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 Remarks
This Office action is considered fully responsive to the amendments filed 01/22/2026.
Claim 1 pending in the application. Claims 2-20 have been canceled. The objection to the claims and specification are withdrawn in light of Applicant’s amendments. The claim rejections under 35 USC § 112b are withdrawn in light of Applicant’s amendments. The Examiners disagree with the Statement of Substance of Interview on the Office action. We do not believe that last statement about having a follow up interview if we find new art is accurate. The Examiners mentioned an updated search and/or reconsideration will be needed if an amendment is field and may have a follow up interview if we determined allowable subject matter.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed on 01/22/2026 have been fully considered but they are not
persuasive, see the Claims Rejection section for a mapping of the previous prior art to the new/modified limitations. Applicant argues in substance that
Applicant argues that the amended independent claim 1 is patentable over the cited and applied art (Page 8, Remarks).
In response to A) the examiner respectfully disagrees, for the reasons given in the response below. The Claim Rejections section details the rejections of the instant claim.
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.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim 1 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Ryu et al. (US-20190159149-A1) in view of Kim et al. (US-20240206000-A1).
Regarding claim 1 (Currently Amended), Ryu teaches an apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus ([0011] and [0012], Figs. 1, 7 and 9 describe the apparatus for wireless communication may include a processor, memory in electronic communication with the processor, and instructions stored as a program code in the memory operable to cause a processor to perform method functions, [0210]) at least to: in response to a triggering mobility event, determine whether uplink timing information is available for a respective transmission point ([0007], 11-18, [0122], lines 12-15, abstract, lines 10-15, the uplink timing advance value based on a propagation time for the uplink transmission and “the propagation time may change based on where the UE is with respect to the base station” (mobility event), then, “the base station may configure the UE with a set of available uplink timing advance values. For example, the base station may transmit an indication to the UE of the set of available uplink timing advance values”,[0044]);
wherein the triggering mobility event ([0007], lines 23-27 “the UE may calculate the distance from the base station to the UE and use the distance information to adjust the uplink timing advance value. The UE may then transmit the uplink transmission using the adjusted uplink timing advance value.”) comprises an uplink beam change, a downlink beam change ([0116], lines 4-7, “As the position and/or orientation of vehicle 420 (and relay UE 410 by extension) changes, the beam configuration used for communications between base station 405 and relay UE 410 may also change. “, which means the changing in at least one of downlink beam direction, or a downlink beam index, or a downlink beam departure angle, or a combination thereof [0018]. [0128], [0149], [0197], “ the UE 115 may determine a downlink beam configuration for a downlink transmission from the base station, and the uplink timing advance value is adjusted based at least in part on the downlink beam configuration. “), a change of reference signals, a change of a precoding matrix, a change of the respective transmission point or a change of antenna panel;
maintain a plurality of uplink timing advance loops simultaneously for a plurality of transmission points including at least one uplink timing advance loop associated with a transmission point that is not currently receiving an uplink beam ([0008], lines 1-6 states “the base station may provide a set of available uplink timing advance values that the UE may use, at least to some degree” that indicates the base station can provide a set of uplink TA values for the UE to maintain, [0206] describes these values can correspond to multiple TRPs to ensure synchronization across all TRPs in the set. [0007], lines 26-29 states “The UE autonomously adjusts the uplink timing value without having to perform and/or maintain a timing advance procedure.” That indicates the UE has the ability to adjust the TA value for a TRP, regardless of whether the TRP is actively receiving uplink transmission, where the adjustment based on the distance (e.g., an angular distance, a geographical distance, and the like) between the UE and the base station, as stated in [0043] )
in response to a downlink beam change serving as the triggering mobility event ([0116], lines 4-7, “As the position and/or orientation of vehicle 420 (and relay UE 410 by extension) changes, the beam configuration used for communications between base station 405 and relay UE 410 may also change. “, which means the changing in “at least one of downlink beam direction, or a downlink beam index, or a downlink beam departure angle, or a combination thereof” [0018], [0128]), synchronize one of the plurality of uplink timing advance loops to a downlink beam ([0017], describe matching/mapping (synchronizing) the one or more plurality of uplink timing advance values to a downlink beam configuration for uplink TA loop process (communication), “the downlink beam configuration may be mapped to one or more uplink timing advance values of a plurality of available uplink timing advance values”,[0149]), wherein the uplink timing advance loop is configured ([0010], “The apparatus may include means for identifying that an uplink transmission to a base station is to occur in accordance with an uplink timing advance value representing an amount of time that the uplink transmission takes from transmission at the UE to reception at the base station, “, [0043], lines 10-15) by:
