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 Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to the claim(s) 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
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.
Claim(s) 1-5, 8-12 and 15-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fehrenbach et al. (Fehrenbach), U.S. Publication No. 2020/0092685 in view of Ye et al. (Ye 360’), U.S. Publication No. 2022/0322360.
Regarding Claim 1, Fehrenbach discloses a method comprising:
receiving, by a first wireless device, a configuration message (i.e., the
UE 11 may be configured to receive one or more response messages from the base station 13, wherein said response message comprises at least a portion of the configuration data, and wherein the at least a portion of the configuration data comprises at least system information with configuration details for UE-to-UE communication within the UE Group 17.; see paragraph [0155]);
determining to trigger a sidelink resource selection procedure to select a set of resources for receiving one or more sidelink transmissions from a second wireless device (i.e., the Group Manager UE 11 may assign physical resources to Group Member UEs 12A, 12B for side link communication, and/or to other foreign UEs 52 that are not yet part of the UE Group 17 and/or that want to join the UE Group 17, and/or to other Group Member UEs of other UE Groups… the UE 11 may be configured to provide a synchronization signal and/or physical broadcast channel and/or system information on a side link data channel to other Group Member UEs 12A, 12B within the UE Group 17 and/or to other (foreign) UEs 52 outside the UE Group 17 that may be interested in being connected to the UE-Group 17 that is managed by the Group Manager UE 11. See paragraphs [0161]-[0162]. Therefore, according to Fehrenbach, UE 11 assigns and provides the configuration data (physical resources, synchronization signal, system information, etc.) such as causing the UE 11 to make a determination where the physical resources, synchronization signal, system information, etc. are selected. As such, the determination of the sidelink resource selection procedure was triggered when the set of resources were selected by the UE 11 and sent to the Group Member UEs 12); and
in response to triggering the sidelink resource selection procedure:
selecting the set of resources (i.e., configuration data may comprise physical resource assignments for UE-to-UE communication between the Group Manager UE 11 and one or more of the Group Member UEs 12A, 12B of the UE-Group 17. Therefore, a selection is made according to the claim requirement; see paragraphs [0155]-[0158]. Further, paragraph [0161] teaches the Group Manager UE 11 may assign physical resources to Group Member UEs 12A, 12B for side link communication. In other words, teaching a selection of resources); and
transmitting, to the second wireless device, a first message indicating the set of resources (i.e., the Group Manager UE 11 may be configured to provide control information about the UE-to-UE communication to the other Group Member UEs 12A, 12B of the UE-Group 17. This control information may comprise at least a portion of the configuration data and/or physical resources that the Group Manager UE 11 may have received from the base station 13.; see paragraph [0188]).
Fehrenbach fails to disclose comprising a field indicating a wireless device category associated with a priority for an inter user equipment (inter-UE) coordination, for the inter-UE coordination and based on the first wireless device having the priority corresponding to a first wireless device category of the first wireless device which is the same as the wireless device category.
Ye 360’ discloses comprising a field indicating a wireless device category associated with a priority for an inter user equipment (inter-UE) coordination (in other words, inter-UE coordination message may indicate a set of resources for the UE. Upon receipt of the inter-UE coordination message, the UE's behavior may depend on a category of the coordinating UE. For example, if the coordinating UE is a helper UE, e.g., which sends the set of resources for the UE's reference, the UE may have flexibility in its resource selection procedure. As another example, if the coordinating UE is a controlling UE, the UE may be required to follow the set of resources indicated in the inter-UE coordination message; see paragraph [0127]), for the inter-UE coordination (i.e., inter-UE coordination described in paragraph [0127]) and based on the first wireless device having the priority corresponding to a first wireless device category of the first wireless device which is the same as the wireless device category (i.e., depending on a category of the first UE and/or assistance information (e.g., such as RSRP for the set of resources and/or data priority of the set of resources), not all resources from the non-preferred resources may be excluded from the set of resources. For example, the UE may determine that based on the category of the first UE. that it is not required to follow all of the first UE's suggested resource selections.; see paragraph [0130]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 360’s invention with Fehrenbach’s invention for increasing battery life and decreasing latency as described throughout Ye 360’.
