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 .
Claims 1-10, 13-15 have been amended. Claims 16- 20 have been added.
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.
The factual inquiries 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.
Claim(s) 1, 2, 10, 11, 15, 16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura et al. (US20220345283) in view of Ly et al. (US20220085936).
Regarding claim 1, 10, Matsumura teaches A user equipment ("UE"), comprising :at least one memory; and a processor coupled, the processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the UE ([0229] “For example, each of functions of the base station 10 and the user terminal 20 is implemented by causing the processor 1001 to perform operation by predetermined software (program) to be read on hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002”) to:
receive signaling information from a network ([0040] “An information element of the TCI state configured by higher layer signaling (“TCI-state IE” of RRC) may include one or a plurality of pieces of QCL information”), the signaling information indicating quasi-co-location ("QCL") information comprising at least one source reference signal ("RS") and at least one target RS for transmission to the network, reception from the network, or a combination thereof ([0032-33]” UE may determine, based on a TCI-state of a signal/channel or QCL assumption, at least one of a transmission beam (Tx beam) and a reception beam (Rx beam) of the signal/channel…The TCI state may be, for example, information regarding QCL between a target channel (in other words, a reference signal (RS) for the channel) and another signal (for example, another reference signal (RS)). The TCI state may be configured (instructed) by higher layer signaling, physical layer signaling, or a combination thereof”, [0145-0146] “ channel/signal (which may be referred to as a target RS) … Furthermore, an RS (source RS) having a QCL relation with the channel/signal may be, for example, a DL RS (for example, SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, and the like) … The association may be explicitly configured (or specified) by higher layer signaling (for example, RRC signaling, MAC CE, and the like)”),
the at least one source RS and the at least one target RS associated with one or more waveforms ([0173] “The radio access method may be referred to as a waveform. Note that, in the radio communication system 1, another radio access method (for example, another single carrier transmission method and another multi-carrier transmission method) may be used as UL and DL radio access methods”);
and apply the QCL information based on the one or more waveforms associated with the at least one source RS and the at least one target RS ([0032] “UE may determine, based on a TCI-state of a signal/channel or QCL assumption, at least one of a transmission beam (Tx beam) and a reception beam (Rx beam) of the signal/channel”)
Matsumura does not teach and in response to determining that a waveform type associated with the at least one source RS corresponds to a waveform type associated with the at least one target RS.
Ly teaches and in response to determining that a waveform type associated with the at least one source RS corresponds to a waveform type associated with the at least one target RS ([0132] “UE 415 may determine a configuration of a DPRS received from base station 405 based on a DPRS configuration indication received from base station 405 and/or characteristics of a downlink transmission received from base station 405. In some examples, UE 415 may determine one or more transmission parameters (e.g., waveform type, numerology, multi-beam parameters, etc.) for the DPRS based on the indication received from base station 405. For example, UE 415 may determine a waveform type used for the DPRS based on the received indication. UE 415 may also determine one or more transmission parameters based on transmission parameters used for other transmissions received in a downlink transmission. In some examples, UE 415 may determine a waveform type used for the DPRS based on a waveform type used for a control, data, or reference signal included in the downlink transmission (or a prior downlink transmission). For example, UE 415 may determine that the DPRS is transmitted using a waveform type that matches a waveform type used for a PDCCH signal, a PDSCH signal, or a CSI-RS included in the uplink transmission (or a prior uplink transmission)”, [0134] “In some examples, UE 415 determines that the DPRS has a same QCL relationship with a reference signal (e.g., a CSI-RS) as a QCL relationship between a PDCCH signal and the reference signal. In some examples, UE 415 determines that the DPRS has a same QCL relationship with a reference signal (e.g., a CSI-RS) as a QCL relationship between a PDSCH signal and the reference signal. In other examples, UE 415 determines that DPRS has a QCL relationship with a reference signal (e.g., a CSI-RS) based on a TCI state that is explicitly signaled for the DPRS—the signaled TCI state may be the same or different from a TCI state for a control and/or data signal transmitted from base station 405” (Examiner’s Note: DPRS == target, PDCCH or PDSCH or CSI-RS ==source).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Matsumura to incorporate the teachings of Ly. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve flexibility of the system.