determining whether the transmission point remains the same following the uplink beam change or the downlink beam change ([0106] and Fig. 3 illustrate the scenario of remain the same: if the beam change is due to mobility within the same BS coverage area, the transmission point (BS) likely remain the same, as the beam, as the beam adjustment is intended to optimize communications within the existing coverage area, [0089] and Fig. 2, describe the scenario of do not remain the same, if the UE moves out of the coverage area of BS to another one, the transmission point would change, as the UE determine that would need to establish a new connection with a new BS); and the determining whether the transmission point remains the same is based on a downlink timing difference between a downlink beam prior to the triggering mobility event and a downlink beam following the triggering mobility event exceeding a threshold ([0148], lines 7-12, the propagation delay can be considered as a measuring of the downlink timing difference between a downlink beam prior and after the triggering mobility event which can be calculated by round trip time RTT between the UE and BS [0006], lines 1-3, [0045], lines 1-4, “where a maximum RTT of UEs within a coverage area of a base station is small enough so as to not result in significant communication delays.” Which means the UE maintain the connection with the BS according to the RTT value. Figs. 3 A-B, [0102] states “the relay UE 210 may estimate the distance thru RTT (e.g., based on a change in the downlink receive time)” and [0111]-[0112] states “the base station may identify a time gap 345 associated with a difference between the end of the downlink frame 335 and the receipt of an uplink frame 340” that implies identifying the time gap as threshold for determining whether the BS remains the same);
in response to a determination that the transmission point remains the same, configuring the uplink timing advance loop also based on an uplink transmit timing advance value previously defined for the transmission point prior to the triggering mobility event ([0192]-[0193] and Fig. 15 depict in Step 1505 the BS transmit a set of available uplink TA advance values to the UE, the UE can use at least to some degree [0008], lines 1-3, the UE can apply step 1515 and 1520, if the BS the same, the UE then adjusts and transmits the uplink TA values accordingly ). [0125] states “Each uplink timing advance value may be associated with or otherwise represent an amount of time that an uplink transmission is expected to take from transmission at the UE 510 to reception at the base station 505” and [0008] lines 1-3 illustrate that BS can provide the UE the TA values (expected values) to use them for uplink transmission, which means that the availability of the Tas prior to the triggering mobility event ); and
in response to a determination that the transmission point does not remain the same: configuring the uplink timing advance loop also based on target beam timing information ([0007], lines 11-15, define the uplink timing advance values derived from the uplink timing advance loop, can be adjusted based at least on the downlink beam configuration [0016], “the uplink timing advance value may be adjusted based at least in part on the downlink beam configuration” where [0018] “the downlink beam configuration comprises at least one of a downlink beam direction, or a downlink beam index, or a downlink beam departure angle”, as the UE enters a coverage area of a new BS [0089]-[0091] the beam configuration changes to accommodate the new BS communication requirements) derived from a downlink beam associated with a different transmission point ([0017], [0128], [0197], and [0090], these collected parts illustrates that the uplink timing advance value can be adjusted/derived based on the downlink beam configuration, where the downlink beam configuration, as stated in [0018], are associated with specific transmission points),
adjusting the uplink transmit timing advance value previously defined from the previous transmission point based on the downlink timing difference ([0043], lines 7-17, [0122], 12-15, describe that changing distance between the BA and UE effect in timing difference which reflect the change in propagation delay, hence, the UE can adjust these values “the UE may autonomously adjust the uplink timing advance value based, for example, on a distance (e.g., an angular distance, a geographical distance, and the like) between the UE and the base station. The UE may then transmit the uplink transmission to the base station using the adjusted uplink timing advance value.“);
Ryu fails to teach determine that a plurality of timing advance loops is supported to a plurality of transmission points; and use a gradual timing adjustment procedure to adjust the uplink timing advance loop; and in response to a determination that the uplink timing information is unavailable for the respective transmission point, configure the uplink timing advance loop by synchronizing to a downlink beam and reference signal from the respective transmission point by setting a timing advance value and then using the gradual timing adjustment procedure to adjust the uplink timing advance loop, wherein the determining whether the transmission point remains the same is based on network signaling, causing transmission of a random access preamble using a downlink beam after the triggering mobility event toward the different transmission point using a downlink beam received after the triggering mobility event; receiving a random access reply message from the different transmission point; determining a timing advance absolute value based on the random access reply message; and configuring the uplink timing advance loop also based on the timing advance absolute value and the adjusted uplink transmit timing advance value.
