DETAIED 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 .
Response to Amendment
This Office Action is in response to applicant’s amendment submitted on May 18, 2026.
Claims, 19, 21-25, 27-31 and 33-41 are now currently pending in the present application.
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 19, 22, 25, and 28 are rejected under U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by ONAKA et al. (US 20210120486 A1, hereinafter ONAKA).
Consider Claim 19, ONAKA discloses a method, applied to a terminal, the method comprising:
receiving M reference signals, wherein the M reference signals are from C cells, M and C are positive integers, and M is greater than or equal to C; and (paragraph 0316, a threshold may be set to a predetermined value such that when the value of the received power or reception quality is greater than or equal to the threshold, the UE judges that it has successfully detected a cell and measured the received power or reception quality and then performs measurement report as the occurrence of an event).
sending first indication information to a network device based on a first reference signal, wherein the first indication information indicates to the network device to send a downlink common signal in a target cell, (paragraph 0159, the cell configured by a first macro eNB 1204 is a Comp cell, and the cells configured by second to fourth macro eNBs 1208 to 1210 are ES cells. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the first macro eNB 1204(first indication information) configures three cells, each of which is a Comp cell. Each of the second to fourth macro eNBs 1208 to 1210 configures one cell, each of which is an ES cell. Paragraph 0664, in the dormant state in which the ES cell( target cell) transmits only a DS (downlink signal), the UE in the RRC_Idle state cannot receive the SIB or paging. Paragraph 0665, When detecting an ES cell by detecting and measuring a DS, the UE transmits a wake-up signal(first indication information indicates) to the ES cell (target cell)).
the downlink common signal is used by the terminal to access the target cell, the downlink common signal comprises system information, and the first reference signal is comprised in the M reference signals and is from the target cell; and (paragraph 0667, the UE may judge that it has detected an ES cell when the received power or reception quality of a DS(downlink signal) is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold or exceeds the above threshold. The UE may transmit a wake-up signal(system information) to a cell having the highest received power or a cell having the highest reception quality when it has detected a plurality of ES cells. Paragraph 0673, The ES cell in the dormant state, which has received a wake-up signal from the UE, can switch itself on to shift to the normal operation. The ES cell (target cell) that has shifted to the normal operation can transmit an SIB and a paging signal to the UE being served).
wherein the first reference signal carries a local cell identity, a value of the local cell identity is an integer greater than or equal to o and less than or equal to N-1, N is a positive integer, and N is less than a maximum value of a physical cell identity (PCI). (Paragraph 0150, in FIG. 7, first and second eNBs 1103 and 1104(reference signal) each configure a coverage cell (physical cell). The coverage cell configured by the first eNB 1103 (reference signal) has a first coverage 1101. The coverage cell configured by the second eNB 1104 has a second coverage 1102. Paragraph 0151, Third to seventh eNBs 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108, and 1109 each configure a capacity cell (cell identity). The capacity cell configured by the third eNB 1105 has a third coverage 1110. Paragraph 0137, the user equipment receives the DL-SCH of the cell based on the cell configuration information of the MIB (master information block), to thereby obtain a system information block (SIB) 1 of the broadcast information BCCH. The SIB1 contains the information about the access to the cell, information about cell selection, and scheduling information on another SIB (SIBk; k (N) is an integer greater than or equal to two).
Consider Claim 22, ONAKA discloses the method according to claim 19, wherein reference signals of at least two different cells have different frequency domain positions. (Paragraph 0242, the UE performs the configuration of a Comp cell, such as a carrier frequency and a cell identifier, received in the message for measurement or stores the information on the previously detected cells, at the occurrence of an RLF. The UE uses the configuration of a Comp cell, such as the stored carrier frequency and cell identifier, or the information on the previously detected cells to perform stored information cell selection for RRC connection reestablishment. Paragraph 0203, when the frequency band of a Comp cell is changed before/after Comp (position), the frequency band after Comp may be used. Alternatively, the frequency band before Comp and the frequency band after Comp may be used in association with each other).
