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 .
This office action is a response to an application filed on 01/12/2024 in which claims 1-20 are pending.
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 12/30/2024 and 01/17/2025 have been considered by the examiner. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97.
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
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.
Claims 1, 4, 8, 11, 13, 16 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Nilsson et al. (US 2020/0228182), hereinafter “Nilsson”.
As to claim 1, Nilsson teaches a communication method (Nilsson, Fig. 5, [0057], a method for communication between a UE 102 and a network node 106), comprising:
receiving, by a terminal device, first indication information from a network device (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 304, [0059], the UE receives the beam management/reporting configuration from the network node), wherein the first indication information indicates a first beam associated with at least one reference signal (RS) corresponding to a first reporting configuration for beam switching (Nilsson, Fig. 5, [0066], the beam management/reporting configuration contains information about the future TRP TX beam sweeps, where the configuration comprises the number of TRP TX beams, if the RSRP should be reported, etc. The network node performs the TX beam sweep by transmitting (step 312) different CSI-RS in different TX beams);
performing, by the terminal device, measurement based on the first reporting configuration, to obtain a first measurement report (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 314, [0064], after receiving the beam management/reporting configuration (step 304), the UE performs measurements on the reference signals and determines a preferred or best beam); and
sending, by the terminal device, the first measurement report to the network device (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 316, [0065], the UE informs the network node of the determined best beam in a reporting message (e.g. best beam report)).
As to claim 4, Nilsson teaches wherein when at least one of the following is satisfied, the first beam associated with the at least one RS corresponding to the first reporting configuration is for beam switching (Nilsson, Fig. 5, [0066], the beam management/reporting configuration contains information about the future TRP TX beam sweeps, where the configuration comprises the number of TRP TX beams, if the RSRP should be reported, etc. The network node performs the TX beam sweep by transmitting (step 312) different CSI-RS in different TX beams):
a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the at least one RS is greater than a first threshold;
a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of the at least one RS is greater than a second threshold;
a TCI state associated with the at least one RS is an activated TCI state;
the first reporting configuration is configuration information configured in a periodic manner;
the first reporting configuration is configuration information configured in a semi-persistence manner; or
the first reporting configuration is configuration information configured in an aperiodic configuration manner (Nilsson, [0059], as shown in Fig. 5, step 304, the beam management/reporting configuration is not determined and transmitted periodically. Thus, it is an aperiodic configuration).
As to claim 8, Nilsson teaches wherein before the performing, by the terminal device, measurement based on the first reporting configuration, to obtain a first measurement report (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 314, [0064], after receiving the beam management/reporting configuration (step 304), the UE performs measurements on the reference signals and determines a preferred or best beam), the method further comprises:
receiving, by the terminal device from the network device, configuration information of the first reporting configuration (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 304, [0059], the UE receives the beam management/reporting configuration from the network node. [0061], step 308, “the network node 106 may transmit 308, an indication to the UE 102 that the beam management/reporting configuration is to be initiated”. Steps 304 and 308 are performed before the measurement step 314).
As to claim 11, Nilsson teaches wherein the configuration information of the first reporting configuration (Nilsson, Fig. 5, [0066], the information about the future TRP TX beam sweeps, the number of TRP TX beams, if the RSRP should be reported, etc.) and the first indication information (Nilsson, Fig. 5, the beam management/reporting configuration) are carried in a same message (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 304, [0059], [0066], the UE receives the beam management/reporting configuration from the network node, where the beam management/reporting configuration comprises information about the future TRP TX beam sweeps, the number of TRP TX beams, if the RSRP should be reported, etc.).
As to claim 13, Nilsson teaches a communication method (Nilsson, Fig. 5, [0057], a method for communication between a UE 102 and a network node 106), comprising:
sending, by a network device, first indication information to a terminal device Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 304, [0059], the UE receives the beam management/reporting configuration from the network node), wherein the first indication information indicates a first beam associated with at least one reference signal (RS) corresponding to a first reporting configuration for beam switching (Nilsson, Fig. 5, [0066], the beam management/reporting configuration contains information about the future TRP TX beam sweeps, where the configuration comprises the number of TRP TX beams, if the RSRP should be reported, etc. The network node performs the TX beam sweep by transmitting (step 312) different CSI-RS in different TX beams); and
receiving, by the network device, a first measurement report from the terminal device, wherein the first measurement report is a measurement result of the first reporting configuration (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 314, [0064], after receiving the beam management/reporting configuration (step 304), the UE performs measurements on the reference signals and determines a preferred or best beam. Step 316, [0065], the UE informs the network node of the determined best beam in a reporting message (e.g. best beam report)).
