Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see Remarks, filed 13 February 2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of all claims under Si have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of Yeo.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claim(s) 1 - 30 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Su, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2022/0248449 in further view of Yeo, U.S. Patent Publication No. 2022/0116967.
Su teaches a method for scheduling uplink shared channel transmissions in a wireless communication system. Su does not teach adjusting a transport block size based on a number of sub-carriers. Yeo teaches adjusting a transport block size based upon a number of sub-carriers. It would have been obvious to one skilled in the art at the time of filing to modify the teachings of Su to incorporate the known technique of adjusting a transport block size as taught by Yeo in order to obtain the predictable result of more efficient transmissions.
The combination teaches:
1. (Currently Amended) An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:
memory ([0427], Su);
a transceiver ([0427], Su); and
at least one processor of a user equipment (UE), the at least one processor coupled with the
memory and the transceiver ([0427], Su), and configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, via the transceiver, scheduling information for an uplink shared channel transmission,
wherein the scheduling information indicates a frequency domain resource allocation comprising a sub-
physical-resource-block allocation (UEs determine the specific time-frequency resource region first and
then determine scheduling information corresponding to the DCI according to a relative position of
the time-frequency resource position used for the PUSCH in the specific time-frequency resource
region, [0221], Su, it is supported to use frequency-domain resources in the PRB level and the sub-PRB
level, the frequency-domain resources can be distinguished by sub-PRB identifiers, [0225], Su); and
perform, via the transceiver, the uplink shared channel transmission in accordance with the
scheduling information, wherein the uplink shared channel transmission comprises
is based at least in part on a quantity of sub-carriers included in the sub-physical-resource-block
allocation (configuration information on a resource block includes a number of subcarriers, the transport block size corresponds to the configuration information, [0014], Yeo).
2. (Original)The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, via the transceiver, an indication of a capability of the UE to support sub-physical-
resource-block allocations for uplink shared channel transmissions, wherein reception of the scheduling
information is responsive to the indication of the capability of the UE (capability notice is used for
scheduling, [0323], frequency-domain resources exist at the sub-PRB level, [0225], Su).
3. (Original) The apparatus of claim 2, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, from a network entity via the transceiver, an indication of a capability of the network
entity to support sub-physical-resource-block allocations for reception of uplink shared channel
transmissions, wherein transmission of the indication of the capability of the UE is responsive to the indication of the capability of the network entity (capability notice is used for scheduling, [0323], Su, frequency-domain resources exist at the sub-PRB level, [0225], Su).
4. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, via the transceiver, a control message indicating that the UE is to interpret one or more
fields of a downlink control information format as indicative of the sub-physical-resource-block
allocation, wherein the scheduling information is received via a downlink control information message
of the downlink control information format (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
5. (Original) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:
the one or more fields comprise a frequency domain resource allocation field, and the
frequency domain resource allocation field indicates a set of physical resource blocks for the uplink
shared channel transmission and one or more sub-carriers within each of the set of physical resource
blocks (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
6. (Original) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein:
the one or more fields comprise a frequency domain resource allocation field and at least one
additional field, the frequency domain resource allocation field indicates a set of physical resource
blocks for the uplink shared channel transmission, and the at least one additional field indicates one or
more sub-carriers within each of the set of physical resource blocks (sub-PRB identifier carried in the
group DCI, [0218], Su).
7. (Original) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the at least one additional field comprises a modulation and coding scheme field, a transmit power command field, or a combination thereof (transmit power control in one piece of DCI, [0008], Su).
8. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, via the transceiver, the scheduling information via a downlink control information
comprising a sub-physical-resource-block allocation field that indicates a set of physical resource blocks
for the uplink shared channel transmission and one or more sub-carriers within each of the set of
physical resource blocks (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
9. (Original) The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, via the transceiver, the scheduling information via a downlink control information
comprising a first field indicating a set of physical resource blocks for the uplink shared channel
transmission and a second field indicating one or more sub-carriers within each of the set of physical
resource blocks (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
10. (Currently Amended) The apparatus of claim 1, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
generate, in accordance with the scheduling information, the transport block having a quantity
of information bits based at least in part on the quantity of sub-carriers indicated in the sub-physical-
resource-block allocation, wherein performing the uplink shared channel transmission comprises
transmitting the transport block (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
11. (Original) The apparatus of claim 10, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
account for the quantity of sub-carriers in a determination of a quantity of resource elements
for transport block, wherein the quantity of information bits is based at least in part on the quantity of
resource elements, and wherein the quantity of information bits being based at least in part on the
quantity of sub-carriers is due at least in part to the quantity of information bits being based at least in
part on the quantity of resource elements (UEs determine the specific time-frequency resource region
first and then determine scheduling information corresponding to the DCI according to a relative
position of the time-frequency resource position used for the PUSCH in the specific time-frequency
resource region, [0221], Su, it is supported to use frequency-domain resources in the PRB level and the sub-PRB level, the frequency-domain resources can be distinguished by sub-PRB identifiers, [0225], Su).
