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 .
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.
Claims 1-2, 5, 7-9, 14-17and 19-24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kunt et al. (U.S. PGPub 2023/0189179), hereinafter referred to as Kunt in view of Zhang et al. (U.S. PGPub 2020/0374826), hereinafter referred to as Zhang.
Regarding claim 1, Kunt teaches an apparatus (UE; See Fig. 2, #210 and [0033]), comprising:
at least one memory (memory; See Fig. 2, #214); and
at least one processor (processor; See Fig. 2, #212) coupled with the at least memory and operable to cause the UE to:
transmit a timing advance value in a data message (the UE sends TA report in Msg3; See [0113]), the timing advance value being based at least in part on a time offset value (UE 110 may be configured to transmit a TA report to network node 125 in response to a value of TA deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount; See [0030] and [0056]).
Kunt fails to teach the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot, wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample.
Zhang teaches the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot (the i.sup.th uplink radio frame in which UE sends uplink transmission should be (N.sub.TA+N.sub.TAoffset)×T.sub.c seconds ahead of a corresponding downlink radio frame for the UE; See [0089]), wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the apparatus of Kunt to include the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot, wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 2, Kunt fails to teach the UE of claim 1, wherein the time offset value comprises a time value.
Zhang teaches wherein the time offset value comprises a time value (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the apparatus of Kunt to include wherein the time offset value comprises a time value taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 5, Kunt further teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to transmit one or more of a first reported value or a second reported value, and the one or more of the first reported value or the second reported value is further determined by at least one of a network deployment or a set of threshold values (The processor 212 may monitor the TA/KI value and when the TA/KI value is outside a hysteresis range, or when the TA/KI value is greater than or lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the TA/KI value is deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount, the UE 110 may initiate the TA report. At time t1, if the current TA value (that is, the actual TA value currently obtained by the computing or measuring) deviates from the previous TA value: TA_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as TA>=TA_old+Delta_hys or TA<=TA_old-Delta_hyss, then UE sends a new TA report, where Delta_hys is a Delta hysteresis. At time t1, if the current KI value deviates from the previous KI value: KI_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as KI>=KI_old+Delta_hys or KI<=KI_old-Delta_hys, then UE sends a new TA report; See [0055]-[0057]).
Regarding claim 7, Kunt further teaches the UE of claim 2, wherein the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period.
Zhang teaches wherein the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the apparatus of Kunt to include wherein the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 8, Kunt further teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to receive a configuration of a reporting period (UE 110 may be configured to autonomously transmit its TA report to network node 125 periodically or non-periodically; See [0030]), and transmit a reported value based on the reporting period (The UE 110 may transmit its TA report to network node 125, periodically or non-periodically, responsive to expiry of a timer; See [0058]).
Regarding claim 9, Kunt further teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein transmission of the timing advance value is triggered by a differential offset value being larger than or equal to a threshold (The processor 212 may monitor the TA/KI value and when the TA/KI value is outside a hysteresis range, or when the TA/KI value is greater than or lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the TA/KI value is deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount, the UE 110 may initiate the TA report At time t1, if the current TA value (that is, the actual TA value currently obtained by the computing or measuring) deviates from the previous TA value: TA_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as TA>=TA_old+Delta_hys or TA<=TA_old-Delta_hyss, then UE sends a new TA report, where Delta_hys is a Delta hysteresis; See [0055]-[0056]).
Regarding claim 14, Kunt further teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is operable to cause the UE to transmit the timing advance value based at least in part on a differential time offset value being larger than or equal to a second threshold (The processor 212 may monitor the TA/KI value and when the TA/KI value is outside a hysteresis range, or when the TA/KI value is greater than or lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the TA/KI value is deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount, the UE 110 may initiate the TA report. At time t1, if the current KI value deviates from the previous KI value: KI_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as KI>=KI_old+Delta_hys or KI<=KI_old Delta_hys, then UE sends a new TA report; See [0055] and [0057] The processor 212 may monitor the TA/KI value and when the TA/KI value is outside a hysteresis range, or when the TA/KI value is greater than or lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the TA/KI value is deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount, the UE 110 may initiate the TA report. At time t1, if the current KI value deviates from the previous KI value: KI_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as KI>=KI_old+Delta_hys or KI<=KI_old Delta_hys, then UE sends a new TA report; See [0055] and [0057]).
