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 .
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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 13-14 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abedini further in view of 3. Raghavan et al. (US Publication 2020/0359435 A1).
In regards to claim 1, Abedini et al. (US Publication 2022/0053486 A1) teaches, a wireless communication method comprising: performing, by a wireless communication node with a network node, an initial access process (see paragraph 158, see figure 11, step 1108; the BS 1102 and the repeater device 1104 perform an initial access procedure and establish an RRC connection; the repeater is the network node and the base station is the wireless communication node); and identifying, by the wireless communication node, the network node according to a message from the network node in the initial access process or after the initial access process (see paragraph 159; During call 1108, the BS 1102 and the repeater device 1104 may identify the beams they will use to communicate with each other. In addition, the BS 1102 and the repeater device 1104 may exchange configuration information, capability information, and other information in some examples); wherein the network node is adopted to amplify signals between the wireless communication node and a user equipment (see paragraph 148; The repeater device 1000 may include a relay unit (RU) 1002, one or more antenna arrays (or antennas, antenna panels, and/or the like) such as a receive (Rx) array 1004 and a transmit (Tx) array 1006, and an MT unit 1008 as discussed herein. The RU 1002 includes an amplifier 1010 for amplifying signals received via the receive array 1004 and transmitting the amplified signals via the transmit array 1006).
In further regards to claim 1, Abedini teaches, in paragraph 145 “The RU 910 provides relaying (e.g., reception, amplification, and transmission) functionality to permit communication of traffic (e.g., user data) from the base station 902 to reach the UE 906 and/or to enable traffic from the UE 906 to reach the base station 902”.
However, Abedini fails to teach, transmitting by a wireless communication node to a network node, an indication indicating that the network node is supported by the wireless communication node.
Raghavan et al. (US Publication 2020/0359435 A1) teaches, transmitting by a wireless communication node to a network node, an indication indicating that the network node is supported by the wireless communication node (see figure 3 where device 115g can act as a relay; see paragraph 118; the first UE 115-f or the second UE 115-g may transmit an indication to the base station that a relay link has been established between the first UE 115-f and the second UE 115-g; see figure 2 and paragraph 103; The relay link techniques described herein may be implemented in various types of UEs 115, such as repeater devices or repeaters, UEs configured with repeater functionality, routers, smart nodes).
Abedini and Raghavan both relate to relay/repeater configurations.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the indication from the smart node as taught by Raghavan into the teachings of Abedini. The motivation to do so would be improve communications by having coverage extensions where signals from the base station can be boosted to cover otherwise dead zones.
In regards to claim 2, Abedini teaches, wherein the network node is identified based on a Random Access Channel Occasion, RO, and a Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble (see paragraph 159 for the identification as sated above; see paragraph 95; the RACH configuration identifies monitoring occasions (MOs) that specify a set of symbols (e.g., in a PRACH slot) that are scheduled by a base station for the PRACH procedure. The RACH configuration may also indicate the size of a random access response window during which the UE is to monitor for a response to a PRACH preamble. The RACH configuration may further specify that the random access response window starts a certain number of sub-frames after the end of the PRACH preamble in some examples. After obtaining the MIB, the RMSI and/or the OSI, the UE may thus perform a random access procedure for initial access to the RAN).
In regards to claim 13, Abedini teaches, A wireless communication method comprising: transmitting, by a network node to a wireless communication node, a message in an initial access process or after the initial access process, to allow the wireless communication node to identify the network node according to the message (see paragraph 158, see figure 11, step 1108; the BS 1102 and the repeater device 1104 perform an initial access procedure and establish an RRC connection; the repeater is the network node and the base station is the wireless communication node); wherein the network node is adopted to amplify signals between the wireless communication node and a user equipment (see paragraph 148; The repeater device 1000 may include a relay unit (RU) 1002, one or more antenna arrays (or antennas, antenna panels, and/or the like) such as a receive (Rx) array 1004 and a transmit (Tx) array 1006, and an MT unit 1008 as discussed herein. The RU 1002 includes an amplifier 1010 for amplifying signals received via the receive array 1004 and transmitting the amplified signals via the transmit array 1006).