Regarding claim 15, 16 Matsumura teaches A network entity (“NE”), comprising: at least one memory; and a at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory and configured to cause the NE ([0229] “For example, each of functions of the base station 10 and the user terminal 20 is implemented by causing the processor 1001 to perform operation by predetermined software (program) to be read on hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002”) to:
determine signaling information indicating quasi-co-location ("QCL") information comprising at least one source reference signal ("RS") and at least one target RS for transmission to a network, reception from the network, or a combination thereof ([0032-33]” UE may determine, based on a TCI-state of a signal/channel or QCL assumption, at least one of a transmission beam (Tx beam) and a reception beam (Rx beam) of the signal/channel…The TCI state may be, for example, information regarding QCL between a target channel (in other words, a reference signal (RS) for the channel) and another signal (for example, another reference signal (RS)). The TCI state may be configured (instructed) by higher layer signaling, physical layer signaling, or a combination thereof”, [0145-0146] “ channel/signal (which may be referred to as a target RS) … Furthermore, an RS (source RS) having a QCL relation with the channel/signal may be, for example, a DL RS (for example, SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, and the like) … The association may be explicitly configured (or specified) by higher layer signaling (for example, RRC signaling, MAC CE, and the like)”),
the at least one source RS and the at least one target RS associated with one or more waveforms ([0173] “The radio access method may be referred to as a waveform. Note that, in the radio communication system 1, another radio access method (for example, another single carrier transmission method and another multi-carrier transmission method) may be used as UL and DL radio access methods”), ;
and transmit the QCL information to a user equipment ("UE") for application based on the one or more waveforms associated with the at least one source RS and the at least one target RS ([0032] “UE may determine, based on a TCI-state of a signal/channel or QCL assumption, at least one of a transmission beam (Tx beam) and a reception beam (Rx beam) of the signal/channel”),
Matsumura does not teach the QCL information indicating a waveform type associated with the at least one source RS and a waveform type associated with the at least one target RS for the UE to apply the QCL information in response to determining that the waveform type associated with the at least one source RS corresponds to the waveform type associated with the at least one target RS.
Ly teaches the QCL information indicating a waveform type associated with the at least one source RS and a waveform type associated with the at least one target RS for the UE to apply the QCL information in response to determining that the waveform type associated with the at least one source RS corresponds to the waveform type associated with the at least one target RS([0132] “UE 415 may determine a configuration of a DPRS received from base station 405 based on a DPRS configuration indication received from base station 405 and/or characteristics of a downlink transmission received from base station 405. In some examples, UE 415 may determine one or more transmission parameters (e.g., waveform type, numerology, multi-beam parameters, etc.) for the DPRS based on the indication received from base station 405. For example, UE 415 may determine a waveform type used for the DPRS based on the received indication. UE 415 may also determine one or more transmission parameters based on transmission parameters used for other transmissions received in a downlink transmission. In some examples, UE 415 may determine a waveform type used for the DPRS based on a waveform type used for a control, data, or reference signal included in the downlink transmission (or a prior downlink transmission). For example, UE 415 may determine that the DPRS is transmitted using a waveform type that matches a waveform type used for a PDCCH signal, a PDSCH signal, or a CSI-RS included in the uplink transmission (or a prior uplink transmission)” (Examiner’s Note: DPRS == target, PDCCH or PDSCH or CSI-RS ==source).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Matsumura to incorporate the teachings of Ly. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve flexibility of the system.
Regarding claim 2, 11 Matsumura teaches wherein a waveform associated with the at least one source RS and a waveform associated with the at least one target RS are the same in the QCL information ([0148] -0150] “A correspondence relationship between the RS and the panel ID may be configured by being included in UL TCI state information, or may be configured by being included in at least one of resource configuration information, spatial relation information, and the like of the RS … A QCL type indicated by the UL TCI state may be the existing QCL type A-D, or may be another QCL type, or may include a predetermined spatial relation, an associated antenna port (port index), or the like … only by updating the spatial relation/UL-TCI state of one CC, the same effect as that obtained by updating the spatial relations/UL-TCI states of other CCs of the same group is obtained, so that it is possible to effectively reduce communication overhead related to updating of the TCI state”).
Claim(s) 3, 8, 9, 12, 19-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura in view of Venugopal et a. (US20210185688).
Regarding claims 3, 12 Matsumura, Ly does not teach wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to use a waveform associated with the at least one source RS for transmission and reception of the at least one target RS in response to the waveform associated with the at least source RS being different from a waveform associated with the at least one target RS.
