DETAILED ACTION
1. This office action is a response to the Application/Control Number: 18/467,573 filed on 09/14/2023.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
2. A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 07/21/2026 has been entered.
Claims Status
3. This office action is based upon claims received on 06/29/2026 (referenced in RCE filed on 07/21/2026), which replace all prior or other submitted versions of the claims.
-Claims 1, 11, 14, 25, 29, 30 are amended.
-Claims 1-30 are pending.
-Claims 1-30 are rejected.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
4. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Interpretation
5. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “unit” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “unit” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “unit” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” or “unit” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” or “unit” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” or “unit” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are: means for participating, means for monitoring, means for transmitting in claim 29.
Because this or these claim limitation(s) is or are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, claim 29 is being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
A review of the specification shows that the following appears to be the corresponding structure described in the specification for the 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph limitation: FIG. 8, ¶0115 - ¶0122.
If applicant wishes to provide further explanation or dispute the examiner’s interpretation of the corresponding structure, applicant must identify the corresponding structure with reference to the specification by page and line number, and to the drawing, if any, by reference characters in response to this Office action.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
For more information, see MPEP § 2173 el seq. and Supplementary Examination Guidelines for Determining Compliance With 35 U.S.C. 112 and for Treatment of Related Issues in Patent Applications, 76 FR 7162, 7167 (Feb. 9, 2011).
Response to Remarks/Amendments
6. Applicant's remarks and arguments, see page 10-11, filed on 06/29/2026 (referenced in RCE), with respect to 35 U.S.C. § 112 (b) have been considered in light of applicant’s remarks and amendments. The rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 112 (b) pertaining to Claims 11 and 25 as applicable to the previous office action are withdrawn at least for reasons noted below under 35 U.S.C. § 112 (b).
7. Applicant's remarks and arguments, see page 11-15, filed on 06/29/2026 (referenced in RCE), with respect to Rejections under 35 U.S.C. § 103 have been considered but are moot because the arguments do not apply to the new grounds of rejection being used in the current rejection.
Furthermore, remarks with respect to Rejections of Dependent Claims, have been considered, and are moot at least via dependency to the independent claims and via individual rejections addressing the specific claims.
The rejection has been revised and set forth below according to the amended claims (see Office Action).
A. Regarding applicant’s remarks pertaining to independent claims 1, 15, 29, and 30, and to the extent this office action continues to rely upon ABREU et al. (US 20250056570 A1) to reject Claim 1 (i.e. used as an example also representing parallel features in claim 15, 29, 30), the office action respectfully contends applicant’s remarks and arguments as directed to ABREU as relied upon are not persuasive.
Applicant in applicant’s remarks (See page 12 (ln 24-26)), indicates:
“Abreu, does not teach or suggest "a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals that are common across the wireless network," as recited in amended independent claim 1.”
B. In response to item A, the office action references rejection of claim 1 (i.e. used as an example also representing parallel features in claim 15, 29, 30) presented as being rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103, as being unpatentable over ABREU et al. (US 20250056570 A1) i.e. “ABREU”, in view of WANG et al. (US 20220167310 A1) i.e. “WANG”, further in view of LI et al. (US 20210112505 A1), i.e. “LI” (See office action), where ABREU is relied upon for teaching applicant’s subject limitation of contention as follows:
ABREU teaches: A user equipment (UE) (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0059 In Rel-16 (the work item “5G V2X with NR sidelink”),PSFCH for sidelink communication was specified to carry Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback over the sidelink (at physical layer) from a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) to the UE which performed the transmission (henceforth a Tx UE) […] A UE may be indicated by a sidelink control information (SCI) format scheduling a PSSCH reception to transmit a PSFCH with HARQ-ACK information in response to the PSSCH reception);
Which the office action respectfully contends and notes discloses & teaches: per ¶0059 i.e. a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) reads on: A user equipment (UE).
comprising: one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE (ABREU – FIG. 10 & ¶0191 […] a device 1000 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments ;¶0195 […] A computer program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010. The instructions of the program 1030 may include instructions for performing operations/acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1030 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1024.[…]);
Which the office action respectfully contends and notes discloses & teaches: per FIG. 10 & ¶0195 i.e. stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1024 reads on: comprising: one or more memories i.e. program 1030 may be stored reads on: storing processor-executable code; per ¶0195 i.e. program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010 reads on: and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code , and per ¶0185 i.e. program 1030 may include instructions for performing operations/acts of some example embodiments applied to per ¶0191 i.e. a device 1000 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments reads on: to cause the UE.
to: participate in sidelink communication (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0059 See above; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: i.e. to carry Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback over the sidelink (at physical layer) from a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) to the UE which performed the transmission (henceforth a Tx UE))
Which the office action respectfully contends and notes discloses & teaches: to: participate in sidelink communication.
in accordance with a sidelink slot structure used in a wireless network (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0060 […] a frame structure 400 of a sidelink slot with PSFCH. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC, near the end of the sidelink resource in a slot. An example of slot format of PSCCH, PSSCH, and PSFCH is provided in the following figure. The sequence as base sequence is (pre-) configured per sidelink resource pool.; ¶0062 […] The time occasion for PSFCH is determined from K. For a PSSCH transmission with its last symbol in slot n, HARQ feedback is in slot n+a where a is the smallest integer larger than or equal to K with the condition that slot n+a contains PSFCH resources. As an example illustrated in FIG. 5 (which illustrates a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs), the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2, and K is configured as 2);
Which the office action respectfully contends and notes discloses & teaches: per FIG. 4 & ¶0060 i.e. a frame structure 400 of a sidelink slot and i.e. slot format of PSCCH, PSSCH, and PSFCH is provided where per FIG. 5 & ¶0062 i.e. a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs), the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 i.e. FIG. 5 depicting the monitoring period for PSSCH, PSCCH, PSFCH comprising slot 1 through slot 4 associating PSFCH (to which AGC correlates) derived from PSSCH reads on: in accordance with a sidelink slot structure, where per i.e. slot format of PSCCH, PSSCH, and PSFCH is provided in the following figure. The sequence as base sequence is (pre-) configured per sidelink resource pool reads on: used in a wireless network in conjunction with sidelink for per ¶0059 i.e. a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) to the UE which performed the transmission (henceforth a Tx UE)).
wherein the sidelink slot structure includes a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals that are common across the wireless network (ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 ¶0060 See above; ¶0061 […] The time resources for PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots. HARQ feedback is disabled if periodicity is set to 0 (refer to SL-PSFCH-Config in TS 38.331). The HARQ feedback resource (PSFCH) is derived from the resource location of PSCCH/PSSCH; ¶0062 See above0;
Which the office action respectfully contends and notes discloses & teaches: per ¶0061 PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots and using per ¶0060 & FIG. 4 i.e. structure 400 of a sidelink slot with PSFCH and per ¶0062 i.e. a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs), the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 reads on: wherein the sidelink slot structure , where per ¶0061 PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots and per ¶0062 the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 and per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC therefore also (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots reads on: a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals comprising i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC, occurring at a slot interval of 2 with the PSFCH. Per the frame structure of FIG. 4 & ¶0061 i.e. with reference made to SL-PSFCH-Config in TS 38.331 for HARQ-feedback i.e. time resources for PSFCH are (pre-) configured and per ¶0060 i.e. PSFCH base sequence is (pre-) configured per sidelink resource pool i.e. therefore AGC in the first PFSCH symbol is also preconfigured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots i.e. for the side link resource pool i.e. the AGC is preconfigured in the side link resource pool common to UE’s utilizing the pool reads on: that are common across the wireless network .
C. As such, the office action respectfully contends that applicant’s remarks and arguments as cited are not persuasive since ABREU as relied upon, teaches and reads upon applicant’s subject claim 1 limitation of contention as presented. Applicant’s remarks as presented do not address why ABREU’s teachings as presented in this office action do not disclose, teach and read upon the claim 1 limitations as recited.
