MMADETAILED 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 .
This action is responsive to patent application filed August 21, 2023.
Claims 1-15 are pending.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on August 21, 2023 was in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities: Para. [0056], line 4, recites “(alternatively, a sequency of best TRPs)”. Examiner interprets “sequency” as a typo that should be “sequence”.
Appropriate correction is required.
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, 14 and 15 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.
The term “best” in claim 1, 14, and 15 is a relative term which renders the claims indefinite. The term “best” is not defined by the claim, the specification does not provide a standard for ascertaining the requisite degree, and one of ordinary skill in the art would not be reasonably apprised of the scope of the invention. The specification recites “best” eighteen times in a conclusory fashion such as “where the sequence of beams contains a series of best beams for a period of time” at least ten times, but the specification does not identify a standard for what is “best”.
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.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 1-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over US Pat. App. 20230246785 to Marcus Grossmann et al. (hereinafter Grossman) in view of US Pat. Pub. 20220190883 to Aliye Ozge Kaya and Harish Viswanathan (herein after Kaya) .
Regarding claim 1, Grossman in view of Kaya teaches a method at a User Equipment (UE), the method comprising:
receiving a configuration from a radio access network ("RAN") to report a sequence of beams that are applicable for wireless communication; (Grossman para. [0029] teaches “the UE performs measurements on the DL RS resources according to the instructions provided by the network node or according to the instructions fixed in the specifications and the UE provides CSI quantities the network node has indicated to report in the CSI report.”)
performing beam quality measurements on resources configured by the RAN; (Grossman para. [0077] teaches “Following the measurements, the UE sends a beam report to the gNB. The beam report comprises the indices of 1≤L≤4 configured DL RSs (essentially, L DL Tx beam directions, with each beam direction resulting from the use of a specific spatial filter at the gNB) along with the received power in each of the RSs [4]. With the help of the beam report, the gNB determines one or more suitable DL Tx beam direction(s), i.e., spatial filter(s) for the transmission of the PDCCH(s) and the PDSCH.”)
Grossman does NOT specifically teach determining a sequence of beams based on the measurements, wherein the sequence of beams comprises a series of best beams for a period of time;.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communications, Kaya teaches determining a sequence of beams based on the measurements, wherein the sequence of beams comprises a series of best beams for a period of time. (Kaya para. [0047]- [0049] teaches reporting a sequence of best beams in which a “future beam sequence for a UE may indicate a predicted beam (e.g., identified with a specific beam index) and a probability, for each of a plurality of beam sampling intervals (e.g., for every 10 ms interval into the future)” and “measure the next 7 beams/resources indicated in the predicted future beam sequence, instead of a larger set of beams/resources), and/or to report a smaller set of beams (e.g., report the RSRP of the best 2 beams, rather than reporting a best 4 beams”.)
and reporting the sequence of beams to the RAN. (Kaya para. [0049] teaches that the best beams are reported)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 2, Grossman does NOT teach the method of claim 1, wherein reporting the sequence of beams comprises reporting a duration for which each of the beams in the reported sequence are applicable to be used for wireless communication, wherein the wireless communication comprises downlink reception, uplink transmission, or a combination thereof.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communications, Kaya teaches reporting the sequence of beams comprises reporting a duration for which each of the beams in the reported sequence are applicable to be used for wireless communication, wherein the wireless communication comprises downlink reception, uplink transmission, or a combination thereof (Kaya teaches in para. [0067] for example teaches “Instead of making beam refinement measurement requests to the UE on a large set of beams, example embodiments may allow configuring of CSI-RS resources for beam refinement and measurement reports by predicting the set of beams that will most likely best serve the user/UE over a period of time, e.g., over the next several hundred milliseconds. Accurate prediction enables reduction in the set of beams for which measurement reporting will be needed.” Kaya para. [0057] teaches that the beam sequence is used as a basis for a transmit beam used by the BS for downlink transmission to the UE and by the BS for a receive beam for uplink reception.)