DETAILED ACTION
This communication is in response to applicant’s response filed under 37 C.F.R. §1.111 in response to a non-final office action. Claims 1-24 are subject to examination.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 10/24/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive for the following reasons:
Applicant’s Argument:
The applicant argues, on page 8 in substance that “Applicant respectfully submits that Li fails to disclose "the frequency hopping configuration comprising a frequency hopping pattern over a plurality of slots and a frequency domain starting position that varies for each slot of the plurality of slots," as recited in independent claim 1.
Examiner’s Response:
The examiner respectfully disagrees. Li teaches frequency domain resource occupation manner of SRSs sent by the terminal on symbols in the SRS subframe. SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources. In fig. 3 hopping exists between subframes, that is, SRSs over plurality of slots as we can see in the figure, the configuration information further includes: frequency domain start location information n.sub.RRC of the terminal, where the frequency domain start location information n.sub.RRC of the terminal is used to indicate a frequency domain start location of a bandwidth occupied by an SRS sent by the terminal, and the frequency domain start location information n.sub.RRC.sup.n.sup.s of the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s is determined according to the following formula: in [0078]. However claim merely recites …a frequency domain starting position that varies for each slot of the plurality of slots…
Applicant’s Argument:
The applicant argues, on page 10 in substance that “There is no disclosure in Li, however, of a frequency hopping configuration where the frequency hopping configuration comprises a different frequency domain starting position for each slot of the plurality of slots in a frequency hopping pattern, as claimed. Accordingly, Li fails to disclose "the frequency hopping configuration comprising a frequency hopping pattern over a plurality of slots and a frequency domain starting position that varies for each slot of the plurality of slots," as recited in independent claim 1.”
Examiner’s Response:
The examiner respectfully disagrees. Li teaches, in [0482] A resource block is used to describe mapping from a particular physical channel to a resource element. One physical resource block (physical resource block, PRB) is defined as a resource occupying N.sub.symb.sup.DL consecutive OFDM symbols in a time domain, and occupying N.sub.sc.sup.RB consecutive subcarriers in a frequency domain. SRSs sent by the terminal 502 of Fig. 5 occupy different PRBs (that is, frequency domain resources occupied in different timeslots are different) and same comb subcarriers in different timeslots, as shown in FIG. 13.
Regarding all other arguments presented by applicant, the arguments are substantially the same as those which have already been addressed above and in the interest of brevity; the examiner directs the applicant to those responses above.
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 person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(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 1, 3, 7, 9, 13, 15, 19, and 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Li et al. (Li hereafter) (US 20180076946 A1) (IDS provided).
Regarding claim 1 Li teaches, A method performed by a wireless device for transmitting a sounding reference signal, SRS (Li; [0435] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an SRS configuration), the method comprising:
receiving a SRS configuration for a SRS resource set, the SRS configuration comprising a frequency hopping configuration (SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources), and the frequency hopping configuration comprising a frequency hopping pattern (a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s) over a plurality of slots (different timeslots) wherein and a frequency domain starting position that varies for each slot of the plurality of slots (SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources) (Li; [0064] if the frequency domain resource occupation manner of SRSs sent by the terminal on symbols in the SRS subframe is that SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources…[0066] cell public bandwidth information C.sub.SRS, used to indicate a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the current cell;… [0067] terminal dedicated bandwidth information …used to indicate: in a bandwidth indicated by the cell public bandwidth information C.sub.SRS, a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s; or[0068] frequency domain start location information); and
transmitting SRS according to the received SRS configuration (Li; [0064] SRSs sent by the terminal [0441] provide a terminal, a base station, and SRS configuration and transmission methods, so as to provide more SRS transmission resources).
