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 . This Action is in response to Applicant’s remarks and amended claims filed on November 24, 2025. Claims 25, 27, 29-33, 35, 37, 38-41, and 44 are now pending in the present application. This Action is made FINAL.
Specification
2. The amendments to the specification regarding the title received on November 24, 2025. These amendments to the title are accepted.
Claim Objections
3. Claims 27 and 35 are objected to because of the following informalities: Claim(s) 27 seemed to have been mislabeled in their dependency and should depend on independent claim(s) 25 and not dependent claim(s) 26 which is canceled. Also, Claim(s) 35 seemed to have been mislabeled in their dependency and should depend on independent claim(s) 33 and not dependent claim(s) 34 which is canceled. Appropriate correction is required.
For the purpose of art rejection the examiner interprets that claim 27 depends from independent claims 25 and claim 35 depends from independent claims 33.
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.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
4. 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.
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.
The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied 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.
Claims 25-27, 29-35, 37-42, and 44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Xu et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication # 2023/0137215 A1) in view of Khoshnevisan et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication # 2021/0051652 A1).
Regarding claim 25, Xu et al. teach an apparatus (Fig.7 @ 700) comprising:
memory to store time domain resource allocation (TDRA) information associated with data transmission (Fig.7 @ 705); and
processing circuitry (Fig.7 @ 704), coupled with the memory (Fig.7 @ 705), to:
wherein the TDRA information includes a plurality of TDRA parameters that are independently configured for different scheduled data transmissions (read as TDRA table (Paragraph [0103])); and
encode a message for transmission to a user equipment (UE) that includes the TDRA information.(Fig.10 @ 1004)
However, Xu et al. fail to explicitly teach retrieve the TDRA information from the memory, and wherein the scheduled data transmissions include one of
a single physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled within a slot;
a single PDSCH transmission or PUSCH transmission with repetition,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled with more than one repetition; or
a single PDSCH or PUSCH transmission,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission spans more than one slot.
Khoshnevisan et al. teach a method to retrieve the TDRA information from the memory (read as “The processor 1340 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory 1330) to cause the device 1305 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting TDRA for downlink data repetitions)”(Fig.13; Paragraph [0177])),
Also, Khoshnevisan et al. teach a method wherein the scheduled data transmissions include one of
a single physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132]) For example, “the modified set of TDRA candidates 840 may correspond to a single PDSCH occasion 825. When the UE 115 receives an explicit TDRA 810, determines the implicit TDRA(s) 815, and receives the corresponding downlink data repetitions, the UE 115 may provide a single ACK/NACK 835 for the DCI message in the codebook 830 corresponding to the single PDSCH occasion 825.”(Paragraph [0132]) “the downlink data repetitions 225 (e.g., the PDSCH transmissions) may be transmitted in slot n+K0, where n is the slot with the scheduling DCI 215. ”(Paragraph [0094])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled within a slot (read as slot n+K0 (Fig.8 @ 805; Paragraph [0094]));
a single PDSCH transmission or PUSCH transmission with repetition (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled with more than one repetition (read as “the downlink data repetitions 225 (e.g., the PDSCH transmissions) may be transmitted in slot n+K0, where n is the slot with the scheduling DCI 215. ”(Paragraph [0094])); or
a single PDSCH or PUSCH transmission (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission spans more than one slot. (read as “If the downlink data repetitions 225 span multiple slots, the slot offset may indicate the first or the last slot in the time domain containing the downlink data repetitions 225.”(Paragraph [0094]))
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to employ the function for retrieving tasks for supporting TDRA for DL data repetitions and the function for using a single PDSCH occasion to send implicit/explicit TDRA information as taught by Khoshnevisan et al. with the base station as taught by Xu et al. for the purpose of enhancing data transmissions based on TDRA parameters by devices in a NR communication network.
