steps that must be performed and does not include steps that are not required to be performed because the condition(s) precedent are not met. (see MPEP 2111.04). Because there are no positively recited steps under BRI in claim 1, the metes and bounds of claim is not clear.
It is recommended that claim recites a positive step, e.g., “moving in at least one single frequency network (SFN) during execution of a first random access channel (RACH) process; performing a first operation…” Similar issue is noted in other claims, e.g., claims 4, 6, 14, to name a few.
Other claims are rejected for the dependency.
For examination purpose, contingent limitations were given a patentable weight.
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.
Claims 1-3, 7-8, 10, 12, 14-15, and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bienas et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0260503), Lee et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0221363), and further in view of Nam et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0086818).
Regarding Claim 1, Bienas et al. teaches A random access method (Bienas et al. teaches a mechanism for performing random access to a single frequency network, SFN (para. [0001])), performed by a terminal (UE device (para. [0028]; FIG. 3)) and comprising: performing a first operation in a case of moving in at least one single frequency network (SFN) during execution of a first random access channel (RACH) process performed by the terminal (Bienas et al. teaches that UE has to read the random access portion of the system information very rarely, as the initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves, as long as it stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); the small cells SC_n to SC_n+2 will start to broadcast the random access parameters synchronously as part of a system information broadcast (para. [0063]); SC_n and SC_n+1 transmit the contention resolution message synchronously, and after successful reception by UE1 the random access procedure is complete (para. [0081])), wherein the first operation comprises continuing performing the first RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves, but stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); SFN cluster management unit is enabled to configure random access relevant parameters commonly for all small cells within a single frequency network (para. [0032]); the base stations implementing the SFN random access procedure do not have the freedom to select the parameters on their own, and that all base station of an SFN uses the same random access configuration (para. [0043]), indicating that UE will continue performing the first RACH process as UE moves); moving in the at least one SFN comprises any one of the following: moving from a first object to a second object in a first SFN (Bienas et al. teaches that initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves, but stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); SFN cluster comprises of multiple cells (FIG. 1)), each object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or transmission reception point (TRP) specific cell, or a TRP (Bienas et al. teaches that three small cells SC_n to SC_n+2 are configured as SFN cluster N and two small cells SC_m and SC_m+1 are configured to form the second cluster SFN cluster M (para. [0040]l FIG. 1)).
Although disclosing that base stations in different SFN have different RACH parameters and that UE moves out of the SFN cluster (para. [0032]; FIG. 1)), Bienas et al. does not explicitly teach moving in the at least one SFN comprises any one of the following: moving from a first object to a second object in a first SFN; moving from a second SFN to a third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, an SFN layer; or moving from a third object in a fourth SFN to a fourth object in a fifth SFN. However, Lee et al. teaches such limitation more explicitly.
Lee et al. is directed to mobility procedures with hierarchical mobility. More specifically, Lee et al. teaches wherein moving in the at least one SFN comprises any one of the following: moving from a first object to a second object in a first SFN; moving from a second SFN to a third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, an SFN layer; or moving from a third object in a fourth SFN to a fourth object in a fifth SFN (Lee et al. teaches that the SFN is associated with a SFN area, which corresponds to one or more of a cell, an RAN notification area (RNA), a RAN-AC, a TA (para. [0108]); UE moves from first RNA 415a to a second RNA 415b (para. [0133]; FIG. 4); RNA is used as the SFN area (para. [0134]); the first single -frequency network includes a first group of cells (para. [0197]; FIG. 4)).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. so that performing the moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from a third object in a fourth SFN to a fourth object in a fifth SFN, as taught by Lee et al. The modification would have allowed the system to enable UE to maintain connectivity when the UE moves between SFN areas (see Lee et al. (para. [0059])).
Although teaching that RACH parameters are same for all cells within an SFN, thus is coordinated and determined (Bienas et al., para. [0075]-[0081]), Nam et al. teaches and in a case that a third condition is met, the first operation comprises: continuing performing the first RACH process; wherein the third condition being met comprises a RACH resource being used in the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined by the at least one SFN or an object in an SFN range.
