Detailed Action
The office action is in response to the communications filed on 12/10/2025.
Notice of 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 .
Claims Status
Claims 1-20 are pending in this application.
Prior Art Made of Record
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Liu et al. (Publication No. US 2017/0063503), the prior art discloses that the UE may adapt estimation and/or filtering characteristics based on the received reconfiguration signals; see ¶ 52.
Response to Arguments
Applicant remarks, filed on 12/10/2025, argues that the cited portion of the prior art, individually or in combination, fails to discloses the features in claim 1, specifically those pertaining to the act of “receiving, at the UE, a reporting configuration, wherein the reporting configuration corresponds to the plurality of reference signals…”. Examiner agrees, based on the remarks, that the amendments to claim 1 overcome the prior art rejection. However, a new ground of rejection necessitated by the claim amendments is set forth below.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 10 is 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.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent may not be obtained though the invention is not identically disclosed or described as set forth in section 102 of this title, if the differences between the subject matter sought to be patented and the prior art are such that the subject matter as a whole would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains. Patentability shall not be negatived by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 1-2 and 13-16 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson et al. (Publication No. US 2020/0212986, hereinafter referred as Nilsson) in view of Kwak et al. (Publication No. US 2019/0053089, hereinafter referred as Kwak) and further in view of 3GPP TS 38.331 V16.2.0 (3rd Generation Partnership Project, Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network, NR, Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol specification (Release 16)); hereinafter referred as D1).
Regarding claim 1 and 13-14, Nilsson discloses receiving a configuration for a plurality of reference signals (A terminal device (e.g. transceiver device 200a) [UE] is configured to receives a reference signal (RS), from a network device, wherein the reference signal is received in multiple beam [plurality of RS], wherein the beam has a frequency-dependent polarization over the frequency interval; see figure 2 step 102 & ¶ 43-45.).
receiving a reporting configuration, wherein the reporting configuration corresponds to the plurality of reference signals (The terminal device (e.g. transceiver device 200a) [UE] is configured to reports back the N best transmission beams to radio transceiver device; see figure 2 step 104. The N best beams are determined based on the measurement of the received power of the reference signal and the determination of the polarization state; see figure 2 step 102a-c & ¶ 49-56.).
Nilsson discloses reporting quantities comprising polarization measurements for each reference signal of the plurality of reference signals, but fails to disclose receiving the configuration at the UE for a plurality of reference signals or reporting. However, in analogous art, Kwak discloses that the UE receives CSI measurement setting [reference signal configuration], containing information about a reference signal, for measuring the channel status; see figure 20 step 2010. Furthermore, the UE receive feedback configuration information [reporting configuration], containing timing or type of report; see figure 20 step 2020. Thereafter, the UE receive the reference signal (e.g. CSI-RS) and transmit the feedback information; see figure 20 step 2030-2050. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with the configuration of Kwak in order to efficiently managing the channel status according to feedback.
Nilsson discloses a polarization type, and reporting quantities comprising polarization measurements for each reference signal of the plurality of reference signals (That the beam has a frequency-dependent polarization over the frequency interval; see figure 2 step 102 & ¶ 44-45. The N best beams are determined based on the measurement of the received power of the reference signal and the determination of the polarization state; see figure 2 step 102a-c & ¶ 49-56.), but fails to disclose “wherein the configuration for each reference signal … ; and wherein the reporting configuration”. However, in analogous art, D1 discloses “wherein the configuration for each reference signal of the plurality of reference signals (D1, pp. 481-482, "NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSet", "nzp-CSI-RSResources") comprises a time-frequency resource (D1, pp. 479-480, "resource Mapping"), a time-domain behavior (D1, pp. 479-480, "periodicityAndOffset"), and a usage type corresponding to a reference signal transmission, a reference signal reception, or a combination thereof (D1, pp.480, "Periodic[ ... ] PeriodicOrSemiPersistent")”; and
“wherein the reporting configuration (D1, pp. 398-399, "CSI-ReportConfig") comprises the time-frequency resource (D1,pp. 398-399, "reportFreqConfiguration", "reportSlotConfig"), the time-domain behavior (D1, pp. 398-399, "ReportConfigType")”. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with the signal/report configuration of D1 in order to improve the accuracy of the signal measurement by configuring parameters that enable the measurements of the signal and sending the report of the measurements.
