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 Remarks
This Office action is considered fully responsive to the amendments filed 05/13/2026.
Claims 1-4, 7-9, 11-14, 17-19 and 21-22 are pending in the application. Claims 1 and 11 have been amended and claims 2-4, 7-9, 12-14, 17-19 and 21-22 were previously presented.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments, filed 05/13/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of (US-20240057000-A1).
A) Regarding independent claims 1 and 11, see the U.S.C. 103 rejection below.
B) Regarding all dependent claims, see U.S.C. 103 rejections below. The Claim Rejections sections below detail the rejections of the instant claims.
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.
5. Claims 1-4, 7-9, 11-14, 17-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chae et al. (US-20250056574-A1), in view of Zeng et al. (US-20240057000-A1).
Regarding claim 1 (Currently Amended), Chae teaches a method of a first terminal comprising: aligning sidelink (SL) resources in a first component carrier (CC) and a second CC (The method of a first terminal involves aligning sidelink (SL) resources in a first component carrier (CC) and a second CC after receiving configuration parameters from a base station [abstract], lines 5-9, the alignment is achieved through the subcarrier spacing (SCS) and the starting symbols for physical sidelink shared channels (PSSCH) are the same in both carriers [claim 1], lines 7-25, [0306], lines 5-7, [0354], lines 9-10), and performing an SL communication with a second terminal using the SL resources aligned within the first CC and the second CC (“Fig. 17 illustrates examples of device-to-device (D2D) communication, in which there is a direct communication between wireless devices. In an example, D2D communication may be performed via a sidelink (SL)” [0218], lines 1-6, [0272], lines 16-18, Referring to Fig. 19, in a first carrier (e.g., CC #1), a first sidelink transmission (e.g., SL Tx #1) may overlap in time with a second sidelink transmission (e.g., SL Tx#2) in a second carrier (e.g., CC #2) [0269], lines 3-6, [0303], lines 8-11). wherein the performing of the SL communication (Fig. 17, [0128], lines 1-4, [0220], demonstrate different scenarios of SL communication, such as in coverage SL communication [0219], out of coverage SL communication and partial SL communication [0220] where the performing SL communication in carrier aggregation scenarios [0278]) includes:
Chae does not explicitly teach, but Zeng teaches determining one or more CCs in which a sidelink-synchronization signal block (S-SSB) is to be transmitted based on a configuration indicated by a base station ([0049] states the target configuration parameter is determined by any one of the following: a first time, a configuration of a network side device, a preconfiguration, an indication of other user equipment, and autonomous determining by the UE..” which means the BS may determine the target configuration parameters, that includes which CC will transmit the S-SSB, see also [0080] that specified the exact CCs will have S-SSB transmission. [0062], [0256]-[0260] provide how the selection of the first carrier (first S-CC for S-SSB transmission) can be determined based on the synchronization priority or reference set by the BS. [0057]-[0060] also describe the different selection for the S-CC by the network (BS/GNSS ) to select the carrier that best aligned with the requirement of the network synchronization), and transmitting the S-SSB in a synchronization CC (S-CC) among the first CC and the second CC based on determining that the S-SSB is to be transmitted in the S-CC (Fig. 2, [0039]-[0040] state “performing grouping processing on S-SSBs, introducing an interval parameter, and the like, when a plurality of CCs perform CA, synchronization resources on the CCs can be aligned, “ [0057]-[0060] describe the configuration parameters for the first carrier such as a carrier whose synchronization priority order is a base station, and a carrier whose synchronization priority order is a GNSS, see also [0064] and [0056] for the second carrier. [0147] describes how to synchronize the CC using configuring synchronizing resources with aligned parameters. [0148], [0241] and [0166] illustrate the manner in which the UE transmits synchronization signals of the synchronization resources on the at least two carriers is any one of the following: [0167] transmitting, by the UE, a synchronization signal only on a first carrier; [0168] determining, by the UE according to values of interval information of the at least two carriers, whether to transmit synchronization signals on the respective carriers, see also [0169]-[0170]. That implies transmitting the S-SSB in a synchronization CC (S-CC) among the first CC and the second CC based on determining that the S-SSB is to be transmitted in the S-CC), or in both the first CC and the second CC based on determining that the S-SSB is to be transmitted in both the first CC and the second CC ([0124] and [0173] state” after determining the target configuration parameter, the UE may transmit a synchronization signal only on the