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 3, Grossman does NOT teach the method of claim 2, wherein reporting a duration for which each of the beams in the reported sequence are applicable to be used for wireless communication comprises reporting a single duration that is applicable for each of the beams within the reported sequence.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communications, Kaya teaches reporting a duration for which each of the beams in the reported sequence are applicable to be used for wireless communication comprises reporting a single duration that is applicable for each of the beams within the reported sequence. (Kaya teaches in para. [0078] and Fig. 6 reporting a beam index for each beam in a beam sequence according to 10 ms intervals wherein no switching occurs if a blockage lasts less than 5 ms:
PNG
media_image1.png
765
1064
media_image1.png
Greyscale
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 4, Grossman does NOT teach the method of claim 2, wherein reporting a duration for which each of the beams in the reported sequence are applicable to be used for wireless communication comprises reporting a separate duration for each of the beams within the reported sequence.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communication, Kaya teaches wherein reporting a duration for which each of the beams in the reported sequence are applicable to be used for wireless communication comprises reporting a separate duration for each of the beams within the reported sequence. (Kaya teaches as shown in Fig. 9 determining a sequence wherein the sequence generation includes as taught in para. [0085] as shown a duration for each of the beams includes a separate duration for each beam in the sequence and switching criteria:
PNG
media_image2.png
764
1090
media_image2.png
Greyscale
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 5, Grossman does NOT teach the method of claim 2, wherein reporting a duration for which each of the beams in the reported sequence are applicable to be used for wireless communication comprises reporting a total duration within which the entire sequence of reported beams is applicable, wherein a separate duration for each of the beams is determinable based on a total number of beams in the sequence of beams and the total duration.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communication, Kaya teaches wherein reporting a duration for which each of the beams in the reported sequence are applicable to be used for wireless communication comprises reporting a total duration within which the entire sequence of reported beams is applicable, wherein a separate duration for each of the beams is determinable based on a total number of beams in the sequence of beams and the total duration.(Kaya teaches in para. [0047] a separate duration of each of a set of beams can be determinable based on a known total number of beams in a predicted beam sequence “over a period of time that may be the same or very similar, or at least have a number of common beams that were used by UEs over time”).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 6, Grossman does NOT teach the method of claim 1, wherein reporting the sequence of beams comprises indicating each of the reported beams within the sequence by a resource index value, said resource index value comprising one of: a Channel State Information Reference Signal Resource Index ("CR1"), and a Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channel Block Resource Index ("SSBRI").
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communication, Kaya teaches wherein reporting the sequence of beams comprises indicating each of the reported beams within the sequence by a resource index value, said resource index value comprising one of: a Channel State Information Reference Signal Resource Index ("CRI"), and a Synchronization Signal/Physical Broadcast Channel Block Resource Index ("SSBRI"). (Kaya para. [0041] teaches that “CSI (channel state information) may include Channel Quality Indicator (CQI), precoding matrix indicator (PMI), CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), SS/PBCH Block Resource indicator (SSBRI), layer indicator (LI), rank indicator (RI) and/or L1-RSRP (reference signal received power). The CSI-RS resources may be periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic, for example.”
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring including CRI and SSBRI . Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 7, Grossman teaches method of claim 1, wherein the reported sequence of beams corresponds to a sequence of Transmission Reception Points ("TRPs"), wherein each beam within the sequence of beams is associated with a different Transmission Reception Point ("TRP"). (Grossman para. [0082] teaches that “Link adaptation for multi-frequency band, multi-beam and/or multi-TRP/panel downlink-based transmissions requires knowledge of the CSI at the serving gNB from the UE with respect to each frequency band, beam and/or TRP.”)