Regarding Claim 8, Fehrenbach discloses a first wireless device (i.e., UE 11) comprising:
one or more processors (i.e., methods performed by any of the above mentioned apparatuses and computer program for instructing a processor to perform, when executed by said processor, any of these methods; see paragraph [0785]); and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the first wireless device to (i.e., aspects described in the context of a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or item or feature of a corresponding apparatus… The implementation can be performed using… FLASH memory therefore, comprising a memory; see paragraph [0891]):
receive a configuration message;
determine to trigger a sidelink resource selection procedure to select a set of resources for receiving one or more sidelink transmissions from a second wireless device (i.e., the Group Manager UE 11 may assign physical resources to Group Member UEs 12A, 12B for side link communication, and/or to other foreign UEs 52 that are not yet part of the UE Group 17 and/or that want to join the UE Group 17, and/or to other Group Member UEs of other UE Groups… the UE 11 may be configured to provide a synchronization signal and/or physical broadcast channel and/or system information on a side link data channel to other Group Member UEs 12A, 12B within the UE Group 17 and/or to other (foreign) UEs 52 outside the UE Group 17 that may be interested in being connected to the UE-Group 17 that is managed by the Group Manager UE 11. Therefore, according to Fehrenbach, UE 11 assigns and provides the configuration data (physical resources, synchronization signal, system information, etc.) such as causing the UE 11 to make a determination where the physical resources, synchronization signal, system information, etc. are selected. As such, the determination of the sidelink resource selection procedure was triggered where the set of resources were selected by the UE 11 and sent to the Group Member UEs 12); and
in response to triggering the sidelink resource selection procedure:
select the set of resources (i.e., configuration data may comprise physical resource assignments for UE-to-UE communication between the Group Manager UE 11 and one or more of the Group Member UEs 12A, 12B of the UE-Group 17. Therefore, a selection is made according to the claim requirement; see paragraphs [0155]-[0158]. Further, paragraph [0161] teaches the Group Manager UE 11 may assign physical resources to Group Member UEs 12A, 12B for side link communication. In other words, teaching a selection of resources); and
transmit, to the second wireless device, a first message indicating the set of resources (i.e., the Group Manager UE 11 may be configured to provide control information about the UE-to-UE communication to the other Group Member UEs 12A, 12B of the UE-Group 17. This control information may comprise at least a portion of the configuration data and/or physical resources that the Group Manager UE 11 may have received from the base station 13.; see paragraph [0188]).
Fehrenbach fails to disclose comprising a field indicating a wireless device category associated with a priority for an inter user equipment (inter-UE) coordination; for the inter-UE coordination and based on the first wireless device having the priority corresponding to a first wireless device category of the first wireless device which is the same as the wireless device category.
Ye 360’ discloses comprising a field indicating a wireless device category associated with a priority for an inter user equipment (inter-UE) coordination (in other words, inter-UE coordination message may indicate a set of resources for the UE. Upon receipt of the inter-UE coordination message, the UE's behavior may depend on a category of the coordinating UE. For example, if the coordinating UE is a helper UE, e.g., which sends the set of resources for the UE's reference, the UE may have flexibility in its resource selection procedure. As another example, if the coordinating UE is a controlling UE, the UE may be required to follow the set of resources indicated in the inter-UE coordination message; see paragraph [0127]), for the inter-UE coordination (i.e., inter-UE coordination described in paragraph [0127]) and based on the first wireless device having the priority corresponding to a first wireless device category of the first wireless device which is the same as the wireless device category (i.e., depending on a category of the first UE and/or assistance information (e.g., such as RSRP for the set of resources and/or data priority of the set of resources), not all resources from the non-preferred resources may be excluded from the set of resources. For example, the UE may determine that based on the category of the first UE. that it is not required to follow all of the first UE's suggested resource selections.; see paragraph [0130]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 360’s invention with Fehrenbach’s invention for increasing battery life and decreasing latency as described throughout Ye 360’.
