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
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 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)(2) 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.
Claims 13, 21, 22, 30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zuomin Wu (Patent No: US20230209598A1), hereinafter, Wu.
Regarding Claims 13, Wu teaches
A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: initiating, based at least in part on performing a listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure, a first channel occupancy having a first channel occupancy time (COT) duration, wherein the first COT duration corresponds to a first portion of a UE fixed frame period (FFP); -Fig. 1, 2; Paragraph [0226][0105-0106] ([0226] recites, “..the terminal device determines that the LBT mode corresponding to the first PUSCH is a channel access mode to initiate first COT.” [0105-0106] recites, “At S210, a terminal device determines first periodic channel occupancy. The first periodic channel occupancy includes channel occupancy for the terminal device to initiate Channel Occupancy Time (COT). The first periodic channel occupancy includes first channel occupancy. At S220, the terminal device determines a channel access mode corresponding to a first uplink transmission. A start position of the first channel occupancy is same as a start position of a first time domain resource. The first time domain resource is a resource used by the terminal device for transmitting the first uplink transmission.” As shown in Fig. 1, first COT duration is the first portion of UE FFP.)
and communicating with a base station based at least in part on a second COT duration associated with a second channel occupancy initiated by the base station, wherein the second COT duration is associated with a COT of a base station FFP, and wherein the COT of the base station FFP is outside of the COT of a UE FFP. -Fig. 5, 6; Paragraph [0166] [0222-0224] ([0166] recites, “the terminal device may determine that the channel access mode corresponding to the first uplink transmission is the second channel access mode when the first time domain resource is within a second COT of a network device and the terminal device receives a downlink signal or downlink channel transmitted by the network device before the first time domain resource within the second COT” Fig. 5, 6 show second COT duration is associated with base station FFP (Second FFP) and also outside of the second COT is outside of the first COT (COT of UE FFP). [0224] recites, “As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the terminal device determines a first FFP and a second FFP. Here, the first FFP is an FFP in the first periodic FFP usable by the terminal device to initiate channel occupancy as configured for the terminal device. The second FFP is an FFP in the second periodic FFP for the network device to initiate channel occupancy. The terminal device receives first DCI transmitted by the network device, and the first DCI is used to schedule the terminal device to transmit a first PUSCH over a first time domain resource.”)
Regarding Claim 21, Wu teaches the limitations of Claim 13
Wu further teaches
The method of claim 13, wherein the second COT duration terminates at a boundary of a base station FFP -Paragraph [0209] ([0209] recites, “In at least one embodiment, a length of the first periodic FFP may be the same as a length of the second periodic FFP. In at least one embodiment, an end position of the COT in the first periodic FFP may be the same as an end position of the COT in the second periodic FFP. In at least one embodiment, the end position of the COT in the first periodic FFP may be determined according to the end position of the COT in the second periodic FFP, or the end position of the COT in the second periodic FFP may be determined according to the end position of the COT in the first periodic FFP.” As explained second COT is aligned and ends at second periodic FFP which is network (base station) FFP)
Claim 22 is similar to Claim 13 except for Claim 22 is looked from base station point of view vs. Claim 13 is viewed from UE point of view in the wireless communication. Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 13 which is rejected above. Claim 22 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 13.
Claim 30 is essentially same as Claim 21. Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 21 which is rejected above. Claim 30 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 21.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 1-10, 12, 14-17, and 23-26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wu in view of WANG et al. (Patent No: US20210360421A1) hereinafter, WANG.
Regarding Claim 1, Wu teaches,
-Fig. 5, 6 show LBT occurring of first FFP outside of the first COT duration in the second COT.