Regarding claim 8, Grossman does NOT teach the method of claim 1, wherein reporting the sequence of beams to the RAN comprises reporting at least one beam quality for each beam within the sequence of beam, the at least one beam quality comprising one or more of: Channel Quality Indicator ("CQI"), Rank Indicator ("RI"), Layer Indicator ("LI"), Precoding Matrix Indicator ("PMI"), Layer-1 Reference Signal Received Power ("L1-RSRP"), Layer-1 Signal-to-Interference- Plus-Noise Ratio ("Li-SINR"), or some combination thereof.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communication, Kaya teaches wherein reporting the sequence of beams to the RAN comprises reporting at least one beam quality for each beam within the sequence of beam, the at least one beam quality comprising one or more of: Channel Quality Indicator ("CQI"), Rank Indicator ("RI"), Layer Indicator ("LI"), Precoding Matrix Indicator ("PMI"), Layer-1 Reference Signal Received Power ("L1-RSRP"), Layer-1 Signal-to-Interference- Plus-Noise Ratio ("Li-SINR"), or some combination thereof. (Kaya teaches in para. [0090] “a beam sequence (a past beam sequence) may be generated for a UE using the beam indices serving the UE in the past, or beam indices identified via UE measurement reports, which are then input to the beam sequence model or neural network to predict the next beam indices. These beam indices may be prioritized in L1-RSRP monitoring (e.g., beam indices input to the beam sequence model may use beams that were reported as having a highest RSRP for each of multiple sampling intervals, e.g., every 10 ms).”)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring including an L1-RSRP for each beam. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 9, Grossman does NOT teach the method of claim 1, wherein receiving the configuration from the RAN comprises receiving a configuration with one or more Channel State Information ("CSI") reporting settings with one or more CSI resources settings, wherein performing the beam quality measurements comprises performing CSI measurements on multiple configured CSI resources.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communication, Kaya teaches wherein receiving the configuration from the RAN comprises receiving a configuration with one or more Channel State Information ("CSI") reporting settings with one or more CSI resources settings, wherein performing the beam quality measurements comprises performing CSI measurements on multiple configured CSI resources. (Kaya para. [0072] teaches “a BS may use CSI-RS feedback (e.g., measurement reports) during training phase to gather data. Thus, a source of this data may include measurement reports (and/or a list of beams actually used by a BS for a UE) for estimating the quality of different beams for a UE/user(s). When BSs are first deployed, they may be operated in a training mode where beam refinement procedures are implemented with extensive CSI-reporting configuration. During this time each UE may be requested to report a substantial number of measurement reports for estimating the quality e.g., based on a RSRP or other signal measurement) of different beams as the UE obtains service or is connected to the BS/gNB.”)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring including CSI reporting. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 10, Grossman teaches method of claim 9, wherein the UE is configured with a single CSI reporting setting with a single CSI resource setting, wherein a Quasi-Co-Location Type-D assumption of the configured CSI resources to perform CSI measurements is time varying. (Grossman teaches in para. [0077] the UE may receive an indication of Rx beams via a QCL-TypeD assumption with a CSI-RS. “In a beam sweeping procedure, the gNB configures a set of DL RSs (CSI-RS or SSB) via RRC for the UE to measure the set of DL RSs” Examiner interprets “time varying” as including a beam sweeping procedure for the measurements.)
Regarding claim 11, Grossman teaches method of claim 9, wherein the UE is configured with a single CSI reporting setting with multiple CSI resource settings, wherein one of the beams within the sequence is associated with a CSI resource setting of the multiple CSI resource settings. (Grossman para. [0119] teaches a CSI report may include a subset or combination of CSI-RS resources in a single CSI report. Further Grossman para. [0110] teaches that CSI reporting may include reporting for “one or more TRP(s) or beams” to enable dynamic switching associated with a TRP/beam and UE based on the CSI reported by the UE.)
Regarding claim 12, Grossman teaches method of claim 9, wherein the UE is configured with multiple CSI reporting settings, each report setting associated with multiple CSI resource settings, wherein each of the CSI reporting setting corresponds to one of the reported beams within the sequence. (Grossman para. [0132] teaches settings for CSI reporting for a combination of beams/TRPs “based on multiple subsets of resources or resource combinations” associated with a combination of beams or TRBS including a subset. para. [0133] includes a CSI report wherein the settings is individual different beams, such as only two.)
Regarding claim 13, Grossman teaches method of claim 9, wherein each CSI reporting setting is associated with one or more of: a channel measurement resource setting, an interference measurements resource setting, or some combination thereof. (Grossman para. [0147] teaches that “In addition the CSI report configuration may include one or more sets of resources for interference measurement.” Examiner notes that the “or” languages negates requiring each element recited in the “one or more of” list.)
