DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
The amendment filed 03/27/2026 has been fully considered and entered into record. Claims 21
25, 27-41, 31-35, and 37-42 remain pending in the application. Claims 21, 23, 25, 31, 33, and 35 are amended. Claims 26 and 36 are canceled and claims 41 and 42 are newly added.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 21-40 have been considered but are moot
because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102
and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. § 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made
Claims 21-24, 31-34, and 41-42 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. $103 as being unpatentable over
Zhao et al. (US 20220190983 A1, hereinafter “Zhao”), and further in view of Cheng et al. (US 20240007237 A1, hereinafter “Cheng”)
Regarding Claim 21, Zhao teaches, a method of a first user equipment (UE), the method comprising: “the terminal device may refer to a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user apparatus” [0024]
determining a transport block size (TBS) for sidelink data transmission, “The terminal device determines a TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH.” [0005], and further “The transmit device can determine the number of the REs for the PSSCH according to the first resource used for transmitting the PSCCH and the second resource used for transmitting the PSSCH, and determine the TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH.” [0056]
transmitting, to a second UE, sidelink control information (SCI) including resource allocation information of a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) via a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), “In SL transmission, a transmit device transmits the PSCCH to a receive device, and sidelink control information (SCI) in the PSCCH is used to indicate a second resource allocated to the PSSCH.” [0044], and “The transmit device transmits on the first resource the PSCCH to the receive device to indicate the second resource” [0056]
and transmitting, to the second UE, the sidelink data via the PSSCH based on the SCI, “The terminal device 20 transmits SL data to the terminal device 30” [0037], and “The transmit device transmits on the first resource the PSCCH to the receive device to indicate the second resource, and transmits on the second resource the PSSCH to the receive device based on the TBS.” [0056]
Zhao teaches overlap based exclusion from PSSCH resource calculation, “the terminal device may exclude REs occupied by the PSCCH in the second resource from REs in the second resource, i.e., exclude REs in the second resource that overlap the first resource.” [0062]
However, Zhao does not expressly teach wherein a total number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) used for the PSSCH is either an n1 value or an n2 value; wherein the n1 value is determined based on a number of subchannels included in a resource block (RB) set allocated for the PSSCH and a subchannel size, in case where all subchannels of the RB set do not overlap with a guard band (GB); and wherein when at least a portion of a first subchannel overlaps with the GB, the n2 value is determined as a sum of a number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) included in subchannels excluding the first subchannel among all subchannels of the RB set, and a number of PRBs excluding PRBs that are included in the first subchannel and that overlap with the GB.
In the same field of endeavor, Cheng teaches RB-set and intra-cell guard-band allocation for sidelink resources, wherein a total number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) used for the PSSCH is either an n1 value or an n2 value, “the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1 and at least one intra-cell GB in response to N being an integer greater than 1, the at least one intra-cell GB being located between two adjacent RB sets” [0005], and “The value of N can be configured to include or not include the number of RBs within the intra-cell GB” [0027]
wherein the n1 value is determined based on a number of subchannels included in a resource block (RB) set allocated for the PSSCH and a subchannel size, in case where all subchannels of the RB set do not overlap with a guard band (GB), “one sub-channel can be defined as N contiguous RBs within one RB set” [0019], and “L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0005], and “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool.” [0007], and “The value of N can be configured to include or not include the number of RBs within the intra-cell GB” [0027]
and wherein when at least a portion of a first subchannel overlaps with the GB, “the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1 and at least one intra-cell GB in response to N being an integer greater than 1, the at least one intra-cell GB being located between two adjacent RB sets” [0005], and “in response to the at least one intra-cell GB and the two adjacent RB sets belonging to a same RP, allocating, for the PSSCH, resources within the at least one intra-cell GB.” [0007]
the n2 value is determined as a sum of a number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) included in subchannels excluding the first subchannel among all subchannels of the RB set, and a number of PRBs excluding PRBs that are included in the first subchannel and that overlap with the GB, “the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1 and at least one intra-cell GB in response to N being an integer greater than 1, the at least one intra-cell GB being located between two adjacent RB sets” [0008], and “L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0005], and “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool.” [0007], and “in response to the at least one intra-cell GB and the two adjacent RB sets belonging to a same RP, allocating, for the PSSCH, resources within the at least one intra-cell GB.” [0007] “The value of N can be configured to include or not include the number of RBs within the intra-cell GB” [0027]
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify Zhao’s overlap-based PSSCH resource exclusion technique with Cheng’s RB set, subchannel, and intra-cell guard-band resource allocation framework in order to improve sidelink resource allocation accuracy and reduce interference associated with PRBs overlapping a guard band while maintaining efficient PSSCH transmission resource utilization.
