DETAILED ACTION
This office action is a response to 5/26/2026.
Claims 1-14, 18, and 20 are pending.
Claims 1-9, 11-14, 18, and 20 are rejected.
Claim 10 is objected to.
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 4/24/2026 has been entered.
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed 4/24/2026 has been entered. Claims 1-14, 18, and 20 are now pending in the application.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) have been considered but are moot based on the new grounds of rejection necessitated by Applicant’s amendments.
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.
Claims 1-9, 11-14, 18, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Agiwal et al. US 20220022247 A1 (claiming foreign priority of a Korean patent application number 10-2020-0087541, filed on Jul. 15, 2020), hereinafter Agiwal, in view of Alfarhan et al. US 20240365316 A1 (claiming priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/007,166, filed Apr. 8, 2020, U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/061,435, filed Aug. 5, 2020, and U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 63/093,996 filed Oct. 20, 2020), hereinafter Alfarhan.
Regarding Claim 1, Agiwal discloses a data transmission method (Agiwal [0010] a method performed by a terminal), comprising:
obtaining, by a terminal, configuration information for data transmission, wherein the configuration information carries association configuration information between downlink signal and uplink transmission resource and first reference signal configuration information, wherein the first reference signal configuration information is configured to indicate the downlink signal used for a small data transmission procedure (Agiwal [0098] discloses that the UE received pre-configured resources for SDT in dedicated signaling from gNB; [0126-0127] discloses that the association between SSBs and configured grants (resources) are required because in RRC_INACTIVE state, the UE can only measure the SSBs; further discloses that configuration signaling can include one or more configured grant configurations for an UL carrier, and a list of one or more SSB IDs associated with the grant configuration is signaled in the corresponding configuration, see at least [0125-0142] and Figs. 2-3);
selecting, by the terminal, a target downlink signal according to the first reference signal configuration information, and determining a target uplink transmission resource based on the association configuration information between downlink signal and uplink transmission resource (Agiwal at least Figs. 2 and 3, [0125-0142] discloses options for associating grants with SSBs); and
determining, by the terminal, hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) information corresponding to the target uplink transmission resource (Agiwal [0208] discloses network triggered (re)transmissions where the UE performs HARQ transmission … using preconfigured PUSCH resource. HARQ process used for SDT using preconfigured PUSCH resource can be signaling in SDT configuration or can be pre-defined) and/or estimating a downlink pathloss (Agiwal [0154-160] discloses conditions for performing SDT using the preconfigured PUSCH resource. Condition 6 discloses TA validation comparing SS-RSRP of pathloss reference (downlink signal) to a given threshold. Condition 7 discloses UL carrier selection involving pathloss), and transmitting uplink data based on the HARQ information and/or the estimated downlink pathloss …
Agiwal fails to explicitly disclose wherein the method further comprises at least one of the following: determining an uplink grant and corresponding HARQ information based on selected uplink transmission occasion; or delivering the uplink grant and corresponding HARQ information to a HARQ entity.
However, in the same field of endeavor, Alfarhan more specifically discloses determining an uplink grant and corresponding HARQ information based on selected uplink transmission occasion (Alfarhan[0160, 0162] In some embodiments an UL grant may be accompanied with an applicable HARQ process ID indicated using part of the scheduling information; [0228] The WTRU may determine the UL grant and the associated HARQ information for the MsgA according to the selected PUSCH resource and an associated RRC configuration; [0257] the WTRU may be configured or predefined with a mapping between a subset of PRACH and/or PUSCH resources associated with MsgA and one or more HARQ process IDs, where the resource can be specified by the time, frequency, and/or preamble domain. For example, the WTRU can be configured with a mapping between PUSCH resource(s) x and HARQ process ID y, PRACH resource(s) x and HARQ process ID y, and/or a group of preambles and a HARQ Process ID).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Agiwal with the teachings of Alfarhan for a resource efficient data transmission, operating in idle or inactive mode and performing a small data transmission.
Regarding Claim 2, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the method further comprises: receiving, by the terminal, downlink data based on the target downlink signal (Agiwal see at least Figs. 4 and 5: downlink data).
Regarding Claim 3, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the association configuration information between downlink signal and uplink transmission resource comprises at least one of the following:
association configuration information between downlink signal and uplink transmission occasion;
identifier of downlink signal;
first scrambling identifier information of uplink signal;
second scrambling identifier information of uplink signal;
code division multiple group information of uplink signal; or
antenna port information of uplink signal (Agiwal see at least Figs 2-3, [0128]: association between SSB and uplink grant (PUSCH occasion); list of one or more SSB Ids associated with grant configuration);
the configuration information further comprises at least one of the following:
the number of uplink transmission occasion that is frequency division multiplexed at one moment;
time domain resource allocation information of uplink transmission occasion;
frequency domain resource allocation information of uplink transmission occasion; configuration information of downlink signal;
duration information of a configured grant response timer;
measurement threshold for downlink signal selection;
first power ramping step parameter;
second power ramping step parameter;
maximum number of configured grant transmission;
desired receive power;
mask information of uplink transmission occasion;
configured grant periodicity;
duration information of a configured grant timer; or
maximum number of uplink skip (Agiwal see at least [0093] for LCH restrictions/configuration signaled by the gNB; [0118-0121] for associated BWPs; [0128] for associating grants with SSBs; [0154-160] discloses conditions for performing SDT using the preconfigured PUSCH resource; [0208] retransmission handling and power ramping step signaled by the gNB); wherein
the time domain resource allocation information of uplink transmission occasion comprises at least one of the following:
the number of slots in each configured grant period;
the number of uplink transmission occasion in each slot; or
the number of uplink transmission occasion in each configured grant period (Agiwal see at least Figs. 2-3 and [0128]); and
the frequency domain resource allocation information of uplink transmission occasion comprises at least one of the following:
bandwidth information; or
information about start location of uplink transmission occasion in frequency domain (Agiwal see at least [0118-0121] discloses configured BWPs and signaled frequency domain information).
