DETAILED ACTION
This communication is responsive to Application #18405751 filed 01/05/2024. Claim(s) 1-20 is/are subject to examination.
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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Claims 1, 8, and 15 recite the limitation “…calibration error or a required calibration accuracy…”. It is not clear what is being calibrated. The examiner recommends to further clarify what calibration error or calibration accuracy is related to. For the purpose of examination, the examiner will interpret calibration error or calibration accuracy as being the accuracy or amount of error/variance in timing mismatch. Claims 2-7, depending on claim 1; Claims 9-14, depending on claim 8; and Claims 16-20, depending on claim 15, are likewise rejected.
Claims 1, 8, and 15 recite the limitation "based on the optimal number of resource block separation between pairs of measurements” in the 5th paragraph of the claim. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is unclear weather the “pairs of measurement” in this limitation is the same as the “pairs of measurement” in the 2nd paragraph. For the purpose of examination, the examiner will interpret the limitation in the 5th paragraph of the claim as: “based on the optimal number of resource block separation between the pairs of measurements”. Claims 2-7, depending on claim 1; Claims 9-14, depending on claim 8; and Claims 16-20, depending on claim 15, are likewise rejected.
Claims 1, 8, and 15 recite the limitation “determining a timing mismatch between the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal based on the optimal number of resource block separation between pairs of measurements and the plurality of measurement associated with the plurality of sub-frequency bands. It is unclear whether the determining a mismatch is based on 1) optimal number of resource block separation AND based on 2) plurality of measurements associated with the plurality of sub-frequency bands; or the determining a mismatch is based on optimal number of resource block separation between 1) pairs of measurement and 2) the plurality of measurements associated with the plurality of sub-frequency bands. For the purpose of examination, the examiner will interpret the claims as: determining a mismatch is based on 1) optimal number of resource block separation AND based on 2) plurality of measurements associated with the plurality of sub-frequency bands. Claims 2-7, depending on claim 1; Claims 9-14, depending on claim 8; and Claims 16-20, depending on claim 15, are likewise rejected.
Tentative Indication of Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 appears to contain allowable subject matters pending on satisfactory of overcoming above 112(b) rejection.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: Regarding claims 1, 8, and 15, the combination of limitations involving generating an integrated transmission signal based on the first transmission signal, the second transmission signal, and the timing mismatch; wherein the timing mismatch is determined between the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal based on an optimal number of resource block separation between pairs of measurements and the plurality of measurements associated with the plurality of sub-frequency bands; and wherein determining an optimal number of resource block separation between pairs of measurement is based on system settings of a distributed communication system associated with the communication device, wherein the system settings specify one or more of a maximum tolerable calibration error or a required calibration accuracy, among other claim limitations are non-obvious over the prior art.
The closest prior art, MANOLAKOS et al. (US 20250048157 A1) teaches a 1st and 2nd resource block separation between each of the measurements in a pair of measurements (MANOLAKOS: para 132 (“The network entity device (e.g., LMF) can use the indicated capability to allocate multiple narrow band PFLs within the maximum PFL bandwidth supported. Such an example can be useful for the measurement gap needed for reference signal…processing…”) wherein LMF determines measurement bandwidth part gap; wherein a bandwidth part is made of resource blocks), accessing a plurality of transmission signals between a plurality of respective transmission reception points and a user equipment, wherein the plurality of transmission reception points operate in a particular frequency band (MANOLAKOS: para 110 (“…OFDM system transmits across…frequency band…that assigns each subcarrier a distinct center frequency with a fixed bandwidth, and the subcarriers are separated by a subcarrier spacing such as 30KHz…subcarriers of a particular frequency band may also be separated by a guard interval to address potential interference…”) and Para 141 (“When the LMF 706 provides different…resource…LMF 706 can configure a subcarrier pair having a long equivalent wavelength (e.g., a widest lane or a narrow subcarrier pair)…may configure the UE 702 to select the at least one subcarrier pair using two different PRS resources covering