Regarding Claim 22, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 22 as recited above in the rejection of claim 21. However, Zhao does not teach wherein the subchannels are configured as contiguous resource block (C-RB).
Cheng teaches, wherein the subchannels are configured as contiguous resource block (C-RB), “one sub-channel can be defined as N contiguous RBs within one RB set” [0019], and “ the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1” [0008]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to configure the subchannels of Zhao as contiguous RBs as taught by Cheng in order to provide structured sidelink resource allocation and improve resource management efficiency for PSSCH transmission.
Regarding Claim 23, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 23 as recited above in the rejection of claim 21. In addition, Zhao further teaches, wherein the TBS is determined based on the subchannel size and the number of subchannels used for transmission of the PSSCH, in a case that the total number of PRBs is the n1 value, “The terminal device determines a TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH.” [0005], and “The transmit device can determine the number of the REs for the PSSCH according to the first resource used for transmitting the PSCCH and the second resource used for transmitting the PSSCH, and determine the TBS for the PSSCH” [0056]
However, Zhao does not expressly teach, determining the TBS based on subchannel size and number of subchannels.
Cheng teaches, determining the TBS based on subchannel size and number of subchannels, “one sub-channel can be defined as N contiguous RBs within one RB set” [0019], and “L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0005], and “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool” [0007]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to determine the TBS of Zhao based on Cheng’s subchannel size and number of allocated subchannels in order to provide scalable and efficient sidelink resource allocation for PSSCH transmission.
Regarding Claim 24, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 24 as recited above in the rejection of claim 23. In addition, Zhao further teaches, wherein the number of subchannels is determined by subchannels occupied for the PSSCH, “A terminal device determines number of resource elements (REs) for a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) in a second resource according to a first resource used for transmitting a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) and the second resource indicated by the PSCCH and used for transmitting the PSSCH” [0005], and “The transmit device can determine the number of the REs for the PSSCH according to the first resource used for transmitting the PSCCH” [0056]
However, Zhao does not expressly teach, determining the number of subchannels based on subchannels occupied for the PSSCH.
Cheng teaches, determining the number of subchannels based on subchannels occupied for the PSSCH, “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool” [0007], and “L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0005]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to determine the number of subchannels based on the subchannels occupied for the PSSCH as taught by Cheng in order to provide efficient sidelink resource allocation and TBS determination for PSSCH transmission.
Regarding Claim 31, Zhao teaches, a first user equipment (UE) comprising a processor, wherein the processor causes the first UE performs to: “the terminal device may refer to a user equipment (UE), an access terminal, a subscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a remote station, a remote terminal, a mobile device, a user terminal, a terminal, a wireless communication device, a user agent, or a user apparatus” [0024], and “The terminal device 1000 illustrated in FIG. 10 includes a processor 1010.” [0198], and “The processor 1010 can be configured to invoke and execute computer programs stored in a memory, to perform the method in implementations of the disclosure” [0198]
determining a transport block size (TBS) for sidelink data transmission, “SL transmission performance can be effectively improved by adopting a suitable transport block size (TBS). Therefore, how to accurately determine a TBS for a data channel in SL transmission has become a problem to be solved.” [0003], and “The terminal device determines a TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH.” [0005], and further “The transmit device can determine the number of the REs for the PSSCH according to the first resource used for transmitting the PSCCH and the second resource used for transmitting the PSSCH, and determine the TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH.” [0056]
transmitting, to a second UE, sidelink control information (SCI) including resource allocation information of a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) via a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), “In SL transmission, a transmit device transmits the PSCCH to a receive device, and sidelink control information (SCI) in the PSCCH is used to indicate a second resource allocated to the PSSCH.” [0044], and “The transmit device transmits on the first resource the PSCCH to the receive device to indicate the second resource” [0056]
and transmitting, to the second UE, the sidelink data via the PSSCH based on the SCI, “The terminal device 20 transmits SL data to the terminal device 30” [0037], and “The transmit device transmits on the first resource the PSCCH to the receive device to indicate the second resource, and transmits on the second resource the PSSCH to the receive device based on the TBS.” [0056]
Zhao teaches overlap based exclusion from PSSCH resource calculation, “the terminal device may exclude REs occupied by the PSCCH in the second resource from REs in the second resource, i.e., exclude REs in the second resource that overlap the first resource.” [0062]
However, Zhao does not expressly teach wherein a total number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) used for the PSSCH is either an n1 value or an n2 value; wherein the n1 value is determined based on a number of subchannels included in a resource block (RB) set allocated for the PSSCH and a subchannel size, in case where all subchannels of the RB set do not overlap with a guard band (GB); and wherein when at least a portion of a first subchannel overlaps with the GB, the n2 value is determined as a sum of a number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) included in subchannels excluding the first subchannel among all subchannels of the RB set, and a number of PRBs excluding PRBs that are included in the first subchannel and that overlap with the GB.
