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, see Applicant’s Arguments and Remarks, filed 6/30/2026, with respect to the invocation of 35 USC 112(f) have been fully considered and are persuasive. The claims are no longer interpreted under 35 USC 112(f).
The remainder of Applicant's arguments filed 6/30/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Regarding independent claims 1 and 18, Applicant argues that the prior art of Abendi fails to disclose that the upstream node indicates to the repeater a first/second beam for transmission and reception between the repeater and the UE.
Applicant first indicates that Abendi discloses that in DL operation the repeater uses an RX beam to receive an analog signal from an upstream node, amplifies the signal and sends it using a TX beam (which may correspond to the first beam) and in UL operation the reverse is true. But does not disclose the TX and RX beams are indicated by an indication of the network device, as Abendi discloses a beam pattern and not a specific beam for use on the access and fronthaul links.
The Examiner disagrees paragraphs 0047 and 0129 and 0132 of Abendi discloses
In an example, an amplify-forward repeater, which can also be referred to as a Layer 1 (L1) millimeter wave (MMW) repeater, can perform at least one or more of the following operations: receive analog signals on its receive (RX) antennas (e.g., based on some configured RX beamforming), amplify the power of the received analog signal, transmit the amplified signal from its transmit (TX) antennas (e.g., based on some configured TX beamforming), and/or communicate some control information with an upstream node or a server (e.g., serving base station or gNB, CU, DU, IAB node, etc.) via a control connection with the upstream node and/or one or more other upstream nodes. The repeater can use the control information to configure certain aspects of the repeater function, such as communication direction in a time period (e.g., uplink, downlink, etc. per symbol or slot), a beam to use in communicating during a time period, and/or the like. – The signaling indicates the beams to use for RX/TX
That is 0047 discloses that the signing information includes the TX and RX beams for use.
Perhaps a more explicit recitation of this behavior is present in 0129-0132:
[0129] In method 1200, at Block 1204, control information can be received over the control connection from one or more of at least the first or the second node. In an aspect, MT unit 318, e.g., in conjunction with communicating component 242, processor(s) 1012, memory 1016, transceiver 1002, etc., can receive the control information over the control connection from the one or more of at least the first node or the second node. Thus, in some examples, though the repeater 204 may be connected with multiple nodes for the control connection, the repeater 204 may or may not receive control information from all of the nodes. For example, repeater 204 may only receive control information from a primary cell, where connected to multiple cells (e.g., in CA). In other examples, however, repeater 204 may receive control information from multiple cells (e.g., in DC or multi-MT). In an example, the control information may include scheduling information indicating resources for operating the repeater 204, a communication direction for one or more time periods (e.g., uplink, downlink, flexible, etc. for one or more symbols, slots, etc.), beamforming information indicating a beam, transmit/receive beam pair, etc. for one or more symbols, slots, etc., and/or the like.
[0130] In an example, receiving control information for repeater configuration can include receiving the control information as DCI (e.g., using a new DCI format), MAC-CE, and/or RRC messages from at least the first node or the second node. In one example, as described above, the repeater 204 may be configured to receive repeater's configuration from only one cell (or one TRP, e.g. the primary cell). In another example, the repeater 204 It may be configured to receive repeater's configuration from multiple cells (or multiple TRPs). In yet another example, the repeater 204 may receive different configurations from different cells (TRPs)—e.g., receiving repeater-specific RRC configuration from the primary cell, while being configured to monitor for dynamic control (e.g. DCI) on multiple cells (or from multiple TRPs).
[0132] In an example, providing the repeater function may include RU unit 320 determining a beam to use for a given period of time based on beamforming information indicated in the control information (e.g., as a beam or beam pair to use, which can be indicated via a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state or corresponding index), and using the beam for transmitting or receiving communications in the period of time. In another example, providing the repeater function may include RU unit 320 determining a communication direction for the period of time (e.g., for TDM), which may be based on the control information as well, or related received scheduling information from the nodes for which the repeater function is provided.
[0078] In some examples, a repeater device may perform directional communication by using beamforming to communicate with the base station via a first beam pair (e.g., a fronthaul beam pair) and to communicate with a UE via a second beam pair (e.g., an access beam pair). The term “beam pair” may refer to a transmit (Tx) beam used by a first device for transmission and a receive (Rx) beam used by a second device for reception of information transmitted by the first device via the Tx beam.