Nam et al. is directed to indication of single frequency network receiver processing modes. More specifically, Nam et al. teaches and in a case that a third condition is met, the first operation comprises: continuing performing the first RACH process (Nam et al. teaches that geographic areas within the communication network is configured for single frequency network (SFN) communications, e.g., SFN areas (para. [0097]); network entity transmits a RACH configuration that is received by the UE, and the RACH configuration is associated with an SFN SSB transmitted by a set of two or more base stations configured for SFN communication (para. [0155])[Examiner’s Note: that is RACH process is continuously performed when UE is in SFN]); wherein the third condition being met comprises a RACH resource being used in the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined by the at least one SFN or an object in an SFN range (Nam et al. teaches that the network entity transmits a RACH configuration that is received by the UE, and the RACH configuration is associated with an SFN SSB transmitted by a set of two or more base stations configured for SFN communication (FIGS. 6, 10; para. [0155])).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. and Lee et al. so that the third condition being met comprises a RACH resource being used in the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined by the at least one SFN or an object in an SFN range, as taught by Nam et al. The modification would have allowed the system to simplify the mobility management and reduce path loss (see Nam et al. (para. [0099])).
Regarding Claim 2, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 1, and further, the references teach performing the first operation comprises: performing the first operation in a case that a reference signal (RS) received by the terminal comprises an SFN specific RS (Lee et al. teaches that UE performs the RACH procedure based on receiving paging signals (para. [0118]); SFN is associated with one or more SFN SSs or with one or more SFN paging signals (para. [0108]); UE measures a signal strength of the one or more SFN synchronization signals associated with the serving SFN area and measure a signal strength associated with one or more SFN synchronization signals associated with a neighboring SFN area (para. [0159]); the measured signal characteristics is a reference signal receive power (para. [0159]); when the signal strength or other signal characteristics of the serving SFN area drop below a first threshold and the signal strength of neighboring SFN area exceeds a second threshold, UE determines that the reselection condition is satisfied (para. [0159]); UE selects the second SFN area based on determining whether the reselection condition is satisfied (para. [0160])).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. and Nam et al. so that performing the first operation comprises performing the first operation in a case that a reference signal received by the terminal comprises an SFN specific RS, as taught by Lee et al. The modification would have allowed the system to enable UE to maintain connectivity when the UE moves between SFN areas (see Lee et al. (para. [0059])).
Regarding Claim 3, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 1, and further, the references teach wherein the continuing performing the first RACH process comprises: continuing performing the first RACH process according to a first RACH resource (Bienas et al. teaches the base stations implementing the SFN random access procedure do not have the freedom to select the parameters on their own, and that all base station of an SFN uses the same random access configuration (para. [0043]), indicating that UE will continue performing the first RACH process using a first RACH resource).
Regarding Claim 7, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 1, and further, the references teach wherein the first operation additionally comprises any one of the following: ending the first RACH process and starting to perform a second RACN process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH and starting a new RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid), or ending a RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid); wherein in a case that a first condition is met, the first operation comprises: ending the RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid)); or in a case that a second condition is met, the first operation comprises: ending the first RACH process and starting to perform the second RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH and starting a new RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid).
Regarding Claim 8, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 7, and further, the references teach wherein that the first condition is met comprises at least one of the following: that a RACH resource associated with a second RS is used in the first RACH process (Nam et al. teaches that SFN reference signal comprises an SFN SSB (para. [0153]; FIG. 4); RACH configuration is associated with SFN SSBs transmitted by a set of two or more base station configured for SFN communication (para. [0045])); or that RACH resources configured by using second SI corresponding to different objects are different or independent, wherein the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS (Nam et al. teaches that SFN SSB is a TRP specific SSB (FIG. 4, para. [0096])); each object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP (Nam et al. teaches that SFN SSB is a TRP specific SSB (FIG. 4, para. [0096])); and the second SI is cell or TRP specific SI (This limitation is not given a patentable weight since the alternate limitation regarding SI was not selected); or that the second condition is met comprises at least one of the following: that a RACH resource associated with a second RS is used in the first RACH process; or that RACH resources configured by using second SI corresponding to different objects are different or independent, wherein the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; each object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the second SI is cell or TRP specific SI.
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. and Lee et al. so that the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS, as taught by Nam et al. The modification would have allowed the system to simplify the mobility management and reduce path loss (see Nam et al. (para. [0099])).