Venugopal teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to use a waveform associated with the at least one source RS for transmission and reception of the at least one target RS ([0087] “The table 900 shows source RSs, target RSs, and QCL type assumptions that may be configured by a valid UL-TCI state configuration. The target signal generally refers to a signal for which channel properties may be inferred by measuring those channel properties for an associated source signal. As noted above, a UE may use the source RS to determine various channel parameters, depending on the associated QCL type, and use those various channel properties (determined based on the source RS) to process the target signal”) in response to the waveform associated with the at least one source RS being different from a waveform associated with the at least one target RS ([0088] “For the case of two source RSs, the different QCL types can be configured for the same target RS. In the illustrative example, SSB is associated with TypeC QCL for P-TRS, while CSI-RS for beam management (CSI-RS-BM) is associated with TypeD QCL”).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified the combination of Matsumura, Ly to incorporate the teachings of Venugopal. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve communications between access points and stations in a wireless network.
Regarding claim 8, 19 Matsumura, Ly does not teach wherein at least two source RSs are indicated, each of the at least two source RSs associated with a waveform such that a first source RS of the at least two source RSs is used to indicate QCL assumption and a corresponding waveform for uplink and a second source RS of the at least two source RSs is used to indicate QCL assumption and a corresponding waveform for downlink.
Venugopal teaches wherein at least two source RSs are indicated, each of the at least two source RSs associated with a waveform such that a first source RS of the at least two source RSs is used to indicate QCL assumption and a corresponding waveform for uplink and a second source RS of the at least two source RSs is used to indicate QCL assumption and a corresponding waveform for downlink ([0083] “TCI states generally include configurations such as QCL-relationships, such as the relationships between the downlink (DL) source RSs in one CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) set and the target PDSCH demodulation reference signal (DMRS) ports”).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Matsumura to incorporate the teachings of Venugopal. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve communications between access points and stations in a wireless network.
Regarding claim 9, 20, Matsumura, Ly does not teach wherein at least two source RSs are indicated, the at least two source RSs associated with a waveform, a first source RS of the at least two source RSs is used to indicate QCL assumption for uplink and a second source RS of the at least two source RSs is used to indicate QCL assumption for downlink, the associated waveform used for both uplink and downlink.
Venugopal teaches wherein at least two source RSs are indicated, the at least two source RSs associated with a waveform, a first source RS of the at least two source RSs is used to indicate QCL assumption for uplink and a second source RS of the at least two source RSs is used to indicate QCL assumption for downlink, the associated waveform used for both uplink and downlink ([0098] “a base station (BS) and a user equipment (UE) may have a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) framework for downlink and/or uplink beam indication”).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Matsumura to incorporate the teachings of Venugopal. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve communications between access points and stations in a wireless network.
Claim(s) 4-7, 13, 14, 17-18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Matsumura in view of Ly further in view of Khoshnevisan et al. (US20230379951 herein after Khosh).
Regarding claims 4, 13, Matsumura, Ly does not teach wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to receive at least two QCL assumptions that are indicated to the UE, the first QCL assumption associated with a first waveform type and a second QCL assumption associated with a second waveform type.
Khosh teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to receive at least two QCL assumptions that are indicated to the UE, the first QCL assumption associated with a first waveform type and a second QCL assumption associated with a second waveform type ([0108] “The UE 602 may maintain two default QCL assumptions, as shown in FIG. 6F. The two default QCL assumption may be a UE capability, which may be conditioned on another UE capability to receive two beams simultaneously (e.g., in a frequency range (FR2), a millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency range). For example, the UE 602 may support mDCI in FR2, but not support two simultaneous beams reception and/or not support two default QCL assumptions. The default QCL assumption may correspond to the TCI states of lowest DCI codepoint of the DCI codepoints indicating two TCI states”).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Matsumura, Ly to incorporate the teachings of Khosh. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to include improved and desirable quasi-colocation (QCL) assumption.
Regarding claim 5, 14, Matsumura teaches ([0148] -0150] “A correspondence relationship between the RS and the panel ID may be configured by being included in UL TCI state information, or may be configured by being included in at least one of resource configuration information, spatial relation information, and the like of the RS … A QCL type indicated by the UL TCI state may be the existing QCL type A-D, or may be another QCL type, or may include a predetermined spatial relation, an associated antenna port (port index), or the like … only by updating the spatial relation/UL-TCI state of one CC, the same effect as that obtained by updating the spatial relations/UL-TCI states of other CCs of the same group is obtained, so that it is possible to effectively reduce communication overhead related to updating of the TCI state”)
Matsumura, Ly does not teach wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to select one of the two QCL assumptions, for the selected one of the two QCL assumptions.
