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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 4/4/24 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
Claim Objections
Applicant is advised that should claims 3-5 be found allowable, claims 10-12 will be objected to under 37 CFR 1.75 as being a substantial duplicate thereof. When two claims in an application are duplicates or else are so close in content that they both cover the same thing, despite a slight difference in wording, it is proper after allowing one claim to object to the other as being a substantial duplicate of the allowed claim. See MPEP § 608.01(m).
Claims 16-20 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Regarding claims 16-20, it appears that each of these claims should be directed to “the non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15” rather than “the wireless device of claim 15” since they each depend on “non-transitory computer-readable medium” claim 15.
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 8, 9, 13, and 14 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.
Claim 8 recites the limitation "the base station" in lines 3-4 . There is insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim. Specifically, it is unclear whether the claimed “wireless device” is causing the claimed “base station” to transmit configuration parameters and receive preambles or if the claim should instead be directed to “a base station”.
Regarding claim 9, there is some confusion regarding the limitation “cause the wireless device to transmit a downlink control message triggering the random-access procedure”. Specifically, it is unclear whether the claimed “wireless device” is causing the claimed “base station” to transmit a downlink control message triggering the random-access procedure or if the claim should instead be directed to “the base station”.
Regarding claim 13, there is some confusion regarding the limitation “cause the wireless device to transmit second configuration parameters that do not comprise the parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions”. Specifically, it is unclear whether the claimed “wireless device” is causing the claimed “base station” to transmit second configuration parameters that do not comprise the parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions or if the claim should instead be directed to “the base station”.
Regarding claim 14, there is some confusion regarding the limitation “cause the wireless device to receive a single preamble based on the second configuration parameters not comprising the parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions”. Specifically, it is unclear whether the claimed “wireless device” is causing the claimed “base station” to receive a single preamble based on the second configuration parameters not comprising the parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions or if the claim should instead be directed to “the base station”.
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) 1-5, 8-12, and 15-19 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wang et al. (U.S. 2023/0397256) (hereinafter “Wang”). Wang teaches all of the limitations of the specified claims with the reasoning that follows.
Regarding claim 1, “a wireless device comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to: receive first configuration parameters comprising a parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions” is anticipated by a base station 300 of Figure 3 that transmits, to a UE (wireless device), an indication indicating that the base station supports a combination of multiple preamble receptions, and configures parameters (first configuration parameters) and resources for the UE to perform a random access (random-access procedure) to the base station with preamble aggregation (enabling multiple preamble transmissions) as shown in steps 410 and 420 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055]; where the UE 500 of Figure 5 includes a processor 504 coupled to a memory 506.
Lastly, “in response to the first configuration parameters comprising the parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions, transmit, for a random-access procedure, a plurality of preambles” is anticipated by the base station that receives and analyzes, from the UE, a first message comprising multiple copies of a preamble (plurality of preambles) in response to the parameter and resource configuration as shown in steps 420 and 430 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055].
Regarding claim 2, “wherein the instructions further cause the wireless device to receive a downlink control message triggering the random-access procedure” is anticipated by a base station 300 of Figure 3 that transmits, to a UE (wireless device), an indication (downlink control message) indicating that the base station supports a combination of multiple preamble receptions, and configures parameters (first configuration parameters) and resources for the UE to perform a random access (random-access procedure) to the base station with preamble aggregation (enabling multiple preamble transmissions) as shown in steps 410 and 420 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055].
Regarding claim 3, “wherein the wireless device is in a non-terrestrial network (NTN)” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a non-terrestrial reception point for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication (NTN) while the UE may be configured as a terrestrial device for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
Regarding claim 4, “wherein the NTN is at least one of: a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network; a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite network; a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite network; a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite network a high-altitude platform satellite (HAPS) satellite network; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) satellite network; or a drone-based satellite network” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a non-terrestrial reception point for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication (NTN) while the UE may be configured as a terrestrial device for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
Regarding claim 5, “wherein the wireless device is not enabled with a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) transceiver” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a radio transceiver in a vehicle of a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless network while the UE may be configured as a radio transceiver in a vehicle of a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless network (not a GNSS transceiver) as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
Regarding claim 8, “a wireless device comprising: one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the base station to: transmit first configuration parameters comprising a parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions” is anticipated by a base station 300 of Figure 3 that transmits, to a UE (wireless device), an indication indicating that the base station supports a combination of multiple preamble receptions, and configures parameters (first configuration parameters) and resources for the UE to perform a random access (random-access procedure) to the base station with preamble aggregation (enabling multiple preamble transmissions) as shown in steps 410 and 420 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055]; where the UE 500 of Figure 5 includes a processor 504 coupled to a memory 506.
Lastly, “receive, for a random-access procedure, a plurality of preambles” is anticipated by the base station that receives and analyzes, from the UE, a first message comprising multiple copies of a preamble (plurality of preambles) in response to the parameter and resource configuration as shown in steps 420 and 430 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055].
