DETAILED ACTION
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . This action is responsive to amendments filed on 06/26/2026. Claims 1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14-17 are currently amended. Claims 1-17 are pending for examination.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
2. 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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 06/26/2026 has been entered.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
3. The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112(a):
(a) IN GENERAL.—The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor or joint inventor of carrying out the invention.
The following is a quotation of the first paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112:
The specification shall contain a written description of the invention, and of the manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it is most nearly connected, to make and use the same, and shall set forth the best mode contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention.
Claim 1-17 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(a) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), first paragraph, as failing to comply with the written description requirement. The claim(s) contains subject matter which was not described in the specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the relevant art that the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention. Claims 1, 11, 14-17 have the limitation “the respective PRACH configuration including identifier information to identify the respective PRACH configuration corresponding to a first feature, wherein the first feature is from among four possible features including a second feature related to a capability of the UE”, as a new matter.
Independent claims 1, 11, 14-17 recite “the respective PRACH configuration including identifier information to identify the respective PRACH configuration corresponding to a first feature, from among four possible features including a second feature, related to a capability of the UE”. The limitations with the “first feature” nor the written description of the limitation is not mentioned anywhere in the specification. Failing to provide the written description in the specification filed, the claims raised a new matter issue and accordingly claims are rejected under 112 first paragraph. Claims 2-10 depend on claim 1; claims 12-13 depend on claim 11. So, same rational applies for these claims. Therefore, dependent claims 2-10, 12-13 are also rejected for the same reason.
Response to Arguments
4. Applicant’s arguments filed on 06/26/2026 with respect to claims 1, 11, 14-17 have been considered but are moot in view of the new ground of rejection necessitated by applicant’s amendment.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
5. 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.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
6. Claims 1-4, 9-16 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Su (US 2019/0239254 A1) in view of Maattanen (US 2022/0272762 A1).
Regarding claims 1, 14, 15 and 17, Su teaches a method performed by a network node (eNodeB/base station), the method comprising:
transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), system information (SIB 2) including cell specific random-access configuration information including a respective (1st and 2nd) physical random-access channel (PRACH) configuration ([0129], For each of cells, eNodeB will signal one of the PRACH configurations (by broadcasting the index of the PRACH configuration in SIB2) to be used by devices/UEs attempting random access in that cell. Wherein [0153], Fig. 9, at 910-- processing agent {of UE—[0151] } receives an index I.sub.LBL identifies 1st configuration and index I.sub.NLBL identifies 2nd configuration that has been broadcast by a base station.)(Hence the base station transmits SIB 2 including cell specific RA configuration info including 1st and 2nd PRACH configuration.),
receiving, from the UE, signalling at initiation of a random-access procedure, the signalling including a random-access preamble ([0130], at initiation of RA procedure, the UE transmits preamble.) transmitted using random-access resources based on the respective (1st and 2nd) PRACH configuration ([0154], Fig. 9, at 915—when the UE device is as link budget limited, the UE transmits the PRACH { preamble format and allowable time resources—[0129]; [0157]} based on the 1st configuration and when the UE device is as non- link budget limited, the UE transmits the PRACH { preamble format and allowable time resources—[0129]; [0157]} based on the 2nd configuration, to the base station.)(Hence the base station receives from the respective UE, a RA preamble transmitted using RA resources based on 1st and 2nd /respective PRACH configuration.); and
Su teaches a random-access procedure.
Su does not teach in a random access procedure, the respective PRACH configuration including identifier information to identify the respective PRACH configuration corresponding to a first feature, wherein the first feature is from among four possible features including a second feature related to a capability of the UE; communicating with the network node to continue the random-access procedure.