Regarding claim 15, Kunt further teaches the UE of claim 14, wherein the differential time offset value comprises a variation between a current timing advance value and a previous timing advance value (at time t1, if the current KI value deviates from the previous KI value: KI_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as KI>=KI_old+Delta_hys or KI<=KI_old Delta_hys, then UE sends a new TA report; See [0057]).
Regarding claim 16, Kunt teaches a method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
transmitting a timing advance value in a data message (the UE sends TA report in Msg3; See [0113]), the timing advance value being based at least in part on a time offset value (UE 110 may be configured to transmit a TA report to network node 125 in response to a value of TA deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount; See [0030] and [0056]).
Kunt fails to teach the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot, wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample.
Zhang teaches the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot (the i.sup.th uplink radio frame in which UE sends uplink transmission should be (N.sub.TA+N.sub.TAoffset)×T.sub.c seconds ahead of a corresponding downlink radio frame for the UE; See [0089]), wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the method of Kunt to include the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot, wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 17, Kunt fails to teach the method of claim 16, wherein the time offset value comprises a time value.
Zhang teaches wherein the time offset value comprises a time value (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the method of Kunt to include wherein the time offset value comprises a time value taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 19, Kunt further teaches the method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting one or more of a first reported value or a second reported value and determining the one or more of the first reported value or the second reported value by at least one of a network deployment or a set of threshold values (The processor 212 may monitor the TA/KI value and when the TA/KI value is outside a hysteresis range, or when the TA/KI value is greater than or lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the TA/KI value is deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount, the UE 110 may initiate the TA report. Aat time t1, if the current TA value (that is, the actual TA value currently obtained by the computing or measuring) deviates from the previous TA value: TA_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as TA>=TA_old+Delta_hys or TA<=TA_old-Delta_hyss, then UE sends a new TA report, where Delta_hys is a Delta hysteresis. At time t1, if the current KI value deviates from the previous KI value: KI_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as KI>=KI_old+Delta_hys or KI<=KI_old-Delta_hys, then UE sends a new TA report; See [0055]-[0057]).
Regarding claim 21, Kunt fails to teach the method of claim 17, wherein, the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period.
Zhang teaches wherein the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the method of Kunt to include wherein the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 22, Kunt further teaches the method of claim 16, further comprising:
receiving a configuration of a reporting period (UE 110 may be configured to autonomously transmit its TA report to network node 125 periodically or non-periodically; See [0030]); and
transmitting a reported value based on the reporting period (The UE 110 may transmit its TA report to network node 125, periodically or non-periodically, responsive to expiry of a timer; See [0058]).
Regarding claim 23, Kunt further teaches the method of claim 16, wherein transmission of the timing advance value is triggered by a differential offset value being larger than or equal to a threshold (The processor 212 may monitor the TA/KI value and when the TA/KI value is outside a hysteresis range, or when the TA/KI value is greater than or lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the TA/KI value is deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount, the UE 110 may initiate the TA report. At time t1, if the current TA value (that is, the actual TA value currently obtained by the computing or measuring) deviates from the previous TA value: TA_old, reported at time t0, by at least a predefined amount, such as TA>=TA_old+Delta_hys or TA<=TA_old Delta_hyss, then UE sends a new TA report, where Delta_hys is a Delta hysteresis; See [0055]-[0056]).
