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 .
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and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114.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 3/16/2026 has been entered.
Claims 1-2, 4-9, 11-15 are pending.
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)(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.
Claim(s) 1, 5, 8, 12 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhuo et al. US 20250106590.
Regarding claim 1, A method performed by a node (parent node base station Figure 6, element 610A, para. 0087) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: transmitting a system information block associated with a cell, the system information block including first information indicating support for a mobile integrated access and backhaul (IAB) (system information block is broadcast by parent node in cell, para. 0087, when indication in SIB indicates that the parent node is a BS, the mobile wireless network node accesses the parent node, para. 0088); receiving from a first mobile IAB node, a radio resource control (RRC) setup complete message including a mobile IAB node indication (mobile wireless network node being a mobile IAB node, Figure 6, element 620, para. 0085, performs a random access procedure with base station, element 610A, and transmits an RRC setup complete message in response to a successful random access procedure indicating the mobile attribute of mobile wireless network node, para, 0104); and transmitting, to a target node, a handover request message including second information indicating that a handover for the first mobile IAB node is associated with a mobile IAB node (base station, element 610A, transmits, a handover request message, Figure 6, element 661, to base station, element 610B, to hand over mobile wireless network node, the handover request message indicates a mobile attribute of mobile wireless network node 620, para. 0107), wherein the first information indicates that the cell transmitting the system information block is considered as a candidate for a cell selection or a cell reselection for the mobile IAB node (indication in system information block indicates whether the cell is considered as a candidate for cell (re) selection for a mobile wireless network node or not, para. 0089).
Regarding claim 5, A method performed by a first mobile integrated access and
backhaul (IAB) node in a wireless communication system (mobile wireless network node being a mobile IAB node, Figure 6, element 620), the method comprising:
receiving, from a node, a system information block associated with a cell, the system
information block including first information indicating support for a mobile IAB (system information block is broadcast by parent node in cell, para. 0087, when indication in SIB indicates that the parent node is a BS, the mobile wireless network node accesses the parent node, para. 0088); transmitting, to the node, a radio resource control (RRC) setup complete message including a mobile IAB node indication (mobile wireless network node being a mobile IAB node, Figure 6, element 620, para. 0085, performs a random access procedure with base station, element 610A, and transmits an RRC setup complete message in response to a successful random access procedure indicating the mobile attribute of mobile wireless network node, para, 0104); wherein a handover for the first mobile IAB node is determined, wherein a handover request message including second information indicating that a handover is associated with a mobile IAB node is transmitted from the node to a target node (base station, element 610A, transmits, a handover request message, Figure 6, element 661, to base station, element 610B, to hand over mobile wireless network node, the handover request message indicates a mobile attribute of mobile wireless network node 620, para. 0107), and wherein the first information indicates that the cell is considered as a candidate for a cell selection or a cell reselection for the mobile IAB node (indication in system information block indicates whether the cell is considered as a candidate for cell (re) selection for a mobile wireless network node or not, para. 0089).
Regarding claim 8, A node (base station, element 610A) in a wireless communication system, the first node comprising: a transceiver; and at least one processor configured to: transmit, via the transceiver, a system information block associated with a cell, the system information block including first information indicating support for a mobile integrated access and backhaul (IAB) (system information block is broadcast by parent node in cell, para. 0087, that includes an indication that the cell is located in an IAB-donor distributed unit, and if the indication is not provided, that suggests that the cell is not located in a BS, and the mobile wireless network node may not access the parent node, para. 0088), receive, from a first mobile IAB node via the transceiver, a radio resource control (RRC) setup complete message including a mobile IAB node indication (mobile wireless network node being a mobile IAB node, Figure 6, element 620, para. 0085, performs a random access procedure with base station, element 610A, and transmits to the base station an RRC setup complete message in response to a successful random access procedure indicating the mobile attribute of mobile wireless network node, para, 0104), and transmit, to a target node via the transceiver, a handover request message including second information indicating that a handover for the first mobile IAB node is associated with a mobile IAB node (base station, element 610A, transmits, a handover request message, Figure 6, element 661, to base station, element 610B, to hand over mobile wireless network node, the handover request message indicates a mobile attribute of mobile wireless network node 620, para. 0107) wherein the first information indicates that the cell is considered as a candidate for a cell selection or a cell reselection for the mobile IAB node (indication in system information block indicates whether the cell is considered as a candidate for cell (re) selection for a mobile wireless network node or not, para. 0089).
