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 .
DETAILED ACTION
Status of the Application
Double Patenting
A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957).
A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101.
Claims 1 – 20 are provisionally rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of claims 1-20 of copending Application No. 18/425571. This is a provisional statutory double patenting rejection since the claims directed to the same invention have not in fact been patented.
Please see below the table showing the method claims 1-7. Claims 8-20 are the corresponding terminal and chip claims. They are rejected under the same, as being the same invention of claims 8-20 of Co-pending application 18/425571.
Current Application
Application 18/425571
1. A method of shutting down a cell, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, an indication message sent from a network device, wherein the indication message is configured to indicate that the network device will shut down a first cell.
1. A method of shutting down a cell, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, an indication message sent from a network device, wherein the indication message is configured to indicate that the network device will shut down a first cell.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication message comprises: a frequency point corresponding to the first cell and a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the first cell.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication message comprises: a frequency point corresponding to the first cell and a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the first cell.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the indication message further comprises: a time point at which the network device shuts down the first cell.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, the indication message further comprises: a time point at which the network device shuts down the first cell.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a conditional handover (CHO) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CHO candidate-cell list, in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a primary cell and the network device configuring the CHO for the terminal device; performing, by the terminal device, evaluation and triggering the CHO based on the adjusted CHO execution condition; wherein, the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a first CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the first CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A3; and the adjusting a CHO execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in the CHO candidate-cell list, comprises: reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a3-Offset corresponding to the CHO event A3 to reach a first threshold value, wherein the first threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary cell to reach a first measurement value, wherein the first measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a second CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the second CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A5; and the adjusting a CHO execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in the CHO candidate-cell list, comprises: increasing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold1 of the CHO event A5 to reach a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, the a5-Threshold2 of the CHO eventA5 to reach a third threshold value, wherein the third threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary cell to reach a second measurement value, wherein the second measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a second CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the second CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A5; and the method further comprises: determining, by the terminal device, that channel quality of the primary cell is always below an a5-Threshold1 of the CHO eventA5; or the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a third CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the third CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A4; and the adjusting a CHO execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in the CHO candidate-cell list, comprises: reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a4-Threshold of the CHO event A4 to reach a fourth threshold value, wherein the fourth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a conditional handover (CHO) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CHO candidate-cell list, in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a primary cell and the network device configuring the CHO for the terminal device; performing, by the terminal device, evaluation and triggering the CHO based on the adjusted CHO execution condition; wherein, the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a first CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the first CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A3; and the adjusting a CHO execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in the CHO candidate-cell list, comprises: reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a3-Offset corresponding to the CHO event A3 to reach a first threshold value, wherein the first threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary cell to reach a first measurement value, wherein the first measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a second CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the second CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A5; and the adjusting a CHO execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in the CHO candidate-cell list, comprises: increasing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold1 of the CHO event A5 to reach a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, the a5-Threshold2 of the CHO event A5 to reach a third threshold value, wherein the third threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary cell to reach a second measurement value, wherein the second measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a second CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the second CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A5; and the method further comprises: determining, by the terminal device, that channel quality of the primary cell is always below an a5-Threshold1 of the CHO event A5; or the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a third CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the third CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A4; and the adjusting a CHO execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in the CHO candidate-cell list, comprises: reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a4-Threshold of the CHO event A4 to reach a fourth threshold value, wherein the fourth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a primary secondary cell (PSCell) and the network device configuring the conditional PSCell change (CPC) for the terminal device; and performing, by the terminal device, evaluation and triggering the CPC based on the adjusted CPC execution condition; wherein, the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a first CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the first CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A3; and the adjusting a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, comprises: reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a3-Offset corresponding to the CPC event A3 to reach a fifth threshold value, wherein the fifth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary secondary cell to reach a third measurement value, wherein the third measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or wherein, the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a second CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the second CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A5; and the adjusting a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, comprises: increasing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold1 of the CPC event A5 to reach a sixth threshold value, wherein the sixth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold2 of the CPC event A5 to reach a seventh threshold value, wherein the seventh threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary secondary cell to reach a fourth measurement value, wherein the fourth measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a second CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the second CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A5; and the method further comprises: determining, by the terminal device, that a channel quality of the primary secondary cell is always below an a5-Threshold1 of the CPC event A5; or wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a third CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the third CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A4; and the adjusting a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, comprises: reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a4-Threshold of the CPC event A4 to reach an eighth threshold value, wherein the eighth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a primary secondary cell (PSCell) and the network device configuring the conditional PSCell change (CPC) for the terminal device; and performing, by the terminal device, evaluation and triggering the CPC based on the adjusted CPC execution condition; wherein, the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a first CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the first CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A3; and the adjusting a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, comprises: reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a3-Offset corresponding to the CPC event A3 to reach a fifth threshold value, wherein the fifth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary secondary cell to reach a third measurement value, wherein the third measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or wherein, the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a second CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the second CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A5; and the adjusting a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, comprises: increasing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold1 of the CPC event A5 to reach a sixth threshold value, wherein the sixth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold2 of the CPC event A5 to reach a seventh threshold value, wherein the seventh threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary secondary cell to reach a fourth measurement value, wherein the fourth measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a second CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the second CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A5; and the method further comprises: determining, by the terminal device, that a channel quality of the primary secondary cell is always below an a5-Threshold1 of the CPC event A5; or wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a third CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the third CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A4; and the adjusting a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, comprises: reducing, by the terminal device based on the indication message, an a4-Threshold of the CPC event A4 to reach an eighth threshold value, wherein the eighth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: deleting, by the terminal device, the first cell from a secondary cell list based on the indication message in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a secondary cell (SCell); wherein the deleting the first cell from a secondary cell list based on the indication message, comprises: deleting, by the terminal device in response to receiving the indication message sent by the network device, the first cell from the secondary cell list based on the indication message; or deleting, based on the indication message, the first cell from the secondary cell list at the time point when the network device shuts down the first cell.