Furthermore in response to applicant's arguments against the references individually, where the rejection of claim 1 is presented in combination, the office action notes that one cannot show nonobviousness by attacking references individually where the rejections are based on combinations of references. See In re Keller, 642 F.2d 413, 208 USPQ 871 (CCPA 1981); In re Merck & Co., 800 F.2d 1091, 231 USPQ 375 (Fed. Cir. 1986).
Applicant is respectfully directed to the new grounds of rejection of claim 1 (i.e. used as an example also representing parallel features in claim 15, 29, 30) rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ABREU in view of WANG and LI (See office action) where LI in combination teaches overlapping limitations, as well as limitations of applicant’s contention referenced in applicant’s amendments.
The rejection has been revised and set forth below according to the amended claims (see Office Action).
D. Regarding applicant’s remarks pertaining to Dependent Claims 11-13 and 25-28, the office action respectfully contends applicant’s remarks and arguments are not persuasive, and requests reference to office remarks made in previous office action including reference to MPEP 2131 “When a claim covers several structures or compositions, either generically or as alternatives, the claim is deemed anticipated if any of the structures or compositions within the scope of the claim is known in the prior art.” Brown v. 3M, 265 F.3d 1349, 1351, 60 USPQ2d 1375, 1376 (Fed. Cir. 2001)”.
In this case alternative limitations recited by applicant in claim 1 separated by the recitation “or” are interpreted per the scope of the claim language as presented in the alternative and not required together i.e. for the purposes of patentable weight. Accordiingly, a first alternative recited in claim 1 as i.e. “wherein a format of the sidelink feedback message is associated with an uplink control channel format 0 …” is clearly addressed and rejected by the rejection of claim 1 (See office action) per the scope of applicant’s recited claim limitations defining applicant’s claimed invention.
Therefore, at least based upon the reasons presented, this office action respectfully contends that the rejection of claim 1 in this office action and the previous most recent office action is sufficiently articulate and informative and that may be useful in pursuing prosecution, such as to allow applicant to counter the grounds of rejection by i.e. amending claim limitations and scope of the invention as defined by the claims, to require a second alternative limitation i.e. “wherein the format is associated with an uplink control channel format 2 and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over more than two symbols of the sidelink slot structure” only, without presenting alternative limitation options such as the first alternative recited in defining applicant’s invention as currently considered.
Regarding the rejections presented for dependent Claims 11-13, where claims 11-13 are recited as depending from claim 1, and per requirements for a dependent claim are interpreted to further define the second alternative limitation currently presented in the alternative and not required, i.e. the limitations of claim 11 [and 12 and 13] are as such also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required”. Accordingly, amendments requiring the second alternative limitation i.e. “wherein the format is associated with an uplink control channel format 2 and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over more than two symbols of the sidelink slot structure” only in claim 1 would therefore also require claims 11-13.
The above rationale and reasons apply in parallel to independent Claim 15 and dependent claims 25-28 which recite parallel features, and are subject to the same remarks presented for claim 1 and claim 11-13.
Therefore, at least for the reasons noted above, applicants remarks regarding dependent Claims 11-13 and 25-28 are not persuasive since rejections of dependent Claims 11-13 and 25-28 are clearly presented and convey the sufficiently articulate and informative rejections intended as useful in advancing prosecution as noted above, and as a result allowing applicant to consider amendments to the claim scope and appropriately counter the grounds of rejection presented.
The rejection has been revised and set forth below according to the amended claims (see Office Action).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
8. 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.
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.
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.
9. Claims 1, 2, 11-15, 25-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ABREU et al. (US 20250056570 A1) i.e. “ABREU”, in view of WANG et al. (US 20220167310 A1) i.e. “WANG”, further in view of LI et al. (US 20210112505 A1), i.e. “LI”
Regarding Claim 1. (Currently Amended) ABREU teaches: A user equipment (UE) (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0059 In Rel-16 (the work item “5G V2X with NR sidelink”),PSFCH for sidelink communication was specified to carry Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback over the sidelink (at physical layer) from a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) to the UE which performed the transmission (henceforth a Tx UE) […] A UE may be indicated by a sidelink control information (SCI) format scheduling a PSSCH reception to transmit a PSFCH with HARQ-ACK information in response to the PSSCH reception; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0059 i.e. a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) reads on: A user equipment (UE) ),
comprising: one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE (ABREU – FIG. 10 & ¶0191 […] a device 1000 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments ;¶0195 […] A computer program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010. The instructions of the program 1030 may include instructions for performing operations/acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1030 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1024.[…] ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 10 & ¶0195 i.e. stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1024 reads on: comprising: one or more memories i.e. program 1030 may be stored reads on: storing processor-executable code; per ¶0195 i.e. program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010 reads on: and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code , and per ¶0185 i.e. program 1030 may include instructions for performing operations/acts of some example embodiments applied to per ¶0191 i.e. a device 1000 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments reads on: to cause the UE )
to: participate in sidelink communication (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0059 See above; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: i.e. to carry Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback over the sidelink (at physical layer) from a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) to the UE which performed the transmission (henceforth a Tx UE) reads on: to: participate in sidelink communication )
in accordance with a sidelink slot structure used in a wireless network (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0060 […] a frame structure 400 of a sidelink slot with PSFCH. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC, near the end of the sidelink resource in a slot. An example of slot format of PSCCH, PSSCH, and PSFCH is provided in the following figure. The sequence as base sequence is (pre-) configured per sidelink resource pool.; ¶0062 […] The time occasion for PSFCH is determined from K. For a PSSCH transmission with its last symbol in slot n, HARQ feedback is in slot n+a where a is the smallest integer larger than or equal to K with the condition that slot n+a contains PSFCH resources. As an example illustrated in FIG. 5 (which illustrates a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs), the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2, and K is configured as 2 ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 4 & ¶0060 i.e. a frame structure 400 of a sidelink slot and i.e. slot format of PSCCH, PSSCH, and PSFCH is provided where per FIG. 5 & ¶0062 i.e. a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs), the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 i.e. FIG. 5 depicting the monitoring period for PSSCH, PSCCH, PSFCH comprising slot 1 through slot 4 associating PSFCH (to which AGC correlates) derived from PSSCH reads on: in accordance with a sidelink slot structure, where per i.e. slot format of PSCCH, PSSCH, and PSFCH is provided in the following figure. The sequence as base sequence is (pre-) configured per sidelink resource pool reads on: used in a wireless network in conjunction with sidelink for per ¶0059 i.e. a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) to the UE which performed the transmission (henceforth a Tx UE)),
wherein the sidelink slot structure includes a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals that are common across the wireless network (ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 ¶0060 See above; ¶0061 […] The time resources for PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots. HARQ feedback is disabled if periodicity is set to 0 (refer to SL-PSFCH-Config in TS 38.331). The HARQ feedback resource (PSFCH) is derived from the resource location of PSCCH/PSSCH; ¶0062 See above ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0061 PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots and using per ¶0060 & FIG. 4 i.e. structure 400 of a sidelink slot with PSFCH and per ¶0062 i.e. a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs), the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 reads on: wherein the sidelink slot structure , where per ¶0061 PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots and per ¶0062 the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 and per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC therefore also (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots reads on: a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals comprising i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC, occurring at a slot interval of 2 with the PSFCH. Per the frame structure of FIG. 4 & ¶0061 i.e. with reference made to SL-PSFCH-Config in TS 38.331 for HARQ-feedback i.e. time resources for PSFCH are (pre-) configured and per ¶0060 i.e. PSFCH base sequence is (pre-) configured per sidelink resource pool i.e. therefore AGC in the first PFSCH symbol is also preconfigured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots i.e. for the side link resource pool i.e. the AGC is preconfigured in the side link resource pool common to UE’s utilizing the pool reads on: that are common across the wireless network );
