DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Objections
Claim 19 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 19 ends in a repeated period. It is recommended that the extra period be deleted. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-4, 6-8, 10-14, 16-20, 23, and 26-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Gao et al. (U.S. Publication US 2025/0266871 A1).
With respect to claims 1 and 18, Gao et al. discloses an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors individually or collectively configured to perform a method of wireless communication as a user equipment (UE) (See the abstract, paragraphs 249-250, and Figure 10 of Gao et al. for reference to a UE and comprising a memory coupled to processing circuitry via a bus an executing instructions to perform a method of wireless communication). Gao et al. also discloses receive a channel state information (CSI) report configuration that indicates a CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource set for channel measurement (See paragraph 153 and Figure 5 of Gao et al. for reference to UE receiving a configuration from a network node comprising a set of N CSI-RS resources for channel measurement). Gao et al. further discloses wherein the CSI-RS resource set is associated with a first one or more CSI-RS resources included in a first resource group and a second one or more CSI-RS resources included in a second resource group (See paragraph 155 of Gao et al. for reference to the configuration indicating a first subset of CSI-RS ports referred to as a first CSI-RS port group, which is a first resource group, and indicating a second subset of ports referred to as a second CSI-RS port group, which is a second resource group). Gao et al. also discloses wherein the CSI report configuration further indicates a sub-configuration indicating at least one of: first configuration information for the first resource group and second configuration information for the second resource group, or third configuration information associated with one or more pairs of resources from the first resource group and the second resource group (See paragraphs 155-156 of Gao et al. for reference to embodiments of the configuration wherein different parameter combinations may be configured for different CSI-RS resources, i.e. different parameter combinations configured for different CSI-RS groups, which equates to the claimed first configuration information and second configuration information). Gao et al. further discloses transmitting a CSI report that includes CSI that is in accordance with the sub-configuration (See paragraph 171 and Figure 5 of Gao et al. for reference to the UE reporting computed CSI information to the network node based on the configuration).
With respect to claims 11 and 28, Gao et al. discloses an apparatus for wireless communication, comprising: one or more memories; and one or more processors coupled to the one or more memories, the one or more processors individually or collectively configured to perform a method of wireless communication as a network node (See the abstract, paragraph 262, paragraphs 265-268, and Figure 11 of Gao et al. for reference to a network node comprising a memory coupled to processing circuitry executing instructions to perform a method of wireless communication). Gao et al. also discloses transmitting a channel state information (CSI) report configuration that indicates a CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource set for channel measurement (See paragraph 153 and Figure 5 of Gao et al. for reference to network node transmitting a configuration to a UE comprising a set of N CSI-RS resources for channel measurement). Gao et al. further discloses wherein the CSI-RS resource set is associated with a first one or more CSI-RS resources included in a first resource group and a second one or more CSI-RS resources included in a second resource group (See paragraph 155 of Gao et al. for reference to the configuration indicating a first subset of CSI-RS ports referred to as a first CSI-RS port group, which is a first resource group, and indicating a second subset of ports referred to as a second CSI-RS port group, which is a second resource group). Gao et al. also discloses wherein the CSI report configuration further indicates a sub-configuration indicating at least one of: first configuration information for the first resource group and second configuration information for the second resource group, or third configuration information associated with one or more pairs of resources from the first resource group and the second resource group (See paragraphs 155-156 of Gao et al. for reference to embodiments of the configuration wherein different parameter combinations may be configured for different CSI-RS resources, i.e. different parameter combinations configured for different CSI-RS groups, which equates to the claimed first configuration information and second configuration information). Gao et al. further discloses receiving a CSI report that includes CSI that is in accordance with the sub-configuration (See paragraph 171 and Figure 5 of Gao et al. for reference to the network node receiving from the UE reported computed CSI information based on the configuration).
With respect to claims 2, 12, and 29, Gao et al. discloses wherein the sub-configuration indicates fourth configuration information that is common for both the first resource group and the second resource group (See paragraph 156 of Gao et al. for reference to embodiments wherein a same parameter combination may be applied to all the CSI-RS resources).
With respect to claims 3 and 13, Gao et al. discloses wherein the fourth configuration information indicates at least one of: a common CSI-RS port configuration, a common CSI-RS port subset indication, a common codebook subset restriction, or a common rank restriction for CSI computation using a single CSI-RS resource from the first resource group or the second resource group (See paragraphs 15-21 and paragraphs 155-156 of Gao et al. for reference to the parameters including CSI-RS ports, subsets of CSI-RS ports, and codebook subset restriction).
With respect to claims 4 and 14, Gao et al. discloses wherein the first configuration information indicates a first codebook subset restriction and the second configuration information indicates a second codebook subset restriction (See paragraphs 15-21 and paragraphs 155-156 of Gao et al. for reference to the embodiment wherein different parameter combinations are configured for different CSI-RS resources, such that the first CSI-RS group and the second CSI-RS group may be configured with different codebook subset restrictions).