From 0129-0132, it can be seen that the primary cell/first node sends control information to the repeater via RRC, which contains either explicit beams or beam pairs that are used for the TX/RX operation in a specific time period, which would include the TX/RX beams as discussed in paragraph 0047 and consequently the first and second beams, as the first beam is a RX fronthaul beam (part of the first beam pair) and the second beam is a TX backhaul beam (part of the second beam pair) (for the case of an UL transmission) with the reverse true for a downlink transmission, making clear that the cited beam may be the TX or RX beam to be used at the repeater for transmission or reception, as appropriate based on the configuration. Therefore, Applicant’s Arguments have been considered and are not persuasive.
Regarding the dependent claims, Applicant argues that the claims are allowable for the same reasons stated with respect to claims 1 and 18. Therefore, the examiner disagrees for the same reasons stated with respect to claims 1 and 18.
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.
Claims 10 and 12 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.
Regarding claims 10 and 12, the claims both require that the first indication is sent by the PDSCH. However, the independent claim requires that the first indication is sent via PDCCH. Therefore, the claims are indefinite as it is not clear if the PDCCH OR PDSCH is used to send the first indication.
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) 1-4, 6, 8-9 and 13-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abendi, et al. (US Pre Grant Publication No. 2022/0182130 A1) in view of Abendi II (US Pre Grant Publication No. 2022/0053486 A1)
Regarding claim 1, Abendi discloses a beam indicating apparatus for a repeater, configured in a network device, wherein the apparatus comprises a memory and processor circuit (paragaprh 0153) connected to the memory configured to:
transmit a first indication to the repeater, the first indication being used to indicate at least one beam, (Albendi discloses a gNB/TRP/network device (i.e. upstream device) configures a repeater using DCI, MAC or RRC configuration via a control message [paragraph 0083] the configuration may include a TDD pattern for transmission including a beam pair to use for forward transmissions including at least one downlink TX beam pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a first beam] and one fronthaul RX beam pattern to use for reception from the gNB/network device [i.e. a fourth beam] and beam pair to use for reverse transmissions including at least one uplink TX RX pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a second beam] and one fronthaul TX beam pattern to use for transmission to the gNB/network device [i.e. a third beam] [i.e. a fourth indication, as discussed in the dependent claims, infra] [paragraphs 0082, 0069, 0047, 0129-0132 – discussing generally TDD configuration and assignment of specific beam patterns at the repeater for use on the backhaul and access links for TX and RX; paragraph 0154 –backhaul and access links in respective forward and reverse links may be joined to form beam pairs forming a complete set of links for forward and reverse transmission in one direction. Based on the fourth indication, the first indication is a dynamic indication of a particular TDD pattern, direction and beams indicated by the fourth indication is to be used for a particular timeslot or symbol, for example using DCI or RRC [paragraphs 0085, 0088, 0151].)
the first indication being MAC layer signaling and/or being RRC layer signaling (paragraph 0130 – the received information may be in a MAC-CE or RRC message)
wherein the at least one beam includes a first beam and/or a second beam, the first beam being used by the repeater to forward a first signal from the network device to a terminal equipment, the second beam being used by the repeater to receive a second signal from the terminal equipment, the second signal being used for being forwarded to the network device. (The relay is configured by the with a beam pattern to be used in the UL or DL TDD slot which includes a first beam for a DL slot [i.e. DL access link beam to the UE] and a second beam for an UL slot [i.e. UL access link beam to the UE] [paragraphs 0082, 0069, 0047, 0129-0132, 0154 – see (a), supra].)
the second beam is denoted by a beam index (Abendi discloses that on the fronthaul is associated with a beam index [paragraph 0091].)
Abendi fails to explicitly disclose the first beam and the second beam are denoted by a beam index or the first indication is transmitted via PDCCH. In the same field of endeavor, Abendi II discloses the first beam and the second beam are denoted by a beam index or the first indication is transmitted via PDCCH (Abendi II discloses that configured beam identifiers at the relay are associated directly with one or more denoted actual beam indices [paragraphs 0194-0195] and the first indication/control information are transmitted via PDCCH [paragraph 0179].)