In the same field of endeavor, Cheng teaches RB-set and intra-cell guard-band allocation for sidelink resources, wherein a total number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) used for the PSSCH is either an n1 value or an n2 value, “the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1 and at least one intra-cell GB in response to N being an integer greater than 1, the at least one intra-cell GB being located between two adjacent RB sets” [0005], and “The value of N can be configured to include or not include the number of RBs within the intra-cell GB” [0027]
wherein the n1 value is determined based on a number of subchannels included in a resource block (RB) set allocated for the PSSCH and a subchannel size, in case where all subchannels of the RB set do not overlap with a guard band (GB), “one sub-channel can be defined as N contiguous RBs within one RB set” [0019], and “L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0005], and “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool.” [0007], and “The value of N can be configured to include or not include the number of RBs within the intra-cell GB” [0027]
and wherein when at least a portion of a first subchannel overlaps with the GB, “the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1 and at least one intra-cell GB in response to N being an integer greater than 1, the at least one intra-cell GB being located between two adjacent RB sets” [0005], and “in response to the at least one intra-cell GB and the two adjacent RB sets belonging to a same RP, allocating, for the PSSCH, resources within the at least one intra-cell GB.” [0007]
the n2 value is determined as a sum of a number of physical resource blocks (PRBs) included in subchannels excluding the first subchannel among all subchannels of the RB set, and a number of PRBs excluding PRBs that are included in the first subchannel and that overlap with the GB, “the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1 and at least one intra-cell GB in response to N being an integer greater than 1, the at least one intra-cell GB being located between two adjacent RB sets” [0008], and “L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0005], and “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool.” [0007], and “in response to the at least one intra-cell GB and the two adjacent RB sets belonging to a same RP, allocating, for the PSSCH, resources within the at least one intra-cell GB.” [0007] “The value of N can be configured to include or not include the number of RBs within the intra-cell GB” [0027]
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to modify Zhao’s overlap-based PSSCH resource exclusion technique with Cheng’s RB set, subchannel, and intra-cell guard-band resource allocation framework in order to improve sidelink resource allocation accuracy and reduce interference associated with PRBs overlapping a guard band while maintaining efficient PSSCH transmission resource utilization.
Regarding Claim 32, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 32 as recited above in the rejection of claim 31. However, Zhao does not teaches, wherein the subchannels are configured as contiguous resource block (C-RB).
Cheng teaches, wherein the subchannels are configured as contiguous resource block (C-RB), “one sub-channel can be defined as N contiguous RBs within one RB set” [0019], and “ the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1” [0008]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to configure the subchannels of Zhao as contiguous RBs as taught by Cheng in order to provide structured sidelink resource allocation and improve resource management efficiency for PSSCH transmission.
Regarding Claim 33, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 33 as recited above in the rejection of claim 31. In addition, Zhao further teaches, wherein the TBS is determined based on the subchannel size and the number of subchannels used for transmission of the PSSCH, in a case that the total number of PRBs is the n1 value, “The terminal device determines a TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH.” [0005], and “The transmit device can determine the number of the REs for the PSSCH according to the first resource used for transmitting the PSCCH and the second resource used for transmitting the PSSCH, and determine the TBS for the PSSCH” [0056]
Zhao, however, does not expressly teach determining the TBS based on subchannel size and number of subchannels.
