DETAILED ACTION
Claim(s) 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23, 25-26 and 30 have been examined and are pending.
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 Remarks/Comments
Status of Specification and Claims as of the Non-Final Rejection mailed April 24, 2026:
The title of the invention was objected to as being non-descriptive. Claims 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23, 25-26, and 30 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to an abstract idea without significantly more. Claim(s) 1, 5, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 26 were 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(s) 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23, 25-26 and 30 were rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Thangarasa (US 20230102370 A1).
Response to the Non-Final Rejection:
Responsive to the objection of the title, Applicants have changed the title to “EDRX BASED RRM MEASUREMENT METHOD AND APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION DEVICE, AND STORAGE MEDIUM”. The new title is adequately descriptive, accordingly the objection to the title is withdrawn.
Responsive to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23, 25-26, and 30 under 35 U.S.C. 101 as being directed to an abstract idea without significantly more, Applicants have amended each of independent claim(s) 1 and 30. Claim 1 has been amended to include at least limitation that recites “performing the RRM measurement according to the measurement configuration..”. Claim 30 has been amended to include at least limitation that recites “performing the RRM measurement according to the measurement configuration…”. The amendments are found to be effective. Accordingly, the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23, 25-26, and 30 under 35 U.S.C. 101 are withdrawn.
Responsive to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23, 25-26 and 30 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Thangarasa, Applicants have amended each of independent claim(s) 1 and 30, to at least recite,
“based on a determination that the UE is in an inactive state, an idle state eDRX cycle of the UE is greater than a second cycle, and an inactive state eDRX cycle is not configured, determining that the UE has a first eDRX cycle which is equal to the idle state eDRX cycle, and determining the first DRX cycle according to an idle state eDRX configuration of the UE, or
based on a determination that the UE is in an idle state, an idle state eDRX cycle of the UE is greater than a second cycle, and an inactive state eDRX cycle is not configured, determining that the UE has a first eDRX cycle which is equal to the idle state eDRX cycle, and determining the first DRX cycle according to an idle state eDRX configuration of the UE.”
The amendments are found to be effective in overcoming the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23, 25-26 and 30 under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Thangarasa. However, the amendments have been found to raise indefiniteness issues. Please see the rejections made under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, below.
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.
S
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(s) 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, and 30 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.
Independent claim 1, refers to an idle state and an inactive state of a user equipment (UE). See at least where it recites in claim 1,
“…wherein determining the relevant information according to the non-connected state of the UE and the eDRX configuration condition of the UE further comprises at least one of:
based on a determination that the UE is in an inactive state, an idle state eDRX cycle of the UE is greater than a second cycle, and an inactive state eDRX cycle is not configured, determining that the UE has a first eDRX cycle which is equal to the idle state eDRX cycle, and determining the first DRX cycle according to an idle state eDRX configuration of the UE, or
based on a determination that the UE is in an idle state, an idle state eDRX cycle of the UE is greater than a second cycle, and an inactive state eDRX cycle is not configured, determining that the UE has a first eDRX cycle which is equal to the idle state eDRX cycle, and determining the first DRX cycle according to an idle state eDRX configuration of the UE.”
The inactive state and idle state are distinct states of the UE. The UE can’t be in both the inactive state and the idle state. However, this possibility appears to be within the scope of the claim language. For example, refer to claim(s) 1 and 2, where it recites,
“1. An extended discontinuous reception (eDX) based radio resource management (RRM) measurement method, performed by a user equipment (UE), and comprising:
…wherein determining the relevant information according to the non-connected state of the UE and the eDRX configuration condition of the UE further comprises at least one of:
based on a determination that the UE is in an inactive state, an idle state eDRX cycle of the UE is greater than a second cycle, and an inactive state eDRX cycle is not configured, determining that the UE has a first eDRX cycle which is equal to the idle state eDRX cycle, and determining the first DRX cycle according to an idle state eDRX configuration of the UE, or
based on a determination that the UE is in an idle state, an idle state eDRX cycle of the UE is greater than a second cycle, and an inactive state eDRX cycle is not configured, determining that the UE has a first eDRX cycle which is equal to the idle state eDRX cycle, and determining the first DRX cycle according to an idle state eDRX configuration of the UE.
2. (Currently Amended) The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the relevant information according to the non-connected state of the UE and the eDRX configuration condition of the UE further comprises at least one of: based on a determination that the UE is in the idle state…based on a determination that the UE is in the inactive state…”
As the claim language appears to include the UE being both an inactive state and idle state, which are distinct states, claim 2 is regarded as being indefinite. Claim(s) 5, 12, 18, and 30 also are regarded as indefinite due to having issues similar to that explained with regard to claim(s) 1/2 (i.e. containing claim language that includes the UE being in both an idle state and inactive state within its scope). All remaining claims, are also regarded as indefinite due to dependency on either of claim(s) 1, 2, 5, 12, and 18 and further failing to remedy the issues raised with respect to indefiniteness of the claims.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 1-2, 4-5, 7-10, 12, 14-16, 18-21, 23, 25-26 and 30 would be allowable dependent upon the resolution of the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). 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 TARELL A HAMPTON whose telephone number is (571)270-7162. The examiner can normally be reached 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
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/TARELL A HAMPTON/Examiner, Art Unit 2476 /AYAZ R SHEIKH/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2476
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