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 .
Information Disclosure Statement (IDS)
The IDSs submitted on 12/08/2023, 04/22/2025 and 04/27/2026 has been entered and considered by the Examiner.
Response to Restriction
Applicant’s election, with traverse, of Group I (claim 1-13) in the reply filed on 05/08/2026 is acknowledged. However, the restriction has been withdrawn in view of applicant’s amendments and remarks.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim 17-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the invention.
Claim 17 recites “wherein the at least one processor is configured to”. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. It is suggested to introduce “at least one processor” earlier in the claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 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 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)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1-4 and 13-18 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Xu et al. (WO 2018/126792 A1, hereinafter “Xu”, see English translation provided for mapping purposes).
As to claim 1:
Xu disclose a wireless communication method (see Fig. 1; Abstract; [0047]-[0068]) comprising:
determining, by a first network node (“first communication device”; Fig. 1), measurement resource configured to receive Reference Signal (RS) (“In this embodiment, before sending the first reference signal, the second communication device will obtain the first transmission configuration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first transmission configuration information in step S110. Based on the first transmission configuration information, the first communication device can know on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal is transmitted and on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal may be received. When both the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the first communication device can receive the first configuration information from the base station that sent the first reference signal.”; [0047]-[0053]);
receiving, by the first network node (“first communication device”; Fig. 1) from the second network node (“second communication device”; Fig. 1), the RS in the measurement resource (“Measure the first reference signal according to the first transmission configuration information to form a first measurement result”; [0049]-[0057]); and
determining interference of operations of the second network node on operations of the first network node based on the received RS (“Step S120: Measure the first reference signal according to the first transmission configuration information to form a first measurement result.
In this embodiment, the first measurement result can be used for cross-link interference coordination”; [0049] “both the first communication device and the second communication device can be base stations. By executing the above steps S110 to S120, the mutual interference status between the base stations can be determined. For example, downlink transmission from base station A interferes with uplink transmission from base station B”; [0059]-[0062]; [0064]; [0068]).
As to claim 2:
Xu further disclose wherein the RS comprises at least one of Synchronization Signal and Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB), Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), Remote Interference Management (RIM-RS), Channel Status Information (CSI)-RS, Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) DMRS, or Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) DMRS (“the first reference signal may be a downlink demodulation reference signal (DL DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or a downlink reference signal (DL RS)”; [0058]).
As to claim 3:
Xu further disclose further comprising receiving, by the first network node (“first communication device”; Fig. 1) from the second network node (“second communication device”; Fig. 1), measurement resource information, wherein the measurement resource is determined based on the measurement resource information (“In this embodiment, before sending the first reference signal, the second communication device will obtain the first transmission configuration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first transmission configuration information in step S110. Based on the first transmission configuration information, the first communication device can know on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal is transmitted and on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal may be received. When both the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the first communication device can receive the first configuration information from the base station that sent the first reference signal.”; [0047]-[0053]).
As to claim 4:
Xu further disclose wherein the measurement resource information comprises at least one of Subcarrier Spacing (SCS) of the RS, RS transmission period and offset, actual transmitted RSs, time-domain offset, frequency location of the RS, or cell identifier (ID) of the cell of aggressor BS Xu further disclose (“In this embodiment, before sending the first reference signal, the second communication device will obtain the first transmission configuration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first transmission configuration information in step S110. Based on the first transmission configuration information, the first communication device can know on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal is transmitted and on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal may be received. When both the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the first communication device can receive the first configuration information from the base station that sent the first reference signal.”; [0047]-[0053]).
