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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the independent claims filed on 11/20/2025 have been considered but are moot because removing limitations and adding limitations from the written description raises a new scope and the arguments do not apply to any of the references being used in the instant office action, thus rendering the applicant’s arguments moot.
The applicant also presented other arguments drawn to the various dependent claims. However, said other arguments are all dependency based, depending from the arguments drawn to the independent claims’ limitations discussed above.
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.
Claim(s)1, 3, 5, 7-8, 11 and 21-24 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lim et al. (US 2025/0167954, “Lim”) in view of Chen et al. (US 2024/0365251, “Chen”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Lim unless otherwise mentioned.
Lim comprises the following features:
With respect to independent claims:
Regarding claim 1, a method, comprising:
identifying a user equipment (UE) capability report received from a UE ([0380] “A base station may receive a report of UE capability for coherent transmission for 8 uplink antennas from a UE”);
determining that the UE supports eight transmission (Tx) operation related to phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) signaling based on the UE capability report ([0380] “based on the received UE capability report, may determine an antenna port that shares a PTRS port.”);
identifying a configuration for the UE for the PTRS signaling based on the UE supporting the eight Tx operation ([0380] “The base station that has determined the antenna port group(s) or antenna port(s) sharing the PTRS port may configure, in the UE, information on the antenna port sharing the PTRS port through a higher layer parameter (or an indication through signaling such as MAC CE or DCI). As an example, the base station may configure an antenna port group that may be associated with PTRS port 0 by defining a new higher layer parameter sharing PTRS.”),
wherein the configuration comprises:
eight Tx noncodebook operation for the UE (This will be discussed in view of Chen.);
second partial-coherent operation for the UE or non-coherent operation for the UE ([0348] “a UE capability is reported to a base station to support one of ‘fullCoherent’, ‘partialCoherent’, or ‘nonCoherent’ according to antenna coherency supportable by the UE”);
a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource set configured with usage of noncodebook for the UE ([0214] “at least one SRS resource is configured within the SRS resource set having the value of usage configured as ‘nonCodebook’”); and
four different PTRS port indexes for SRS resources with the SRS resource set ([0261] “in case that ptrs-PortIndex is configured to be n0, n0, n1, and n1, respectively, for SRS resources 1 to 4 included in the SRS resource set for which the usage is nonCodebook”),
wherein each PTRS port index of the four different PTRS port indexes is to be associated with two SRS resources ([0387] “the higher layer parameter ptrs-PortIndex for the first and second SRS resources among the four SRS resources configured in the SRS resource set may be configured as ‘n0’. This may signify that the two SRS resources have an association with PTRS port 0. Similarly, among the four SRS resources configured in the SRS resource set, the higher layer parameter ptrs-PortIndex for the third and fourth SRS resources may be configured as ‘n1’, which may signify that the two SRS resources have an association with PTRS port 1.”); and
generating, for transmission to the UE, a message indicating the configuration ([0215] “For the SRS resource set having the value of usage configured as ‘nonCodebook’ within SRS-ResourceSet which is higher-layer signaling, the UE may receive a configuration of one connected non-zero power CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS).”).
It is noted that while disclosing PTRS signaling, Lim does not specifically teach about 8 Tx noncodebook operation. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Chen as follows;
eight Tx noncodebook operation for the UE ([Chen, 0345] “in the case where the number of all transmission layers of the PUSCH is 8, if the MIMO transmission mode is non-codebook based transmission, or the MIMO transmission mode is codebook based transmission and the codebook coherent configuration is non-coherent configuration”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Lim by using the features of Chen in order to support services and to satisfy performance requirements such that “a method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system may include receiving, from a terminal supporting 8 antenna ports, terminal capability information including information about a number of layers” [Chen, 0010].
With respect to dependent claims:
Regarding claim 3, the method of claim 1, wherein the UE capability report indicates a maximum coherency that the UE supports for eight Tx operation ([0351] “When a UE is capable of performing full coherent transmission through 8 uplink transmission antennas” and aforesaid [0380]), and wherein the configuration comprises the maximum coherency or a lesser coherency for the UE ([0380] “Coherent transmission is possible only for two antenna ports on the UE, and as shown in an example of the situation 1 of the (1-1)th embodiment, {0, 4}, {1,5}, {2, 6}, {3, 7} are assumed to be configured as a set of antenna ports, and the base station and the UE may identify that {0,4} is set 1, {1,5} is set 2, {2,6} is set 3, and {3,7} is set 4 according to predefined rules.”).
