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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of claims 1-9 and 20-30 of Group I in the reply filed on 02/10/2026 is acknowledged. Claims 10-19 of Group II are cancelled in view of the election.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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.
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) 1-5, 9, 20 and 27-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rahman et al. (US 2022/0014956; hereinafter Rahman) in view of Karjalainen et al. (US 2022/0123817; hereinafter Karjalainen).
Regarding claim 1, Rahman shows a user equipment (UE) (Figure 3 shows the UE performing the method of Figure 19.), comprising:
at least one processor (Figure 3 shows a processor.); and
at least one memory coupled with the at least one processor, with instructions stored in the at least one memory, the instructions being executable by the at least one processor, individually or in any combination (Figure 3; noted software stored in memory and executed by the processor to perform the disclosed method.), to cause the UE to:
transmit an indication of a capability of the UE to communicate one or more beam selection reports information indicative of a current receive beam of the UE (Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0234-0235; the UE transmits a capability information including a total number of transmit-receive (Tx-Rx) entities at the UE for beam reporting.);
receive, based at least in part on the capability of the UE, a request for a beam selection report from the UE (Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0234-0235; the UE receives, based on the capability information, configuration information including information on reporting the beam report including a selection of Y Tx-Rx entities.); and
transmit the beam selection report based at least in part on the request, transmit the beam selection report based at least in part on the request comprising information indicative of a first receive beam of the UE (Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0236-0238; the UE transmits the beam report, including an indication about the selection of the Y Tx-Rx entities.).
Rahman shows all of the elements as discussed above. Rahman does not specifically show each beam selection report comprising a current position of the UE and a current orientation of the UE; and the beam selection report comprising a first position of the UE and a first orientation of the UE.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Karjalainen. Specifically, Karjalainen shows each beam selection report comprising a current position of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment positioning.), and a current orientation of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment orientation.); and
the beam selection report comprising a first position of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment positioning.), and a first orientation of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment orientation.).
In view of the above, having the system of Rahman, then given the well-established teaching of Karjalainen, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Rahman as taught by Karjalainen, in order to provide motivation to efficiently convey information required for beam based positioning from a UE to a gNB (Par. 0251 of Karjalainen).
Regarding claim 2, modified Rahman shows wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to:
receive, based at least in part on the capability of the UE, a control message comprising information indicative of requested granularities for receive beams reported by the UE, positions reported by the UE, and orientations reported by the UE, wherein each of the first receive beam of the UE, the first position of the UE, and the first orientation of the UE are in accordance with the requested granularities (Karjalainen: Figures 6-7; Par. 0197, 0204, 0214, 0225; receiving an indication to provide beam reporting information according to one of a plurality of beam reporting formats. A full level beam report may comprise UE RX beam direction in azimuth and elevation angles in local coordinates, where the direction can be reported with Q-bit, where the value of Q defines the number of quantization levels for both azimuth and elevation angles or separately for azimuth and elevation domains.).
Regarding claim 3, modified Rahman shows wherein the control message further comprises information indicative of a granularity of a transmit beam, of a network entity, to be reported by the network entity (Karjalainen: Figures 6-7; Par. 0227; When time delay information associated with a measured TX and RX beam pair for a positioning is included in a full level beam report, a bit vector length of K associated with propagation time delay values, where the direction can be reported with or without quantization is reported in addition to the above parameters.).
Regarding claim 4, modified Rahman shows wherein the beam selection report is transmitted at a first time (Rahman: Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0236-0238; the UE transmits the beam report, including an indication about the selection of the Y Tx-Rx entities.), and the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: transmit a second beam selection report at a second time based at least in part on a time periodicity associated with the one or more beam selection reports (Rahman: Par. 0108, 0202; the panel selection is based on periodic or semi-persistent DL RS measurements, where the periodicity (or periodicityAndOffset) of this panel selection can be fixed or configured, e.g., via RRC. The UE transmits the UL measurement RS resources using the panel selected based on the latest periodic DL RS measurements.), the second beam selection report comprising information indicative of a second receive beam of the UE at the second time (Rahman: Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0236-0238; the UE transmits the beam report, including an indication about the selection of the Y Tx-Rx entities.), a second position of the UE at the second time (Karjalainen: Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment orientation.), and a second orientation of the UE at the second time (Karjalainen: Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment orientation.).