Regarding claim 24, Kunt teaches a network equipment (NE) (network apparatus; See Fig. 2, #220) for wireless communication, comprising:
at least one memory (memory; See Fig. 2, #224); and
at least one processor coupled to the memory (processor; See Fig. 2, #222) and operable to cause the NE to:
receive a timing advance value in a data message (the UE sends TA report in Msg3; See [0113]), the timing advance value being based at least in part on a time offset value (UE 110 may be configured to transmit a TA report to network node 125 in response to a value of TA deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount; See [0030] and [0056]).
Kunt fails to teach the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot, wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample.
Zhang teaches the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot (the i.sup.th uplink radio frame in which UE sends uplink transmission should be (N.sub.TA+N.sub.TAoffset)×T.sub.c seconds ahead of a corresponding downlink radio frame for the UE; See [0089]), wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the apparatus of Kunt to include the time offset value pertaining to a timing advance of an uplink time slot before a corresponding downlink time slot, wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 25, Kunt fails to teach the NE of claim 24, wherein the time offset value comprises a time value.
Zhang teaches wherein the time offset value comprises a time value (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the apparatus of Kunt to include wherein the time offset value comprises a time value taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 26, Kunt fails to teach the NE of claim 25, wherein the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period.
Zhang teaches wherein the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period (The time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset; See [0090]).
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the apparatus of Kunt to include wherein the time offset value indicates whether the time offset value is positive or negative in a time period taught by Zhang in order to improve signaling synchronization and reliability.
Regarding claim 27, Kunt further teaches the NE of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is operable to cause the NE to transmit a configuration of a reporting period (UE 110 may be configured to autonomously transmit its TA report to network node 125 periodically or non-periodically; See [0030]), and receive a reported value based on the reporting period (The UE 110 may transmit its TA report to network node 125, periodically or non-periodically, responsive to expiry of a timer; See [0058]).
Claims 4 and 18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kunt in view of Zhang as applied to claims 2 and 17 above, and further in view of Zhu (U.S. PGPub 2024/0323880), hereinafter referred to as Zhu.
Regarding claim 4, Kunt in view of Zhang fails to teach the apparatus of claim 2, wherein, the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to transmit a reference value, and the reference value comprises at least is one of a broadcast time offset, a previous first reported value, or a previous time offset value.
Zhu teaches transmit a reference value, and the reference value comprises at least is one of a broadcast time offset (the configuration information includes at least one of the followings: an offset parameter, configured to indicate an offset for reporting the TA command; See [0080]), a previous first reported value, or a previous time offset value.
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the apparatus of Kunt in view of Zhang to include wherein, the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to transmit a reference value, and the reference value comprises at least is one of a broadcast time offset, a previous first reported value, or a previous time offset value taught by Zhu in order to enhance reliability.
Regarding claim 18, Kunt in view of Zhang fails to teach the method of claim 17, further comprising transmitting a reference value, the reference value comprising at least one of a broadcast time offset, a previous first reported value, or a previous time offset value.
Zhu teaches transmitting a reference value, the reference value comprising at least one of a broadcast time offset (the configuration information includes at least one of the followings: an offset parameter, configured to indicate an offset for reporting the TA command; See [0080]), a previous first reported value, or a previous time offset value.
Therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time before the effective filing date of the invention, to modify the method of Kunt in view of Zhang to include transmitting a reference value, the reference value comprising at least one of a broadcast time offset taught by Zhu in order to enhance reliability.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 16 and 24 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.
On page 7-8 of the Applicants’ Response, Applicants state that Kunt et al. (U.S. PGPub 2023/0189179) fails to teach wherein the time offset value is specified in unit of a symbol sample.
Examiner agrees and has thus introduced Zhang et al. (U.S. PGPub 2020/0374826) which teaches the time granularity unit in LTE is defined as T.sub.s=1/2048/15000 second, while the time granularity in NR is defined as T.sub.c=1/4096/480000 second. Although the time units are defined differently, in LTE and NR, the uplink timing advance adjustment values have same parts: the TA reference value N.sub.TA and the TA offset N.sub.TAoffset (See [0090]).
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.
Conclusion
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/ASHLEY SHIVERS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2477 7/23/2026
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