Regarding Claim 10, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 1, and further, the references teach wherein before performing the first operation, the method further comprises: obtaining a candidate RACH resource according to first information (Bienas et al. teaches that the small cells SC_n to SC_n+2 broadcast the random access parameters synchronously as a part of a system information broadcast (para. [0063]); UE selects a random access preamble and a time slot from the configured set and transmits the preamble with the configured power (para. [0075])); and performing the first RACH process according to the candidate RACH resource (Bienas et al. teaches that UE selects a random access preamble and a time slot from the configured set and transmits the preamble with the configured power (para. [0075]); the initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves as long as it stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030])), wherein the first information comprises at least one of the following: cell or TRP specific SI; SFN specific SI; a radio resource control (RRC) message; or a paging message (Bienas et al. teaches that UE has to read the system information very rarely, as the initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves as long as it stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); UE1 received the UE relevant parameters required for the random access from any (or multiple base station in the SFN cluster (para. [0074])).
Regarding Claim 12, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 1, and further, the references teach further comprising: performing a second operation in a case of moving in the at least one SFN during execution of the first RACH process performed by the terminal (Bienas et al. teaches that the small cells SC_n to SC_n+2 broadcast the random access parameters synchronously as a part of a system information broadcast (para. [0063])), wherein the second operation comprises at least one of the following: receiving cell or TRP specific SI (Bienas et al. discloses that the small cells SC_n to SC_n+2 broadcast the random access parameters synchronously as a part of a system information broadcast (para. [0063])); receiving SFN specific SI; receiving a cell or TRP specific RS; or receiving an SFN specific RS (Lee et al. teaches that UE performs the RACH procedure based on receiving paging signals (para. [0118]); SFN is associated with one or more SFN SSs or with one or more SFN paging signals (para. [0108]); UE measures a signal strength of the one or more SFN synchronization signals associated with the serving SFN area and measure a signal strength associated with one or more SFN synchronization signals associated with a neighboring SFN area (para. [0159]); the measured signal characteristics is a reference signal receive power (para. [0159]); when the signal strength or other signal characteristics of the serving SFN area drop below a first threshold and the signal strength of neighboring SFN area exceeds a second threshold, UE determines that the reselection condition is satisfied (para. [0159]); UE selects the second SFN area based on determining whether the reselection condition is satisfied (para. [0160])); or receiving a cell or TRP specific RS according to third information, wherein the third information comprises at least one of the following: a paging message, SI corresponding to a cell or a TRP, or SI corresponding to an SFN.
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. and Nam et al. so that performing the first operation comprises performing the first operation in a case that a reference signal received by the terminal comprises an SFN specific RS, as taught by Lee et al. The modification would have allowed the system to enable UE to maintain connectivity when the UE moves between SFN areas (see Lee et al. (para. [0059])).
Regarding Claim 14, Bienas et al. teaches A random access method (Bienas et al. teaches a mechanism for performing random access to a single frequency network, SFN (para. [0001])), performed by a network side device (Sc_n+1 (FIG. 3)) and comprising: performing a first operation in a case of moving in at least one single frequency network (SFN) during execution of a first random access channel (RACH) process performed by a terminal (Bienas et al. teaches that UE has to read the random access portion of the system information very rarely, as the initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves, as long as it stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030])), wherein the first operation comprises continuing performing the first RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that initial random access configuration remains value even when the UE moves, but stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); SFN cluster management unit is enabled to configure random access relevant parameters commonly for all small cells within a single frequency network (para. [0032]); the base stations implementing the SFN random access procedure do not have the freedom to select the parameters on their own, and that all base station of an SFN uses the same random access configuration (para. [0043]), indicating that UE will continue performing the first RACH process); moving in the at least one SFN comprises any one of the following: moving from a first object to a second object in a first SFN (Bienas et al. teaches that initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves, but stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); SFN cluster comprises of multiple cells (FIG. 1)), each object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or transmission reception point (TRP) specific cell, or a TRP (Bienas et al. teaches that three small cells SC_n to SC_n+2 are configured as SFN cluster N and two small cells SC_m and SC_m+1 are configured to form the second cluster SFN cluster M (para. [0040]l FIG. 1)).
Although disclosing that base stations in different SFN have different RACH parameters and that UE moves out of the SFN cluster (para. [0032]; FIG. 1)), Bienas et al. does not explicitly teach wherein moving in the at least one SFN comprises any one of the following: moving from a first object to a second object in a first SFN; moving from a second SFN to a third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, an SFN layer; or moving from a third object in a fourth SFN to a fourth object in a fifth SFN. However, Lee et al. teaches such limitation more explicitly.