12. (Original) The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, to transmit the transport block, the at least one processor is further configured to:
transmit, via the transceiver, the transport block over a set of multiple slots, wherein the
scheduling information comprises a time domain resource allocation that indicates the set of multiple
slots (transmission over multiple slots, [0381] - [0383], Su).
13. (Currently Amended) An apparatus for wireless communication comprising:
Memory ([0427], Su); and
at least one processor of a network entity, the at least one processor coupled with the memory,
and the at least one processor ([0427], Su) configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, to a user equipment (UE), scheduling information for an uplink shared channel
transmission, wherein the scheduling information indicates a frequency domain resource allocation
comprising a sub-physical-resource-block allocation (UEs determine the specific time-frequency resource region first and then determine scheduling information corresponding to the DCI according
to a relative position of the time-frequency resource position used for the PUSCH in the specific time-
frequency resource region, [0221], Su, it is supported to use frequency-domain resources in the PRB level and the sub-PRB level, the frequency-domain resources can be distinguished by sub-PRB identifiers, [0225], Su); and
receive the uplink shared channel transmission from the UE in accordance with the scheduling
information, wherein the uplink shared channel transmission comprises a transport block, wherein a size of the transport block is based at least in part on a quantity of sub-carriers included in the sub-physical-resource-block allocation (configuration information on a resource block includes a number of subcarriers, the transport block size corresponds to the configuration information, [0014], Yeo).
14. (Original) The apparatus of claim 13, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive, from the UE, an indication of a capability of the UE to support sub-physical-resource-
block allocations for uplink shared channel transmissions, wherein transmission of the scheduling
information is responsive to the indication of the capability of the UE (capability notice is used for
scheduling, [0323], Su, frequency-domain resources exist at the sub-PRB level, [0225], Su).
15. (Original) The apparatus of claim 14, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, to the UE, an indication of a capability of the network entity to support sub-physical-
resource-block allocations for reception of uplink shared channel transmissions, wherein reception of
the indication of the capability of the UE is responsive to the indication of the capability of the network
entity (capability notice is used for scheduling, [0323], Su, frequency-domain resources exist at the sub-PRB level, [0225], Su).
16. (Original) The apparatus of claim 13, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit, to the UE, a control message indicating that the UE is to interpret one or more fields of
a downlink control information format as indicative of the sub-physical-resource-block allocation,
wherein the scheduling information is transmitted via a downlink control information message of the
downlink control information format (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
17. (Original) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:
the one or more fields comprise a frequency domain resource allocation field, and the
frequency domain resource allocation field indicates a set of physical resource blocks for the uplink
shared channel transmission and one or more sub-carriers within each of the set of physical resource
blocks (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
18. (Original) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:
the one or more fields comprise a frequency domain resource allocation field and at least one
additional field, the frequency domain resource allocation field indicates a set of physical resource
blocks for the uplink shared channel transmission, and the at least one additional field indicates one or
more sub-carriers within each of the set of physical resource blocks (sub-PRB identifier carried in the
group DCI, [0218], Su).
19. (Original) The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the at least one additional field comprises a modulation and coding scheme field, a transmit power command field, or a combination thereof (transmit power control in one piece of DCI, [0008], Su).
20. (Original) The apparatus of claim 13, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit the scheduling information via a downlink control information comprising a sub-
physical-resource-block allocation field that indicates a set of physical resource blocks for the uplink
shared channel transmission and one or more sub-carriers within each of the set of physical resource
blocks (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
21. (Original) The apparatus of claim 13, the at least one processor further configured to cause the apparatus to:
transmit the scheduling information via a downlink control information comprising a first field
indicating a set of physical resource blocks for the uplink shared channel transmission and a second field
indicating one or more sub-carriers within each of the set of physical resource blocks (sub-PRB identifier
carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
22. (Currently Amended) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein, to receive the uplink shared channel transmission, the at least one processor is further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive the transport block having a quantity of information bits based at least in part on the
quantity of sub-carriers indicated in the sub-physical-resource-block allocation (sub-PRB identifier
carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
23. (Original) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein:
a quantity of resource elements for transport block accounts for the quantity of sub-carriers, the
quantity of information bits is based at least in part on the quantity of resource elements, and the
quantity of information bits being based at least in part on the quantity of sub-carriers is due at least in
part to the quantity of information bits being based at least in part on the quantity of resource elements
(UEs determine the specific time-frequency resource region first and then determine scheduling information corresponding to the DCI according to a relative position of the time-frequency resource
position used for the PUSCH in the specific time-frequency resource region, [0221], Su, it is supported to use frequency-domain resources in the PRB level and the sub-PRB level, the frequency-domain
resources can be distinguished by sub-PRB identifiers, [0225], Su).
