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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Choi et al. (hereinafter Choi)(US 2022/0322454).
Regarding claim 1, Choi teaches a method comprising: determining, by a wireless device, a plurality of numbers of repetitions respectively associated with each of a plurality of reference signals for transmission of a random-access preamble(P[0111], all measured SS-RSRP; plurality of SSBs; P[0112], number of repetitions; also P[0104-0112])
selecting, by the wireless device, among the plurality of reference signals, a reference signal associated with the plurality of numbers of repetitions determined to be a lowest among the plurality of numbers of repetitions(P[0112], smallest resource and/or the number of repetitions) in a lowest CE level);
transmitting, by the wireless device, the random-access preamble using the lowest number of repetitions, wherein the random-access preamble is transmitted via a random- access resource associated with the selected reference signal(P[0112], transmit a random access preamble in PRACH).
Regarding claim 2, Choi teaches the method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of reference signals is at least one of: a synchronization signal; a synchronization signal block (SSB); synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel block; channel state information RS; positioning sounding RS; or sounding RS(P[0111], measuring synchronization signal RSRP).
Regarding claim 3, Choi teaches the method of claim 1, wherein the number of repetitions is associated with a radio link quality and the radio link quality is at least one of: a reference signal received power; a received signal strength indicator; a reference signal received quality; a block error rate; or a signal to noise ratio(P[0111], measuring synchronization signal RSRP).
Regarding claim 4, Choi teaches the method of claim 1, further comprising receiving configuration parameters comprising a plurality of radio link quality thresholds(P[0112], RSRP; plurality of thresholds).
Regarding claim 5, Choi teaches the method of claim 4, wherein the determining is further based on a comparison of a radio link quality of each of the plurality of reference signals with the plurality of radio link quality thresholds(p[0112], compare a maximum value of all the measured SS-RSRP values with a plurality of thresholds).
Regarding claim 6, Choi teaches the method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of reference signals is associated with an index(P[0185], SSB having lowest index).
Regarding claim 7, Choi teaches the method of claim 6, wherein the selecting further comprises selecting, amongst a plurality of selected reference signals, the reference signal associated with a lowest index (P[0185], SSB having lowest index).
Claims 8-14 are rejected for the same reason as set forth in claims 1-7 respectively.
Claims 15-20 are rejected for the same reason as set forth in claims 1-5 and 6+7 respectively.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 2/10/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that Choi does not say that the wireless device determines a plurality of numbers of repetitions. By contrast, however, claim 1 recites: "determining, by a wireless device, a plurality of numbers of repetitions respectively associated with each of a plurality of reference signals for transmission of a random-access preamble." Such a teaching is found nowhere in Choi.
Examiner respectfully disagrees.
Choi teaches P[0104-0112], plurality of SSBs(reference signals) and number of SSBs may be related to the number of repetitions. Choi further teaches (P[0104, 01066]), UE may determine the number of SSBs whose SS-RSRP value exceed one threshold.
Applicant argues that Choi does not say that the UE determines that number of repetitions for each of a plurality of reference signals. Instead, Choi seems to be asserting that if the initial CE level is determined through a maximum value of measured SS-RSRP, the result is that the UE transmits a preamble corresponding to one SSB, radio resource usage is somehow minimized (the mechanism to achieve this result is not perfectly clear)
Examiner respectfully disagrees.
Choi teaches P[0104-0112], plurality of SSBs(reference signals) and number of SSBs may be related to the number of repetitions. Choi further teaches (P[0104, 0106]), UE may determine the number of SSBs whose SS-RSRP value exceed one threshold.
Note: SSB is also a type of reference signals.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/MUTHUSWAMY G MANOHARAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2647
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