Cheng teaches, determining the TBS based on subchannel size and number of subchannels, “one sub-channel can be defined as N contiguous RBs within one RB set” [0019], and “L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0005], and “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool” [0007]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to determine the TBS of Zhao based on Cheng’s subchannel size and number of allocated subchannels in order to provide scalable and efficient sidelink resource allocation for PSSCH transmission.
Regarding Claim 34, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 34 as recited above in the rejection of claim 33. In addition, Zhao further teaches, wherein the number of subchannels is determined by subchannels occupied for the PSSCH, “A terminal device determines number of resource elements (REs) for a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) in a second resource according to a first resource used for transmitting a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH) and the second resource indicated by the PSCCH and used for transmitting the PSSCH” [0005], and “The transmit device can determine the number of the REs for the PSSCH according to the first resource used for transmitting the PSCCH” [0056]
Zhao, however, does not expressly teach determining the number of subchannels based on subchannels occupied for the PSSCH.
Cheng teaches, determining the number of subchannels based on subchannels occupied for the PSSCH, “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool” [0007], and “L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0005]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to determine the number of subchannels based on the subchannels occupied for the PSSCH as taught by Cheng in order to provide efficient sidelink resource allocation and TBS determination for PSSCH transmission.
Regarding Claim 41, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 41 as recited above in the rejection of claim 21. In addition, Zhao further teaches, wherein the TBS is determined based on the subchannel size and the number of subchannels used for transmission of the PSSCH, in a case that the total number of PRBs is the n2 value, “The terminal device determines a TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH.” [0005], and “The transmit device can determine the number of the REs for the PSSCH according to the first resource used for transmitting the PSCCH and the second resource used for transmitting the PSSCH, and determine the TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH” [0056]
However, Zhao does not expressly teach, determining the TBS based on subchannel size and number of subchannels used for PSSCH transmission in a case that the total number of PRBs is the n2 value.
Cheng teaches, determining the TBS based on subchannel size and number of subchannels used for PSSCH transmission in a case that the total number of PRBs is the n2 value, “one sub-channel can be defined as N contiguous RBs within one RB set” [0019], and “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool” [0007], and “ L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0008], and further “the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1 and at least one intra-cell GB in response to N being an integer greater than 1, the at least one intra-cell GB being located between two adjacent RB sets” [0005], and “in response to the at least one intra-cell GB and the two adjacent RB sets belonging to a same RP, allocating, for the PSSCH, resources within the at least one intra-cell GB.” [0007]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Cheng’s subchannel-size and RB-set allocation framework, including guard-band-aware PRB allocation, to Zhao’s TBS determination technique in order to support accurate PSSCH transport block sizing under varying sidelink RB/subchannel allocation conditions.
Regarding Claim 42, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 42 as recited above in the rejection of claim 31. In addition, Zhao further teaches, wherein the TBS is determined based on the subchannel size and the number of subchannels used for transmission of the PSSCH, in a case that the total number of PRBs is the n2 value, “The terminal device determines a TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH.” [0005], and “The transmit device can determine the number of the REs for the PSSCH according to the first resource used for transmitting the PSCCH and the second resource used for transmitting the PSSCH, and determine the TBS for the PSSCH according to the number of the REs for the PSSCH” [0056]
However, Zhao does not expressly teach, determining the TBS based on subchannel size and number of subchannels used for PSSCH transmission in a case that the total number of PRBs is the n2 value.
Cheng teaches, determining the TBS based on subchannel size and number of subchannels used for PSSCH transmission in a case that the total number of PRBs is the n2 value, “one sub-channel can be defined as N contiguous RBs within one RB set” [0019], and “allocating, for the PSSCH, resources of one or multiple of the sub-channels within one or multiple RB sets within the resource pool” [0007], and “ L sub-channels indexed from 0 to L−1 in the RB set” [0008], and further “the RBs of each RP being divided into N RB sets indexed from 0 to N−1 and at least one intra-cell GB in response to N being an integer greater than 1, the at least one intra-cell GB being located between two adjacent RB sets” [0005], and “in response to the at least one intra-cell GB and the two adjacent RB sets belonging to a same RP, allocating, for the PSSCH, resources within the at least one intra-cell GB.” [0007]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Cheng’s subchannel-size and RB-set allocation framework, including guard-band-aware PRB allocation, to Zhao’s TBS determination technique in order to support accurate PSSCH transport block sizing under varying sidelink RB/subchannel allocation conditions.