Regarding claim 12, A first mobile integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node in a wireless communication system (mobile wireless network node being a mobile IAB node, Figure 6, element 620), the first mobile IAB node comprising: a transceiver; and at least one processor configured to: receive, from a node via the transceiver, a system information block associated with a cell, the system information block including first information, indicating support for a mobile IAB node (system information block is broadcast by parent node in cell, para. 0087, when indication in SIB indicates that the parent node is a BS, the mobile wireless network node accesses the parent node, para. 0088), and transmit, to the node via the transceiver, a radio resource control (RRC) setup complete message including a mobile IAB node indication (mobile wireless network node being a mobile IAB node, Figure 6, element 620, para. 0085, performs a random access procedure with base station, element 610A, and transmits an RRC setup complete message in response to a successful random access procedure indicating the mobile attribute of mobile wireless network node, para, 0104), wherein a handover for the first mobile IAB node is determined, wherein a handover request message including second information indicating that a handover is associated with a mobile IAB node is transmitted from the node to a target node (base station, element 610A, transmits, a handover request message, Figure 6, element 661, to base station, element 610B, to hand over mobile wireless network node, the handover request message indicates a mobile attribute of mobile wireless network node 620, para. 0107), and wherein the first information indicates that the cell is considered as a candidate for a cell selection or a cell reselection for the mobile IAB node (indication in system information block indicates whether the cell is considered as a candidate for cell (re) selection for a mobile wireless network node or not, para. 0089).
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) 2, 6, 9, 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhuo in view of Akl et al. US 20230269656.
Regarding claim 2, The method of claim 1, Zhuo discloses a mobile IAB node may connect to an IAB donor by performing at least one of the following: an RRC connection setup procedure with the centralized unit of the IAB donor, para. 0093.
Zhou does not expressly disclose receiving, from the first mobile IAB node, an RRC setup request message for establishing an RRC connection; and transmitting, to the first mobile IAB node, an RRC setup message based on the RRC setup request message.
Aki discloses an IAB node and an IAB donor node perform an RRC setup procedure and transmit, to the IAB network, a request for authorization to perform the IAB operation including an indication of the IAB node and the IAB network determines whether the IAB node is authorized based on a subscription of the IAB node, para. 0102. Before the filing of the invention it would have been obvious to modify Zhuo to include Aki’s RRC connection setup request and subsequent setup. One of ordinary skill in the art would be motivated to do so to efficiently connect to the IAB network, and mitigate lack of flexibility for mobile operations, inefficient use of resources, higher power consumption, para. 0053.
Claims 6, 9, and 13 are rejected under the same rationale.
Claim(s) 4, 7, 11, 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhou in view of Lagrange et al. US 20260247237.
Regarding claim 4, The method of claim 1, Zhou discloses a system information block is broadcast by parent node in cell, para. 0087, that includes an indication that the cell is located in an IAB-donor distributed unit, and if the indication is not provided, that suggests that the cell is not located in a BS, and the mobile wireless network node may not access the parent node, para. 0088.
Zhou does not expressly disclose transmitting, to the first mobile IAB node, a message including third information indicating that mobile IAB node support is disabled, wherein broadcasting the first information indicating support for the mobile IAB is stopped.
Lagrange et al. discloses an IAB donor node determine to disable network connectivity support when the IAB node is a mobile IAB node or when the IAB node is a mobile IAB node with a mobility capability and/or current mobility status that is likely to cause connection issues and an IAB donor decides to disable the presence of the iab-support information in the mobility information message by sending an iab support configuration message to the mobile IAB node.
Before the filing of the invention it would have been obvious to modify Zhou’s system information block indicating a mobile IAB can access a cell located in IAB donor unit to include Lagrange’s messaging after determining of network connectivity support and subsequent disabling of IAB support to the mobile IAB node. One of ordinary skill would be motivated to do so to benefit from the extra connectivity resulting from a mobile IAB node in the topology while mitigating the connectivity impact, para. 0010.
Claims 7, 11, 14 are rejected under the same rationale.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Byun et al. US 20260052453 discloses initiating an integration procedure with a mobile IAB-node and performing an IAB-MT setup procedure with the mobile IAB-node and performing a backhaul radio link control (BH RLC) channel establishment with the mobile IAB-node.
Teyeb et al. US 20230247495 discloses a target Central Unit (CU) performing a handover of a migrating node from source CU and source Distributed Unit (DU) to the target CU and a target DU and transmitting to the target DU a first handover command for at least one child node of the migrating node being handed over.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MELANIE JAGANNATHAN whose telephone number is (571)272-3163. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9-5.
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/MELANIE JAGANNATHAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2468
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