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 .
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 5/13/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicants argue on page 8 “The terminal in Lee does not specify how this density increase should be achieved. It merely signals a failure condition. In contrast, amended claim 21 recites a WTRU that provides a much more granular and intelligent form of feedback, wherein the adjustment for a time density and an adjustment for a frequency density are indicated independently”.
Examiner respectfully disagrees. Lee explicitly discloses [0091] the terminal may request, via the RS request message, the base station to increase the RS density and/or decrease the RS transmission period. Lee further discloses [0057] “RS density” refers to the number of RSs in a predetermined frequency bandwidth, the number of RSs in a predetermined time interval, or the number of RSs in a predetermined frequency bandwidth and a predetermined time interval. Lee teaches the broad claim limitation “one of more commands indicating an adjustment to a density of reference signals, wherein the adjustment is indicated independently for a time density and for a frequency density”.
Applicants argue on page 8 that “amended claim 21 recites a WTRU that provides a much more granular and intelligent form of feedback, wherein the adjustment for a time density and an adjustment for a frequency density are indicated independently. This independent indication allows the WTRU to fine-tune the RS configuration in response to specific channel conditions. For example, if the channel estimation measurement reveals high Doppler shift (affecting time correlation) but low delay spread (not affecting frequency correlation), the WTRU can command an increase in time density while simultaneously commanding no change, or even a decrease, in frequency density to optimize overhead.”
Examiner respectfully disagrees. In response to applicant's argument that the references fail to show certain features of the invention, it is noted that the features upon which applicant relies (i.e., he underlined arguments above) are not recited in the rejected claim(s). Although the claims are interpreted in light of the specification, limitations from the specification are not read into the claims. See In re Van Geuns, 988 F.2d 1181, 26 USPQ2d 1057 (Fed. Cir. 1993).
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.
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 21-26, 29, 31-36, and 39 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zheng et al. (US 20140086085) in view of Lee et al. (US 20210006989).
Regarding claims 21 and 31, Zheng teaches to receive, from a base station, a first transmission according to one or more first reference signal configurations (Fig. 3, step 203, Receiving Reference signal information from eNB);
perform a channel estimation measurement for the first transmission based on the one or more first reference signal configurations (Fig. 3, step 304: [0055] After receiving the reference signal information, the UE performs channel measurement according to the reference signal information); and
However, Zheng does not teach to transmit, to the base station, one of more commands indicating an adjustment to a density of reference signals, wherein the adjustment is indicated independently for a time density and for a frequency density.
Lee teaches Fig. 4, step 401, [0090] a terminal may determine whether a channel forecast value is valid. Lee further teaches, if no, step 403, [0091] the terminal may request, via the RS request message, the base station to increase the RS density and/or decrease the RS transmission period. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine with Lee since channel estimation for a future time period, in which RSs have not yet been transmitted, needs to be performed ([0007], Lee).
Regarding claims 22 and 32, Zheng does not teach, however, Lee teaches wherein at least one command indicates to increase or decrease the density of reference signals by one step in one of time or frequency to a next higher or lower density in a set of densities of reference signals ([0101] If the number of times the RSR is transmitted from the terminal is n (n=1, 2, . . . , N.sub.Max), a preconfigured RS density and a preconfigured RS transmission period corresponding to each n may exist. Here, N.sub.Max refers to a maximum value of the number of RSR transmissions in which the preconfigured RS density and the preconfigured RS transmission period may be defined). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine with Lee since channel estimation for a future time period, in which RSs have not yet been transmitted, needs to be performed ([0007], Lee).
Regarding claims 23 and 33, Zheng does not teach, however, Lee teaches wherein densities of reference signals are uniformly distributed in the set of densities of reference signals ([0101] If the number of times the RSR is transmitted from the terminal is n (n=1, 2, . . . , N.sub.Max), a preconfigured RS density and a preconfigured RS transmission period corresponding to each n may exist. Here, N.sub.Max refers to a maximum value of the number of RSR transmissions in which the preconfigured RS density and the preconfigured RS transmission period may be defined). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine with Lee since channel estimation for a future time period, in which RSs have not yet been transmitted, needs to be performed ([0007], Lee).
Regarding claims 24 and 34, Zheng does not teach, however, Lee teaches
wherein the one or more commands comprise a first command and a second command, the first command indicating to increase the density of reference signals in time and the second command indicating to decrease the density of reference signals in frequency ([0057] “RS density” refers to the number of RSs in a predetermined frequency bandwidth, the number of RSs in a predetermined time interval, or the number of RSs in a predetermined frequency bandwidth and a predetermined time interval). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine with Lee since channel estimation for a future time period, in which RSs have not yet been transmitted, needs to be performed ([0007], Lee).
Regarding claims 25 and 35, Zheng does not teach, however, Lee teaches configured to receive information indicating if the one or more commands have been accepted or not (Fig. 4, step 405, and [0092] the terminal may receive, from the base station, second RSs of the RS density determined based on the RS request message. The RS density at which the second RSs are transmitted may be determined to be the same as the RS density indicated by the RS request message, or may be determined as an RS density preconfigured according to the number of times the RS request message is transmitted). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine with Lee since channel estimation for a future time period, in which RSs have not yet been transmitted, needs to be performed ([0007], Lee).
Regarding claims 26 and 36, Zheng does not teach, however, Lee teaches
To determine that no second reference signal configuration corresponding to the one or more commands has been activated in a time window ([0101] If the number of times the RSR is transmitted from the terminal is n (n=1, 2, . . . , N.sub.Max), a preconfigured RS density and a preconfigured RS transmission period corresponding to each n may exist. Here, N.sub.Max refers to a maximum value of the number of RSR transmissions in which the preconfigured RS density and the preconfigured RS transmission period may be defined). It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine with Lee since channel estimation for a future time period, in which RSs have not yet been transmitted, needs to be performed ([0007], Lee).
Regarding claims 29 and 39, Zheng teaches wherein the circuitry is configured to receive configuration information indicating a first duration of the time window ([0056] the network device determines a time domain unit, on which a target reference signal pattern needs to be changed, on the second target frequency domain unit according to data currently transmitted and/or a time-frequency resource occupied by data, in order to send the reference signals on the time domain unit according to the changed target reference signal pattern).
Claims 27 and 37 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zheng et al. (US 20140086085) modified by Lee et al. (US 20210006989), and further in view of Lee et al. (US 10638457, hereinafter Lee-457).
Regarding claims 27 and 37, Zheng does not teach, however, Lee teaches to analyze time or frequency resources associated with one or more second reference signal configurations corresponding to the one or more commands.
Neither Zheng nor Lee explicitly teaches blind decoding second transmissions received during the time window. Lee-457 teaches (260) col. 51 line 61, A WTRU or UE may monitor ePDCCHs via blind decoding such that multiple blind decoding attempts may be used per subframe. The candidates for blind decoding attempts from a WTRU or UE point of view may be hereafter called a search space. It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine with Lee-457 so that the WTRU may then determine the type of reference signal received and the WTRU may perform a demodulation of the PDSCH or ePDCCH using a demodulation timing based on the determined type.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 28, 30, 38 and 40 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.
Conclusion
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 inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to EUNSOOK CHOI whose telephone number is (571)270-1822. The examiner can normally be reached on 8am-4:30pm.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Hassan Phillips can be reached on 5712723940. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/EUNSOOK CHOI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2467
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