DETAILED ACTION
This communication is in response to the claims filed on 02/14/2024.
Application No: 18/432,201
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
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 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.
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 of this title, 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 1-2, 4-5, 7-13, 15-16 and 18-20 are rejected under 35 U. S. C. 103 as being unpatentable over MinTianyang et al. (US 20240064719 A1) in view of XuXianFeng et al. ( CN 110267301 B).
Regarding claim 1, MinTianyang teaches a method ([0025], e.g. FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a wireless communication system (i.e. system executing a method steps) according to the embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the radio communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the base station 10 and the terminal 20. Although the single base station 10 and the single terminal 20 are illustrated in FIG. 1, this is merely an example, and a plurality of base stations 10 and a plurality of terminals 20 may be provided. [0031] FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the radio communication system in a case where dual connectivity (DC) is performed. [0032] A cell group provided by the base station 10A that is the MN is referred to as a master cell group (MCG), and a cell group provided by the base station 10B that is the SN is referred to as a secondary cell group (SCG). At a time of DC, the MCG includes one PCell and one or more SCells, and the SCG includes one primary SCG cell (PSCell) and one or more SCells), comprising:
receiving, by a second base station, a first message from a first base station in a process in which a terminal is handed over from the first base station to the second base station ([0031], e.g. FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the radio communication system in a case where dual connectivity (DC) is performed. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a base station 10A serving as master node (MN, i.e. a first base station) and a base station 10B serving as a secondary node (SN , i.e. a second base station) are provided. The base stations 10A and 10B are each connected to a core network 30. The terminal 20 can communicate with both the base stations 10A and 10B (i.e. receiving, by a second base station, a first message from a first base station). [0075] That is, it is possible to reduce the probability of failure in configuring band combinations at the time of dual connectivity (i.e. at the time of handover)),
wherein the first message indicates a band combination ([0034], e.g. For example, when E-UTRA NR-DC (EN-DC) is initiated, the MN sends an information element allowedBC-ListMRDC to the SN, which is a list of allowed band combinations. The MN creates the allowedBC-ListMRDC from band combinations supported by the terminal 20 and reported by the terminal 20), and
the band combination comprises a band of the second base station and a band of a third base station ([0047], e.g. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of configuring band combinations according to the embodiment of the present invention. In step S1, the MN configures all band combinations including the PCell band supported by the MN in allowedBC-ListMRDC (i.e. the band combination comprises a band of the second base station and a band of a third base station). In subsequent step S2, the MN transmits the allowedBC-ListMRDC to the SN. Note that the MN may receive information indicating band combinations supported by the terminal 20 from the terminal 20 before step S1 (i.e. first message indicates a band combination). [0025] Although the single base station 10 and the single terminal 20 are illustrated in FIG. 1, this is merely an example, and a plurality of base stations 10 and a plurality of terminals 20 may be provided (i.e. the band combination comprises a band of the second base station and a band of a third base station)).
MinTianyang teaches that a base station includes a reception unit configured to receive, from a terminal, information indicating band combinations supported by the terminal; a control unit configured to generate first information indicating all band combinations including a supported band of a primary cell among the band combinations supported by the terminal. However MinTianyang differs from the claimed invention in not specifically and clearly describing wherein
adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station, wherein the second base station is a master base station.
However, in the analogous field of endeavor, XuXianFeng teaches wherein
adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station, wherein the second base station is a master base station ([summary of the invention], e.g. step 5, the first main base station receives the switching response, the reconfiguration message is sent to the user terminal, the user terminal is accessed to the second main base station (i.e. adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station) according to the second main base station configuration directly access auxiliary cell, establishing double connection, continuing large flow service, or reporting the auxiliary cell corresponding measurement report according to the measurement configuration, quickly establishing double connection, so as to perform large flow service).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement the method of XuXianFeng within the method of MinTianyang. The motivation to combine references is that the combined system provides a terminal capability obtaining method in double-connection system, when the user terminal needs to perform intra-system inter-frequency switching, the first main base station judges whether the target frequency point is in the frequency range combination of the current user terminal capability information. Further, The method can make the target base station quickly obtain the frequency band combination under the premise of not increasing the switching time delay; the operability is strong, and the realization is simple and effective (See XuXianFeng [abstract]).
Regarding claim 2, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 1. MinTianyang further teaches wherein the band combination is determined by the second base station ([0041], e.g. When creating allowedBC-ListMRDC, the MN may include band combinations that at least include all of the bands of PCell supported by the MN in the allowedBC-ListMRDC. [0049] In subsequent step S13, the SN 10B transmits SN Addition Request Ack to the MN10A as a response to the SN addition request. In the SN Addition Request Ack, information indicating band combinations used with respect to the SCG is included in an information element CG-Config (i.e. the band combination is determined by the second base station)).