In further regards to claim 13, Abedini teaches, in paragraph 145 “The RU 910 provides relaying (e.g., reception, amplification, and transmission) functionality to permit communication of traffic (e.g., user data) from the base station 902 to reach the UE 906 and/or to enable traffic from the UE 906 to reach the base station 902”.
However, Abedini fails to teach, receiving, by a network node from a wireless communication node, an indication indicating that the network node is supported by the wireless communication node.
Raghavan et al. (US Publication 2020/0359435 A1) teaches, receiving, by a network node from a wireless communication node, an indication indicating that the network node is supported by the wireless communication node (see figure 3 where device 115g can act as a relay; see paragraph 118; the first UE 115-f or the second UE 115-g may transmit an indication to the base station that a relay link has been established between the first UE 115-f and the second UE 115-g; see figure 2 and paragraph 103; The relay link techniques described herein may be implemented in various types of UEs 115, such as repeater devices or repeaters, UEs configured with repeater functionality, routers, smart nodes).
Abedini and Raghavan both relate to relay/repeater configurations.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the indication from the smart node as taught by Raghavan into the teachings of Abedini. The motivation to do so would be improve communications by having coverage extensions where signals from the base station can be boosted to cover otherwise dead zones.
In regards to claim 14, Abedini teaches, wherein the network node is identified based on a Random Access Channel Occasion, RO, and a Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble (see paragraph 159 for the identification as sated above; see paragraph 95; the RACH configuration identifies monitoring occasions (MOs) that specify a set of symbols (e.g., in a PRACH slot) that are scheduled by a base station for the PRACH procedure. The RACH configuration may also indicate the size of a random access response window during which the UE is to monitor for a response to a PRACH preamble. The RACH configuration may further specify that the random access response window starts a certain number of sub-frames after the end of the PRACH preamble in some examples. After obtaining the MIB, the RMSI and/or the OSI, the UE may thus perform a random access procedure for initial access to the RAN).
In regards to claim 20, Abedini teaches, a wireless communication method comprising: receiving, by a wireless communication node from a network node, an identity report message comprising an identity of the network node (see paragraph 158, see figure 11, step 1108; the BS 1102 and the repeater device 1104 perform an initial access procedure and establish an RRC connection; the repeater is the network node and the base station is the wireless communication node; see paragraph 159; During call 1108, the BS 1102 and the repeater device 1104 may identify the beams they will use to communicate with each other. In addition, the BS 1102 and the repeater device 1104 may exchange configuration information, capability information, and other information in some examples); and performing, by the wireless communication node, an authentication for the network node according to the identity of the network node (see paragraph 61; the ability for a UE to communicate while moving, independent of the location of the UE, is referred to as mobility. The various physical channels between the UE and the RAN 200 are generally set up, maintained, and released under the control of an access and mobility management function (AMF), which may include a security context management function (SCMF) that manages the security context for both the control plane and the user plane functionality and a security anchor function (SEAF) that performs authentication); wherein the network node is adopted to amplify signals between the wireless communication node and a user equipment (see paragraph 148; The repeater device 1000 may include a relay unit (RU) 1002, one or more antenna arrays (or antennas, antenna panels, and/or the like) such as a receive (Rx) array 1004 and a transmit (Tx) array 1006, and an MT unit 1008 as discussed herein. The RU 1002 includes an amplifier 1010 for amplifying signals received via the receive array 1004 and transmitting the amplified signals via the transmit array 1006).
In further regards to claim 20, Abedini teaches, in paragraph 145 “The RU 910 provides relaying (e.g., reception, amplification, and transmission) functionality to permit communication of traffic (e.g., user data) from the base station 902 to reach the UE 906 and/or to enable traffic from the UE 906 to reach the base station 902”.
However, Abedini fails to teach, transmitting by a wireless communication node to a network node, an indication indicating that the network node is supported by the wireless communication node.
Raghavan et al. (US Publication 2020/0359435 A1) teaches, transmitting by a wireless communication node to a network node, an indication indicating that the network node is supported by the wireless communication node (see figure 3 where device 115g can act as a relay; see paragraph 118; the first UE 115-f or the second UE 115-g may transmit an indication to the base station that a relay link has been established between the first UE 115-f and the second UE 115-g; see figure 2 and paragraph 103; The relay link techniques described herein may be implemented in various types of UEs 115, such as repeater devices or repeaters, UEs configured with repeater functionality, routers, smart nodes).