As to claim 16, Nilsson teaches wherein when at least one of the following is satisfied, the first beam associated with the at least one RS corresponding to the first reporting configuration is for beam switching (Nilsson, Fig. 5, [0066], the beam management/reporting configuration contains information about the future TRP TX beam sweeps, where the configuration comprises the number of TRP TX beams, if the RSRP should be reported, etc. The network node performs the TX beam sweep by transmitting (step 312) different CSI-RS in different TX beams):
a reference signal received power (RSRP) of the at least one RS is greater than a first threshold;
a signal to interference plus noise ratio (SINR) of the at least one RS is greater than a second threshold;
a TCI state associated with the at least one RS is an activated TCI state;
the first reporting configuration is configuration information configured in a periodic manner;
the first reporting configuration is configuration information configured in a semi-persistence manner; or
the first reporting configuration is configuration information configured in an aperiodic configuration manner (Nilsson, [0059], as shown in Fig. 5, step 304, the beam management/reporting configuration is not determined and transmitted periodically. Thus, it is an aperiodic configuration).
As to claim 20, Nilsson teaches wherein before the receiving, by the network device, a first measurement report from the terminal device (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 314, [0064], after receiving the beam management/reporting configuration (step 304), the UE performs measurements on the reference signals and determines a preferred or best beam), the method further comprises:
receiving, by the network device to the terminal device, configuration information of the first reporting configuration (Nilsson, Fig. 5, step 304, [0059], the UE receives the beam management/reporting configuration from the network node. [0061], step 308, “the network node 106 may transmit 308, an indication to the UE 102 that the beam management/reporting configuration is to be initiated”. Steps 304 and 308 are performed before the measurement step 314).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claims 2-3 and 14-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson et al. (US 2020/0228182), hereinafter “Nilsson” in view of Cheng et al. (US 2018/0006706), hereinafter “Cheng”.
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 2, wherein the first reporting configuration comprises the at least one RS; or
the first reporting configuration comprises a first RS, and the at least one RS is associated with the first RS.
As to claim 2, Cheng teaches wherein the first reporting configuration comprises the at least one RS (Cheng, Fig. 6, [0038], “The configuration indicates configurations of one or more transmit antenna ports at the base station, and includes information identifying reference signals that will be transmitted to the UE”); or
the first reporting configuration comprises a first RS, and the at least one RS is associated with the first RS (Cheng, Fig. 6, [0038], “The configuration indicates configurations of one or more transmit antenna ports at the base station, and includes information identifying reference signals that will be transmitted to the UE”).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Cheng in order to improve reliability and reduce beam scanning time by reducing the chances that all transmission paths will be blocked by a single obstruction (Cheng, [0036]).
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 3, wherein the first indication information satisfies at least one of the following:
the first indication information comprises an identifier of the at least one RS;
the first indication information comprises an identifier of the first reporting configuration;
the first reporting configuration is comprised in a channel state information (CSI) resource list that is configured based on semi-persistence (SP), and the first indication information further indicates to activate the first reporting configuration in the CSI resource list;
the first indication information comprises an identifier of a first transmission configuration indicator state (TCI state) associated with the first reporting configuration; or
the first reporting configuration is comprised in a trigger state list, and the first indication information indicates an identifier of the first reporting configuration in the trigger state list.
As to claim 3, Cheng teaches wherein the first indication information satisfies at least one of the following:
the first indication information comprises an identifier of the at least one RS (Cheng, Fig. 6, [0038], “The configuration indicates configurations of one or more transmit antenna ports at the base station, and includes information identifying reference signals that will be transmitted to the UE”);
the first indication information comprises an identifier of the first reporting configuration;
the first reporting configuration is comprised in a channel state information (CSI) resource list that is configured based on semi-persistence (SP), and the first indication information further indicates to activate the first reporting configuration in the CSI resource list;
the first indication information comprises an identifier of a first transmission configuration indicator state (TCI state) associated with the first reporting configuration; or
the first reporting configuration is comprised in a trigger state list, and the first indication information indicates an identifier of the first reporting configuration in the trigger state list.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Cheng in order to improve reliability and reduce beam scanning time by reducing the chances that all transmission paths will be blocked by a single obstruction (Cheng, [0036]).