first carrier, or determine, according to the capability of the UE, the carrier on which a synchronization signal is to be transmitted, or transmit synchronization signals on the synchronization resources on the at least two carriers according to the target configuration parameter” that implies the UE can transmit the S-SSB in both the synchronized first and second CCs based on the configuration parameters that indicated by the BS, see [0057], [0256] and claim 17, which may determine the S-SSB is to be transmitted in both the first CC and the second CC), wherein, based on the S-SSB being transmitted only in the S-CC and the S-SSB not being transmitted in a remaining CC other than the S-CC among the first CC and the second CC ([0166]-[0170] provide that the UE transmits synchronization signals of the synchronization resources on the at least two carriers is any one of the following: [0167] transmitting, by the UE, a synchronization signal only on a first carrier; [0168] determining, by the UE according to values of interval information of the at least two carriers, whether to transmit synchronization signals on the respective carriers; and [0169] in a case that transmission exceeds a capability of the UE, autonomously determining, by the UE, a carrier on which a synchronization signal is to be transmitted. That confirms the UE may transmit the S-SSB over only on the specific S-CC (first carrier) or at least two S-CCs not over remaining CCs. [0102], [0170] and [0173] also illustrate the configuration for S-SSB transmission depending on the configuration parameters that determined by the network signaling or UE logic, see also [0079], [0241], [0148], and claims 12 and 16 that confirm the S-SSB is only transmitted in the synchronized-CC and not transmitted in the rest CC other than the S-CCs), synchronization for the SL communication in the remaining CC is based on the S-SSB transmitted in the S-CC ([0039] and [0160] states “ the UE may use the synchronization reference source corresponding to the first carrier as the synchronization reference of the another carrier. It should be noted that the timing synchronization may be understood as: determining timing of the another carrier based on timing corresponding to the first carrier.” [0159] explicitly states “timing synchronization is that a synchronization reference source corresponding to a first carrier is used as a synchronization reference of another carrier, and the transmission direction synchronization is that a transmission direction of a synchronization resource on the first carrier is used as a transmission direction of a target synchronization resource on the another carrier, where the target synchronization resource is a synchronization resource that is on the another carrier and that is aligned with the synchronization resource on the first carrier”, see also [0249] and claim 14. That confirms synchronization for the SL communication in the other CC based on the S-SSB transmitted in the S-CC ).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Chae to incorporate the teachings of Zeng (in analogous art) by adding synchronization for the SL communication in the remaining CC is based on the S-SSB transmitted in the S-CC to avoid the misalignment of the synchronization resources on the CCs that causes a transmission conflict between a synchronization signal and another signal, affecting reliability of a sidelink service (Zeng, [0003]).
Regarding claim 2 (Previously Amended), Chae Zeng teach the method according to claim 1,
Chae further teaches wherein the SL resources include at least one of a start symbol for the SL communication (“The configuration parameters may comprise a first parameter (e.g., sl-StartSymbol) indicating a sidelink starting symbol”, [0230], lines 3-8), a length of resource for the SL communication (The configuration parameters may comprise a second parameter (e.g., sl-LengthSymbols), [0230], lines 12-16, [0231], lines 1-4), a length of a cyclic prefix (CP) (the length of a cyclic prefix (CP) is specified in [0109], lines 6-15, [0117], lines 7-10), a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) periodicity (“A resource pool may or may not be configured with PSFCH. Configuration parameters of PSFCH may indicate a period for the PSFCH in unit/number of slots within the resource pool (e.g., via sl-PSFCH-Period), Fig. 26, [0236], lines 1-4), or an S- SSB periodicity (Fig. 11a indicates the SL-SSB, which includes the primary sidelink synchronization signal (SLSS), secondary SLSS, and the physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), may be transmitted periodically, such as every 2 frames or 20 milliseconds, [0135], lines 4-5).
Regarding claim 3 (Previously Amended), Chae and Zeng teach the method according to claim 1,
Chae teaches further comprising: receiving SL resource configuration information from the base station, wherein the SL resources are aligned in the first CC and the second CC based on the SL resource configuration information (“A wireless device may receive from a base station, configuration parameters….”, [0304], lines 1-8, [0272], lines 10-16, [0287], lines 2-4, lines 8-14).