With respect to claims 6, 16, and 30, Gao et al. discloses wherein the first configuration information indicates a first CSI-RS port configuration and the second configuration information indicates a second CSI-RS port configuration (See paragraphs 155-156 of Gao et al. for reference to the embodiment wherein different parameter combinations are configured for different CSI-RS resources, such that the first CSI-RS group and the second CSI-RS group may be configured with different port configurations).
With respect to claims 7 and 17, Gao et al. discloses wherein the first configuration information indicates a first CSI-RS port subset indication and the second configuration information indicates a second CSI-RS port subset indication (See paragraphs 155-156 of Gao et al. for reference to the embodiment wherein different parameter combinations are configured for different CSI-RS resources, such that the first CSI-RS group and the second CSI-RS group may be configured with different port subset configurations).
With respect to claim 8, Gao et al. discloses wherein the first configuration information indicates a first rank restriction and the second configuration information indicates a second rank restriction (See paragraphs 155-156 of Gao et al. for reference to the embodiment wherein different parameter combinations are configured for different CSI-RS resources, such that the first CSI-RS group and the second CSI-RS group may be configured with different given ranks, which are rank restrictions).
With respect to claim 10, Gao et al. discloses wherein the CSI-RS resource set is associated with one or more CSI-RS resources for interference measurement, and wherein the one or more CSI-RS resources for interference measurement are applicable to the sub-configuration (See paragraphs 12-13 and paragraphs 155-156 for reference to the CSI-RS resources being used to measure interference and for reference to the N CSI-RS resources being applicable to a first CSI-RS port group and a second CSI-RS port group, which comprise the first configuration information and second configuration information of the claimed sub-configuration).
With respect to claim 19, Gao et al. discloses wherein the first resource group is associated with a first transmission reception point (TRP) and the second resource group is associated with a second TRP (See paragraph 155 of Gao et al. for reference to the first CSI-RS port group being associated with a first TRP and the second CSI-RS port group being associated with a second TRP).
With respect to claim 20, Gao et al. discloses wherein the sub-configuration indicates: a first one or more identifiers corresponding to the first one or more CSI-RS resources, and a second one or more identifiers corresponding to the second one or more CSI-RS resources (See paragraphs 145-146 and paragraph 155 of Gao et al. for reference to the CSI-RS resources being indexed using resource indexes, which are identifiers, and for reference to the CSI-RS resources being grouped in first and second groups).
With respect to claim 23, Gao et al. discloses wherein the CSI report configuration indicates the first resource group and the second resource group, and wherein the sub-configuration indicates: a first one or more identifiers corresponding to at least one CSI-RS resource included in the first resource group, and a second one or more identifiers corresponding to at least one CSI-RS resource included in the second resource group (See paragraphs 145-146 and paragraph 155 of Gao et al. for reference to the CSI-RS resources being indexed using resource indexes, which are identifiers, and for reference to the CSI-RS resources being grouped in first and second groups).
With respect to claim 26, Gao et al. discloses wherein the CSI-RS resource set indicates a first CSI-RS port configuration, and wherein the sub-configuration is associated with a second one or more CSI-RS port configurations (See paragraph 155 of Gao et al. for reference to the configuration indicating first and second CSI-RS port groups).
With respect to claim 27, Gao et al. discloses wherein the CSI-RS resource set indicates CSI-RS port configuration that is applicable to the sub-configuration (See paragraphs 153-155 of Gao et al. for reference to the configuration indicating N CSI-RS resources that are applicable to the first and second groups).
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.
Claims 5, 9, 15, 21-22, and 24-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Gao et al. in view of Jeon et al. (U.S. Publication US 2025/0038810 A1).
With respect to claims 5 and 15, Gao et al. does not specifically disclose wherein the third configuration information indicates rank restrictions for respective pairs of resources of the one or more pairs of resources. However, Jeon et al., in the field of communications, discloses configuring CSI-RS reporting for two resource groups and N resource pairs of CSI-RS resources with each pair having resources corresponding to different TRPs (See paragraph 136, paragraph 244, paragraph 265, and Figure 21 of Jeon et al.), wherein the CSI-RS resources may be configured with a rank restriction (See paragraph 166 of Jeon et al.). Configuring CSI-RS resources in pairs of CSI-RS resources from different TRPs with a rank restriction has the advantage of allowing a UE to measure CSI for non-coherent joint transmission by the two TRPs (See paragraph 265 of Jeon et al. for reference to this advantage). Thus, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing, when presented with the work of Jeon et al. to combine configuring CSI-RS resources in pairs of CSI-RS resources from different TRPs with a rank restriction, as suggested by Jeon et al., within the system and method of Gao et al., with the motivation being to allow a UE to measure CSI for non-coherent joint transmission by the two TRPs.