Regarding Claim 15, Fehrenbach discloses a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a first wireless device (i.e., a further embodiment of the inventive methods is, therefore, a data carrier (or a digital storage medium, or a computer-readable medium) comprising, recorded thereon, the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein.; see paragraph [0896]), cause the first wireless device to:
receive a configuration message;
determine to trigger a sidelink resource selection procedure to select a set of resources for receiving one or more sidelink transmissions from a second wireless device (i.e., the Group Manager UE 11 may assign physical resources to Group Member UEs 12A, 12B for side link communication, and/or to other foreign UEs 52 that are not yet part of the UE Group 17 and/or that want to join the UE Group 17, and/or to other Group Member UEs of other UE Groups… the UE 11 may be configured to provide a synchronization signal and/or physical broadcast channel and/or system information on a side link data channel to other Group Member UEs 12A, 12B within the UE Group 17 and/or to other (foreign) UEs 52 outside the UE Group 17 that may be interested in being connected to the UE-Group 17 that is managed by the Group Manager UE 11. Therefore, according to Fehrenbach, UE 11 assigns and provides the configuration data (physical resources, synchronization signal, system information, etc.) such as causing the UE 11 to make a determination where the physical resources, synchronization signal, system information, etc. are selected. As such, the determination of the sidelink resource selection procedure was triggered where the set of resources were selected by the UE 11 and sent to the Group Member UEs 12); and
in response to triggering the sidelink resource selection procedure:
select the set of resources (i.e., configuration data may comprise physical resource assignments for UE-to-UE communication between the Group Manager UE 11 and one or more of the Group Member UEs 12A, 12B of the UE-Group 17. Therefore, a selection is made according to the claim requirement; see paragraphs [0155]-[0158]. Further, paragraph [0161] teaches the Group Manager UE 11 may assign physical resources to Group Member UEs 12A, 12B for side link communication. In other words, teaching a selection of resources); and
transmit, to the second wireless device, a first message indicating the set of resources (i.e., the Group Manager UE 11 may be configured to provide control information about the UE-to-UE communication to the other Group Member UEs 12A, 12B of the UE-Group 17. This control information may comprise at least a portion of the configuration data and/or physical resources that the Group Manager UE 11 may have received from the base station 13.; see paragraph [0188]).
Fehrenbach fails to disclose comprising a field indicating a wireless device category associated with a priority for an inter user equipment (inter-UE) coordination; for the inter-UE coordination and based on the first wireless device having the priority corresponding to a first wireless device category of the first wireless device which is the same as the wireless device category.
Ye 360’ discloses comprising a field indicating a wireless device category associated with a priority for an inter user equipment (inter-UE) coordination (in other words, inter-UE coordination message may indicate a set of resources for the UE. Upon receipt of the inter-UE coordination message, the UE's behavior may depend on a category of the coordinating UE. For example, if the coordinating UE is a helper UE, e.g., which sends the set of resources for the UE's reference, the UE may have flexibility in its resource selection procedure. As another example, if the coordinating UE is a controlling UE, the UE may be required to follow the set of resources indicated in the inter-UE coordination message; see paragraph [0127]), for the inter-UE coordination (i.e., inter-UE coordination described in paragraph [0127]) and based on the first wireless device having the priority corresponding to a first wireless device category of the first wireless device which is the same as the wireless device category (i.e., depending on a category of the first UE and/or assistance information (e.g., such as RSRP for the set of resources and/or data priority of the set of resources), not all resources from the non-preferred resources may be excluded from the set of resources. For example, the UE may determine that based on the category of the first UE. that it is not required to follow all of the first UE's suggested resource selections.; see paragraph [0130]).
It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 360’s invention with Fehrenbach’s invention for increasing battery life and decreasing latency as described throughout Ye 360’.
Regarding Claims 2, 9 and 16, Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ disclose the method, first wireless device and non-transitory computer-readable medium as described above. Fehrenbach fails to disclose further comprising receiving a second message indicating a mapping between one or more wireless device categories and one or more priorities to trigger the sidelink resource selection procedure for the inter-UE coordination. Ye 360’ discloses further comprising receiving a second message indicating a mapping between one or more wireless device categories and one or more priorities to trigger the sidelink resource selection procedure for the inter-UE coordination (see paragraph [0130]). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 360’s invention with Fehrenbach’s invention for increasing battery life and decreasing latency as described throughout Ye 360’.
Regarding Claims 3, 10 and 17, Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ disclose the method,
first wireless device and non-transitory computer-readable medium as described above. Fehrenbach fails to disclose wherein the determining to trigger the sidelink resource selection procedure further comprises determining to trigger the sidelink resource selection procedure based on the mapping. Ye 360’ discloses wherein the determining to trigger the sidelink resource selection procedure further comprises determining to trigger the sidelink resource selection procedure based on the mapping (see paragraph [0130]). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 360’s invention with Fehrenbach’s invention for increasing battery life and decreasing latency as described throughout Ye 360’.
