DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-20 are pending.
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 Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 03/21/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
On pages 6-11 of the remarks, in regards to claims 1, 19 and 20, the applicant submits that the Ravishankar fails to teach or suggest the limitation of “in response to the TN cell being outside the coverage of the first NTN cell, allocating a radio resource to the TN cell based on a radio resource of the first NTN cell”.
The examiner respectfully disagrees. Ravishankar discloses at least in paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, at 630, resources within the frequency spectrum are allocated towards the one or more base stations of the terrestrial network based on the location (terrestrial base station 555b is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite. The examiner further sates that in response to the terrestrial base station 555b being outside the location of coverage area of 512a, resources are allocated. Therefore, Ravishankar discloses the above limitation.
On page 12 of the remarks, in regards to dependent claims, the applicant submits that dependent claims are allowable, due to the previously alleged deficiencies of the references as applied to independent claims 1, 19 and 20, as described above.
The examiner respectfully disagrees. The examiner kindly directs the applicant to the reasoning detailed above.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claims 1-4 and 16-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Ravishankar, Channasandra (US 20190239082, Ravishankar hereinafter).
As to claim 1: Ravishankar discloses a method of radio resource allocation for a terrestrial network (TN) cell, the method comprising:
determining that the TN cell is outside a coverage of a first non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, identifying the terrestrial base stations 555b (interpreted as TN cell is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite) as operating within the geographical coverage area 512b prior to allocating the resources.); and
in response to the TN cell being outside the coverage of the first NTN cell, allocating a radio resource to the TN cell based on a radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, at 630, resources within the frequency spectrum are allocated towards the one or more base stations of the terrestrial network based on the location (terrestrial base station 555b is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite).).
As to claim 2: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses wherein a frequency range of the radio resource allocated to the TN cell overlaps with a frequency range of the radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraph [0041], an interference may be caused by the location of wireless terminal 532b in an overlap region of geographical coverage areas 512b and 556b. Thus, the allocation of resources may be based or adjusted on the interference.).
As to claim 3: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses wherein a time duration of the radio resource allocated to the TN cell overlaps with a time duration of the radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraph [0041], an interference may be caused by the location of wireless terminal 532b in an overlap region of geographical coverage areas 512b and 556b. Thus, the allocation of resources may be based or adjusted on the interference.).
As to claim 4: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses wherein a polarization of the radio resource allocated to the TN cell is the same as a polarization of the radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraph [0041], the amount of the resources can be allocated towards terrestrial base stations 555a, 555b based on an interference caused therefrom and reported within geographical coverage areas 512a, 512b, 556a, 556b, and overlap regions thereof.).
As to claim 16: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses further comprising: transmitting reference signal configuration information to at least one of a satellite associated with the second NTN cell or a base station of the TN cell (see at least paragraph [0040], a transceiver 522 which transmits/receives information to/from the satellite 510).
As to claim 17: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses further comprising: transmitting a cell configuration message from a base station of the TN cell to a user equipment to inform the user equipment to access the TN cell (see at least paragraph [0040], the system 500 further includes terrestrial base stations 555a and 555b, which are associated with a terrestrial network and which respectively facilitate communication between terminal 532a and 532b).
As to claim 18: Ravishankar discloses the method of claim 1. Ravishankar further discloses further comprising: transmitting a cell de-configuration message from a base station of the TN cell to a user equipment to inform the user equipment to leave the TN cell (see at least paragraph [0040], the system 500 further includes terrestrial base stations 555a and 555b, which are associated with a terrestrial network and which respectively facilitate communication between terminal 532a and 532b).
As to claim 19: Ravishankar discloses an apparatus, comprising: processing circuitry configured to determine that a terrestrial network (TN) cell is outside a coverage of a first non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, identifying the terrestrial base stations 555b (interpreted as TN cell is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite) as operating within the geographical coverage area 512b prior to allocating the resources.), and
in response to the TN cell being outside the coverage of the first NTN cell, allocate a radio resource to the TN cell based on a radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, at 630, resources within the frequency spectrum are allocated towards the one or more base stations of the terrestrial network based on the location (terrestrial base station 555b is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite).).
As to claim 20: Ravishankar discloses a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising: determining that a terrestrial network (TN) cell is outside a coverage of a first non-terrestrial network (NTN) cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, identifying the terrestrial base stations 555b (interpreted as TN cell is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite) as operating within the geographical coverage area 512b prior to allocating the resources.); and
in response to the TN cell being outside the coverage of the first NTN cell, allocating a radio resource to the TN cell based on a radio resource of the first NTN cell (see at least paragraphs [0040]-[0046] and Figs. 5-6, at 630, resources within the frequency spectrum are allocated towards the one or more base stations of the terrestrial network based on the location (terrestrial base station 555b is outside of coverage of 512a of the satellite).).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-15 are 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
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 KABIR U JAHANGIR whose telephone number is (571)272-0796. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri 10am to 6:30pm.
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, Ricky Ngo can be reached at (571)272-3139. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/K. J./
Examiner, Art Unit 2464
/RICKY Q NGO/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2464
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