Regarding claim 5, the method of claim 1, wherein the UE capability report indicates that the UE supports full-coherent eight Tx operation ([0364] “the UE supports only 1 layer or more than 2 layers through 8 transmission antennas, the base station may support the UE by using the precoding matrix configured by 8×1 vectors defined in Equation 7, which is the same as the full coherent described above”), first partial-coherent eight Tx operation, or second partial-coherent eight Tx operation (These alternatives are not examined.), and wherein the coherency for the UE of the configuration comprises full-coherent coherency ([0433] “the method may further include determining second association information including a first indicator indicating an uplink signal-related DMRS port associated with a first PTRS port and a second indicator indicating an uplink signal-related DMRS port associated with a second PTRS port in case that the terminal supports full coherent and there are two PTRS ports supported by the terminal, transmitting DCI including the second association information to the terminal”) or non-coherent coherency (This alternative is not examined.).
Regarding claim 7, the method of claim 1, wherein the UE capability report indicates that the UE supports full-coherent eight Tx operation (aforesaid [0364]) or first partial-coherent eight Tx operation (This alternative is not examined.).
Regarding claim 8, the method of claim 1, wherein the UE capability report indicates that the UE supports second partial-coherent eight Tx operation ([0391] “This configuration may be determined by the base station based on receiving new or existing UE capability reports from the UE. The new or existing UE capability report that may be associated may include a UE report regarding whether coherent transmission through the uplink transmission antenna of the UE is possible (e.g., select one of full, partial, or noncoherent transmissions)”).
Regarding claim 11, the method of claim 1, wherein the configuration comprises: corresponding PTRS port indexes for each SRS resource within the SRS resource set ([0389] “When configuring the higher layer for 8 SRS resources, the base station may configure the ptrs-PortIndex as ‘n0’ or ‘n1’ for each SRS resource. Here, the base station may configure the value of ptrs-PortIndex of the SRS resource in consideration of the following method. When a base station establishes an association between an SRS and a PTRS port by using the methods below, one SRS resource should be associated with one PTRS port.”).
Regarding claim 21, the method of claim 1, wherein the UE capability report indicates that the UE supports noncodebook based physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) operation ([0218] “The maximum number of SRS resources which may be simultaneously transmitted in the same symbol within one SRS resource set and the maximum number of SRS resources may be determined by the UE capability which the UE reports to the base station.”, and [0215] “For the SRS resource set having the value of usage configured as ‘nonCodebook’ within SRS-ResourceSet which is higher-layer signaling, the UE may receive a configuration of one connected non-zero power CSI-RS (NZP CSI-RS).”).
Regarding claim 22, the method of claim 1, wherein the UE capability report indicates that a maximum number of SRS resources for noncodebook (See aforesaid [0218].).
Regarding claim 23, the method of claim 1, wherein the configuration comprises second partial-coherent operation for the UE ([0391] “This configuration may be determined by the base station based on receiving new or existing UE capability reports from the UE. The new or existing UE capability report that may be associated may include a UE report regarding whether coherent transmission through the uplink transmission antenna of the UE is possible (e.g., select one of full, partial, or noncoherent transmissions)”).
Regarding claim 24, the method of claim 1, wherein the configuration comprises non-coherent operation for the UE (See aforesaid [0391] “noncoherent transmissions”).
Claim(s) 15, 19 and 25-27 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lim et al. (US 2025/0167954, “Lim”) in view of Rahman et al. (US 2022/0200674, “Rahman”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Lim unless otherwise mentioned.
With respect to independent claims:
Regarding claim 15, a method comprising:
generating, for transmission to a base station, a user equipment (UE) capability report that indicates that a UE supports eight transmission (Tx) operation related to phase tracking reference signal (PTRS) signaling, and that the UE supports a first coherency ([0380] “A base station may receive a report of UE capability for coherent transmission for 8 uplink antennas from a UE, and based on the received UE capability report, may determine an antenna port that shares a PTRS port.”); and
identifying a PTRS and physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) operation configuration received from the base station ([0378] “In NR Releases 15 to 17, in case that coherent transmission is possible or even when non-coherent transmission occurs, layers transmitted to PUSCH ports 0 and 2 are defined to be associated with PTRS port 0, layers transmitted to PUSCH ports 1 and 3 are associated with PTRS port 1, and layers transmitted to PUSCH ports 2 and 3 are associated with PTRS port 0”), the PTRS and PUSCH operation configuration determined based on the UE supporting eight Tx operation ([0380] “As an example, the base station may configure an antenna port group that may be associated with PTRS port 0 by defining a new higher layer parameter sharing PTRS.”), the PTRS and PUSCH operation configuration indicating an eight Tx codebook PUSCH operation and a second coherency ([0391] “This configuration may be determined by the base station based on receiving new or existing UE capability reports from the UE. The new or existing UE capability report that may be associated may include a UE report regarding whether coherent transmission through the uplink transmission antenna of the UE is possible (e.g., select one of full, partial, or noncoherent transmissions)”), the second coherency being a same coherency as or a lesser coherency than the first coherency (This will be discussed in view of Rahman.),
the UE configured in accordance with the PTRS and PUSCH operation configuration ([0377] “For codebook-based PUSCH support, when the codebook subset is non-coherent or partial coherent, the base station may indicate, to the UE, the association between the PTRS and DMRS and the information of the DMRS port to which the PTRS port is associated, through a predefined rule and the PTRS-DMRS association field included in the DCI.”),
wherein the UE is configured with the eight Tx codebook PUSCH operation and the second coherency (See [0348], aforesaid [0380] and [0385] “As such, the UE may perform partial coherent transmission by defining this combination as an antenna port group through which coherent transmission is possible.”).
