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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 6/30/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The amendment made dated 5/26/2026 does not contain any new matter, and has been accepted.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 5/26/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding claim 1, due to the broadness of the claim language, Gong still does disclose the limitation of receiving an indication from a network node on the communications network of information associated with a limited capability zone (Gong: [0108], [0109]: geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; [0310]; [0186]: receiving alerts from Air Control System ([0161], [0162]) that the UAV will be in restricted zone). Geofencing boundaries are zones that have operational restrictions or limited capability zone.
Furthermore, Shimoda does disclose the newly amended feature of wherein receiving the indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone from the network node comprises receiving the indication of the information in dedicated signaling ([0463]: the use of RRC and dedicated signaling to communicate to the UAV; control information usually are sent via dedicated signaling).
It would have been obvious to one ordinarily skilled in the art at the time of invention to incorporate Shimoda’s disclosure to provide communication of control information.
Regarding claim 16, Gong still discloses the limitations of
determining information associated with a limited capability zone, the information including a transmission configuration for a communication device while the communication device is within the limited capability zone ([0108], [0109]: geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; [0310]; [0154]: the flight module communicating to the UAV flight regulations operations that the UAV must comply); and
transmitting an indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone to a communication device in the communications network ([0007], [0108], [0109]: communication with UAV about geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; [0154]: the flight module communicating to the UAV flight regulations operations that the UAV must comply); and
receiving communication from the communication device according to the transmission configuration ([0154]: the flight module communicate to the UAV flight regulations operations that the UAV must comply and operating UAV according to the flight regulations).
Regarding the newly added claim 39 is now also rejected by the Gong reference as shown below.
Therefore, due to the broadness of the claim language and the explanation provided above, the claims are still not yet in condition for allowance and are still rejected as shown below.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 16-18 and 39 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Gong et al. (US 2016/0292696; hereinafter Gong).
Regarding claim 16, Gong discloses a method of operating a network node in a communications network, the method comprising:
determining information associated with a limited capability zone, the information including a transmission configuration for a communication device while the communication device is within the limited capability zone ([0108], [0109]: geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; [0310]; [0154]: the flight module communicating to the UAV flight regulations operations that the UAV must comply); and
transmitting an indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone to a communication device in the communications network ([0007], [0108], [0109]: communication with UAV about geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; [0154]: the flight module communicating to the UAV flight regulations operations that the UAV must comply); and
receiving communication from the communication device according to the transmission configuration ([0154]: the flight module communicate to the UAV flight regulations operations that the UAV must comply and operating UAV according to the flight regulations).
Regarding claim 17, Gong discloses the method of Claim 16, wherein the limited capability zone comprises a no-fly zone, and wherein determining the information comprises determining an indication of a geographical area and restrictions associated with flight by communication devices within the geographical area ([0173]: flight restriction zone where UAV may not fly).
Regarding claim 18, Gong discloses the method of any of Claim 16,wherein the limited capability zone comprises a no-transmission zone, and wherein determining the information comprises determining an indication of a geographical area and restrictions associated with transmissions by communication devices within the geographical area ([0220]: the restriction of transmitting recording images from the UAV in particular locations).
Regarding claim 39, Gong discloses a communication device in a communications network, the communication device comprising:
processing circuitry; and
memory coupled to the processing circuitry and having instructions stored therein that are executable by the processing circuitry to cause the communication device to perform operations comprising:
receiving an indication from a network node in the communications network of a pattern of subframes to be used by the communication device while the communication device is within a limited capability zone (patterns of subframe is interpreted to be similar to the flight regulation pattern used within the geo-fenced location; [0108], [0109]: geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; [0310]; [0154]: the flight module communicating to the UAV flight regulations operations that the UAV must comply); and
communicating with the communications network using the pattern of subframes based on a location of the communication device being within the limited capability zone
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.
Claim(s) 1-4, 7-20 and 38 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gong et al. (US 2016/0292696; hereinafter Gong) in view of Shimoda et al. (US 2020/0214073; hereinafter Shimoda).
Regarding claim 1, Gong discloses a method of operating a communication device in a communications network, the method comprising:
receiving an indication from a network node on the communications network of information associated with a limited capability zone ([0108], [0109]: geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; [0310]; [0186]: receiving alerts from Air Control System ([0161], [0162]) that the UAV will be in restricted zone); and
limiting operation of the communication device based on the information and location of the communication device relative to the limited capability zone ([0108], [0109]: geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations based on location and authorization: [0121], [0146]; [0154]: flight regulations can comprise various limitations such as time limit to be in a location, maximum speed in a location, type of data to be collected etc.).
Gong discloses all the particulars of the claim but is unclear about the limitation wherein receiving the indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone from the network node comprises receiving the indication of the information in dedicated signaling.
However, Shimoda does disclose the limitation of wherein receiving the indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone from the network node comprises receiving the indication of the information in dedicated signaling ([0463]: use of RRC and dedicated signaling is used to communicate to the UAV).
It would have been obvious to one ordinarily skilled in the art at the time of invention to incorporate Shimoda’s disclosure to provide communication of control information.