Regarding claim 4 (Previously Presented), Chae and Zeng teach the method according to claim 1,
Chae teaches further comprising: transmitting, to the second terminal, SL resource configuration information used to align the SL resources with (the wireless device, after receiving SL resource configuration information from the base station, uses this information to align the SL resources and then transmits the aligned SL resource configuration information to the second terminal (UE), [0272], lines 16-21, [0304] lines 10 -11).
Regarding claim 7 (Previously Amended), Chae and Zeng teach the method according to claim 1,
Chae further teaches wherein the performing of the SL communication includes: performing initial transmission of SL data in one CC among the first CC and the second CC (FIG. 19 illustrates an example of sidelink transmission on two carriers, the initial transmission of SL data will be carried out in either the first CC or the second CC, as part of the SL communication process, [0268], lines 1-4, [0303], lines 9-12); and receiving hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback information for the SL data from the second terminal in the one CC (PSFCH may be used by a first wireless device to send HARQ feedback information to another wireless device for the sidelink data, [0221], lines 12-15, [0275], lines 1-5), wherein the initial transmission and reception of the HARQ feedback information are performed in a same CC (Sidelink communications may be configured using physical channels, for example, a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), [0221], lines 1-4, [0275], lines 1-5).
Regarding claim 8 (Previously Presented), Chae and Zeng teach the method according to claim 7,
Chae further teaches wherein the performing of the SL communication includes: in response to the HARQ feedback information indicating a negative acknowledgment (NACK), performing retransmission of the SL data in the one CC (Fig. 13 shows the transport block 1342 may comprise a HARQ ACK/NACK, [0185], lines 4-10, [0292], lines 12-13), wherein the initial transmission, reception of the HARQ feedback information, and the retransmission are performed in (“the first PSFCH resource periodicity may be same as the second PSFCH resource periodicity in response to the first carrier and the second carrier being configured in the same band”. [0283], lines 1-4, 13-15, [0221], lines 1-4, [0275], lines 1-5, and [0245], lines 1-7).
Regarding claim 9 (Previously Presented), Chae and Zeng teach the method according to claim 1,
Chae further teaches wherein the SL communication includes a PSFCH transmission ([0221], lines 1-4 and 12-14 that states “Sidelink communications may be configured using physical channels, for example, a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), and/or a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).”), and a number of PSFCH transmissions performed in the first CC and the second CC is determined considering at least one of a maximum transmission power or a maximum number of the PSFCH transmissions (transmissions (the wireless device may determine PCMAX for transmission of all PSFCHs [0345], lines 4-17. The terminal is limited by the maximum number of PSFCH transmission and predefined power limit (Max. power) [0269], lines 8-15 states “The wireless device may determine a power allocated to the first sidelink transmission of SL Tx #1. The wireless device may determine a power allocated to the second sidelink transmission of SL Tx #2. If the total amount of power allocated to SL Tx #1 and SL Tx #2 exceeds the power limit, the wireless device may scale or adjust to meet the power limit (e.g., Pcmax) based on priorities associated with the first sidelink transmission and the second sidelink transmission“, [0327] and [0269]. The number of PSFCH transmissions is dependent on the maximum number of PSFCH transmissions that the wireless device is capable of performing [0327], lines 1-8).
