DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unlesss the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4, 7-8, 12-15, 17 and 20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a) (2) as being anticipated by Zhou et al. (US 2023/0261791, “Zhou”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Zhou unless otherwise mentioned.
Zhou comprises the following features:
With respect to independent claims:
Regarding claim 1, a Semi-Persistent Scheduling (SPS) Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest ACKnowledgement (HARQ-ACK) processing method, performed by a terminal, comprising:
determining whether a first Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resource exists ([0051] “a dropped SPS ACK/NACK signal due to a dynamic SFI or dynamic grant (DG), a semi-static TDD can be retransmitted by the UE… this approach in handling overlapped uplink repetitions with SPS HARQ-ACK information requires additional resources to retransmit downlink data when a dropped uplink repetition carries SPS HARQ-ACK information.”, and [0064] “the retransmission of a dropped SPS A/N may occur based on an UE-based implicit rule, where a dropped SPS A/N may be delayed until first available uplink symbols can fit in a PUCCH resource.” It expressly addresses whether scheduled PUCCH resources are usable in view of SFI/DG/semi-static TDD conditions.); and
sending a first SPS HARQ-ACK based on the first PUCCH resource if the first PUCCH resource exists (aforesaid [0064], and [0068] “the user equipment can select the first K1 parameter value that results in valid PUCCH resources for all uplink repetitions.”),
wherein the first SPS HARQ-ACK comprises at least a delayed SPS HARQ-ACK (aforesaid [0064] “a dropped SPS A/N may be delayed”).
Regarding claim 12, it is a method claim at a network side device corresponding to the method claim 1 in a reciprocal way, except the limitations, “determining whether a first Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) resource exists” ([0064] “the base station (e.g., gNB) can indicate multiple k1 values through SPS signaling. For each SPS PDSCH, the UE can select the first k1 value that results in a valid PUCCH resource… the base station may request the user equipment to transmit ACK/NACK for SPS HARQ identifiers with a dropped ACK/NACK”), and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 1.
Regarding claim 20, it is a terminal claim corresponding to the method claim 1, except the limitations, “a processor; a memory having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program, when executed by the processor” ([0056 and Fig. 3] “The controller/processor 359 can be associated with a memory 360 that stores program codes and data. The memory 360 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium.”), and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 1.
With respect dependent claims:
Regarding claims 2 and 14, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 12, respectively,
wherein the first PUCCH resource is in a first time unit, wherein the first time unit meets one or more of the following:
a first condition, wherein the first condition comprises: the first PUCCH resource meeting a predefined resource requirement exists in the first time unit; a second condition, wherein the second condition comprises: an offset between the first time unit and a time unit to which a SPS Physical Downlink Shared Channel PDSCH transmission end moment belongs meets a predefined timing requirement (These alternatives are not examined.); or
a third condition, wherein the third condition comprises: the first time unit is an earliest time unit in a set of time units meeting the first condition or the second condition ([0064] “a dropped SPS A/N may be delayed until first available uplink symbols can fit in a PUCCH resource. For example, the earliest uplink symbols may be the earliest available occasion without overlapping of any downlink transmission and/or symbol among a set of configured occasions”).
Regarding claim 3, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 1, wherein if the first PUCCH resource does not exist ([0051] “the UE may avoid SPS HARQ-ACK dropping for TDD due to a potential PUCCH collision with at least one downlink symbol or flexible symbol.”), the method further comprises: retransmitting the first SPS HARQ-ACK ([0064] “a dropped SPS ACK/NACK signal due to a dynamic slot format indication (SFI) or dynamic grant (DG), a semi-static TDD can be retransmitted by the user equipment.”), or compressing or discarding the delayed SPS HARQ-ACK (This alternative is not examined.).
Regarding claim 4, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 3,
wherein the retransmitting the first SPS HARQ-ACK comprises: receiving a first indication ([0064] “the base station 120/180 can use a type-3 codebook to request retransmission of a dropped SPS A/N.”), and retransmitting the first SPS HARQ-ACK according to the first indication (aforesaid [0064]); or
wherein the compressing or discarding the delayed SPS HARQ-ACK comprises: compressing a quantity of bits of the delayed SPS HARQ-ACK, or discarding a part of the delayed SPS HARQ-ACK, to obtain a second SPS HARQ-ACK; determining a second PUCCH resource based on a quantity of bits of the second SPS HARQ- ACK; and transmitting the second SPS HARQ-ACK based on the second PUCCH resource (This alternative is not examined.).