However Kim teaches determine that a plurality of timing advance loops is supported to a plurality of transmission points (Fig. 1, [0198]-[0199], [0226], the figure shows an example for multiple trips (TRPs) (BSs or transmission points), 110-1, 110-2, 110-3, and the terminal (UE 130-4) within coverage [0066] and the setup implies [0195] each “TRP may manage (determine) a timing advance (TA) loop to estimate a propagation delay in a radio link between the TRP and the terminal (e.g., a panel of the terminal). For this operation, a plurality of TA loops may be configured to the terminal); and use a gradual timing adjustment procedure to adjust the uplink timing advance loop ( [0201], lines 4-15, “The first TAC received at the terminal may indicate an absolute value of a TA. If a TAC (e.g., non-first TAC) is received after the first TAC, the terminal may accumulate TA values. Alternatively, the TRP (or base station) may transmit MAC signaling indicating transmission of the absolute value of the TA or transmission of a relative value of the TA to the terminal….“ describe accumulated timing procedure to adjust the uplink TA values which included in TA commands ; hence theses commands adjusted the uplink TA loop [0197]), and in response to a determination that the uplink timing information is unavailable for the respective transmission point ([0133], the terminal may perform radio link monitoring RLM, if the terminal detect failure in beam alignment or communication with TRP, which means no uplink information, or [0197], some of Timing Advance (TA) loops among the configured TA loops may be deactivated (no uplink TA information)) , configure the uplink timing advance loop by synchronizing to a downlink beam ([0230]-[0237], illustrate the process using downlink reference signal DL-RS, which is transmitted/received by different beam [0231], lines 4-6, for synchronizing the communication over TRP [0089], lines 4-10, to acquire the time synchronization with TRP [0140], [0097], compensate the frequency offset [0165], and beam synchronization [0125]) and reference signal from the respective transmission point by setting a timing advance value and then using the gradual timing adjustment procedure to adjust the uplink timing advance loop ([0196]- [0201], describe how to activate/deactivate (adjust) the TA loop, [0214], lines 4-8, because of changing in mobility of the UE [0197] “The TRP may manage a timing advance (TA) loop to estimate a propagation delay in a radio link between the TRP and the terminal “, [0196], when the number of TA loops increases, the MAC signaling for controlling the TA loops increases, [0200], describe using MAC signaling (MAC CE) information such as bitmap and index for activate/deactivate TA loop, [0201], describe the TRP send TA command TAC to the terminal to adjust the TA incrementally);
wherein the determining whether the transmission point remains the same is based on network signaling ([0213], the network can signal the PCI to the UE“ The MAC CE may include a PCI. In this case, a PCI for a serving base station (or reference TRP) of the terminal may not be included in the MAC CE, and a PCI for another base station (or another TRP) may be included in the MAC CE“), causing transmission of a random access preamble using a downlink beam after the triggering mobility event toward the different transmission point using a downlink beam received after the triggering mobility event ([0133], lines 8-10, describe when radio link failure RLF is detected, which is cause by the mobility [0123] and [0166], the terminal may transmit a physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble or a link recovery request (LRR) to the TRP (BS). [0132] and [0133], lines 8-10 states “When an RLF is detected, the terminal may transmit a physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble or a link recovery request (LRR) to the TRP” That implies the terminal may use the downlink beam associated with the new TRP (transmission point) to transmit the RA preamble to adapt the changing in its mobility event); receiving a random access reply message from the different transmission point ([0014], “receiving, from the first TRP or the second TRP, random access (RA) configuration information associated with the first DL-RS, wherein the communication is an RA procedure based on the RA configuration information”, which is a part of RA procedure [0021], [0132], lines 10-12. [0025]-[0026] illustrate that the terminal can receive RA reply message from multiple TRPs, where the terminal may be connected to a plurality of TRPs, and may perform communications( send/receive signals) with the plurality of TRPs. [0004]); determining a timing advance absolute value based on the random access reply message ([0201], illustrates that the BS (TRP) transmit the first timing advance command (TAC) which indicate an absolute value of a TA, “Alternatively, the TRP (or base station) may transmit MAC signaling indicating transmission of the absolute value of the TA or transmission of a relative value of the TA to the terminal”, where the TAC can be used to activate/deactivate TA loop process [0197] ); and configuring the uplink timing advance loop also based on the timing advance absolute value ([0201], illustrates that the BS (TRP) transmit the first timing advance command (TAC) which indicate an absolute value of a TA, “Alternatively, the TRP (or base station) may transmit MAC signaling indicating transmission of the absolute value of the TA or transmission of a relative value of the TA to the terminal”, where the TAC can be used to activate/deactivate TA loop process [0197] ) and the adjusted uplink transmit timing advance value ([0201], states “In the activated TA loop, a first timing advance command (TAC) indicated by the TRP to the terminal and a non-first TAC indicated by the TRP to the terminal may be distinguished. The first TAC received at the terminal may indicate an absolute value of a TA.”. [0195] states “The TRP may manage a timing advance (TA) loop to estimate a propagation delay in a radio link between the TRP and the terminal (e.g., a panel of the terminal). For this operation, a plurality of TA loops may be configured to the terminal” where these TA loops determines and applied the updated TA values as an output).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Ryu to incorporate the teachings of Kim (in analogous art) by determine that a plurality of timing advance loops are supported to a plurality of transmission points and in response to a determination that uplink timing information is unavailable for the respective transmission point configure an uplink timing advance loop by synchronizing to a downlink beam since the TA is a fundamental mechanism for advance features of 5G communication system which can support enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), massive machine type communication (mMTC), ( Kim, [0003]).
Relevant Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
disclosure.
Zhou et al. (US-20190075524-A1), Siomina et al. (US-20150189610-A1), Kim et al. (US-20200350974-A1), Marinier et al. (US-20200145079-A1) teach methods for improving multi beam operation in wireless communication systems.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 SANAA S AL SAMAHI whose telephone number is (571)272-4171. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8-5 EST.
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/SANAA AL SAMAHI/Examiner, Art Unit 2463 /ASAD M NAWAZ/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2463