Consider Claim 25, ONAKA discloses an apparatus, comprising:
at least one communication interface; and (paragraph 0116, the Home-eNB 75 is connected to the MME unit 73 by means of an S1 interface, and control information is communicated between the Home-eNB 75 and the MME unit 73).
one or more processors configured to run instructions stored in a memory, execution of the instructions enabling the apparatus to: (Paragraph 0596, when a relatively short measurement period is configured in accordance with the portion where a coverage hole is present, the amount of information stored in the memory for MDT may conceivably reach the storage capacity of the memory in a short period of time).
receive M reference signals, wherein the M reference signals are from C cells, M and C are positive integers, and M is greater than or equal to C; and (paragraph 0316, a threshold may be set to a predetermined value such that when the value of the received power or reception quality is greater than or equal to the threshold, the UE judges that it has successfully detected a cell and measured the received power or reception quality and then performs measurement report as the occurrence of an event).
send first indication information to a network device based on a first reference signal, wherein the first indication information indicates to the network device to send a downlink common signal in a target cell, the downlink common signal is used by a terminal to access the target cell, (paragraph 0159, the cell configured by a first macro eNB 1204 is a Comp cell, and the cells configured by second to fourth macro eNBs 1208 to 1210 are ES cells. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the first macro eNB 1204(first indication information) configures three cells, each of which is a Comp cell. Each of the second to fourth macro eNBs 1208 to 1210 configures one cell, each of which is an ES cell. Paragraph 0664, in the dormant state in which the ES cell( target cell) transmits only a DS (downlink signal), the UE in the RRC_Idle state cannot receive the SIB or paging. Paragraph 0665, When detecting an ES cell by detecting and measuring a DS, the UE transmits a wake-up signal(first indication information indicates) to the ES cell (target cell)).
the downlink common signal comprises system information, and the first reference signal is comprised in the M reference signals and is from the target cell: and (paragraph 0667, the UE may judge that it has detected an ES cell when the received power or reception quality of a DS(downlink signal) is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold or exceeds the above threshold. The UE may transmit a wake-up signal(system information) to a cell having the highest received power or a cell having the highest reception quality when it has detected a plurality of ES cells. Paragraph 0673, The ES cell in the dormant state, which has received a wake-up signal from the UE, can switch itself on to shift to the normal operation. The ES cell (target cell) that has shifted to the normal operation can transmit an SIB and a paging signal to the UE being served).
wherein the first reference signal carries a local cell identity, a value of the local cell identity is an integer greater than or equal to o and less than or equal to N-1, N is a positive integer, and N is less than a maximum value of a physical cell identity (PCI). (Paragraph 0150, in FIG. 7, first and second eNBs 1103 and 1104(reference signal) each configure a coverage cell (physical cell). The coverage cell configured by the first eNB 1103 (reference signal) has a first coverage 1101. The coverage cell configured by the second eNB 1104 has a second coverage 1102. Paragraph 0151, Third to seventh eNBs 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108, and 1109 each configure a capacity cell (cell identity). The capacity cell configured by the third eNB 1105 has a third coverage 1110. Paragraph 0137, the user equipment receives the DL-SCH of the cell based on the cell configuration information of the MIB (master information block), to thereby obtain a system information block (SIB) 1 of the broadcast information BCCH. The SIB1 contains the information about the access to the cell, information about cell selection, and scheduling information on another SIB (SIBk; k (N) is an integer greater than or equal to two).
Consider Claim 28, ONAKA discloses the apparatus according to claim 25, wherein reference signals of at least two different cells have different frequency domain positions. (Paragraph 0242, the UE performs the configuration of a Comp cell, such as a carrier frequency and a cell identifier, received in the message for measurement or stores the information on the previously detected cells, at the occurrence of an RLF. The UE uses the configuration of a Comp cell, such as the stored carrier frequency and cell identifier, or the information on the previously detected cells to perform stored information cell selection for RRC connection reestablishment. Paragraph 0203, when the frequency band of a Comp cell is changed before/after Comp (position), the frequency band after Comp may be used. Alternatively, the frequency band before Comp and the frequency band after Comp may be used in association with each other).
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 text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
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 non-obviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 23-24, 29-31, 34-38 and 40 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable by ONAKA et al. (US 20210120486 A1, hereinafter ONAKA) in view of ZHANG et al. (US 20230067619 A1, hereinafter ZHANG).
Consider Claim 23, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention method according to claim 19, but fail to teach wherein the first reference signal further carries a time domain offset, and the time domain offset indicates an offset between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information.