It is noted that while disclosing PTRS signaling, Lim does not specifically teach about reported coherency and configured coherency. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Rahman as follows;
the second coherency being a same coherency as or a lesser coherency than the first coherency ([Rahman, 0226] “This reporting can be joint with the UE capability signaling for full power UL transmission.”, and [Rahman, 0236] “The new UL codebook may be indicated (configured) via higher layer parameter ULCodebookSubset or codebookSubset set to nonCoherentFullPower and partialAndNonCoherentFullpower for a non-coherent UE and partial coherent UE”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Lim by using the features of Chen in order to be effective and efficient wireless communication such that “In order to correctly estimate the UL channel conditions, the UE may transmit reference signal, e.g., SRS, to the gNB for UL channel measurement. With this UL channel measurement, the gNB is able to select appropriate communication parameters to efficiently and effectively perform wireless data communication with the UE in the UL.” [Rahman, 0003].
Regarding claim 26, it is an apparatus claim corresponding to the method claim 15, except the limitations, “processing circuitry” (See Fig. 19 for 1905 “UE Processor”), and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 15.
With respect to dependent claims:
Regarding claims 19 and 27, the method of claim 15 and the apparatus of claim 26, respectively,
wherein the PTRS and PUSCH operation configuration indicates more than two PTRS ports, and wherein to configure the UE includes to configure the UE the more than two PTRS ports ([0398] “When the number of supported PTRS ports is P greater than 2: When a number of PTRS ports greater than 2 are supported”).
Regarding claim 25, the method of claim 15, further comprising: generating, for transmission to the base station, a coherency indication message that indicates one or more coherencies that the UE supports ([0391] “This configuration may be determined by the base station based on receiving new or existing UE capability reports from the UE. The new or existing UE capability report that may be associated may include a UE report regarding whether coherent transmission through the uplink transmission antenna of the UE is possible (e.g., select one of full, partial, or noncoherent transmissions)”).
Claim(s) 20 and 28 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lim et al. (US 2025/0167954, “Lim”) in view of Rahman et al. (US 2022/0200674, “Rahman”) and further in view of Chen et al. (US 2024/0365251, “Chen”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Lim unless otherwise mentioned.
Regarding claims 20 and 28, it is noted that while disclosing PTRS signaling, Lim does not specifically teach about SRS resources. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Chen as follows;
the method of claim 15 and the apparatus of claim 26, respectively, wherein the PTRS and PUSCH operation configuration indicates a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource set to be configured ([Chen, 0337] “the number of all transmission layers of the PUSCH is 4, if the MIMO transmission mode is codebook based transmission”) with corresponding PTRS port indexes for each SRS resource within the SRS resource set, and wherein to configure the UE includes to configure the UE with the SRS resource set with each SRS resource of the SRS resource set configured with the corresponding PTRS port indexes ([0389] “When configuring the higher layer for 8 SRS resources, the base station may configure the ptrs-PortIndex as ‘n0’ or ‘n1’ for each SRS resource. Here, the base station may configure the value of ptrs-PortIndex of the SRS resource in consideration of the following method. When a base station establishes an association between an SRS and a PTRS port by using the methods below, one SRS resource should be associated with one PTRS port.”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Lim by using the features of Chen in order to support services and to satisfy performance requirements such that “a method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system may include receiving, from a terminal supporting 8 antenna ports, terminal capability information including information about a number of layers” [Chen, 0010].
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Harry H. Kim whose telephone number and email address are as follows; 571-272-5009, harry.kim2@uspto.gov.
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/HARRY H KIM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2411