Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. 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
2. Claims 6 and 16 are objected to because of the following informalities:
a) Claims 6 and 16 are identical and both dependent of claim 4;
Appropriate correction is required.
Specification
3. The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Examiner is suggesting the following title: TERMINAL, BASE STATION, AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION METHOD OF DETERMINING NUMBER OF SUBGROUPS OF THE PAGING OCCASION.
Claim Interpretation
4. The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
This application includes one or more claim limitations that do not use the word “means,” but are nonetheless being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, because the claim limitation(s) uses a generic placeholder that is coupled with functional language without reciting sufficient structure to perform the recited function and the generic placeholder is not preceded by a structural modifier. Such claim limitation(s) is/are:
“a receiving unit which receives, from a base station,…..” and “control unit which determines and which controls monitoring….” in claim 1. [for support, see fig.14 of present application, items 101 and 103 and supporting paragraphs (¶0180-206) describing the details of receiving unit and control unit].
“control unit which determines a total number….” and “transmitting unit which transmits, to the terminal,….. in claim 8. [for support, see fig.15 of present application, items 202 and 203 and supporting paragraphs (¶0208-219 describing the details of transmitting unit and control unit].
“a step of receiving, from a base station,…..” and “ a step of determining and controlling….” in claim 11. [for support, see fig.14 of present application, items 101 and 103 and supporting paragraphs (¶0180-206) describing the details of receiving unit and control unit].
Because this/these claim limitation(s) is/are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, it/they is/are being interpreted to cover the corresponding structure described in the specification as performing the claimed function, and equivalents thereof.
If applicant does not intend to have this/these limitation(s) interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, applicant may: (1) amend the claim limitation(s) to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph (e.g., by reciting sufficient structure to perform the claimed function); or (2) present a sufficient showing that the claim limitation(s) recite(s) sufficient structure to perform the claimed function so as to avoid it/them being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
5. 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.
A) Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by LI (US 2023/0397159 A1).
As per claim 8, LI discloses a base station (Fig.11, base station) comprising: a control unit (Fig.11, paging UE determination circuitry) which determines a total number of subgroups of a paging occasion and a number of paging occasions, and which determines a subgroup of the paging occasion for a terminal (¶0258-260, determining number of paging sub-group(s) of paging occasion and first paging occasion of paging occasions); and a transmitting unit (Fig.11, paging sub-group signaling transmitter) which transmits, to the terminal, system information including information for indicating the total number of subgroups of the paging occasion and information for indicating the number of paging occasions, and which transmits, to the terminal, first downlink control information including a field for indicating the subgroup of the paging occasion (Fig.7 and ¶0187, transmit to the UE the number of POs in a paging frame (PE) is configurable via system information and PO consist of multiple time slots (e.g., subframe or OFDM symbol) where the paging DCI can be sent. One PF is one radio frame and may contain one or multiple PO(s) or starting point of a PO), wherein a number of bits for the field is determined based on the information for indicating the total number of subgroups and the information for indicating the number of paging occasions (¶0260 and ¶0264, several bits for field based on the information indicating sub-group index and the information for indicating number of paging occasions (e.g., the first paging occasion of the paging frame)).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
6. 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.
A) Claims 1, 5, 11, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over LI (US 2023/0397159 A1) in view of SAMSUNG: "Paging Enhancements -UE Grouping", 3GPP DRAFT; R2-2102704, 3RD GENERATION PARTNERSHIP PROJECT (3GPP), MOBILE COMPETENCE CENTRE; 650, ROUTE DES LUCIOLES; F-06921 SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS CEDEX; FRANCE, vol. RAN WG2, pp. 1-4, hereinafter SAMSUNG.
