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 .
Response to Amendment
Applicant's amendment filed on 05/14/2026 has been entered. No claims have been amended, added or cancelled. Claims 1-30 are still pending in this application, of which, claims and 5-7 and 20-22 were withdrawn from consideration.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1-2, 8-17 and 23-30 have been considered but are moot based on new grounds of rejections. The new grounds of rejections include prior art reference(s) cited in the IDS submitted on 04/24/2026. Applicant's submission of an information disclosure statement under 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the timing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) on 04/24/2026 prompted the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 609.04(b).
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 04/24/2026 and 05/14/2026 are considered. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The 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, 8-9, 12-13, 16-17, 23-24, 27-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kwon (US 2024/0179501; hereinafter Kwon) in view of Hassan et al. (US 2021/0160822; hereinafter Hassan).
Regarding claim 1, Kwon shows an apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) (Figure 16 shows a UE performing in part the method of Figures 13-14.), comprising:
one or more memories (Figure 16 shows the UE including memory.); and
one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories (Figure 16 shows the memory coupled to the processor for performing the disclosed method.) and configured to cause the UE to:
determine a resource selection configuration that indicates a plurality of component carriers for sidelink communications (Figures 13-14; Par. 0176-0178, 0189; when UE 1 determines activation of duplicated packet transmission on the sidelink, UE 1 may select at least two carriers operable in mode 4.);
select a transmission time occasion that has a frequency resource available on multiple component carriers of the plurality of component carriers based at least in part on the resource selection configuration (Table 3; Par. 0190-0191; UE 1 selects a radio resource for duplicated packet transmission based on transmission resource pool information of each serving cell or carrier obtained from the V2X service-related system information. The radio resource which is selectable for duplicated packet transmission may be configured as a subframe, a Transmission Time interval (TTI), or a PSSCH transmission interval existing at the same point in time, among serving cells or carriers.); and
transmit, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message within a corresponding frequency resource of at least one of the multiple component carriers (Figures 13-14; Par. 0195, 0201; UE performs the sidelink duplicated packet transmission on the two selected carriers based on the configuration and resources determined and selected in the prior steps.).
Kwon shows all of the elements including the plurality of component carriers, as discussed above. Kwon does not specifically show the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band, performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available; and transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Hassan. Specifically, Hassan shows the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band (Par. 0098; 0124; The first resource pool and/or the second resource pool and/or the third resource pool and/or the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be configured in the whole band. Each of the first resource pool and the second resource pool and the third resource pool and the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a plurality of component carriers, wherein the first resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a first component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, and wherein the second resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a second component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, wherein the second component carrier may, e.g., be different from the first component carrier.),
performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available (Figure 11; Par. 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.); and
transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure (Figure 11; Par. 0111, 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.).
In view of the above, having the system of Kwon, then given the well-established teaching of Hassan, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kwon as taught by Hassan, in order to provide motivation for increasing the chance of reception of the emergency data and control (Par. 0192 of Hassan).
Regarding claim 8, modified Kwon shows wherein, to transmit the first sidelink message, the one or more processors are configured to cause the UE to:
transmit, during the transmission time occasion, the first sidelink message on two or more component carriers of the multiple component carriers (Kwon: Figures 13-14; Par. 0195, 0201; UE performs the sidelink duplicated packet transmission on the two selected carriers based on the configuration and resources determined and selected in the prior steps.) within the shared radio frequency spectrum band (Hassan: Par. 0098; 0124; The first resource pool and/or the second resource pool and/or the third resource pool and/or the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be configured in the whole band. Each of the first resource pool and the second resource pool and the third resource pool and the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a plurality of component carriers, wherein the first resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a first component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, and wherein the second resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a second component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, wherein the second component carrier may, e.g., be different from the first component carrier.).
Regarding claim 9, modified Kwon shows wherein, to select the transmission time occasion, the one or more processors are configured to cause the UE to:
select the transmission time occasion that has a frequency resource available on each component carrier of the plurality of component carriers based at least in part on the resource selection configuration (Kwon: Table 3; Par. 0190-0191; UE 1 selects a radio resource for duplicated packet transmission based on transmission resource pool information of each serving cell or carrier obtained from the V2X service-related system information. The radio resource which is selectable for duplicated packet transmission may be configured as a subframe, a Transmission Time interval (TTI), or a PSSCH transmission interval existing at the same point in time, among serving cells or carriers.).