Regarding claim 33, Xu et al. teach one or more computer-readable media (Fig.7 @ 705 and 706) storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors (Fig.7 @ 704), cause a next-generation NodeB (gNB) (Fig.7 @ 700) to:
wherein the TDRA information includes a plurality of TDRA parameters that are independently configured for different scheduled data transmissions (read as TDRA table (Paragraph [0103])); and
encode a message for transmission to a user equipment (UE) that includes the TDRA information. (Fig.10 @ 1004)
However, Xu et al. fail to explicitly teach determine time domain resource allocation (TDRA) information associated with data transmission,
and wherein the scheduled data transmissions include one of
a single physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled within a slot;
a single PDSCH transmission or PUSCH transmission with repetition,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled with more than one repetition; or
a single PDSCH or PUSCH transmission,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission spans more than one slot.
Khoshnevisan et al. teach a method to retrieve the TDRA information from the memory (read as “The processor 1340 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., the memory 1330) to cause the device 1305 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting TDRA for downlink data repetitions)”(Fig.13; Paragraph [0177])),
Khoshnevisan et al. teach a method to determine time domain resource allocation (TDRA) information associated with data transmission (Fig(s).9 @ 910 and 18 @ 1810). Also, Khoshnevisan et al. teach a method wherein the scheduled data transmissions include one of
a single physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132]) For example, “the modified set of TDRA candidates 840 may correspond to a single PDSCH occasion 825. When the UE 115 receives an explicit TDRA 810, determines the implicit TDRA(s) 815, and receives the corresponding downlink data repetitions, the UE 115 may provide a single ACK/NACK 835 for the DCI message in the codebook 830 corresponding to the single PDSCH occasion 825.”(Paragraph [0132]) “the downlink data repetitions 225 (e.g., the PDSCH transmissions) may be transmitted in slot n+K0, where n is the slot with the scheduling DCI 215. ”(Paragraph [0094])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled within a slot (read as slot n+K0 (Fig.8 @ 805; Paragraph [0094]));
a single PDSCH transmission or PUSCH transmission with repetition (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled with more than one repetition (read as “the downlink data repetitions 225 (e.g., the PDSCH transmissions) may be transmitted in slot n+K0, where n is the slot with the scheduling DCI 215. ”(Paragraph [0094])); or
a single PDSCH or PUSCH transmission (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission spans more than one slot. (read as “If the downlink data repetitions 225 span multiple slots, the slot offset may indicate the first or the last slot in the time domain containing the downlink data repetitions 225.”(Paragraph [0094]))
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to employ the function for retrieving tasks for supporting TDRA for DL data repetitions and the function for using a single PDSCH occasion to send implicit/explicit TDRA information as taught by Khoshnevisan et al. with the base station as taught by Xu et al. for the purpose of enhancing data transmissions based on TDRA parameters by devices in a NR communication network.
Regarding claim 41, Xu et al. teach one or more computer-readable media (Fig.13 @ 1305 and 1306) storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors (Fig.13 @ 1304), cause a user equipment (UE) (Fig.13 @ 1300) to:
identify a received message that includes time domain resource allocation (TDRA) information associated with data transmission (Fig.16 @ 1602),
wherein the TDRA information includes a plurality of TDRA parameters that are independently configured for different scheduled data transmissions (read as TDRA table (Paragraph [0103])); and
However, Xu et al. fail to explicitly teach prepare a scheduled data transmission for transmission to a next-generation NodeB (gNB) based on the TDRA information, or receive a scheduled data transmission from the gNB based on the TDRA information, and wherein the scheduled data transmissions include one of
a single physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled within a slot;
a single PDSCH transmission or PUSCH transmission with repetition,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled with more than one repetition; or
a single PDSCH or PUSCH transmission,
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission spans more than one slot.