Claims 25 and 35 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. $103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al. (US
20220190983 A1, hereinafter “Zhao”), further in view of Chen et al. (US 20240007237 A1, hereinafter “Cheng”), and further in view of Rastegardoost et al. (US 20230354220 A1, hereinafter “Rastegardoost”)
Regarding Claim 25, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 25 as recited above in the rejection of claim 21. However, Zhao and Chen do not teach, wherein when a reference position of a first start symbol and a reference position of a second start symbol are set for a sidelink bandwidth part (BWP), a transport block size (TBS) of the sidelink data transmitted through the PSSCH is calculated by based on a predetermined value
In the same field of endeavor, Rastegardoost teaches configured/preconfigured sidelink starting-symbol and resource-configuration parameters associated with sidelink PSSCH/PSCCH resources, “Multiple starting symbols within a slot may be defined/(pre-)configured as starting symbols of a PSSCH/PSCCH resource in that slot” , and “one or more time offsets may be defined/(pre-)configured” [0381], and “The at least one of the time parameters T0, Tproc,0, Tproc,1, T2, and PDB may be preconfigured for a wireless device.” [0272]
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Rastegardoost’s predefined/configured sidelink starting-symbol and sidelink-BWP configuration techniques to the Zhao and Cheng combination in order to provide predictable sidelink transmission processing and TBS calculation based on configured symbol-position values for sidelink PSSCH transmission.
Regarding Claim 35, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 35 as recited above in the rejection of claim 31. However, Zhao and Chen do not teach, wherein when a reference position of a first start symbol and a reference position of a second start symbol are set for a sidelink bandwidth part (BWP), a transport block size (TBS) of the sidelink data transmitted through the PSSCH is calculated based on a predetermined value.
In the same field of endeavor, Rastegardoost teaches configured/preconfigured sidelink starting-symbol and resource-configuration parameters associated with sidelink PSSCH/PSCCH resources, “Multiple starting symbols within a slot may be defined/(pre-)configured as starting symbols of a PSSCH/PSCCH resource in that slot” , and “one or more time offsets may be defined/(pre-)configured” [0381], and “The at least one of the time parameters T0, Tproc,0, Tproc,1, T2, and PDB may be preconfigured for a wireless device.” [0272]
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Rastegardoost’s predefined/configured sidelink starting-symbol and sidelink-BWP configuration techniques to the Zhao and Cheng combination in order to provide predictable sidelink transmission processing and TBS calculation based on configured symbol-position values for sidelink PSSCH transmission.
Claims 27, 29, 37, and 39 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. $103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et
al. (US 20220190983 A1, hereinafter “Zhao”), further in view of Chen et al. (US 20240007237 A1, hereinafter “Cheng”), and further in view of Ryu et al. (US 20220006505 A1, hereinafter “Ryu”)
Regarding Claim 27, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 27 as recited above in the rejection of claim 21. However, Zhao and Cheng do not teach, receiving a downlink (DL) reference signal transmitted by a base station using a beam included in a beam candidate group to be used for sidelink (SL) communication with the second UE; measuring a DL reference signal received power (RSRP) of the DL reference signal; determining a transmit power of the beam included in the beam candidate group based on the measured DL RSRP; and transmitting SL data to the second UE with the determined transmit power.
In the same field of endeavor, Ryu teaches, receiving a downlink (DL) reference signal transmitted by a base station using a beam included in a beam candidate group to be used for sidelink (SL) communication with the second UE; measuring a DL reference signal received power (RSRP) of the DL reference signal; determining a transmit power of the beam included in the beam candidate group based on the measured DL RSRP; and
transmitting SL data to the second UE with the determined transmit power, “ UE2 then monitors for reference signals on the candidate list” [0101], and “If an SL SSB or SL CSI-RS on the candidate list has a received signal strength (e.g., RSRP) at or above a threshold (e.g., rsrpThresholdSSB or rsrpThresholdCSI-RS), UE2 selects the reference signal with the signal strength at or above the threshold and the corresponding beam used to receive the reference signal.” [0101], and “The UE may select the beam in response to the reference signal having a reference signal received power (RSRP) at or above a threshold level” [0120], and “UE2 transmits, to UE1, a random access channel (RACH) preamble, based on the selected reference signal and the corresponding transmit beam.” [0039]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Ryu’s beam-candidate-list and RSRP-based beam selection techniques to the Zhao and Cheng combination in order to improve sidelink beam management and sidelink transmission reliability using measured reference-signal strength associated with candidate beams.