Regarding claim 9, “wherein the instructions further cause the wireless device to transmit a downlink control message triggering the random-access procedure” is anticipated by a base station 300 of Figure 3 that transmits, to a UE (wireless device), an indication (downlink control message) indicating that the base station supports a combination of multiple preamble receptions, and configures parameters (first configuration parameters) and resources for the UE to perform a random access (random-access procedure) to the base station with preamble aggregation (enabling multiple preamble transmissions) as shown in steps 410 and 420 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055].
Regarding claim 10, “wherein the wireless device is in a non-terrestrial network (NTN)” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a non-terrestrial reception point for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication (NTN) while the UE may be configured as a terrestrial device for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
Regarding claim 11, “wherein the NTN is at least one of: a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network; a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite network; a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite network; a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite network a high-altitude platform satellite (HAPS) satellite network; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) satellite network; or a drone-based satellite network” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a non-terrestrial reception point for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication (NTN) while the UE may be configured as a terrestrial device for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
Regarding claim 12, “wherein the wireless device is not enabled with a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) transceiver” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a radio transceiver in a vehicle of a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless network while the UE may be configured as a radio transceiver in a vehicle of a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless network (not a GNSS transceiver) as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
Regarding claim 15, “a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless device, cause the wireless device to: receive first configuration parameters comprising a parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions” is anticipated by a base station 300 of Figure 3 that transmits, to a UE (wireless device), an indication indicating that the base station supports a combination of multiple preamble receptions, and configures parameters (first configuration parameters) and resources for the UE to perform a random access (random-access procedure) to the base station with preamble aggregation (enabling multiple preamble transmissions) as shown in steps 410 and 420 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055]; where the UE 500 of Figure 5 includes a processor 504 coupled to a memory 506; and where the above steps may be implemented using a computer-readable medium including instructions as spoken of on page 10, paragraph [0114].
Lastly, “in response to the first configuration parameters comprising the parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions, transmit, for a random-access procedure, a plurality of preambles” is anticipated by the base station that receives and analyzes, from the UE, a first message comprising multiple copies of a preamble (plurality of preambles) in response to the parameter and resource configuration as shown in steps 420 and 430 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055].
Regarding claim 16, “wherein the instructions further cause the wireless device to receive a downlink control message triggering the random-access procedure” is anticipated by a base station 300 of Figure 3 that transmits, to a UE (wireless device), an indication (downlink control message) indicating that the base station supports a combination of multiple preamble receptions, and configures parameters (first configuration parameters) and resources for the UE to perform a random access (random-access procedure) to the base station with preamble aggregation (enabling multiple preamble transmissions) as shown in steps 410 and 420 of Figure 4 and spoken of on page 5, paragraph [0055].
Regarding claim 17, “wherein the wireless device is in a non-terrestrial network (NTN)” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a non-terrestrial reception point for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication (NTN) while the UE may be configured as a terrestrial device for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
Regarding claim 18, “wherein the NTN is at least one of: a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite network; a medium earth orbit (MEO) satellite network; a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite network; a highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellite network a high-altitude platform satellite (HAPS) satellite network; an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) satellite network; or a drone-based satellite network” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a non-terrestrial reception point for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication (NTN) while the UE may be configured as a terrestrial device for satellite/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) communication as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
Regarding claim 19, “wherein the wireless device is not enabled with a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) transceiver” is anticipated by the UE 210 that communicates with the base station 220 via a wireless communication network, where the base station may be configured as a radio transceiver in a vehicle of a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless network while the UE may be configured as a radio transceiver in a vehicle of a vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) wireless network (not a GNSS transceiver) as spoken of on page 2, paragraph [0029].
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.
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) 6, 7, 13, 14, and 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang in view of Ou et al. (U.S. 2019/0059112) (hereinafter “Ou”).
Regarding claims 6, 7, 13, 14, and 20, Wang teaches claims 1 and 15 as described above. Wang does not explicitly teach “wherein the instructions further cause the wireless device to receive (transmit) second configuration parameters that do not comprise the parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions” or “wherein the instructions further cause the wireless device to transmit (receive) a single preamble based on the second configuration parameters not comprising the parameter for enabling multiple preamble transmissions”.
However, Ou teaches a method and apparatus for random access configuration in a wireless communication system where a UE may need to transmit one (single) or multiple/repeated preamble(s) within a subset of RACH resources that may be informed by received broadcast system information (second configuration parameters) as spoken of on page 4, paragraph [0106].
Given the above references, it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filing date of the invention, to apply the informed transmission of either a single preamble or multiple/repeated preambles as taught in Ou to the system of Wang in order to provide a more adaptive system that can selectively transmit a preamble(s) in relation to a specific network configuration, thereby conserving RACH resources as spoken of on page 4, paragraph [0106] of Ou.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. References considered relevant to this application are listed in the attached “Notice of References Cited” (PTO-892).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL J. MOORE, JR., whose telephone number is (571)272-3168. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (9am-4pm).
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/MICHAEL J MOORE JR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2467