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 .
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 1-20 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.
Claim 1 recites the limitation starting on line 2: “mapping a first sequence to M subcarrier blocks used to transmit a reference signal” and subsequently “sending a mapped signal on each of the M subcarrier blocks.” It is unclear whether the claimed reference signal refers to the specific mapped signal sent on the M subcarrier blocks, or whether it is an intended use of the subcarrier blocks in general.
In addition, Claim 1 recites the following limitation starting on line 4: "the first sequence includes a plurality of signals, a plurality of signals mapped to a plurality of consecutive subcarriers at a rear location in the mth subcarrier block are the same as a plurality of signals mapped to a plurality of consecutive subcarriers at a front location in a (mod(m, M)+1)th subcarrier block" in lines 4-7. There is insufficient antecedent basis for this/these limitation(s). It is unclear whether the second “a plurality of signals” is the same and/or a subset of the first sequence that includes a plurality of signals. It is unclear which of the “a plurality of signals” is sent during the final step of Claim 1. If each of the plurality of signals is the same, subsequent recitations should be amended to recite “the plurality of signals mapped to a plurality of consecutive subcarriers at a rear location….” Alternatively, the claim could be amended to recite “the first sequence includes a first plurality of signals, a second plurality of signals mapped to…” which would properly distinguish the plurality of signals. Finally, there are two recitations of “a plurality of consecutive subcarriers” that are not clearly distinguished from one another.
Proposed Amendment
Below is a proposed amendment to Claim 1 that would correct the issue(s) identified above:
1. (Currently Amended) A communication method, comprising:
mapping a first sequence to M subcarrier blocks used to transmit a reference signal, wherein an mth subcarrier block includes Qm subcarriers, Qm is an integer greater than or equal to 2, m is all of the integers from 1 to M, M is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the first sequence includes a first plurality of signals, a second plurality of signals mapped to a second plurality of consecutive subcarriers at a rear location in the mth subcarrier block are the same as the first plurality of signals mapped to a first plurality of consecutive subcarriers at a front location in a (mod(m, M)+1)th subcarrier block, and mod(m, M) is a remainder obtained by dividing m by M; and
sending the reference signal comprising at least one of the mapped first plurality of signals or the mapped second plurality of signals on each of the corresponding M subcarrier blocks.
As there are multiple possible interpretations, examiner includes this proposed amendment as a non-binding example. It is acceptable for applicant to submit a different amendment, so long as it corrects the indefiniteness/antecedent basis issues identified above. Applicant is encouraged to reach out to examiner before filing an answer if they are uncertain whether an alternative amendment would overcome this/these issue(s).
Independent Claims 11 and 12 each recite at least the same indefinite subject matter as Claim 1 and are rejected for at least the same reason(s) above. Dependent Claims 2-10 and 13-20 inherit the indefiniteness of their respective parent claims, and are rejected for at least the same reason(s) above.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. The closest prior art found to the instant invention is Su (US 2023/0180165 A1) which teaches at [0227] mapping redundant phase tracking reference signals to subcarriers and subsequently transmitting the mapped signals. However, Su does not teach that there is a redundant signal transmitted at the mod(m, M+1)th subcarrier, nor does it teach that an mth subcarrier block includes Qm subcarriers.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SHAWN D MILLER whose telephone number is (571)272-8599. The examiner can normally be reached M-TR 8-5.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Charles C Jiang can be reached at (571) 270-7191. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SHAWN D MILLER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2412