Lee et al. is directed to mobility procedures with hierarchical mobility. More specifically, Lee et al. teaches wherein moving in the at least one SFN comprises any one of the following: moving from a first object to a second object in a first SFN; moving from a second SFN to a third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, an SFN layer; or moving from a third object in a fourth SFN to a fourth object in a fifth SFN (Lee et al. teaches that the SFN is associated with a SFN area, which corresponds to one or more of a cell, an RAN notification area (RNA), a RAN-AC, a TA (para. [0108]); UE moves from first RNA 415a to a second RNA 415b (para. [0133]; FIG. 4); RNA is used as the SFN area (para. [0134]); the first single -frequency network includes a first group of cells (para. [0197]; FIG. 4)).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. so that performing the moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from a third object in a fourth SFN to a fourth object in a fifth SFN, as taught by Lee et al. The modification would have allowed the system to enable UE to maintain connectivity when the UE moves between SFN areas (see Lee et al. (para. [0059])).
Although teaching that RACH parameters are same for all cells within an SFN, thus is coordinated and determined (Bienas et al., para. [0075]-[0081]), Nam et al. teaches and in a case that a third condition is met, the first operation comprises: continuing performing the first RACH process; wherein the third condition being met comprises a RACH resource being used in the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined by the at least one SFN or an object in an SFN range.
Nam et al. is directed to indication of single frequency network receiver processing modes. More specifically, Nam et al. teaches and in a case that a third condition is met, the first operation comprises: continuing performing the first RACH process (Nam et al. teaches that geographic areas within the communication network is configured for single frequency network (SFN) communications, e.g., SFN areas (para. [0097]); network entity transmits a RACH configuration that is received by the UE, and the RACH configuration is associated with an SFN SSB transmitted by a set of two or more base stations configured for SFN communication (para. [0155])[Examiner’s Note: that is RACH process is continuously performed when UE is in SFN]); wherein the third condition being met comprises a RACH resource being used in the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined by the at least one SFN or an object in an SFN range (Nam et al. teaches that the network entity transmits a RACH configuration that is received by the UE, and the RACH configuration is associated with an SFN SSB transmitted by a set of two or more base stations configured for SFN communication (FIGS. 6, 10; para. [0155])).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. and Lee et al. so that the third condition being met comprises a RACH resource being used in the first RACH process that is coordinated and determined by the at least one SFN or an object in an SFN range, as taught by Nam et al. The modification would have allowed the system to simplify the mobility management and reduce path loss (see Nam et al. (para. [0099])).
Regarding Claim 15, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 14, and further, the references teach wherein performing the first operation comprises: performing the first operation in a case that a reference signal (RS) sent by the network side device comprises an SFN specific RS (Lee et al. teaches that UE performs the RACH procedure based on receiving paging signals (para. [0118]); SFN is associated with one or more SFN SSs or with one or more SFN paging signals (para. [0108]); that UE measures a signal strength of the one or more SFN synchronization signals associated with the serving SFN area and measure a signal strength associated with one or more SFN synchronization signals associated with a neighboring SFN area (para. [0159]); the measured signal characteristics is a reference signal receive power (para. [0159]); when the signal strength or other signal characteristics of the serving SFN area drop below a first threshold and the signal strength of neighboring SFN area exceeds a second threshold, UE determines that the reselection condition is satisfied (para. [0159]); UE selects the second SFN area based on determining whether the reselection condition is satisfied (para. [0160])).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. and Nam et al. so that performing the first operation in a case that a reference signal sent by the network side device comprises an SFN specific RS, as taught by Lee et al. The modification would have allowed the system to enable UE to another SFN area with better signal strength or characteristics (see Lee et al. (para. [0159])).