Although implicit, Wu does not explicitly teach,
A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a channel occupancy time (COT) duration indication that indicates a first COT duration associated with a first channel occupancy initiated by the base station;
However, in an analogous invention, WANG teaches,
A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a channel occupancy time (COT) duration indication that indicates a first COT duration associated with a first channel occupancy initiated by the base station; -Fig. 3 (302, 304); Paragraph [0300] ([0300] recites, “FIG. 3 illustrates a method 300 for an FBE operation in an unlicensed band according to an example implementation of the present disclosure. In action 302, the UE receives, from a BS, a first parameter indicating a first periodicity of FFP used when the BS acts as an initiating device for the FBE operation. In action 304, the UE receives, from the BS, a second parameter indicating a second periodicity of FFP used when the UE acts as the initiating device for the FBE operation. The first periodicity of FFP may be independent from the second periodicity of FFP. By separately providing the first periodicity of FFP for BS-initiated COT and the second periodicity of FFP for UE-initiated COT, the BS (e.g., a gNB) has flexibility in setting different FFP periods for BS-initiated COT and UE-initiated COT. The BS can, therefore, determine appropriate FFP values corresponding to different scenarios in which either the BS acts as the initiating device or the UE acts as the initiating device.” Also, Wu mentions in [0014] “the UE can perform LBT by sharing COT of the network device or initiating COT, so as to avoid collision between the COT initiated by the network device and the COT initiated by the terminal device on an unlicensed spectrum. That is, the COT initiated by the network device and the COT initiated by the terminal device can properly coexist on the unlicensed spectrum, such that communication performance can be improved. “ COT time relationship are depicted in Fig. 5, 6. Of Wu )
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of “A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a base station, a channel occupancy time (COT) duration indication that indicates a first COT duration associated with a first channel occupancy initiated by the base station;” of WANG. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to make BS acts as an initiating device for the FBE operation [0100].
Regarding Claim 2, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 1.
Although implicit, Wu does not explicitly mention,
The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving downlink control information (DCI) that includes the first COT duration indication.
However, in an analogous invention WANG teaches,
The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving downlink control information (DCI) that includes the first COT duration indication -Paragraph [0264] ([0264] recites, “..the gNB may indicate the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 for sharing the remaining COT with other UEs. The DCI format 2_0 may be a group-common DCI format. For the other UEs, to determine the remaining COT, the indication of the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 may take precedence over the information of the FFP indicated in the SIB1. For UEs not initiating an FFP, if the DCI format 2_0 provides the CO duration indication, the UE may determine the remaining COT based on the CO duration indication…”
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of “receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving downlink control information (DCI) that includes the first COT duration indication “ of WANG. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to make BS acts as an initiating device for the FBE operation [0100].
Regarding Claim 3, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 2.
Although implicit, Wu does not explicitly teach,
The method of claim 2, wherein the DCI comprises a DCI format 2_0 transmission.
However, in an analogous invention WANG teaches,
The method of claim 2, wherein the DCI comprises a DCI format 2_0 transmission -Paragraph [0264] ([0264] recites, “..the gNB may indicate the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 for sharing the remaining COT with other UEs…”)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of “wherein the DCI comprises a DCI format 2_0 transmission“ of WANG. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to make BS acts as an initiating device for the FBE operation [0100].
Regarding Claim 4, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 1.
Wu further teaches,
The method of claim 1, wherein the first COT duration is associated with a COT of a base station fixed frame period (FFP), wherein the second COT duration is associated with a COT of a UE FFP, and wherein the COT of the UE FFP is outside of the COT of the base station FFP. -Fig. 5, 6; Paragraph [0222-0224] (Fig. 5, 6 show LBT occurring of first FFP outside of the first COT duration in the second COT. [0224] recites, “As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the terminal device determines a first FFP and a second FFP. Here, the first FFP is an FFP in the first periodic FFP usable by the terminal device to initiate channel occupancy as configured for the terminal device. The second FFP is an FFP in the second periodic FFP for the network device to initiate channel occupancy. The terminal device receives first DCI transmitted by the network device, and the first DCI is used to schedule the terminal device to transmit a first PUSCH over a first time domain resource.”)
Regarding Claim 5, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 1.