However ZHANG teaches wherein the first reference signal further carries a time domain offset, and the time domain offset indicates an offset between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information (Paragraph 0062, the base station notifies the UE of the time offset between the PCI corresponding to the reference signal and a reference PCI, and determines the reference signal sequence parameters according to the PCI (i.e., the first PCI) corresponding to the reference signal).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG with a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 24, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention method according to claim 19, but fail to teach wherein a predefined time domain offset is between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information.
However, ZHANG teaches wherein a predefined time domain offset is between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information (Paragraph 0151, a time unit offset between the first physical cell identifier and a reference physical cell identifier; a time unit index; a relative index of the first physical cell identifier among the plurality of physical cell identifiers; an indication as to whether a sequence generation function for generating the sequence for the target element includes the relative index of the first physical cell identifier; an indication as to selection of the sequence generation function; or an indication as to whether the sequence generation function includes a time unit index of predetermined type).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG with a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 29, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention apparatus according to claim 25, but fail to teach wherein the first reference signal further carries a time domain offset, and the time domain offset indicates an offset between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information.
However ZHANG teaches wherein the first reference signal further carries a time domain offset, and the time domain offset indicates an offset between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information (Paragraph 0062, the base station notifies the UE of the time offset between the PCI corresponding to the reference signal and a reference PCI, and determines the reference signal sequence parameters according to the PCI (i.e., the first PCI) corresponding to the reference signal).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG with a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 30, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention apparatus according to claim 25, but fail to teach wherein a predefined time domain offset is between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information.
However, ZHANG teaches wherein a predefined time domain offset is between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information (Paragraph 0151, a time unit offset between the first physical cell identifier and a reference physical cell identifier; a time unit index; a relative index of the first physical cell identifier among the plurality of physical cell identifiers; an indication as to whether a sequence generation function for generating the sequence for the target element includes the relative index of the first physical cell identifier; an indication as to selection of the sequence generation function; or an indication as to whether the sequence generation function includes a time unit index of predetermined type).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG with a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 31, ONAKA discloses receiving M reference signals, wherein the M reference signals are from C cells, M and C are positive integers, and M is greater than or equal to C; and (paragraph 0316, a threshold may be set to a predetermined value such that when the value of the received power or reception quality is greater than or equal to the threshold, the UE judges that it has successfully detected a cell and measured the received power or reception quality and then performs measurement report as the occurrence of an event).
sending first indication information to a network device based on a first reference signal, wherein the first indication information indicates to the network device to send a downlink common signal in a target cell, the downlink common signal is used by a terminal to access the target cell, (paragraph 0159, the cell configured by a first macro eNB 1204 is a Comp cell, and the cells configured by second to fourth macro eNBs 1208 to 1210 are ES cells. In the example shown in FIG. 8, the first macro eNB 1204(first indication information) configures three cells, each of which is a Comp cell. Each of the second to fourth macro eNBs 1208 to 1210 configures one cell, each of which is an ES cell. Paragraph 0664, in the dormant state in which the ES cell( target cell) transmits only a DS (downlink signal), the UE in the RRC_Idle state cannot receive the SIB or paging. Paragraph 0665, When detecting an ES cell by detecting and measuring a DS, the UE transmits a wake-up signal(first indication information indicates) to the ES cell (target cell)).
the downlink common signal comprises system information, and the first reference signal is comprised in the M reference signals and is from the target cell, and (paragraph 0667, the UE may judge that it has detected an ES cell when the received power or reception quality of a DS(downlink signal) is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold or exceeds the above threshold. The UE may transmit a wake-up signal(system information) to a cell having the highest received power or a cell having the highest reception quality when it has detected a plurality of ES cells. Paragraph 0673, The ES cell in the dormant state, which has received a wake-up signal from the UE, can switch itself on to shift to the normal operation. The ES cell (target cell) that has shifted to the normal operation can transmit an SIB and a paging signal to the UE being served).
wherein the first reference signal carries a local cell identity, a value of the local cell identity is an integer greater than or equal to o and less than or equal to N-1, N is a positive integer, and N is less than a maximum value of a physical cell identity (PCI). (Paragraph 0150, in FIG. 7, first and second eNBs 1103 and 1104(reference signal) each configure a coverage cell (physical cell). The coverage cell configured by the first eNB 1103 (reference signal) has a first coverage 1101. The coverage cell configured by the second eNB 1104 has a second coverage 1102. Paragraph 0151, Third to seventh eNBs 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108, and 1109 each configure a capacity cell (cell identity). The capacity cell configured by the third eNB 1105 has a third coverage 1110. Paragraph 0137, the user equipment receives the DL-SCH of the cell based on the cell configuration information of the MIB (master information block), to thereby obtain a system information block (SIB) 1 of the broadcast information BCCH. The SIB1 contains the information about the access to the cell, information about cell selection, and scheduling information on another SIB (SIBk; k (N) is an integer greater than or equal to two).