monitor for a sidelink message during a monitoring interval that comprises the set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals in the sidelink slot structure (ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0061 see above; ¶0062 See above; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0061 i.e. The HARQ feedback resource (PSFCH) is derived from the resource location of PSCCH/PSSCH where per ¶0059 i.e. carry Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback over the sidelink (at physical layer) from a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) i.e. per 0061 i.e. the resource location of PSCCH/PSSCH where per ¶0059 a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission reads on: monitor for a sidelink message where per ¶0061 i.e. The HARQ feedback resource (PSFCH) is derived from the resource location of PSCCH/PSSCH and per FIG. 5 & ¶0062 i.e. a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs), the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2, and K is configured as 2 i.e. FIG. 5 depicting the monitoring period comprising slot 1 through slot 4 associating PSFCH (to which AGC correlates) derived from PSSCH reads on: during a monitoring interval, where per ¶0061 PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots and per ¶0062 the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 and per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC reads on: comprising the set of common and periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals within i.e. FIG. 5 depicting the monitoring period comprising slot 1 through slot 4 associating PSFCH (to which AGC correlates) derived from PSSCH reads on: in the sidelink slot structure);
and transmit a sidelink feedback message in accordance with the monitoring (ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0061 see above; ¶0062 See above; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0061 i.e. The HARQ feedback resource (PSFCH) is derived and per FIG. 5 & ¶0062 i.e. a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs reads on: and transmit a sidelink feedback message per ¶0061 i.e. from the resource location of PSCCH/PSSCH reads on: in accordance with the monitoring),
wherein a format of the sidelink feedback message is associated with an uplink control channel format 0 ( ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0060 See above; ¶0061 see above; ¶0062 See above; ¶0069 […] The scenario where a RX UE needs to transmit PSFCHs (using existing R16/17 PSFCH format 0) across multiple unlicensed channels within a SL BWP in a same slot has been discussed ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 4 & ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols reads on: wherein a format of the sidelink feedback message where per ¶0069 i.e. UE needs to transmit PSFCHs (using existing R16/17 PSFCH format 0) where feedback message PSFCH are in an uplink direction in association with corresponding downlink direction PSSCH reads on: is associated with an uplink control channel format 0)
and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over a plurality of resource blocks of the sidelink slot structure (ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0060 See above; ¶0061 see above; ¶0062 See above; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: FIG. 5 utilizing FIG. 4 structure depicts PFSCH 0 and PSFCH 1 reads on: and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over a plurality of resource blocks of the sidelink slot structure associated with PSSCH in slot 1 and slot 2 ),
or (note: limitations separated by a recitation “or” are interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required together i.e. for the purposes of patentable weight)
wherein the format is associated with an uplink control channel format 2 and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over more than two symbols of the sidelink slot structure (note: limitations separated by a recitation “or” are interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required together i.e. for the purposes of patentable weight).
ABREU does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (i.e. note see italicized portions of claim limitations): interval that comprises one or more slots or symbols immediately subsequent to an automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval of the set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals;
Furthermore while ABREU teaches an uplink control channel format as referenced and interpreted above,
ABREU additionally does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (i.e. note see italicized portions of claim limitations): an uplink control channel format;
WANG teaches: wherein a format of the sidelink feedback message is associated with an uplink control channel format 0 and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over a plurality of resource blocks of the sidelink slot structure (WANG FIG. 9, FIG. 15 & FIG. 16 & ¶0089 […]in one of PUCCH formats (e.g., Format 0), there may be one resource block (RB) carrying HARQ-ACK information for a single PSSCH transmission, where the PSFCH format 0 sequence may be repeated on 2 PSFCH symbols. For example, referring back to FIG. 9, for the PSFCH 904 with two OFDM symbols, one symbol (e.g., a symbol 908) may be used for providing the HARQ feedback (e.g., ACK or NACK), and another symbol (e.g., a symbol 906) may be a duplication of the HARQ feedback (e.g., duplication of the symbol 908); ¶0109 […] when a short PSFCH 1504 is configured for a sidelink device, the sidelink may transmit the HARQ feedback using a waveform similar to PUCCH format 0. For example, as shown at 1508, the transmitting device may use one (1) RB and two (2) symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback, where one symbol and one RB may include the HARQ feedback and another symbol and RB may include the repetition/duplication of the HARQ feedback […] at 1510, the transmitting device may use multiple RBs and one/two symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback […] the transmitting device may use five (5) RBs and two symbols per RB for transmitting the HARQ feedback, where one or more RBs of a symbol may include the HARQ feedback and one or more RBs of another symbol may include the repetition/duplication of the HARQ feedback. By using more RBs for transmitting the HARQ feedback, the reliability for sidelink HARQ reporting may be improved; ¶0118 […] The repeated transmission of short format HARQ using all symbols of the long PSFCH 1602 may be good for automatic gain control (AGC) calibration, and it may also improve the reception quality;
NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 15 & ¶0109 i.e. the sidelink may transmit the HARQ feedback using a waveform similar to PUCCH format 0 and furthermore i.e. per ¶0089 i.e. in one of PUCCH formats (e.g., Format 0), there may be one resource block (RB) carrying HARQ-ACK information for a single PSSCH transmission, where i.e. the PSFCH format 0 sequence may be repeated on 2 PSFCH symbols reads on: wherein a format of the sidelink feedback message is associated with an uplink control channel format 0 , i.e. in both instances both sidelink feedback such as a format of PFSCH is associated explicitly with PUCCH formats (e.g., Format 0) where the PSFCH format 0 sequence is i.e. repeated on 2 PSFCH symbols associated with PUUCH format 0 as depicted in FIG. 9.
Furthermore, per FIG. 15 & ¶109 i.e. at 1510, the transmitting device may use multiple RBs and one/two symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback and likewise per ¶0089 i.e. in one of PUCCH formats (e.g., Format 0), there may be one resource block (RB) carrying HARQ-ACK information for a single PSSCH transmission, where i.e. the PSFCH format 0 sequence may be repeated on 2 PSFCH symbols reads on: and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over a plurality of resource blocks where slot structure depicted or FIG. 9, FIG. 15 & FIG. 16 reads on: of the sidelink slot structure );
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU with teachings of WANG, since WANG enables using more RBs for transmitting the HARQ feedback, the reliability for sidelink HARQ reporting may be improved and also enables repeated transmission of short format HARQ using all symbols of the long PSFCH which may be good for automatic gain control (AGC) calibration, and it may also improve the reception quality(Wang - ¶0109; ¶0118).
While ABREU in view of WANG teaches: A user equipment (UE), comprising: one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: participate in sidelink communication in accordance with a sidelink slot structure used in a wireless network, wherein the sidelink slot structure includes a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals that are common across the wireless network; monitor for a sidelink message during a monitoring interval that comprises the set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals in the sidelink slot structure; and transmit a sidelink feedback message in accordance with the monitoring, wherein a format of the sidelink feedback message is associated with an uplink control channel format 0 and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over a plurality of resource blocks of the sidelink slot structure, or wherein the format is associated with an uplink control channel format 2 and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over more than two symbols of the sidelink slot structure.