Abedini and Raghavan both relate to relay/repeater configurations.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the indication from the smart node as taught by Raghavan into the teachings of Abedini. The motivation to do so would be improve communications by having coverage extensions where signals from the base station can be boosted to cover otherwise dead zones.
Claim(s) 3-10 and 15-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abedini further in view of Raghavan as stated above and further in view of Ko et al. (US Publication 2022/0167427 A1).
In regards to claims 3 and 15, Abedini and Raghavan in combination teach all the limitations of the parent claim as sated above.
Abedini and Raghavan however fail to teach, wherein the network node is identified when the wireless communication node detects the PRACH preamble with a contention free PRACH preamble index corresponding to the network node during the RO.
Ko et al. (US Publication 2022/0167427 A1) teaches, wherein the network node is identified when the wireless communication node detects the PRACH preamble with a contention free PRACH preamble index corresponding to the network node during the RO (see paragraph 344; The BS may configure a plurality of POs to the UE. In this case, the plurality of POs may have a one-to-one relationship with PRACH preambles for RO(s). When there is a mask index and an SSB/CSI-RS index for indicating an RO, an SSB/CSI-RS index applied to a RACH may be applied to a PO. A RACH slot may be mapped to POs included in a PUSCH slot having a predetermined time duration).
Abedini, Raghavan and Ko relate to communications in wireless systems including those of control signals.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the random access process taught by Ko into the control signal transmission for smart repeater devices taught by Abedini and Raghavan. The motivation to do so would be to reduce delays caused by decoding of the DCI and thus performing a 2-step RACH more efficiently.
In regards to claims 4 and 16, Abedini and Raghavan teach all the limitations of the parent claim as sated above.
Abedini and Raghavan however fail to teach wherein the network node is identified based on a contention-based Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH preamble, and a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier, RA-RNTI.
Ko however teaches, wherein the network node is identified based on a contention-based Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH preamble, and a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier, RA-RNTI (see paragraphs 224-225; if an RA-RNTI of the 4-step RACH procedure is generated based on a slot index and an OFDM symbol starting position (or starting OFDM symbol index) included in a RACH configuration table, an RNTI of the 2-step RACH procedure may be generated by applying a predetermined offset to the slot index and the OFDM symbol starting position (or starting OFDM symbol index) included in the RACH configuration table; For example, a PRACH preamble based on a short sequence may consist of at least two OFDM symbols. For PRACH preamble format A1, OFDM symbol index 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 may be used for the RA-RNTI of the 4-step RACH procedure, and OFDM symbol index 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 may not be used).
Abedini, Raghavan and Ko relate to communications in wireless systems including those of control signals.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the random access process taught by Ko into the control signal transmission for smart repeater devices taught by Abedini and Raghavan. The motivation to do so would be to reduce delays caused by decoding of the DCI and thus performing a 2-step RACH more efficiently.
In regards to claims 5 and 17, Abedini, Raghavan and Ko either individually or in combination teach all the limitations of the parent clams.
Abedini and Raghavan however fail to teach, wherein the network node is identified when the wireless communication node receives a reply for a Random Access Response, RAR, scrambled by a RA-RNTI corresponding to the network node.
Ko however teaches, wherein the network node is identified when the wireless communication node receives a reply for a Random Access Response, RAR, scrambled by a RA-RNTI corresponding to the network node (see paragraph 239; a UE performing the 2-step RACH procedure and a UE performing the 4-step RACH procedure may each monitor an RAR. An RA-RNTI used for RAR monitoring may be determined according to the RO; see paragraph 119; When the BS receives a random access preamble from the UE, the BS transmits an RAR message (Msg2) to the UE. A PDCCH scheduling a PDSCH carrying the RAR is cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled with a random access (RA) radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) (RA-RNTI) and then transmitted).
Abedini, Raghavan and Ko are both related to communications in wireless systems including those of control signals.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the random access process taught by Ko into the control signal transmission for smart repeater devices taught by Abedini and Raghavan. The motivation to do so would be to reduce delays caused by decoding of the DCI and thus performing a 2-step RACH more efficiently.