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 14, wherein the first reporting configuration comprises the at least one RS; or
the first reporting configuration comprises a first RS, and the at least one RS is associated with the first RS.
As to claim 14, Cheng teaches wherein the first reporting configuration comprises the at least one RS (Cheng, Fig. 6, [0038], “The configuration indicates configurations of one or more transmit antenna ports at the base station, and includes information identifying reference signals that will be transmitted to the UE”); or
the first reporting configuration comprises a first RS, and the at least one RS is associated with the first RS (Cheng, Fig. 6, [0038], “The configuration indicates configurations of one or more transmit antenna ports at the base station, and includes information identifying reference signals that will be transmitted to the UE”).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Cheng in order to improve reliability and reduce beam scanning time by reducing the chances that all transmission paths will be blocked by a single obstruction (Cheng, [0036]).
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 15, wherein the first indication information satisfies at least one of the following:
the first indication information comprises an identifier of the at least one RS;
the first indication information comprises an identifier of the first reporting configuration;
the first reporting configuration is comprised in a channel state information (CSI) resource list that is configured based on semi-persistence (SP), and the first indication information further indicates to activate the first reporting configuration in the CSI resource list;
the first indication information comprises an identifier of a first transmission configuration indicator state (TCI state) associated with the first reporting configuration; or
the first reporting configuration is comprised in a trigger state list, and the first indication information indicates an identifier of the first reporting configuration in the trigger state list.
As to claim 15, Cheng teaches wherein the first indication information satisfies at least one of the following:
the first indication information comprises an identifier of the at least one RS (Cheng, Fig. 6, [0038], “The configuration indicates configurations of one or more transmit antenna ports at the base station, and includes information identifying reference signals that will be transmitted to the UE”);
the first indication information comprises an identifier of the first reporting configuration;
the first reporting configuration is comprised in a channel state information (CSI) resource list that is configured based on semi-persistence (SP), and the first indication information further indicates to activate the first reporting configuration in the CSI resource list;
the first indication information comprises an identifier of a first transmission configuration indicator state (TCI state) associated with the first reporting configuration; or
the first reporting configuration is comprised in a trigger state list, and the first indication information indicates an identifier of the first reporting configuration in the trigger state list.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Cheng in order to improve reliability and reduce beam scanning time by reducing the chances that all transmission paths will be blocked by a single obstruction (Cheng, [0036]).
Claims 5-6 and 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson et al. (US 2020/0228182), hereinafter “Nilsson” in view of Zhou et al. (US 2020/0204237), hereinafter “Zhou”.
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 5, wherein the method further comprises:
sending, by the terminal device, first capability information to the network device, wherein the first capability information indicates an effective duration of the first beam.
As to claim 5, Zhou teaches wherein the method further comprises:
sending, by the terminal device, first capability information to the network device (Zhou, Fig. 6, [0114], “The second wireless device 610 may transmit, at 630, a beam switch metrics report to the first wireless device 605”, Fig. 9, [0138], “The report manager 920 may transmit a report to the first device or a third device that indicates the one or more beam switch metrics”), wherein the first capability information indicates an effective duration of the first beam (Zhou, [0136], “beam switch metrics may include one or more of…a dwelling time that indicates an expected time duration during which a transmission beam will have more favorable channel conditions than any other of the set of transmission beams of the first device, a dwelling time that indicates an expected time duration during which a receive beam of the second device will provide more favorable receive conditions than any of a set of other receive beams of the second device”).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Zhou in order to provide information that is otherwise unavailable to the first device and that is used for setting beam management parameters, such as resources for reference signal transmissions, beam directions and periodicity of changes of preferred transmission beams (Zhou, [0005]).
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 6, wherein before an effective moment corresponding to the effective duration of the first beam, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the terminal device, second TCI state information from the network device, wherein a second beam corresponding to an RS indicated by the second TCI state information is for beam switching; and
receiving, by the terminal device, downlink data using the second beam.