Regarding Claim 18, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 14, and further, the references teach wherein the first operation further comprises any one of the following: ending the first RACH process and starting to perform a second RACN process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH and starting a new RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid), or ending a RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid); wherein in a case that a first condition is met, the first operation additionally comprises: ending the RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid)); wherein the first condition being met comprises at least one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a second RS being used in the first RACH process (Nam et al. teaches that SFN reference signal comprises an SFN SSB (para. [0153]; FIG. 4); RACH configuration is associated with SFN SSBs transmitted by a set of two or more base station configured for SFN communication (para. [0045])); or RACH resources configured by using second SI corresponding to different objects being different or independent, wherein the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS (Nam et al. teaches that SFN SSB is a TRP specific SSB (FIG. 4, para. [0096])); each object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP (Nam et al. teaches that SFN SSB is a TRP specific SSB (FIG. 4, para. [0096])); and the second SI is cell or TRP specific SI (This limitation is not given a patentable weight since the alternate limitation regarding SI was not selected); or in a case that a second condition is met, the first operation comprises: ending the first RACH process and starting to perform the second RACH process; wherein that the second condition is met comprises at least one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a second RS being used in the first RACH process; or RACH resources configured by using second SI corresponding to different objects being different or independent, wherein the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; each object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the second SI is cell or TRP specific SI.
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al. and Lee et al. so that the first RS is an SFN specific RS, as taught by Lee et al. The modification would have allowed the system to enable UE to simplify the mobility management and reduce path loss (see Nam et al. (para. [0099])).
Regarding Claim 19, Claim 19 is directed to an apparatus claim and it does not teach or further define over the limitations recited in claim 1. Therefore, claim 19 is also rejected for similar reasons set forth in claim 1.
Regarding Claim 20, A communication device (base station (Bienas et al., para. [0042]; FIG. 3)), the communication device being a network side device (base station (Bienas et al., para. [0042]; FIG. 3)), the network side device comprising a processor, a memory, and a program or instructions stored in the memory and executable on the processor, the program or instructions, when executed by the processor (base station includes a processor and memory), causing the network side device to perform steps of the random access method according to claim 14 (see rejection of claim 14).
Claims 4-6, 11, and 16-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bienas et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0260503), Lee et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0221363), Nam et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0086818), and further in view of Zhang et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2021/0306865).
Regarding Claim 4, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 3, and further, the references teach wherein in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the first object to the second object in the first SFN (Bienas et al. teaches that an initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves as long as it stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); all base stations within an SFN cluster are enabled to simultaneously receive a random access preamble (para. [0032]); Schmidt et al. teaches that during the journey of the train from the left to right, the small cells in front of the train are added to the SNF or activated (para. [0069]; FIGS. 1, 9))).
However, the references do not explicitly teach the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource corresponding to the second object or a RACH resource corresponding to the first object; in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, a RACH resource corresponding to the second object, or a RACH resource corresponding to the first object; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, the first RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, wherein the first object or the second object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the second SFN to the third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, the SFN layer, the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource configured by using target system information (SI) in the second SFN or a RACH resource configured by using target SI in the third SFN; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the second SFN or a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the third SFN, wherein the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; and the target SI is SFN specific SI or cell or TRP specific SI; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from a third object in the fourth SFN to the fourth object in the fifth SFN, the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource corresponding to the third object or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fourth SFN, a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, a RACH resource corresponding to the third object, or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fourth SFN or a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, wherein the third object or the fourth object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS. Zhang et al. teaches such limitations.
Zhang et al. is directed to beam sweep based random access Msg3 and Msg 4. More specifically, Zhang et al. teaches the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS (Zhang et al. teaches that the first TRP transmits first CSI-RS using a first CSI-RS resource from a first beam of the first TRP, a second CSI-RS using a second CSI-RS resource from a second beam of the first TRP (para. [0083]; FIG. 8)), and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource (Zhang et al. teaches that CSI-RS are transmitted using a CSI-RS resources (para. [0083]), different from a RACH resource)), that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource corresponding to the second object or a RACH resource corresponding to the first object (Zhang et al. teaches that the UE transmits a first Msg 1 to the first TRP (para. [0084]; FIG. 8), indicating that the RACH resource corresponds to the first object); in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, a RACH resource corresponding to the second object, or a RACH resource corresponding to the first object; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, the first RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, wherein the first object or the second object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the second SFN to the third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, the SFN layer, the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource configured by using target system information (SI) in the second SFN or a RACH resource configured by using target SI in the third SFN; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the second SFN or a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the third SFN, wherein the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; and the target SI is SFN specific SI or cell or TRP specific SI; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from a third object in the fourth SFN to the fourth object in the fifth SFN, the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource corresponding to the third object or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fourth SFN, a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, a RACH resource corresponding to the third object, or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fourth SFN or a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, wherein the third object or the fourth object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS.