Regarding claim 7 Li teaches, a wireless device comprising capable of transmitting a sounding reference signal, SRS (Li; [0435] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an SRS configuration), processing circuitry operable to:
receive a SRS configuration for a SRS resource set, the SRS configuration comprising a frequency hopping configuration (SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources), and the frequency hopping configuration comprising a frequency hopping pattern (a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s) over a plurality of slots (different timeslots) wherein and a frequency domain starting position that varies for each slot of the plurality of slots (SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources) (Li; [0064] if the frequency domain resource occupation manner of SRSs sent by the terminal on symbols in the SRS subframe is that SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources…[0066] cell public bandwidth information C.sub.SRS, used to indicate a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the current cell;… [0067] terminal dedicated bandwidth information …used to indicate: in a bandwidth indicated by the cell public bandwidth information C.sub.SRS, a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s; or[0068] frequency domain start location information); and
transmit SRS according to the received SRS configuration (Li; [0064] SRSs sent by the terminal [0441] provide a terminal, a base station, and SRS configuration and transmission methods, so as to provide more SRS transmission resources).
Regarding claim 13 Li teaches, A method performed by a network node for receiving a sounding reference signal, SRS (Li; [0435] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an SRS configuration), the method comprising:
transmitting a SRS configuration for a SRS resource set, the SRS configuration comprising a frequency hopping configuration (SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources), and the frequency hopping configuration comprising a frequency hopping pattern (a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s) over a plurality of slots (different timeslots) wherein and a frequency domain starting position that varies for each slot of the plurality of slots (SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources) (Li; [0064] if the frequency domain resource occupation manner of SRSs sent by the terminal on symbols in the SRS subframe is that SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources…[0066] cell public bandwidth information C.sub.SRS, used to indicate a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the current cell;… [0067] terminal dedicated bandwidth information …used to indicate: in a bandwidth indicated by the cell public bandwidth information C.sub.SRS, a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s; or[0068] frequency domain start location information); and
receiving SRS according to the received SRS configuration (Li; [0064] SRSs sent by the terminal [0441] provide a terminal, a base station, and SRS configuration and transmission methods, so as to provide more SRS transmission resources).
Regarding claim 19 Li teaches, a network node capable of receiving a sounding reference signal, SRS (Li; [0435] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an SRS configuration), comprising processing circuitry operable to:
transmit a SRS configuration for a SRS resource set, the SRS configuration comprising a frequency hopping configuration (SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources), and the frequency hopping configuration comprising a frequency hopping pattern (a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s) over a plurality of slots (different timeslots) wherein and a frequency domain starting position that varies for each slot of the plurality of slots (SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources) (Li; [0064] if the frequency domain resource occupation manner of SRSs sent by the terminal on symbols in the SRS subframe is that SRSs sent by the terminal in different timeslots in the SRS subframe occupy different frequency domain resources…[0066] cell public bandwidth information C.sub.SRS, used to indicate a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the current cell;… [0067] terminal dedicated bandwidth information …used to indicate: in a bandwidth indicated by the cell public bandwidth information C.sub.SRS, a bandwidth occupied by an SRS that is sent by the terminal in the timeslot with the sequence number n.sub.s; or[0068] frequency domain start location information); and
receiving SRS according to the received SRS configuration (Li; [0064] SRSs sent by the terminal [0441] provide a terminal, a base station, and SRS configuration and transmission methods, so as to provide more SRS transmission resources).
Regarding claims 3, 9, 15, and 21, Li teaches, The claims 1, 7, 13, and 19
Li teaches, wherein the frequency domain starting position for each slot of the plurality of slots is such that one or more frequency hops per slot together span, over the plurality of slots, a bandwidth for which any gap between the frequency hops is smaller a coherence bandwidth (Li; [0748] a comb structure with an interval of more than one subcarrier (an interval of n.sub.comb subcarriers, where n.sub.comb may be determined according to a coherence bandwidth) may be used for SRS transmission).
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 2, 8, 14, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of Matsumura et.al. (Matsumura hereafter) (US 20200305146 A1).
Regarding claims 2, 8, 14, and 20 Li teaches, The claims 1, 7, 13, and 19
Li fails to explicitly teach, wherein the frequency domain starting position for each slot of the plurality of slots is such that one or more frequency hops per slot together span, over the plurality of slots, a contiguous bandwidth.