ONAKA discloses the claimed invention but fails to teach a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instruction that are executable by a computer, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium is applied to a first communication apparatus, and the instructions comprise instructions for:
However, ZHANG teaches a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instruction that are executable by a computer, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium is applied to a first communication apparatus, and the instructions comprise instructions for (paragraph 0144, a computer-readable medium, including computer-executable instructions, such as program code, executed by computers in networked environments. A computer-readable medium may include removable and non-removable storage devices including, but not limited to, Read Only Memory (ROM), Random Access Memory (RAM)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA with the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 34, ONAKA discloses the non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 31, wherein reference signals of at least two different cells have different frequency domain positions. (Paragraph 0242, the UE performs the configuration of a Comp cell, such as a carrier frequency and a cell identifier, received in the message for measurement or stores the information on the previously detected cells, at the occurrence of an RLF. The UE uses the configuration of a Comp cell, such as the stored carrier frequency and cell identifier, or the information on the previously detected cells to perform stored information cell selection for RRC connection reestablishment. Paragraph 0203, when the frequency band of a Comp cell is changed before/after Comp (position), the frequency band after Comp may be used. Alternatively, the frequency band before Comp and the frequency band after Comp may be used in association with each other).
Consider Claim 35, ONAKA discloses the non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 31, but fail to teach wherein the first reference signal further carries a time domain offset, and the time domain offset indicates an offset between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information.
However ZHANG teaches wherein the first reference signal further carries a time domain offset, and the time domain offset indicates an offset between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information (Paragraph 0062, the base station notifies the UE of the time offset between the PCI corresponding to the reference signal and a reference PCI, and determines the reference signal sequence parameters according to the PCI (i.e., the first PCI) corresponding to the reference signal).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA with the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 36, ONAKA discloses the non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 31, but fail to teach wherein a predefined time domain offset is between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information.
However, ZHANG teaches wherein a predefined time domain offset is between a time domain position of the first reference signal and a time domain position of the first indication information (Paragraph 0151, a time unit offset between the first physical cell identifier and a reference physical cell identifier; a time unit index; a relative index of the first physical cell identifier among the plurality of physical cell identifiers; an indication as to whether a sequence generation function for generating the sequence for the target element includes the relative index of the first physical cell identifier; an indication as to selection of the sequence generation function; or an indication as to whether the sequence generation function includes a time unit index of predetermined type).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA with the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 37, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention but fails to teach, wherein N is preset to one of 3, 7, 21, 19, or 57.
However, ZHANG teaches wherein N is preset to one of 3, 7, 21, 19, or 57 (paragraph 0100, the UE reports the maximum number of PCIs that can be activated for a serving cell. This capability parameter may be on a serving cell basis or on a radio band basis. The maximum number of PCIs activated in a serving cell in FIGS. 3 to 5 is 3).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA with the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 38, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention but fails to teach, wherein N is equal to a quantity of cells managed by the network device.
However, ZHANG teaches wherein N is equal to a quantity of cells managed by the network device (paragraph 0121, the UE can report the capability of the maximum number of PCIs activated by a serving cell).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA with the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 40, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention but fails to teach, wherein N is equal to a quantity of cells managed by the network device.
However, ZHANG teaches wherein N is equal to a quantity of cells managed by the network device (paragraph 0121, the UE can report the capability of the maximum number of PCIs activated by a serving cell).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify by incorporating a communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) of ONAKA with the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Claims 21 and 27 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable by ONAKA et al. (US 20210120486 A1, hereinafter ONAKA) in view of Maeda et al. (US 20110280223 A1, hereinafter Maeda).
