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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35
U.S.C.119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent REPUBLIC OF INDIA patent application No. IN 202221045189 filed on 08/08/2022. Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement submitted on 01/25/2024, have been considered by the examiner and made of record in the application file.
Response to Arguments
Arguments submitted 01/14/2026 have been fully considered by Examiner and a new round of prosecution has been drafted.
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.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-30 are rejected under U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by 3GPP (TSG RAN WG2 #117-e R2-2202550, hereinafter 3GPP).
Consider Claim 1, 3GPP discloses a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors, coupled to the one or more memories, configured to:
access a serving network via a satellite while in a first state with the serving network, the first state comprising a connected state; (Discussion line 1-2, RAN2 has agreed in R2-115e that “Satellite assistance information will be used by the UE for predicting coverage discontinuity).
transmit, to the serving network and based on a determination that a coverage gap associated with the satellite is upcoming, a coverage gap indication that indicates that the coverage gap is upcoming; and (discussion line 7-9, given that the UE has access to UE location (via GNSS), UE movement, and satellite ephemeris, it seems reasonable to assume that the UE is likely to be able to reliably predict when and where the UE is going to be out of coverage).
transition from the connected state to a second state at or before a start of the coverage gap. (Proposal 1: line 1-4, once the UE has determined that it is going out of coverage, it needs to inform the network to ensure that the UE and the network can gracefully manage the transition of the VE from in-coverage to out-of-coverage status. One question is in which RRC state (Idle or Connected) should the UE inform the network of its impending transition to out-of-coverage state).
Consider Claim 2, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein transmitting the coverage
gap indication comprises transmitting the coverage gap indication to a radio access network (RAN) node of the serving network. (Proposal 2: line 1-2, once, the UE is out of coverage, we expect that the UE can power down to conserve energy. When the UE detects that it is back in coverage, then it can establish an RRC connection with the network).
Consider Claim 3, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 2, wherein the RAN node comprises
a satellite-based node. (Discussion line 1-2, RAN2 has agreed in R2-115e that “Satellite assistance information will be used by the UE for predicting coverage discontinuity).
Consider Claim 4, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 3, wherein transmitting the coverage gap indication comprises transmitting the coverage gap indication to a core network node of the serving network. (Proposal 3: line1-2, the UE may additionally provide the network with some assistance information to enable the network to figure when and where the UE is expected to be back in coverage).
Consider Claim 5, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 4, wherein the core network node comprises an access and mobility management function (AMF). ( Introduction: line 6- 8, while enhancements to core network procedures and NAS layer are out of scope of RAN2, it is well within RAN2’s scope (and one of the objectives of the WID[2]) to discuss what action the UE’s AS layer may take when it determines that the UE is likely to go out of coverage).
Consider Claim 6, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 5, wherein transmitting the coverage gap indication comprises transmitting a non-access stratum (NAS) layer message including the coverage gap indication. (Introduction: line 6- 8, while enhancements to core network procedures and NAS layer are out of scope of RAN2, it is well within RAN2’s scope (and one of the objectives of the WID[2]) to discuss what action the UE’s AS layer may take when it determines that the UE is likely to go out of coverage).
Consider Claim 7, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive configuration information, wherein the one or more processors, to transmit the coverage gap indication, are configured to transmit the coverage gap indication based on receiving the configuration information. (Proposal 4: line 1-4, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state. Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle).
Consider Claim 8, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 7, wherein the configuration information comprises a configuration support indication that indicates that the serving network supports receiving the coverage gap indication. (Proposal 1: line1-3, once the UE has determined that it is going out of coverage, it needs to inform the network to ensure that the UE and the network can gracefully manage the transition of the VE from in-coverage to out-of-coverage status).
Consider Claim 9, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 7, wherein the configuration information indicates that a value of a UE timer comprises a value selected by the UE, wherein the value selected by the UE is equal to zero, and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to refrain from starting the UE timer based on the value selected by the UE being equal to zero. (Proposal 4: line 1-6, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state(set to zero). Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle. However, in this case, the UE will not simply transit to RRC idle; instead it will stop attempting to camp on any cell and be unreachable for paging purposes as long as the UE is out of coverage).