As to claim 13:
Xu disclose a first network node (“first communication device”; Fig. 1), comprising:
at least one processor (processor; Fig. 4; [0175]) configured to:
determine measurement resource configured to receive Reference Signal (RS) (“In this embodiment, before sending the first reference signal, the second communication device will obtain the first transmission configuration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first transmission configuration information in step S110. Based on the first transmission configuration information, the first communication device can know on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal is transmitted and on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal may be received. When both the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the first communication device can receive the first configuration information from the base station that sent the first reference signal.”; [0047]-[0053]);
receive, via a receiver (receiving antenna; Fig. 4; [0174]) from the second network node (“second communication device”; Fig. 1), the RS in the measurement resource (“Measure the first reference signal according to the first transmission configuration information to form a first measurement result”; [0049]-[0057]); and
determine interference of operations of the second network node on operations of the first network node based on the received RS (“Step S120: Measure the first reference signal according to the first transmission configuration information to form a first measurement result.
In this embodiment, the first measurement result can be used for cross-link interference coordination”; [0049] “both the first communication device and the second communication device can be base stations. By executing the above steps S110 to S120, the mutual interference status between the base stations can be determined. For example, downlink transmission from base station A interferes with uplink transmission from base station B”; [0059]-[0062]; [0064]; [0068]).
As to claim 14:
Xu discloses a wireless communication method (see Fig. 1; Abstract; [0047]-[0068]), comprising:
determining, by a second network node (“second communication device”; Fig. 1), measurement resource for sending Reference Signal (RS) (“In this embodiment, before sending the first reference signal, the second communication device will obtain the first transmission configuration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first transmission configuration information in step S110. Based on the first transmission configuration information, the first communication device can know on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal is transmitted and on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal may be received. When both the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the first communication device can receive the first configuration information from the base station that sent the first reference signal.”; [0048]-[0053]);
sending, by the second network node (“second communication device”; Fig. 1) to a first network node (“first communication device”; Fig. 1), the RS in the measurement resource (“Measure the first reference signal according to the first transmission configuration information to form a first measurement result”; [0049]-[0057]),
wherein interference of operations of the second network node on operations of the first network node is determined based on the RS (“Step S120: Measure the first reference signal according to the first transmission configuration information to form a first measurement result. In this embodiment, the first measurement result can be used for cross-link interference coordination”; [0049] “both the first communication device and the second communication device can be base stations. By executing the above steps S110 to S120, the mutual interference status between the base stations can be determined. For example, downlink transmission from base station A interferes with uplink transmission from base station B”; [0059]-[0062]; [0064]; [0068]).
As to claim 15:
Xu discloses a second network node (“second communication device”; Fig. 1), comprising:
at least one processor (processor; Fig. 5; [0202]) configured to:
determine measurement resource for sending Reference Signal (RS) (“In this embodiment, before sending the first reference signal, the second communication device will obtain the first transmission configuration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first transmission configuration information in step S110. Based on the first transmission configuration information, the first communication device can know on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal is transmitted and on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal may be received. When both the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the first communication device can receive the first configuration information from the base station that sent the first reference signal.”; [0048]-[0053]); and
send, via a transmitter (transmitting unit 220; Fig. 5; [0201]) to a first network node (“first communication device”; Fig. 1), the Reference Signal (RS) in the measurement resource configured to receive the RS (“Measure the first reference signal according to the first transmission configuration information to form a first measurement result”; [0048]-[0057]),
wherein interference of operations of the second network node on operations of the first network node is determined based on the RS (“Step S120: Measure the first reference signal according to the first transmission configuration information to form a first measurement result.
In this embodiment, the first measurement result can be used for cross-link interference coordination”; [0049] “both the first communication device and the second communication device can be base stations. By executing the above steps S110 to S120, the mutual interference status between the base stations can be determined. For example, downlink transmission from base station A interferes with uplink transmission from base station B”; [0059]-[0062]; [0064]; [0068]).
As to claim 16:
Xu further disclose wherein the RS comprises at least one of Synchronization Signal and Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB), Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), Remote Interference Management (RIM-RS), Channel Status Information (CSI)-RS, Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) DMRS, or Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) DMRS (“the first reference signal may be a downlink demodulation reference signal (DL DMRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), or a downlink reference signal (DL RS)”; [0058]).