Regarding claim 4, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 1. MinTianyang further teaches wherein the band combination is determined by the first base station ([0041], e.g. When creating allowedBC-ListMRDC, the MN (I.e. the band combination is determined by the first base station) may include band combinations that at least include all of the bands of PCell supported by the MN in the allowedBC-ListMRDC).
Regarding claim 5, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 4. MinTianyang further teaches wherein sending, by the second base station, information about the second base station to the first base station, wherein the information about the second base station comprises at least one of: load, an available resource, a transmission rate, a carrier aggregation (CA) capability, and an interference status ([0050], e.g. In subsequent step S22, the MN 10A transmits SN modification Request, which is an SN modification request, to the SN 10B. The SN modification Request is a message for modifying the DC that has already been set up. In the SN modification Request, allowedBC-ListMRDC is included in an information element CG-ConfigInfo. The allowedBC-ListMRDC in step S22 may include band combinations that are limited from the viewpoint of the PCell band supported by the MN 10A and/or the SCell band supported by the MN 10A. The allowedBC-ListMRDC in step S22 may include band combinations that are limited from the viewpoint of parameters per supported band (i.e. an available resource), that is, the featureSet).
Regarding claim 7, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 5. MinTianyang further teaches wherein receiving, by the second base station, a request from the first base station, wherein the request is for requesting the information about the second base station ([0080], e.g. transmitting the first information to a secondary node; receiving second information indicating a band combination used by the secondary node among all the band combinations from the secondary node (i.e. request is for requesting the information about the second base station); and transmitting the second information to the terminal).
Regarding claim 8, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 1 XuXianFeng further teaches wherein adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station comprises: adding, by the second base station, the third base station as the secondary base station in the handover process ([summary of the invention], e.g. step 5, the first main base station receives the switching response, the reconfiguration message is sent to the user terminal, the user terminal is accessed to the second main base station (i.e. adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station) according to the second main base station configuration directly access auxiliary cell, establishing double connection, continuing large flow service, or reporting the auxiliary cell corresponding measurement report according to the measurement configuration, quickly establishing double connection, so as to perform large flow service).
The motivation to combine reference of XuXianFeng within the method of MinTianyang before the effective filing date of the invention is that the new method provides that the purpose of this invention is to provide a double-connection system in terminal capability acquiring method, the premise without increasing switching delay, can quickly obtain the target base station to the frequency band combination (See XuXianFeng [summary of the invention]).
Regarding claim 9, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 1. XuXianFeng further teaches wherein adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station comprises: adding, by the second base station, the third base station as the secondary base station after the handover is completed ([summary of the invention], e.g. step 5, the first main base station receives the switching response, the reconfiguration message is sent to the user terminal, the user terminal is accessed to the second main base station (i.e. adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station) according to the second main base station configuration directly access auxiliary cell, establishing double connection, continuing large flow service, or reporting the auxiliary cell corresponding measurement report according to the measurement configuration, quickly establishing double connection, so as to perform large flow service (i.e. configuration can be send before or after a handover)).
The motivation to combine reference of XuXianFeng within the method of MinTianyang before the effective filing date of the invention is that the new method provides that the purpose of this invention is to provide a double-connection system in terminal capability acquiring method, the premise without increasing switching delay, can quickly obtain the target base station to the frequency band combination (See XuXianFeng [summary of the invention]).
Regarding claim 10, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 4. MinTianyang further teaches wherein standards of the first base station and the second base station are different ([0026], e.g. The base station 10 is a communication device that provides one or more cells and performs wireless communication with the terminal 20. A physical resource of a radio signal is defined with respect to time domain and with respect to frequency domain, and the time domain is defined by the number of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols; and the frequency domain may be defined by the number of subcarriers or the number of resource blocks).
Regarding claim 11, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 4. MinTianyang further teaches wherein standards of the first base station and the second base station are the same ([0027], e.g. The base station 10 is capable of performing carrier aggregation in which a plurality of cells (a plurality of component carriers (CCs)) are aggregated to perform communication with the terminal 20. In carrier aggregation, one primary cell (PCell) and one or more secondary cells (SCells) are used).