Regarding claim 5, modified Rahman shows wherein the beam selection report is transmitted in accordance with one or both of the first position (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Karjalainen: Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment positioning.) or the first orientation being within a threshold distance or orientation of a first tagged position or a first tagged orientation, and
the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: transmit a second beam selection report (Rahman: Par. 0108, 0202; the panel selection is based on periodic or semi-persistent DL RS measurements, where the periodicity (or periodicityAndOffset) of this panel selection can be fixed or configured, e.g., via RRC. The UE transmits the UL measurement RS resources using the panel selected based on the latest periodic DL RS measurements.) based at least in part on one or both of a second position of the UE (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Karjalainen: Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment positioning.) or a second orientation of the UE being within the threshold distance or orientation of a second tagged position or a second tagged orientation, respectively.
Regarding claim 9, modified Rahman shows wherein information indicative of the first position of the UE and information indicative of the first orientation of the UE comprises coordinate information, elevation information, azimuth information, or any combination thereof (Karjalainen: Figures 6-7; Par. 0197, 0204, 0214, 0225; receiving an indication to provide beam reporting information according to one of a plurality of beam reporting formats. A full level beam report may comprise UE RX beam direction in azimuth and elevation angles in local coordinates, where the direction can be reported with Q-bit, where the value of Q defines the number of quantization levels for both azimuth and elevation angles or separately for azimuth and elevation domains.), and information indicative of the first receive beam comprises an indication of a quantity of receive antennas (Rahman: Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0236-0238; the UE transmits the beam report, including an indication about the selection of the Y Tx-Rx entities.).
Regarding claim 20, Rahman shows a network entity (Figure 2 shows a gNB performing the method of Figure 20.), comprising:
at least one processor (Figure 2 shows a processor.); and
at least one memory coupled with the at least one processor, with instructions stored in the at least one memory, the instructions being executable by the at least one processor, individually or in any combination (Figure 2; noted software stored in memory and executed by the processor to perform the disclosed method.), to cause the network entity to:
receive an indication of a capability of a user equipment (UE) to communicate one or more beam selection reports, each beam selection report comprising information indicative of a current receive beam of the UE (Figures 20; Par. 0114, 0234-0235; the qNB receives, from a UE, a capability information including a total number of transmit-receive (Tx-Rx) entities at the UE for beam reporting.),
transmit, based at least in part on the capability of the UE, a request for a beam selection report from the UE (Figure 20; Par. 0114, 0234-0235; based on the capability information, the gNB transmits, to the UE, configuration information including information on reporting the beam report including a selection of Y Tx-Rx entities.); and
receive, based at least in part on the request, the beam selection report comprising information indicative of a first receive beam of the UE (Figure 20; Par. 0114, 0236-0238; the gNB receives the beam report, including an indication about the selection of the Y Tx-Rx entities.).
Rahman shows all of the elements as discussed above. Rahman does not specifically show each beam selection report comprising a current position of the UE and a current orientation of the UE; and the beam selection report comprising a first position of the UE and a first orientation of the UE.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Karjalainen. Specifically, Karjalainen shows each beam selection report comprising a current position of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment positioning.), and a current orientation of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment orientation.); and
the beam selection report comprising a first position of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment positioning.), and a first orientation of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment orientation.).
In view of the above, having the system of Rahman, then given the well-established teaching of Karjalainen, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Rahman as taught by Karjalainen, in order to provide motivation to efficiently convey information required for beam based positioning from a UE to a gNB (Par. 0251 of Karjalainen).
Regarding claims 27, 28 and 29, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 2, 3 and 4, respectively.
Regarding claim 30, Rahman shows a method (Figure 3 shows the UE performing the method of Figure 19.) for wireless communication by a user equipment (UE), comprising:
transmitting an indication of a capability of the UE to communicate one or more beam selection reports information indicative of a current receive beam of the UE (Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0234-0235; the UE transmits a capability information including a total number of transmit-receive (Tx-Rx) entities at the UE for beam reporting.);
receiving, based at least in part on the capability of the UE, a request for a beam selection report from the UE (Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0234-0235; the UE receives, based on the capability information, configuration information including information on reporting the beam report including a selection of Y Tx-Rx entities.); and
transmitting t he beam selection report based at least in part on the request, transmit the beam selection report based at least in part on the request comprising information indicative of a first receive beam of the UE (Figure 19; Par. 0114, 0236-0238; the UE transmits the beam report, including an indication about the selection of the Y Tx-Rx entities.).