Therefore, since Abendi II discloses a beam is also associated with a beam index and first indication/control information transmission via PDCCH, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the beam index of Abendi II with the system of Abendi by denoting a first and second beam using a beam index and sending the first indication/control information using PDCCH. The motive to combine is to use an easy to designate identifier, the beam index and to further include beam control information an already existent control channel the PDCCH, to reduce overhead vs instantiating another control channel.
Regarding claim 2, Abendi discloses the first indication is used to indicate a first time period, the first time period being used by the repeater to forward the first signal by using the first beam and/or receive the second signal by using the second beam, the first time period being used by the repeater to transmit a third signal to the network device by using a third beam and/or receive a fourth signal coming from the network device by using a fourth beam. (As discussed, supra, the first indication indicates which beam pair and TDD information associated with which base station configured by the fourth indication is applied in a particular slot/symbol and may indicate [via the selected fourth indication] a TDD pattern for transmission including a beam pair to use for forward transmissions including at least one downlink TX beam pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a first beam] and one fronthaul RX beam pattern to use for reception from the gNB/network device [i.e. a fourth beam] and beam pair to use for reverse transmissions including at least one uplink TX RX pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a second beam] and one fronthaul TX beam pattern to use for transmission to the gNB/network device [i.e. a third beam][paragraphs 0082, 0069, 0047 – discussing generally TDD configuration and assignment of specific beam patterns at the repeater for use on the backhaul and access links for TX and RX via fourth indication; paragraph 0154 –backhaul and access links in respective forward and reverse links may be joined to form beam pairs forming a complete set of links for forward and reverse transmission in one direction in the fourth indication; paragraphs 0085, 0088, 0151 – selection of one of the configured pairs using the first indication for transmission in a particular slot/symbol].)
Regarding claim 3, Abendi discloses the first signal is generated by the repeater by amplifying the fourth signal, and the third signal is generated by the repeater by amplifying the second signal. (Abendi discloses forward transmissions including at least one downlink TX beam pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a first beam] and one fronthaul RX beam pattern to use for reception from the gNB/network device [i.e. a fourth beam] and beam pair to use for reverse transmissions including at least one uplink TX RX pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a second beam] and one fronthaul TX beam pattern to use for transmission to the gNB/network device [paragraphs 0082, 0069, 0047, 0154]. Transmission is carried out by direct amplify and forward transmission [paragraph 0069, 0153].)
Regarding claim 4, Abendi discloses the processor circuitry is configured to transmit a fourth indication to the repeater, the fourth indication being used to indicate at least one combination of the first beam and/or the second beam and the first time period, the first time period consisting of at least one time unit, the at least one time unit being a symbol and/or a slot. (The fourth indication configures the beam indicates a particular TDD pattern, direction, beams indicated configured for a particular base station/gNB/network node and includes an indication of the slots that are configured with the particular settings [paragraph 0082].)
Regarding claim 6, Abendi discloses the first indication is carried by DCI and the fourth indication is a semi-static indication and is carried by an RRC layer (The first indication is carried by DCI and indicates, for a particular slot or symbol, which TDD pattern, direction and beams configured by the fourth indication is to be used [0151-0152- indexes of TDD patterns dynamically received; 0085 – dynamic reception via DCI). The fourth indication may be via RRC (see claim 1, supra, paragraph 0082) and is semi static as it persists across multiple dynamic allocations via DCI and does not change until another RRC is received [paragraphs 0082-0083]).
Abendi as modified fails to disclose the first indication is carried by the first PDCCH. In the same field of endeavor, Abendi II discloses the first indication is carried by a first PDCCH. (Abendi II discloses the DCI is transmitted using PDCCH (paragraphs 0074, 0188).)
Therefore since Abendi II discloses using PDCCH to send DCI, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to use the PDCCH transmission of Abendi II in the system of Abendi by transmitting the DCI information containing the first indication in Abendi a using a PDCCH, as taught by Abendi II. The motive to combine is to transmit the DCI in the PDCCH, which is a control channel instead of requiring an additional separate control channel for the DCI transmission to conserve overhead.