Regarding claim 14, Grossman in view of Kaya teaches UE apparatus comprising:
a receiver (Grossman para. [0272] and Fig. 6 module 640) that receives a configuration from a radio access network ("RAN") to report a sequence of beams that are applicable for wireless communication; (Grossman para. [0029] teaches “the UE performs measurements on the DL RS resources according to the instructions provided by the network node or according to the instructions fixed in the specifications and the UE provides CSI quantities the network node has indicated to report in the CSI report.”)
and
a processor that: (Grossman para. [0272] and Fig. 6 processor 610)
performs beam quality measurements on resources configured by the RAN; ; (Grossman para. [0077] teaches “Following the measurements, the UE sends a beam report to the gNB. The beam report comprises the indices of 1≤L≤4 configured DL RSs (essentially, L DL Tx beam directions, with each beam direction resulting from the use of a specific spatial filter at the gNB) along with the received power in each of the RSs [4]. With the help of the beam report, the gNB determines one or more suitable DL Tx beam direction(s), i.e., spatial filter(s) for the transmission of the PDCCH(s) and the PDSCH.”)
Grossman does NOT specifically teach determines a sequence of beams based on the measurements, wherein the sequence of beams comprises a series of best beams for a period of time;.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communications, Kaya teaches determining a sequence of beams based on the measurements, wherein the sequence of beams comprises a series of best beams for a period of time. (Kaya para. [0049] teaches reporting a sequence of best beams in which “measure the next 7 beams/resources indicated in the predicted future beam sequence, instead of a larger set of beams/resources), and/or to report a smaller set of beams (e.g., report the RSRP of the best 2 beams, rather than reporting a best 4 beams” Examiner interprets the “future” next 7 beams as being with respect to a period of time.)
and
a transmitter (Grossman para. [0272] and Fig. 6 transmitter circuit 650) that reports the sequence of beams to the RAN. (Kaya para. [0049] teaches that the best beams are reported)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Regarding claim 15, Grossman in view of Kaya teaches Radio Access Network ("RAN") apparatus (Grossman para. [0276] and Fig. 7 network node 700), the apparatus comprising:
a processor (Grossman para. [0276] and Fig. 7 processor 710) that configures a User Equipment device ("UE") for reporting a sequence of beams that are applicable for wireless communication; (Grossman para. [0029] teaches “the UE performs measurements on the DL RS resources according to the instructions provided by the network node or according to the instructions fixed in the specifications and the UE provides CSI quantities the network node has indicated to report in the CSI report.”)
a transmitter (Grossman para. [0276] and Fig. 7 transmitter circuit 750) that transmits one or more reference signals using one or more resources configured by RAN; (Grossman para. [0276] teaches that the network node transmits and receives signals to/from the UE. Grossman para. [0038] – [0044] teaches the network node provides CSI report configurations/settings and CSI resource settings to the UE).
and
a receiver (Grossman para. [0276] and Fig. 7 receiver circuit 740).
Grossman does NOT teach that the receiver receives a sequence of beams from the UE, wherein the sequence of beams comprises a series of best beams for a period of time.
In the analogous art of 3GPP 5G wireless communications, Kaya teaches the receiver receives a sequence of beams from the UE, wherein the sequence of beams comprises a series of best beams for a period of time. (Kaya para. [0049] teaches the network node receiving a sequence of best beams which “measure the next 7 beams/resources indicated in the predicted future beam sequence, instead of a larger set of beams/resources), and/or receives a report of a smaller set of beams (e.g., report the RSRP of the best 2 beams, rather than reporting a best 4 beams” Examiner interprets the “future” next 7 beams as being with respect to a period of time.)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in that art to have combined Grossman and Kaya to teach beam sequence reporting and measuring. Each of Grossman and Kaya are in the field of wireless communications and beam management. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to combine Kay with Grossman in order to reduce the number of beam reports and improve the accuracy of the beam sequence as taught in para. [0049] of Kaya.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure includes US Pat. 10,075,852 to Maziar Nekovee “Apparatus and Method for Scheduling Beam Scheduling in Wireless Communications Network for teaching a beam sequence in a unique order within a set of beams based on link quality.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MARGARET MARIE ANDERSON whose telephone number is (703)756-1068. The examiner can normally be reached M-F.
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) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Charles 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.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MARGARET MARIE ANDERSON/Examiner, Art Unit 2412 /CHARLES C JIANG/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2412