As per claim 1, LI teaches a terminal (Fig.9, UE/terminal) comprising: a receiving unit which receives (Fig.9, paging sub-group signaling receiver which receives), from a base station, system information including information for indicating a total number of subgroups of a paging occasion and information for indicating a number of paging occasions, and which receives, from the base station, first downlink control information including a field for indicating a subgroup of the paging occasion (Fig.7 and ¶0187, receiving from base station number of POs in a paging frame (PE) is configurable via system information and PO consist of multiple time slots (e.g., subframe or OFDM symbol) where the paging DCI can be sent. One PF is one radio frame and may contain one or multiple PO(s) or starting point of a PO); and a control unit which determines (Fig.9, a paging sub-group index determination circuitry which determines) a number of bits for the field based on the information for indicating the total number of subgroups and the information for indicating the number of paging occasions (¶0260 and ¶0264, several bits for field based on the information indicating sub-group index and the information for indicating number of paging occasions (e.g., the first paging occasion of the paging frame)).
However, LI does not explicitly teach control unit which controls monitoring of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for second downlink control information in the paging occasion based on a value of the field.
In the same field of endeavor, SAMSUNG teaches control unit which controls monitoring of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for second downlink control information in the paging occasion based on a value of the field (section 2.1 and section 2.2 and Fig.1, monitoring of PDCCH for paging DCI (i.e. second DCI) in the paging occasion as reserved bits (i.e. value of the field) used to indicate paging group).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of SAMSUNG into invention of LI in order to minimize unnecessary paging receptions by UE grouping within a paging occasion to provide power saving gains.
As per claim 5 as applied to claim 1 above, LI does not explicitly teach, wherein the control unit performs the monitoring of the PDCCH for the second downlink control information in the paging occasion in a case where the value of the field indicates a subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs.
In the same field of endeavor, SAMSUNG teaches wherein the control unit performs the monitoring of the PDCCH for the second downlink control information in the paging occasion in a case where the value of the field indicates a subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs (section 2.1 and section 2.2 and 3, monitoring of PDCCH for paging DCI (i.e. second DCI) in the paging occasion as reserved bits (i.e. value of the field) used to indicate paging group of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of SAMSUNG into invention of LI in order to minimize unnecessary paging receptions by UE grouping within a paging occasion to provide power saving gains.
As per claim 11, LI teaches a wireless communication method of a terminal (Fig.9, UE/terminal) comprising: a step of receiving, from a base station, system information including information for indicating a total number of subgroups of a paging occasion and information for indicating a number of paging occasions, a step of receiving, from the base station, first downlink control information including a field for indicating a subgroup of the paging occasion (Fig.7 and ¶0187, receiving from base station number of POs in a paging frame (PE) is configurable via system information and PO consist of multiple time slots (e.g., subframe or OFDM symbol) where the paging DCI can be sent. One PF is one radio frame and may contain one or multiple PO(s) or starting point of a PO); and a step of determining (Fig.9, a paging sub-group index determination circuitry which determines) a number of bits for the field based on the information for indicating the total number of subgroups and the information for indicating the number of paging occasions (¶0260 and ¶0264, several bits for field based on the information indicating sub-group index and the information for indicating number of paging occasions (e.g., the first paging occasion of the paging frame)).
However, LI does not explicitly teach a step of controlling monitoring of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for second downlink control information in the paging occasion based on a value of the field.
In the same field of endeavor, SAMSUNG teaches a step of controlling monitoring of a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for second downlink control information in the paging occasion based on a value of the field (section 2.1 and section 2.2 and Fig.1, monitoring of PDCCH for paging DCI (i.e. second DCI) in the paging occasion as reserved bits (i.e. value of the field) used to indicate paging group).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of SAMSUNG into invention of LI in order to minimize unnecessary paging receptions by UE grouping within a paging occasion to provide power saving gains.
As per claim 15 as applied to claim 11 above, LI does not explicitly teach, a step of monitoring of the PDCCH for the second downlink control information in the paging occasion in a case where the value of the field indicates a subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs.