As to claim 6, Zhou teaches wherein before an effective moment corresponding to the effective duration of the first beam (Zhou, [0136], before the time durations during which a transmission beam and receive beam will provide more favorable conditions, corresponding to the dwelling times, [0088], the UE receives the TCI states to configure the beam for downlink transmission), the method further comprises:
receiving, by the terminal device, second TCI state information from the network device (Zhou, [0088], “By configuring the TCI states at the UE 115, the base station 105 can dynamically select beams for downlink transmission to the UE 115, and the UE 115 can select the corresponding receive beam to receive the downlink transmission”. The base station configures the UE with transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state configurations), wherein a second beam corresponding to an RS indicated by the second TCI state information is for beam switching (Zhou, [0088], “Different TCI states, distinguished by different values of the TCI, may correspond to quasi co-location (QCL) relationships with different reference signal transmissions. For example, each TCI state may be associated with one of the previously received reference signals. The TCI state may provide a spatial QCL reference that the UE 115 can use to set the receive beam”. A TCI state correspond to a reference signal and receive beam); and
receiving, by the terminal device, downlink data using the second beam (Zhou, [0088], “By configuring the TCI states at the UE 115, the base station 105 can dynamically select beams for downlink transmission to the UE 115, and the UE 115 can select the corresponding receive beam to receive the downlink transmission”. The TCI state is used to receive a downlink transmission via the corresponding beam).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Zhou in order to provide information that is otherwise unavailable to the first device and that is used for setting beam management parameters, such as resources for reference signal transmissions, beam directions and periodicity of changes of preferred transmission beams (Zhou, [0005]).
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 17, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, by the network device, first capability information from the terminal device, wherein the first capability information indicates an effective duration of the first beam.
As to claim 17, Zhou teaches wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, by the network device, first capability information from the terminal device (Zhou, Fig. 6, [0114], “The second wireless device 610 may transmit, at 630, a beam switch metrics report to the first wireless device 605”, Fig. 9, [0138], “The report manager 920 may transmit a report to the first device or a third device that indicates the one or more beam switch metrics”), wherein the first capability information indicates an effective duration of the first beam (Zhou, [0136], “beam switch metrics may include one or more of…a dwelling time that indicates an expected time duration during which a transmission beam will have more favorable channel conditions than any other of the set of transmission beams of the first device, a dwelling time that indicates an expected time duration during which a receive beam of the second device will provide more favorable receive conditions than any of a set of other receive beams of the second device”).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Zhou in order to provide information that is otherwise unavailable to the first device and that is used for setting beam management parameters, such as resources for reference signal transmissions, beam directions and periodicity of changes of preferred transmission beams (Zhou, [0005]).
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 18, wherein before an effective moment corresponding to the effective duration of the first beam, the method further comprises:
sending, by the network device, second TCI state information to the terminal device, wherein a second beam corresponding to an RS indicated by the second TCI state information is for beam switching; and
sending, by the network device, downlink data using the second beam.
As to claim 18, Zhou teaches wherein before an effective moment corresponding to the effective duration of the first beam (Zhou, [0136], before the time durations during which a transmission beam and receive beam will provide more favorable conditions, corresponding to the dwelling times, [0088], the UE receives the TCI states to configure the beam for downlink transmission), the method further comprises:
sending, by the network device, second TCI state information to the terminal device (Zhou, [0088], “By configuring the TCI states at the UE 115, the base station 105 can dynamically select beams for downlink transmission to the UE 115, and the UE 115 can select the corresponding receive beam to receive the downlink transmission”. The base station configures the UE with transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state configurations), wherein a second beam corresponding to an RS indicated by the second TCI state information is for beam switching (Zhou, [0088], “Different TCI states, distinguished by different values of the TCI, may correspond to quasi co-location (QCL) relationships with different reference signal transmissions. For example, each TCI state may be associated with one of the previously received reference signals. The TCI state may provide a spatial QCL reference that the UE 115 can use to set the receive beam”. A TCI state correspond to a reference signal and receive beam); and
sending, by the network device, downlink data using the second beam (Zhou, [0088], “By configuring the TCI states at the UE 115, the base station 105 can dynamically select beams for downlink transmission to the UE 115, and the UE 115 can select the corresponding receive beam to receive the downlink transmission”. The TCI state is used to receive a downlink transmission via the corresponding beam).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Zhou in order to provide information that is otherwise unavailable to the first device and that is used for setting beam management parameters, such as resources for reference signal transmissions, beam directions and periodicity of changes of preferred transmission beams (Zhou, [0005]).
