DETAILED ACTION
This Office action is in response to the RCE submitted 1 July 2026. Claims 1-20 are pending in this application.
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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 1 July 2026 has been entered.
Claim Objections
Claims 1-20 are objected to because of the following informalities. Appropriate correction is required.
For Claims 1, 9, 101, 11, 16, and 20, the ordinal numbers (first, second, third, fourth) applied to the indications will need to be adjusted to reflect the actual order of the indications, for example, so that the first listed indication is “first indication”.
Remaining claims are objected as depending from an objected claim.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claim(s) 1-3, 9-11, 15-17, and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (US 2017/0289995) in view of Jeon et al. (US 2022/0322419).
For Claims 1 and 16, Lin teaches a method and a first device comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code (see paragraph 53: hardware); wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to:
determine whether data is available for transmission on a grant, the grant being allocated for a data transmission procedure established between the first device and a second device (see paragraphs 69, 331, 344-345);
in accordance with a determination that the data is unavailable, determine whether the transmission on the grant is to be skipped (see paragraphs 344-345); and
in accordance with a determination that the transmission on the grant is not to be skipped, perform the transmission on the grant to the second device, the transmission conveying a predetermined type of information (see paragraphs 344-345).
Lin as applied above is not explicit as to, but Jeon teaches the grant being allocated for small data transmission (see abstract, 346); and
in accordance with a determination that the transmission on the grant is not to be skipped, perform the transmission on the grant to the second device, the transmission conveying a predetermined type of information comprising a second indication of at least one radio bearer or at least one logical channel on which subsequent data is expected to be communicated (see paragraphs 339-340, 342).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to implement the SDT grant handling process of Jeon as known and shown in Li. One of ordinary skill would have been able to do so with the reasonably predictable result of allowing a device to retain transmission resources even when the resources are not immediately in use.
For Claim 10, Lin teaches a second device comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code (see paragraph 53: hardware); wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the second device to:
establish a data transmission procedure with a first device (see paragraph 351);
receive, from the first device on a grant allocated for the data transmission procedure, a transmission conveying a predetermined type of information (see paragraphs 69, 344-345); and
cause the data transmission procedure to be maintained based on the reception of the transmission on the grant (see paragraph 69: skipping is allowed, grant is maintained even if skipped).
Lin as applied above is not explicit as to, but Jeon teaches establishing and maintaining a small data transmission procedure with a first device (see abstract, paragraphs 346); and
receiving, from the first device on a grant allocated for the small data transmission procedure, a transmission conveying a predetermined type of information comprising a second indication of at least one radio bearer or at least one logical channel on which subsequent data is expected to be communicated (see paragraphs 339-340, 342).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to implement the SDT grant handling process of Jeon as known and shown in Li. One of ordinary skill would have been able to do so with the reasonably predictable result of allowing a device to retain transmission resources even when the resources are not immediately in use.
For Claim 2, Lin further teaches the first device, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the first device to: in accordance with a determination that the transmission on the grant is to be skipped, cause the transmission on the grant to be skipped (see paragraphs 344-345).
For Claims 3, 15, and 17, Lin as modified by Jeon above further teaches the first device, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to determine whether the transmission on the grant is to be skipped by:
receiving, from the second device, enablement information indicating whether skipping of at least one grant is enabled for the first device during the small data transmission procedure (see paragraph 69); and
in accordance with a determination that the enablement information indicates that skipping of the at least one grant is enabled for the first device and a determination that the data is unavailable, determining that the transmission on the grant is to be skipped (see paragraphs 344-345).
For Claims 9, 11, and 20, Lin further teaches the first device, wherein the predetermined type of information conveyed in the transmission on the grant comprises at least one of the following:
a first indication indicating that subsequent data is expected to be communicated during the small data transmission procedure,
a third indication of an amount of the subsequent data expected to be communicated,
a fourth indication of a time when the subsequent data is expected to be communicated,
a buffer status report (see paragraph 69),
a power headroom report, and
a transport block with dummy bits.
Claim(s) 4 and 18 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (US 2017/0289995) and Jeon et al. (US 2022/0322419) as applied to claims 1 and 16 above, and further in view of Li et al. (WO2017/134578).
For Claims 4 and 18, the references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Li teaches the first device, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to determine whether the transmission on the grant is to be skipped by:
determining that subsequent data is expected to be communicated after a first time period during the small data transmission procedure (see p. 12 line 20 to p. 13 line 6);
determining whether the first time period exceeds a first period threshold for grant skipping (see p. 12 line 20 to p. 13 line 6); and
in accordance with a determination that the first time period exceeds the first period threshold, determining that the transmission on the grant is to be skipped (see p. 12 line 20 to p. 13 line 6).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to use a timer as in Li when determining the length of validity of a grant as in Lin and Jeon. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been able to do so with the reasonably predictable result of using a measure that may be more appropriate for the mobility of the device.
Claim(s) 5, 12-13, and 19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (US 2017/0289995) and Jeon et al. (US 2022/0322419) as applied to claims 1, 10, and 16 above, and further in view of Shukair et al. (US 2019/0320491).
For Claims 5, 12, and 19, the references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Shukair teaches the first device, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the first device to determine whether the transmission on the grant is to be skipped by:
determining whether a second time period from a previous grant on which a last transmission was performed during the small data transmission procedure to the grant exceeds a second period threshold for grant skipping (see paragraphs 83, 88, 102, 101-1-2, 111: max delay, known at network side); and
in accordance with a determination that the second time period exceeds the second period threshold, determining that the transmission on the grant is not to be skipped (see paragraphs 9, 7, 102, 111, 114: transmission prior to exceeding delay threshold; delay threshold known at network side).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to avoid exceeding the threshold as in Shukair when managing resources as in Lin and Jeon. The motivation would be to avoid releasing resources at either end of the connection.