In the same field of endeavor, SAMSUNG teaches a step of the monitoring of the PDCCH for the second downlink control information in the paging occasion in a case where the value of the field indicates a subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs (section 2.1 and section 2.2 and 3, monitoring of PDCCH for paging DCI (i.e. second DCI) in the paging occasion as reserved bits (i.e. value of the field) used to indicate paging group of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of SAMSUNG into invention of LI in order to minimize unnecessary paging receptions by UE grouping within a paging occasion to provide power saving gains.
B) Claims 2-4, 6-7, 12-14, and 16-17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over LI (US 2023/0397159 A1) in view of SAMSUNG and further in view of MODERATOR (MEDIATEK): "Summary of Paging Enhancements" 3GPP DRAFT; R1- 2103848, vol. RAN WG1, 23 April 2021, pp. 1-61 hereinafter MEDIATEK
As per claim 2 as applied to claim 1 above, LI in view of SAMSUNG does not explicitly teach wherein the field includes a bitmap with the number of bits equal to a value obtained by multiplying the total number of subgroups by the number of paging occasions.
In the same field of endeavor, MEDIATEK teaches wherein the field includes a bitmap with the number of bits equal to a value obtained by multiplying the total number of subgroups by the number of paging occasions (section 3, table 8, bits equal to total of 12 sub-groups which obtained by multiplying of four PO and 3 subgroups; therefore 3x4=12).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of MEDIATEK into invention of LI and SAMSUNG in order to use DCI payload for PDCCH-based PEI to convey the sub-group indication and PEI indication bits for multiple paging occasions.
As per claim 3 as applied to claim 2 above, LI further teaches wherein respective bits of the bitmap from a most significant bit to a least significant bit correspond to respective subgroups of the paging occasions, firstly in ascending order of index values of the paging occasions and secondly in ascending order of index values of the subgroups (¶0260 and ¶0264 and ¶0319, subset of bits could be, e.g., a number of the most-significant bits of the value or a number of the least-significant bits of the value and subset of bits of a value derived from the UE identification is the same as, or larger than, or smaller than bits representing the paging sub-group index and index values of the paging occasions).
As per claim 4 as applied to claim 1 above, LI in view of SAMSUNG does not explicitly teach, wherein the control unit skips the monitoring of the PDCCH for the second downlink control information in the paging occasion in a case where the first downlink control information is not detected or the value of the field does not indicate a subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs.
In the same field of endeavor, MEDIATEK teaches wherein the control unit skips the monitoring of the PDCCH for the second downlink control information in the paging occasion in a case where the first downlink control information is not detected or the value of the field does not indicate a subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs (section 2.6, table 6, not require to continue monitoring paging PDCCH in the PO when UE does not detect PEI/DCI).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of MEDIATEK into invention of LI and SAMSUNG in order to use DCI payload for PDCCH-based PEI to convey the sub-group indication and PEI indication bits for multiple paging occasions.
As per claim 6 as applied to claim 4 above, LI in view of SAMSUNG teaches wherein the control unit derives an index value of the subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs based on an identifier of the terminal and the total number of subgroups (SAMSUNG, section 2.1, value of the subgroup of the paging occasion to which the UE belongs based on UE ID and total number of subgroups).
As per claim 7 as applied to claim 4 above, LI in view of SAMSUNG teaches, wherein the receiving unit receives, from a network, information for indicating the subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs (SAMSUNG, section 2.1, section 2.2, receiving from the network information for paging frames/paging occasions to which UE belongs).
As per claim 12 as applied to claim 11 above, LI in view of SAMSUNG does not explicitly teach wherein the field includes a bitmap with the number of bits equal to a value obtained by multiplying the total number of subgroups by the number of paging occasions.
In the same field of endeavor, MEDIATEK teaches wherein the field includes a bitmap with the number of bits equal to a value obtained by multiplying the total number of subgroups by the number of paging occasions (section 3, table 8, bits equal to total of 12 sub-groups which obtained by multiplying of four PO and 3 subgroups; therefore 3x4=12).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of MEDIATEK into invention of LI and SAMSUNG in order to use DCI payload for PDCCH-based PEI to convey the sub-group indication and PEI indication bits for multiple paging occasions.