Regarding claim 11 (Currently Amended), Chae teaches a first terminal comprising at least one processor (A wireless device comprising: one or more processors [claim 1], lines 1-3. Fig. 15), wherein the at least one processor causes the first terminal to perform (“when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to” [claim 1], lines 3-4, Fig. 15): aligning sidelink (SL) resources in a first component carrier (CC) and a second CC (the claim indicated that the processor aligns the sidelink resources in the first and second component carriers by ensuring the subcarrier spacing and starting symbols are the same for both carriers [Claim 8], lines 8-18); and performing an SL communication with a second terminal using the SL resources aligned within the first CC and the second CC (“As illustrated in Figs 19 and 23, multiple sidelink transmissions occur on first and second carriers. In a first carrier (e.g., CC#1), a first sidelink transmission (e.g., SL Tx #1) may overlap in time with a second sidelink transmission (e.g., SL Tx #2) in a second carrier (e.g., CC #2)” [0268], lines 1-4, the processor aligns the sidelink resources in the first and second component carriers and uses these aligned resources to perform SL communication with a second terminal [claim 1], lines 18-25), wherein in the performing of the SL communication (Fig. 17, [0128], lines 1-4, [0220], demonstrate different scenarios of SL communication, such as in coverage SL communication [0219], out of coverage SL communication and partial SL communication [0220] where the performing SL communication in carrier aggregation scenarios [0278]), the at least one processor further causes the first terminal to perform (Fig. 15, one or more processors, cause the wireless device to perform the method functions [claim 1], line 4):
Chae does not explicitly teach, but Zeng teaches determining one or more CCs in which a sidelink-synchronization signal block (S-SSB) is to be transmitted based on a configuration indicated by a base station ([0049] states the target configuration parameter is determined by any one of the following: a first time, a configuration of a network side device, a preconfiguration, an indication of other user equipment, and autonomous determining by the UE..” which means the BS may determine the target configuration parameters, that includes which CC will transmit the S-SSB, see also [0080] that specified the exact CCs will have S-SSB transmission. [0062], [0256]-[0260] provide how the selection of the first carrier (first S-CC for S-SSB transmission) can be determined based on the synchronization priority or reference set by the BS. [0057]-[0060] also describe the different selection for the S-CC by the network (BS/GNSS ) to select the carrier that best aligned with the requirement of the network synchronization), and transmitting the S-SSB in a synchronization CC (S-CC) among the first CC and the second CC based on determining that the S-SSB is to be transmitted in the S-CC Fig. 2, [0039]-[0040] state “performing grouping processing on S-SSBs, introducing an interval parameter, and the like, when a plurality of CCs perform CA, synchronization resources on the CCs can be aligned, “ [0057]-[0060] describe the configuration parameters for the first carrier such as a carrier whose synchronization priority order is a base station, and a carrier whose synchronization priority order is a GNSS, see also [0064] and [0056] for the second carrier. [0148], [0241] and [0166] illustrate the manner in which the UE transmits synchronization signals of the synchronization resources on the at least two carriers is any one of the following: [0167] transmitting, by the UE, a synchronization signal only on a first carrier; [0168] determining, by the UE according to values of interval information of the at least two carriers, whether to transmit synchronization signals on the respective carriers, see also [0169]-[0170]. That implies transmitting the S-SSB in a synchronization CC (S-CC) among the first CC and the second CC based on determining that the S-SSB is to be transmitted in the S-CC), or in both the first CC and the second CC based on determining that the S-SSB is to be transmitted in both the first CC and the second CC ([0124] and [0173] state” after determining the target configuration parameter, the UE may transmit a synchronization signal only on the first carrier, or determine, according to the capability of the UE, the carrier on which a synchronization signal is to be transmitted, or transmit synchronization signals on the synchronization resources on the at least two carriers according to the target configuration parameter” that implies the UE can transmit the S-SSB in both the first and CCs based on the configuration parameters that indicated by the BS, see [0057], [0256] and claim 17, which may determine the S-SSB is to be transmitted in both the first CC and the second CC), wherein, based on the S-SSB being transmitted only in the S-CC and the S-SSB not being transmitted in a remaining CC other than the S-CC among the first CC and the second CC ([0166]-[0170] provide that the UE transmits synchronization signals of the synchronization resources on the at least two carriers is any one of the following: [0167] transmitting, by the UE, a synchronization signal only on a first carrier; [0168] determining, by the UE according to values of interval information of the at least two carriers, whether to transmit synchronization signals on the respective carriers; and [0169] in a case that transmission exceeds a capability of the UE, autonomously determining, by the UE, a carrier on which a synchronization signal is to be transmitted. That confirms the UE may transmit the S-SSB over only on the specific S-CC (first carrier) or at least two S-CCs not over remaining CCs. [0102], [0170] and [0173] also illustrate the configuration for S-SSB transmission depending on the configuration