Regarding claims 2 and 15-16, Nilsson discloses the plurality of reference signals is configured so that each reference signal of the plurality of reference signals corresponds to a polarization type (Due to that different polarizations, or polarization states, will be applied to different parts of the frequency interval, it will be possible for radio transceiver device to determine a preferred polarization state for coming data transmission/reception, by analyzing how the received power variates over frequency; see ¶ 48.).
Claims 3, 11, and 17 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson, Kwak, D1, and further in view of Ma et al. (Publication No. US 2022/0109491, hereinafter referred as Ma).
Regarding claims 3 and 17, Nilsson fails to disclose a quasi-co-location (QCL) type indicates an association between a polarization type corresponding to a source reference signal and a target reference signal. However, in analogous art, Ma discloses that a base station includes determining a polarization relationship between a source transmission and a target transmission with respect to the base station and a user equipment; and transmitting, to the user equipment, a quasi co-location instance indicating the polarization relationship between the source transmission and the target transmission; see ¶ 87. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with QCL mechanism of Ma in order to enable the UE to reconfigure it receiver based on the QCL property of the RS.
Regarding claim 11, Nilsson fails to disclose configuring uplink resources to transmit multiple sounding reference signals (SRSs), wherein each SRS of the multiple SRSs is associated with a polarization type. However, in analogous art, Ma discloses that the uplink configuration may indicate a polarization relationship between the uplink transmission and a reference signal, such as an SSB, a CSI-RS, or a sounding reference signal (SRS).; see ¶ 109. For example, when one bit is used to indicate the polarization of the downlink transmission, a first value (e.g., 0) of the bit may indicate a first type of polarization (e.g., LHCP), and a second value (e.g., 1) of the bit may indicate a second type of polarization (e.g., RHCP); see ¶ 108. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with QCL mechanism of Ma in order to enable the UE to reconfigure it receiver based on the QCL property of the RS.
Claims 5-6 and 19-20 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson, Kwak, D1, and further in view of Ma et al. (Publication No. US 2022/0110011, hereinafter referred as Ma).
Regarding claims 5 and 19, Nilsson fails to disclose transmitting a report corresponding to the reporting configuration, wherein the report indicates one type of circular polarization or linear polarization. However, in analogous art, Ma discloses that the UE may report a UE capability for a polarization and/or for dynamically switching a polarization, wherein the polarization includes RHCP, LHCP, vertically linear, horizontally linear, linear; see ¶ 125-126. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with report mechanism of Ma in order to enable measuring reference signals with polarization and report the measurement; see ¶ 2.
Regarding claims 6 and 20, Nilsson fails to disclose performing reference signal measurements on different bandwidth parts and polarizations that are configured to carry out bandwidth part and polarization switching. However, in analogous art, Ma discloses that the network entity, may configure UE to switch to a neighboring beam [different bandwidth part] with a different polarization (e.g., opposite to a polarization of a current serving beam [bandwidth part]) if UE is capable of dynamically switching an antenna polarization; see ¶ 125. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with measurement mechanism of Ma in order to enable measuring reference signals with polarization; see ¶ 2.
Claims 4, 7-8, and 18 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson, Kwak, D1, and further in view of Soriaga et al. (Publication No. US 2020/0229010, hereinafter referred as Soriaga).
