DETAILED ACTION
The office action is a response to an application filed on January 12, 2024, wherein claims 1-17, 20, 21 and 22 are pending and ready for examination.
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 § 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.
Claims 1, 12, 20, 21, and 22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated MolavianJazi et al. (MolavianJazi hereafter) (US 20210076384 A1).
Regarding claim 1 MolavianJazi teaches, a method for random access performed by a terminal, comprising:
determining random access resource configuration information ([0224] higher layers indicating two UL BWPs and 1 bit in the RAR UL for Msg3 transmission), wherein the random access resource configuration information is configured to indicate a plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts (two UL BWPs) (MolavianJazi; [0221-0226] scheduling of Msg3 can apply to PUSCH/PDSCH transmissions after Msg3. UL BWP for Msg3, a new field is introduced in the RAR UL grant that indicates the UL BWP index for Msg3 PUSCH transmission… higher layers can indicate two UL BWPs and 1 bit in the RAR UL grant indicates an UL BWP, from the two UL BWPs, for Msg3 transmission…, receiving dedicated RRC configuration, the UE is provided by higher layers (including by a SIB) multiple (for example, a maximum of 2 or 4) Initial UL BWP configurations), and wherein each initial uplink bandwidth part of the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts (first Initial UL BWP and second initial UL BWP) comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH) resource ([0256] PDSCH with a RAR message ending in slot n for a corresponding PRACH transmission from the UE) (MolavianJazi; [0226] SIB or RRC common signaling can provide a complete configuration for a first Initial UL BWP such as a legacy/NR initial UL BWP, as well as a relative configuration for a second initial UL BWP in the same carrier/cell, [0256] PDSCH with a RAR message ending in slot n for a corresponding PRACH transmission from the UE); and
performing random access based (UE transmits a PUSCH Msg3) on the random access resource configuration information (relative frequency location, a relative bandwidth size) ([0225] UE transmits a PUSCH Msg3 in one out of the multiple Initial UL BWPs whose index is provided in the RAR UL grant [0226] for example, one or more of a relative frequency location, a relative bandwidth size).
Regarding claim 12 MolavianJazi teaches, A method for random access performed by a network device, comprising:
determining random access resource configuration information ([0224] higher layers indicating two UL BWPs and 1 bit in the RAR UL for Msg3 transmission), wherein the random access resource configuration information is configured to indicate a plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts (two UL BWPs) (MolavianJazi; [0221-0226] scheduling of Msg3 can apply to PUSCH/PDSCH transmissions after Msg3. UL BWP for Msg3, a new field is introduced in the RAR UL grant that indicates the UL BWP index for Msg3 PUSCH transmission… higher layers can indicate two UL BWPs and 1 bit in the RAR UL grant indicates an UL BWP, from the two UL BWPs, for Msg3 transmission…, receiving dedicated RRC configuration, the UE is provided by higher layers (including by a SIB) multiple (for example, a maximum of 2 or 4) Initial UL BWP configurations), and wherein each initial uplink bandwidth part of the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts (first Initial UL BWP and second initial UL BWP) comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH) resource ([0256] PDSCH with a RAR message ending in slot n for a corresponding PRACH transmission from the UE) (MolavianJazi; [0226] SIB or RRC common signaling can provide a complete configuration for a first Initial UL BWP such as a legacy/NR initial UL BWP, as well as a relative configuration for a second initial UL BWP in the same carrier/cell, [0256] PDSCH with a RAR message ending in slot n for a corresponding PRACH transmission from the UE); and
sending random access based (UE transmits a PUSCH Msg3) on the random access resource configuration information (relative frequency location, a relative bandwidth size) ([0225] UE transmits a PUSCH Msg3 in one out of the multiple Initial UL BWPs whose index is provided in the RAR UL grant [0226] for example, one or more of a relative frequency location, a relative bandwidth size).