Regarding Claims 4, 11 and 18, Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ disclose the method,
first wireless device and non-transitory computer-readable medium as described above. Fehrenbach fails to disclose wherein the wireless device category is one of: being an intended receiver of the one or more sidelink transmissions; being a road side unit (RSU): being a head of a group of wireless devices comprising the first wireless device and the second wireless device; or being a wireless device that is neither the intended receiver nor the head of the group of wireless devices. Ye 360’ discloses wherein the wireless device category is one of: being an intended receiver of the one or more sidelink transmissions; being a road side unit (RSU): being a head of a group of wireless devices comprising the first wireless device and the second wireless device; or being a wireless device that is neither the intended receiver nor the head of the group of wireless devices (see paragraph [0127]). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 360’s invention with Fehrenbach’s invention for increasing battery life and decreasing latency as described throughout Ye 360’.
Regarding Claims 5, 12 and 19, Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ disclose the method,
first wireless device and non-transitory computer-readable medium as described above. Fehrenbach fails to disclose wherein the one or more priorities comprise: a first priority corresponding to being an intended receiver of the one or more sidelink transmissions; a second priority corresponding to being a road sidelink unit (RSU); a third priority corresponding to being a head of a group of wireless devices comprising the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and a fourth priority corresponding to being a wireless device that is neither the intended receiver nor the head of the group of wireless devices. Ye 360’ discloses wherein the one or more priorities comprise: a first priority corresponding to being an intended receiver of the one or more sidelink transmissions; a second priority corresponding to being a road sidelink unit (RSU); a third priority corresponding to being a head of a group of wireless devices comprising the first wireless device and the second wireless device; and a fourth priority corresponding to being a wireless device that is neither the intended receiver nor the head of the group of wireless devices (see paragraph [0127]). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 360’s invention with Fehrenbach’s invention for increasing battery life and decreasing latency as described throughout Ye 360’.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claim(s) 6-7, 13-14 and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ in view of Ye et al. (Ye 582’), U.S. Publication No. 2022/0311582.
Regarding Claims 6 and 13, Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ disclose the method and
first wireless device as described above. Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ fail to disclose further comprising: determining the fourth priority based on a distance between the first wireless device and the intended receiver of the one or more sidelink transmissions, wherein: the distance is determined based on a first zone identifier (ID) of a first zone of the first wireless device and a second zone ID of a second zone of the intended receiver: the first wireless device is in the first zone; and the intended receiver is in the second zone. Ye 582’ discloses further comprising: determining the fourth priority based on a distance between the first wireless device and the intended receiver of the one or more sidelink transmissions (i.e., priority as high or low based on a threshold and communication range requirement; see paragraph [0111]), wherein: the distance is determined based on a first zone identifier (ID) of a first zone of the first wireless device and a second zone ID of a second zone of the intended receiver: the first wireless device is in the first zone; and the intended receiver is in the second zone (see paragraphs [0117] and [0123]). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 582’s invention with Fehrenbach’s and Ye 360’s invention to avoid collision and improving coverage as described throughout Ye 582.
Regarding Claims 7, 14 and 20, Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ disclose the method,
first wireless device and non-transitory computer-readable medium as described above. Fehrenbach and Ye 360’ fail to disclose further comprising: determining the third priority based on a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device, wherein: the distance is determined based on a first zone identifier (ID) of a first zone of the first wireless device and a second zone ID of a second zone of the second wireless device; the first wireless device is in the first zone; and the second wireless device is in the second zone. Ye 582’ discloses further comprising: determining the third priority based on a distance between the first wireless device and the second wireless device (i.e., priority as high or low based on a threshold and communication range requirement; see paragraph [0111]), wherein: the distance is determined based on a first zone identifier (ID) of a first zone of the first wireless device and a second zone ID of a second zone of the second wireless device; the first wireless device is in the first zone; and the second wireless device is in the second zone (see paragraphs [0117] and [0123]). It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to consider Ye 582’s invention with Fehrenbach’s and Ye 360’s invention to avoid collision and improving coverage as described throughout Ye 582.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHANTELL LAKETA HEIBER whose telephone number is (571)272-0886. The examiner can normally be reached on M-F from 9am to 5pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anthony Addy, can be reached at telephone number (571)272-0886. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for published applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Patent Center for authorized users only. Should you have questions about access to Patent Center, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) Form at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/uspto-automated- interview-request-air-form.
/SHANTELL L HEIBER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2645
May 4, 2026
Prosecution Insights