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.
Claim 22 is 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 22 is dependent on rejected claim 16. Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1,4,6,17-18,22-24,27,28,30-32, and 47 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Kim et al. (US Application 2021/0037403, hereinafter Kim).
Regarding claim 1,27, 28, Kim discloses a method (Figs. 1, 5-7) performed by a user equipment (UE)(1-35), comprising processing circuitry (1940,1942) and network interfaces (1910,1920) connected thereto, the method comprising:
receiving, transmitting, a configuration for Layer (L1)/Layer 2 (L2) (6-05) centric inter-cell mobility([0155], which recites an RCC connection message considered as a configuration for Layer (L1)/Layer 2 (L2) centric inter-cell mobility as claimed by the instant application as described on [0136]-[0137] The RRCSetup message may contain at least one of configuration information for each logical channel, configuration information for each bearer, configuration information for a PDCP layer device, configuration information for an RLC layer device, and configuration information for a MAC layer device. The RRCSetup message may allocate a bearer identifier (e.g., an SRB identifier or a DRB identifier) to each bearer and indicate configuration of a PDCP layer device, an RLC layer device, a MAC layer device, and/or a PHY layer device for each bearer);
receiving, transmitting a suspend message (6-10) to suspend a connection with a network node([0155], which recites he gNB may transmit an RRCRelease message containing an indicator (suspend-config) instructing the UE to transition to the RRC inactive mode); suspending the connection([0155], which recites he gNB may transmit an RRCRelease message containing an indicator (suspend-config) instructing the UE to transition to the RRC inactive mode thereby, suspending the connection)and
in response to receiving the suspend message, deleting the configuration for the L1/L2 centric inter-cell mobility([0337], which recites the RRCRelease message may define an indicator to discard the frequency measurement configuration information or the frequency measurement result, and may set change, or delete only part of the stored frequency measurement configuration information. As disclosed on [0039], the RRCRelease message containing the indication to set change or delete only part of the stored frequency measurement configuration information is received by the UE from the base station ).
Regarding claim 4, Kim discloses the method of claim 1, wherein suspending the connection comprises transitioning to an inactive state([0155]).
Regarding claim 6, Kim discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving the suspend message, storing the first configuration([0338]).
Regarding claim 17, Kim discloses the method of claim 6, further comprising, in response to determining to resume the connection, deleting the stored configuration([0337]-[00338]).
Regarding claim 18, Kim discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the configuration comprises one or more parameters([0337]-[0338]).
Regarding claim 22, Kim discloses the method of claim 16, wherein deleting the configuration is further in response to receiving an indication from the network node to discard the configuration to avoid configuration mismatch between the network node and the UE([0129],[0335]).
Regarding claim 23, Kim discloses the method of claim 1, wherein deleting the configuration comprises deleting at least a subset of parameters for one of candidate cells([0337]-[0338]).
Regarding claim 24, Kim discloses the method of claim 6, wherein storing the configuration comprises storing at least a subset of parameters for at least one candidate cell([0185]).
Regarding claim 30, Kim discloses the method of claim 28, wherein the first configuration comprises one or more parameters([0155]).
Regarding claim 31, Kim discloses the method of claim 30, wherein the one or more parameters comprise cell-specific parameters or Physical Cell Identity (PCI)-specific parameters([0323]).
Regarding claim 32, Kim discloses the method of claim 28, further comprising receiving a request for a UE context from a second network node and providing the UE context to the second network node([0139]).
Regarding claim 47, Kim discloses the method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving the suspend message, before entering RRC_INACTIVE, deleting the configuration for L1/L2 centric inter-cell mobility([0155]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) 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.
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.
Claim(s) 19-21,48-50 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim in view of Zhou et al. (US Application 2022/0014983, hereinafter Zhou).
Regarding claims 19,48, Kim discloses the method of claim 18 as addressed above, except wherein the one or more parameters comprise cell-specific parameters, wherein the cell-specific parameters are configured for each target candidate cell for L1/L2 centric inter-cell mobility.
However, Zhou teaches the one or more parameters comprise cell-specific parameters, wherein the cell-specific parameters are configured for each target candidate cell for L1/L2 centric inter-cell mobility(Abstract, [0007], [0083]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Zhou with the teaching of Kim by using the above features such as the one or more parameters comprise cell-specific parameters, wherein the cell-specific parameters are configured for each target candidate cell for L1/L2 centric inter-cell mobility as taught by Zhou for the purpose of fast CA/DC reconfiguration in L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility(Abstract).
Regarding claims 20, 49, Kim discloses the method of claim 18 as addressed above, except wherein the one or more parameters comprise Physical Cell Identity (PCI)-specific parameters, wherein the PCI-specific parameters are configured for each target PCI candidate for L1/L2 centric inter-cell mobility.
However, Zhou teaches the one or more parameters comprise Physical Cell Identity (PCI)-specific parameters, wherein the PCI-specific parameters are configured for each target PCI candidate for L1/L2 centric inter-cell mobility (Abstract, [0007], [0083]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Zhou with the teaching of Kim by using the above features such as the one or more parameters comprise Physical Cell Identity (PCI)-specific parameters, wherein the PCI-specific parameters are configured for each target PCI candidate for L1/L2 centric inter-cell mobility as taught by Zhou for the purpose of fast CA/DC reconfiguration in L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility(Abstract).
Regarding claims 21, 50, Kim discloses the method of claim 18 as addressed above, except wherein the configuration is for a Master Cell Group (MCG), a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) or both the MCG and SCG.
However, Zhou teaches the configuration is for a Master Cell Group (MCG), a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) or both the MCG and SCG (Abstract, [0007], [0083]).
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one with ordinary skill in the art before the effective filling date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Zhou with the teaching of Kim by using the above features such as the configuration is for a Master Cell Group (MCG), a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) or both the MCG and SCG as taught by Zhou for the purpose of fast CA/DC reconfiguration in L1/L2 based inter-cell mobility(Abstract).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to DADY CHERY whose telephone number is (571)270-1207. The examiner can normally be reached M to T, 8 am to 5pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Moo Jeong can be reached at 571-272-9617. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/DADY CHERY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2418