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. so that in case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, as taught by Zhang et al. The modification would have allowed the system to improve reliability and robustness of the random access communication (see Zhang et al. (para. [0088])).
Regarding Claim 5, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 1, and further, the references teach wherein the first operation additionally comprises: ending the first RACH process and starting to perform a second RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH and starting a new RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid).
However, the references do not explicitly teach wherein starting to perform the second RACH process comprises: starting to perform the second RACH process according to a second RACH resource. Zhang et al. teaches such a limitation.
Zhang et al. is directed to beam sweep based random access Msg3 and Msg 4. More specifically, Zhang et al. teaches that UE uses beam n for transmitting a Msg 1 (e.g., 711) at a first time period and use beam m for transmitting another Msg 1 (e.g., 713) at a second time period (para. [0079]; FIG. 7A)).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. so that the second RACH process is started to be performed according to a second RACH resource, as taught by Zhang et al. The modification would have allowed the system to improve reliability and robustness of the random access communication (see Zhang et al. (para. [0088])).
Regarding Claim 6, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., Nam et al., and Zhang et al. teach The method according to claim 5, and further, the references teach wherein in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the first object to the second object in the first SFN (Bienas et al. teaches that an initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves as long as it stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); all base stations within an SFN cluster are enabled to simultaneously receive a random access preamble (para. [0032]); SFN cluster is comprises of small cells (FIG. 1)), the second RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS (Zhang et al. teaches that the second TRP transmits a first CSI-RS using a first CSI-RS resource and a second CSI-RS using a second CSI-RS (para. [0083]; FIG. 8)), and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource (Zhang et al. teaches that CSI-RS are transmitted using a CSI-RS resources (para. [0083]), different from a RACH resource)), that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource corresponding to the second object (Zhang et al. teaches that the UE transmits second Msg 1 (e.g., a first random access message) to the second TRP (para. [0084]; FIG. 8), indicating that the RACH resource corresponds to the second object); in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN or a RACH resource corresponding to the second object; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, wherein the first object or the second object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the second SFN to the third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, the SFN layer, the second RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource configured by using target SI in the third SFN; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the third SFN, wherein the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; and the target SI is SFN specific SI or cell or TRP specific SI; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the third object in the fourth SFN to the fourth object in the fifth SFN, the second RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; or in a case that an RS received by the terminal comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, wherein the third object or the fourth object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS.
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. so that in case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, as taught by Zhang et al. The modification would have allowed the system to improve reliability and robustness of the random access communication (see Zhang et al. (para. [0088])).
Regarding Claim 11, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 10, and further, the references teach wherein the candidate RACH resource comprises at least one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a cell or TRP specific RS, or a RACH resource associated with an SFN specific RS (Bienas et al. teaches UE1 received the UE relevant parameters required for the random access from any (or multiple base station in the SFN cluster (para. [0074])); or performing the first RACH process according to the candidate RACH resource comprises: selecting a third RACH resource from the candidate RACH resource according to second information; and performing the first RACH process according to the third RACH resource, wherein the second information comprises at least one of the following: a preset rule, a measurement result of a cell or TRP specific RS, or a measurement result of an SFN specific RS.
However, the references do not explicitly teach wherein the candidate RACH resource comprises at least one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a cell or TRP specific RS, or a RACH resource associated with an SFN specific RS. Zhang et al. teaches such a limitation.
Zhang et al. is directed to beam sweep based random access Msg3 and Msg 4. More specifically, Zhang et al. teaches a RACH resource associated with TRP specific RS (FIG. 8).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et so that the candidate RACH resource comprises a RACH resource associated with a cell or TRP specific RS, as taught by Zhang et al. The modification would have allowed the system to improve reliability and robustness of the random access communication (see Zhang et al. (para. [0088])).
Regarding Claim 16, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 14, and further, the references teach wherein the continuing performing the first RACH process comprises: continuing performing the first RACH process according to a first RACH resource (Bienas et al. teaches the base stations implementing the SFN random access procedure do not have the freedom to select the parameters on their own, and that all base station of an SFN uses the same random access configuration (para. [0043]), indicating that UE will continue performing the first RACH process using a first RACH resource); wherein in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the first object to the second object in the first SFN (Bienas et al. teaches that an initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves as long as it stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); all base stations within an SFN cluster are enabled to simultaneously receive a random access preamble (para. [0032]); SFN cluster is comprised of small cells (FIG. 1)).