Regarding Claim 4, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Alfarhan more specifically discloses wherein the determining hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) information corresponding to the target uplink transmission resource comprises:
determining the HARQ information corresponding to the target uplink transmission resource based on at least one of the following:
a total number of available HARQ process;
index corresponding to the available HARQ process;
a total number of available HARQ process in each configured grant period;
index corresponding to the available HARQ process in each configured grant period; or
index corresponding to HARQ process that corresponds to uplink transmission resource in each configured grant period (Alfarhan [0258] the WTRU may determine the HARQ process ID … the WTRU may cycle consecutively through the configured number of HARQ-Processes applicable for small data transmission … nrofHARQ-Processes).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Agiwal with the teachings of Alfarhan for a resource efficient data transmission, operating in idle or inactive mode and performing a small data transmission.
Regarding Claim 5, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the estimating a downlink pathloss comprises:
estimating the downlink pathloss based on the target downlink signal (Agiwal [0154-160] discloses conditions for performing SDT using the preconfigured PUSCH resource. Condition 6 discloses TA validation comparing SS-RSRP of pathloss reference (downlink signal) to a given threshold. Condition 7 discloses UL carrier selection involving pathloss).
Regarding Claim 6, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the method further comprises at least one of the following:
in a case that no configuration resource–based data transmission procedure is triggered at any uplink transmission occasion in one configured grant period, incrementing a first counter by 1, wherein the first counter is used to count skip of data transmission; or
in a case that a value of the first counter is greater than or equal to a maximum number of uplink skip, or in a case that no configuration resource–based data transmission procedure is triggered at any uplink transmission occasion in N consecutive configured grant periodicities, performing at least one of the following terminal behaviors:
terminating the configuration resource–based data transmission procedure;
releasing the uplink transmission resource; or
discarding the configuration information (Agiwal [0222-0223] discloses Option 2 of release of preconfigured PUSCH resource. Option 2: Release upon number of occurrences. The MAC entity shall discard the immediately Preconfigured PUSCH resource after ‘N’ number of consecutive association periods in which grant was not used. Association period is equal to periodicity of configured grant*X where X is number of SSBs associated with configured grant).
Regarding Claim 7, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the method further comprises: after a configuration resource–based data transmission procedure is triggered, performing at least one of the following terminal behaviors:
indicating, by a radio resource control (RRC) layer to a medium access control (MAC) layer, that the configuration resource–based data transmission procedure is triggered;
after the MAC layer is indicated by the RRC layer that the configuration resource–based data transmission procedure is triggered, storing the uplink transmission resources and corresponding HARQ information and/or initializing or reinitializing the uplink transmission resources;
in a case that no corresponding medium access control protocol data unit (MAC PDU) is generated at any uplink transmission occasion in one configured grant period, transmitting, by the MAC layer, an uplink skip indication to a higher layer;
in a case that the higher layer receives the uplink skip indication, incrementing a first counter by 1; or
in a case that a value of the first counter is greater than or equal to a maximum number of uplink skip, performing at least one of the following terminal behaviors:
terminating the data transmission procedure that based on configured resource;
instructing, by the RRC layer, the MAC layer to end the configuration resource–based data transmission procedure;
clearing the uplink transmission resources and/or corresponding HARQ information;
releasing the uplink transmission resource; or
discarding the configuration information
(Agiwal see at least [0208-0211, 0213-0215] transmission/retransmission of generated MAC PDU using preconfigured PUSCH resources a configurable number of times; [0222-0223] discloses Option 2 of release of preconfigured PUSCH resource. Option 2: Release upon number of occurrences. The MAC entity shall discard the immediately Preconfigured PUSCH resource after ‘N’ number of consecutive association periods in which grant was not used. Association period is equal to periodicity of configured grant*X where X is number of SSBs associated with configured grant).
Regarding Claim 8, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the method further comprises:
setting power ramping step parameter based on a second power ramping step parameter configured by a network-side device and at least one of a target access identity provided by a higher layer, a target access type provided by a higher layer, or first indication information transmitted by the network-side device, wherein the power ramping step parameter comprises a first power ramping step parameter and the second power ramping step parameter, and the first indication information is used to indicate that the terminal is to use the second power ramping step parameter (Agiwal [0212, 0217] during retransmission; ramped by a power ramping step. The power of the previous transmission may be ramped by a power ramping set. power ramping step is signaled by gNB).
