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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 05/06/2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-2, 5-14 and 16-26 have been considered but are moot based on new grounds of rejections.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-2, 6-8, 10-11, 14, 16, 18-20 and 22-26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai et al. (US 2021/0410180; hereinafter Tsai) in view of Huang (US 2023/01204047; hereinafter Huang) and Lee et al. (US 2020/0107295; hereinafter Lee). Note: Subject matter relied upon in the rejection supported in provision application 63/043,734 of Tsai.
Regarding claim 1, Tsai shows a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication (Figure 5 shows a UE performing in part the method of Figure 4.), comprising:
at least one memory (Figure 5 shows a memory.); and
at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory (Figure 5 shows a processor coupled to the memory.), and configured to cause the UE to:
receive indication information, wherein the indication information indicates that a base station (BS) supports a small data transmission (SDT) procedure (Figure 4; Par. 0208, 0236, 0296; the UE may receive an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating an SDT configuration including a CG configuration and a timer. Information included in the RRC release message configures the UE the perform small data transmission in the RRC_INACTIVE state based on the CG configuration included in the SDT configuration. In this instance, these configurations indicates that the BS supports SDT.); and
receive, through radio resource control (RRC) signaling, configuration information regarding a time alignment timer (TAT) for the SDT procedure (Figure 4; Par. 0208, 0236, 0296; the UE may receive an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating an SDT configuration including a CG configuration and a timer.) and
start or restart the TAT for the SDT procedure in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or receiving a timing advance command (TAC) during the SDT procedure (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Par. 0106, 0209; when the UE receives a Timing Advance command, the UE may apply the Timing Advance command and/or (re)start the TA timer for SDT.).
Tsai shows all of the elements except wherein the configuration information includes a parameter cg-SDT-timeAlignmentTimer that indicates a dedicated time length value of the TAT for the SDT procedure and starting or restarting the TAT in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or receiving a timing advance command (TAC) in downlink control information (DCI) while the UE is in the RRC inactive state.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang and Lee.
First, Huang shows wherein the configuration information includes a parameter cg-SDT-timeAlignmentTimer that indicates a dedicated time length value of the TAT for the SDT procedure (Par. 0137-0138, 0140, 0165; providing configuration including at least a Timealignmenttimer (TAT) through dedicated signaling or system information. TAT is configured with a dedicated length for different states, i.e. the length of TAT timer used in inactive state can be different from the length of TAT timer used in connected state.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for reducing signaling overhead and enhancing power consumption (Par. 0024, 0026 of Huang).
Second, Lee shows starting or restarting the TAT in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or receiving a timing advance command (TAC) in downlink control information (DCI) while the UE is in the RRC inactive state (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figure 8; Par. 0188-0189; In step S804, while staying in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE, the UE monitors UE's Paging Occasion to receive Paging transmitted by the network. In step S806, when UE receives at least one of paging indicating the UE ID, a Paging Cause indicating Timing Advance, and Timing Advance Command from the network, the UE may apply the Timing Advance Command and may start or restart a Time Alignment Timer. The Paging may be a Paging message or a Indication included in Downlink Control Information of the PDCCH.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Lee, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Lee, in order to provide motivation to utilize previous configured grant continuously, by updating timing advance while staying in RRC idle or RRC inactive state (Par. 0008-0010 of Lee).
Regarding claim 2, modified Tsai shows wherein the UE is configured with at least one of:
one or more first hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) buffers for a configured grant (CG) based SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0263-0264, 0289; When the specific timer 310 expires, the UE 302 may flush the HARQ buffer used for the previous transmission. When the specific timer 310 expires, the UE 302 may perform the retransmission via the CG autonomously. The UE 302 may perform the retransmission for a HARQ process used for the previous transmission based on the same CG configuration.); or
a second HARQ buffer for a random access channel (RACH) based SDT procedure.
Regarding claim 6, modified Tsai shows in response to the configuration information including a time length value of the TAT, apply the time length value to the TAT for the SDT procedure (Huang: Par. 0137; if the length of TAT timer for inactive state is configured in both system information and dedicated signaling, the UE can use the value configured in dedicated signaling. In some embodiments, if the length of TAT timer for inactive state is configured in both system signaling and dedicated signaling, the UE can use the value configured in system information signaling.).
Regarding claim 7, modified Tsai shows in response to the configuration information being received through the RRC signaling, and in response to the UE transitioning from a RRC connected state to the RRC idle state or in response to the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to the RRC inactive state (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0296; the UE may receive the RRC release message in the RRC_CONNECTED state and then switch to the RRC_INACTIVE state upon receiving the RRC release message (which may include the suspend configuration).):
consider the TAT for the SDT procedure as unexpired (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0218, 0260; while the TA timer for SDT is running, the UE may consider the TA valid.).