Wu further teaches,
The method of claim 1, further comprising refraining from performing the LBT procedure during the first COT duration. -Fig. 5, 6; (Fig. 5, 6 show LBT procedure by UE outside the first COT duration and no LBT during the first COT duration)
Regarding Claim 6, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 1.
Wu further teaches,
The method of claim 1, further comprising refraining from performing the LBT procedure during an idle period of a base station fixed frame period (FFP). -Fig. 5, 6; (Fig. 5, 6 show UE LBT procedure of UE (LBT of first FFP) happens outside of the second IP (second Idle period of the second FFP which is base station FFP)).
Regarding Claim 7, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 1.
Although implicit, Wu does not explicitly teach,
The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a COT configuration that indicates at least one parameter, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of: an indication that the UE is allowed to initiate the second channel occupancy during a base station fixed frame period (FFP) based at least in part on the base station initiating the first channel occupancy during the base station FFP. an indication that the UE is not allowed to initiate the second channel occupancy during a base station FFP based at least in part on the base station initiating the first channel occupancy during the base station FFP, or an indication that the UE is allowed to initiate the second channel occupancy during a base station FFP based at least in part on the first COT duration, wherein the first channel occupancy was initiated during the base station FFP.
However, in an analogous invention, WANG teaches,
The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a COT configuration that indicates at least one parameter, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of: an indication that the UE is allowed to initiate the second channel occupancy during a base station fixed frame period (FFP) based at least in part on the base station initiating the first channel occupancy during the base station FFP -Paragraph [0300] ([0300] recites,”.. In action 302, the UE receives, from a BS, a first parameter indicating a first periodicity of FFP used when the BS acts as an initiating device for the FBE operation. In action 304, the UE receives, from the BS, a second parameter indicating a second periodicity of FFP used when the UE acts as the initiating device for the FBE operation. The first periodicity of FFP may be independent from the second periodicity of FFP. By separately providing the first periodicity of FFP for BS-initiated COT and the second periodicity of FFP for UE-initiated COT, the BS (e.g., a gNB) has flexibility in setting different FFP periods for BS-initiated COT and UE-initiated COT. ”)
an indication that the UE is not allowed to initiate the second channel occupancy during a base station FFP based at least in part on the base station initiating the first channel occupancy during the base station FFP,
or an indication that the UE is allowed to initiate the second channel occupancy during a base station FFP based at least in part on the first COT duration, wherein the first channel occupancy was initiated during the base station FFP. -Paragraph [0222] ([0222] recites, “the DCI format 2_0 includes an indicator to indicate a bitmap selected from a set of bitmaps, where the bitmap indicates whether each FFP is initiated by the gNB or the UE, and the UE has detected a bitmap indicating the FFP to be initiated by the UE.”)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of “receiving a COT configuration that indicates at least one parameter, wherein the at least one parameter comprises at least one of: an indication that the UE is allowed to initiate the second channel occupancy during a base station fixed frame period (FFP) based at least in part on the base station initiating the first channel occupancy during the base station FFP , or an indication that the UE is allowed to initiate the second channel occupancy during a base station FFP based at least in part on the first COT duration, wherein the first channel occupancy was initiated during the base station FFP “ of WANG. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to make BS acts as an initiating device for the FBE operation [0100].
Claim 8 is similar to Claim 1 except for Claim 8 is looked from base station point of view (i.e., base station transmits) vs. Claim 1 is viewed from UE perspective (i.e., UE receives). Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 1 which is rejected above. Claim 8 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 1.
Claim 9 is similar to Claim 2 except for Claim 9 is looked from base station point of view (i.e., base station transmits) vs. Claim 2 is viewed from UE perspective (i.e., UE receives). Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 2 which is rejected above. Claim 9 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 2.
Claim 10 is similar to Claim 3. Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 3 which is rejected above. Claim 10 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 3.
Claim 12 is similar to Claim 7 except for Claim 12 is looked from base station point of view (i.e., base station transmits) vs. Claim 7 is viewed from UE perspective (i.e., UE receives). Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 7 which is rejected above. Claim 12 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 7.