Claims 7 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson et al. (US 2020/0228182), hereinafter “Nilsson” in view of Zhang et al. (US 2022/0286185), hereinafter “Zhang”.
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 7, wherein after the sending, by the terminal device, the first measurement report to the network device, the method further comprises:
receiving, by the terminal device, second indication information from the network device, wherein the second indication information indicates that a beam indicated by the first measurement report takes effect;
receiving, by the terminal device, third indication information from the network device, wherein the third indication information indicates that the first measurement report takes effect after a first duration; or
receiving, by the terminal device, a first downlink control information (DCI) message from the network device, wherein the first DCI message indicates that the first measurement report takes effect after a second duration.
As to claim 7, Zhang teaches wherein after the sending, by the terminal device, the first measurement report to the network device (Zhang, Fig. 7A, [0115], “the network node can select a serving beam for a terminal device from candidate beams reported to the network node by the terminal device”), the method further comprises:
receiving, by the terminal device, second indication information from the network device, wherein the second indication information indicates that a beam indicated by the first measurement report takes effect (Zhang, Fig. 7A, [0115], “the network node can select a serving beam for a terminal device from candidate beams reported to the network node by the terminal device”, [0126], “the network node can inform the terminal device of the selected serving beam, as shown in block 714. For example, the network node may transmit information about the selected serving beam to the terminal device, together with UL scheduling signaling”);
receiving, by the terminal device, third indication information from the network device, wherein the third indication information indicates that the first measurement report takes effect after a first duration; or
receiving, by the terminal device, a first downlink control information (DCI) message from the network device, wherein the first DCI message indicates that the first measurement report takes effect after a second duration.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Zhang in order to improve the resource utilization and system performance of a communication network for inter-cell interference avoidance (Zhang, [0081]).
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 19, wherein after the receiving, by the network device, a first measurement report from the terminal device, the method further comprises:
sending, by the network device, second indication information to the terminal device, wherein the second indication information indicates that a beam indicated by the first measurement report takes effect;
sending, by the network device, third indication information to the terminal device, wherein the third indication information indicates that the first measurement report takes effect after a first duration; or
sending, by the network device, a first downlink control information (DCI) message to the terminal device, wherein the first DCI message indicates that the first measurement report takes effect after a second duration.
As to claim 19, Zhang teaches wherein after the receiving, by the network device, a first measurement report from the terminal device (Zhang, Fig. 7A, [0115], “the network node can select a serving beam for a terminal device from candidate beams reported to the network node by the terminal device”), the method further comprises:
sending, by the network device, second indication information to the terminal device, wherein the second indication information indicates that a beam indicated by the first measurement report takes effect (Zhang, Fig. 7A, [0115], “the network node can select a serving beam for a terminal device from candidate beams reported to the network node by the terminal device”, [0126], “the network node can inform the terminal device of the selected serving beam, as shown in block 714. For example, the network node may transmit information about the selected serving beam to the terminal device, together with UL scheduling signaling”);
sending, by the network device, third indication information to the terminal device, wherein the third indication information indicates that the first measurement report takes effect after a first duration; or
sending, by the network device, a first downlink control information (DCI) message to the terminal device, wherein the first DCI message indicates that the first measurement report takes effect after a second duration.
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Zhang in order to improve the resource utilization and system performance of a communication network for inter-cell interference avoidance (Zhang, [0081]).
Claim 9 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson et al. (US 2020/0228182), hereinafter “Nilsson” in view of Venugopal et al. (US 2021/0194545), hereinafter “Venugopal”.
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 9, wherein the configuration information of the first reporting configuration comprises at least one of the following:
a TCI state identifier, indicating a TCI state associated with the first reporting configuration;
a physical cell identifier (PCI), indicating a physical cell corresponding to the first beam;
a first field, wherein when a value of the first field is a first preset value, the first field indicates that the first beam is for beam switching; or
a second field, wherein when a value of the second field is a second preset value, the second field indicates that the first beam is for beam switching of a plurality of component carriers (CCs).