However, the references do not explicitly teach the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource corresponding to the second object or a RACH resource corresponding to the first object; in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, a RACH resource corresponding to the second object, or a RACH resource corresponding to the first object; or in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, wherein the first object or the second object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the second SFN to the third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, the SFN layer, the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource configured by using target system information (SI) in the second SFN or a RACH resource configured by using target SI in the third SFN; or in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the second SFN or a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the third SFN, wherein the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; and the target SI is SFN specific SI or cell or TRP specific SI; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the third object in the fourth SFN to the fourth object in the fifth SFN, the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource corresponding to the third object or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fourth SFN, a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, a RACH resource corresponding to the third object, or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; or in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fourth SFN or a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, wherein the third object or the fourth object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS. Zhang et al. teaches such limitations.
Zhang et al. is directed to beam sweep based random access Msg3 and Msg 4. More specifically, Zhang et al. teaches the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS (Zhang et al. teaches that the first TRP transmits first CSI-RS using a first CSI-RS resource from a first beam of the first TRP, a second CSI-RS using a second CSI-RS resource from a second beam of the first TRP (para. [0083]; FIG. 8)), and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource (Zhang et al. teaches that CSI-RS are transmitted using a CSI-RS resources (para. [0083]), different from a RACH resource)), that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource corresponding to the second object or a RACH resource corresponding to the first object (Zhang et al. teaches that the UE transmits a first Msg 1 to the first TRP (para. [0084]; FIG. 8), indicating that the RACH resource corresponds to the first object); in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, a RACH resource corresponding to the second object, or a RACH resource corresponding to the first object; or in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, wherein the first object or the second object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from a second SFN to a third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, an SFN layer, the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource configured by using target system information (SI) in the second SFN or a RACH resource configured by using target SI in the third SFN; or in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the second SFN or a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the third SFN, wherein the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; and the target SI is SFN specific SI or cell or TRP specific SI; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from a third object in a fourth SFN to a fourth object in a fifth SFN, the first RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource corresponding to the third object or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fourth SFN, a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, a RACH resource corresponding to the third object, or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; or in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the first RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fourth SFN or a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, wherein the third object or the fourth object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS.
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. so that in case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, as taught by Zhang et al. The modification would have allowed the system to improve reliability and robustness of the random access communication (see Zhang et al. (para. [0088])).
Regarding Claim 17, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 14, and further, the references teach wherein the first operation additionally comprises: ending the first RACH process and starting to perform a second RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH and starting a new RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid); wherein in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the first object to the second object in the first SFN (Bienas et al. teaches that an initial random access configuration remains valid even when the UE moves as long as it stays in the respective SFN cluster (para. [0030]); all base stations within an SFN cluster are enabled to simultaneously receive a random access preamble (para. [0032]); SFN cluster is comprised of small cells (FIG. 1)).
However, the references do not explicitly teach wherein starting to perform the second RACH process comprises: starting to perform the second RACH process according to a second RACH resource; the second RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource corresponding to the second object; in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN or a RACH resource corresponding to the second object; or in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the first SFN, wherein the first object or the second object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the second SFN to the third SFN, and accessing, by the terminal, the SFN layer, the second RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource configured by using target SI in the third SFN; in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the third SFN, wherein the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS; and the target SI is SFN specific SI or cell or TRP specific SI; or in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from the third object in the fourth SFN to the fourth object in the fifth SFN, the second RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, that the second RACH resource is any one of the following: a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN or a RACH resource corresponding to the fourth object; or in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises only a first RS, and the first RS is associated with a RACH resource, the second RACH resource is a RACH resource associated with a specific RS of the fifth SFN, wherein the third object or the fourth object comprises any one of the following: an SFN specific cell, a cell or TRP specific cell, or a TRP; and the first RS is an SFN specific RS, or the second RS is a cell or TRP specific RS. Zhang et al. teaches such limitations.