ABREU in view of WANG does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (note see italicized portions): interval that comprises one or more slots or symbols immediately subsequent to an automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval of the set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals;
LI which also teaches: participate in sidelink communication in accordance with a sidelink slot structure used in a wireless network, wherein the sidelink slot structure includes a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals (LI FIG. 8 & ¶0103 […] the first set of symbols 410 are the last symbols in a slot 400 and is in part used as a guard period, wherein at least part of a duration of at least one of the symbols in the first set is 410 used as an AGC settling period for a subsequent slot 401; ¶0106 […] UE1 transmits the second set of symbols 420, e.g. control and data channels, followed by an entire GP (i.e., entire last symbol). ¶0107 UE2 transmits an AGC settling signal during the duration of the first set of symbols 410 […] i.e., a partial symbol. ¶0108 During slot 401: ¶0109 UE2 transmits the second set of symbols 420, e.g. control and data channels (first symbols), followed by […]; ¶0110 UE3 (or again UE1) transmits an AGC settling signal during the AGC settling interval at the end of the GP […];
NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 8 & ¶0106 i.e. UE1 transmits the second set of symbols 420, e.g. control and data channels and per ¶0109 i.e. UE2 transmits the second set of symbols 420 where at least a PSSCH symbol is depicted after ACG settling interval reads on: participate in sidelink communication, furthermore where i.e. FIG. 8 depicting slot structure comprising use of slot 400 in conjunction with slot 401 reads on: in accordance with a sidelink slot structure used in a wireless network);
Furthermore LI (i.e. specific to this rejection) teaches: monitor for a sidelink message during a monitoring interval that comprises one or more slots or symbols immediately subsequent to an automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval of (LI FIG. 8 & ¶0103 See above, ¶0106-¶0110 see above;
NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: Per ¶0106 i.e. UE1 transmits the second set of symbols 420, e.g. control and data channels and per ¶0109 i.e. UE2 transmits the second set of symbols 420 where FIG. 8 depicts at least one PSSCH reads on: monitor for a sidelink message during a monitoring interval , where per FIG. 8 & ¶0107 UE2 transmits an AGC settling signal during the duration of the first set of symbols 410 and ¶ UE1) transmits an AGC settling signal during the AGC settling interval at the end of the GP where FIG. 8 depicts at least one PSSCH symbol after each AGC settling interval reads on: a monitoring interval that comprises one or more slots or symbols immediately subsequent to an automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval , where per FIG. 8 slot structure comprising Slot 400 and slot 401 depicts AGC settling intervals in a periodic separation occurring every 7 symbols reads on: of the set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals in the sidelink slot structure );
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG, with teachings of LI, since LI enables to improve overall spectral efficiency and user data throughput by reducing AGC overhead (LI - ¶0014).
Regarding Claim 2. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 1,
furthermore ABREU teaches: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 ¶0060 See claim 1; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits reads on: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message , a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols where , the first of which can be used for AGC where FIG. 5 shows two resource blocks as depicted (0 & 1) reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks) through transmission of a plurality of repetitions of the sidelink feedback message (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 ¶0060 See claim 1; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0060 The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols reads on: through transmission of a plurality of repetitions i.e. The PSFCH transmits reads on: of the sidelink feedback message).
furthermore WANG also teaches: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks (WANG FIG. 9, FIG. 15 & FIG. 16 & ¶0109 see above ;NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: ¶109 i.e. at 1510, the transmitting device may use multiple RBs and one/two symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback reads on: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message, per FIG. 15 as depicted 1510 & ¶109 i.e. at 1510, the transmitting device may use multiple RBs and one/two symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks)
through transmission of a plurality of repetitions of the sidelink feedback message (WANG FIG. 9, FIG. 15 & FIG. 16 & ¶0089 […]in one of PUCCH formats (e.g., Format 0), there may be one resource block (RB) carrying HARQ-ACK information for a single PSSCH transmission, where the PSFCH format 0 sequence may be repeated on 2 PSFCH symbols. For example, referring back to FIG. 9, for the PSFCH 904 with two OFDM symbols, one symbol (e.g., a symbol 908) may be used for providing the HARQ feedback (e.g., ACK or NACK), and another symbol (e.g., a symbol 906) may be a duplication of the HARQ feedback (e.g., duplication of the symbol 908) ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: i.e. per FIG. 15 & ¶0109 i.e. the sidelink may transmit the HARQ feedback using a waveform similar to PUCCH format 0 and per ¶0089 i.e. one of PUCCH formats (e.g., Format 0), there may be one resource block (RB) carrying HARQ-ACK information for a single PSSCH transmission, where i.e. the PSFCH format 0 sequence may be repeated on 2 PSFCH symbols reads on: through transmission of a plurality of repetitions per FIG. 15 & ¶109 i.e. at 1510, the transmitting device may use multiple RBs and one/two symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback and per ¶0089 i.e. HARQ-ACK information reads on: the sidelink feedback message for a single PSSCH transmission)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI, further with teachings of WANG, since WANG enables repeated transmission of short format HARQ using all symbols of the long PSFCH 1602 which may be good for automatic gain control (AGC) calibration, and it may also improve the reception quality (Wang - ¶0118).
Regarding Claim 11. (Currently Amended) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 1,
(NOTE: Claim 11 depends from claim 1, and the claim 11 limitations associate with and recite “sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols” which is presented in the alternative in claim 1, and therefore the limitations in claim 11 are also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required)
wherein the format is associated with the uplink control channel format 2 and wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols through application of a mapping of the more than two symbols to a quantity (NOTE: Claim 11 depends from claim 1, and the claim 11 limitations associate with and recite “sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols” which is presented in the alternative in claim 1, and therefore the limitations in claim 11 are also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required).
Regarding Claim 12. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 1,
(NOTE: Claim 12 depends from claim 1, and the Claim 12 limitations associate with and recite “sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols” which is presented in the alternative in claim 1, and therefore the limitations in Claim 12 are also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required)
wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols through repetition of the sidelink feedback message on a per quantity of symbol basis; and apply a time-domain orthogonal cover code to the repetition of the sidelink feedback message(NOTE: Claim 12 depends from claim 1, and the Claim 12 limitations associate with and recite “sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols” which is presented in the alternative in claim 1, and therefore the limitations in Claim 12 are also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required).
Regarding Claim 13. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 12,
(NOTE: Claim 13 depends from Claim 12, and claim 12 depends from claim 1, and the Claim 12 limitations associate with and recite “sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols” which is presented in the alternative in claim 1, and therefore the limitations in Claim 12 are also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required, and furthermore therefore claim 13 is also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required)
wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: multiplex the repetition of the sidelink feedback message in accordance with code division multiplexing, wherein the code division multiplexing is associated with an order of a frequency-domain orthogonal cover code applied to the repetition of the sidelink feedback message and an order of the time-domain orthogonal cover code applied to the repetition of the sidelink feedback message (NOTE: Claim 13 depends from Claim 12, and claim 12 depends from claim 1, and the Claim 12 limitations associate with and recite “sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols” which is presented in the alternative in claim 1, and therefore the limitations in Claim 12 are also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required, and furthermore therefore claim 13 is also deemed and interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required).
Regarding Claim 14. (Currently Amended) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 1,
furthermore ABREU teaches: wherein the plurality of resource blocks (ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0060 See above; ¶0061 see above; ¶0062 See above; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 5 utilizing FIG. 4 structure depicts PFSCH 0 and PSFCH 1 reads on: wherein the plurality of resource blocks) or (note: limitations separated by a recitation “or” are interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required together i.e. for the purposes of patentable weight)
the more than two symbols (note: limitations separated by a recitation “or” are interpreted as presented in the alternative and not required together i.e. for the purposes of patentable weight)
occur after [[an]] the automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval of the set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals in the sidelink slot structure (ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 ¶0060 See above; ¶0061 […] The time resources for PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots […] The HARQ feedback resource (PSFCH) is derived from the resource location of PSCCH/PSSCH; ¶0062 See above ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0061 PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots and using per ¶0060 & FIG. 4 i.e. structure 400 of a sidelink slot with PSFCH and per ¶0062 i.e. a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs), the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 reads on: wherein the sidelink slot structure , where per ¶0061 PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots and per ¶0062 the period of PSFCH resources is configured as 2 and per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC reads on: occur after the automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval, therefore also (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots reads on: of the set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals comprising i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols, the first of which can be used for AGC, occurring at a slot interval of 2 with the PSFCH. Per ¶0061 i.e. time resources for PSFCH are (pre-) configured […] and therefore AGC in the first PFSCH symbol reads on: that are common across the wireless network i.e. to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots, where per ¶0061 PSFCH are (pre-) configured to occur once in every 1, 2, or 4 slots and using per ¶0060 & FIG. 4 i.e. structure 400 of a sidelink slot with PSFCH and per ¶0062 i.e. a mapping 500 between PSSCHs and PSFCHs) reads on: in the sidelink slot structure ).