6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: deleting, by the terminal device, the first cell from a secondary cell list based on the indication message in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a secondary cell (SCell); wherein the deleting the first cell from a secondary cell list based on the indication message, comprises: deleting, by the terminal device in response to receiving the indication message sent by the network device, the first cell from the secondary cell list based on the indication message; or deleting, based on the indication message, the first cell from the secondary cell list at the time point when the network device shuts down the first cell.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication message is carried in a master information block (MIB) or a system information block (SIB).
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indication message is carried in a master information block (MIB) or a system information block (SIB).
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.
Claims 1, 3, 7, 8, 10, 14, 15 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Xue et al (US 2016/0309398 A1).
Regarding claim 8, Xue discloses “A terminal device“ (See Figure 7); comprising “a memory, storing executable program” (See Figure 7, element 702) ; and " a transceiver, coupled to the memory” (see Figure 7, element 701); wherein the transceiver is configured to receive an indication message sent from a network device (see Xue figure 2, element 201 and ¶ 0011, ¶ 0174; receiving, by the terminal, an indication from a base station); “wherein the indication message is configured to indicate that the network device will shut down a first cell” (see Xue figure 2, element 201 and ¶ 0011, ¶ 0174; receiving, by the terminal, an indication from a base station; the indication indicates that the cell will enter a dormant state (shut down or not active state)).
Regarding claim 10, claim 8 is incorporated as stated above. In addition, Xue further discloses “wherein the indication message further comprises: a time point at which the network device shuts down the first cell”; (see Xue figure 2, element 201 and ¶ 0011; where the first signal carries information about time when the first cell enters the dormant state ).
Regarding claim 14, claim 8 is incorporated as stated above. In addition, Xue further discloses “wherein the indication message is carried in a master information block (MIB) or a system information block (SIB).”; (see Xue ¶ 0155 and ¶ 0173; the first signal is preferably dynamic signaling sent in a cell-specific broadcast manner, for example, carried in a master information block (MIB)).
Claims 1, 3 and 7 are the method claims corresponding to the terminal claims 8, 10 and 14 that have been rejected above. Applicant attention is directed to the rejection of claims 8, 10 and 14. Claims 1, 3 and 7 are rejected under the same rational as claims 8, 10 and 14.
Claims 15, 17 are the chip claims corresponding to the terminal claims 8, 10 that have been rejected above. Applicant attention is directed to the rejection of claims 8, 10. Claims 15, 17 are rejected under the same rational as claims 8, 10.
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.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18 are rejected under 35 USC 103(a) as being unpatentable over Xue et al (US 2016/0309398 A1) in view of Yan et al (US Pub. No. 2022/0167234 A1).
Most of the limitations of claim 9 have been noted in the rejection of claim 8. Applicant’s attention is directed to the rejection of claim 8 above. Xue does not appear to explicitly disclose a wherein, the indication message comprises: a frequency point corresponding to the first cell and a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the first cell. However, Yan discloses wherein, the indication message comprises: a frequency point corresponding to the first cell and a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the first cell; (See Yan ¶ 0065 - ¶ 0088; The information about the candidate cell may include at least one piece of the following information: a cell global identifier (CGI) of the candidate cell, a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the candidate cell, frequency information corresponding to the candidate cell,) ”. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, having the teachings of Xue and Yan before him or her, to modify the invention of Xue to include in the indication, taught by Kim, information including a frequency point corresponding to the first cell and a physical cell identifier (PCI) of the first cell. The suggestion for doing so would have been so a success rate of sending the configuration information is ensured. Further, the terminal device selects the target cell based on the configuration information and performs a handover, so that the handover success rate can be improved (¶ 0004).