For Claim 13, the references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Shukair teaches the second device, wherein a time period from the first grant to the second grant exceeds the second period threshold (see paragraphs 102, 111, 114).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to avoid exceeding the threshold as in Shukair when managing resources as in Lin and Jeon. The motivation would be to avoid releasing resources at either end of the connection.
Claim(s) 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (US 2017/0289995), Jeon et al. (US 2022/0322419), and Shukair et al. (US 2019/0320491) as applied to claims 1, 10, and 112 above, and further in view of Mo (US 2023/0156814).
For Claim 14, the references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Mo teaches the second device, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the second device to: transmit, to the first device, configuration information indicating at least the second period threshold (see paragraphs 136-155: various thresholds including threshold number of skips).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to provide thresholds as in Mo when implementing the method of Lin and Jeon. The motivation would be to provide a way to release resources that have been determined to be unused.
Claim(s) 6 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (US 2017/0289995), Jeon et al. (US 2022/0322419), Shukair et al. (US 2019/0320491) as applied to claims 1 and 5 above, and further in view of Mo (US 2023/0156814) and Li et al. (WO2017/134578).
For Claim 6, the references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Mo teaches the first device, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, further cause the first device to: receive, from the second device, configuration information indicating at least one of a first threshold for grant skipping and a second threshold (see paragraphs 136-155, 187, 195-196: various thresholds including threshold number of skips).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to provide thresholds as in Mo when implementing the method of Lin and Jeon. The motivation would be to provide a way to release resources that have been determined to be unused.
The references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Li teaches the first period threshold or the second period threshold (see p. 12 line 20 to p. 13 line 6).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to use a timer as in Li when determining the length of validity of a grant as in Lin and Jeon. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been able to do so with the reasonably predictable result of using a measure that may be more appropriate for the mobility of the device.
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (US 2017/0289995), Jeon et al. (US 2022/0322419), Shukair et al. (US 2019/0320491) as applied to claims 1 and 5 above, and further in view of Lin et al. (US 2024/0023097, hereinafter Lin ‘237) and Mo (US 2023/0156814).
For Clam 7, the references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Lin ‘237 teaches the first device, wherein at least one of a first period threshold and the second period threshold is set to be specific to the first device or specific to a radio bearer or a logical channel on which the small data transmission procedure is established (see paragraphs 40, 43: radio bearer on which SDT is allowed, threshold amount of SDT data).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the thresholds are specific to the radio bearer as in Lin ‘237 when using thresholds to manage a small data transmission resources as in Lin and Jeon. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been able to set thresholds accordingly with the reasonably predictable result of adjusting parameters to match the channel conditions.
The references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Mo teaches thresholds for grant skipping (see paragraphs 195-196).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to consider a threshold number of incidents when determining whether to skip a grant as in Mo when managing resources as in Lin, Jeon, and Lin ‘237. One of ordinary skill would have been able to do so with the reasonably predictable result of determining whether to adjust the transmission process in a timely manner.
Claim(s) 8 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (US 2017/0289995), Jeon et al. (US 2022/0322419), Shukair et al. (US 2019/0320491) as applied to claims 1 and 5 above, and further in view of Li et al. (WO2017/134578) and Mo (US 2023/0156814).
For Claim 8, the references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Li teaches the first device, wherein at least one of the first period threshold and the second period threshold is defined as a threshold number of time units or a threshold number of grant occasions (see p. 12 line 20 to p. 13 line 6).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to use a timer as in Li when determining the length of validity of a grant as in Lin and Jeon. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been able to do so with the reasonably predictable result of using a measure that may be more appropriate for the mobility of the device.
Claim(s) 7 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (US 2017/0289995), Jeon et al. (US 2022/0322419), Shukair et al. (US 2019/0320491) as applied to claims 1 and 5 above, and further in view of Lin et al. (US 2024/0023097, hereinafter Lin ‘237).
For Clam 7, the references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Lin ‘237 teaches the first device, wherein at least one of a first period threshold for grant skipping and the second period threshold is set to be specific to the first device or specific to a radio bearer or a logical channel on which the small data transmission procedure is established (see paragraphs 40, 43: radio bearer on which SDT is allowed, threshold amount of SDT data).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the thresholds are specific to the radio bearer as in Lin ‘237 when using thresholds to manage a small data transmission resources as in Lin and Jeon. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been able to set thresholds accordingly with the reasonably predictable result of adjusting parameters to match the channel conditions.
The references as applied above are not explicit as to, but Mo teaches thresholds for grant skipping (see paragraphs 195-196).
Thus it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the application was filed to consider a threshold number of incidents when determining whether to skip a grant as in Mo when managing resources as in Lin, Jeon, and Lin ‘237. One of ordinary skill would have been able to do so with the reasonably predictable result of determining whether to adjust the transmission process in a timely manner.
Response to Arguments
The submission of 1 July 2026 has been entered.
Previous rejections under 35 USC 112 are withdrawn in light of the amendments.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to rejections under 35 USC 103 have been fully considered, but are moot in view of the new grounds of rejection introduced herein. The claims remain rejected under 35 USC 103.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. Zheng et al. (US 2024/0080930) teaches a UE doing small data transmissions while in inactive mode.
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/CASSANDRA L DECKER/Examiner, Art Unit 2466 7/24/2026
/FARUK HAMZA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2466
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