Regarding Claim 15. (Currently Amended) ABREU teaches: A method for wireless communications at a user equipment (UE) (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0059 […] PSFCH for sidelink communication was specified to carry Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback over the sidelink (at physical layer) from a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) to the UE which performed the transmission (henceforth a Tx UE) […] A UE may be indicated by a sidelink control information (SCI) format scheduling a PSSCH reception to transmit a PSFCH with HARQ-ACK information in response to the PSSCH reception; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0059 i.e. a to carry Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback over the sidelink (at physical layer) from a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission reads on: A method for wireless communications per ¶0059 i.e.an Rx UE reads on: at a user equipment (UE) ),
(See the rejection of Claim 1, Claim 15 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 1, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 1 applies similarly to Claim 15. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate) comprising: participating in sidelink communication in accordance with a sidelink slot structure used in a wireless network, wherein the sidelink slot structure includes a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals that are common across the wireless network; monitoring for a sidelink message during a monitoring interval that comprises one or more slots or symbols immediately subsequent to an automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval of over more than two symbols of the sidelink slot structure (See the rejection of Claim 1, Claim 15 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 1, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 1 applies similarly to Claim 15. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 16. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 15,
(See the rejection of Claim 2, Claim 16 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 2, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 2 applies similarly to Claim 16. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
wherein transmitting the sidelink feedback message comprises: transmitting the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks through transmission of a plurality of repetitions of the sidelink feedback message(See the rejection of Claim 2, Claim 16 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 2, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 2 applies similarly to Claim 16. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 25. (Currently Amended) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 15,
(See the rejection of Claim 11, Claim 25 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 11, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 11 applies similarly to Claim 25. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate) wherein the format is associated with the uplink control channel format 2 and wherein transmitting the sidelink feedback message comprises: transmitting the sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols through application of a mapping of the more than two symbols to a quantity (See the rejection of Claim 11, Claim 25 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 11, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 11 applies similarly to Claim 25. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 26. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 15,
(See the rejection of Claim 12, Claim 26 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 12, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 12 applies similarly to Claim 26. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
wherein transmitting the sidelink feedback message comprises: transmitting the sidelink feedback message over the more than two symbols through repetition of the sidelink feedback message on a per quantity of symbol basis; and applying a time-domain orthogonal cover code to the repetition of the sidelink feedback message(See the rejection of Claim 12, Claim 26 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 12, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 12 applies similarly to Claim 26. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 27. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 26,
(See the rejection of Claim 13, Claim 27 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 13, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 13 applies similarly to Claim 27. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
further comprising: multiplexing the repetition of the sidelink feedback message in accordance with code division multiplexing, wherein the code division multiplexing is associated with an order of a frequency-domain orthogonal cover code applied to the repetition of the sidelink feedback message and an order of the time-domain orthogonal cover code applied to the repetition of the sidelink feedback message(See the rejection of Claim 13, Claim 27 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 13, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 13 applies similarly to Claim 27. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 28. (Currently Amended) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 15,
(See the rejection of Claim 14, Claim 28 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 14, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 14 applies similarly to Claim 28. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
wherein the plurality of resource blocks or the more than two symbols occur after [[an]] the automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval of the set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals in the sidelink slot structure(See the rejection of Claim 14, Claim 28 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 14, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 14 applies similarly to Claim 28. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 29. (Currently Amended) ABREU teaches: A user equipment (UE) for wireless communications (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0059 […] PSFCH for sidelink communication was specified to carry Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ) feedback over the sidelink (at physical layer) from a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) to the UE which performed the transmission (henceforth a Tx UE) […] A UE may be indicated by a sidelink control information (SCI) format scheduling a PSSCH reception to transmit a PSFCH with HARQ-ACK information in response to the PSSCH reception; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0059 i.e. a UE which is an intended recipient of a PSSCH transmission (henceforth an Rx UE) reads on: A user equipment (UE) for wireless communications ),
(See the rejection of Claim 1, Claim 29 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 1, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 1 applies similarly to Claim 29. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate) comprising: means for participating (ABREU – FIG. 10 & ¶0191 See claim 1 ;¶0195 See claim 1 ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 10 & per ¶0195 i.e. program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by i.e. the associated processor 1010 and per ¶0191 i.e. one or more communication modules 1040 coupled to the processor 1010 reads on: means for participating) in sidelink communication in accordance with a sidelink slot structure used in a wireless network, wherein the sidelink slot structure includes a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals that are common across the wireless network; means for monitoring (ABREU ¶0191 See claim 1 ; ¶0192 […] communication module 1040 is for bidirectional communications […] NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0192 i.e. communication module 1040 is for bidirectional communications reads on: means for monitoring) for a sidelink message during a monitoring interval that comprises one or more slots or symbols immediately subsequent to an automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval of (ABREU ¶0191 See claim 1 ; ¶0192 […] communication module 1040 is for bidirectional communications […] NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0192 i.e. communication module 1040 is for bidirectional communications reads on: means for transmitting) a sidelink feedback message that includes feedback associated with the sidelink message, wherein a format of the sidelink feedback message is associated with an uplink control channel format 0 and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over a plurality of resource blocks of the sidelink slot structure, or wherein the format is associated with an uplink control channel format 2 and the sidelink feedback message is transmitted over more than two symbols of the sidelink slot structure (See the rejection of Claim 1, Claim 29 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 1, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 1 applies similarly to Claim 29. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 30. (Currently Amended) ABREU teaches: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications, the code comprising instructions executable by one or more processors (ABREU – FIG. 10 & ¶0191 See claim 1 ;¶0195 See claim 1 ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 10 & ¶0195 i.e. stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1024 reads on: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communications i.e. program 1030 may be stored reads on: the code comprising instructions; per ¶0195 i.e. program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010 reads on: executable by one or more processors ) to:
(See the rejection of Claim 1, Claim 30 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 1, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 1 applies similarly to Claim 30. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate) participate in sidelink communication in accordance with a sidelink slot structure used in a wireless network, wherein the sidelink slot structure includes a set of periodic automatic gain control candidate transmission time intervals that are common across the wireless network; monitor for a sidelink message during a monitoring interval that comprises one or more slots or symbols immediately subsequent to an automatic gain control candidate transmission time interval of slot structure (See the rejection of Claim 1, Claim 30 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 1, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 1 applies similarly to Claim 30. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
10. Claims 3, 8, 17, 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ABREU in view of WANG and LI, further view of MIAO et al. (US 20250220690 A1), i.e. “MIAO”.
Regarding Claim 3. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 2,
furthermore Wang teaches: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: apply a cyclic shift offset for each respective resource block of the plurality of resource blocks (WANG FIG. 9, FIG. 15 & FIG. 16 & ¶0090 […] PSFCH may use PUCCH format 0 waveform for transmission, which may be a sequence-based waveform without a modulation and/or a coding layer. […] the waveform for the PSFCH may be associated with one or more multiplexing cyclic shifts (CSs); ¶0092 […] the PSFCH may be based on Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, where the ZC sequence may be generated according to group and sequence number ; ¶0109 see above ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 15 & ¶0109 i.e. the sidelink may transmit the HARQ feedback using a waveform similar to PUCCH format 0 reads on: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message associated with an uplink control channel format 0 and per FIG. 15 & ¶109 i.e. at 1510, the transmitting device may use multiple RBs and one/two symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks where per ¶0090 i.e. the waveform for the PSFCH may be associated with one or more multiplexing cyclic shifts (CSs) reads on: the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: apply a cyclic shift offset for each respective resource block of the plurality of resource blocks as applied to 1510 carried with the PSFCH).