Khoshnevisan et al. teach a method to prepare a scheduled data transmission for transmission to a next-generation NodeB (gNB) based on the TDRA information (Fig(s).9 @ 925 and 18 @ 1820), or receive a scheduled data transmission from the gNB based on the TDRA information. (Fig(s).9 @ 915 and 18 @ 1815)
Also, Khoshnevisan et al. teach a method wherein the scheduled data transmissions include one of
a single physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) transmission (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132]) For example, “the modified set of TDRA candidates 840 may correspond to a single PDSCH occasion 825. When the UE 115 receives an explicit TDRA 810, determines the implicit TDRA(s) 815, and receives the corresponding downlink data repetitions, the UE 115 may provide a single ACK/NACK 835 for the DCI message in the codebook 830 corresponding to the single PDSCH occasion 825.”(Paragraph [0132]) Also, “the downlink data repetitions 225 (e.g., the PDSCH transmissions) may be transmitted in slot n+K0, where n is the slot with the scheduling DCI 215. ”(Paragraph [0094])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled within a slot (read as slot n+K0 (Fig.8 @ 805; Paragraph [0094]));
a single PDSCH transmission or PUSCH transmission with repetition (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission is scheduled with more than one repetition (read as “the downlink data repetitions 225 (e.g., the PDSCH transmissions) may be transmitted in slot n+K0, where n is the slot with the scheduling DCI 215. ”(Paragraph [0094])); or
a single PDSCH or PUSCH transmission (read as single PDSCH occasion (Fig.8 @ 825; Paragraph [0132])),
where each PDSCH or PUSCH transmission spans more than one slot. (read as “If the downlink data repetitions 225 span multiple slots, the slot offset may indicate the first or the last slot in the time domain containing the downlink data repetitions 225.”(Paragraph [0094]))
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to employ the function for retrieving tasks for supporting TDRA for DL data repetitions and the function for using a single PDSCH occasion to send implicit/explicit TDRA information as taught by Khoshnevisan et al. with the base station as taught by Xu et al. for the purpose of enhancing data transmissions based on TDRA parameters by devices in a NR communication network.
Regarding claims 27 and 35, and as applied to claims 25 and 33 above, Xu et al., as modified by Khoshnevisan et al., teach an apparatus (Fig.7 @ 700) and one or more computer-readable media (Fig.7 @ 706) wherein only one PDSCH or PUSCH is scheduled with repetition, and wherein:
a single slot offset between downlink control information (DCI) and the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH is applied to the scheduled data transmission,
a common mapping type is applied to the scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH, and
a list of starting and length indicator values (SLIVs) are applied for scheduled PDSCH repetitions or PUSCH repetitions. (read as a TDRA table comprising of one or more SLIV(s) (Paragraph [0103]))
Regarding claims 29, 37, and 44, and as applied to claims 25, 33, and 41 above, Xu et al., as modified by Khoshnevisan et al., teach an apparatus (Fig.7 @ 700) and one or more computer-readable media (Fig.7 @ 706) wherein repetition is applied to transmission of a plurality of PDSCHs or PUSCHs, and wherein:
a single slot offset between downlink control information (DCI) a scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH is applied for all scheduled PDSCHs or PUSCHs,
a common mapping type and number of repetitions are applied for all the scheduled PDSCHs or PUSCHs, and
consecutive SLIVs are allocated for PDSCH or PUSCH repetitions.(read as SLIV (Paragraph [0103]))
Regarding claims 30 and 38, and as applied to claims 25 and 33 above, Xu et al., as modified by Khoshnevisan et al., teach an apparatus (Fig.7 @ 700) and one or more computer-readable media (Fig.7 @ 706) wherein the TDRA information includes a list entry to indicate to the UE a type of data transmission for PDSCH or PUSCH. (read as “one or more special TDRA table entries may defined taking into consideration the TB scaling factor and a start and length indicator (SLIV, which indicates the start symbol and length of a PUSCH) for the time domain resource allocation to ensure correct accounting of this information to determine the TB size for the PUSCH.”(Paragraph [0103]))
Regarding claims 31 and 39, and as applied to claims 25 and 33 above, Xu et al., as modified by Khoshnevisan et al., teach an apparatus (Fig.7 @ 700) and one or more computer-readable media (Fig.7 @ 706) wherein the message is encoded for transmission via minimum system information (MSI),
remaining minimum system information (RMSI),
other system information (OSI) or
dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signaling. (read as dedicated RRC signaling (Paragraph [0109]))
Regarding claims 32 and 40, and as applied to claims 25 and 33 above, Xu et al., as modified by Khoshnevisan et al., teach an apparatus (Fig.7 @ 700) and one or more computer-readable media (Fig.7 @ 706) wherein the plurality of TDRA parameters include an indication of:
a slot offset between downlink control information (DCI) and each scheduled PDSCH,
a slot offset between DCI and each scheduled PUSCH,
a mapping type of each scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH,
a starting and length indicator value (SLIV) for each scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH in a slot (read as SLIV (Paragraph [0103])),
a number of repetitions for each scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH, or
a number of slots for each scheduled PDSCH or PUSCH.
