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 .
Responsive to amendments 10/30/2025.
Claims 28-29 and 38 were cancelled in the amendments. Claims 27, 30, 34, 36-37, and 46 have been amended. Claims 27, 30-37, and 39-46 remain pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments filed 10/30/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. Independent claim 27 has been amended to include language previously of claims 28-29. Independent claims 37 and 46 have been amended to include language of previous claim 38.
Claim 27 now recites the limitations “wherein the at least one random access procedure comprises at least two random access procedures, and wherein at least one of the preamble mapping indication and the SSB mapping indication is configured separately for the at least two random access procedures, and wherein the at least one random access procedure further comprise at least one second type of random access procedure in a Terrestrial Network (TN); wherein the at least one second type of random access procedure comprises a 4-step random access procedure and/or a 2-step random access procedure.” With regards to these limitations the reference to Zhou is believed to meet the language. Namely, Zhou teaches a random access procedure for new radio (NR) which is equivalent to a terrestrial network (paragraphs 0067-0075). Paragraph 0067 recites “the following first briefly describes the random access solution of the NR system”. Furthermore, paragraphs 0084-0089 describe a random access procedure for NTN; more specifically, “when the random access method is applied to the NTN communication system in this application, to improve a user capacity and a user experience degree of the NTN communication system, specifically, refer to the method shown in FIG. 8 for random access” in paragraph 0084. This meets the language of the amendment that recite “wherein the at least one random access procedure comprises at least two random access procedures… and wherein the at least one random access procedure further comprises at least one second type of random access procedure in a Terrestrial Network (TN) ”.
As further described in the above cited paragraphs, at least the SSB to random access occasions (ROs) mapping is described for both the NR and the NTN procedures, which meets the language “wherein at least one of the preamble mapping indication and the SSB mapping indication is configured separately for the at least two random access procedures”. Furthermore, the cited paragraphs, as well as paragraphs 0093-0094 also describe the ROs to preambles mapping for both procedures.
Regarding the limitation “wherein the at least one second type of random access procedure comprises a 4-step random access procedure and/or a 2-step random access procedure”, the steps described in the reference apply to at least one of the 2-step or 4-step RA procedures as well known in the art.
Thus, Zhou is believed to meet that claims as amended.
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.
Claim(s) 27, 30-32, 34-37, 39-40, and 42-46 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhou et al. (US Patent Application Publication 2023/0156822; hereinafter Zhou).
Regarding claim 27 Zhou discloses a method in a network device, comprising:
determining a Random Access Channel (RACH) configuration according to at least one random access procedure, wherein the RACH configuration comprises a preamble mapping indication indicating mapping of RACH preambles to Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channels (SSBs) and a SSB mapping indication indicating mapping of SSBs to RACH Occasions (ROs), transmitting the RACH configuration (paragraphs 0070-0083; wherein a network device sends configuration information for, at least one, random access procedure to user equipment that comprise correspondence information between preambles and SSBs, as well as correspondence between SSBs and ROs); and
receiving a RACH preamble which is transmitted according to the RACH configuration from a terminal device (paragraph 0088; wherein the UE sends a first message comprising a preamble to the network device);
wherein the at least one random access procedure comprises at least two random access procedures, and wherein at least one of the preamble mapping indication and the SSB mapping indication is configured separately for the at least two random access procedures (paragraphs 0093-0095, table 1; wherein the configuration for different procedures comprises different ROs and preambles), and wherein the at least one random access procedure further comprise at least one second type of random access procedure in a Terrestrial Network (TN) (paragraphs 0058-0059, 0093; wherein the random access procedures are applicable to TNs and NTNs); wherein the at least one second type of random access procedure comprises a 4-step random access procedure and/or a 2-step random access procedure (paragraphs 0070-0083; the random access procedure disclosed meets being at least one the 4-step or 2-step).
Regarding claim 30 Zhou discloses the method of claim 27, wherein the preamble mapping indication is configured in a way that a sum of the number of preambles configured for the at least two random access procedures for one RO is no more than a total number of preambles for the one RO (paragraphs 0107-0112; SSB per RACH Occasion sum is a total quantity of ROs).