In regards to claims 6 and 18, Abedini, Raghavan and Ko either individually or in combination teach all the limitations of the parent clams.
Abedini and Raghavan however fail to teach, wherein the network node is identified when the wireless communication node receives a reply for an RAR scrambled by the RA-RNTI with an offset corresponding to the network node.
Ko however teaches, Ko teaches, wherein the network node is identified when the wireless communication node receives a reply for an RAR scrambled by the RA-RNTI with an offset corresponding to the network node (see paragraph 229; when the 2-step RACH procedure and the 4-step RACH procedure share the same RO, a slot index indicated by the RACH configuration may be used to generate the RA-RNTI of the 4-step RACH procedure, and a specific offset may be applied to the slot index indicated by the RACH configuration to generate the 2-step RACH RNTI).
Abedini, Raghavan and Ko are both related to communications in wireless systems including those of control signals.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the random access process taught by Ko into the control signal transmission for smart repeater devices taught by Abedini and Raghavan. The motivation to do so would be to reduce delays caused by decoding of the DCI and thus performing a 2-step RACH more efficiently.
In regards to claims 7-9 and 19 Abedini and Raghavan teach all the limitations of the parent claims as stated above.
Abedini and Raghavan however fail to teach, wherein the network node is identified based on a content of a message of a scheduled transmission and wherein the scheduled transmission is a scheduled transmission after a successful initial access process, or a data payload sent together with a preamble and wherein the network node is identified when the wireless communication node receives an indication corresponding to the network node in an identity field.
Ko however teaches, wherein the network node is identified based on a content of a message of a scheduled transmission and wherein the scheduled transmission is a scheduled transmission after a successful initial access process, or a data payload sent together with a preamble (see paragraphs 126-127 and figure 12; The operations of transmitting Msg1 and Msg3 in the 4-step RACH procedure may be performed as one operation in the 2-step RACH procedure where the UE transmits one message (message A (MsgA)) including a PRACH and a PUSCH. The operations in which the BS transmits Msg2 and Msg4 in the 4-step RACH procedure may be performed as one operation in the 2-step RACH procedure where the BS transmits one message (message B (MsgB)) including an RAR and contention resolution information; That is, in the 2-step RACH procedure, the UE may combine Msg1 and Msg3 of the 4-step RACH procedure into one message (e.g., MsgA) and transmit the one message to the BS (1201); the PUSCH implies the identity of the network node since the PUSCH is destined for the BS) and wherein the network node is identified when the wireless communication node receives an indication corresponding to the network node in an identity field (see paragraph 128; in the 2-step RACH procedure, the BS may combine Msg2 and Msg4 of the 4-step RACH procedure into one message (e.g., MsgB) and transmit the one message to the UE (S1203)) or in an establishment cause field in the content of the message.
Abedini, Raghavan and Ko relate to communications in wireless systems including those of control signals.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the random access process taught by Ko into the control signal transmission for smart repeater devices taught by Abedini and Raghavan. The motivation to do so would be to reduce delays caused by decoding of the DCI and thus performing a 2-step RACH more efficiently.
In regards to claim 10, Abedini and Raghavan teach all the limitations of the parent claim as stated above.
Abedini and Raghavan however fail to teach, wherein the network node is identified based on an indication corresponding to the network node in a higher layer message received from the network node
Ko however teaches, wherein the network node is identified based on an indication corresponding to the network node in a higher layer message received from the network node (see paragraph 383; it may be regulated that information on whether the embodiments are applied or information on rules related to the embodiments is transmitted from the BS to the UE in a predefined signal such as physical layer signaling or higher layer signaling).
Abedini, Raghavan and Ko relate to communications in wireless systems including those of control signals.
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the present application to incorporate the random access process taught by Ko into the control signal transmission for smart repeater devices taught by Abedini and Raghavan. The motivation to do so would be to reduce delays caused by decoding of the DCI and thus performing a 2-step RACH more efficiently.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 11 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.
The reasons for indication allowable subject matter have previously been stated.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments (filed on 6/5/2026) with respect to the amended limitation added to the independent claims and cancelled original claim 12 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Conclusion
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/JAY P PATEL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2466
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