Regarding claim 8, Abendi discloses the first indication being used to indicate one or more combinations in the at least one combination of the first beam and/or the second beam and the first time period indicated by the fourth indication to the repeater. (Based on the fourth indication, the first indication is a dynamic indication of a particular TDD pattern, direction and beams indicated by the fourth indication and is to be used for allocation of multiple timeslots or symbols, forming different combinations of the beams and time periods [paragraphs 0085, 0088, 0151].)
Regarding claim 9, Abendi discloses the first indication is used to indicate, an index of one or more combinations in the at least one combination of the first beam and/or the second beam and the first time period indicated by the fourth indication, to the repeater. (The first indication/dynamic DCI indication may indicate an index or the TDD Pattern associated with the beam combination and time period [paragraphs 0151-0152].)
Regarding claim 13, Abendi discloses the processor circuitry is configured to transmit an eleventh indication to the repeater, the eleventh indication being used to indicate at least one beam, the at least one beam indicated by the eleventh indication being the third beam and/or the fourth beam, the third beam and the fourth beam being denoted by TCI; and the fourth signal received by the repeater from the network device by using the fourth beam includes a signal transmitted by the network device to the terminal equipment, and/or the third signal transmitted by the repeater to the network device by using the third beam includes a signal transmitted by the terminal equipment to the network device. (Abendi discloses that the system may send an eleventh indication in the form of an additional dynamic indication of which combination of beam pair [i.e. the first and fourth or second and third beams for UL OR DL transmission, respectively] to use for transmission based on TCI indications of the beam sets to use [0150- each beam pattern indexed may be identified by beam identifier/TCI state; TCI state dynamically indicated to disclose which TDD pattern(s) to use in a particular symbol or slot [0154].)
Regarding claim 14, Abendi discloses he fourth signal is not used by the repeater to perform demodulation and/or decoding. (Albendi discloses that the forwarded signals, including the fourth signal, are not demodulated or decoded but are instead only amplified and forwarded [paragraph 0069, 0046].)
Regarding claim 15, Abendi discloses the processor circuitry is configured to transmit a twelfth indication to the repeater, the twelfth indication being used to indicate at least one beam, the at least one beam indicated by the twelfth indication being the fourth beam, the fourth beam being denoted by TCI; and the fourth signal received by the repeater from the network device at the first time period by using the fourth beam includes only a signal transmitted by the transmitter to the terminal equipment (Abendi discloses that the system may send an twelfth indication in the form of an additional dynamic indication of which combination of fourth beam pair [i.e. the first and fourth beams for DL transmission, respectively] to use for transmission based on TCI indications of the beam sets to use [0150- each beam pattern indexed may be identified by beam identifier/TCI state; TCI state dynamically indicated to disclose which TDD pattern(s) to use in a particular symbol or slot [0154].)
Regarding claim 16, Abendi discloses the signal transmitted by the transmitter to the terminal equipment contained in the fourth signal is not used by the repeater to perform demodulation and/or decoding. (Albendi discloses that the forwarded signals, including the fourth signal, are not demodulated or decoded but are instead only amplified and forwarded [paragraph 0069, 0046].)
Regarding claim 17, Abendi discloses the network device is a network device of a serving cell of the repeater, and/or the network device is a network device of a serving cell of the terminal equipment. (Albendi discloses that the relay may be exclusive to the repeater and therefore is a network device of a serving cell of the repeater [paragraph 0082] and the UE is associated with the same single serving cell [paragraph 0082].)
Regarding claim 18, Abendi discloses a repeater comprising a memory and a processor circuitry connected to the memory and configured to :
receive a first indication coming from a network device, the first indication being used to indicate at least one beam, the at least one beam indicated by the first indication including a first beam and/or a second beam and a transmitter configured to forward a first signal coming from the network device to a terminal equipment, wherein the first beam being used by the transmitter to forward the first signal, the second beam being used by the receiver to receive a second signal coming from the terminal equipment for being forwarded to the network device (Albendi discloses a gNB/TRP/network device (i.e. upstream device) configures a repeater using DCI, MAC or RRC configuration via a control message [paragraph 0083] the configuration may include a TDD pattern for transmission including a beam pair to use for forward transmissions including at least one downlink TX beam pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a first beam] and one fronthaul RX beam pattern to use for reception from the gNB/network device [i.e. a fourth beam] and beam pair to use for reverse transmissions including at least one uplink TX RX pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a second beam] and one fronthaul TX beam pattern to use for transmission to the gNB/network device [i.e. a third beam] [i.e. a fourth indication, as discussed in the dependent claims, infra] [paragraphs 0082, 0069, 0047, 0129-0132 – discussing generally TDD configuration and assignment of specific beam patterns at the repeater for use on the backhaul and access links for TX and RX; paragraph 0154 –backhaul and access links in respective forward and reverse links may be joined to form beam pairs forming a complete set of links for forward and reverse transmission in one direction. Based on the fourth indication, the first indication is a dynamic indication of a particular TDD pattern, direction and beams indicated by the fourth indication is to be used for a particular timeslot or symbol, for example using DCI or RRC [paragraphs 0085, 0088, 0151].)