Consider Claim 10, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 7, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to start a UE timer while transmitting the coverage gap indication or after transmitting the coverage gap indication. (Proposal 6: line 3-4, the network can configure the UE to trigger the mechanism resulting in RRC Release when the UE is within a certain area (e.g., a circular area defined by lat-long coordinates) or at certain times, or a combination of these factors).
Consider Claim 11, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 10, wherein a duration of the UE timer is set to one of a UE timer value provided by the serving network or a UE timer value selected by the UE. Proposal 3: line 1-3, once the UE is out-of-coverage, it is up to UE implementation to detect when it is back in coverage and establish an RRC connection with the network. The UE may additionally provide the network with some assistance information to enable the network to figure when and where the UE is expected to be back in coverage).
Consider Claim 12, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 11, wherein the UE timer value provided by the serving network is included in the configuration information and comprises a UE timer value, a UE timer range, or an indication of a selectable UE timer value. (Proposal 6: line 3-4, the network can configure the UE to trigger the mechanism resulting in RRC Release when the UE is within a certain area (e.g., a circular area defined by lat-long coordinates) or at certain times, or a combination of these factors).
Consider Claim 13, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 12, wherein a duration of the UE timer is set to one of the UE timer value when the configuration information is indicative of the UE timer value, a value within the UE timer range when the configuration information is indicative of the UE timer range, or a value selected by the UE when the configuration information is indicative of the selectable UE timer value or an indication that the UE timer value is zero. (Proposal 4: line 1-6, When RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state(set to zero). Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle. However, in this case, the UE will not simply transit to RRC idle; instead it will stop attempting to camp on any cell and be unreachable for paging purposes as long as the UE is out of coverage).
Consider Claim 14, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 13, wherein the UE timer value selected by the UE is equal to zero. (Proposal 4: line 1-3, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state(set to zero. Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle).
Consider Claim 15, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine that the duration of the UE timer has expired or is set to zero, and wherein the one or more processors, to transition from the connected state to the second state, are configured to transition from the connected state to the second state based on determining that the duration of the UE timer has expired or is set to zero. (Proposal 1: RAN2 assumes that the UE is able to reliably predict when and where it is likely to be out of coverage. Once the UE has determined that it is going out of coverage, it needs to inform the network to ensure that the UE and the network can gracefully manage the transition of the VE from in-coverage to out-of-coverage status. One question is in which RRC state (Idle or Connected) should the UE inform the network of its impending transition to out-of-coverage state).
Consider Claim 16, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit the coverage gap indication based on a difference between a duration of the UE timer and a time remaining until a start of the coverage gap associated with the satellite satisfying a threshold time value. (Discussion 2 line 1-5 RAN2 has agreed in R2-115e that “Satellite assistance information will be used by the UE for predicting coverage discontinuity. The details of the assistance information is FFS. FFS whether any applicable agreements made in NR-NTN can be reused”. At this point, the details of the assistance information (which would be some kind of ephemeris) to be specified by 3GPP to enable the UE to predict coverage discontinuity).
Consider Claim 17, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit an indication of a duration of the UE timer. Proposal 3: line 1-3, once the UE is out-of-coverage, it is up to UE implementation to detect when it is back in coverage and establish an RRC connection with the network. The UE may additionally provide the network with some assistance information to enable the network to figure when and where the UE is expected to be back in coverage).
Consider Claim 18, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to receive a connection release command prior to an expiration of a duration of the UE timer. (Proposal 4: line 1-6, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state(set to zero). Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle. However, in this case, the UE will not simply transit to RRC idle; instead it will stop attempting to camp on any cell and be unreachable for paging purposes as long as the UE is out of coverage).
Consider Claim 19, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 7, wherein the configuration information indicates the second state. (Proposal 1: RAN2 assumes that the UE is able to reliably predict when and where it is likely to be out of coverage. Once the UE has determined that it is going out of coverage, it needs to inform the network to ensure that the UE and the network can gracefully manage the transition of the VE from in-coverage to out-of-coverage status. One question is in which RRC state (Idle or Connected) should the UE inform the network of its impending transition to out-of-coverage state).
