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)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-4, 7, 9-12, 16 and 18-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wang, Shukun (EP 4156850 A).
Regarding claims 1 and 19, Wang discloses a user equipment (UE) for wireless communications, comprising: one or more memories storing computer-executable code; and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories (see Figure 6, para. 0106, terminal or UE) and operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:
receive an indication of an enhanced measurement configuration
that includes information associated with one or more target frequencies in a
first frequency range (see para. 0038, the measurement configuration is configured in the first RRC reconfiguration message, and then the terminal performs measurement based on the measurement configuration and reports the measurement result to network side, the measurement frequency points supporting configuration can include NR frequency point list: see para. 0048, he validityAreaList for the
execution of the measurement can be configured in the RRC dedicated
signaling or in the system broadcast messages such as SIB. It should be noted
that a validityAreaList for the execution of the measurement is composed of a
frequency point and an optional physical cell identity (PCI) list The network
side can configure a validityAreaList for the terminal device "); performing measurements of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range in accordance with the enhanced measurement configuration while the UE is in an idle or inactive state (see paragraph 38: in order to quickly configure or establish SCell/SCG, the terminal device can be required to perform a measurement (i.e., early measurement) in the idle state or inactive state "; see paragraph 56: the terminal device should adopt the measurement configuration of the NR frequency point list.. "); ; perform measurements of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range in accordance with the enhanced measurement configuration while the UE is in an idle or inactive state (see paragraph 38: in order to quickly configure or establish SCell/SCG, the terminal device can be required to perform a measurement (i.e., early measurement) in the idle state or inactive state "; see paragraph 56: the terminal device should adopt the measurement configuration of the NR frequency point list.. ") and transmit an indication of a measurement report associated with the measurements of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range based at least in part on transitioning from the idle or inactive state to a connected state (see para. 0038, report measurement result to network side after the terminal device enters connected state).
Regarding claims 2, 11 and 20, Wang discloses wherein, to receive the indication of the enhanced measurement configuration, the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive, while the UE is in the connected state, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration message that indicates respective cell identifiers for each of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range, respective synchronization signal block (SSB) resource locations for each of the one or more target frequencies, or both (see para. 0038-0043).
Regarding claim 3, Wang discloses wherein, to perform the measurements of the one or more target frequencies, the one or more processors are further operable to
execute the code to cause the UE to: perform one or more of a cell detection procedure, a cell search procedure, or a cell selection procedure based at least in part on the information provided in the enhanced measurement configuration (see para. 0037-0038).
Regarding claims 4, and 12, wherein, to receive the indication of the enhanced measurement configuration, the one or more processors are further operable to
execute the code to cause the UE to: receive, while the UE is in the idle or inactive state, a system information block (SIB) that indicates respective cell identifiers for each of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range, respective synchronization signal block (SSB) resource locations for each of the one or more target frequencies, or both (see para. 0038-0040).
Regarding claim 7, Wang discloses wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: communicate with a network entity via a primary cell and at least one secondary cell associated with the first frequency range in accordance with a carrier aggregation (CA) or dual connectivity (DC) mode based at least in part on transmitting the measurement report (see para. 0038, communication in accordance with Carrier Aggregation and Dual-Connectivity mode).
Regarding claims 9, and 18, Wang discloses wherein: the one or more target frequencies comprise candidate frequencies for carrier aggregation (CA) or dual connectivity (DC) in Frequency Range 2 (FR2) (see para. 0038).
Regarding claim 10, Wang discloses a network entity for wireless communications, comprising: one or more memories storing computer-executable code; and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and operable to execute the code to cause the network entity to: output an indication of an enhanced measurement configuration that includes information associated with one or more target frequencies in a first frequency range (see para. 0038, RRC connection reconfiguration with NR frequency point); and obtain an indication of a measurement report from a user equipment (UE) in accordance with the enhanced measurement configuration based at least in part on performing a random access procedure with the UE (see para. 0038, report measurement result to network side after the terminal device enters connected state), wherein the measurement report is associated with measurements of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range (see para. 0038, the measurement configuration is configured in the first RRC reconfiguration message, and then the terminal performs measurement based on the measurement configuration and reports the measurement result to network side, the measurement frequency points supporting configuration can include NR frequency point list: see para. 0048, he validityAreaList for theexecution of the measurement can be configured in the RRC dedicated
signaling or in the system broadcast messages such as SIB. It should be noted
that a validityAreaList for the execution of the measurement is composed of a
frequency point and an optional physical cell identity (PCI) list The network
side can configure a validityAreaList for the terminal device ").
Regarding claim 16, Wang discloses wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the network entity to: communicate with the UE via a primary cell and at least one secondary cell associated with the first frequency range in accordance with a carrier aggregation (CA) or dual connectivity (DC) mode based at least in part on obtaining the measurement report (see para. 0038).