However, in an analogous art, Maattanen teaches in random access procedure,
the respective PRACH configuration ([0116], Fig. 7, UE receives RACH configurations to perform random access, from Node (step 700).) including identifier information to identify the respective PRACH configuration corresponding to a first feature ( [0029], wireless device/UE obtains information that indicates one or more RACH pre-compensation features; [0107], Node determines whether the UE satisfies one or more criteria for the RACH configuration for Feature X ( Feature 1 RACH configuration—[0099]). If so, the node selects the RACH configuration for Feature X as the RACH configuration to be used by the UE.) (Hence respective PRACH configuration includes identifier information to identify respective PRACH features.), wherein the first feature is from among four possible features including a second feature ([0089]-[0092], there are four features including 1st and 2nd features.) related to a capability of the UE ([0099], Feature 1 RACH configuration (i.e., the RACH configuration for UEs having the Feature 1 pre-compensation capability).)(Hence the 1st feature related to pre-compensation capability of the UE );
communicating with the UE to continue the random-access procedure ([0116];[0117], Fig. 7, The base station/node and UE then continue the random access procedure (step 706).).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to take the teaching of Maattanen and apply them on the teaching of Su to provide a wireless device comprises obtaining information that indicates one or more random access channel pre-compensation features required for wireless devices to select a cell (Maattanen; Abstract).
Specially, for Claim 15, Su teaches a network node (BS 102-Fig. 4) comprising: a controller (404-Fig. 4—[0111]) and a transceiver(430-Fig. 4;[0110] ), wherein the controller is configured to:
Specially, for Claim 17, Su teaches a user equipment (UE) (UE 106-Fig. 3) comprising: a controller (302-Fig. 3—[0106]) and a transceiver(330-Fig. 4;[0102] ), wherein the controller is configured to:
Regarding claims 11 and 16, Su teaches a method performed by a network node (base station), the method comprising:
selecting, from a plurality of physical random-access channel (PRACH) configurations, a PRACH configuration to be used by a user equipment (UE) in a contention free random-access (CFRA) procedure ( [0183], Fig. 11, at 1110-- an index is broadcasted by a base station, wherein the index identifies 1st configuration for transmission of a PRACH, wherein the configuration {is selected from PRACH configurations} has a conventionally-defined set of allowable subframes for transmission of the PRACH.),
wherein the PRACH configuration is selected based on a PRACH configuration previously (conventionally) used by the UE in a random-access procedure ([0183], Fig. 11, wherein the configuration {is selected from PRACH configurations} has a conventionally-defined set of allowable subframes for transmission of the PRACH by non-link-budget limited UE devices), and
signalling, to the UE, a random-access preamble to be used in the CFRA procedure ([0130], at initiation of RA procedure, the UE transmits preamble.) based on the PRACH configuration ( [0154], Fig. 9, at 915—when the UE device is as link budget limited, the UE transmits the PRACH { preamble format and allowable time resources—[0129]; [0157]} based on the 1st configuration, to the base station.);
receiving, from the UE, signalling for initiating the CFRA procedure, the signalling including a random-access preamble ([0130], at initiation of RA procedure, the UE transmits preamble; [0154], Fig. 9, at 915—when the UE device is as link budget limited, the UE transmits the PRACH { preamble format and allowable time resources—[0129]; [0157]} based on the 1st configuration to the base station.) (Hence the base station receives from the respective UE, a RA preamble transmitted using RA resources based on 1st PRACH configuration.); and
Su teaches random access procedure.
Su does not teach contention free random-access (CFRA) procedure.
Su does not teach CFRA procedure, wherein the PRACH configuration includes identifier information to identify the PRACH configuration corresponding to a first feature, wherein the first feature is from among four possible features including a second feature related to a capability of the UE; wherein the random-access preamble is transmitted using random-access resources based on the PRACH configuration corresponding to the first feature, and wherein the first feature corresponds to a group of UEs identified based on the identifier information and in which the UE is located; communicating with the UE to continue the CFRA procedure.