Consider Claim 20, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors, to transmit the coverage gap indication, are configured to transmit a medium access control (MAC) layer communication that includes the coverage gap indication, a radio resource control (RRC) layer message that includes the coverage gap indication, or a non-access stratum (NAS) layer message and the coverage gap indication. ( Introduction: line 6- 8, while enhancements to core network procedures and NAS layer are out of scope of RAN2, it is well within RAN2’s scope (and one of the objectives of the WID[2]) to discuss what action the UE’s AS layer may take when it determines that the UE is likely to go out of coverage).
Consider Claim 21, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the coverage gap indication comprises a release assistance indication. (Proposal 4: line 1-4, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state. Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle).
Consider Claim 22, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the second state comprises an idle state, a suspended state, or an inactive state. (Proposal 4: line 1-4, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state. Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle).
Consider Claim 23, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to enter a power saving state based on transitioning from the connected state to the second state. (Proposal 1: line 1-4, once the UE has determined that it is going out of coverage, it needs to inform the network to ensure that the UE and the network can gracefully manage the transition of the VE from in-coverage to out-of-coverage status. One question is in which RRC state (Idle or Connected) should the UE inform the network of its impending transition to out-of-coverage state).
Consider Claim 24, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 23, wherein the one or more processors, to enter the power saving state, are configured to deactivate at least one of a transceiver function, a network search function, or a paging monitoring function. (Proposal 5: line 1-3, once RAN instructs the UE to transit to release the RRC connection on receipt of out-of-coverage indication as per Proposal 1, RAN should consider the UE unreachable (e.g., for paging purposes) till such time as the UE establishes an RRC connection (as per Proposal 2)).
Consider Claim 25, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 2, wherein the one or more processors, to transition from the connected state to the second state, are configured to suspend or inactivating a signaling connection between the UE and the RAN node. . (Proposal 2: line 1-2, once, the UE is out of coverage, we expect that the UE can power down to conserve energy. When the UE detects that it is back in coverage, then it can establish an RRC connection with the network).
Consider Claim 26, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 25, wherein the second state comprises a suspended state, and wherein the suspended state comprises an idle state associated with a suspend indication. (Proposal 4: line 1-4, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state. Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle).
Consider Claim 27, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 25, wherein the second state comprises an inactive state, and wherein the inactive state comprises a connected state to the serving network associated with a radio resource control inactive state. (Proposal 4: line 1-4, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state. Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle).
Consider Claim 28, 3GPP discloses the UE of claim 25, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transition, based on a resume procedure, from the second state to the connected state based on a determination of an end of the coverage gap. (Proposal 4: line 1-4, when RAN receives information from the UE that it is likely to be out of coverage, then the RAN can instruct the UE to transition to RRC idle or RRC inactive state. Since the latter is only possible if the RAN is connected to SGC, and the WID only intends to support EPC, for Release 17 at least, the only option is for RAN to send the UE to RRC idle).
Consider Claim 29, 3GPP discloses a network node for wireless communication, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors, coupled to the one or more memories, configured to:
receive, from a user equipment (UE) while the UE is in a first state with a serving network, a coverage gap indication that indicates that a coverage gap associated with a satellite via which the UE accesses the serving network is upcoming, the first state comprising a connected state; and (discussion 2 line 1-3, RAN2 has agreed in R2-115e that “Satellite assistance information will be used by the UE for predicting coverage discontinuity. The details of the assistance information is FFS).
transition the UE to a second state at or before a start of the coverage gap. (Proposal 1: line 1-4, once the UE has determined that it is going out of coverage, it needs to inform the network to ensure that the UE and the network can gracefully manage the transition of the VE from in-coverage to out-of-coverage status. One question is in which RRC state (Idle or Connected) should the UE inform the network of its impending transition to out-of-coverage state).
Consider Claim 30, 3GPP discloses the network node of claim 29, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to transmit configuration information, and wherein the one or more processors, to receive the coverage gap indication, are configured to receive the coverage gap indication based on the configuration information. (Proposal 1: line 1-4, once the UE has determined that it is going out of coverage, it needs to inform the network to ensure that the UE and the network can gracefully manage the transition of the VE from in-coverage to out-of-coverage status. One question is in which RRC state (Idle or Connected) should the UE inform the network of its impending transition to out-of-coverage state).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHELE CAMILLE DOUGLAS whose telephone number is (571)270-0458. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 6:30 am - 5:00 pm.
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/MICHELE C DOUGLAS/Examiner, Art Unit 2646
/MATTHEW D. ANDERSON/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2646