Regarding Claim 14, Wu teaches the limitations of Claim 13
Wu explicitly does not teach
The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, from the base station, a COT duration indication that indicates the first COT duration.
However, WANG teaches
The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, from the base station, a COT duration indication that indicates the first COT duration. -Paragraph [0264] ([0264] recites, “..the gNB may indicate the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 for sharing the remaining COT with other UEs. The DCI format 2_0 may be a group-common DCI format. For the other UEs, to determine the remaining COT, the indication of the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 may take precedence over the information of the FFP indicated in the SIB1. For UEs not initiating an FFP, if the DCI format 2_0 provides the CO duration indication, the UE may determine the remaining COT based on the CO duration indication…”)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of “receiving, from the base station, a COT duration indication that indicates the first COT duration.” of WANG . One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve data rate, latency, reliability, and mobility[0098]
Regarding Claim 15, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 14
Wu explicitly does not mention
The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving a radio resource control message including a configuration that includes the first COT duration indication.
However, WANG teaches
The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving a radio resource control message including a configuration that includes the first COT duration indication. -Paragraph [0153][0191][0264] ([0153] recites, “A gNB may configure a UE to act as an initiating device, and the periodicity of FFP of the UE when acting as the initiating device may be different from the periodicity of FFP of the gNB indicated in SIB1. Therefore, the duration of the COT may be indicated to the gNB and other UEs sharing the COT initiated by the initiating UE.” [0191] recites, “A gNB may transmit DL signaling to set the UE as an initiating device for one or more FFPs. The DL signaling may be at least one of an RRC configuration, a DCI indication, and a MAC CE indication. In one implementation, a period in which the UE acts as an initiating device may be controlled by a timer.” [0264] recites, “..the gNB may indicate the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 for sharing the remaining COT with other UEs. The DCI format 2_0 may be a group-common DCI format. For the other UEs, to determine the remaining COT, the indication of the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 may take precedence over the information of the FFP indicated in the SIB1. For UEs not initiating an FFP, if the DCI format 2_0 provides the CO duration indication, the UE may determine the remaining COT based on the CO duration indication…”From the above description, it is clear that RRC message from gNB contains all parameters related to FFP including first COT duration indication etc.)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of ” receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving a radio resource control message including a configuration that includes the first COT duration indication “of WANG . One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve data rate, latency, reliability, and mobility[0098]
Regarding Claim 16, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 14
Wu explicitly does not mention
The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving a downlink control information (DCI) transmission that includes the COT duration indication.
However, WANG teaches
The method of claim 14, wherein receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving a downlink control information (DCI) transmission that includes the COT duration indication. -Paragraph [0264] recites, “..the gNB may indicate the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 for sharing the remaining COT with other UEs. The DCI format 2_0 may be a group-common DCI format. For the other UEs, to determine the remaining COT, the indication of the CO duration in the DCI format 2_0 may take precedence over the information of the FFP indicated in the SIB1. For UEs not initiating an FFP, if the DCI format 2_0 provides the CO duration indication, the UE may determine the remaining COT based on the CO duration indication…”)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of ”receiving the COT duration indication comprises receiving a downlink control information (DCI) transmission that includes the COT duration indication“ of WANG . One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve data rate, latency, reliability, and mobility[0098]
Regarding Claim 17, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 16.
Wu further teaches
The method of claim 16, wherein the DCI comprises an uplink resource grant. -Paragraph [0063] ([0063] recites, “Specifically, in the FBE mode, when a terminal device is scheduled for PUSCH or PUCCH transmission, a network device can indicate a channel access mode corresponding to the PUSCH or PUCCH and a size of a Cyclic Prefix Extension (CPE) for the UE's transmission via channel access indication information in Downlink Control Information (DCI) carrying an uplink grant (UL grant) or downlink grant (DL grant).”)
Claim 23 is similar to Claim 14 except for Claim 23 is looked from base station point of view (i.e., base station transmits) vs. Claim 14 is viewed from UE perspective (i.e., UE receives). Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 14 which is rejected above. Claim 23 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 14.