Regarding claim 7, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 2, wherein:
the predefined timing requirement comprises one or more of the following: that the offset of the first time unit does not exceed a predefined maximum value (This alternative is not examined.); or that the offset of the first time unit is a specific value in a predefined set (This alternative is not examined.); or the predefined resource requirement comprises one or more of the following: that the first PUCCH resource is in a first PUCCH resource pool (This alternative is not examined.);
that a time domain or a frequency domain occupied by the first PUCCH resource is available ([0064] “the earliest uplink symbols may be the earliest available occasion without overlapping of any downlink transmission and/or symbol among a set of configured occasions, which can correspond to a configured PUCCH/PUSCH resource (e.g. on symbol 10 and 11 in every slot)”); or
the first PUCCH resource can carry a quantity of bits of a HARQ-ACK that needs to be transmitted in a current time unit (This alternative is not examined.).
Regarding claim 8, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to The SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to wherein:
the predefined maximum value comprises any one of the following:
a maximum value of K1 in a base K1 set configured by a higher layer, a Time Division Duplex (TDD) cycle length corresponding to a TDD pattern configured by a higher layer, a parameter independently configured by a higher layer; or a value specified in a protocol (These alternatives are not examined.); or
the predefined set comprises any one of the following: a base K1 set (This alternative is not examined.), a new K1 set independently configured by a higher layer for the delayed SPS HARQ- ACK ([0068] “the user equipment can receive, from the base station over a downlink channel through SPS signaling (e.g., RRC signaling), control information indicating a predetermined repetition pattern and a plurality of K1 parameter values associated with a downlink data transmission”), a union set of a base K1 set and an additional Kl set that is additionally configured by a higher layer for the delayed SPS HARQ-ACK, or a set specified in a protocol (These alternatives are not examined.).
Regarding claim 13, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 12, wherein further comprising: sending a first indication, wherein the first indication is used to indicate a terminal to retransmit the first SPS HARQ-ACK ([0064] “the base station 120/180 can use a type-3 codebook to request retransmission of a dropped SPS A/N.”).
Regarding claim 15, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predefined timing requirement comprises one or more of the following: that the offset of the first time unit does not exceed a predefined maximum value (This alternative is not examined.); or that the offset of the first time unit is a specific value in a predefined set ([0068] “the user equipment can receive, from the base station over a downlink channel through SPS signaling (e.g., RRC signaling), control information indicating a predetermined repetition pattern and a plurality of K1 parameter values associated with a downlink data transmission”).
Regarding claim 17, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 15, wherein the predefined set comprises any one of the following: a base K1 set (This alternative is not examined.); a new Kl set independently configured by a higher layer for the delayed SPS HARQ-ACK ([0068] “the user equipment can receive, from the base station over a downlink channel through SPS signaling (e.g., RRC signaling), control information indicating a predetermined repetition pattern and a plurality of K1 parameter values associated with a downlink data transmission”); a union set of a base K1 set and an additional K1 set that is additionally configured by a higher layer for the delayed SPS HARQ-ACK; or a set specified in a protocol (These alternatives are not examined.).
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.
Claim(s) 5-6 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou et al. (US 2023/0261791, “Zhou”) in view of Chien (US 2021/0021382).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Zhou unless otherwise mentioned.
Regarding claim 5, it is noted that while disclosing SPS HARQ A/N, Zhou does not specifically teach about a second time unit. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Chien as follows;
the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether an offset between a second time unit and a time unit to which an SPS PDSCH transmission end moment belongs meets a predefined timing requirement ([0068] “each of the plurality of K1 parameter values includes a different time offset between a downlink data transmission and an associated uplink transmission. The user equipment may select a first K1 parameter value from the plurality of K1 parameter values that provides a number of repetition occasions with valid uplink resources”);
if the offset meets the predefined timing requirement, determining an SPS HARQ-ACK transmitted in the second time unit ([Chien, 0068] “each DCI carries an HARQ feedback timing indicator K1, and a value of each HARQ feedback timing indicator K1 maps the SPS PDSCH resource to a target slot.” Note that the cited target slot is equivalent to the claimed second time unit.);
determining a PUCCH resource pool based on the SPS HARQ-ACK transmitted in the second time unit ([Chien, 0072] “the user equipment 1 may calculate a total number of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the SPS PDSCH resources, and select the PUCCH resource from a plurality of candidate PUCCH resources in the target slot according to the total number of HARQ-ACK bits. Further speaking, the target slot may contain a plurality of candidate PUCCH resources therein”); and
selecting, from the PUCCH resource pool, the first PUCCH resource meeting a predefined resource requirement ([Chien, 0072] “the PUCCH formats of the candidate PUCCH resources may have the same or different maximum encoding rates…. the user equipment 1 may select an appropriate PUCCH resource from the candidate PUCCH resources according to the number of HARQ-ACK bits to be fed back. For example, after the user equipment 1 calculates the total number of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the SPS PDSCH resources SR11, SR21, SR31, and SR41 to be 4 bits, the user equipment 1 selects the suitable PUCCH resource UCR1 from the target slot.”), and then performing sending the first SPS HARQ-ACK based on the first PUCCH resource ([Chien, 0076] “Finally, the user equipment 1 generates an HARQ-ACK message including the codebook CB2 according to the SPS HARQ-ACK bit order (corresponding to the SPS PDSCH resources SR12, SR22, SR32, and SR42) and the HARQ-ACK bit order (corresponding to the PDCCH resource DCRL), and transmits the HARQ-ACK message including the codebook CB2 on the PUCCH resource UCR2.”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Zhou by using the features of Chien in order to ensure sufficient capacity of selected later PUCCH resource such that “to provide a codebook HARQ-ACK bit order mechanism for SPS PDSCH resources, which determines an SPS bit order of a plurality of SPS HARQ-ACK bit values of the SPS PDSCH resources in a codebook” [Chien, 0007].