Regarding claims 4 and 18, Nilsson fails to disclose that the terminal device transmits a report to the network device, but fails to disclose transmitting a report corresponding to the reporting configuration, wherein the report for each reference signal of the plurality of reference signals indicates a polarization type based on polarization-based channel measurements. However, in analogous art, Soriaga discloses that the transmitter can transmit a first set of reference RF signals at a first polarization orientation, a second set of reference RF signals at a second polarization orientation, and so on; see ¶ 88. The receiver can report the measurements of the different sets of reference RF signals along the polarization orientation [polarization type]; see ¶ 88. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with report mechanism of Soriaga in order to enable path discrimination based on polarization; see ¶ 2.
Regarding claim 7, Nilsson fails to disclose receiving downlink control information (DCI) or medium access control MAC signaling indicating for the ULE to perform measurements on different polarizations on active bandwidth parts, inactive bandwidth parts, or a combination thereof. However, in analogous art, Soriaga discloses that the network would indicate to the receiver how the set of reference RF signals through downlink control information (DCI); see ¶ 90. Furthermore, it provides for split-band measurements of the polarization of reference RF signals, wherein a set of reference RF signals (e.g., PRS.sub.1 and PRS.sub.2) may be given different polarizations across different segments of bandwidth, with one set of polarizations per segment of bandwidth, wherein a receiver (e.g., a UE) can measure polarizations per band to determine a change in polarization; see ¶ 97. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with report mechanism of Soriaga in order to enable path discrimination based on polarization; see ¶ 2.
Regarding claim 8, Nilsson fails to disclose receiving information that triggers a measurement and reporting procedure for polarization switching in active bandwidth parts, inactive bandwidth parts, or a combination thereof based on a location of the UE. However, in analogous art, Soriaga discloses that the network (e.g., a serving base station) may signal the relative polarizations of the set of reference RF signals and how they are split across the bandwidth segments, and the receiver can use measurements; see ¶ 97. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with report mechanism of Soriaga in order to enable path discrimination based on polarization; see ¶ 2.
Claim 9 is rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson, Kwak, D1, and further in view of Liu et al. (Publication No. US 2019/0334602, hereinafter referred as Liu).
Regarding claim 9, Nilsson fails to disclose dynamically adjusting a polarization measurement and reporting periodicity based on a signal strength and a mapping table. However, in analogous art, Liu discloses that the UE may obtain reference signal received power of the N ports by measuring the reference signals of the N ports; see ¶ 118. When the UE determines that there is more than one reference signal whose received power exceeds a predetermined threshold in the N/2 reference signals in each polarization direction, the UE may determine to use the first feedback mode [ first periodicity] to report the CSI; see ¶ 118. Otherwise, if the UE determines that there is only one reference signal whose received power exceeds a predetermined threshold in the N/2 reference signals in each polarization direction, the UE may determine to use the second feedback mode [second periodicity] to report the CSI.; see ¶ 118. Furthermore, the feedback includes PMI indicates that only one port is selected from the ports in each polarization direction; see ¶ 121. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with feedback mechanism of Liu in order to the UE may autonomously select a feedback mode by measuring the reference signals; see ¶ 116.
Claim 12 is rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson, Kwak, D1, and further in view of Ni et al. (Publication No. US 2023/0096819, hereinafter referred as Ni).
Regarding claim 12, Nilsson fails to discloses configuring uplink resources using spatial relation configuration, wherein this configuration also includes an indication of the polarization type of a source reference signal. However, in analogous art, Ni discloses that the network device sends the third indication information, wherein the third indication information includes a first beam direction, a circular polarization direction, and specified spatial filter solution; see figure 2 step 202 & ¶ 188-189. The terminal sends a first reference signal in the first beam direction; see figure 2 step 203 & ¶ 190. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify Nilsson beam management with beam information of Ni in order to improve spectral efficiency by not depending on space-domain independence and uncorrelatedness of multipath reflection, scattering, and diffraction generated in a surrounding environment; see ¶ 15.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 Hector Reyes (Hector.Reyes@uspto.gov) whose telephone number is (571) 270-0239. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6-5.
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/H.R/Examiner, Art Unit 2472
/KEVIN T BATES/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2472
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