As to claim 9, Venugopal teaches wherein the configuration information of the first reporting configuration comprises at least one of the following:
a TCI state identifier, indicating a TCI state associated with the first reporting configuration (Venugopal, [0099], “the UE 404 may transmit the report 532 in a configured reporting instance and/or on at least one configured reporting resource, such as at least one spatial resource (e.g., a configured beam or transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state), time resource, and/or frequency resource”);
a physical cell identifier (PCI), indicating a physical cell corresponding to the first beam;
a first field, wherein when a value of the first field is a first preset value, the first field indicates that the first beam is for beam switching; or
a second field, wherein when a value of the second field is a second preset value, the second field indicates that the first beam is for beam switching of a plurality of component carriers (CCs).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Venugopal in order to improve the configuration of MIMO communication by dynamically indicating metrics based on operational states of channels between base stations and UEs (Venugopal, [0041]).
Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson et al. (US 2020/0228182), hereinafter “Nilsson” in view of Nam et al. (US 2016/0373178), hereinafter “Nam”.
As to claim 10, Nilsson teaches wherein the configuration information of the first reporting configuration is carried in second DCI (Nilsson, Fig. 5, [0061], step 308, “the network node 106 may transmit 308, an indication to the UE 102 that the beam management/reporting configuration is to be initiated”, [0066], “The TRP 106 then triggers 306 a TRP TX beam sweep procedure by pointing in DCI to the already signaled beam management report configuration”).
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 10, and the second DCI is for scheduling data on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).
However, Nam teaches and the second DCI is for scheduling data on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) (Nam, [0180], “…aperiodic CSI reporting configuration…When the PMI reporting is performed on PUSCH, which is triggered by aperiodic CSI trigger carried in a UL grant DCI (DCI format 0 or 4), the UE reports all the PMI indices (either three or four dependent upon the condition) on the PUSCH scheduled by the UL grant DCI”).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Nam in order to decrease propagation loss of the radio waves and increase the transmission distance (Nam, [0031]).
Claim 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Nilsson et al. (US 2020/0228182), hereinafter “Nilsson” in view of Duan et al. (US 2021/0105106), hereinafter “Duan”.
Nilsson teaches the claimed limitations as stated above. Nilsson does not explicitly teach the following underlined features: regarding claim 12, wherein the at least one RS comprises a tracking reference signal (TRS), the TRS is not repeatedly configured, and there is a quasi co-location (QCL) relationship between the TRS and a first synchronization signal block (SSB).
As to claim 12, Duan teaches wherein the at least one RS comprises a tracking reference signal (TRS) ([0018], “the aperiodic tracking reference signal”), the TRS is not repeatedly configured ([0018], “downlink control information that includes…a trigger for an aperiodic tracking reference signal in at least the first slot and a second slot, transmitting a first instance of the aperiodic tracking reference signal in the first slot and a second instance of the aperiodic tracking reference signal in the second slot, where a same first set of large scale transmission parameters is used for both the first instance of the aperiodic tracking reference signal and the second instance of the aperiodic tracking reference signal”. The same transmission parameters are used for multiple TRS signals. Thus, the TRS are not repeatedly configured), and there is a quasi co-location (QCL) relationship between the TRS and a first synchronization signal block (SSB) (Duan, [0037], “The periodic TRS large scale parameters may have a QCL source that can be a synchronization signal block (SSB) (e.g., for QCL Type-C or QCL Type-D parameters), or a SSB (e.g., for QCL Type-C parameters) and a CSI-RS for beam management (e.g., for QCL Type-D parameters)”).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Nilsson to have the features, as taught by Zhang in order to allow for efficient aperiodic TRS configuration with relatively low overhead that provides a better matching of large scale parameters (e.g., QCL parameters) for PDSCH transmissions and processing gains that result from a same set of large scale parameters being used for multiple instances of TRSs (Duan, [0038]).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
Guo et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication no. 2022/0217590 – User equipment and method of uplink beam management.
Seo et al. U.S. Patent Application Publication no. 2020/0162954 – Method and device for measuring and reporting signal wireless communication system.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to RICARDO H CASTANEYRA whose telephone number is (571)272-2486. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 9:00am - 5:30pm.
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, Kwang bin Yao can be reached at 571-272-3182. 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.
/RICARDO H CASTANEYRA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2473