Response to Arguments
5. Applicant’s arguments filed on November 24, 2025 with respect to claims 25, 33, and 41 have been considered and are not persuasive. Upon further consideration, the cited prior art reference(s) Xu et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication # 2023/0137215 A1) in view of Khoshnevisan et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication # 2021/0051652 A1) does address the new amended limitation set forth within independent claims 25, 33, and 41.
Xu et al. teach a base station executing “joint encoding of the TB scaling information or factor and the TDRA information, one or more special TDRA table entries may defined taking into consideration the TB scaling factor and a start and length indicator (SLIV, which indicates the start symbol and length of a PUSCH) for the time domain resource allocation to ensure correct accounting of this information to determine the TB size for the PUSCH.”(Fig(s).7 and 10; Paragraph [0103])
Khoshnevisan et al. teach “methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support time domain resource allocation (TDRA) for downlink data repetitions.”(Fig.8; Paragraph [0005]) For example, Khoshnevisan et al. teach “the modified set of TDRA candidates 840 may correspond to a single PDSCH occasion 825. When the UE 115 receives an explicit TDRA 810, determines the implicit TDRA(s) 815, and receives the corresponding downlink data repetitions, the UE 115 may provide a single ACK/NACK 835 for the DCI message in the codebook 830 corresponding to the single PDSCH occasion 825.”(Paragraph [0132]) Also, Khoshnevisan et al. teach “the downlink data repetitions 225 (e.g., the PDSCH transmissions) may be transmitted in slot n+K0, where n is the slot with the scheduling DCI 215. ”(Paragraph [0094]) Also, Khoshnevisan et al. teach “If the downlink data repetitions 225 span multiple slots, the slot offset may indicate the first or the last slot in the time domain containing the downlink data repetitions 225.”(Paragraph [0094])
Therefore, new rejections have been formulated to address the limitations as set forth in independent claims 25, 33, and 41 rendering the applicant’s amendments filed on November 24, 2025 moot.
Conclusion
6. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to Applicant’s disclosure:
MolavianJazi et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication # 2021/0058971 A1) teach “a number of repetitions for a MsgA PUSCH can be jointly coded/configured and indicated with a time domain resource allocation (TDRA) for the MsgA PUSCH.”(Paragraph [0259])
Wei et al. (U.S. Patent Application Publication # 2021/0022158 A1) teach “If the UE is configured to perform a PUSCH repetition scheme, the time domain of the UL resource indicated by the TDRA field (e.g., the indicated symbol(s) and/or slot(s)) may be used as the UL resource for the first nominal repetition of the PUSCH transmission.”(Paragraph [0069])
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 response to this Office Action should be faxed to (571) 273-8300 or mailed to:
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Any inquiry concerning this communication or early communications from the Examiner should be directed to Salvador E. Rivas whose telephone number is (571) 270-1784. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday-Friday from 7:30AM to 5:00PM.
If attempts to reach the Examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the Examiner’s supervisor, Un C. Cho can be reached on (571) 272- 7919. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is (571) 273-8300.
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/SALVADOR E RIVAS/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413
January 14, 2026
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