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 .
Response to Amendment
This communication is in response to the amendment of 12/24/2025. All changes made to the claims have been entered. Accordingly, Claims 5-9 are currently pending in the application.
Drawings
The drawings are objected to under 37 CFR 1.83(a). The drawings must show every feature of the invention specified in the claims. Therefore, the amended subject matter of “reception circuitry configured to receive a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including a downlink control information (DCI) format; and transmission circuitry configured to transmit a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) using a PUCCH resource indicated by the DCI format, wherein: the transmission circuitry is configured to determine a number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH based on whether or not a first radio resource control (RRC) parameter is provided, in a case that the first RRC parameter is provided, the number of the repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on the first RRC parameter, and in a case that the first RRC parameter is not provided, the number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on a second RRC parameter” must be shown or the feature(s) canceled from the claim(s). No new matter should be entered.
Corrected drawing sheets in compliance with 37 CFR 1.121(d) are required in reply to the Office action to avoid abandonment of the application. Any amended replacement drawing sheet should include all of the figures appearing on the immediate prior version of the sheet, even if only one figure is being amended. The figure or figure number of an amended drawing should not be labeled as “amended.” If a drawing figure is to be canceled, the appropriate figure must be removed from the replacement sheet, and where necessary, the remaining figures must be renumbered and appropriate changes made to the brief description of the several views of the drawings for consistency. Additional replacement sheets may be necessary to show the renumbering of the remaining figures. Each drawing sheet submitted after the filing date of an application must be labeled in the top margin as either “Replacement Sheet” or “New Sheet” pursuant to 37 CFR 1.121(d). If the changes are not accepted by the examiner, the applicant will be notified and informed of any required corrective action in the next Office action. The objection to the drawings will not be held in abeyance.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
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.
Claims 5, 7, 9 (dependent claims also being rejected since they are dependent upon rejected claims set forth) is 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the inventor(s), at the time the application was filed, had possession of the claimed invention.
Claim 5 recites the amended subject matter of “the transmission circuitry is configured to determine a number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH based on whether or not a first radio resource control (RRC) parameter is provided, in a case that the first RRC parameter is provided, the number of the repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on the first RRC parameter, and in a case that the first RRC parameter is not provided, the number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on a second RRC parameter”. However such subject matter do not seem to be disclosed in the Specification and/or Drawings. Examiner suggests clarifying such subject matter or specifically pointing out such subject matter in the Specification and/or Drawings. Similar rationale is applied to independent claims 7 and 9 reciting similar subject matter. It should further be noted that Applicant indicates that support for the amendment be found in [0045], [0087], [0109], and [0116] of the Specification (remarks page 4). However such paragraphs do not seem to disclose the above stated subject matter.
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)(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) 5-9 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Yang et al. (US 2020/0029335).
Regarding claim 5, 9, Yang discloses a terminal apparatus (a user equipment for wireless communication may include memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to determine, based at least in part on a downlink control information message associated with indicating a physical uplink control channel resource configuration, [0007] and figure 2) comprising:
reception circuitry ([0040]-[0047] and figure 2) configured to receive a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including a downlink control information (DCI) format (The base station may transmit control information/data on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource may be indicated using a downlink control information (DCI) message. For example, a UE may receive a DCI from a BS, and may determine time resources, frequency resources, code domain resources, and/or the like for a PUCCH transmission based at least in part on the DCI and UE 120 may determine a resource indicator value based at least in part on the DCI message. For example, the DCI message may include a PRI field, [0058] and [0079] and [0086] and [0084]); and
transmission circuitry ([0040]-[0047] and figure 2) configured to transmit a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) using a PUCCH resource indicated by the DCI format (a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource may be indicated using a downlink control information (DCI) message. For example, a UE may receive a DCI from a BS, and may determine time resources, frequency resources, code domain resources, and/or the like for a PUCCH transmission based at least in part on the DCI and UE 120 may determine a resource indicator value based at least in part on the DCI message. For example, the DCI message may include a PRI field, [0058] and [0079] and [0086] and [0084]); wherein
the transmission circuitry is configured to determine a number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH based on whether or not a first radio resource control (RRC) parameter is provided (For example, a UE may receive a DCI from a BS, and may determine time resources, frequency resources, code domain resources, and/or the like for a PUCCH transmission based at least in part on the DCI. Additionally…the UE may receive another message associated with configuring a PUCCH repetition parameter. For example, the UE may receive a radio resource control (RRC) message associated with indicating a quantity of repetitions of the PUCCH transmission that the UE is to transmit to ensure that, for a set of channel conditions, a reliability criterion is satisfied, a latency criterion is satisfied, and/or the like and UE 120 may determine a table identifying PUCCH resource parameters, PUCCH repetition parameters, and physical uplink control channel resource indicator (PRI) parameters based at least in part on RRC signaling, [0079] and [0084] and figure 7A),
in a case that the first RRC parameter is provided, the number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on the first RRC parameter, and
in a case that the first RRC parameter is not provided, the number of repetitions for the transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on a second RRC parameter (Additionally…the UE may receive another message associated with configuring a PUCCH repetition parameter. For example, the UE may receive a radio resource control (RRC) message associated with indicating a quantity of repetitions of the PUCCH transmission (Examiner correlating to a first RRC parameter or a second RRC parameter) that the UE is to transmit to ensure that, for a set of channel conditions, a reliability criterion is satisfied, a latency criterion is satisfied, and/or the like and UE 120 may determine a table identifying PUCCH resource parameters, PUCCH repetition parameters, and physical uplink control channel resource indicator (PRI) parameters based at least in part on RRC signaling, [0079] and [0084] and figure 7A).