Regarding Claim 29, Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu disclose the limitations of claim 29 as recited above in the rejection of claim 27. In addition, Ryu further teach, wherein when the beam candidate group includes a plurality of beams, the measuring of the DL RSRP further comprises: measuring DL RSRP(s) for all beams included in the beam candidate group or one or more beams from the beam candidate group, measuring a DL RSRP for an arbitrary one beam selected among the beams included in the beam candidate group, measuring a DL RSRP of a beam most recently used in SL communication, or measuring a DL RSRP for a beam to be used for the SL communication, “UE2 then monitors for reference signals on the candidate list” [0101], and “ If an SL SSB or SL CSI-RS on the candidate list has a received signal strength (e.g., RSRP) at or above a threshold (e.g., rsrpThresholdSSB or rsrpThresholdCSI-RS), UE2 selects the reference signal with the signal strength at or above the threshold and the corresponding beam used to receive the reference signal.” [0101], and “The UE may select the beam in response to the reference signal having a reference signal received power (RSRP) at or above a threshold level.” [0120], and “ UE2 transmits, to UE1, a random access channel (RACH) preamble, based on the selected reference signal and the corresponding transmit beam.” [0039]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Ryu’s candidate-beam RSRP measurement and beam-selection techniques to the Zhao and Cheng combination in order to improve sidelink beam management and beam selection based on measured reference-signal quality for candidate sidelink beams.
Regarding Claim 37, Zhao and Cheng disclose the limitations of claim 37 as recited above in the rejection of claim 31. However, Zhao and Cheng do not teach, receiving a downlink (DL) reference signal transmitted by a base station using a beam included in a beam candidate group to be used for sidelink (SL) communication with the second UE; measuring a DL reference signal received power (RSRP) of the DL reference signal; determining a transmit power of the beam included in the beam candidate group based on the measured DL RSRP; and transmitting SL data to the second UE with the determined transmit power.
In the same field of endeavor, Ryu teaches, receiving a downlink (DL) reference signal transmitted by a base station using a beam included in a beam candidate group to be used for sidelink (SL) communication with the second UE; measuring a DL reference signal received power (RSRP) of the DL reference signal; determining a transmit power of the beam included in the beam candidate group based on the measured DL RSRP; and transmitting SL data to the second UE with the determined transmit power, “ UE2 then monitors for reference signals on the candidate list” [0101], and “If an SL SSB or SL CSI-RS on the candidate list has a received signal strength (e.g., RSRP) at or above a threshold (e.g., rsrpThresholdSSB or rsrpThresholdCSI-RS), UE2 selects the reference signal with the signal strength at or above the threshold and the corresponding beam used to receive the reference signal.” [0101], and “The UE may select the beam in response to the reference signal having a reference signal received power (RSRP) at or above a threshold level” [0120], and “UE2 transmits, to UE1, a random access channel (RACH) preamble, based on the selected reference signal and the corresponding transmit beam.” [0039]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Ryu’s beam-candidate-list and RSRP-based beam selection techniques to the Zhao and Cheng combination in order to improve sidelink beam management and sidelink transmission reliability using measured reference-signal strength associated with candidate beams.
Regarding Claim 39, Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu disclose the limitations of claim 39 as recited above in the rejection of claim 37.
In addition, Ryu further teach, wherein when the beam candidate group includes a plurality of beams, the measuring of the DL RSRP further comprises: measuring DL RSRP(s) for all beams included in the beam candidate group or one or more beams from the beam candidate group, measuring a DL RSRP for an arbitrary one beam selected among the beams included in the beam candidate group, measuring a DL RSRP of a beam most recently used in SL communication, or measuring a DL RSRP for a beam to be used for the SL communication, “UE2 then monitors for reference signals on the candidate list” [0101], and “ If an SL SSB or SL CSI-RS on the candidate list has a received signal strength (e.g., RSRP) at or above a threshold (e.g., rsrpThresholdSSB or rsrpThresholdCSI-RS), UE2 selects the reference signal with the signal strength at or above the threshold and the corresponding beam used to receive the reference signal.” [0101], and “The UE may select the beam in response to the reference signal having a reference signal received power (RSRP) at or above a threshold level.” [0120], and “ UE2 transmits, to UE1, a random access channel (RACH) preamble, based on the selected reference signal and the corresponding transmit beam.” [0039]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Ryu’s candidate-beam RSRP measurement and beam-selection techniques to the Zhao and Cheng combination in order to improve sidelink beam management and beam selection based on measured reference-signal quality for candidate sidelink beams.