24. (Original) The apparatus of claim 22, wherein, to receive the transport block, the at least one processor is further configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive the transport block over a set of multiple slots, wherein the scheduling information
comprises a time domain resource allocation that indicates the set of multiple slots (transmission over
multiple slots, [0381] - [0383], Su).
25. (Currently Amended) A method for wireless communications at a user equipment (UE), comprising:
receiving scheduling information for an uplink shared channel transmission, wherein the
scheduling information indicates a frequency domain resource allocation comprising a sub-physical-
resource-block allocation (UEs determine the specific time-frequency resource region first and then
determine scheduling information corresponding to the DCI according to a relative position of the
time-frequency resource position used for the PUSCH in the specific time-frequency resource region,
[0221], Su, it is supported to use frequency-domain resources in the PRB level and the sub-PRB level, the frequency-domain resources can be distinguished by sub-PRB identifiers, [0225], Su); and
performing the uplink shared channel transmission in accordance with the scheduling
information, wherein the uplink shared channel transmission comprises a transport block, wherein a size of the transport block is based at least in part on a quantity of sub-carriers included in the sub-physical-resource-block allocation (configuration information on a resource block includes a number of subcarriers, the transport block size corresponds to the configuration information, [0014], Yeo).
26. (Original) The method of claim 25, further comprising:
transmitting an indication of a capability of the UE to support sub-physical-resource-block
allocations for uplink shared channel transmissions, wherein reception of the scheduling information is
responsive to the indication of the capability of the UE (capability notice is used for scheduling, [0323],
frequency-domain resources exist at the sub-PRB level, [0225], Su).
27. (Original) The method of claim 26, further comprising:
receiving, from a network entity, an indication of a capability of the network entity to support
sub-physical-resource-block allocations for reception of uplink shared channel transmissions, wherein
transmission of the indication of the capability of the UE is responsive to the indication of the capability
of the network entity (capability notice is used for scheduling, [0323], frequency-domain resources
exist at the sub-PRB level, [0225], Su).
28. (Original) The method of claim 25, further comprising:
receiving a control message indicating that the UE is to interpret one or more fields of a
downlink control information format as indicative of the sub-physical-resource-block allocation, wherein
the scheduling information is received via a downlink control information message of the downlink
control information format (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
29. (Original) The method of claim 28, wherein:
the one or more fields comprise a frequency domain resource allocation field, and the
frequency domain resource allocation field indicates a set of physical resource blocks for the uplink
shared channel transmission and one or more sub-carriers within each of the set of physical resource
blocks (sub-PRB identifier carried in the group DCI, [0218], Su).
30. (Currently Amended) A method for wireless communications at a network entity, comprising:
transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), scheduling information for an uplink shared channel
transmission, wherein the scheduling information indicates a frequency domain resource allocation
comprising a sub-physical-resource-block allocation (UEs determine the specific time-frequency
resource region first and then determine scheduling information corresponding to the DCI according
to a relative position of the time-frequency resource position used for the PUSCH in the specific time-
frequency resource region, [0221], it is supported to use frequency-domain resources in the PRB level
and the sub-PRB level, the frequency-domain resources can be distinguished by sub-PRB identifiers,
[0225]); and
receiving the uplink shared channel transmission from the UE in accordance with the scheduling
information, wherein the uplink shared channel transmission comprises a transport block, wherein a size of the transport block is based at least in part on a quantity of sub-carriers included in the sub-physical-resource-block allocation (configuration information on a resource block includes a number of subcarriers, the transport block size corresponds to the configuration information, [0014], Yeo).
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to PETER G SOLINSKY whose telephone number is (571)270-7216. The examiner can normally be reached M - Th, 6:30 A - 5:00 P.
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PETER G. SOLINSKY
Examiner
Art Unit 2463
/Peter G Solinsky/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2463