Regarding claim 31 Zhou discloses the method of claim 27, wherein the at least one random access procedure comprises at least one first type of random access procedure in a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) (paragraphs 0058-0059, 0093; wherein the random access procedures are applicable to TNs and NTNs).
Regarding claim 32 Zhou discloses the method of claim 27, wherein the at least one first type of random access procedure comprises a normal random access procedure and/or an NTN-specific random access procedure (paragraphs 0058-0059, 0093; wherein the random access procedures are applicable to TNs and NTNs).
Regarding claim 34 Zhou discloses the method of claim 32, wherein the SSB mapping indication is configured in a way that ROs mapped in the SSB mapping indication configured for the NTN-specific random access procedure are a subset of ROs mapped in the SSB mapping indication configured for the normal random access procedure (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; RACH configuration parameter indicates SSB to RO correspondence).
Regarding claim 35 Zhou discloses the method of claim 27, further comprising: determining the RO used by the terminal device in transmitting the RACH preamble according to the received RACH preamble (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; RACH configuration parameter indicates RO for preamble transmission), and determining a SSB to which the determined RO is mapped according the SSB mapping indication (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; RACH configuration parameter indicates SSB to RO correspondence).
Regarding claim 36 Zhou discloses the method of claim 35, wherein, responsive to a plurality of ROs being determined according to the received RACH preamble, one or more of the plurality of ROs are used in determining the SSB (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; using correspondence between SSB and RO to determine SSB); wherein the one or more of the plurality of ROs is the first one of the plurality of ROs (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; selected ROs); wherein the RACH preamble comprises one or more preambles from the terminal device (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; preambles selected from CB preambles mapped to SSB).
Regarding claim 37 Zhou discloses a method in a terminal device, comprising:
obtaining a Random Access Channel (RACH) configuration from a network device, wherein the RACH configuration is determined according to at least one random access procedure, and comprises a preamble mapping indication indicating mapping of RACH preambles to Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channels (SSBs) and a SSB mapping indication indicating the mapping of SSBs to RACH Occasions (ROs) (paragraphs 0070-0083; wherein a network device sends configuration information for, at least one, random access procedure to user equipment that comprise correspondence information between preambles and SSBs, as well as correspondence between SSBs and ROs), selecting a RACH preamble and a RO according to the RACH configuration (paragraph 0088; UE selects an RO and preamble); and
transmitting the RACH preamble on the RO to the network device (paragraph 0088; wherein the UE sends a first message comprising a preamble to the network device);
wherein the at least one random access procedure comprises at least two random access procedure, and wherein at least one of the preamble mapping indication and the SSB mapping indication is configured separately for the at least two random access procedures (paragraphs 0093-0095, table 1; wherein the configuration for different procedures comprises different ROs and preambles).
Regarding claim 39 Zhou discloses the method of claim 37, wherein the at least one random access procedure comprises at least one first type of random access procedure in a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) (paragraphs 0058-0059, 0093; wherein the random access procedures are applicable to TNs and NTNs).
Regarding claim 40 Zhou discloses the method of claim 37, wherein the at least one first type of random access procedure comprises a normal random access procedure and/or an NTN-specific random access procedure (paragraphs 0058-0059, 0093; wherein the random access procedures are applicable to TNs and NTNs).
Regarding claim 42 Zhou discloses the method of claim 37, wherein the at least one random access procedure further comprises at least one second type of random access procedure in a Terrestrial network (paragraphs 0058-0059, 0093; wherein the random access procedures are applicable to TNs and NTNs).
Regarding claim 43 Zhou discloses the method of claim 42, wherein the at least one second type of random access procedure comprises a 4-step random access procedure and/or a 2-step random access procedure (paragraphs 0070-0083; the random access procedure disclosed meets being at least one the 4-step or 2-step).
Regarding claim 44 Zhou discloses the method of claim 37, wherein selecting a RACH preamble and a RO according to the RACH configuration comprises: determining a SSB according to the received RACH configuration (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; RACH configuration parameter indicates SSB); and determining a RO according to the SSB mapping indication in the received RACH configuration (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; RACH configuration parameter indicates SSB to RO correspondence); and wherein transmitting the RACH preamble on the RO to the network device comprises transmitting the RACH preamble on the RO and one or more ROs following the RO (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0088, 0093; preamble is transmitted in the RO).