parameters that determined by the network signaling or UE logic, see also [0079], [0241], [0148], and claims 12 and 16 that confirm the S-SSB is only transmitted in the synchronized-CC and not transmitted in the rest CC other than the S-CCs),, synchronization for the SL communication in the remaining CC is based on the S-SSB transmitted in the S-CC ([0039] and [0160] states “ the UE may use the synchronization reference source corresponding to the first carrier as the synchronization reference of the another carrier. It should be noted that the timing synchronization may be understood as: determining timing of the another carrier based on timing corresponding to the first carrier.” [0159] explicitly states “timing synchronization is that a synchronization reference source corresponding to a first carrier is used as a synchronization reference of another carrier, and the transmission direction synchronization is that a transmission direction of a synchronization resource on the first carrier is used as a transmission direction of a target synchronization resource on the another carrier, where the target synchronization resource is a synchronization resource that is on the another carrier and that is aligned with the synchronization resource on the first carrier”, see also [0249] and claim 14. That confirms synchronization for the SL communication in the other CC based on the S-SSB transmitted in the S-CC ).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Chae to incorporate the teachings of Zeng (in analogous art) by adding synchronization for the SL communication in the remaining CC is based on the S-SSB transmitted in the S-CC to avoid the misalignment of the synchronization resources on the CCs that causes a transmission conflict between a synchronization signal and another signal, affecting reliability of a sidelink service (Zeng, [0003]).
Regarding claim 12 (Previously Amended), Chae and Zeng teach the first terminal according to claim 11,
Chae further teaches wherein the SL resources include at least one of a start symbol for the SL communication( “The sidelink symbols may start from a sidelink starting …” [0261], lines 6-9), a length of resource for the SL communication (a length of resource for the SL communication, indicated by sl-LengthSymbols [0238], lines 16-19), a length of a cyclic prefix (CP) ( the length of a cyclic prefix (CP) is specified in [0109], lines 6-15, [0117], lines 7-10), a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) periodicity periodicity (the configuration parameters comprise at least one of: a first physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) resource periodicity of the first carrier and a second number of PSFCH symbols within the slot of the second carrier [claim 2], line 2 and line 6), or an S-SSB periodicity (“The base station may periodically transmit a burst of SS/PBCH blocks” [0134], lines 11-12, “FIG. 11A is an example, and that these parameters (number of SS/PBCH blocks per burst, periodicity of bursts….”) [0135], lines [0284], lines 5-8).
Regarding claim 13 (Previously Amended), Chae and Zeng teach the first terminal according to claim 11, wherein the at least one processor further causes the first terminal to perform (executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to receive, from a base station, …. “, [Claim 1], lines 3-4): receiving SL resource configuration information from the base station (a wireless device may receive sidelink (SL) resource configuration information from the base station which can be included setting of various parameters [0279], lines 1-12), wherein the SL resources are aligned in the first CC and the second CC based on the SL resource configuration information (a first subcarrier spacing (SCS) of a first sidelink bandwidth part (BWP) of a first sidelink carrier is same as a second SCS of a second sidelink BWP of a second sidelink carrier [Abstract], lines 1-9).
Regarding claim 14 (Previously Presented), Chae and Zeng teach the first terminal according to claim 11,
Chae further teaches wherein the at least one processor further causes the first terminal to perform: transmitting, to the second terminal, SL resource configuration information used to align (PSCCH may be used by a first wireless device to send sidelink control information (SCI) to a second wireless device. PSCCH may be similar in some respects to PDCCH and/or PUCCH. The control information may comprise, for example, time/frequency resource allocation information time/frequency resource allocation information…. [0221], lines 20-33).
Regarding claim 17 (Previously Amended), Chae and Zeng teach the first terminal according to claim 11,
Chae further teaches wherein in the performing of the SL communication, the at least one processor further causes the first terminal to (one or more processors, cause the wireless device to [claim 1], line 4): performing an initial transmission of SL data in one CC among the first CC and the second CC (Figs. 19 and 20 show examples of SL transmission on the two carriers with considering the transmit power of the first/initial SL transmission, the initial transmission of SL data will be carried out in either the first CC or the second CC, as part of the SL communication process, [0268], lines 1-4, [0303], lines 9-12, [0269], lines 1-8); and receiving hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback information for the SL data from the second terminal in the one CC (Fig.25 shows the transmission of the PSFCH by UE #2, which comprises HARQ feedback information, to the UE #1, [0292], lines 12-15), wherein the initial transmission and reception of the HARQ feedback information are performed in a same CC (PSFCH is specifically designed for SL communication, allowing one wireless device to send/receive feedback information, such as HARQ feedback, to another wireless device within the same CC [00221], lines 1-2, [claim 2], lines 3-11).