As to claim 17:
Xu further disclose wherein the at least one processor (processor; Fig. 5; [0202]) is configured to: send, to the first network node (“first communication device”; Fig. 1), measurement resource information, wherein the measurement resource is determined based on the measurement resource information (“In this embodiment, before sending the first reference signal, the second communication device will obtain the first transmission configuration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first transmission configuration information in step S110. Based on the first transmission configuration information, the first communication device can know on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal is transmitted and on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal may be received. When both the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the first communication device can receive the first configuration information from the base station that sent the first reference signal.”; [0047]-[0053]).
As to claim 18:
Xu further disclose wherein the measurement resource information comprises at least one of Subcarrier Spacing (SCS) of the RS, RS transmission period and offset, actual transmitted RSs, time-domain offset, frequency location of the RS, or cell identifier (ID) of the cell of aggressor BS (“In this embodiment, before sending the first reference signal, the second communication device will obtain the first transmission configuration information. In this way, the first communication device can obtain the first transmission configuration information in step S110. Based on the first transmission configuration information, the first communication device can know on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal is transmitted and on which time-frequency resources the first reference signal may be received. When both the first communication device and the second communication device are base stations, the first communication device can receive the first configuration information from the base station that sent the first reference signal.”; [0047]-[0053]).
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 of this title, 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 12 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xu (WO 2018/126792 A1) in view of Park et al. (US 2021/0195674 A1, hereinafter “Park”).
As to claim 12:
Xu discloses the invention set forth above, but does not explicitly disclose sending, by the first network node to a third network node, configuration information comprising at least portion of measurement resource information and a frequency gap information, wherein the third network node determines an unavailable resource according to the configuration information.
However, Park discloses sending, by the first network node to a third network node, configuration information comprising at least portion of measurement resource information and a frequency gap information, wherein the third network node determines an unavailable resource according to the configuration information (“in response to receiving the backhaul link blockage information, the wireless device may stop transmitting a transport block to the second network node (e.g. via resources of configured grant Type 1 and/or Type 2). In an example, in response to receiving the backhaul link blockage information, the wireless device may stop transmitting a buffer status report (BSR) to the second network node (e.g. for the first bearer, and/or a logical channel of the first bearer). In an example, in response to receiving the backhaul link blockage information, the wireless device may stop transmitting a power headroom report (PHR) to the second network node”; see Figs. 32-34; [0277]).
It would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Xu into Park’s system/method as it would allow sending, by the first network node to a third network node, configuration information comprising at least portion of measurement resource information and a frequency gap information, wherein the third network node determines an unavailable resource according to the configuration information. Such combination would have been obvious as the references are from analogous art where applying a known technique to a known device would yield predictable results. Furthermore, such combination would have also reduced battery consumption and improve transmission efficiency (Xu; [0167]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 5-11 and 19-20 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record below is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure:
Xu (US 2024/0089019 A1) teaches a user equipment (UE) may receive a resource configuration indicating cross link interference (CLI) measurement resources and the UE may measure at least one reference signal received power (RSRP) value respectively on at least one CLI measurement resource of the one or more CLI measurement resources (see at least abstract).
Haustein (US 2023/0189382 A1) teaches measuring the interference comprises receiving a reference signal such as a sounding reference signal or any other configured resource (see at least [0649]).
Huang (US 2023/0189027 A1) teaches the communications manager 715 may transmit, to a parent IAB node, a SRS measurement configuration for measuring, by the parent IAB node, cross-link interference on at least one reference signal resource set to be used by a downstream node in transmitting SRSs, the configuration also indicating, based at least in part on usage information for the at least one reference signal resource set, a number of spatial layers of CLI associated with the downstream node (see at least [0185]).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARIELA VIDAL CARPIO whose telephone number is (571)272-1250. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:00AM to 5:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ayaz Sheikh can be reached at (571)272-3795. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MARIELA VIDAL CARPIO/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476
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