Regarding claim 45 Zhou discloses the method of claim 37, wherein the RACH preamble comprises one or more preambles (paragraphs 0071-0083, 0093; multiple CB preambles).
Regarding claim 46 Zhou discloses a terminal device (fig. 13), comprising a transceiver (transceiver 1330), a processor and a memory (processor 1310, memory 1320), the memory comprising instructions executable by the processor (paragraph 0141) whereby the terminal device is operative to perform of:
obtaining a Random Access Channel (RACH) configuration from a network device, wherein the RACH configuration is determined according to at least one random access procedure, and comprises a preamble mapping indication indicating mapping of RACH preambles to Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channels (SSBs) and a SSB mapping indication indicating the mapping of SSBs to RACH Occasions (ROs) (paragraphs 0070-0083; wherein a network device sends configuration information for, at least one, random access procedure to user equipment that comprise correspondence information between preambles and SSBs, as well as correspondence between SSBs and ROs), selecting a RACH preamble and a RO according to the RACH configuration (paragraph 0088; UE selects an RO and preamble); and
transmitting the RACH preamble on the RO to the network device (paragraph 0088; wherein the UE sends a first message comprising a preamble to the network device);
wherein the at least one random access procedure comprises at least two random access procedure, and wherein at least one of the preamble mapping indication and the SSB mapping indication is configured separately for the at least two random access procedures (paragraphs 0093-0095, table 1; wherein the configuration for different procedures comprises different ROs and preambles).
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) 33 and 41 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou in view of Hoang et al. (US Patent Application Publication 2022/0159741; hereinafter Hoang).
Regarding claim 33 Zhou discloses the method of claim 32, wherein and the NTN-specific random access procedure is a random access procedure without the pre-compensation (paragraphs 0058-0059, 0093; no pre-compensation performed). Zhou fails to explicitly disclose but Hoang, in the same field of endeavor related to random access in NTN, discloses wherein the normal random access procedure is a random access procedure with pre-compensation of Time-Advanced (TA) and/or frequency (paragraphs 0166-0167; the WTRU may be configured to perform Doppler pre-compensation by using information received from the network and/or information estimated by and/or preconfigured into the WTRU, information estimated by and/or preconfigured into the WTRU may include, for example a TA and satellite ephemeris). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Zhou with the teachings of Hoang, in order to avoid random access ambiguity by a UE (Hoang: paragraph 0077).
Regarding claim 41 Zhou discloses the method of claim 40, wherein and the NTN-specific random access procedure is a random access procedure without the pre-compensation (paragraphs 0058-0059, 0093; no pre-compensation performed). Zhou fails to explicitly disclose but Hoang, in the same field of endeavor related to random access in NTN, discloses the normal random access procedure is a random access procedure with pre-compensation of Time-Advanced (TA) and/or frequency (paragraphs 0166-0167; the WTRU may be configured to perform Doppler pre-compensation by using information received from the network and/or information estimated by and/or preconfigured into the WTRU, information estimated by and/or preconfigured into the WTRU may include, for example a TA and satellite ephemeris). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Zhou with the teachings of Hoang, in order to avoid random access ambiguity by a UE (Hoang: paragraph 0077).
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US Patent Application Publication 2022/0217790 to Qiu et al. – that discloses determine, by a wireless communication device, usage of a timing advance (TA) estimated by the wireless communication device for communication with the wireless communication node; select, by the wireless communication device, a RACH type to communicate with the wireless communication node; and initiate, by the wireless communication device, a RACH communication with the wireless communication node according to the selected RACH type and the determination on usage of TA estimated by the wireless communication device.
US Patent Application Publication 2023/0042104 to Li et al. – that discloses terminal device and a network device, which can implement random access in an NTN system.
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 Aixa A Guadalupe-Cruz whose telephone number is (571)270-7523. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 6AM - 4:00PM.
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/Aixa Guadalupe-Cruz/
Examiner
Art Unit 2466
/FARUK HAMZA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2466