Regarding claim 8, modified Tsai shows wherein to receive the configuration information the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to:
perform a random access channel (RACH) based SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0302; performing RACH based SDT procedure.); and
receive a message during the RACH based SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0223-0225, 0302; monitoring and receiving a feedback during the RACH based SDT procedure.), wherein the message includes the configuration information, and wherein the configuration information configures, to the UE, a dedicated TAT for the SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0223-0225, 0302; feedback via PHY signaling 104 and/or the feedback via MAC/RLC/RRC signaling 105 may indicate the information of HARQ process(es) (e.g., with HARQ process ID), a CG index(es), a sequence number for ACK/NACK, ACK/NACK information, scheduling information for retransmission (e.g., a time/frequency resource for retransmission), indication for TA update, indication for releasing the CG resource/configuration, indication for initiating an RA procedure, indication for triggering BSR, etc.).
Regarding claim 10, modified Tsai shows wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to:
perform a random access channel (RACH) based SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0223-0225, 0302; monitoring and receiving a feedback during the RACH based SDT procedure.);
receive, during the RACH based SDT procedure, second configuration information regarding a second TAT for the SDT procedure; and override the TAT for the SDT procedure by the second TAT for the SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0223-0225, 0302; feedback via PHY signaling 104 and/or the feedback via MAC/RLC/RRC signaling 105 may indicate the information of HARQ process(es) (e.g., with HARQ process ID), indication for TA update, etc.).
Regarding claim 11, modified Tsai shows wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, during one or more of a configured grant (CG) based SDT procedure or in an RRC message (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0223-0225, 0302; monitoring and receiving a feedback during the RACH based SDT procedure.),
second configuration information regarding a second TAT for the SDT procedure; and override the TAT for the SDT procedure by the second TAT for the SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0223-0225, 0302; feedback via PHY signaling 104 and/or the feedback via MAC/RLC/RRC signaling 105 may indicate the information of HARQ process(es) (e.g., with HARQ process ID), indication for TA update, etc.).
Regarding claim 14, modified Tsai shows wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to:
monitor the DCI, wherein the DCI is scrambled by a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) used for the SDT procedure (Tsai: Par. 0154, 0234, 0299; the UE monitors Short Messages transmitted with P-RNTI over DCI.), and wherein the DCI includes the TAC (Lee: Par. 0188-189; DCI includes the TAC.) and at least one of: an uplink grant for an uplink packet (Tsai: Par. 0234, 0299; a DCI may indicate a specific UL grant for a new transmission associated with a HARQ process used for the previous transmission via a CG resource. In one implementation, the DCI may indicate one or more HARQ process ID(s) for the feedback and/or the specific UL grant.), a downlink grant for a downlink packet; and
in response to receiving the DCI and in response to the DCI including the TAC, apply the TAC to the UE (Lee: Figure 8; Par. 0189; when UE receives at least one of paging indicating the UE ID, a Paging Cause indicating Timing Advance, and Timing Advance Command from the network, the UE may apply the Timing Advance Command and may start or restart a Time Alignment Timer. The Paging may be a Paging message or a Indication included in Downlink Control Information of the PDCCH. The Timing Advance Command may indicate a Timing Advance value which UE should apply.).
Regarding claim 16, modified Tsai shows wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to:
determine that one or more of the TAC is received (Lee: Figure 8; Par. 0189; when UE receives at least one of paging indicating the UE ID, a Paging Cause indicating Timing Advance, and Timing Advance Command from the network, the UE may apply the Timing Advance Command and may start or restart a Time Alignment Timer. The Paging may be a Paging message or a Indication included in Downlink Control Information of the PDCCH. The Timing Advance Command may indicate a Timing Advance value which UE should apply.) or physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) indicates a timing advance adjustment during the SDT procedure; and
perform one or more of to:
apply one or more of the TAC or the timing advance adjustment; and start or restart the TAT for the SDT procedure (Lee: Figure 8; Par. 0189; when UE receives at least one of paging indicating the UE ID, a Paging Cause indicating Timing Advance, and Timing Advance Command from the network, the UE may apply the Timing Advance Command and may start or restart a Time Alignment Timer. The Paging may be a Paging message or a Indication included in Downlink Control Information of the PDCCH. The Timing Advance Command may indicate a Timing Advance value which UE should apply.).