However, in an analogous art, Maattanen teaches a CFRA procedure ([0008]),
Wherein the PRACH configuration ([0116], Fig. 7, UE receives RACH configurations to perform random access, from Node (step 700).) including identifier information to identify the PRACH configuration corresponding to a first feature ([0029], wireless device/UE obtains information that indicates one or more RACH pre-compensation features; [0107], Node determines whether the UE satisfies one or more criteria for the RACH configuration for Feature X ( Feature 1 RACH configuration—[0099]). If so, the node selects the RACH configuration for Feature X as the RACH configuration to be used by the UE.) (Hence respective PRACH configuration includes identifier information to identify respective PRACH features.), wherein the first feature is from among four possible features including a second feature ([0089]-[0092], there are four features including 1st and 2nd features.) related to a capability of the UE ([0099], Feature 1 RACH configuration (i.e., the RACH configuration for UEs having the Feature 1 pre-compensation capability).)(Hence the 1st feature related to pre-compensation capability of the UE );
wherein the random-access(RACH) preamble is transmitted using random-access(RACH) resources based on the PRACH configuration( [0116], Fig. 7, The UE transmits a PRACH preamble {using RA resources—[0006]} in accordance with the selected RACH configuration (step 704).) corresponding to the first feature (Feature 1 RACH configuration—[0099]), and
wherein the first feature corresponds to a group of UEs identified based on the identifier information([0029], wireless device/UE obtains information that indicates one or more RACH pre-compensation features; wherein [0099], Feature 1 RACH configuration (i.e., the RACH configuration for UEs having Feature 1 pre-compensation capability).) and in which the UE is located ([0142]);
receiving, from the UE, signalling for initiating the CFRA (contention-free random access—[0008]) procedure, the signalling including the random-access preamble ([0117], The base station receives PRACH preamble from the UE. The base station and UE then continue the random access procedure (step 706).); and
communicating with the UE to continue the CFRA (contention-free random access—[0008]) procedure ([0116]; [0117], Fig. 7, The base station/node and UE then continue the random access procedure (step 706).).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to take the teaching of Maattanen and apply them on the teaching of Su to provide a wireless device comprises obtaining information that indicates one or more random access channel pre-compensation features required for wireless devices to select a cell (Maattanen; Abstract).
Specially for Claim 16, Su teaches a network node (BS 102-Fig. 4) comprising:
a controller (404-Fig. 4—[0111]) and a transceiver(430-Fig. 4;[0110] ), wherein the controller is configured to:
Regarding claim 2, Su further teaches wherein the respective(1st and 2nd) PRACH configuration is associated with a characteristic or a capability(not selected) of respective UEs corresponding to a group of UEs (link-budget-limited UE & non-link-budget-limited UE) ( [0153], index I.sub.LBL identifies 1st configuration for transmission of PRACH by link-budget-limited UE devices and index I.sub.NLBL identifies 2nd configuration for transmission of PRACH by non-link-budget-limited UE devices.).
Regarding claim 3, Su further teaches further comprising: transmitting, to the UE, first information(signal) indicating the respective (1st and 2nd) PRACH configuration is associated with each characteristic or capability (not selected) of the UE ( [0129], For each of cells, eNodeB will signal one of the PRACH configurations (by broadcasting the index of the PRACH configuration in SIB2) to be used by devices/UEs attempting random access in that cell. Wherein [0153], Fig. 9, at 910-- processing agent {of UE—[0151] } receives an index I.sub.LBL identifies 1st configuration for transmission of PRACH by link-budget-limited UE devices and index I.sub.NLBL identifies 2nd configuration for transmission of PRACH by non-link-budget-limited UE devices that has been broadcast by a base station.).
Regarding claim 4, Su further teaches wherein the first information(signal) is transmitted with the cell specific random-access configuration information ([0129], For each of cells, eNodeB will signal one of the PRACH configurations (by broadcasting the index of the PRACH configuration in SIB2) to be used by devices/UEs attempting random access in that cell. So obvious cell specific.).
Regarding claim 9, Su further teaches wherein the system information is transmitted using information elements (IEs) of a system information block type 1 (SIB1) ([0142]; [0129]).
Regarding claim 10, Su further teaches wherein the random- access configuration information is transmitted using at least one of:
a respective prach-RootSequencelndex information element (IE) for each of the respective PRACH configurations (not selected),
a respective ra-ResponseWindow information element (IE) for each of the respective PRACH configurations (not selected),
a respective zeroCorrelationZoneConfig information element (IE) for each of the respective PRACH configurations (not selected),
a respective prach-Configurationindex information element (IE) for each of the respective PRACH configurations (not selected),
a respective RACH-ConfigGeneric information element (IE) for each of the respective PRACH configuration (not selected), or
a respective RACH-ConfigCommon information element (IE)([0142]) for each of the respective(1st and 2nd) PRACH configurations ([0153]; [0129]).