different parts of a bandwidth portion (BWP)…select a subcarrier pair using two different PRS resources covering different PRS RE allocations.”)), wherein the plurality of transmission reception points comprise at least a first transmission reception point and a second transmission reception point, and wherein the plurality of transmission signals comprise at least a first transmission signal between the first transmission reception point and the user equipment and a second transmission signal between the second transmission reception point and the user equipment (MANOLAKOS: para 39 (“…an ability of the device to determine the phase differences between reference signal resources of different reference signal resource sets of different signal sources (…between…different TRPs…”), para 85 (“…multiple TRPs…and a UE perform the…measurements…”), and para 133 (“…phase measurements across TRPs…”)); accessing a plurality of measurements using one or more reference signals at a plurality of sub-frequency bands over the particular frequency band (MANOLAKOS: FIG. 7 item 722 (“Measurement Report”), para 132 (“…a UE can be configured to perform wide/narrow lane determinations…of different positioning frequency layers (PFLs)…measure multiple narrow bands PFLs simultaneously…”), para 141 (“LMF 706 can configure a subcarrier pair having a long equivalent wavelength (e.g., a widest lane or a narrow subcarrier pair)…may configure the UE 702 to select the at least one subcarrier pair using two different PRS resources covering different parts of a bandwidth portion (BWP)…select a subcarrier pair using two different PRS resources covering different PRS RE allocations.”), and para 146 (“…UE 702 can include multiple phase measurements, and the phase measurements can identify various parameters such as a PRS identifier…a PFL identifier of the PFL, subcarriers…”)), wherein the plurality of measurements comprise at least a first pair of measurements associated with a first pair of sub-frequency bands, the first pair of measurements being separated by a first number of resource blocks (MANOLAKOS: para 139 (“…QCL information 711 can include timing difference associated with the different PFLs…the UE 702 can use the timing differences to correct timing issues that are present based on measuring a subcarrier set pair that includes a subcarrier in the first frequency layer and a subcarrier in the second frequency layer…”)), and a second pair of measurements associated with a second pair of sub-frequency bands, the second pair of measurements being separated by a second number of resource blocks (MANOLAKOS: para 139 (“…QCL information 711 can include timing difference associated with the different PFLs…the UE 702 can use the timing differences to correct timing issues that are present based on measuring a subcarrier set pair that includes a subcarrier in the first frequency layer and a subcarrier in the second frequency layer…”)), but does not teach generating an integrated transmission signal based on the first transmission signal, the second transmission signal, and the timing mismatch; wherein the timing mismatch is determined between the first transmission signal and the second transmission signal based on an optimal number of resource block separation between -each of the pairs of measurements and the plurality of measurements associated with the plurality of sub-frequency bands; and wherein determining an optimal number of resource block separation between pairs of measurement is based on system settings of a distributed communication system associated with the communication device, wherein the system settings specify one or more of a maximum tolerable calibration error or a required calibration accuracy, and therefore the subject matter is allowable over the prior art.
Other prior arts such as 1) ALAWIEH et al. (US 20230336310 A1) in FIG. 16 and para 105-106 teach wherein LMF configures UE to measure signal from two different TRPs to determine a timing offset between the resources of the two signals, wherein if it higher or lower than a threshold set by the LMF, the UE activate or deactivate one of the TRP signals; and 2) ZHANG et al. (US 20220078738 A1) in FIG. 13 teach based on timing different of an UL and DL transmission between a UE and a base station, the base station determines a new signal, but ALAWIEH and ZHANG disclose conventional systems, either singularly or in combination, fila to anticipate or render the above claim features obvious, and therefore the subject matter is allowable over the prior art.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
ALAWIEH et al. (US 20230336310 A1)
ZHANG et al. (US 20220078738 A1)
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANGELIE T NGO whose telephone number is (571)272-0180. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Thur: 8am - 5pm; 2nd Fri: 8am - 3pm.
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, Noel Beharry can be reached at (571) 270-5630. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/A.T.N./ Examiner, Art Unit 2416
/NOEL R BEHARRY/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2416