Regarding claim 18, Tsai shows a base station for wireless communication (Figure 5 shows a BS performing in part the method of Figure 4.), comprising:
at least one memory (Figure 5 shows a memory.); and
at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory (Figure 5 shows a processor coupled to the memory.) and configured to cause the base station to:
transmit, to a user equipment (UE), indication information to indicate that the base station supports a small data transmission (SDT) procedure (Figure 4; Par. 0208, 0236, 0296; the UE may receive an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating an SDT configuration including a CG configuration and a timer. Information included in the RRC release message configures the UE the perform small data transmission in the RRC_INACTIVE state based on the CG configuration included in the SDT configuration. In this instance, these configurations indicates that the BS supports SDT.); and
transmit, to the UE through radio resource control (RRC) signaling, configuration information regarding a time alignment timer (TAT) for the SDT procedure (Figure 4; Par. 0208, 0236, 0296; the UE may receive an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating an SDT configuration including a CG configuration and a timer.); and
transmit, to the UE, a timing advance command (TAC) during the SDT procedure, wherein the TAT for the SDT procedure is configured to be started or restarted in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or the UE receiving the TAC during the SDT procedure (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Par. 0106, 0209; when the UE receives a Timing Advance command, the UE may apply the Timing Advance command and/or (re)start the TA timer for SDT.).
Tsai shows all of the elements except wherein the configuration information includes a parameter cg-SDT-timeAlignmentTimer that indicates a dedicated time length value of the TAT for the SDT procedure and transmitting, to the UE, downlink control information (DCI) including a timing advance command (TAC), wherein the TAT is configured to be started or restarted in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or the UE receiving the TAC in the DCI while the UE is in the RRC inactive state
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang and Lee.
First, Huang shows wherein the configuration information includes a parameter cg-SDT-timeAlignmentTimer that indicates a dedicated time length value of the TAT for the SDT procedure (Par. 0137-0138, 0140, 0165; providing configuration including at least a Timealignmenttimer (TAT) through dedicated signaling or system information. TAT is configured with a dedicated length for different states, i.e. the length of TAT timer used in inactive state can be different from the length of TAT timer used in connected state.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for reducing signaling overhead and enhancing power consumption (Par. 0024, 0026 of Huang).
Second, Lee shows transmitting, to the UE, downlink control information (DCI) including a timing advance command (TAC), wherein the TAT is configured to be started or restarted in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or the UE receiving the TAC in the DCI while the UE is in the RRC inactive state (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figure 8; Par. 0188-0189; In step S804, while staying in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE, the UE monitors UE's Paging Occasion to receive Paging transmitted by the network. In step S806, when UE receives at least one of paging indicating the UE ID, a Paging Cause indicating Timing Advance, and Timing Advance Command from the network, the UE may apply the Timing Advance Command and may start or restart a Time Alignment Timer. The Paging may be a Paging message or a Indication included in Downlink Control Information of the PDCCH.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Lee, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Lee, in order to provide motivation to utilize previous configured grant continuously, by updating timing advance while staying in RRC idle or RRC inactive state (Par. 0008-0010 of Lee).
Regarding claim 19, modified Tsai shows wherein the SDT procedure comprises at least one of a random access channel (RACH) based SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0302; RA-based SDT procedure.) or a configured grant (CG) based SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0296; CG-based SDT procedure.).
Regarding claim 20, modified Tsai shows wherein the TAT is configured to be used for one or more of:
the RACH based SDT procedure (Tsai: Figure 4; Par. 0302; RA-based SDT procedure.); the CG based SDT Figure 4; Par. 0296; CG-based SDT procedure.); or a combination of the RACH based SDT procedure and the CG based SDT procedure.
Regarding claim 21, this claim is rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claim 5.
Regarding claim 22, Tsai shows a method performed by a user equipment (UE) (Figure 5 shows a UE performing in part the method of Figure 4.), comprising:
receiving indication information, wherein the indication information indicates that a base station (BS) supports a small data transmission (SDT) procedure, and wherein the UE is capable to perform the SDT procedure (Figure 4; Par. 0208, 0236, 0296; the UE may receive an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating an SDT configuration including a CG configuration and a timer. Information included in the RRC release message configures the UE the perform small data transmission in the RRC_INACTIVE state based on the CG configuration included in the SDT configuration. In this instance, these configurations indicates that the BS supports SDT. UE is also capable of performing the SDT procedure as shown in Figure 4.); and
receiving, through radio resource control (RRC) signaling, configuration information regarding a time alignment timer (TAT) for the SDT procedure (Figure 4; Par. 0208, 0236, 0296; the UE may receive an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating an SDT configuration including a CG configuration and a timer.).
start or restart the TAT for the SDT procedure in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or receiving a timing advance command (TAC) during the SDT procedure (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Par. 0106, 0209; when the UE receives a Timing Advance command, the UE may apply the Timing Advance command and/or (re)start the TA timer for SDT.).