However, in the same field of endeavor Matsumura teaches, wherein the frequency domain starting position for each slot of the plurality of slots is such that one or more frequency hops per slot together span, over the plurality of slots (Matsumura; [0047] As shown in FIG. 4A, intra-slot frequency hopping may be employed on the long PUCCH over a plurality of slots in each slot. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, for the long PUCCH over a plurality of slots, frequency hopping which causes frequency), a contiguous bandwidth ([0055] FIGS. 5A to 5C, cases of employing intra-slot frequency hopping in a BWP configured).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Li to include the above recited limitations as taught by Matsumura in order to causes frequency resources to which the long PUCCH is mapped to hop among the plurality of slots (Matsumura; [0047]).
Claims 4, 5, 10, 11, 16, 17, 22, and 23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of Wang et al. (Wang hereafter) (EP 3927001 A1) (IDS provided)
Regarding claims 4, 10, 16, and 22 Li teaches, The claims 1, 7, 13, and 19
Li fails to explicitly teach, wherein each frequency hop comprises a frequency hop bandwidth and the frequency domain starting position is incremented by the frequency hop bandwidth for each slot of the plurality of slots
However, in the same field of endeavor Wang teaches, wherein each frequency hop comprises a frequency hop bandwidth and the frequency domain starting position is incremented by the frequency hop bandwidth for each slot of the plurality of slots (Wang; [0053] When the terminal device performs multi-BWP handover, the SRS frequency domain configurations of the same terminal device among multiple BWPs may be the same, thus greatly simplifying the configuration complexity of the SRS in multiple BWPs, avoiding collision among SRSs of different terminal devices, reducing SRS interference in the cell and increasing the resource utilization rate of the SRS under multiple BWPs.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Li to include the above recited limitations as taught by Wang in order to simplifying the configuration complexity of the SRS in multiple BWPs (Wang; [0053]).
Regarding claims 5, 11, 17, and 23 Li teaches, The claims 1, 7, 13, and 19
Li fails to explicitly teach, wherein the frequency domain starting position is incremented after a fixed number of slots of the plurality of slots
However, in the same field of endeavor Wang teaches, wherein the frequency domain starting position is incremented after a fixed number of slots of the plurality of slots (Wang [0050] When the SRS frequency hopping is enabled, an actual transmission pattern of the SRS is shown in Fig. 5 , where the network side is configured with the parameters locationAndBandwidth=1374 (indicating that the starting position of the BWP is CRB=0 and the number of RBs is 272), nshift=0 (indicating that the starting position of the SRS sending bandwidth is CRB 0), c-SRS=62 (indicating that the total sending bandwidth of the SRS is 272 RBs), b-SRS=1 (indicating that the sending bandwidth of each SRS is 68 RBs), b-hop=0 (indicating that the hopping bandwidth of the SRS is the total bandwidth), and nRRC=0 (indicating that the starting RB of the first SRS sending is CRB 0).).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Li to include the above recited limitations as taught by Wang in order to simplifying the configuration complexity of the SRS in multiple BWPs (Wang; [0053]).
Claims 6, 12, 18, and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of (Sun hereafter) (EP3343810A1) (IDS provided).
Regarding claims 6, 12, 18, and 24 Li teaches, The claims 1, 7, 13, and 19
Li fails to explicitly teach, wherein the frequency domain starting position is incremented according to a pre-defined hopping pattern
However, in the same field of endeavor Sun teaches, wherein the frequency domain starting position is incremented according to a pre-defined hopping pattern (Sun; [0045] A frequency hopping rule applied to the SRS with the frequency hopping period of 2 ms is a pattern 1, a frequency hopping rule applied to the SRS with the frequency hopping period of 10 ms is a pattern 2, and a frequency hopping rule applied to the SRS with the frequency hopping period of 20 ms is a pattern 3.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of Li to include the above recited limitations as taught by Sun in order to configured in a subframe of a time offset of 0, and an SRS with a frequency hopping period (Sun; [0047]).
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 WILFRED THOMAS whose telephone number is (571)270-0353. The examiner can normally be reached Mon -Thurs 9:00 am-4:00 pm.
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, Noel R Beharry can be reached at 571-270-5630. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/W. T/Examiner, Art Unit 2416
/NOEL R BEHARRY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2416