Regarding claim 12, MinTianyang teaches an apparatus ([0025], e.g. FIG. 1 is a drawing illustrating a wireless communication system (i.e. system executing a method steps) according to the embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the radio communication system according to the embodiment of the present invention includes the base station 10 and the terminal 20. Although the single base station 10 and the single terminal 20 are illustrated in FIG. 1, this is merely an example, and a plurality of base stations 10 and a plurality of terminals 20 may be provided. [0031] FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the radio communication system in a case where dual connectivity (DC) is performed. [0032] A cell group provided by the base station 10A that is the MN is referred to as a master cell group (MCG), and a cell group provided by the base station 10B that is the SN is referred to as a secondary cell group (SCG). At a time of DC, the MCG includes one PCell and one or more SCells, and the SCG includes one primary SCG cell (PSCell) and one or more SCells), comprising:
a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store a computer program, and the processor is configured to invoke and run the computer program stored in the memory ([0019] , Fig. 10, e.g. hardware configuration illustrating a memory and a processor. [0033] Processing operations in the present embodiment may be executed by the system configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, may be executed by the system configuration illustrated in FIG. 2, or may be executed by a system configuration other than these), and the computer program instructs the processor to:
receive; a first message from a first base station in a process in which a terminal is handed over from the first base station ([0031], e.g. FIG. 2 is a configuration example of the radio communication system in a case where dual connectivity (DC) is performed. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a base station 10A serving as master node (MN, i.e. a first base station) and a base station 10B serving as a secondary node (SN , i.e. a second base station) are provided. The base stations 10A and 10B are each connected to a core network 30. The terminal 20 can communicate with both the base stations 10A and 10B (i.e. receiving, by a second base station, a first message from a first base station). [0075] That is, it is possible to reduce the probability of failure in configuring band combinations at the time of dual connectivity (i.e. at the time of handover)),
wherein the first message indicates a band combination ([0034], e.g. For example, when E-UTRA NR-DC (EN-DC) is initiated, the MN sends an information element allowedBC-ListMRDC to the SN, which is a list of allowed band combinations. The MN creates the allowedBC-ListMRDC from band combinations supported by the terminal 20 and reported by the terminal 20), and
the band combination comprises a band of the apparatus and a band of a third base station ([0047], e.g. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of configuring band combinations according to the embodiment of the present invention. In step S1, the MN configures all band combinations including the PCell band supported by the MN in allowedBC-ListMRDC (i.e. the band combination comprises a band of the second base station and a band of a third base station). In subsequent step S2, the MN transmits the allowedBC-ListMRDC to the SN. Note that the MN may receive information indicating band combinations supported by the terminal 20 from the terminal 20 before step S1 (i.e. first message indicates a band combination). [0025] Although the single base station 10 and the single terminal 20 are illustrated in FIG. 1, this is merely an example, and a plurality of base stations 10 and a plurality of terminals 20 may be provided (i.e. the band combination comprises a band of the second base station and a band of a third base station)).
MinTianyang teaches that a base station includes a reception unit configured to receive, from a terminal, information indicating band combinations supported by the terminal; a control unit configured to generate first information indicating all band combinations including a supported band of a primary cell among the band combinations supported by the terminal. However MinTianyang differs from the claimed invention in not specifically and clearly describing wherein
add, the third base station as a secondary base station, wherein the apparatus is a master base station.
However, in the analogous field of endeavor, XuXianFeng teaches wherein
add, the third base station as a secondary base station, wherein the apparatus is a master base station ([summary of the invention], e.g. step 5, the first main base station receives the switching response, the reconfiguration message is sent to the user terminal, the user terminal is accessed to the second main base station (i.e. adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station) according to the second main base station configuration directly access auxiliary cell, establishing double connection, continuing large flow service, or reporting the auxiliary cell corresponding measurement report according to the measurement configuration, quickly establishing double connection, so as to perform large flow service).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to implement the method of XuXianFeng within the method of MinTianyang. The motivation to combine references is that the combined system provides a terminal capability obtaining method in double-connection system, when the user terminal needs to perform intra-system inter-frequency switching, the first main base station judges whether the target frequency point is in the frequency range combination of the current user terminal capability information. Further, The method can make the target base station quickly obtain the frequency band combination under the premise of not increasing the switching time delay; the operability is strong, and the realization is simple and effective (See XuXianFeng [abstract]).
Regarding claim 13, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 12. MinTianyang further teaches wherein the band combination is determined by the apparatus ([0041], e.g. When creating allowedBC-ListMRDC, the MN may include band combinations that at least include all of the bands of PCell supported by the MN in the allowedBC-ListMRDC. [0049] In subsequent step S13, the SN 10B transmits SN Addition Request Ack to the MN10A as a response to the SN addition request. In the SN Addition Request Ack, information indicating band combinations used with respect to the SCG is included in an information element CG-Config (i.e. the band combination is determined by the apparatus )).
Regarding claim 15, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 12. MinTianyang further teaches wherein
wherein the band combination is determined by the first base station ([0041], e.g. When creating allowedBC-ListMRDC, the MN (I.e. the band combination is determined by the first base station) may include band combinations that at least include all of the bands of PCell supported by the MN in the allowedBC-ListMRDC).