Regarding claim 12, Su further teaches wherein the random-access preamble is signalled to the UE using a rach-ConfigDedicated information element (IE) ([0129); [0142].
Regarding claim 13, Su further teaches wherein the method is performed as part of a handover procedure ([0008]).
7. Claims 5-8 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Su (US 2019/0239254 A1) in view of Maattanen (US 2022/0272762 A1), further in view of Tseng (US 2023/0344508 A1).
Regarding claim 5, Su- Maattanen do not teach wherein each of at least two of the respective PRACH preamble format per group of UEs is associated with a respective pre-compensation capability of the UE.
However, in an analogous art, Tseng teaches wherein each of at least two of the respective PRACH configuration is associated with a respective pre-compensation capability of the UE ( [0131], “Type 1 RACH resource” is RACH resource configured for UEs {“Type 1 UE”—[0133]}that are capable to perform pre-compensation; and [0132], “Type 2 RACH resource” is RACH resource configured for UEs {“Type 2 UE”—[0134]} that are not capable to perform the pre-compensation.).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to take the teaching of Tseng and apply them on the teaching of Su- Maattanen to provide pre-compensation capability of a UE (Tseng; [0133] and [0134]).
Regarding claim 6, Su- Maattanen do not teach wherein each of the respective pre-compensation capability includes at least one of: a first pre-compensation capability for a UE that has a capability to perform pre- compensation; and a second pre-compensation capability for a UE that does not have a capability to perform pre-compensation.
However, in an analogous art, Tseng teaches wherein each of the respective pre-compensation capability includes at least one of:
a first pre-compensation capability for a UE that has a capability to perform pre- compensation ([0131], “Type 1 RACH resource” is RACH resource configured for UEs {“Type 1 UE”—[0133]} that are capable to perform pre-compensation{i.e. 1st pre-compensation capability.};); and
a second pre-compensation capability for a UE that does not have a capability to perform pre-compensation (not selected).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to take the teaching of Tseng and apply them on the teaching of Su- Maattanen to provide pre-compensation capability of a UE (Tseng; [0133] and [0134]).
Regarding claim 7, Su- Maattanen do not teach wherein each of at least two of the respective pre-compensation capability represents a respective
However, in an analogous art, Tseng teaches wherein each of at least two of the respective pre-compensation capability represents a respective
perform pre-compensation ([0131], “Type 1 RACH resource” is RACH resource configured for UEs {“Type 1 UE”—[0133]}that are capable to perform pre-compensation;); or
determine a position of the UE on which pre-compensation is to be based (not selected).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to take the teaching of Tseng and apply them on the teaching of Su- Maattanen to provide pre-compensation capability of a UE (Tseng; [0133] and [0134]).
Regarding claim 8, Su- Maattanen do not teach wherein at least one of the respective PRACH preamble format per group of UEs is associated with at least one of:
a mobility characteristic of the UE,
a rate at which timing advance values for the UE are changing,
a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capability of the UE, or
a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) coverage at the UE.
However, in an analogous art, Tseng teaches wherein at least one of the respective PRACH configuration is associated with at least one of:
a mobility characteristic of the UE (not selected),
a rate at which timing advance values for the UE are changing (not selected),
a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) capability of the UE ([0131], “Type 1 RACH resource” is RACH resource configured for UEs {“Type 1 UE”—[0133]}that are capable to perform pre-compensation (e.g., based on their GNSS capability). ), or
a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) coverage at the UE (not selected).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claim invention to take the teaching of Tseng and apply them on the teaching of Su- Maattanen to provide pre-compensation capability of a UE based on GNSS capability (Tseng; [0133] and [0134]).
Conclusion
8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MEHEDI S ALEY whose telephone number is (571)270-0439. The examiner can normally be reached Mon, Thus, Fri: 9-5. 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, Jeffrey M Rutkowski can be reached at 571-270-01215. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300. Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MEHEDI S ALEY/Examiner, Art Unit 2415
/JEFFREY M RUTKOWSKI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2415
Prosecution Insights