Regarding claim 6, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 1, further comprising:
determining a PUCCH resource pool based on an SPS HARQ-ACK transmitted in a third time unit ([Chien, 0072] “the user equipment 1 may calculate a total number of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the SPS PDSCH resources, and select the PUCCH resource from a plurality of candidate PUCCH resources in the target slot according to the total number of HARQ-ACK bits. Further speaking, the target slot may contain a plurality of candidate PUCCH resources therein”);
selecting, from the PUCCH resource pool, the first PUCCH resource meeting a predefined resource requirement ([Chien, 0072] “the PUCCH formats of the candidate PUCCH resources may have the same or different maximum encoding rates…. the user equipment 1 may select an appropriate PUCCH resource from the candidate PUCCH resources according to the number of HARQ-ACK bits to be fed back. For example, after the user equipment 1 calculates the total number of HARQ-ACK bits corresponding to the SPS PDSCH resources SR11, SR21, SR31, and SR41 to be 4 bits, the user equipment 1 selects the suitable PUCCH resource UCR1 from the target slot.”);
determining whether an offset between the third time unit and a time unit to which an SPS PDSCH transmission end moment belongs meets a predefined timing requirement ([0068] “each of the plurality of K1 parameter values includes a different time offset between a downlink data transmission and an associated uplink transmission. The user equipment may select a first K1 parameter value from the plurality of K1 parameter values that provides a number of repetition occasions with valid uplink resources”); and
if the offset meets the predefined timing requirement ([Chien, 0068] “each DCI carries an HARQ feedback timing indicator K1, and a value of each HARQ feedback timing indicator K1 maps the SPS PDSCH resource to a target slot.”), performing sending the first SPS HARQ-ACK based on the first PUCCH resource ([Chien, 0076] “Finally, the user equipment 1 generates an HARQ-ACK message including the codebook CB2 according to the SPS HARQ-ACK bit order (corresponding to the SPS PDSCH resources SR12, SR22, SR32, and SR42) and the HARQ-ACK bit order (corresponding to the PDCCH resource DCRL), and transmits the HARQ-ACK message including the codebook CB2 on the PUCCH resource UCR2.”).
The rational and motivation for adding this teaching of Chien are the same as for claim 5.
Claim(s) 9 and 11 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou et al. (US 2023/0261791, “Zhou”) in view of Bae et al. (US 2023/0421302, “Bae”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Zhou unless otherwise mentioned.
Regarding claim 9, it is noted that while disclosing SPS HARQ A/N, Zhou does not specifically teach about an earliest start time. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Bae as follows;
the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 7, wherein if there are a plurality of PUCCH resources meeting the predefined resource requirement in the first time unit, the first PUCCH resource is determined in any one of the following manners: that the first PUCCH resource is a PUCCH resource with an earliest start time or end time ([Bae, 0227] “To transmit UCI, the UE may determine PUCCH resources for each UCI. Each PUCCH resource may be defined by a start symbol and a transmission interval.”); that the first PUCCH resource is a PUCCH resource corresponding to a first PUCCH Resource Indicator (PRI), and the first PRI is a PRI corresponding to the first SPS HARQ-ACK; or the first PUCCH resource is a PUCCH resource that can carry a largest quantity of bits (These alternatives are not examined.).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Zhou by using the features of Bae in order to increase reliability and reduce latency such that “based on an end of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for transmission of the delayed first HARQ-ACK information being later in time than a start of a second SPS PDSCH that uses a same HARQ process as the first SPS PDSCH, dropping the transmission of the delayed first HARQ-ACK information” [Bae, 0010].