Most of the limitations of claim 11 have been noted in the rejection of claim 8. Applicant’s attention is directed to the rejection of claim 8 above. Xue does not appear to explicitly disclose adjust, based on the indication message, a conditional handover (CHO) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CHO candidate-cell list, in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a primary cell and the network device configuring the CHO for the terminal device; and perform evaluation and triggering the CHO based on the adjusted CHO execution condition; wherein the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a first CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the first CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A3; the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, an a3-Offset corresponding to the CHO event A3 to reach a first threshold value, wherein the first threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary cell to reach a first measurement value, wherein the first measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or wherein the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a second CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the second CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A5; the processor is configured to increase, based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold1 of the CHO event A5 to reach a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, the a5-Threshold2 of the CHO event A5 to reach a third threshold value, wherein the third threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary cell to reach a second measurement value, wherein the second measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or wherein the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a second CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the second CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A5; and the processor is configured to determine that channel quality of the primary cell is always below an a5-Threshold1 of the CHO event A5; or wherein the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a third CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the third CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A4; and the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, an a4-Threshold of the CHO event A4 to reach a fourth threshold value, wherein the fourth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device. First, the examiner notes that the above claim limitations are claimed in alternative and its not required to map all limitations, only limitations with bold above will be mapped. With that being said, However, Yan discloses adjust, based on the indication message, a conditional handover (CHO) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CHO candidate-cell list, in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a primary cell and the network device configuring the CHO for the terminal device; and perform evaluation and triggering the CHO based on the adjusted CHO execution condition (see Yan ¶0035 and ¶ 0080; modify CHO configuration information corresponding to the configured candidate cell. In other words, the network device may provide the terminal device with CHO configuration information corresponding to the new candidate cell, may modify the CHO configuration information corresponding to the configured candidate cell); wherein the CHO candidate-cell list comprises a second CHO candidate cell, a CHO execution condition corresponding to the second CHO candidate cell comprises a CHO event A5 ((see Yan ¶0070 and ¶ 0088; in addition to the candidate cell #1, the candidate cell configured by the network device for the terminal device includes a candidate cell #2. For the candidate cell #2, a CHO trigger event type that is configured by the network device is an A5 event, and configured corresponding thresholds are J and K. When cell signal quality of the candidate cell #2 is greater than K and cell signal quality of a serving cell (namely, a source cell) is less than J); and the processor is configured to determine that channel quality of the primary cell is always below an a5-Threshold1 of the CHO event A5 (see Yan ¶0070 and ¶ 0088; in addition to the candidate cell #1, the candidate cell configured by the network device for the terminal device includes a candidate cell #2. For the candidate cell #2, a CHO trigger event type that is configured by the network device is an A5 event, and configured corresponding thresholds are J and K. When cell signal quality of the candidate cell #2 is greater than K and cell signal quality of a serving cell (namely, a source cell) is less than J). ”. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, having the teachings of Xue and Yan before him or her, to modify the invention of Xue to remove or delete the cell from the list of used cells after receiving indication of the deactivation of such cell. The suggestion for doing so would have been to improve the performance and efficiency of the system.
Claims 2 and 4 are the method claims corresponding to the terminal claims 9 and 11 that have been rejected above. Applicant attention is directed to the rejection of claims 9, 11. Claims 2 and 4 are rejected under the same rational as claims 9, 11.
Claims 16, 18 are the chip claims corresponding to the terminal claims 9, 11 that have been rejected above. Applicant attention is directed to the rejection of claims 9, 11. Claims 16, 18 are rejected under the same rational as claims 9, 11.
Claims 5, 12 and 19 are rejected under 35 USC 103(a) as being unpatentable over Xue et al (US Pub. No. 2011/0235632 A1) in view of Purkayastha et al (US Pub. No. 2022/0116840 A1).