Khosh teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to select one of the two QCL assumptions, for the selected one of the two QCL assumptions ([0108] “The UE 602 may maintain two default QCL assumptions, as shown in FIG. 6F. The two default QCL assumption may be a UE capability, which may be conditioned on another UE capability to receive two beams simultaneously (e.g., in a frequency range (FR2), a millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency range). For example, the UE 602 may support mDCI in FR2, but not support two simultaneous beams reception and/or not support two default QCL assumptions. The default QCL assumption may correspond to the TCI states of lowest DCI codepoint of the DCI codepoints indicating two TCI states”).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Matsumura, Ly to incorporate the teachings of Khosh. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to include improved and desirable quasi-colocation (QCL) assumption.
Regarding claim 6, 17, Matsumura does not teach wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to schedule at least two instances of the at least one target RS transmission or reception, the first instance associated with the first waveform type and the second instance associated with the second waveform type.
Ly teaches the first instance associated with the first waveform type and the second instance associated with the second waveform type ([0132] “UE 415 may determine a configuration of a DPRS received from base station 405 based on a DPRS configuration indication received from base station 405 and/or characteristics of a downlink transmission received from base station 405. In some examples, UE 415 may determine one or more transmission parameters (e.g., waveform type, numerology, multi-beam parameters, etc.) for the DPRS based on the indication received from base station 405. For example, UE 415 may determine a waveform type used for the DPRS based on the received indication. UE 415 may also determine one or more transmission parameters based on transmission parameters used for other transmissions received in a downlink transmission. In some examples, UE 415 may determine a waveform type used for the DPRS based on a waveform type used for a control, data, or reference signal included in the downlink transmission (or a prior downlink transmission). For example, UE 415 may determine that the DPRS is transmitted using a waveform type that matches a waveform type used for a PDCCH signal, a PDSCH signal, or a CSI-RS included in the uplink transmission (or a prior uplink transmission)” (Examiner’s Note: DPRS == target, PDCCH or PDSCH or CSI-RS ==source).
Ly does not teach wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to schedule at least two instances of the at least one target RS transmission or reception.
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Matsumura to incorporate the teachings of Ly. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve flexibility of the system.
.
Khosh teaches wherein the at least one processor is configured to cause the UE to schedule at least two instances of the at least one target RS transmission or reception ([0106], [0107] “if the UE 602 determines, at 608 a, a time offset between the reception of the DCI and the corresponding PDSCH is equal to or larger than the threshold (e.g., timeDurationForQCL), then the UE 602 may apply the TCI state indicated in the DCI for the PDSCH, at 610 a. For example, the UE 602 can determine the receive beam for receiving the PDSCH based on the indicated TCI state, at 612…
If the UE 602 determines, at 608 b, that the time offset is less than the threshold (e.g., timeDurationForQCL), then the UE 602 applies a default QCL assumption for the PDSCH at 610 b. For example, the UE 602 can determine the receive beam for receiving the PDSCH based on the default QCL, at 614”).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Matsumura, Ly to incorporate the teachings of Khosh. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to include improved and desirable quasi-colocation (QCL) assumption.
Regarding claim 7, 18 Matsumura teaches wherein a Transmission Configuration Indicator ("TCI") indicates, to the at least one target RS, the at least one source RS, a QCL assumption type, and a waveform to be used for transmission or reception of the at least one target RS ([0032-33]” UE may determine, based on a TCI-state of a signal/channel or QCL assumption, at least one of a transmission beam (Tx beam) and a reception beam (Rx beam) of the signal/channel…The TCI state may be, for example, information regarding QCL between a target channel (in other words, a reference signal (RS) for the channel) and another signal (for example, another reference signal (RS)). The TCI state may be configured (instructed) by higher layer signaling, physical layer signaling, or a combination thereof”, [0145-0146] “ channel/signal (which may be referred to as a target RS) … Furthermore, an RS (source RS) having a QCL relation with the channel/signal may be, for example, a DL RS (for example, SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, and the like) … The association may be explicitly configured (or specified) by higher layer signaling (for example, RRC signaling, MAC CE, and the like)”, [0172] “a radio access method based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) may be used. For example, in at least one of downlink (DL) and uplink (UL), cyclic prefix OFDM (CP-OFDM), discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM), orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier frequency division multiple access (SC-FDMA), and the like may be used”).
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 04/16/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant’s Argument
Applicant remarks Matsumura does not teach amended Claim 1 to recite, in relevant part, that QCL information is applied "in response to determining that a waveform type associated with the at least one source RS corresponds to a waveform type associated with the at least one target RS."
Examiner’s Response
Examiner respectfully disagrees. See newly added reference Ly. Ly is relied upon to teach the amended portions of claim 1. See updated rejection.
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.
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/K.T.F./Examiner, Art Unit 2411
/DERRICK W FERRIS/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2411
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