Rahman shows all of the elements as discussed above. Rahman does not specifically show each beam selection report comprising a current position of the UE and a current orientation of the UE; and the beam selection report comprising a first position of the UE and a first orientation of the UE.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Karjalainen. Specifically, Karjalainen shows each beam selection report comprising a current position of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment positioning.), and a current orientation of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment orientation.); and
the beam selection report comprising a first position of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment positioning.), and a first orientation of the UE (Figures 6-7; Par. 0202, 0225, 0232; the beam reporting information may be beam based positioning reporting information, i.e., beam reporting information for use in determining user equipment orientation.).
In view of the above, having the system of Rahman, then given the well-established teaching of Karjalainen, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Rahman as taught by Karjalainen, in order to provide motivation to efficiently convey information required for beam based positioning from a UE to a gNB (Par. 0251 of Karjalainen).
Claim(s) 21 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Rahman in view of Karjalainen and Farag et al. (US 2022/0210781; hereinafter Farag).
Regarding claim 21, modified Rahman shows all of the elements except storing information associated with the beam selection report in a database of the network entity, wherein the network entity associates, via the database, the first receive beam of the UE and a first transmit beam of the network entity used to communicate with the UE with the first position of the UE, the first orientation of the UE, and a first timestamp at which the beam selection report is received.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Farag. Specifically, Farag shows storing information associated with the beam selection report in a database of the network entity (Figures 18-19; Par. 0247; network stores beam measurement reports receives from UEs.), wherein the network entity associates, via the database, the first receive beam of the UE and a first transmit beam of the network entity used to communicate with the UE with the first position of the UE, the first orientation of the UE, and a first timestamp at which the beam selection report is received (Figures 18-19; Par. 0244, 0247; the beam measurement report and positioning/velocity report can be included in separate UL transmissions, each with a time stamp. After the network receives a beam measurement report from a UE passing by point A, the network stores the beam measurement report for point A. It is worth mentioning that a UE could receive several beam measurement reports for point A form the same UE or from different UEs passing by point A at different times. The reports could be different due to the temporal variation of the channel. In this case, the network can extrapolate the multi-path environment at point A form prior measurements. In one example, the network can use the most recent multi-path measurement for point A. In another example, the network can use its own implementation to determine a multi-path at a future point in time (for example based on artificial intelligence schemes).).
In view of the above, having the system of Rahman, then given the well-established teaching of Farag, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Rahman as taught by Farag, in order to provide motivation for accommodating predictive beam management in a wireless communication system (Par. 0004 of Farag).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 6-8 and 22-26 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.
Examiner submits that none of the prior art references cited in this action teaches the claimed subject matter as specifically presented in the above dependent claims. Examiner submits that the allowance of this application is based on an examination wherein the claim limitations recited in the dependent claims were not taken alone but in view of the scope of the claim(s) as a whole including any proceeding and/or preceding claim limitation(s) present within the claims and by their respective dependencies on other claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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US 20240077570 A1 - In a wireless network in which beams are transmitted by base stations, a beam relation database may be produced by crowdsourcing known positions of UEs and associated information related to beams received by the UEs at these positions. The beam information, for example, may include a beam identifier and cell identifier, and may further include measured signal parameters, such as Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) or Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ). The beam relation database may be used by a network or the UE to determine a position of a UE based on beams that are detected by the UE. The position fix may be an initial position fix that may be used to generate assistance data for the UE.
US 20230076874 A1 - generally to radar sensing in communications equipment, and more specifically to coexistence of radar sensing and wireless communications, particularly as relates to power control and beam management.
US 20210281294 A1 - Provided is a mechanism that enables appropriate resource setting with respect to a terminal device including a plurality of antenna panels. A communication device includes: a plurality of antenna panels (70) each including one or more antennas; and a control section (240) that reports, to a base station, report information regarding the number of beams that are transmittable or receivable in a same time resource on the basis of configurations of a plurality of the antenna panels.
US 20210127288 A1 - generally relate to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to using a channel state information (CSI) report framework to support positioning measurements in a wireless network.
US 20200204237 A1 - Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described in which measurements of a number of beams that are transmitted from a first device, measured at a second device are provided in a beam switch metric report from the second device. The beam switch metric report may provide the first device with information that is otherwise unavailable to the first device and that may be used for setting beam management parameters.
US 20180287683 A1 - generally to wireless communication, and more specifically to beam management using synchronization signals (SSs) through channel feedback framework.
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/REDENTOR PASIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413