ABREU in view of WANG and LI (i.e. assuming arguendo Wang implies) does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (note see italicized portions): cyclic shift offset for each respective resource block of the plurality of resource blocks;
MIAO teaches: apply a cyclic shift offset for each respective resource block of the plurality of resource blocks (MIAO ¶0082 […] the UE determines R.sub.PRB,CS.sup.PSFCH PSFCH resources corresponding to the PSSCH, wherein the R.sub.PRB,CS.sup.PSFCH PSFCH resources are sequentially numbered (namely, to obtain PSFCH resource indexes) firstly according to physical resource block indexes and then according to cyclic shift pair indexes; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0082 the UE determines R.sub.PRB,CS.sup.PSFCH PSFCH resources corresponding to the PSSCH, wherein the R.sub.PRB,CS.sup.PSFCH PSFCH resources are sequentially numbered (namely, to obtain PSFCH resource indexes) firstly according to physical resource block indexes i.e. and then according to cyclic shift pair indexes reads on: apply a cyclic shift offset , where i.e. the R.sub.PRB,CS.sup.PSFCH PSFCH resources are sequentially numbered (namely, to obtain PSFCH resource indexes) firstly according i.e. to physical resource block indexes reads on: for each respective resource block of the plurality of resource blocks ).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI, with teachings of MIAO, since MIAO enables to provide an information transmission method, which may at least solve the problem in the related art that beam feedback cannot be performed in a sidelink communication (MIAO - ¶0006).
Regarding Claim 8. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 1,
furthermore ABREU teaches: wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive a control message in advance of transmission of the sidelink feedback message (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 &¶0059 See claim 1; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: i.e. A UE may be indicated by a sidelink control information (SCI) format reads on: wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive a control message i.e. scheduling a PSSCH reception to transmit a PSFCH with HARQ-ACK information reads on: in advance of transmission of the sidelink feedback message in response to the PSSCH reception ),
over the plurality of resource blocks (ABREU & FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 & ¶0060 See above; ¶0061 see above; ¶0062 See above; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: FIG. 5 utilizing FIG. 4 structure depicts PFSCH 0 and PSFCH 1 reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks)
ABREU in view of WANG and LI does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (note see italicized portions): wherein the control message indicates, on a per resource pool basis, a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks and a starting resource block of the plurality of resource blocks over which the transmission of the sidelink feedback message is to start.
MIAO teaches: receive a control message in advance of transmission of the sidelink feedback message, wherein the control message indicates, on a per resource pool basis, a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks and a starting resource block of the plurality of resource blocks over which the transmission of the sidelink feedback message is to start (MIAO - ¶0092 […] the UE determines, according to provided PSFCH resource configuration information used for beam feedback, R.sub.PRB,CS.sup.PSFCH PSFCH resources corresponding to the PSSCH […] provided by SCI corresponding to the PSSCH […] The PSFCH resource configuration information used for beam feedback includes at least one of: a PSFCH configuration period, a frequency domain position of each PSFCH resource, and a time domain symbol of the PSFCH resource. For example, the frequency domain position of the PSFCH resource includes a starting physical resource block index of the PSFCH resource and the number of occupied physical resource blocks, and the time domain symbol of each PSFCH resource is fixed to the second to last and third to last symbols of each slot in a resource pool; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: i.e. according to provided PSFCH resource configuration i.e. provided by SCI reads on: receive a control message in advance of transmission of the sidelink feedback message, where per ¶0092 i.e. PSFCH resource configuration information used for beam feedback includes […] the frequency domain position of the PSFCH resource includes a starting physical resource block index of the PSFCH resource and the number of occupied physical resource blocks, and the time domain symbol of each PSFCH resource is fixed to the second to last and third to last symbols of each slot in a resource pool reads on: wherein the control message indicates, on a per resource pool basis , i.e. a starting physical resource block index of the PSFCH resource and the number of occupied physical resource blocks reads on: a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks and a starting resource block of the plurality of resource blocks over which the transmission of the sidelink feedback message is to start);
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI, with teachings of MIAO, since MIAO enables to provide an information transmission method, which may at least solve the problem in the related art that beam feedback cannot be performed in a sidelink communication (MIAO - ¶0006).
Regarding Claim 17. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 16,
(See the rejection of Claim 3, Claim 17 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 3, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 3 applies similarly to Claim 17. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
wherein transmitting the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks comprises: applying a cyclic shift offset for each respective resource block of the plurality of resource blocks (See the rejection of Claim 3, Claim 17 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 3, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 3 applies similarly to Claim 17. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 22. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 15,
(See the rejection of Claim 8, Claim 22 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 8, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 8 applies similarly to Claim 22. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
further comprising: receiving a control message in advance of transmission of the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks, wherein the control message indicates, on a per resource pool basis, a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks and a starting resource block of the plurality of resource blocks over which the transmission of the sidelink feedback message is to start(See the rejection of Claim 8, Claim 22 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 8, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 8 applies similarly to Claim 22. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
11. Claims 4, 5, 18, 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ABREU in view of WANG and LI, further view of PARK (US 20230239900 A1), i.e. PARK
Regarding Claim 4. (Currently Amended) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 1,
furthermore ABREU teaches: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks through transmission of a sequence (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 ¶0060 See claim 1; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits reads on: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message , where FIG. 5 depicts PSFCH over two resource blocks reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks and per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence reads on: through transmission of a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols);
furthermore WANG also teaches: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks (WANG FIG. 9, FIG. 15 & FIG. 16 & ¶0090 See claim 3; ¶0092 […] the PSFCH may be based on Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, where the ZC sequence may be generated according to group and sequence number ; ¶0109 see above ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 15 & ¶0109 i.e. the sidelink may transmit the HARQ feedback using a waveform similar to PUCCH format 0 reads on: transmit the sidelink feedback message associated with an uplink control channel format 0 and per FIG. 15 & ¶109 i.e. at 1510, the transmitting device may use multiple RBs and one/two symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks where per ¶0090 i.e. PSFCH may use PUCCH format 0 waveform for transmission, which may be a sequence-based and per ¶0092 i.e. the PSFCH may be based on Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence reads on: through transmission of a sequence);
ABREU in view of WANG and LI does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (note see italicized portions): sequence, wherein a of the sequence is associated with a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks.
Park teaches: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks through transmission of a sequence, wherein a of the sequence is associated with a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks (PARK ¶0101 […] the V2X UE may transmit feedback information based on PSFCH format 0. Here, PSFCH format 0 sequence may be generated based on Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence and sequence x(n) is generated based on the following Equation 3. The ZC sequence is generated through a that is a cyclic sequence, based on r.sub.u,v(n) that is a base sequence. Here, the ZC sequence refers to a sequence that has the same size and is generated based on a cyclic sequence and is generated based on the following Equation 4. In Equation 4, M.sub.ZC=m.sub.sc.sup.RB/2.sup.δ denotes a length of a sequence, m denotes a value corresponding to the number of RBs to which the sequence is allocated, and δ=0 for PSFCH format NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0101 i.e. V2X UE may transmit feedback information based on PSFCH format 0 reads on: transmit the sidelink feedback message , where per ¶0101 i.e. PSFCH format 0 sequence may be generated based on Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence and sequence x(n) is generated based on the following Equation […] M.sub.ZC=m.sub.sc.sup.RB/2.sup.δ denotes a length of a sequence, m denotes a value corresponding to i.e. the number of RBs to which the sequence is allocated reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks through transmission of a sequence, where i.e. denotes a length of a sequence, m denotes a value corresponding to i.e. the number of RBs to which the sequence is allocated reads on: wherein a length of the sequence is associated with a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks);
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI with teachings of PARK, since PARK enables Tx UE TO perform a resource reselection procedure based on coordination message received from the C-UE and, through this, low latency requirements may be satisfied by preventing the above resource collision issue (PARK - ¶0138).