Regarding claim 11, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 1, wherein a category of a codebook comprising the first SPS HARQ-ACK corresponds to any one of the following: a codebook comprising only an SPS HARQ-ACK; a type-1 codebook; or a type-2 codebook ([Bae, 0202] “The semi-static HARQ-ACK codebook may be referred to as a Type-1 HARQ-ACK codebook, and the dynamic HARQ-ACK codebook may be referred to as a Type-2 HARQ-ACK codebook.”).
The rational and motivation for adding this teaching of Bae are the same as for claim 9.
Claim(s) 10 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou et al. (US 2023/0261791, “Zhou”) in view of Bae et al. (US 2023/0421302, “Bae”) and further in view of Choi et al. (US 2024/0236979, “Choi”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Zhou unless otherwise mentioned.
Regarding claim 10, it is noted that while disclosing SPS HARQ A/N, Zhou does not specifically teach about a PUCCH resource capacity. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Choi as follows;
the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 9, wherein when the first SPS HARQ-ACK corresponds to a plurality of PRIs ([Choi, 0450] “SPS-PUCCH-AN-r16 in sps-PUCCH-AN-List-r16 indicates up to four PUCCH resources. Here, one resource is selected from among up to four PUCCH resources according to an SPS HARQ-ACK bit-size.”), the first PRI is determined ([Choi, 0453] “the PUCCH resource for dynamic grant (DG) HARQ-ACK is a PUCCH resource in which transmission of a HARQ-ACK of a PDSCH scheduled through DCI Format 1-0, 1-1, or 1-2 is indicated. This may be indicated through a PUCCH resource indicator (PRI) field included in DCI Format 1-0, 1-1, or 1-2.”) based on one or more of the following: a serving cell index; an SPS configuration index; an SPS PDSCH transmission moment (These alternatives are not examined.); or a PUCCH resource capacity ([Choi, 0463] “the UE may select a PUCCH resource based on a bit size transmittable by the PUCCH resource.”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Zhou by using the features of Choi in order to efficiently utilize resources such that “the information on the PUCCH serving cell includes first information indicating whether to set a specific serving cell among the plurality of serving cells as the PUCCH serving cell and second information on a period to which the setting on the PUCCH serving cell is applied.” [Choi, 0011].
Claim(s) 16 and 18-19 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou et al. (US 2023/0261791, “Zhou”) in view of Choi et al. (US 2024/0236979, “Choi”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Zhou unless otherwise mentioned.
Regarding claim 16, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 15, wherein the predefined maximum value ([Choi, 0498] “the Y value may be included in each SPS PDSCH configuration. For example, SPS PDSCH Configuration #0 may set Y.sub.0 as the maximum delay time, and SPS PDSCH Configuration #1 may set Yi as the maximum delay time.”) comprises any one of the following: a maximum value of K1 in a base K1 set configured by a higher layer; a Time Division Duplex (TDD) cycle length corresponding to a TDD pattern configured by a higher layer (These alternatives are not examined.); a parameter independently configured by a higher layer ([Choi, 0296] “The UE may configure or receive the indication of a K1 value for determining a slot through which the HARQ-ACK of the PDSCH is transmitted through the RRC signal or DCI format.”); or a value specified in a protocol (This alternative is not examined.).
The rational and motivation for adding this teaching of Choi are the same as for claim 10.
Regarding claim 18, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 14, wherein the predefined resource requirement comprises one or more of the following: the first PUCCH resource is in a first PUCCH resource pool (This alternative is not examined.); a time domain or a frequency domain occupied by the first PUCCH resource is available ([Choi, 0457] “when the other configured PUCCH resource does not overlap with an invalid UL symbol, the UE may determine that the corresponding PUCCH resource is valid.”); or the first PUCCH resource can carry a quantity of bits of a HARQ-ACK that needs to be transmitted in a current time unit (This alternative is not examined.).
The rational and motivation for adding this teaching of Choi are the same as for claim 10.
Regarding claim 19, the SPS HARQ-ACK processing method according to claim 18, wherein the first PUCCH resource pool comprises one or more of the following: a PUCCH resource in a PUCCH resource set configured for dynamic scheduling HARQ- ACK feedback ([Choi, 0456] “The PUCCH resource configured for DG HARQ-ACK transmission may include a PUCCH resource that may be indicated by the PUCCH resource indicator (PRI) field of DCI formats 1-0, 1-1, or 1-2.”); a PUCCH resource configured for transmission of a HARQ-ACK that comprises only an SPS HARQ-ACK; or a configured PUCCH resource that can be used for SPS HARQ-ACK feedback (These alternatives are not examined.).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Harry H. Kim whose telephone number and email address are as follows; 571-272-5009, harry.kim2@uspto.gov.
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/HARRY H KIM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2411
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