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 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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 5-6 and 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang in view of 3GPP TSG RAN WG2 Meeting #116bis-e, R2-2200731, Electronic 17th-25th January, 2022, Agenda Item: 8.11.3 (PRC INACTIVE positioning), Samsung, Discussion on the measurement reporting RRC_IACTIVE, Discussion and Decision, hereinafter “D1”).
Regarding claim 5, Wang discloses all the subject matter but fails to mention wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive an indication of a mobile-originated (MO) data volume threshold, wherein performing the measurements of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range is based at least in part on the UE satisfying the MO data volume threshold. However, D1 from a similar field of endeavor discloses wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive an indication of a mobile-originated (MO) data volume threshold, wherein performing the measurements of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range is based at least in part on the UE satisfying the MO data volume threshold (see pages 1-2, section 2.1, the measurement report can be enhances considering data volume threshold).Thus, it would have been obvious to one ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to include D1 data threshold scheme into Wang measurement scheme. The method can be implemented in a measurement configuration. The motivation of doing this is to enhance the measurement report.
Regarding claim 6, Wang discloses all the subject matter but fails to mention wherein the MO data volume threshold depends on whether the UE supports per-frequency range measurement gaps. However, D1 from a similar field of endeavor discloses wherein the MO data volume threshold depends on whether the UE supports per-frequency range measurement gaps (see pages 1-2, section 2.1, align with period and volume). Thus, it would have been obvious to one ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to include D1 data threshold scheme into Wang measurement scheme. The method can be implemented in a measurement configuration. The motivation of doing this is to enhance the measurement report.
Regarding claim 8, Wang discloses all the subject matter but fails to mention wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: determine whether to initiate the measurements of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range based at least in part on a mobile-originated (MO) data volume of the UE. However, D1 from a similar field of endeavor discloses wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: determine whether to initiate the measurements of the one or more target frequencies in the first frequency range based at least in part on a mobile-originated (MO) data volume of the UE (see pages 1-2, section 2.1, the measurement report can be enhances considering data volume threshold).Thus, it would have been obvious to one ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to include D1 data threshold scheme into Wang measurement scheme. The method can be implemented in a measurement configuration. The motivation of doing this is to enhance the measurement report.
Claim(s) 13-15 and 17 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang in view of Sabouri-Sichani et al. (WO 2022/263314 A1, hereinafter D2).
Regarding claim 13, Wang discloses all the subject matter but fails to mention explicitly wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the network entity to: output an indication of a mobile-terminated (MT) enhanced measurement trigger, wherein obtaining the measurement report is based at least in part on the MT enhanced measurement trigger. However, D2 from a similar field of endeavor discloses wherein the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to cause the network entity to: output an indication of a mobile-terminated (MT) enhanced measurement trigger, wherein obtaining the measurement report is based at least in part on the MT enhanced measurement trigger (see para. 0034-36, 0065, event triggered measurement). Thus, it would have been obvious to one ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to include D2 triggered measurement scheme into Wang measurement scheme. The method can be implemented in a measurement configuration. The motivation of doing this is to save resources and measure based on the triggered events.
Regarding clam 14, Wang discloses wherein the MT enhanced measurement trigger is indicated via a paging message (see para. 0037, paging area is configured by CN).
Regarding claim 15, Wang discloses all the subject matter but fails to mention wherein, to output the indication of the MT enhanced measurement trigger, the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to execute the code to cause the network entity to: output the indication of MT enhanced measurement trigger based at least in part on a volume of data to be communicated between the UE and a network entity. However, D2 from a similar field of endeavor discloses wherein, to output the indication of the MT enhanced measurement trigger, the one or more processors are further operable to execute the code to execute the code to cause the network entity to: output the indication of MT enhanced measurement trigger based at least in part on a volume of data to be communicated between the UE and a network entity (see para. 0036, trigger based measurement). Thus, it would have been obvious to one ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to include D2 triggered measurement scheme into Wang measurement scheme. The method can be implemented in a measurement configuration. The motivation of doing this is to save resources and measure based on the triggered events.
Regarding claim 17, Wang discloses all the subject matter but fails to mention wherein: the first frequency range includes frequencies between 24.25 gigahertz (GHz) and 71.0 GHz. However, D2 from a similar field of endeavor discloses wherein: the first frequency range includes frequencies between 24.25 gigahertz (GHz) and 71.0 GHz (see para. 0050). Thus, it would have been obvious to one ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to include D2 triggered measurement scheme into Wang measurement scheme. The method can be implemented in a measurement configuration. The motivation of doing this is to save resources and measure based on the triggered events.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MOHAMMAD S ANWAR whose telephone number is (571)270-5641. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 6-5 EST.
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MOHAMMAD S. ANWAR
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2463
/MOHAMMAD S ANWAR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2463