Claim 24 is similar to Claim 15 except for Claim 24 is looked from base station point of view (i.e., base station transmits) vs. Claim 15 is viewed from UE perspective (i.e., UE receives). Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 15 which is rejected above. Claim 24 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 15.
Claim 25 is similar to Claim 16 except for Claim 25 is looked from base station point of view (i.e., base station transmits) vs. Claim 16 is viewed from UE perspective (i.e., UE receives). Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 16 which is rejected above. Claim 25 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 16.
Claim 26 is essentially same as Claim 17. Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 17 which is rejected above. Claim 26 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 17.
Claim 11 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wu in view of WANG and further in view of Kumagai et al. (Patent No: US20240057175A1), hereinafter, Kumagai.
Regarding Claim 11, Wu and WANG teach the limitations of Claim 8.
Wu does not explicitly teach,
The method of claim 8, wherein the first COT duration corresponds to a first portion of a base station fixed frame period (FFP), wherein the second COT duration is associated with a COT of a UE FFP, and wherein the COT of the UE FFP is outside of the COT of the base station FFP.
However, in an analogous invention Kumagai teaches,
The method of claim 8, wherein the first COT duration corresponds to a first portion of a base station fixed frame period (FFP), wherein the second COT duration is associated with a COT of a UE FFP, and wherein the COT of the UE FFP is outside of the COT of the base station FFP. -Paragraph [0111-0112]([0111-0112] recites, “ FIG. 3 is a diagram to show an example of the PRACH transmission period in the COT according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows an example of embodiment 1-1 described above. In the example shown in FIG. 3, each of the FFP (the first FFP, FFPs #1-1 to #1-3) for the gNB-initiated COT and the FFP (the second FFP, FFPs #2-1 to #2-5) for the UE-initiated COT is configured. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the period of the first FFP is 10 ms, and the period of the second FFP is 5 ms. The start (FFP #2-1) of the second FFP is started after a specific offset from the start (FFP #1-1) of the first FFP. In the gNB-initiated COT, the RO is configured. The UE may assume that the start of the RO in the configuration of the gNB-initiated COT and the start of the RO in the configuration of the UE-initiated COT are aligned. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the UE receives, from the gNB, the configuration information related to the FFP for the UE-initiated COT. Next, the UE obtains the COT in FFP #2-3, and transmits the PRACH in the RO in the COT.”As shown in Fig. 3, first COT duration corresponds to a first portion of a base station FFP and UE FFP is outside of the COT of the base station FFP )
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of “the first COT duration corresponds to a first portion of a base station fixed frame period (FFP), wherein the second COT duration is associated with a COT of a UE FFP, and wherein the COT of the UE FFP is outside of the COT of the base station FFP” of Kumagai . One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve high-reliable and low-latency communication [0083]
Claims 18-20, 27-29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wu in view of Tooher et al. (Patent No: US20230309142A1), hereinafter, Tooher.
Regarding Claim 18, Wu teaches the limitations of Claim 13
Wu explicitly does not teach,
The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting, to the base station, a COT duration indication that indicates the first COT duration.
However, Tooher teaches,
The method of claim 13, further comprising transmitting, to the base station, a COT duration indication that indicates the first COT duration. -Paragraph [0103] ([0103] recites, “In embodiments, a WTRU may be configured to send a UCI to indicate to the gNB the fixed frame period related parameters (FFP-UCI). Such UCI may be sent using one of the uplink channels as mentioned in previous sections or, alternatively, using a preamble signal after acquiring the channel, such as after a successful LBT procedure. The transmitted channel/signal/preamble may be detected by other WTRUs and used to determine some of the channel related information. A WTRU may be configured to send one or more of the following as part of FFP-UCI: an indication of the desired UL/DL pattern for the beginning of a COT duration and before the WTRU’s uplink transmission, an indication of the desired UL/DL pattern for the remaining available COT duration, an indication of the intended uplink transmission type or resource, one or more acquired LBT sub-bands, energy detection threshold used by a WTRU to acquire the channel, spatial parameters used to perform clear channel assessment, and vacating an FFP.”)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of ” transmitting, to the base station, a COT duration indication that indicates the first COT duration.” of Tooher . One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to ensure efficient use of all the resources of an FFP [0079]
Regarding Claim 19, Wu and Tooher teach the limitations of Claim 18
Wu explicitly does not teach
The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the COT duration indication comprises transmitting a configured grant (CG)-uplink control information (CG-UCI) transmission that includes the COT duration indication.