With respect to claim 9, Gao et al. discloses wherein the first configuration information indicates a first one or more parameters applicable to the first CSI-RS resource, and wherein the second configuration information indicates a second one or more parameters applicable to the second CSI-RS resource (See paragraphs 155-156 of Gao et al. for reference to the embodiment wherein different parameter combinations are configured for different CSI-RS resources, such that the first CSI-RS group and the second CSI-RS group may be configured with parameter combinations). Gao et al. does not specifically disclose wherein a pair of resources, of the one or more pairs of resources, includes a first CSI-RS resource included in the first resource group and a second CSI-RS resource included in the second resource group. However, Jeon et al., in the field of communications, discloses configuring CSI-RS reporting for two resource groups and N resource pairs of CSI-RS resources with each pair having resources corresponding to different TRPs (See paragraph 136, paragraph 244, paragraph 265, and Figure 21 of Jeon et al.), wherein the CSI-RS resources may be configured with a rank restriction (See paragraph 166 of Jeon et al.). Configuring CSI-RS resources in pairs of CSI-RS resources from different TRPs with a rank restriction has the advantage of allowing a UE to measure CSI for non-coherent joint transmission by the two TRPs (See paragraph 265 of Jeon et al. for reference to this advantage). Thus, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing, when presented with the work of Jeon et al. to combine configuring CSI-RS resources in pairs of CSI-RS resources from different TRPs with a rank restriction, as suggested by Jeon et al., within the system and method of Gao et al., with the motivation being to allow a UE to measure CSI for non-coherent joint transmission by the two TRPs.
With respect to claim 21, Gao et al. does not specifically disclose wherein the sub-configuration indicates the one or more pairs of resources, wherein each pair of resources, of the one or more pairs of resources, includes two resources from different resource groups of the first resource group and the second resource group.
With respect to claim 22, although Gao et al. does disclose configuring CSI-RS resources with a given rank, which is a type of rank restriction (See paragraphs 156-158 of Gao et al.), Gao et al. does not specifically disclose the third configuration information indicates a rank restriction associated with CSI computations using the one or more pairs of resources.
With further respect to claims 21-22, Jeon et al., in the field of communications, discloses configuring CSI-RS reporting for two resource groups and N resource pairs of CSI-RS resources with each pair having resources corresponding to different TRPs (See paragraph 136, paragraph 244, paragraph 265, and Figure 21 of Jeon et al.), wherein the CSI-RS resources may be configured with a rank restriction (See paragraph 166 of Jeon et al.). Configuring CSI-RS resources in pairs of CSI-RS resources from different TRPs with a rank restriction has the advantage of allowing a UE to measure CSI for non-coherent joint transmission by the two TRPs (See paragraph 265 of Jeon et al. for reference to this advantage). Thus, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing, when presented with the work of Jeon et al. to combine configuring CSI-RS resources in pairs of CSI-RS resources from different TRPs with a rank restriction, as suggested by Jeon et al., within the system and method of Gao et al., with the motivation being to allow a UE to measure CSI for non-coherent joint transmission by the two TRPs.
With respect to claim 24, Gao et al. does not specifically disclose wherein the sub-configuration indicates the one or more pairs of resources, wherein each pair of resources, of the one or more pairs of resources, includes two resources from different resource groups from the at least one CSI-RS resource included in the first resource group and the at least one CSI-RS resource included in the second resource group.
With respect to claim 25, although Gao et al. does disclose configuring CSI-RS resources with a given rank, which is a type of rank restriction (See paragraphs 156-158 of Gao et al.), Gao et al. does not specifically disclose wherein the third configuration information indicates a rank restriction associated with CSI computations using the one or more pairs of resources.
With further respect to claims 24-25, Jeon et al., in the field of communications, discloses configuring CSI-RS reporting for two resource groups and N resource pairs of CSI-RS resources with each pair having resources corresponding to different TRPs (See paragraph 136, paragraph 244, paragraph 265, and Figure 21 of Jeon et al.), wherein the CSI-RS resources may be configured with a rank restriction (See paragraph 166 of Jeon et al.). Configuring CSI-RS resources in pairs of CSI-RS resources from different TRPs with a rank restriction has the advantage of allowing a UE to measure CSI for non-coherent joint transmission by the two TRPs (See paragraph 265 of Jeon et al. for reference to this advantage). Thus, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of effective filing, when presented with the work of Jeon et al. to combine configuring CSI-RS resources in pairs of CSI-RS resources from different TRPs with a rank restriction, as suggested by Jeon et al., within the system and method of Gao et al., with the motivation being to allow a UE to measure CSI for non-coherent joint transmission by the two TRPs.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Khan Beigi et al. (U.S. Publication US 2024/0072865 A1) and Yuan et al. (U.S. Publication US 2024/0030985 A1) each disclose relevant systems and methods of CSI-RS resource configuration.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Jason E Mattis whose telephone number is (571)272-3154. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:00am-4:30pm.
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/JASON E MATTIS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2461