Regarding claim 20 MolavianJazi teaches, A device for random access, comprising:
a processor (MolavianJazi; Fig. 2 TX processing circuitry 315, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 325.); and
a memory configured to store instructions executable by the processor (MolavianJazi; [0041] The controller/processor 225 can move data into or out of the memory 230 as required by an executing process.);
wherein the processor is configured to perform the random access method of any one of claims 1 to 11 (MolavianJazi; Fig. 3 a memory 360. The memory 360 includes an operating system (OS) 361
and one or more applications 362.).
determining random access resource configuration information ([0224] higher layers indicating two UL BWPs and 1 bit in the RAR UL for Msg3 transmission), wherein the random access resource configuration information is configured to indicate a plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts (two UL BWPs) (MolavianJazi; [0221-0226] scheduling of Msg3 can apply to PUSCH/PDSCH transmissions after Msg3. UL BWP for Msg3, a new field is introduced in the RAR UL grant that indicates the UL BWP index for Msg3 PUSCH transmission… higher layers can indicate two UL BWPs and 1 bit in the RAR UL grant indicates an UL BWP, from the two UL BWPs, for Msg3 transmission…, receiving dedicated RRC configuration, the UE is provided by higher layers (including by a SIB) multiple (for example, a maximum of 2 or 4) Initial UL BWP configurations), and wherein each initial uplink bandwidth part of the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts (first Initial UL BWP and second initial UL BWP) comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH) resource ([0256] PDSCH with a RAR message ending in slot n for a corresponding PRACH transmission from the UE) (MolavianJazi; [0226] SIB or RRC common signaling can provide a complete configuration for a first Initial UL BWP such as a legacy/NR initial UL BWP, as well as a relative configuration for a second initial UL BWP in the same carrier/cell, [0256] PDSCH with a RAR message ending in slot n for a corresponding PRACH transmission from the UE); and
performing random access based (UE transmits a PUSCH Msg3) on the random access resource configuration information (relative frequency location, a relative bandwidth size) ([0225] UE transmits a PUSCH Msg3 in one out of the multiple Initial UL BWPs whose index is provided in the RAR UL grant [0226] for example, one or more of a relative frequency location, a relative bandwidth size).
Regarding claim 21 MolavianJazi teaches, A random access device, comprising:
a processor (MolavianJazi; Fig. 2 TX processing circuitry 215 and a single instance of RX processing circuitry 220); and
a memory configured to store instructions executable by the processor (MolavianJazi; [0041] The controller/processor 225 is also capable of executing programs and other processes resident in the memory 230);
wherein the processor is configured to perform the method of 12 (MolavianJazi; Fig. 2 memory 230 is coupled to the controller/processor 225. Part of the memory 230 could include a RAM).
Regarding claim 22 MolavianJazi teaches, A non-transitory storage medium, storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a terminal, cause the terminal to perform the method of claim 1 (MolavianJazi; [0052] The memory 360 is coupled to the processor 340. Part of the memory 360 could include a random access memory (RAM), and another part of the memory 360 could include a Flash memory or other read-only memory (ROM).).
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, 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.
Claims 2, 3, 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over MolavianJazi as applied to claims 1 and 12 above, and further in view of LY et al (LY646 hereafter) (US 20190124646 A1).
Regarding claims 2, and 13 MolavianJazi teaches, the claims 1 and 12,
MolavianJazi fails to explicitly teach, wherein the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts are provided with different frequency domain positions
LY teaches, wherein the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts are provided with different frequency domain positions (LY646; [0122] In FIG. 11, different offsets may be provided to UE1, UE2, and UE3 such that UE1, UE2, and UE3 may determine the PRB frequency location for UL BW part for UE1, UL BW part for UE2, and UL BW part for UE3, respectively. More specifically, a BS may indicate offset 1 in RMSI sent to UE1, offset 2 in RMSI sent to UE2, and offset 3 in RMSI sent to UE3. Accordingly, based at least in part on the offsets and the signaled UL ARFCN from the BS, the UEs (UE1, UE2, and UE3) may determine the PRB frequency locations for the initial active uplink bandwidth parts for the RACH procedure.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi to include the above recited limitations as taught by LY in order to be used for a RACH procedure (LY646; [0141-0144]).
Regarding claims 3 and 14 MolavianJazi teaches, The claims 2 and 13,
wherein part of configuration information of the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts is the same
LY further teaches, wherein part of configuration information of the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts is the same (LY646; [0124] a UE may select from and/or use one or more of a plurality of initial active uplink bandwidth parts for a RACH procedure with a BS based at least in part on an indication (e.g., within the RMSI) of a reference uplink frequency location and one or more offsets.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi to include the above recited limitations as taught by LY in order to be used for a RACH procedure (LY646; [0141-0144]).
Regarding claim 5 MolavianJazi teaches, the method of claim 1,
MolavianJazi fails to explicitly teach, wherein determining the random access resource configuration information comprises at least one of: determining, based on remaining minimum system information (RMSI), the random access resource configuration information,
or
determining, based on a predefined rule, the random access resource configuration information.