Regarding Claim 5. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI and PARK teaches: The UE of claim 4,
furthermore Park teaches: wherein a length of a type of the sequence is associated with the length of the sequence (PARK ¶0101 see Claim 4; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: i.e. per ¶0101 i.e. the ZC sequence refers to a sequence that has the same size and is generated based on a cyclic sequence and is generated based on the following Equation 4. In Equation 4, M.sub.ZC=m.sub.sc.sup.RB/2.sup.δ denotes a length of a sequence i.e. ZC sequence reads on: wherein a length of a type of the sequence per ¶0101 i.e. the ZC sequence refers to a sequence that has the same size reads on: is associated with the length of the sequence).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI and PARK, further with the teachings of PARK, since PARK enables Tx UE TO perform a resource reselection procedure based on coordination message received from the C-UE and, through this, low latency requirements may be satisfied by preventing the above resource collision issue (PARK - ¶0138).
Regarding Claim 18. (Previously Presented) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 15, (See the rejection of Claim 4, Claim 18 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 4, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 4 applies similarly to Claim 18. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
wherein transmitting the sidelink feedback message comprises: transmitting the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks through transmission of a sequence, wherein a (See the rejection of Claim 4, Claim 18 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 4, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 4 applies similarly to Claim 18. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 19. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI and PARK teaches: The method of claim 18,
(See the rejection of Claim 5, Claim 19 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 5, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 5 applies similarly to Claim 19. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate) wherein a length of a type of the sequence is associated with the length of the sequence (See the rejection of Claim 5, Claim 19 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 5, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 5 applies similarly to Claim 19. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
12. Claim 6, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ABREU in view of WANG and LI, further view of Wang et al. (US 20220225278 A1), i.e. Wang2
Regarding Claim 6. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The UE of claim 1,
furthermore ABREU teaches: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks through transmission of one or more repetitions of the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks and over multiple symbols (ABREU FIG. 4 & FIG. 5 ¶0060 See claim 1; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits reads on: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message , where FIG. 5 depicts PSFCH over two resource blocks reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks and per ¶0060 i.e. The PSFCH transmits a sequence in one PRB repeated over two OFDM symbols reads on: through transmission of one or more repetitions of the sidelink feedback message);
furthermore WANG also teaches: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks (WANG FIG. 9, FIG. 15 & FIG. 16 & ¶0090 […] PSFCH may use PUCCH format 0 waveform for transmission, which may be a sequence-based waveform without a modulation and/or a coding layer. […] the waveform for the PSFCH may be associated with one or more multiplexing cyclic shifts (CSs); ¶0092 […] the PSFCH may be based on Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, where the ZC sequence may be generated according to group and sequence number ; ¶0109 see Claim 1 ; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per FIG. 15 & ¶0109 i.e. the sidelink may transmit the HARQ feedback using a waveform similar to PUCCH format 0 reads on: wherein, to transmit the sidelink feedback message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: transmit the sidelink feedback message associated with an uplink control channel format 0, and per FIG. 15 as depicted 1510 & ¶109 i.e. at 1510, the transmitting device may use multiple RBs and one/two symbols for transmitting the HARQ feedback reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks where per ¶0109 i.e. the transmitting device may use five (5) RBs and two symbols per RB for transmitting the HARQ feedback, where one or more RBs of a symbol may include the HARQ feedback and one or more RBs of another symbol may include the repetition/duplication of the HARQ feedback reads on: through transmission of one or more repetitions of the sidelink feedback message, where per ¶0109 i.e. the transmitting device may use five (5) RBs and two symbols per RB for transmitting the HARQ feedback reads on: over the plurality of resource blocks and over multiple symbols );
and apply a time-domain orthogonal cover code to the transmission of the one or more repetitions of the sidelink feedback message (WANG FIG. 9, FIG. 10, FIG. 15 & FIG. 16 & ¶0094 […] the communication (e.g., PSSCH and/or PSCCH transmission/reception) between the transmitting device and the receiving device may have a tight latency specification of 1 to 2 ms and an ultra-reliability specification of 10.sup.−6 error rate, the PSFCH (e.g., the HARQ feedback) from the receiving device may have the same or more stringent specification, such that the transmitting device may reliably determine whether to retransmit data based on the received PSFCH (e.g., if a NACK is received or if an ACK is not received for the data). Thus, sidelink communications may be improved when the reliability of the PSFCH is enhanced. Table 1 below shows an example SNR specification for NACK-to-ACK failure rate of 0.001 with PUCCH format 1 (e.g., 1-RB with up to 14 symbols, 7 orthogonal cover code (OCC)) NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: as applied to per ¶0094 the reliability of the PSFCH where per ¶0109 i.e. the transmitting device may use five (5) RBs and two symbols per RB for transmitting the HARQ feedback, per ¶0094 i.e. 1-RB with up to 14 symbols, 7 orthogonal cover code (OCC) applied reads on: and apply a time-domain orthogonal cover code to the transmission of the one or more repetitions of the sidelink feedback message );
ABREU in view of WANG and LI does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (note see italicized portions): the one or more repetitions of the sidelink feedback message in accordance with a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks exceeding a threshold;
WANG2 teaches: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks and over multiple symbols; and apply a time-domain orthogonal cover code to the transmission of the sidelink feedback message in accordance with a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks exceeding a threshold (Wang2 - ¶0110 […] a signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio for a NACK-to-ACK failure rate may be 0.001 with PUCCH format 1 (e.g., one resource block with up to 14 symbols, seven orthogonal cover codes (OCCs), etc.) […] the resources typically allocated to PSFCH (e.g., the first resource configuration) may not provide sufficient resources to satisfy the corresponding reliability requirements (e.g., may fail to satisfy a resource threshold). Therefore, current PSFCH resource design does not provide a sufficiently reliable resource allocation to support certain traffic types (e.g., IIoT, which is E2E 10.sup.−6). Because of such shortcomings, utilization of PSFCH configured resources is low (e.g., as little as 1%); ¶0112 […] That is, the transmitting device and the receiving device may both identify or otherwise determine that the first resource configuration (e.g., the PSFCH resources typically configured for the last two symbols of a slot) fails to satisfy a resource threshold. Broadly, the resource threshold may refer to the amount of time, frequency, spatial, and/or code resources, allocated in the last two symbols of the slot carrying the sidelink transmission; ¶0113 […] the transmitting device may dynamically select a second resource configuration (e.g., having additional time, frequency, spatial, and/or code resources) to use for feedback message signaling from the receiving device. The transmitting device may select the second resource configuration (e.g., the additional resources) autonomously and/or based on resources allocated from a base station managing aspects of the sidelink communications.; ¶0114 […] the second resource configuration may satisfy the resource threshold for feedback message signaling from the receiving device in response to the sidelink transmission. Accordingly, […], and the receiving device may respond by transmitting a feedback message to the transmitting device using the resources associated with the second resource configuration NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶114 i.e. the second resource configuration may satisfy the resource threshold for feedback message signaling reads on: transmit the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks from the receiving device in response to the sidelink transmission, where per ¶0112 i.e. the PSFCH resources typically configured for the last two symbols of a slot reads on: and over multiple symbols , and where per ¶0110 i.e. PUCCH format 1 (e.g., one resource block with up to 14 symbols, seven orthogonal cover codes (OCCs), etc.) reads on: and apply a time-domain orthogonal cover code to the transmission of the sidelink feedback message where per ¶0110 i.e. the resources typically allocated to PSFCH (e.g., the first resource configuration) may not provide sufficient resources to satisfy the corresponding reliability requirements (e.g., may fail to satisfy a resource threshold), but however per ¶0114 i.e. the second resource configuration may satisfy the resource threshold for feedback message signaling from the receiving device and per ¶0113 i.e. transmitting device may select the second resource configuration (e.g., the additional resources) reads on: in accordance with a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks exceeding a threshold as it pertains to ¶0110 i.e. the resources typically allocated to PSFCH (e.g., the first resource configuration) may not provide sufficient resources to satisfy the corresponding reliability requirements (e.g., may fail to satisfy a resource threshold);
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI, with teachings of Wang2, since Wang2 enables procedures that may improve the reliability and/or payload size for the feedback message signaling and/or other sidelink control signaling or short data transmission from the receiving device (Wang2 - ¶0115).
