DETAILED ACTION
Claims 1-30 are pending.
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 .
Drawings
The drawings were received on 12/12/2023. These drawings are accepted.
Specification
The lengthy specification has not been checked to the extent necessary to determine the presence of all possible minor errors. Applicant’s cooperation is requested in correcting any errors of which applicant may become aware in the specification.
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.
Claims 17-28 and 30 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 applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
As per claim 17, lines 11-15 recite, “communicate, via the transceiver and an access link with the network entity and based at least in part on establishing the sidelink, one or more first multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signals intended for communications between the UE and the network entity utilizing the second channel rank.” This limitation is indefinite, as it contradicts earlier language within the claim and general knowledge within the art. The limitation recites communicating on an access link with the network entity, where an access link is recognized within the art as being a direct link (or Uu) between a UE and a network entity (see paragraph [0048] of the specification). In addition, the previous limitation stated that a first channel rank (see lines 8 and 9) would be used for communication between the UE and network entity. Therefore, the identified limitation recites the wrong channel rank (i.e., it should be first, rather than second). The scope of the claim is indefinite.
Dependent claims 18-27 are rejected as being dependent upon a rejected parent claim.
In addition, claim 22, additionally recites using the second rank for transmission to the network entity from the UE. Based on the reasoning from independent claim 17, this is also indefinite.
As per claim 30, lines 8-11 recite, “communicating, via the transceiver and an access link with the network entity and based at least in part on establishing the sidelink, one or more first multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signals intended for communications between the UE and the network entity utilizing the second channel rank.” This limitation is indefinite, as it contradicts earlier language within the claim and general knowledge within the art. The limitation recites communicating on an access link with the network entity, where an access link is recognized within the art as being a direct link (or Uu) between a UE and a network entity (see paragraph [0048] of the specification). In addition, the previous limitation stated that a first channel rank (see lines 5 and 6) would be used for communication between the UE and network entity. Therefore, the identified limitation recites the wrong channel rank (i.e., it should be first, rather than second).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-16 and 29 are allowed.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
A close reference, Xu et al. (US 2025/0125838), teaches user centric (UC) MIMO for a source UE (SUE) and a cooperative (UE) (see ¶ 0073). The SUE and CUE are each connected to the network entity via Uu links (see fig. 7). In addition, the SUE and CUE operate a sidelink (or inter-UE connection, see element 708) between them. However, the reference is silent on channel rank within the sidelink.
Another close reference, Elshafie et al. (US PG Pub 2024/0292433), teaches configuring a sidelink resource pool for sidelink communications (see figs. 6 and 10). The reference further mentions ranking within the sidelink pool, but there is no reference made to a relationship between ranking within a sidelink and ranking within an access link and why such a relationship would exist.
Another close reference, Matsumura et al. (US PG Pub 2024/0056131), teaches UE devices performing cooperative MIMO with a base station uses ranks (see figs. 1A and 1B). In addition, the reference discloses a data exchange directly between UEs (see fig. 4A), but this exchange amounts to data (see ¶ 0077) and there is no mention of channel rank.
Another close reference, Xu et al. (US 2021/0037601), teaches a cooperative MU-MIMO, where electronic devices (EDs) utilize a sidelink to coordinate joint communication (see ¶ 0067 and Fig. 6B). The reference further depicts the channel rank used for access link communication (see Fig. 13C, ¶ 0144).
As per claims 1-16, independent claim 1 recites the combination of three important features. First, the claim sets up (or establishes) a triangular communication relationship between the wireless device, the network entity, and the UE. The network entity and UE communicate over a link using a first channel rank. The wireless device and UE communicate over a sidelink using a second channel rank, where the second channel rank is greater than the first channel rank. Moreover, the wireless device and network entity communicate over an access link using the second channel rank. The claim requires that the wireless device setup the sidelink between the wireless device and UE, based on setup of the wireless communication between the UE and network entity. Second, the access link utilizes MIMO signals using the second channel rank. Third, sidelink communication occurs based on the received MIMO signals. None of the outlined references, either alone or in combination, reach the specificity required of the triangular communication relationship and the carrying of first MIMO signals for generation of second signals on the sidelink.
As per claim 29, the claim recites the combination of three important features. First, the claim sets up (or establishes) a triangular communication relationship between the wireless device, the network entity, and the UE. The network entity and UE communicate over a link using a first channel rank. The wireless device and UE communicate over a sidelink using a second channel rank, where the second channel rank is greater than the first channel rank. Moreover, the wireless device and network entity communicate over an access link using the second channel rank. The claim requires that the wireless device setup the sidelink between the wireless device and UE, based on setup of the wireless communication between the UE and network entity. Second, the access link utilizes MIMO signals using the second channel rank. Third, sidelink communication occurs based on the received MIMO signals. None of the outlined references, either alone or in combination, reach the specificity required of the triangular communication relationship and the carrying of first MIMO signals for generation of second signals on the sidelink.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
The reference, Tsai et al. (NPL, see PTO-892), teaches rank augmentation within a MIMO channel (see Fig. 2B, pg. 106, “Rank Augmentation”).
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/Paul H. Masur/
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2417