Tsai shows all of the elements except wherein the configuration information includes a parameter cg-SDT-timeAlignmentTimer that indicates a dedicated time length value of the TAT for the SDT procedure and starting or restarting the TAT in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or receiving a timing advance command (TAC) in downlink control information (DCI) while the UE is in the RRC inactive state.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang and Lee.
First, Huang shows wherein the configuration information includes a parameter cg-SDT-timeAlignmentTimer that indicates a dedicated time length value of the TAT for the SDT procedure (Par. 0137-0138, 0140, 0165; providing configuration including at least a Timealignmenttimer (TAT) through dedicated signaling or system information. TAT is configured with a dedicated length for different states, i.e. the length of TAT timer used in inactive state can be different from the length of TAT timer used in connected state.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for reducing signaling overhead and enhancing power consumption (Par. 0024, 0026 of Huang).
Second, Lee shows starting or restarting the TAT in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or receiving a timing advance command (TAC) in downlink control information (DCI) while the UE is in the RRC inactive state (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figure 8; Par. 0188-0189; In step S804, while staying in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE, the UE monitors UE's Paging Occasion to receive Paging transmitted by the network. In step S806, when UE receives at least one of paging indicating the UE ID, a Paging Cause indicating Timing Advance, and Timing Advance Command from the network, the UE may apply the Timing Advance Command and may start or restart a Time Alignment Timer. The Paging may be a Paging message or a Indication included in Downlink Control Information of the PDCCH.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Lee, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Lee, in order to provide motivation to utilize previous configured grant continuously, by updating timing advance while staying in RRC idle or RRC inactive state (Par. 0008-0010 of Lee).
Regarding claim 23, Tsai shows a method performed by a base station (Figure 5 shows a BS performing in part the method of Figure 4.), comprising:
transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), indication information to indicate that the base station supports a small data transmission (SDT) procedure (Figure 4; Par. 0208, 0236, 0296; the UE may receive an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating an SDT configuration including a CG configuration and a timer. Information included in the RRC release message configures the UE the perform small data transmission in the RRC_INACTIVE state based on the CG configuration included in the SDT configuration. In this instance, these configurations indicates that the BS supports SDT.); and
transmitting, to the UE through radio resource control (RRC) signaling, configuration information regarding a time alignment timer (TAT) for the SDT procedure (Figure 4; Par. 0208, 0236, 0296; the UE may receive an RRC release message from a BS, the RRC release message indicating an SDT configuration including a CG configuration and a timer.) and
transmit, to the UE, a timing advance command (TAC) during the SDT procedure, wherein the TAT for the SDT procedure is configured to be started or restarted in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or the UE receiving the TAC during the SDT procedure (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Par. 0106, 0209; when the UE receives a Timing Advance command, the UE may apply the Timing Advance command and/or (re)start the TA timer for SDT.).
Tsai shows all of the elements except wherein the configuration information includes a parameter cg-SDT-timeAlignmentTimer that indicates a dedicated time length value of the TAT for the SDT procedure and transmitting, to the UE, downlink control information (DCI) including a timing advance command (TAC), wherein the TAT is configured to be started or restarted in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or the UE receiving the TAC in the DCI while the UE is in the RRC inactive state
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Huang and Lee.
First, Huang shows wherein the configuration information includes a parameter cg-SDT-timeAlignmentTimer that indicates a dedicated time length value of the TAT for the SDT procedure (Par. 0137-0138, 0140, 0165; providing configuration including at least a Timealignmenttimer (TAT) through dedicated signaling or system information. TAT is configured with a dedicated length for different states, i.e. the length of TAT timer used in inactive state can be different from the length of TAT timer used in connected state.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Huang, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Huang, in order to provide motivation for reducing signaling overhead and enhancing power consumption (Par. 0024, 0026 of Huang).
Second, Lee shows transmitting, to the UE, downlink control information (DCI) including a timing advance command (TAC), wherein the TAT is configured to be started or restarted in response to one or more of the UE transitioning from an RRC connected state to an RRC idle state, the UE transitioning from the RRC connected state to an RRC inactive state, or the UE receiving the TAC in the DCI while the UE is in the RRC inactive state (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figure 8; Par. 0188-0189; In step S804, while staying in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE, the UE monitors UE's Paging Occasion to receive Paging transmitted by the network. In step S806, when UE receives at least one of paging indicating the UE ID, a Paging Cause indicating Timing Advance, and Timing Advance Command from the network, the UE may apply the Timing Advance Command and may start or restart a Time Alignment Timer. The Paging may be a Paging message or a Indication included in Downlink Control Information of the PDCCH.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Lee, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Lee, in order to provide motivation to utilize previous configured grant continuously, by updating timing advance while staying in RRC idle or RRC inactive state (Par. 0008-0010 of Lee).