LY further teaches, determining, based on remaining minimum system information (RMSI), the random access resource configuration information (LY646; [0037] a UE may identify a physical resource block (PRB) frequency location of an initial active uplink bandwidth part based at least in part on remaining minimum system information (RMSI) received from a BS. The initial active uplink bandwidth part may be used for a random access channel (RACH) procedure between the UE and the BS.),
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi to include the above recited limitations as taught by LY646 in order to be used for a RACH procedure (LY646; [0141-0144]).
{Office’s Note: Because of the alternative claim language such as “either...or”, only one of the alternative limitations has been analyzed by the examiner.}
Regarding claim 16 MolavianJazi teaches, the method of claim 12,
MolavianJazi fails to explicitly teach, wherein sending the random access resource configuration information comprises:
sending, based on remaining minimum system information (RMSI), the random access resource configuration information
LY further teaches, sending, based on remaining minimum system information (RMSI), the random access resource configuration information (LY646; [0054] BS 110 may transmit, to UE 120, a random access channel (RACH) configuration within remaining minimum system information (RMSI). The RACH configuration may be used to establish an initial active uplink bandwidth part for UE 120.),
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi to include the above recited limitations as taught by LY646 in order to be used for a RACH procedure (LY646; [0141-0144]).
Regarding claims 6 and 17 MolavianJazi-LY teaches, the method of claim 5,
MolavianJazi fails to explicitly teach, wherein determining the random access resource configuration information based on the RMSI comprises:
determining, in response to determining that part of configuration information of the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts is the same, the same configuration information based on the RMSI of a single reception
LY further teaches, determining, in response to determining that part of configuration information of the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts is the same, the same configuration information based on the RMSI of a single reception (LY646; [0037] a BS may transmit, to a UE, a random access channel (RACH) configuration within remaining minimum system information (RMSI). The RACH configuration may be used to establish an initial active uplink bandwidth part for the UE. The initial active uplink bandwidth part may be used for a RACH procedure between the BS and the UE.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi to include the above recited limitations as taught by LY in order to be used for a RACH procedure (LY646; [0141-0144]).
Claims 4 and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over MolavianJazi as applied to claim 1 and 12 above, and further in view of Jiang et al. (Jiang741 hereafter) (US 20220394741 A1).
Regarding claims 4 and 15 MolavianJazi teaches, The method of claim 1,
wherein PRACH resources included in respective initial uplink bandwidth parts of the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts are provided with different time domain positions (Jiang741; [0370-0371] As shown in FIG. 18F, the active UL BWP includes a part of RBs of the RB set per carrier, if the active UL BWP and an initial UL BWP completely overlap, the UE determines that the resource block for transmitting the uplink transmission is: an intersection of resource blocks in the initial UL BWP and the interlaced resource blocks indicated by the indication information).
Claim 7 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over MolavianJazi as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Li et al. (Li546 hereafter) (US 20190387546 A1).
Regarding claim 7 MolavianJazi teaches, the method of claim 1,
MolavianJazi fails to explicitly teach, wherein performing random access based on the random access resource configuration information comprises:
selecting a first initial uplink bandwidth part among the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts indicated by the random access resource configuration information;
performing the random access on the first initial uplink bandwidth part using a listen before talk random access mechanism
However, in the same field of endeavor Li546 teaches selecting a first initial uplink bandwidth part among the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts indicated by the random access resource configuration information (Li546; [0177] the NR-U PRACH LBT can be performed over the initial UL bandwidth part (BWP) for each UE,…[0179] when a UE is assigned PRACH occasions on multiple UL BWPs (e.g., a connected UE is assigned PRACH occasions on multiple active UL BWPs, or an initial access UE is assigned PRACH occasions on multiple initial active BWPs), the UE can perform multiple LBT operations over each UL BWP in parallel.), and performing the random access on the first initial uplink bandwidth part using a listen before talk random access mechanism (Li546; [0177] NR-U PRACH LBT can be performed over the initial UL bandwidth part (BWP) for each UE).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi to include the above recited limitations as taught by Li546 in order to perform multiple LBT operations over each UL BWP in parallel (Li546; [0177]).
Claim 8 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over MolavianJazi-Li546 as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Ingale et al. (Ingale hereafter) (US 20200275494 A1).