Claims 28 and 38 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. $103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al. (US
20220190983 A1, hereinafter “Zhao”), further in view of Chen et al. (US 20240007237 A1, hereinafter “Cheng”), and further in view of Ryu et al. (US 20220006505 A1, hereinafter “Ryu”), and further in view of Wang et al. (US 12120614 B2, hereinafter “Wang”)
Regrading Claim 28, Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu disclose the limitations of claim 28 as recited above in the rejection of claim 27. However, Zhao, Chen, and Ryu do not teach, transmitting, to the second UE, an SL reference signal; and receiving, from the second UE, information on an SL RSRP for the SL reference signal, wherein the information on the SL RSRP received from the second UE is further considered in determining the transmit power of the beam included in the beam candidate group.
In the same field of endeavor, Wang teaches, transmitting, to the second UE, an SL reference signal; and receiving, from the second UE, information on an SL RSRP for the SL reference signal, wherein the information on the SL RSRP received from the second UE is further considered in determining the transmit power of the beam included in the beam candidate group, “ the transmitting UE may send sidelink reference signals to the receiving UE for transmission beam and power determination.” [Col. 14, lines 58-60], and “The PL calculation may comprise the transmitting UE sending sidelink CSI-RS or SSB, and the receiving UE may report the received RSRP to the transmitting UE in order for the transmitting UE to calculate the sidelink PL.” [Col. 15, lines 2-5], and “The first UE may receive the RSRP report from the second UE.” [Col. 20, lines 16-17], and “the RSRP report comprising the CRI and the associated RSRP based on the at least one sidelink reference signal received at the second UE.” [Col. 20, lines 17-20], and further “In some aspects, the sidelink transmission beam and transmission control parameters may be based at least on the RSRP report.” [Col. 20, lines 21-23]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Wang’s sidelink RSRP reporting and beam/power-control techniques to the Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu combination in order to improve sidelink beam transmission and transmit-power determination using sidelink RSRP feedback from the second UE.
Regrading Claim 38, Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu disclose the limitations of claim 38 as recited above in the rejection of claim 37. However, Zhao, Chen, and Ryu do not teach, transmitting, to the second UE, an SL reference signal; and receiving, from the second UE, information on an SL RSRP for the SL reference signal, wherein the information on the SL RSRP received from the second UE is further considered in determining the transmit power of the beam included in the beam candidate group.
In the same field of endeavor, Wang teaches, transmitting, to the second UE, an SL reference signal; and receiving, from the second UE, information on an SL RSRP for the SL reference signal, wherein the information on the SL RSRP received from the second UE is further considered in determining the transmit power of the beam included in the beam candidate group, “ the transmitting UE may send sidelink reference signals to the receiving UE for transmission beam and power determination.” [Col. 14, lines 58-60], and “The PL calculation may comprise the transmitting UE sending sidelink CSI-RS or SSB, and the receiving UE may report the received RSRP to the transmitting UE in order for the transmitting UE to calculate the sidelink PL.” [Col. 15, lines 2-5], and “The first UE may receive the RSRP report from the second UE.” [Col. 20, lines 16-17], and “the RSRP report comprising the CRI and the associated RSRP based on the at least one sidelink reference signal received at the second UE.” [Col. 20, lines 17-20], and further “In some aspects, the sidelink transmission beam and transmission control parameters may be based at least on the RSRP report.” [Col. 20, lines 21-23]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of the invention to apply Wang’s sidelink RSRP reporting and beam/power-control techniques to the Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu combination in order to improve sidelink beam transmission and transmit-power determination using sidelink RSRP feedback from the second UE.
Claims 30 and 40 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. $103 as being unpatentable over Zhao et al.