Regarding claim 7, Yang discloses a base station apparatus (a base station for wireless communication may include memory and one or more processors operatively coupled to the memory. The memory and the one or more processors may be configured to transmit a downlink control information message associated with indicating a physical uplink control channel resource configuration identifying a physical uplink control channel repetition parameter, [0009]) and figure 2) comprising:
transmission circuitry ([0040]-[0047] and figure 2) configured to transmit a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including a downlink control information (DCI) format (The base station may transmit control information/data on a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource may be indicated using a downlink control information (DCI) message. For example, a UE may receive a DCI from a BS, and may determine time resources, frequency resources, code domain resources, and/or the like for a PUCCH transmission based at least in part on the DCI and UE 120 may determine a resource indicator value based at least in part on the DCI message. For example, the DCI message may include a PRI field, [0058] and [0079] and [0086] and [0084]); and
reception circuitry ([0040]-[0047] and figure 2) configured to receive a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) using a PUCCH resource indicated by the DCI format, (a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource may be indicated using a downlink control information (DCI) message. For example, a UE may receive a DCI from a BS, and may determine time resources, frequency resources, code domain resources, and/or the like for a PUCCH transmission based at least in part on the DCI and UE 120 may determine a resource indicator value based at least in part on the DCI message. For example, the DCI message may include a PRI field, [0058] and [0079] and [0086] and [0084]) wherein
the reception circuitry is configured to determine a number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH based on whether or not a first radio resource control (RRC) parameter is provided (For example, a UE may receive a DCI from a BS, and may determine time resources, frequency resources, code domain resources, and/or the like for a PUCCH transmission based at least in part on the DCI. Additionally…the UE may receive another message associated with configuring a PUCCH repetition parameter. For example, the UE may receive a radio resource control (RRC) message associated with indicating a quantity of repetitions of the PUCCH transmission that the UE is to transmit to ensure that, for a set of channel conditions, a reliability criterion is satisfied, a latency criterion is satisfied, and/or the like and UE 120 may determine a table identifying PUCCH resource parameters, PUCCH repetition parameters, and physical uplink control channel resource indicator (PRI) parameters based at least in part on RRC signaling, [0079] and [0084] and figure 7A),
in a case that the first RRC parameter is provided, the number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on the first RRC parameter, and
in a case that the first RRC parameter is not provided, the number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on a second RRC parameter (Additionally…the UE may receive another message associated with configuring a PUCCH repetition parameter. For example, the UE may receive a radio resource control (RRC) message associated with indicating a quantity of repetitions of the PUCCH transmission (Examiner correlating to a first RRC parameter or a second RRC parameter) that the UE is to transmit to ensure that, for a set of channel conditions, a reliability criterion is satisfied, a latency criterion is satisfied, and/or the like and UE 120 may determine a table identifying PUCCH resource parameters, PUCCH repetition parameters, and physical uplink control channel resource indicator (PRI) parameters based at least in part on RRC signaling, [0079] and [0084] and figure 7A).
Regarding claim 6, 8, Yang discloses wherein the first RRC parameter is provided for the PUCCH resource, and the second RRC parameter is provided for a PUCCH format corresponding to the PUCCH (the UE may receive an indication message associated with switching a PUCCH format, and may determine a quantity of repetitions for a PUCCH when switching the PUCCH format, [0079]-[0080] and [0083]).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 12/24/2025 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant submits that Yang fails to disclose the amended subject matter of “determine a number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH based on whether or not a first radio resource control (RRC) parameter is provided, in a case that the first RRC parameter is provided, the number of repetitions for transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on the first RRC parameter, and in a case that the first RRC parameter is not provided, the number of repetitions for the transmission of the PUCCH is determined based on a second RRC parameter” (remarks page 5-6). Examiner however respectfully disagrees as Yang discloses “a UE may receive a DCI from a BS, and may determine time resources, frequency resources, code domain resources, and/or the like for a PUCCH transmission based at least in part on the DCI. Additionally…the UE may receive another message associated with configuring a PUCCH repetition parameter. For example, the UE may receive a radio resource control (RRC) message associated with indicating a quantity of repetitions of the PUCCH transmission that the UE is to transmit to ensure that, for a set of channel conditions, a reliability criterion is satisfied, a latency criterion is satisfied, and/or the like and UE 120 may determine a table identifying PUCCH resource parameters, PUCCH repetition parameters, and physical uplink control channel resource indicator (PRI) parameters based at least in part on RRC signaling” ([0079] and [0084] and figure 7A). In other words, Examiner correlates receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message associated with indicating a quantity of repetitions of the PUCCH transmission to RRC repetition parameters as different values of repetitions indicated via RRC may correspond to a first or second RRC parameter. Thus Examiner believes Yang to disclose the amended subject matter.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
YI et al. (US 10966162) disclosing a method for transmitting, by a user equipment (UE), a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) signal in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: configuring a first number of repetitions for a first PUCCH format, wherein the first PUCCH format is PUCCH format 1; configuring a second number of repetitions for a second PUCCH format and repetition number may be scheduled via one of RRC, or DCI (col19 lines 1-50 and col12 lines 60-65)
Chatterjee (US 12219567) disclosing receive a radio resource control (RRC) message from a base station comprising a first repetition parameter indicating a first number of repetitions of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) transmission …and a second repetition parameter indicating a second number of repetitions of a PUCCH transmission carrying HARQ-ACK feedback…(col17 lines 25-45).
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 NGUYEN HOANG NGO whose telephone number is (571)272-8398. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
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, Kwang Yao can be reached at 571-272-3182. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/NGUYEN H NGO/Examiner, Art Unit 2473
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