Most of the limitations of claim 12 have been noted in the rejection of claim 8. Applicant’s attention is directed to the rejection of claim 8 above. Xue does not appear to explicitly disclose wherein the processor is configured to: adjust, based on the indication message, a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a primary secondary cell (PSCell) and the network device configuring the conditional PSCell change (CPC) for the terminal device; and perform evaluation and trigger the CPC based on the adjusted CPC execution condition; wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a first CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the first CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A3; and the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, an a3-Offset corresponding to the CPC event A3 to reach a fifth threshold value, wherein the fifth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary secondary cell to reach a third measurement value, wherein the third measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a second CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the second CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A5; and the processor is configured to increase, based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold1 of the CPC event A5 to reach a sixth threshold value, wherein the sixth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, an a5-Threshold2 of the CPC event A5 to reach a seventh threshold value, wherein the seventh threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; and/or the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, a channel quality measurement value of the primary secondary cell to reach a fourth measurement value, wherein the fourth measurement value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device; or wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a second CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the second CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A5; and the processor is further configured to determine that a channel quality of the primary secondary cell is always below an a5-Threshold1 of the CPC event A5; or wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a third CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the third CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A4; and the processor is further configured to reduce, based on the indication message, an a4-Threshold of the CPC event A4 to reach an eighth threshold value, wherein the eighth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device. First, the examiner notes that the above claim limitations are claimed in alternative and its not required to map all limitations, only limitations with bold above will be mapped. With that being said, However, Purkayastha discloses adjust, based on the indication message, a conditional PSCell change (CPC) execution condition corresponding to each candidate cell in a CPC candidate-cell list, in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a primary secondary cell (PSCell) and the network device configuring the conditional PSCell change (CPC) for the terminal device; and perform evaluation and trigger the CPC based on the adjusted CPC execution condition (see Purkayastha ¶0215; the PSCell configuration control circuitry 1343 may be configured to generate a CPC configuration that includes the CPC execution condition or modify a CPC configuration to include the CPC execution condition); wherein the CPC candidate-cell list comprises a first CPC candidate cell, a CPC execution condition corresponding to the first CPC candidate cell comprises a CPC event A3; and the processor is configured to reduce, based on the indication message, an a3-Offset corresponding to the CPC event A3 to reach a fifth threshold value, wherein the fifth threshold value is a preset value or a value configured by the network device ((see Purkayastha ¶0124 and ¶ 0131; the source SN may send the CPC execution condition for each candidate target PSCell. In some examples, the CPC execution condition involves comparing a source cell and neighbor cell signal strengths measured by a UE (e.g., neighbor>=source+offset (event A3)). ”. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, having the teachings of Xue and Purkayastha before him or her, to modify the invention of Xue to remove or delete the cell from the list of used cells after receiving indication of the deactivation of such cell. The suggestion for doing so would have been to improve the performance and efficiency of the system.
Claim 5 is the method claim corresponding to the terminal claims 12 that has been rejected above. Applicant attention is directed to the rejection of claim 12. Claim 5 is rejected under the same rational as claim 12.
Claim 19 is the chip claims corresponding to the terminal claims 12 that has been rejected above. Applicant attention is directed to the rejection of claim 12. Claim 19 is rejected under the same rational as claim 12.
Claims 6, 13 and 20 are rejected under 35 USC 103(a) as being unpatentable over Xue et al (US 2016/0309398 A1) in view of Centonza et al (WO 2022/234540 A1).
Most of the limitations of claim 13 have been noted in the rejection of claim 8. Applicant’s attention is directed to the rejection of claim 8 above. Xue does not appear to explicitly disclose a wherein the processor is further configured to delete the first cell from a secondary cell list based on the indication message in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a secondary cell (SCell); wherein the processor is configured to: delete, in response to the terminal device receiving the indication message sent by the network device, the first cell from the secondary cell list based on the indication message; or delete, based on the indication message, the first cell from the secondary cell list at the time point when the network device shuts down the first cell. However, Centonza discloses wherein the processor is further configured to delete the first cell from a secondary cell list based on the indication message in response to the terminal device taking the first cell as a secondary cell (SCell); wherein the processor is configured to: delete, in response to the terminal device receiving the indication message sent by the network device, the first cell from the secondary cell list based on the indication message; or delete, based on the indication message, the first cell from the secondary cell list at the time point when the network device shuts down the first cell.; (See Centonza figure 11 and page 0049, first 3 paragraphs; discloses steps of receiving indication that a certain cell is deactivated and based on the indication removing the deactivated cell from the list of stored cells being used by the UE). ”. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, having the teachings of Xue and Centonza before him or her, to modify the invention of Xue to remove or delete the cell from the list of used cells after receiving indication of the deactivation of such cell. The suggestion for doing so would have been to improve the performance and efficiency of the system to allow the UE to attempt to connect to only available cells.
Claim 6 is the method claim corresponding to the terminal claims 13 that has been rejected above. Applicant attention is directed to the rejection of claim 13. Claim 6 is rejected under the same rational as claim 13.
Claim 20 is the chip claims corresponding to the terminal claims 13 that has been rejected above. Applicant attention is directed to the rejection of claim 13. Claim 20 is rejected under the same rational as claim 13.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KHALED M KASSIM whose telephone number is (571)270-3770. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 am - 5:00 PM.
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/KHALED M KASSIM/supervisory patent examiner, Art Unit 2475