Regarding claim 18 (Previously Presented), Chae and Zeng teach the first terminal according to claim 17,
Chae further teaches wherein in the performing of the SL communication, the at least one processor further causes the first terminal to (executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless device to [claim 1], line 4) perform: in response to the HARQ feedback information indicating a negative acknowledgment (NACK), performing retransmission of the SL data in the one CC (Fig. 13 shows the transport block 1342 may comprise a HARQ ACK/NACK, [0185], lines 4-10, [0292], lines 12-13), wherein the initial transmission, reception of the HARQ feedback information, and the retransmission are performed in (the initial transmission, reception of HARQ feedback information, and retransmission are managed within the same CC, [0245], lines 1-7).
Regarding claim 19 (Previously Presented), Chae and Zeng teach the first terminal according to claim 11,
Chae further teaches wherein the SL communication includes a PSFCH transmission ( transmission ([0221], lines 1-4 and 12-14 that states “Sidelink communications may be configured using physical channels, for example, a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), and/or a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH).” [0364], lines 1-5), and a number of PSFCH transmissions performed in the first CC and the second CC is determined considering at least one of a maximum transmission power or a maximum number of the PSFCH transmissions (the wireless device may determine PCMAX for transmission of all PSFCHs [0345], lines 4-17. The terminal is limited by the maximum number of PSFCH transmission and predefined power limit (Max. power) [0269], lines 8-15 states “The wireless device may determine a power allocated to the first sidelink transmission of SL Tx #1. The wireless device may determine a power allocated to the second sidelink transmission of SL Tx #2. If the total amount of power allocated to SL Tx #1 and SL Tx #2 exceeds the power limit, the wireless device may scale or adjust to meet the power limit (e.g., Pcmax) based on priorities associated with the first sidelink transmission and the second sidelink transmission. “ [0327] and [0269]. The number of PSFCH transmissions is dependent on the maximum number of PSFCH transmissions that the wireless device is capable of performing [0327], lines 1-8).
6. Claims 21-22 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chae et al. (US- 20250056574-A1), in view of Zeng et al. (US-20240057000-A1), and further in view of Shin et al. (US-20220399917-A1)
Regarding claim 21 (Previously Presented), Chae and Zeng teach the method according to claim 1, wherein the performing of the SL communication includes:
Chae fails to teach when an SL transmission operation occurs in the first CC and an SL reception operation occurs in the second CC or when an SL transmission operation and an SL reception operation occur in one CC among the first CC and the second CC; selecting one operation among the SL transmission operation and the SL reception operation based on priorities; and performing the selected one operation.
However, Shin teaches when an SL transmission operation occurs in the first CC and an SL reception operation occurs in the second CC or when an SL transmission operation and an SL reception operation occur in one CC among the first CC and the second CC (Fig. 9G, [0033] states FIG. 9G illustrates a case in which a collision (overlap) between periodic S-SSB transmission and reception occurs when periodic SL CSI-RS transmission and SL CSI reporting are supported in a sidelink in a wireless communication system“ and [0146] states “The base station may prevent a case, in which the UE transmits S-SSB in the sidelink and at the same time the UE receives SSB from the base station in the Uu link, from occurring, through the configuration of periodicity and transmission time for SSB and S-SSB.” That implies the case when an SL transmission operation and an SL reception operation occur in one CC among the first CC and the second CC); selecting one operation among the SL transmission operation and the SL reception operation based on priorities; and performing the selected one operation ([0184]-[0185] states “[0184] The UE cancels the SL CSI-RS transmission and receives the S-SSB. [0185] The UE cancels the SL CSI reporting and receives the S-SSB.” That describe the UE may cancel the SL transmission ( e.g., SL CSI-RS or SL CSI reporting) while prioritize the SL reception (e.g., S-SSB reception), this decision based on the threshold as stated in [0218], lines 7-11. Another example in [0147] which illustrates that the UE cancels the S-SSB transmission in the sidelink and performs SSB reception from the base station in the Uu link, as the priority for the type of communication, as also depicts in [0146], lines 1-5 and [0144], lines 1-5, which confirms the priority of choosing the SSB reception since it is critical for maintaining synchronization with the BS. [0192] lines 8-15 and [0141] illustrate another scenarios for prioritization between the transmission and reception SSBs. [0166] states” The transmission periodicity and start position of the SL CSI-RS and the transmission periodicity and start position for the SL CSI reporting may be (pre-)configured with resource pool information.” Which implies the priority rules may be pre-configured through resource pool or PC5-RRC signaling).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Chae in view of Zeng to incorporate the teachings of Shin (in analogous art) by selecting one operation among the SL transmission operation and the SL reception operation based on priorities and performing the selected one operation for efficient resource utilization, optimal performance, low latency, and reliable service delivery (Shin, [0054], lines 11-19).