Regarding Claim 9, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the method further comprises at least one of the following:
selecting the target downlink signal based on a measurement threshold for downlink signal selection;
generating an uplink signal based on the selected target downlink signal and/or the association configuration information between downlink signal and uplink transmission resource; or
determining a latest available uplink transmission occasion based on the selected target downlink signal (Agiwal see Fig. 1; at least [0106] discloses that the UE selects an SSB with SS-RSRP above the RSRPthresholdSSB-SDT among the SSBs associated with pre-configured PUSCH resources for SDT. [0107] discloses the UE selects the earliest available UL grant corresponding to selected SSB from the pre-configured PUSCH resources of selected UL carrier. [0208] discloses network triggered (re)transmissions where the UE performs HARQ transmission … using preconfigured PUSCH resource).
Regarding Claim 11, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the process of transmitting uplink data further comprises at least one of the following:
incrementing a third counter by 1 based on a second counter, an indication of suspending a power ramping counter, a listen before talk (LBT) failure indication, an uplink skip indication, and the selected target downlink signal; or
determining a data transmission power based on the third counter, a power ramping step parameter, the estimated downlink pathloss, and a desired receive power (Agiwal see at least [0154-160] preconfigured PUSCH resource and comparing SS-RSRP of pathloss reference (downlink signal) to a given threshold; [0208] retransmission handling; [0212] power ramping during retransmission).
Regarding Claim 12, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 2. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein the receiving downlink data comprises:
after transmission of a MAC PDU at an uplink transmission occasion, performing at least one of following:
starting or restarting a configured grant response timer;
starting or restarting a configured grant timer (Agiwal at least [0207] discloses a timer (configured by network) for monitoring response); or
monitoring a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), wherein
a demodulation reference signal antenna port of the PDCCH and the target downlink signal have same quasi co-location properties (Agiwal [0045] discloses PDCCH monitoring. One of the TCI states in the TCI state list is activated and indicated to UE by gNB. TCI state indicates the DL TX beam (DL TX beam is quasi-collocated (QCLed) with SSB/CSI RS of TCI state) used by GNB for transmission of PDCCH in the PDCCH monitoring occasions of a search space).
Regarding Claim 13, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 12. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein during running of the configured grant response timer, the terminal performing at least one of following:
in a case that an indication for confirming correct data transmission has been received, stopping the configured grant response timer and/or the configured grant timer;
in a case that an indication for confirming correct data transmission has been received, restarting a T319 timer;
in a case that an indication for confirming correct data transmission has been received, setting a value of a first counter to 0;
in a case that a PDCCH for scheduling uplink retransmission has been received, stopping the configured grant response timer and/or restarting the configured grant timer;
in a case that a PDCCH for scheduling new uplink transmission has been received, stopping the configured grant response timer and/or the configured grant timer;
in a case that a PDCCH for scheduling downlink transmission has been received and that a corresponding scheduled MAC PDU has not been successfully decoded, reporting a hybrid automatic repeat request negative acknowledgment (HARQ-NACK) indication; or
in a case that a PDCCH for scheduling downlink transmission has been received and that a corresponding scheduled MAC PDU has been successfully decoded, performing at least one of the following:
stopping the configured grant response timer and/or the configured grant timer;
disassembling and/or demultiplexing the MAC PDU; or
reporting a hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgment (HARQ-ACK) indication
(Agiwal at least [0207] discloses a timer (configured by network) for monitoring response. If the UE receives PDCCH addressed to C-RNTI and TB is successfully decoded, the timer is stopped. See also [0208] for retransmission handling).
Regarding Claim 14, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 12. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses wherein after the configured grant response timer expires, a terminal behavior comprises at least one of the following:
incrementing a second counter by 1; or
in a case that a value of the second counter is equal to a threshold of maximum number of configured grant transmission plus 1, performing at least one of the following terminal behaviors:
reporting a failure or fallback indication to a higher layer;
terminating a configuration resource–based data transmission procedure;
releasing the uplink transmission resource;
discarding the configuration information; or
clearing the uplink transmission resources and corresponding HARQ information
(Agiwal [0207, 0208, 0210] discloses a timer for monitoring response and a timer based retransmission where the UE retransmits the generated MAC PDU a configurable number of times. If the UE has transmitted the MAC PDU the configurable number of times, the SDT is considered to have failed).
Claim 18 is rejected under the same reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 1. Claim 18 recites similar features as in claim 1 for an apparatus of a terminal device.
Regarding Claim 20, Agiwal in view of Alfarhan discloses the method of claim 1. In the obvious combination, Agiwal further discloses a non-transient readable storage medium, wherein the readable storage medium stores a program or instructions, and when the program or instructions are executed by a processor, the steps of the data transmission method according to claim 1 are implemented (Agiwal Fig. 8, [0283]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 10 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
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/Y.K./Examiner, Art Unit 2465
/GARY MUI/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2465
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