However, Tooher teaches
The method of claim 18, wherein transmitting the COT duration indication comprises transmitting a configured grant (CG)-uplink control information (CG-UCI) transmission that includes the COT duration indication. -Paragraph [0081][0103] ([0081] recites, “For a PUSCH transmission, for example, a WTRU may initiate a COT to transmit on a configured grant resource within the FFP. The WTRU may include the FFP-UCI in the CG transmission, which may, in embodiments, be multiplexed with or in addition to the CG-UCI. ..” [0103] recites, “..A WTRU may be configured to send one or more of the following as part of FFP-UCI: an indication of the desired UL/DL pattern for the beginning of a COT duration and before the WTRU’s uplink transmission, an indication of the desired UL/DL pattern for the remaining available COT duration, an indication of the intended uplink transmission type or resource, one or more acquired LBT sub-bands, energy detection threshold used by a WTRU to acquire the channel, spatial parameters used to perform clear channel assessment, and vacating an FFP.”)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of ” transmitting the COT duration indication comprises transmitting a configured grant (CG)-uplink control information (CG-UCI) transmission that includes the COT duration indication.” of Tooher . One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to ensure efficient use of all the resources of an FFP [0079]
Regarding Claim 20, Wu and Tooher teach the limitations of Claim 19
Wu explicitly does not teach
The method of claim 19, wherein the COT duration indication comprises: a COT sharing information field of the CG-UCI transmission, or a dedicated COT duration indication field of the CG-UCI transmission.
However, Tooher teaches
The method of claim 19, wherein the COT duration indication comprises: a COT sharing information field of the CG-UCI transmission, or a dedicated COT duration indication field of the CG-UCI transmission. -Paragraph [0140] ([0140] recites, “As per embodiments described herein, a WTRU may initiate a COT in an FFP even if there is an ongoing COT. Furthermore, the WTRU may be configured with multiple possibly overlapping FFP configurations. Therefore, there may be transmissions for which there may be ambiguity at the gNB as to whether the WTRU initiated a new COT on a new FFP and for which FFP configuration. In cases where there may be ambiguity, the WTRU may indicate whether a new COT has been initiated or the FFP configuration on which the COT has been initiated. Such an indication may use FFP-UCI or CG-UCI.”)
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the “WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD, AND TERMINAL DEVICE AND NETWORK DEVICE” proposed by Wu to include the concept of ” dedicated COT duration indication field of the CG-UCI transmission.” of Tooher . One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to ensure efficient use of all the resources of an FFP [0079]
Claim 27 is similar to Claim 18 except for Claim 27 is looked from base station point of view vs. Claim 18 is viewed from UE point of view. Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 18 which is rejected above. Claim 27 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 18.
Claim 28 is similar to Claim 19 except for Claim 28 is looked from base station point of view vs. Claim 19 is viewed from UE point of view. Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 19 which is rejected above. Claim 28 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 19.
Claim 29 is essentially same as Claim 20. Applicant’s attention is directed towards Claim 20 which is rejected above. Claim 29 is rejected under the same rational as Claim 20.
Response to Argument(s)
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1-30 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AHMED SAIFUDDIN whose telephone number is (703)756-4581. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8:30am-6:00pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, KHALED M KASSIM can be reached on 571-270-3770. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/AHMED SAIFUDDIN/Examiner, Art Unit 2475
/ABDULLAHI AHMED/Examiner, Art Unit 2475