Zhang et al. is directed to beam sweep based random access Msg3 and Msg 4. More specifically, Zhang et al. teaches wherein starting to perform the second RACH process comprises: starting to perform the second RACH process according to a second RACH resource (Zhang et al. teaches that UE uses beam n for transmitting a Msg 1 (e.g., 711) at a first time period and use beam m for transmitting another Msg 1 (e.g., 713) at a second time period (para. [0079]; FIG. 7A)); wherein in a case that moving in the at least one SFN comprises moving from a first object to a second object in a first SFN, the second RACH resource meets any one of the following: in a case that an RS sent by the network side device comprises a first RS and a second RS (Zhang et al. teaches that the second TRP transmits a first CSI-RS using a first CSI-RS resource and a second CSI-RS using a second CSI-RS (para. [0083]; FIG. 8)), and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource (Zhang et al. teaches that CSI-RS are transmitted using a CSI-RS resources (para. [0083]), different from a RACH resource)), that the second RACH resource is a RACH resource corresponding to the second object (Zhang et al. teaches that the UE transmits second Msg 1 (e.g., a first random access message) to the second TRP (para. [0084]; FIG. 8), indicating that the RACH resource corresponds to the second object).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. so that in case that an RS received by the terminal comprises a first RS and a second RS, and the first RS is not associated with a RACH resource, as taught by Zhang et al. The modification would have allowed the system to improve reliability and robustness of the random access communication (see Zhang et al. (para. [0088])).
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bienas et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0260503), Lee et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0221363), Nam et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0086818), and further in view of Ohta et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2019/0342920).
Regarding Claim 9, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 1, and further, the references teach wherein the first operation additionally comprises: ending a RACH process (Bienas et al. teaches that base stations from another SFN (SFN cluster) obtain parameters that are identical or different from the parameters of other SFNs (or SFN clusters)(para. [0061]), indicating a necessity of ending an initial RACH as the RACH parameters are no longer valid).
However, the references do not explicitly teach wherein ending the RACH process comprises at least one of the following: stopping sending an uplink message in the RACH process; stopping receiving a downlink message in the RACH process; releasing a resource associated with the RACH process; or stopping or resetting a timer and a counter associated with the RACH process. Ohta et al. teaches such a limitation.
Ohta et al. is directed to terminal device, base station device, wireless communication system, and scheduling request method. More specifically, Ohta et al. teaches that after the random access procedure is cancelled, transmission and reception of messages of the random access procedure performed by the UL transmission control unit are stopped in the terminal device (para. [0088]).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. so that the ending the RACH process comprises stopping sending an uplink message in the RACH process, as taught by Ohta et al. The modification would have allowed the system to prevent unnecessary continuation of the random access procedure (see Ohta et al., para. [0088]).
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Bienas et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0260503), Lee et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2020/0221363), Nam et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2022/0086818), and further in view of Cai (WO 2020/013176, machine translation attached is used for the mapping).
Regarding Claim 13, the combined teachings of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. teach The method according to claim 1, however, the references do not explicitly teach wherein in a case that a high frequency range and a low frequency range are deployed for a network, the SFN specific cell comprises a cell in the low frequency range, and the cell or TRP specific cell comprises a cell in the high frequency range; or in a case that the network comprises a satellite communication network, the SFN specific cell comprises a high altitude platform station (HAPS) cell or a high-earth orbit satellite cell, and the cell or TRP specific cell comprises a low-earth orbit satellite cell or a ground base station-covered cell. Cai teaches such limitations.
Cai teaches single frequency network cell configuration using HAPS. More specifically, Cai teaches in a case that the network comprises a satellite communication network (Cai teaches a satellite communication network (FIG. 9)), the SFN specific cell comprises a high altitude platform station (HAPS) cell or a high-earth orbit satellite cell (Cai teaches a service link wide area cell 100A including a plurality of sector cells 401 to 407 formed by the HAPS 10 (page 11 of the translation, 2nd paragraph)), and the cell or TRP specific cell comprises a low-earth orbit satellite cell or a ground base station-covered cell (Cai teaches TRP specific cell comprises a ground base station-covered cell (FIGs. 1, 5)).
It would have been prima facie obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the method of Bienas et al., Lee et al., and Nam et al. so that the SFN specific cell comprises a high altitude platform station cell and the cell or TRP specific cell comprises a ground base station-covered cell, as taught by Cai. The modification would have allowed the system to eliminate interference in the cell boundary (see Cai, page 11 of the translation, last paragraph).
Conclusion
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/REBECCA E SONG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2417
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