Regarding claim 12, modified Kwon shows wherein, to perform the channel access procedure, the one or more processors are configured to cause the UE to: perform the channel access procedure that indicates the respective frequency resource of two or more component carriers of the multiple component carriers is available (Hassan: Figure 11; Par. 0111, 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.).
Regarding claim 13, modified Kwon shows wherein the one or more processors are further configured to: select a first component carrier of the two or more component carriers for transmitting the first sidelink message (Kwon: Figures 13-14; Par. 0195, 0201; UE performs the sidelink duplicated packet transmission on the two selected carriers based on the configuration and resources determined and selected in the prior steps.) based at least in part on the channel access procedure (Hassan: Figure 11; Par. 0111, 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.).
Regarding claim 16, Kwon shows a method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising:
determining a resource selection configuration that indicates a plurality of component carriers for sidelink communications (Figures 13-14; Par. 0176-0178, 0189; when UE 1 determines activation of duplicated packet transmission on the sidelink, UE 1 may select at least two carriers operable in mode 4.);
selecting a transmission time occasion that has a frequency resource available on multiple component carriers of the plurality of component carriers based at least in part on the resource selection configuration (Table 3; Par. 0190-0191; UE 1 selects a radio resource for duplicated packet transmission based on transmission resource pool information of each serving cell or carrier obtained from the V2X service-related system information. The radio resource which is selectable for duplicated packet transmission may be configured as a subframe, a Transmission Time interval (TTI), or a PSSCH transmission interval existing at the same point in time, among serving cells or carriers.);
performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available; and
transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message within a corresponding frequency resource of at least one of the multiple component carriers (Figures 13-14; Par. 0195, 0201; UE performs the sidelink duplicated packet transmission on the two selected carriers based on the configuration and resources determined and selected in the prior steps.).
Kwon shows all of the elements including the plurality of component carriers, as discussed above. Kwon does not specifically show the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band, performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available; and transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure.
Kwon shows all of the elements including the plurality of component carriers, as discussed above. Kwon does not specifically show the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band, performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available; and transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Hassan. Specifically, Hassan shows the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band (Par. 0098; 0124; The first resource pool and/or the second resource pool and/or the third resource pool and/or the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be configured in the whole band. Each of the first resource pool and the second resource pool and the third resource pool and the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a plurality of component carriers, wherein the first resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a first component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, and wherein the second resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a second component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, wherein the second component carrier may, e.g., be different from the first component carrier.),
performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available (Figure 11; Par. 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.); and
transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure (Figure 11; Par. 0111, 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.).
In view of the above, having the system of Kwon, then given the well-established teaching of Hassan, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kwon as taught by Hassan, in order to provide motivation for increasing the chance of reception of the emergency data and control (Par. 0192 of Hassan).
Regarding claims 23, 24, 27 and 28, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 8, 9, 12 and 13, respectively.
Regarding claim 29, Kwon shows an apparatus (Figure 16 shows a UE performing in part the method of Figures 13-14.) for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising:
means for determining a resource selection configuration that indicates a plurality of component carriers for sidelink communications (Figures 13-14; Par. 0176-0178, 0189; when UE 1 determines activation of duplicated packet transmission on the sidelink, UE 1 may select at least two carriers operable in mode 4.);
means for selecting a transmission time occasion that has a frequency resource available on multiple component carriers of the plurality of component carriers based at least in part on the resource selection configuration (Table 3; Par. 0190-0191; UE 1 selects a radio resource for duplicated packet transmission based on transmission resource pool information of each serving cell or carrier obtained from the V2X service-related system information. The radio resource which is selectable for duplicated packet transmission may be configured as a subframe, a Transmission Time interval (TTI), or a PSSCH transmission interval existing at the same point in time, among serving cells or carriers.); and
means for transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message within a corresponding frequency resource of at least one of the multiple component carriers (Figures 13-14; Par. 0195, 0201; UE performs the sidelink duplicated packet transmission on the two selected carriers based on the configuration and resources determined and selected in the prior steps.).
Kwon shows all of the elements including the plurality of component carriers, as discussed above. Kwon does not specifically show the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band, means for performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available; and means for transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Hassan. Specifically, Hassan shows the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band (Par. 0098; 0124; The first resource pool and/or the second resource pool and/or the third resource pool and/or the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be configured in the whole band. Each of the first resource pool and the second resource pool and the third resource pool and the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a plurality of component carriers, wherein the first resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a first component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, and wherein the second resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a second component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, wherein the second component carrier may, e.g., be different from the first component carrier.),
performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available (Figure 11; Par. 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.); and
means for transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure (Figure 11; Par. 0111, 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.).