the first indication being MAC layer signaling and/or being RRC layer signaling (paragraph 0130 – the received information may be in a MAC-CE or RRC message)
the second beam is denoted by a beam index (Abendi discloses that on the fronthaul is associated with a beam index [paragraph 0091].)
Abendi fails to explicitly disclose the first beam and the second beam are denoted by a beam index or the first indication is transmitted via PDCCH. In the same field of endeavor, Abendi II discloses the first beam and the second beam are denoted by a beam index or the first indication is transmitted via PDCCH (Abendi II discloses that configured beam identifiers at the relay are associated directly with one or more denoted actual beam indices [paragraphs 0194-0195] and the first indication/control information are transmitted via PDCCH [paragraph 0179].)
Therefore, since Abendi II discloses a beam is also associated with a beam index and first indication/control information transmission via PDCCH, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the beam index of Abendi II with the system of Abendi by denoting a first and second beam using a beam index and sending the first indication/control information using PDCCH. The motive to combine is to use an easy to designate identifier, the beam index and to further include beam control information an already existent control channel the PDCCH, to reduce overhead vs instantiating another control channel.
Regarding claim 19, Abendi discloses the first indication is further used to indicate a first time period, the first time period being used by the transmitter to forward the first signal by using the first beam and/or being used by the receiver to receive the second signal by using the second beam, and the first time period is further used by the transmitter to transmit a third signal to the network device by using a third beam and/or being used by the receiver to receive a fourth signal coming from the network device by using a fourth beam. (As discussed, supra, the first indication indicates which beam pair and TDD information associated with which base station configured by the fourth indication is applied in a particular slot/symbol and may indicate [via the selected fourth indication] a TDD pattern for transmission including a beam pair to use for forward transmissions including at least one downlink TX beam pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a first beam] and one fronthaul RX beam pattern to use for reception from the gNB/network device [i.e. a fourth beam] and beam pair to use for reverse transmissions including at least one uplink TX RX pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a second beam] and one fronthaul TX beam pattern to use for transmission to the gNB/network device [i.e. a third beam][paragraphs 0082, 0069, 0047 – discussing generally TDD configuration and assignment of specific beam patterns at the repeater for use on the backhaul and access links for TX and RX via fourth indication; paragraph 0154 –backhaul and access links in respective forward and reverse links may be joined to form beam pairs forming a complete set of links for forward and reverse transmission in one direction in the fourth indication; paragraphs 0085, 0088, 0151 – selection of one of the configured pairs using the first indication for transmission in a particular slot/symbol].)
Regarding claim 20, Abendi discloses the processor circuitry configured to generate the first signal by amplifying the fourth signal, and generate the third signal by amplifying the second signal. (Abendi discloses forward transmissions including at least one downlink TX beam pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a first beam] and one fronthaul RX beam pattern to use for reception from the gNB/network device [i.e. a fourth beam] and beam pair to use for reverse transmissions including at least one uplink TX RX pattern for use on the access link to the UE [i.e. a second beam] and one fronthaul TX beam pattern to use for transmission to the gNB/network device [paragraphs 0082, 0069, 0047, 0154]. Transmission is carried out by direct amplify and forward transmission [paragraph 0069, 0153].)
Claim(s) 5 and 11 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abendi, et al. (US Pre Grant Publication No. 2022/0182130 A1) in view of Abendi II (US Pre Grant Publication No. 2022/0053486 A1) as applied to claims 2 and 4 and further in view of Oh, et al. (US Pre Grant Publication No. 2008/0175215).
