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 .
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 09/085/2026 has been entered.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments, see REMARKS, filed 09/08/2026, with respect to 103 rejections of claims 1, 10, 21, and 25 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 103 the rejections of claims 1, 10, 21, and 25 has been withdrawn.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-3, 6-9 and 21-23 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over the claims of U.S. Patent No. (US 11375364 B2). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because all the limitations in the pending claims would have been obvious in view of the claim(s) of US 11375364 B2.
Regarding claim 1, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach An apparatus for wireless communication at a network entity (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 a base station), comprising:
one or more memories; and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories (Note: inherent in a base station )and configured to cause the network entity to:
determine a broadcast reception capability of the network entity (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving a second signal indicating the broadcast reception capability of the base station), wherein the broadcast reception capability comprises a capability to receive a broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 4 the second signal indicating that the base station comprises a capability to receive the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter) and to relay the received broadcast signal to a user equipment (UE) (US 11375364 B2 claim 5 selecting the base station for reception of the broadcast signal) wherein the broadcast signal comprises a plurality of multi-resolution messages that include at least a first message having a first resolution and a second message having a second resolution different from the first resolution (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 a broadcast signal comprising one or more multi-resolution messages, wherein the one or more multi-resolution messages comprises a first message having a first resolution and a second message having a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution);
output, for a UE, a downlink signal that indicates the broadcast reception capability of the network entity based at least in part on the determined broadcast reception capability (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving a second signal indicating the broadcast reception capability of the base station); and
communicate, with the UE, based at least in part on the broadcast reception capability at the network entity (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 communicating, with the base station, based at least in part on the broadcast reception capability of the base station)..
Regarding claim 2, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach the apparatus of claim 1, wherein, to output the downlink signal, the one or more processors are configured to cause the network entity to:
determine that the network entity comprises the capability to receive the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 4the second signal indicating that the base station comprises a capability to receive the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter) ; and
output, for the UE, the downlink signal, the downlink signal indicative that the network entity comprises the capability to receive the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving a second signal indicating the broadcast reception capability of the base station)
Regarding claim 3, the claims of (US 11375364 B2) teach The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, to output the downlink signal, the one or more processors are configured to cause the network entity to:
determine that the network entity does not support reception of the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 6 receiving, from the base station, the second signal indicating that the base station is incapable of receiving the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter); and
output, for the UE, the downlink signal, the downlink signal indicative that the network entity does not support reception of the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 6 receiving, from the base station, the second signal indicating that the base station is incapable of receiving the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter).
Regarding claim 6, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the network entity to:
obtain, from the UE, a second signal that queries the broadcast reception capability of the network entity (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 transmitting a first signal to query a broadcast reception capability of a base station), wherein the output of the downlink signal that indicates the broadcast reception capability is based at least in part on the second signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving a second signal indicating the broadcast reception capability of the base station).
Regarding claim 7, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the broadcast reception capability at the network entity is based at least in part on at least one of a circuitry included in the network entity, a broadcast reception quality at the network entity, a current load at the network entity, or a combination thereof (US 11375364 B2 claim 15 the broadcast reception capability at the base station is based at least in part on at least one of a circuitry included in the base station, a broadcast reception quality at the base station, a current load at the base station, or a combination thereof).
Regarding claim 8, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal is obtained from a broadcast transmitter (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter), and wherein the broadcast transmitter comprises a new radio broadcast transmitter and the network entity comprises a new radio small cell (US 11375364 B2 claim 16 he broadcast transmitter comprises a new radio broadcast transmitter and the base station comprises a new radio small cell.).
Regarding claim 9, the claims of US 11375364 B2 The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the broadcast signal is obtained from a broadcast transmitter , and wherein a distance between the broadcast transmitter and the UE is greater than a distance between the network entity and the UE (US 11375364 B2 claim 17 wherein a distance between the broadcast transmitter and the user equipment is greater than a distance between the base station and the user equipment.).