Regarding Claim 20. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI teaches: The method of claim 15,
(See the rejection of Claim 6, Claim 20 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 6, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 6 applies similarly to Claim 20. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)wherein transmitting the sidelink feedback message comprises: transmitting the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks through transmission of one or more repetitions of the sidelink feedback message over the plurality of resource blocks and over multiple symbols; and applying a time-domain orthogonal cover code to the transmission of the one or more repetitions of the sidelink feedback message in accordance with a quantity of the plurality of resource blocks exceeding a threshold(See the rejection of Claim 6, Claim 20 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 6, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 6 applies similarly to Claim 20. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
13. Claims 7, 21 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ABREU in view of WANG and LI and WANG2, further view of Wu et al. (US 20210099269 A1), i.e. “Wu”.
Regarding Claim 7. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI and WANG2 teaches: The UE of claim 6,
ABREU in view of WANG and LI does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (note see italicized portions): multiplex the sidelink feedback message with additional sidelink feedback messages
Wu teaches: wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: multiplex the sidelink feedback message with additional sidelink feedback messages in accordance with application of the time-domain orthogonal cover code (Wu - ¶0117 […] one or more of the feedback mode or the feedback type corresponds to a sequence with different cover codes. In some cases, the one or more HARQ feedback resources or the one or more HARQ feedback resource sets in the slot are frequency division multiplexed. In some cases, the one or more HARQ feedback resources or the one or more HARQ feedback resource sets in the slot are time division multiplexed. In some cases, the one or more HARQ feedback resources or the one or more HARQ feedback resource sets includes one or more orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing symbols in a time domain and one or more resource blocks in a frequency domain; NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: per ¶0117 i.e. the one or more HARQ feedback resources or the one or more HARQ feedback resource sets in the slot are frequency division multiplexed. In some cases, the one or more HARQ feedback resources or the one or more HARQ feedback resource sets in the slot are time division multiplexed reads on: wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: multiplex the sidelink feedback message with additional sidelink feedback messages , where per ¶0117 i.e. one or more of the feedback mode or the feedback type corresponds to a sequence with different cover codes and i.e. the one or more HARQ feedback resource sets in the slot are time division multiplexed reads on: in accordance with application of the time-domain orthogonal cover code ).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI and WANG2, with teachings of Wu, since Wu enables operations performed by the UEs providing improvements to wireless operations where in some examples, the UEs may support high reliability and low latency sidelink communications, and among other examples, in accordance with sidelink feedback transmission and feedback resource determination (Wu ¶0017 ).
Regarding Claim 21. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI and WANG2 teaches: The method of claim 20,
(See the rejection of Claim 7, Claim 21 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 7, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 7 applies similarly to Claim 21. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
further comprising: multiplexing the sidelink feedback message with additional sidelink feedback messages in accordance with application of the time-domain orthogonal cover code(See the rejection of Claim 7, Claim 21 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 7, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 7 applies similarly to Claim 21. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
16. Claims 9, 10, 23, 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over ABREU in view of WANG and LI and MIAO, further view of Baek et al. (US 20220416976 A1), i.e. “Baek”.
Regarding Claim 9. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI and MIAO teaches: The UE of claim 8,
ABREU in view of WANG and LI does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (note see italicized portions): the control message indicates a frequency grid corresponding to the plurality of resource blocks
Baek teaches: wherein the control message indicates a frequency grid corresponding to the plurality of resource blocks (Baek ¶0177 […] a PSFCH-PRS resource configuration and operation method and PRS-related information that may be transmitted in […] the 1st-stage SCI, and/or the 2nd-stage SCI may be provided […] ¶0185 […] Specifically, for signaling frequency resources of actual PSFCH-PRS transmission, one of RBs indicated by a bitmap in a resource pool may be selected (or, for signaling frequency resources of actual PSFCH-PRS transmission, down-select one of the following: Bitmap indicates RBs in a resource pool); NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: i.e. transmitted in […] the 1st-stage SCI, and/or the 2nd-stage SCI reads on: wherein the control message indicates , where i.e. for signaling frequency resources of actual PSFCH-PRS transmission, one of RBs indicated by a bitmap reads on: a frequency grid corresponding to the plurality of resource blocks in a resource pool ).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI, with teachings of Baek, since Baek enables a size of a frequency resource region for the PRS and a multiplexing type to be determined in consideration of the relationship with the feedback signal transmitted through a PSFCH, so that the PSFCH resource is efficiently used (Baek ¶0034 ).
Regarding Claim 10. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI and MIAO teaches: The UE of claim 8,
ABREU in view of WANG and LI does not appear to explicitly disclose or strongly suggest (note see italicized portions): wherein, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive a bitmap that indicates the plurality of resource blocks, wherein each bit of the bitmap indicates a corresponding resource block of the plurality of resource blocks;
Baek teaches: wherein, to receive the control message, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive a bitmap that indicates the plurality of resource blocks, wherein each bit of the bitmap indicates a corresponding resource block of the plurality of resource blocks (Baek ¶0177 […] a PSFCH-PRS resource configuration and operation method and PRS-related information that may be transmitted in […] the 1st-stage SCI, and/or the 2nd-stage SCI may be provided […] ¶0185 […] Specifically, for signaling frequency resources of actual PSFCH-PRS transmission, one of RBs indicated by a bitmap in a resource pool may be selected (or, for signaling frequency resources of actual PSFCH-PRS transmission, down-select one of the following: Bitmap indicates RBs in a resource pool); NOTE-DISCLOSURE & TEACHING: i.e. transmitted in […] the 1st-stage SCI, and/or the 2nd-stage SCI reads on: wherein, to receive the control message, where i.e. for signaling frequency resources of actual PSFCH-PRS transmission, one of RBs indicated by a bitmap reads on: the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive a bitmap where per ¶0185 i.e. down-select one of the following: Bitmap indicates RBs in a resource pool reads on: wherein each bit of the bitmap indicates a corresponding resource block of the plurality of resource blocks ).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of ABREU in view of WANG and LI, with teachings of Baek, since Baek enables a size of a frequency resource region for the PRS and a multiplexing type to be determined in consideration of the relationship with the feedback signal transmitted through a PSFCH, so that the PSFCH resource is efficiently used (Baek ¶0034 ).
Regarding Claim 23. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI and MIAO teaches: The method of claim 22,
(See the rejection of Claim 9, Claim 23 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 9, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 9 applies similarly to Claim 23. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
wherein the control message indicates a frequency grid corresponding to the plurality of resource blocks (See the rejection of Claim 9, Claim 23 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 9, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 9 applies similarly to Claim 23. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Regarding Claim 24. (Original) ABREU in view of WANG and LI and MIAO teaches: The method of claim 22,
(See the rejection of Claim 10, Claim 24 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 10, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 10 applies similarly to Claim 24. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate)
wherein receiving the control message comprises: receiving a bitmap that indicates the plurality of resource blocks, wherein each bit of the bitmap indicates a corresponding resource block of the plurality of resource blocks(See the rejection of Claim 10, Claim 24 recites similar and parallel features to Claim 10, and the rationale for the rejection of Claim 10 applies similarly to Claim 24. Where applicable, minor differences between claims are noted as appropriate).
Conclusion
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/M.A.S./
Examiner, Art Unit 2414
09/17/2026
/EDAN ORGAD/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2414
Prosecution Insights