As per claim 13 as applied to claim 12 above, LI further teaches wherein respective bits of the bitmap from a most significant bit to a least significant bit correspond to respective subgroups of the paging occasions, firstly in ascending order of index values of the paging occasions and secondly in ascending order of index values of the subgroups (¶0260 and ¶0264 and ¶0319, subset of bits could be, e.g., a number of the most-significant bits of the value or a number of the least-significant bits of the value and subset of bits of a value derived from the UE identification is the same as, or larger than, or smaller than bits representing the paging sub-group index and index values of the paging occasions).
As per claim 14 as applied to claim 11 above, LI in view of SAMSUNG does not explicitly teach, a step of skipping the monitoring of the PDCCH for the second downlink control information in the paging occasion in a case where the first downlink control information is not detected or the value of the field does not indicate a subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs.
In the same field of endeavor, MEDIATEK teaches a step of skipping the monitoring of the PDCCH for the second downlink control information in the paging occasion in a case where the first downlink control information is not detected or the value of the field does not indicate a subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs (section 2.6, table 6, not require to continue monitoring paging PDCCH in the PO when UE does not detect PEI/DCI).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of MEDIATEK into invention of LI and SAMSUNG in order to use DCI payload for PDCCH-based PEI to convey the sub-group indication and PEI indication bits for multiple paging occasions.
As per claim 16 as applied to claim 4 above, LI in view of SAMSUNG teaches wherein the control unit derives an index value of the subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs based on an identifier of the terminal and the total number of subgroups (SAMSUNG, section 2.1, value of the subgroup of the paging occasion to which the UE belongs based on UE ID and total number of subgroups).
As per claim 17 as applied to claim 5 above, LI in view of SAMSUNG teaches, wherein the receiving unit receives, from a network, information for indicating the subgroup of the paging occasion to which the terminal belongs (SAMSUNG, section 2.1, section 2.2, receiving from the network information for paging frames/paging occasions to which UE belongs).
C) Claims 9-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over LI (US 2023/0397159 A1) in view of MODERATOR (MEDIATEK): "Summary of Paging Enhancements" 3GPP DRAFT; R1- 2103848, vol. RAN WG1, 23 April 2021, pp. 1-61 hereinafter MEDIATEK
As per claim 9 as applied to claim 8 above, LI does not explicitly teach wherein the field includes a bitmap with the number of bits equal to a value obtained by multiplying the total number of subgroups by the number of paging occasions.
In the same field of endeavor, MEDIATEK teaches wherein the field includes a bitmap with the number of bits equal to a value obtained by multiplying the total number of subgroups by the number of paging occasions (section 3, table 8, bits equal to total of 12 sub-groups which obtained by multiplying of four PO and 3 subgroups; therefore 3x4=12).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of applicant’s claimed invention to have incorporated the teaching of MEDIATEK into invention of LI in order to use DCI payload for PDCCH-based PEI to convey the sub-group indication and PEI indication bits for multiple paging occasions.
As per claim 10 as applied to claim 9 above, LI further teaches wherein respective bits of the bitmap from a most significant bit to a least significant bit correspond to respective subgroups of the paging occasions, firstly in ascending order of index values of the paging occasions and secondly in ascending order of index values of the subgroups (¶0260 and ¶0264 and ¶0319, subset of bits could be, e.g., a number of the most-significant bits of the value or a number of the least-significant bits of the value and subset of bits of a value derived from the UE identification is the same as, or larger than, or smaller than bits representing the paging sub-group index and index values of the paging occasions).
Conclusion
7. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FARIDEH MADANI whose telephone number is (571)272-1249. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Friday; 9 AM to 5 PM EST.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, JINSONG HU can be reached at 5712723965. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FARIDEH MADANI/ Examiner, Art Unit 2643
/JINSONG HU/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2643