Regarding claim 5, Abendi as modified by Abendi II fails to disclose the fourth indication indicates a starting position and length of the first time period in the at least one combination, and the length of the first time period being denoted by the number of symbols and/or the number of slots, and the starting position of the first time period is offset. In the same field of endeavor Oh discloses he fourth indication indicates a starting position and length of the first time period in the at least one combination, and the length of the first time period being denoted by the number of symbols and/or the number of slots, and the starting position of the first time period is offset. (Oh discloses that the size of a dedicated relay section may be indicated by a symbol offset and symbol length [paragraph 0093 and claims 6 and 8].)
Therefore, since Oh discloses offset and length indications, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the length and offset indicators of Oh with the system of Abendi as modified by Abendi II by including a length and offset to specify the length of the time period of Abendi as modified by Abendi II. The motive to combine is to allow the location and length of the period to be exactly specified for better flexibility in allocations.
Abendi discloses the first indication is RRC layer signaling, the first indication of the RRC layer signaling indicates at least one combination of the first beam and/or the second beam and the first time period. (Albendi discloses that the first indication of which beam pair and TDD pattern indicated by the fourth indication to use in a particular time period may be semi-statically indicated via RRC signaling [0151-0152 – semi-static designation; paragaprh 0088- semi static configuration via RRC].)
Regarding claim 11, Abendi as modified by Abendi II fails to disclose the first indication is the RRC layer signaling indicates a starting position, length and period of the first time period in the at least one combination, and the length of the first time period being denoted by the number of symbols and/or the number of slots, and the starting position of the first time period is offset. In the same field of endeavor, Oh discloses the first indication of the RRC layer signaling indicates a starting position, length and period of the first time period in the at least one combination, and the length of the first time period being denoted by the number of symbols and/or the number of slots, and the starting position of the first time period is offset (Oh discloses that the size of a dedicated relay section may be indicated by a symbol offset and symbol length [paragraph 0093 and claims 6 and 8].)
Therefore, since Oh discloses offset and length indications, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the invention to combine the length and offset indicators of Oh with the system of Abendi as modified by Abendi II by including a length and offset to specify the length of the time period of in the first RRC indication of Abendi as modified by Abendi II. The motive to combine is to allow the location and length of the period to be exactly specified for better flexibility in allocations.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 7 is 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.
Claims 10 and 12 would be allowable if rewritten to overcome 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 and to include all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Regarding claim 7, the claim recites the processor circuitry is configured to transmit a third indication to the repeater, the third indication being used to indicate the repeater to receive the first PDCCH by using an eighth beam. This indicates that the first PDCCH is received using a different beam from the fourth beam used for fronthaul data transmission via the repeater (see claim 2). This could not be found in the prior art. That is, in typical systems a receiving device alone makes the RX beam determinations and it is highly unusual to have a base station directly specifying the RX beam to be used by a receiving device. The system of Abendi discloses, that in the case of a relay as a forwarding device, it is known to set the RX beam used for amplify and forward as the fourth beam for data transmission via the repeater. However, Albendi appears to use this same beam for all reception at the relay device, or is at least silent as to how the relay device selects a beam for the PDCCH. Furthermore, no other art could be located that teaches separately setting the receive beam for the PDCCH in the way specified, as, for the reasons discussed, supra, it is unusual for a base station to directly specify a RX beam as a device can measure and select a RX beam on its own. Therefore, the prior art fails to teach, suggest or disclose all elements of the claimed invention.
Regarding claims 10 and 12, the claims both recite the second indication being used to indicate the repeater to receive the first PDSCH by using a seventh beam. As was the case with the PDCCH in claim 7, supra, this would require that the PDSCH uses a different seventh beam from the forwarded fourth beam to receive the PDSCH. As was the case with respect to claim 7, supra, no art teaching this element could be located. Therefore, the prior art fails to teach, suggest or disclose all elements of the claimed invention.
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 CHRISTOPHER M CRUTCHFIELD whose telephone number is (571)270-3989. The examiner can normally be reached 9am-5pm M-F.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Faruk Hamza can be reached at (571) 272-7969. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER M CRUTCHFIELD/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2466
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