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 .
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
The specification recites a number of abbreviations such as “AS security”, “SRB2”, “IAB”, “RLC”, “RRC” and “BAP”, “PDU”, and “NR-DC”, the examiner suggest adding full description to the abbreviations in the specification.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-14 are objected to because of the following informalities:
(1) Regarding claim 1:
Claim 1 recites a number of abbreviations such as “AS security”, “SRB2”, and “NR-DC”, the examiner suggest adding full description to the abbreviations in claim 1.
(2) Regarding claim 2:
Claim 2 recites an abbreviation “IAB”, the examiner suggest adding full description to the abbreviations in claim 2.
(3) Regarding claim 3:
Claim 3 recites a abbreviation “RLC”, the examiner suggest adding full description to the abbreviations in claim 3.
(4) Regarding claim 8:
Claim 8 recites a number of abbreviations such as “RRC” and “BAP”, the examiner suggest adding full description to the abbreviations in claim 8.
(5) Regarding claim 11:
Claim 11 recites a number of abbreviations such as “BAP” and “PDU”, the examiner suggest adding full description to the abbreviations in claim 11.
(6) Regarding claim 13:
Claim 13 recites a number of abbreviations such as “RRC” and “BAP”, the examiner suggest adding full description to the abbreviations in claim 13.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(d):
(d) REFERENCE IN DEPENDENT FORMS.—Subject to subsection (e), a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, fourth paragraph:
Subject to the following paragraph [i.e., the fifth paragraph of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112], a claim in dependent form shall contain a reference to a claim previously set forth and then specify a further limitation of the subject matter claimed. A claim in dependent form shall be construed to incorporate by reference all the limitations of the claim to which it refers.
Claim 4 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(d) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, 4th paragraph, as being of improper dependent form for failing to further limit the subject matter of the claim upon which it depends, or for failing to include all the limitations of the claim upon which it depends.
Regarding claim 4:
Claim 4 depends on claim 1, and claim 1 limits the processor to trigger to generate the backhaul link radio link failure notification under some conditions ((i) when a radio link failure is detected, and (ii) when AS security has been activated and (iii) an SRB2 has been established and (iv) the first node is configured with and/or uses NR-DC). Claim 4 further recites the processor is further configured to trigger or generate or transmit the backhaul link radio link failure notification under the same condition ((i) when a radio link failure is detected and (ii) the AS security has been activated and (iii) an SRB2 has been established and (iv) the first node is configured with and/or uses NR-DC). Claim 4 provide more options to satisfied the claimed limitation; that is trigger or generate or transmit the backhaul link radio link failure notification; therefore, the limitation of claim 4 does not further limiting claim 1.
Applicant may cancel the claim(s), amend the claim(s) to place the claim(s) in proper dependent form, rewrite the claim(s) in independent form, or present a sufficient showing that the dependent claim(s) complies with the statutory requirements.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-3, 5-14 are objected for minor informality, but would be allowable if rewritten to overcome the objections.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
The present invention describes an apparatus for triggering to generate a backhaul link radio link failure notification, applicable to a first node, the apparatus comprising: a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to: trigger, when a radio link failure is detected and when AS security has been activated and an SRB2 has been established and the first node is configured with and/or uses NR-DC, to generate the backhaul link radio link failure notification. The closest prior art, NPL (3GPP TSG-RAN WG2 Meeting #114 Electronic Elbonia (R2-2105482, R2-2103560)) used in the written opinion of PCT/CN2021/110408 discloses a method for re-routing enhancements and radio link failure (RLF) indications in IAB. In case an MCG failure is detected (equivalent to "when an RLF is detected"), and T316 is started ( equivalent to "on the basis of the state of a timer"), and not all traffic can be locally rerouted, an IAB-node shall send a BH RLF Type 2 indication - "Trying to recover" to child nodes thereof. "Proposal 5" further discloses: in case RRC re-establishment is initiated (i.e. when a timer T311 is started), the IAB-node shall send the BH RLF Type 2 indication - "Trying to recover" to the child nodes thereof. "Proposal 6" further discloses: in case RRC re-establishment is successful (i.e. when the timer T311 is stopped) and the node has previously sent the BH RLF Type 2 indication, the IAB-node shall send a BH RLF Type 3 indication - "BH link recovered" to the child nodes thereof. However, NPL fails to disclose trigger, when a radio link failure is detected and when AS security has been activated and an SRB2 has been established and the first node is configured with and/or uses NR-DC, to generate the backhaul link radio link failure notification.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Fujishiro et al. (US 2023/0370151 A1) discloses a communication control method.
Zhu (WO/2021/134723 A1) discloses communication method, device and system.
Jung et al. (US 2024/0292479 A1) discloses radio link state determination in wireless communication system.
Kim et al. (US 2024/0224151 A1) discloses failure recovery in wireless communications.
Pan (US 2022/0210847 A1) discloses method and apparatus for supporting UE-to-network relay communication in a wireless communication system.
Zhu (WO/2022/082691 A1) discloses RLF recovery method and apparatus for IAB network, and related device.
Jo et al. (US 2021/0153282 A1) discloses method and apparatus for reporting a connection failure with a target network during handover in a wireless communication system.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SIU M LEE whose telephone number is (571)270-1083. The examiner can normally be reached M-T 8:30-7:00.
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, Chieh M Fan can be reached at 571-272-3042. 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.
/SIU M LEE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2632 2/4/2026