(US20220190983A1, hereinafter “Zhao”), further in view of Chen et al. (US 20240007237 A1, hereinafter “Cheng”), as applied to claims 27 and 37 above and further in view of Ryu et al. (US 20220006505 A1, hereinafter “Ryu”), and further in view of Wu et al. (US 11570726 B2, hereinafter “Wu”)
Regarding Claim 30, Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu disclose the limitations of claim 30 as recited above in the rejection of claim 27. In addition, Ryu further teaches, wherein in the measuring of the DL RSRP using the beam included in the beam candidate group within a preconfigured measurement window, “UE2 then monitors for reference signals on the candidate list” [0101], and “Each reference signal in the candidate list is transmitted on a certain beam, though not necessarily the same set of beams used to transmit BFD reference signals.” [0100]
when a number of RSRP measurements of the DL reference signal is less than a pre-configured number, “If an SL SSB or SL CSI-RS on the candidate list has a received signal strength (e.g., RSRP) at or above a threshold (e.g., rsrpThresholdSSB or rsrpThresholdCSI-RS), UE2 selects the reference signal with the signal strength at or above the threshold and the corresponding beam used to receive the reference signal.” [0101]
However, Ryu does not teach, transmit powers of beams included in the beam candidate group are determined by using a pre-configured DL path loss (PL) value or a most recently applied DL PL value.
In the same field of endeavor, Wu teaches, transmit powers of beams included in the beam candidate group are determined by using a pre-configured DL path loss (PL) value or a most recently applied DL PL value, “ the open loop power control parameter of both the open loop power control based on the sidelink pathloss and the open loop power control based on the downlink pathloss may be configured” [Col. 22, lines 55-58], and “to transmit the PSCCH, the PSSCH, and/or the PSFCH to the second UE by using a power determined based on the open loop power control for the downlink pathloss, before the RSRP feedback of the second UE is obtained.” [Col. 31, lines 17-20 ], and “the UE determines the open loop transmitting power by a formula Power=min{PowerDL_0LPC, PowerSL_0LPC}, that is, the UE selects the minimum value from the two as the open loop transmitting power.” [Col. 23, lines 5-9]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to apply Wu’s configured downlink pathloss-based open loop power-control techniques to the beam-selection techniques of Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu in order to maintain reliable sidelink transmit-power determination when sufficient RSRP measurements are unavailable while reducing signaling overhead and measurement latency.
Regarding Claim 40, Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu disclose the limitations of claim 40 as recited above in the rejection of claim 37. In addition, Ryu further teaches, wherein in the measuring of the DL RSRP using the beam included in the beam candidate group within a preconfigured measurement window, “UE2 then monitors for reference signals on the candidate list” [0101], and “Each reference signal in the candidate list is transmitted on a certain beam, though not necessarily the same set of beams used to transmit BFD reference signals.” [0100]
when a number of RSRP measurements of the DL reference signal is less than a pre-configured number, “If an SL SSB or SL CSI-RS on the candidate list has a received signal strength (e.g., RSRP) at or above a threshold (e.g., rsrpThresholdSSB or rsrpThresholdCSI-RS), UE2 selects the reference signal with the signal strength at or above the threshold and the corresponding beam used to receive the reference signal.” [0101]
However, Ryu does not teach, transmit powers of beams included in the beam candidate group are determined by using a pre-configured DL path loss (PL) value or a most recently applied DL PL value.
In the same field of endeavor, Wu teaches, transmit powers of beams included in the beam candidate group are determined by using a pre-configured DL path loss (PL) value or a most recently applied DL PL value, “ the open loop power control parameter of both the open loop power control based on the sidelink pathloss and the open loop power control based on the downlink pathloss may be configured” [Col. 22, lines 55-58], and “to transmit the PSCCH, the PSSCH, and/or the PSFCH to the second UE by using a power determined based on the open loop power control for the downlink pathloss, before the RSRP feedback of the second UE is obtained.” [Col. 31, lines 17-20 ], and “the UE determines the open loop transmitting power by a formula Power=min{PowerDL_0LPC, PowerSL_0LPC}, that is, the UE selects the minimum value from the two as the open loop transmitting power.” [Col. 23, lines 5-9]
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of invention to apply Wu’s configured downlink pathloss-based open loop power-control techniques to the beam-selection techniques of Zhao, Cheng, and Ryu in order to maintain reliable sidelink transmit-power determination when sufficient RSRP measurements are unavailable while reducing signaling overhead and measurement latency.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record not relied upon and considered pertinent to Applicant’s disclosure:
Kim et al. (US 20240155505 A1, hereinafter “Kim”) discloses Method and apparatus for sidelink communication in unlicensed band
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.
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SANG PHUOC. LE
Examiner
Art Unit 2641
/SANG PHUOC LE/Examiner, Art Unit 2641
/CHARLES N APPIAH/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2641
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