Regarding claim 22 (Previously Presented), Chae and Zeng teach the first terminal according to claim 11, wherein in the performing of the SL communication, the at least one processor further causes the first terminal to perform:
Chae fails to teach when an SL transmission operation occurs in the first CC and an SL reception operation occurs in the second CC or when an SL transmission operation and an SL reception operation occur in one CC among the first CC and the second CC, selecting one operation among the SL transmission operation and the SL reception operation based on priorities; and performing the selected one operation.
However, Shin teaches when an SL transmission operation occurs in the first CC and an SL reception operation occurs in the second CC or when an SL transmission operation and an SL reception operation occur in one CC among the first CC and the second CC (Fig. 9G, [0033] states FIG. 9G illustrates a case in which a collision (overlap) between periodic S-SSB transmission and reception occurs when periodic SL CSI-RS transmission and SL CSI reporting are supported in a sidelink in a wireless communication system“ and [0146] states “The base station may prevent a case, in which the UE transmits S-SSB in the sidelink and at the same time the UE receives SSB from the base station in the Uu link, from occurring, through the configuration of periodicity and transmission time for SSB and S-SSB.” That implies the case when an SL transmission operation and an SL reception operation occur in one CC among the first CC and the second CC), selecting one operation among the SL transmission operation and the SL reception operation based on priorities; and performing the selected one operation ([0184]-[0185] states “[0184] The UE cancels the SL CSI-RS transmission and receives the S-SSB. [0185] The UE cancels the SL CSI reporting and receives the S-SSB.” That describe the UE may cancel the SL transmission ( e.g., SL CSI-RS or SL CSI reporting) while prioritize the SL reception (e.g., S-SSB reception), this decision based on the threshold as stated in [0218], lines 7-11. Another example in [0147] which illustrates that the UE cancels the S-SSB transmission in the sidelink and performs SSB reception from the base station in the Uu link, as the priority for the type of communication, as also depicts in [0146], lines 1-5 and [0144], lines 1-5, which confirms the priority of choosing the SSB reception since it is critical for maintaining synchronization with the BS. [0192] lines 8-15 and [0141] illustrate another scenarios for prioritization between the transmission and reception SSBs. [0166] states” The transmission periodicity and start position of the SL CSI-RS and the transmission periodicity and start position for the SL CSI reporting may be (pre-)configured with resource pool information.” Which implies the priority rules may be pre-configured through resource pool or PC5-RRC signaling).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to someone of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to have modified Chae in view of Zeng to incorporate the teachings of Shin (in analogous art) by selecting one operation among the SL transmission operation and the SL reception operation based on priorities and performing the selected one operation for efficient resource utilization, optimal performance, low latency, and reliable service delivery (Shin, [0054], lines 11-19).
Relevant Prior Art
7. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Guo et al. (US No. 20250063582 A1), Back et al. (WO 2022186668 A1), Hwang et al. (WO 2022092894 A1), Park et al. (US-20250016798-A1) and Fakamal et al (DE 102023107665 A1) teach methods involved performing SL communication/transmission using aggregated carriers in WCS.
Conclusion
8. 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.
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/SANAA AL SAMAHI/Examiner, Art Unit 2463
/OMAR J GHOWRWAL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2463
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