Regarding claim 2, Gong discloses the method of Claim 1, wherein the limited capability zone comprises a no-fly zone, and wherein receiving the indication the information comprises receiving the indication a geographical area and restrictions associated with flight by communication devices within the geographical area ([0173]: flight restriction zone where UAV may not fly).
Regarding claim 3, Gong discloses the method of any of Claim 1,wherein the limited capability zone comprises a no-transmission zone, and wherein receiving the indication the information comprises receiving an indication of a geographical area and restrictions associated with transmissions by communication devices within the geographical area ([0220]: the restriction of transmitting recording images from the UAV in particular locations).
Regarding claim 4, Gong discloses the method of any of Claim 1,wherein receiving the indication of the information comprises receiving the indication the information as part of a subscription between the communication device and an operator of the communications network ([0027]: UAV and controller being a part of the authorized users to operate the UAV).
Regarding claim 8, Gong discloses the method of any of Claim 6, wherein receiving the indication the information associated with the limited capability zone further comprises:
determining a condition associated with the communication device; and
transmitting an indication of the condition associated with the communication device to the network node, and receiving the indication of the information in the dedicated signaling in response to transmitting the indication of the condition associated with the communication device to the network node ([0007], [0108], [0109]: communication with UAV about geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations).
Regarding claims 9 and 38, Gong discloses wherein determining the condition associated with the communication device comprises determining at least one of:
a type of the communication device ([0163]: device type);
a specific action being performed by the communication device ([0122]-[0123]: operations performed by UAV); and
a current location of the communication device ([0123]: GPS sensor for location monitoring),
wherein transmitting the indication of the information comprises transmitting the indication of the information in response to the condition associated with the communication device ([0007], [0108], [0109]: communication with UAV about geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations).
Regarding claim 10, Gong discloses the method of Claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the information from the network node comprises receiving the indication of the information in broadcast signaling ([0271]: broadcast communication).
Regarding claim 11, Gong discloses the method of any of Claim 1, the method further comprising: determining whether the limited capability zone is active, wherein limiting the operation of the communication device based on the information comprises limiting the operation of the communication device based on determining that the limited capability zone is active ([0867]: geo-fencing regulation might change over time, some condition might be active then inactive giving way to new regulations).
Regarding claim 12, Gong discloses the method of Claim 1, the method further comprising:
determining a pattern of subframes to be used by the communication device while the communication device is within the limited capability zone ([0108], [0109]: geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; [0310]; [0154]: the flight module communicating to the UAV flight regulations operations that the UAV must comply; [0335], [0420]: detecting patterns of behavior), and
wherein limiting the operation of the communication device comprises communicating using the pattern of subframes while the communication device is within the limited capability zone ([0007], [0108], [0109]: communication with UAV about geo-fencing boundaries to apply restrictions to UAV operations; ).
Regarding claim 13, Gong discloses the method of any of Claim 1,wherein receiving the indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone comprises receiving an indication of movements permitted by the communication device while the communication device is within the limited capability zone, and wherein limiting the operation of the communication device comprises limiting movement of the communication device to the movements permitted by the communication device while the communication device is within the limited capability zone ([0750], [0174]: flight regulation governs movement of UAV).
Regarding claim 14, Gong discloses the method of any of Claim 1,wherein receiving the indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone comprises receiving an indication of whether the communication device is permitted to enter or perform an action within the limited capability zone, and wherein limiting the operation of the communication device comprises limiting entrance or performance of the action of the communication device based on whether the communication device is permitted to enter or perform the action within the limited capability zone ([0750]: UAV restrictions within the geo-fence location; [0027]: UAV and controller being a part of the authorized users to operate the UAV).
Regarding claim 15, Gong discloses the method of Claim 1, wherein receiving the indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone comprises receiving an indication of transmissions permitted by the communication device while the communication device is within the limited capability zone, and wherein limiting the operation of the communication device comprises limiting transmissions of the communication device based on the indication of transmission permitted by the communication device while the communication device is within the limited capability zone ([0750]: UAV restrictions within the geo-fence location; [0027]: UAV and controller being a part of the authorized users to operate the UAV).
Regarding claim 19, Gong discloses all the particulars of the claim except for wherein receiving the indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone from the network node comprises receiving the indication of the information in dedicated signaling.
However, Shimoda does disclose the limitation of wherein receiving the indication of the information associated with the limited capability zone from the network node comprises receiving the indication of the information in dedicated signaling ([0463]: use of RRC and dedicated signaling is used to communicate to the UAV).
It would have been obvious to one ordinarily skilled in the art at the time of invention to incorporate Shimoda’s disclosure to provide more effective communication.
Regarding claims 7 and 20, Gong discloses all the particulars of the claims except for wherein receiving the indication of the information in dedicated signaling comprises receiving the indication of the information in a radio resource control message.
However, Shimoda does disclose the limitation of wherein receiving the indication of the information in dedicated signaling comprises receiving the indication of the information in a radio resource control message ([0463]: use of RRC and dedicated signaling is used to communicate to the UAV).
It would have been obvious to one ordinarily skilled in the art at the time of invention to incorporate Shimoda’s disclosure to provide more effective communication.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHUCK HUYNH whose telephone number is (571)272-7866. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 10am - 6pm.
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/CHUCK HUYNH/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2644
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