In view of the above, having the system of Kwon, then given the well-established teaching of Hassan, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kwon as taught by Hassan, in order to provide motivation for increasing the chance of reception of the emergency data and control (Par. 0192 of Hassan).
Regarding claim 30, Kwon shows a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) (Figure 16; noted instructions stored in memory and executed by the processor of the UE to perform the disclosed method of Figures 13-14.), the code comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to cause the UE to:
determine a resource selection configuration that indicates a plurality of component carriers for sidelink communications (Figures 13-14; Par. 0176-0178, 0189; when UE 1 determines activation of duplicated packet transmission on the sidelink, UE 1 may select at least two carriers operable in mode 4.);
select a transmission time occasion that has a frequency resource available on multiple component carriers of the plurality of component carriers based at least in part on the resource selection configuration (Table 3; Par. 0190-0191; UE 1 selects a radio resource for duplicated packet transmission based on transmission resource pool information of each serving cell or carrier obtained from the V2X service-related system information. The radio resource which is selectable for duplicated packet transmission may be configured as a subframe, a Transmission Time interval (TTI), or a PSSCH transmission interval existing at the same point in time, among serving cells or carriers.); and
transmit, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message within a corresponding frequency resource of at least one of the multiple component carriers (Figures 13-14; Par. 0195, 0201; UE performs the sidelink duplicated packet transmission on the two selected carriers based on the configuration and resources determined and selected in the prior steps.).
Kwon shows all of the elements including the plurality of component carriers, as discussed above. Kwon does not specifically show the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band, performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available; and transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Hassan. Specifically, Hassan shows the plurality of component carriers are within a shared radio frequency band (Par. 0098; 0124; The first resource pool and/or the second resource pool and/or the third resource pool and/or the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be configured in the whole band. Each of the first resource pool and the second resource pool and the third resource pool and the fourth resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a plurality of component carriers, wherein the first resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a first component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, and wherein the second resource pool may, e.g., be assigned to a second component carrier of the plurality of component carriers, wherein the second component carrier may, e.g., be different from the first component carrier.),
performing, prior to the transmission time occasion, a channel access procedure on each of the multiple component carriers to determine whether a respective frequency resource of each of the multiple component carriers is available (Figure 11; Par. 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.); and
transmitting, during the transmission time occasion, a first sidelink message based at least in part on the channel access procedure (Figure 11; Par. 0111, 0124, 0188, 0191-0192; To access the channel for emergency announcements, the vehicle-UE may, e.g., perform a sequence of accesses/trials to capture the channel for emergency transmissions to other vehicles. FIG. 11 a illustrates an exceptional pool 1111, and two resource pools 1121, 1122. In the exceptional pool 1111, a first message 1151 being a critical communication notification is transmitted. The first message 1151 announces the messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 having high priority. The announced critical messages 1161, 1162, 1163 and 1164 are later on transmitted in the (regular) resource pool 1121. Moreover, the first message 1151 is repeated as message 1154 to announce at least the remaining critical messages 1163 and 1164. Other messages 1171, 1172, 1173, 1174 with low priority are transmitted in another regular resource pool 1122.).
In view of the above, having the system of Kwon, then given the well-established teaching of Hassan, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kwon as taught by Hassan, in order to provide motivation for increasing the chance of reception of the emergency data and control (Par. 0192 of Hassan).
Claim(s) 2 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kwon in view of Hassan and Zhao et al. (US 2022/0039118; hereinafter Zhao)
Regarding claim 2, modified Kwon shows all of the elements including an antenna (Kwon: Figures 1-2 shows the UE includes an antenna.). Modified Kwon does not specifically show transmitting a resource reservation message that indicates a resource allocation for two or more component carriers of the multiple component carriers.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Zhao. Specifically, Zhao shows transmitting a resource reservation message that indicates a resource allocation for two or more component carriers of the multiple component carriers (Par. 0082; While transmitting sidelink data to a receiving terminal, the in-vehicle terminal, as a transmitting terminal, can further transmit sidelink control information which can carry information for reserving the resource for the next transmission, so that other in-vehicle terminals can determine whether the transmission resource is reserved and used by the in-vehicle terminal through the sidelink control information, so as to achieve a purpose of reducing transmission resource conflicts.).