Regarding claims 24, 25 and 26, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 2, 6 and 7, respectively.
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai in view of Huang, Lee and Tseng et al. (US 2022/0078697; hereinafter Tseng).
Regarding claim 9, modified Tsai shows all of the elements including wherein the configuration information configures, to a cell, a TAT for the SDT procedure (Huang: Par. 0137-0138, 0140, 0165; providing configuration including at least a Timealignmenttimer (TAT) through dedicated signaling or system information. TAT is configured with a dedicated length for different states, i.e. the length of TAT timer used in inactive state can be different from the length of TAT timer used in connected state.). Modified Tsai does not specifically show wherein the UE is capable of camping on the cell.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Tseng. Specifically, Tseng shows wherein the UE is capable of camping on the cell (Par. 0239; the UE may implement cell a re-selection procedure to select one serving cell with which to camp while the UE moves within the radio coverage of the RAN. In addition, the UE may keep receiving the system information (e.g., MIB, SIB1, SIB2) broadcasted by the same serving cell to monitor the operation status of the serving cell.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Tseng, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Tseng, in order to provide motivation for improving network performance and efficiency (Par. 0344 of Tseng).
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai in view of Huang, Lee and Lin et al. (US 2023/0013851; hereinafter Lin).
Regarding claim 12, modified Tsai shows all of the elements except wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to: receive a random access response message, wherein the random access response message includes the TAC, wherein the TAC indicates an index value, and wherein the index value is used to control an amount of timing adjustment.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Lin. Specifically, Lin shows wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to: receive a random access response message, wherein the random access response message includes the TAC, wherein the TAC indicates an index value, and wherein the index value is used to control an amount of timing adjustment (Par. 0070-0072, 0080; the gNB may use fallbackRAR to schedule the additional UL grant for a UE, so as to transmit the next small data or the remaining data. Please refer to FIG. 2, which illustrates a fallback RAR format 20 according to an example implementation of the present disclosure. In one implementation, as shown in FIG. 2, the fallback RAR format 20 may include the Timing Advance Command: This field indicates the index value Timing Advance (TA) used to control the amount of timing adjustment that the MAC entity has to apply.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Lin, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Lin, in order to provide motivation for improving network performance/efficiency but also UE battery life (Par. 0050 of Lin).
Claim 13 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai in view of Huang, Lee, Lin and Babaei (US 2021/0259040; hereinafter Babei).
Regarding claim 13, modified Tsai shows all of the elements except wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to: ignore the TAC in the random access response message, in response to one or more of: the TAT for the SDT procedure being maintained; the TAT for the SDT procedure being running; or a TAT for the SDT procedure being maintained and the TAT for the SDT procedure being running.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Babaei. Specifically, Babaei shows wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to: ignore the TAC in the random access response message, in response to one or more of:
the TAT for the SDT procedure being maintained;
the TAT for the SDT procedure being running (Par. 0236; when a Timing Advance Command is received in a Random Access Response message for a Serving Cell belonging to a TAG: if the timeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAG is running: the wireless device may ignore the received Timing Advance Command.); or
a TAT for the SDT procedure being maintained and the TAT for the SDT procedure being running
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Babaei, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Babaei, in order to provide motivation for enhancing the wireless device processes in INACTIVE state for small data transmission (Par. 0166 of Babaei).
Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai in view of Huang, Lee and Babaei.
Regarding claim 17, modified Tsai shows all of the elements except wherein the TAT is for a timing advance group (TAG) or associated with a TAG.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Babaei. Specifically, Babaei shows wherein the TAT is for a timing advance group (TAG) or associated with a TAG (Par. 0236; when a Timing Advance Command is received in a Random Access Response message for a Serving Cell belonging to a TAG: if the timeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAG is running: the wireless device may ignore the received Timing Advance Command.).
In view of the above, having the system of Tsai, then given the well-established teaching of Babaei, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Tsai as taught by Babaei, in order to provide motivation for enhancing the wireless device processes in INACTIVE state for small data transmission (Par. 0166 of Babaei).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 12058742 B2 - Methods And Apparatuses For Timing Advance Adjustment In Uplink Transmission
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/REDENTOR PASIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413
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