DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 7/10/26 has been entered.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 7/10/26 is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1, 15, 22, 29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claims 1, 15, 22 and 29 recite “prioritizing…and includes prioritizing candidate cells which are included in a preferred cell database corresponding to a preferred feature supported by the UE over candidate cells not included in the preferred cell database”. It is unclear if the preferred feature supported by the UE corresponds to the preferred cell database or all candidate cells. In other words, it is unclear if the candidate cells in the preferred candidate cell database are all (solely) in the database because they contain the preferred feature supported by the UE, or if the candidate cells in the preferred cell database correspond individually to a supported feature. Appropriate clarification is required.
Claims 2-3 and 6-11, 13, 14, 16-18, 20, 21, 23-25, 27-28, 31-34 are dependent and likewise rejected.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3 and 6-11, 13-18, 20-25, 27-29, 31-34 contain allowable subject matter and would be allowable if the 112(b) rejections above were overcome.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Shi et al (Pub No: 2021/0377916) [0079] [0097]
Deenoo et al (Pub No: 2022/0038985) [0106].
Da Silva et al (Pub No: 2020/0021336) [0043]
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to AFSHAWN M TOWFIGHI whose telephone number is (571)270-7296. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00 AM -5:00 PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ian N Moore can be reached at 571-272-3085. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/AFSHAWN M TOWFIGHI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2469