Consider Claim 21, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention the method according to claim 19, wherein the value of the local cell identity and a value of the physical cell identity satisfy the following relationship, (paragraph 0037, division of the PCI range is also referred to as PCI split. The information about PCI split (also referred to as PCI split information) is broadcast in the system information from a base station to user equipment being served thereby. Being served by a base station means taking the base station as a serving cell) but fails to teach V=Vpci mod N, wherein V represents the value of the local cell identity, and Vpci represents the value of the (PCI).
However, Maeda teaches V=Vpci mod N, wherein V represents the value of the local cell identity, and Vpci represents the value of the (PCI) (paragraph 0107, all physical cell identities (PCIs) are split (referred to as PCI-split) into ones reserved for CSG cells and the others reserved for non-CSG cells. The PCI split information is broadcast in the system information from the base station to the UEs being served thereby. The UE that does not have the PCI split information needs to perform cell search using all PCIs. On the other hand, the UE that has the PCI split information is capable of performing cell search using the PCI split information. Paragraph 0262, association is established between the PCI of the second cell and the offset amount of radio resources allocated to the signals that cause interference between the first cell and the second cell or between the PCI of the second cell and the information indicating the frame configuration of the second cell. Offset amount = PCI mod N (N is an integer) and Information indicating frame configuration=PCI mod N (N is an integer)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify Claim 21 by combining/adding the teachings of ONAKA PCI split for splitting up cell interference with the PCI specific calculation of the PCI split mod function of Maeda. The motivation to do so would be to develop an expanded where a reduction in power consumption is required also in a mobile communication system. In addition, the time for cell search can be reduced, thereby restricting the repetitive occurrence of RRC connection reestablishment. Also, a delay time can be reduced, thereby it is possible to achieve the effects that a control delay is prevented and that power consumption is reduced by mapping the offset amount or the information indicating the frame configuration information and reducing the probability of occurrence of missing data and communication interruption. This reduces the degradation in user experience.
Consider Claim 27, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention the apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the value of the local cell identity and a value of the physical cell identity satisfy the following relationship, (paragraph 0037, division of the PCI range is also referred to as PCI split. The information about PCI split (also referred to as PCI split information) is broadcast in the system information from a base station to user equipment being served thereby. Being served by a base station means taking the base station as a serving cell) but fails to teach V=Vpci mod N, wherein V represents the value of the local cell identity, and Vpci represents the value of (PCI).
However, Maeda teaches V=Vpci mod N, wherein V represents the value of the local cell identity, and Vpci represents the value of the (PCI) (paragraph 0107, all physical cell identities (PCIs) are split (referred to as PCI-split) into ones reserved for CSG cells and the others reserved for non-CSG cells. The PCI split information is broadcast in the system information from the base station to the UEs being served thereby. The UE that does not have the PCI split information needs to perform cell search using all PCIs. On the other hand, the UE that has the PCI split information is capable of performing cell search using the PCI split information. Paragraph 0262, association is established between the PCI of the second cell and the offset amount of radio resources allocated to the signals that cause interference between the first cell and the second cell or between the PCI of the second cell and the information indicating the frame configuration of the second cell. Offset amount = PCI mod N (N is an integer) and Information indicating frame configuration=PCI mod N (N is an integer).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify Claim 27 by combining/adding the teachings of ONAKA PCI split for splitting up cell interference with the PCI specific calculation of the PCI split mod function of Maeda. The motivation to do so would be to develop an expanded where a reduction in power consumption is required also in a mobile communication system. In addition, the time for cell search can be reduced, thereby restricting the repetitive occurrence of RRC connection reestablishment. Also, a delay time can be reduced, thereby it is possible to achieve the effects that a control delay is prevented and that power consumption is reduced by mapping the offset amount or the information indicating the frame configuration information and reducing the probability of occurrence of missing data and communication interruption. This reduces the degradation in user experience.
Claim 33 is rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable by ONAKA et al. (US 20210120486 A1, hereinafter ONAKA) ) in view of ZHANG et al. (US 20230067619 A1, hereinafter ZHANG) in view of Maeda et al. (US 20110280223 A1, hereinafter Maeda).
Consider Claim 33, ONAKA and ZHANG combined discloses the claimed invention the non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 31.
ONAKA discloses wherein the value of the local cell identity and a value of the physical cell identity satisfy the following relationship, (paragraph 0037, division of the PCI range is also referred to as PCI split. The information about PCI split (also referred to as PCI split information) is broadcast in the system information from a base station to user equipment being served thereby. Being served by a base station means taking the base station as a serving cell) but fails to teach V=Vpci mod N, wherein V represents the value of the local cell identity, and Vpci represents the value of the (PCI).