Regarding claim 16, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 15. MinTianyang further teaches wherein the information about the apparatus comprises at least of: load, an available resource, a transmission rate, a carrier aggregation (CA) capability, and an interference status ([0050], e.g. In subsequent step S22, the MN 10A transmits SN modification Request, which is an SN modification request, to the SN 10B. The SN modification Request is a message for modifying the DC that has already been set up. In the SN modification Request, allowedBC-ListMRDC is included in an information element CG-ConfigInfo. The allowedBC-ListMRDC in step S22 may include band combinations that are limited from the viewpoint of the PCell band supported by the MN 10A and/or the SCell band supported by the MN 10A. The allowedBC-ListMRDC in step S22 may include band combinations that are limited from the viewpoint of parameters per supported band (i.e. an available resource), that is, the featureSet).
Regarding claim 18, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 16. MinTianyang further teaches wherein the computer program further instructs the processor to: receive, a request from the first base station, wherein the request is for requesting the information about the apparatus ([0080], e.g. transmitting the first information to a secondary node; receiving second information indicating a band combination used by the secondary node among all the band combinations from the secondary node (i.e. request is for requesting the information about the apparatus); and transmitting the second information to the terminal).
Regarding claim 19, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 12. XuXianFeng further teaches wherein addition of the third base station as a secondary base station by the computer program instructions to the processor comprises instructions from the computer program to the processor to: add; the third base station as the secondary base station in the handover process ([summary of the invention], e.g. step 5, the first main base station receives the switching response, the reconfiguration message is sent to the user terminal, the user terminal is accessed to the second main base station (i.e. adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station) according to the second main base station configuration directly access auxiliary cell, establishing double connection, continuing large flow service, or reporting the auxiliary cell corresponding measurement report according to the measurement configuration, quickly establishing double connection, so as to perform large flow service).
The motivation to combine reference of XuXianFeng within the method of MinTianyang before the effective filing date of the invention is that the new method provides that the purpose of this invention is to provide a double-connection system in terminal capability acquiring method, the premise without increasing switching delay, can quickly obtain the target base station to the frequency band combination (See XuXianFeng [summary of the invention]).
Regarding claim 20, MinTianyang in view of XuXianFeng teaches all the limitations of claim 12. MinTianyang further teaches wherein addition of the third base station as a secondary base station by the computer program instructions to the processor comprises instructions from the computer program to the processor to: add; the third base station as the secondary base station after the handover is completed ([summary of the invention], e.g. step 5, the first main base station receives the switching response, the reconfiguration message is sent to the user terminal, the user terminal is accessed to the second main base station (i.e. adding, by the second base station, the third base station as a secondary base station) according to the second main base station configuration directly access auxiliary cell, establishing double connection, continuing large flow service, or reporting the auxiliary cell corresponding measurement report according to the measurement configuration, quickly establishing double connection, so as to perform large flow service (i.e. configuration can be send before or after a handover)).
The motivation to combine reference of XuXianFeng within the method of MinTianyang before the effective filing date of the invention is that the new method provides that the purpose of this invention is to provide a double-connection system in terminal capability acquiring method, the premise without increasing switching delay, can quickly obtain the target base station to the frequency band combination (See XuXianFeng [summary of the invention]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3, 6, 14 and 17 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable, if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims, and amending claims to overcome any objection(s) and /or rejection(s) set forth in this Office action.
Prior Art Record
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent
to applicant’s disclosure.
TEYEB; Oumer (US-20200128453-A1) - First Base Station, Second Base Station, User Equipment, and Methods Performed Thereby, for Handling a Change in or More Measurements.
VAN DER VELDE; Himke (US-20210153278-A1) - NETWORK INTERCONNECTIVITY.
LUO; Haiyan (US-20210282098-A1) - RELAY COMMUNICATION METHOD AND APPARATUS.
Xu; Yang (US-20210385706-A1) - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYSTEM INTERWORKING.
CHUNG; Wonsuk (US-20220117021-A1) - ELECTRONIC DEVICE SUPPORTING ADDITION OF SECONDARY NODE, AND METHOD THEREFOR.
Da Silva; Icaro L. J. (US-12010735-B2) - Rach-report indicating rat or node in a dual-connectivity / multi-rat configuration.
Zhou, Jiao (CN-112702768-A) - Double-connection switching method, device, base station and terminal.
HU, Xingxing (WO-2021088006-A1) - COMMUNICATION METHOD AND COMMUNICATION APPARATUS.
WAGER STEFAN (WO-2022081060-A1) - HANDLING OF CAPABILITY INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO DUAL CONNECTIVITY.
TAKAHASHI, HIDEAKI (CN-115136692-A) - Terminal, wireless base station and wireless communication method.
PENG WENJIE (EP-3592099-B1) - HANDOVER METHOD AND CORRESPONDING STORAGE MEDIUM AND CHIP SYSTEM.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Mahendra Patel whose telephone number is (571) 270-7499. The examiner can normally be reached on 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM (EST) .
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/MAHENDRA R PATEL/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2645