Regarding claim 8 MolavianJazi-Li546 teaches, The method of claim 7,
MolavianJazi-Li546 fails to explicitly teach, wherein selecting the first initial uplink bandwidth part among the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts indicated by the random access resource configuration information, comprises:
randomly selecting the first initial uplink bandwidth part among the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts indicated by the random access resource configuration information;
or
selecting, based on a preset rule, the first initial uplink bandwidth part among the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts indicated by the random access resource configuration information.
However, in the same field of endeavor Ingale494 teaches, randomly selecting the first initial uplink bandwidth part among the plurality of initial uplink bandwidth parts indicated by the random access resource configuration information;
(Ingale494; [0081] f the UE supports one or more frequency bands indicated in a frequency band list for the SUL, the UE supports a bandwidth of an initial uplink (UL) bandwidth part (BWP) indicated in a location and bandwidth fields for the SUL based on identifying parameters associated with the SUL included in the acquired SIB1 message. [0087] the bandwidth part criterion indicates that the UE supports at least one of a bandwidth of initial uplink (UL) bandwidth part (BWP) for an UL indicated in a location and bandwidth field of the UL)
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi-Li546 to include the above recited limitations as taught by Ingale494 in order to perform random access procedure (Ingale494; [0082]).
{Office’s Note: Because of the alternative claim language such as “either...or”, only one of the alternative limitations has been analyzed by the examiner.}
Claims 9 and 10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over MolavianJazi-Li546 as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Shi (Shi927 hereafter) (US 20210160927 A1).
Regarding claim 9 MolavianJazi-Li546 teaches, the method of claim 7,
MolavianJazi-Li546 fails to explicitly teach, further comprising: in response to determining that a number of failures of the listen before talk mechanism on the first initial uplink bandwidth part is greater than a first number threshold, switching to a second initial uplink bandwidth part to perform the random access using the listen before talk random access mechanism
However, in the same field of endeavor Ingale494 teaches, in response to determining that a number of failures of the listen before talk mechanism on the first initial uplink bandwidth part is greater than a first number threshold, switching to a second initial uplink bandwidth part to perform the random access using the listen before talk random access mechanism (Shi927; [0013] when the terminal device performs LBT on the currently activated first uplink BWP and fails, switching the currently activated uplink BWP from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP, includes: when the terminal device performs LBT on the currently activated first uplink BWP and a number of failures is greater than or equal to a first threshold value, switching the currently activated uplink BWP from the first uplink BWP to the second uplink BWP).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi-Li546 to include the above recited limitations as taught by Shi927 in order to configure with a contention-based random access resource (Shi927; [0012]).
Regarding claim 10 MolavianJazi-Li546-Shi927 teaches, The method of claim 9,
MolavianJazi-Li546 fails to explicitly teach, wherein the first number threshold is determined based on time of continuous failures of the listen before talk mechanism, or a number of continuous failures of the listen before talk mechanism
Shi927 further teaches, wherein the first number threshold is determined based on time of continuous failures of the listen before talk mechanism, or a number of continuous failures of the listen before talk mechanism (Shi927; [0174] when the performing of LBT on the currently activated first uplink BWP fails, and a number of failures is greater than or equal to a first threshold value,).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi-Li546 to include the above recited limitations as taught by Shi927 in order to configure with a contention-based random access resource (Shi927; [0012]).
Claim 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over MolavianJazi-Li546 as applied to claim 7 above, and further in view of Shi et al. (Shi296 hereafter) (WO 2021/056296 A1).
Regarding claim 11 MolavianJazi-Li546 teaches, The method of claim 7,
further comprising: in response to determining that a number of failures of the listen before talk mechanism on a same component carrier (CC) is greater than a second number threshold, triggering a high-level processing procedure.
However, in the same field of endeavor Shi296 teaches, in response to determining that a number of failures of the listen before talk mechanism on a same component carrier (CC) is greater than a second number threshold, triggering a high-level processing procedure (Shi296; [page10-15] If the time when the terminal device obtains the LBT failure indication for the uplink BWP is not within the first time period, the count value of the LBT failure counter is controlled to increase by 1, and the terminal device starts the first time period at the same time … when the high-level LBT failure-related configuration information is reconfigured, it may include at least one of the following reconfigurations: the threshold of the number of LBT failures, and the length of the first time period.).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date to create the invention of MolavianJazi-Li546 to include the above recited limitations as taught by Shi296 in order to provide an information processing method (Shi296; [Page. 2]).
Conclusion
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/W. T/Examiner, Art Unit 2416
/NOEL R BEHARRY/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2416