However, Maeda teaches V=Vpci mod N, wherein V represents the value of the local cell identity, and Vpci represents the value of the (PCI) (paragraph 0107, all physical cell identities (PCIs) are split (referred to as PCI-split) into ones reserved for CSG cells and the others reserved for non-CSG cells. The PCI split information is broadcast in the system information from the base station to the UEs being served thereby. The UE that does not have the PCI split information needs to perform cell search using all PCIs. On the other hand, the UE that has the PCI split information is capable of performing cell search using the PCI split information. Paragraph 0262, association is established between the PCI of the second cell and the offset amount of radio resources allocated to the signals that cause interference between the first cell and the second cell or between the PCI of the second cell and the information indicating the frame configuration of the second cell. Offset amount = PCI mod N (N is an integer) and Information indicating frame configuration=PCI mod N (N is an integer).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify Claim 33 by combining/adding the teachings of ONAKA PCI split for splitting up cell interference with the methods and system for reference signaling in wireless communication of ZHANG also incorporating the PCI specific calculation of the PCI split mod function of Maeda. The motivation to do so would be to develop an expanded where a reduction in power consumption is required also in a mobile communication system. In addition, the time for cell search can be reduced, thereby restricting the repetitive occurrence of RRC connection reestablishment. Also, a delay time can be reduced, thereby it is possible to achieve the effects that a control delay is prevented and that power consumption is reduced by mapping the offset amount or the information indicating the frame configuration information and reducing the probability of occurrence of missing data and communication interruption. This reduces the degradation in user experience.
Claims 39 and 41 are rejected under U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable by ONAKA et al. (US 20210120486 A1, hereinafter ONAKA) in view of Chen et al. (US 20220345240 A1 , hereinafter Chen).
Consider Claim 39, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention above but fail to teach wherein a frequency domain position of the first reference signal is determined based on a center frequency or a start frequency of the target cell and a frequency domain offset, and the frequency domain offset is a product of a preset value and the value of the local cell identity.
However, Chen teaches wherein a frequency domain position of the first reference signal is determined based on a center frequency or a start frequency of the target cell and a frequency domain offset, and the frequency domain offset is a product of a preset value and the value of the local cell identity (paragraph 0074, the CRS configuration may also include a carrier frequency and/or a timing offset. The configuration of the LTE CRSs 758 may induce a center frequency of a bandwidth of the cell 780. The timing offset of two cells indicates the observed timing difference of the two cells (e.g., the cell 710 and the cell 780) in terms of frame boundaries, subframe boundaries, or slot boundaries. Paragraph 0075, The configurations may include a PCI, a CRS v-shift, a bandwidth, a carrier frequency (e.g., center frequency), a configuration of frame structure and MBSFN subframe, and/or a timing offset of the neighboring cell (e.g., the cell 780)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify Claim 39 by combining/adding the teachings of ONAKA communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) with the communication systems techniques of interference mitigation in dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) of Chen. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Consider Claim 41, ONAKA discloses the claimed invention above but fail to teach wherein a frequency domain position of the first reference signal is determined based on a center frequency or a start frequency of the target cell and a frequency domain offset, and the frequency domain offset is a product of a preset value and the value of the local cell identity.
However, Chen teaches wherein a frequency domain position of the first reference signal is determined based on a center frequency or a start frequency of the target cell and a frequency domain offset, and the frequency domain offset is a product of a preset value and the value of the local cell identity (paragraph 0074, the CRS configuration may also include a carrier frequency and/or a timing offset. The configuration of the LTE CRSs 758 may induce a center frequency of a bandwidth of the cell 780. The timing offset of two cells indicates the observed timing difference of the two cells (e.g., the cell 710 and the cell 780) in terms of frame boundaries, subframe boundaries, or slot boundaries. Paragraph 0075, The configurations may include a PCI, a CRS v-shift, a bandwidth, a carrier frequency (e.g., center frequency), a configuration of frame structure and MBSFN subframe, and/or a timing offset of the neighboring cell (e.g., the cell 780)).