In view of the above, having the system of Kwon, then given the well-established teaching of Zhao, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kwon as taught by Zhao, in order to provide motivation for a dynamic change of transmission power on the two different sidelinks to be reduced or avoided (Par. 0006 of Zhao).
Regarding claim 17, this claim is rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claim 2.
Claim(s) 10-11, 14-15 and 25-26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kwon in view of Hassan and Freda et al. (US 2021/0329596; hereinafter Freda).
Regarding claim 10, modified Kwon shows all of the elements except selecting the transmission time occasion that has a frequency resource available at a same frequency location within a respective bandwidth of each component carrier of the multiple component carriers based at least in part on the resource selection configuration.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Freda. Specifically, Freda shows selecting the transmission time occasion that has a frequency resource available at a same frequency location within a respective bandwidth of each component carrier of the multiple component carriers based at least in part on the resource selection configuration (Figures 2-3; Par. 0120, 0127; the WTRU may apply certain restrictions/rules/criteria to determine the amount of allowable resources from which resource selection is permitted. Specifically, the WTRU may determine any of the following parameters defining the amount of available resources based on the time criticality. The WTRU may determine bandwidth in terms of the number of resource blocks, carriers, and BWPs that can be used. In FIG. 3, a WTRU may be configured with a number of possible center BWPs 310, 320, 330 to use for determination of selectable resources and may select one of the center frequencies.).
In view of the above, having the system of Kwon, then given the well-established teaching of Freda, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kwon as taught by Freda, in order to provide motivation to maintain an equal bandwidth for different criticality transmissions while maximizing the overall bandwidth or resource pool utilization (Par. 0127 of Freda).
Regarding claim 11, modified Kwon shows the multiple component carriers including all of the plurality of component carriers (Freda: Figure 3; Par. 0137; the WTRU may select a transmit pool which defines the configuration to be used. Alternatively, resource configurations may be associated with multiple/all pools.).
Regarding claim 14, modified Kwon shows all of the elements except the channel access procedure comprising a listen before talk procedure.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Freda. Specifically, Freda shows the channel access procedure comprising a listen before talk procedure (Par. 0229; A WTRU may be configured with resource selection based on sensing only (e.g., LTE) as well as resource selection that requires listen before talk (LBT).).
In view of the above, having the system of Kwon, then given the well-established teaching of Freda, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kwon as taught by Freda, in order to provide motivation to maintain an equal bandwidth for different criticality transmissions while maximizing the overall bandwidth or resource pool utilization (Par. 0127 of Freda).
Regarding claim 15, modified Kwon shows all of the elements except the channel access procedure comprising an energy detection procedure.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Freda. Specifically, Freda shows the channel access procedure comprising an energy detection procedure (Par. 0229; A WTRU may measure CBR in the pool of resources for transmission. If the WTRU measures CBR above a threshold, the WTRU may use a LBT-based resource selection. If the WTRU measures CBR below a threshold, the WTRU may use conventional (e.g., LTE) autonomous resource selection.).
In view of the above, having the system of Kwon, then given the well-established teaching of Freda, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Kwon as taught by Freda, in order to provide motivation to reduce the probability of collision under high occupancy and may use a resource selection mechanism which does not account for the possibility of collision under low occupancy (Par. 0228 of Freda).
Regarding claims 25 and 26, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 10 and 11, respectively.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-4 and 18-19 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Examiner submits that none of the prior art references cited in this action teaches the claimed subject matter as specifically presented in the above dependent claims. Examiner submits that the allowance of this application is based on an examination wherein the claim limitations recited in the dependent claims were not taken alone but in view of the scope of the claim(s) as a whole including any proceeding and/or preceding claim limitation(s) present within the claims and by their respective dependencies on other claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20220166593 A1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RECONFIGURING BANDWIDTH PART FOR GROUPCAST IN SIDELINK COMMUNICATION
Applicant's submission of an information disclosure statement under 37 CFR 1.97(c) with the timing fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) on 04/24/2026 prompted the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 609.04(b). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to REDENTOR M PASIA whose telephone number is (571)272-9745. The examiner can normally be reached Mondays-Fridays 5am-245pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Un Cho can be reached at (571)272-7919. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/REDENTOR PASIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413
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