Therefore, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which said subject matter pertains, to modify Claim 41 by combining/adding the teachings of ONAKA communication system which includes a base station configuring an energy saving cell (ES cell) and a base station configuring a compensation cell (Comp cell) with the communication systems techniques of interference mitigation in dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) of Chen. The motivation to so would be to develop a method of a communication system in which radio communication is performed between a communication terminal device and a base station device. Thereby creating mobile telecommunication technologies that are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society in wireless communication.
Response to Arguments
Applicant' s arguments/remarks made in an amendment filed May 18, 2026, with respect to independent claims 19, 25 and 31 have been fully considered.
With regards to Applicants arguments (page 2) that cited reference ONAKA does not state “that any of these cells carries an identifier whose value is bounded by N-1, much less that any reference signal carries such an identifier or that N is less than a maximum value of a physical cell identity”, Examiner respectfully disagrees. The cited reference ONAKA does disclose (Paragraph 0150, in FIG. 7, first and second eNBs 1103 and 1104(reference signal) each configure a coverage cell (physical cell). The coverage cell configured by the first eNB 1103 (reference signal) has a first coverage 1101. The coverage cell configured by the second eNB 1104 has a second coverage 1102. Paragraph 0151, Third to seventh eNBs 1105, 1106, 1107, 1108, and 1109 each configure a capacity cell (cell identity). The capacity cell configured by the third eNB 1105 has a third coverage 1110. Paragraph 0137, the user equipment receives the DL-SCH of the cell based on the cell configuration information of the MIB (master information block), to thereby obtain a system information block (SIB) 1 of the broadcast information BCCH. The SIB1 contains the information about the access to the cell, information about cell selection, and scheduling information on another SIB (SIBk; k (N) is an integer greater than or equal to two).
With regards to Applicants arguments (page 2) that cited reference ONAKA does not address “what is carried by a reference signal, what value range any cell identifier occupies, or any relationship between such an identifier and a maximum value of a physical cell identity”, Examiner respectfully disagrees. The cited reference ONAKA does disclose a coverage cell (physical cell) (paragraph 0667, the UE may judge that it has detected an ES cell when the received power or reception quality of a DS(downlink signal) is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold or exceeds the above threshold. The UE may transmit a wake-up signal(system information) to a cell having the highest received power or a cell having the highest reception quality when it has detected a plurality of ES cells. Paragraph 0673, The ES cell in the dormant state, which has received a wake-up signal from the UE, can switch itself on to shift to the normal operation. The ES cell (target cell) that has shifted to the normal operation can transmit an SIB and a paging signal to the UE being served).
With regards to Applicants arguments (page 2) that cited reference ONAKA does not teach "an integer greater than or equal to O and less than or equal to N-1, N is a positive integer, and N is less than a maximum value of a physical cell identity (PCI)," Examiner respectfully disagrees. The cited reference ONAKA does disclose the value of the local cell identity and a value of the physical cell identity satisfy the following relationship, (paragraph 0037, division of the PCI range is also referred to as PCI split. The information about PCI split (also referred to as PCI split information) is broadcast in the system information from a base station to user equipment being served thereby. Being served by a base station means taking the base station as a serving cell). In addition, the cited reference of ONAKA combined with the cited reference of Maeda discloses V=Vpci mod N, wherein V represents the value of the local cell identity, and Vpci represents the value of the (PCI) (paragraph 0107, all physical cell identities (PCIs) are split (referred to as PCI-split) into ones reserved for CSG cells and the others reserved for non-CSG cells. The PCI split information is broadcast in the system information from the base station to the UEs being served thereby. The UE that does not have the PCI split information needs to perform cell search using all PCIs. On the other hand, the UE that has the PCI split information is capable of performing cell search using the PCI split information. Paragraph 0262, association is established between the PCI of the second cell and the offset amount of radio resources allocated to the signals that cause interference between the first cell and the second cell or between the PCI of the second cell and the information indicating the frame configuration of the second cell. Offset amount = PCI mod N (N is an integer) and Information indicating frame configuration=PCI mod N (N is an integer).
In as such Examiner respectfully rejects independent claims 19, 25 and 31. In addition, depended claims 21-24, 27-30 and 33-41, which depends therefrom independent claims 19, 25 and 31 are also rejected by virtue of their dependence.
As a result, the claims are written such that they read upon the cited references.
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.
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
/JEANETTE J PARKER/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2646
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