Regarding claim 21, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach A method for wireless communications by a network entity (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 a base station), comprising:
determining a broadcast reception capability of the network entity (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving a second signal indicating the broadcast reception capability of the base station), wherein the broadcast reception capability comprises a capability to receive a broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 4the second signal indicating that the base station comprises a capability to receive the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter) and to relay the received broadcast signal to a user equipment (UE) (US 11375364 B2 claim 5 selecting the base station for reception of the broadcast signal) wherein the broadcast signal comprises a plurality of multi-resolution messages that include at least a first message having a first resolution and a second message having a second resolution different from the first resolution (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 a broadcast signal comprising one or more multi-resolution messages, wherein the one or more multi-resolution messages comprises a first message having a first resolution and a second message having a second resolution, wherein the first resolution is higher than the second resolution);
outputting, for a UE, a downlink signal that indicates the broadcast reception capability of the network entity based at least in part on the determined broadcast reception capability (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving a second signal indicating the broadcast reception capability of the base station); and
communicating, with the UE, based at least in part on the broadcast reception capability at the network entity (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 communicating, with the base station, based at least in part on the broadcast reception capability of the base station)..
Regarding claim 22, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach The method of claim 21, the outputting comprising:
determine that the network entity comprises the capability to receive the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 4the second signal indicating that the base station comprises a capability to receive the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter) ; and
output, for the UE, the downlink signal, the downlink signal indicative that the network entity comprises the capability to receive the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving a second signal indicating the broadcast reception capability of the base station)
Regarding claim 23, the claims of (US 11375364 B2) teach The method of claim 21, the outputting comprising:
determining that the network entity does not support reception of the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 6 receiving, from the base station, the second signal indicating that the base station is incapable of receiving the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter); and
outputting, for the UE, the downlink signal, the downlink signal indicative that the network entity does not support reception of the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 6 receiving, from the base station, the second signal indicating that the base station is incapable of receiving the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter).
Claims 1012, 15-18, 25-27 and 30 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over the claims of U.S. Patent No. (US 11991784 B2) in view of Kim et al. (US 20180159671 A1).
Regarding claim 10, the claims of US 11991784 B2 teach An apparatus for wireless communication at a network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 the network entity), comprising:
one or more memories (Note: inherent in a network entity); and
one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories (Note: inherent in a network entity) and configured to cause the network entity to:
output, for a user equipment (UE), a configuration signal that indicates a transmission mode of the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 a user equipment (UE) ... receive a configuration signal that indicates a transmission mode of the network entity ) and a start time of the transmission mode (US 11991784 B2 claim 2 identify a start time for reception of the relay signal based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity);
obtain a broadcast signal based at least in part on a broadcast reception capability at the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 select a network entity for reception and relay of a second broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter based at least in part on whether the first message, the second message, or both are decoded and based on a broadcast reception capability of the network entity), wherein the broadcast signal comprises, and a plurality of multi-resolution messages that include at least a first message having a first resolution and a second message having a second resolution different from the first resolution (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 a first broadcast signal comprising one or more multi-resolution messages, the one or more multi-resolution messages comprising at least a first message having a first resolution and a second message having a second resolution different from the first resolution); and
output, for the UE, a relay signal within at least a portion of a time slot based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity and the start time of the transmission mode (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 receive the relay signal from the network entity based at least in part on the portion of the time slot that is monitored), wherein the relay signal comprises a relay of the broadcast signal (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 the relay signal comprises a relay of the second broadcast signal).
The claims of US 11991784 B2 does not teach
the broadcast signal comprises one or more systematic information bits and one or more redundancy coding bits.
In a similar endeavor, Kim et al. teach
wherein the broadcast signal comprises one or more systematic information bits and one or more redundancy coding bits (Kim [0048]-[0050] the BS transmits broadcast information to the UE through the PBCH in a communication system ... The BS generates a total of 40 bits of an MIB bit sequence by adding Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) bits of 16 bits to the MIB of 24 bits).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the examined application to have modified the claims of US 11991784 B2 by incorporating Kim et al. broadcasting signal generation to arrive at the invention
The motivation of doing so would have detected transmission errors.
Regarding claim 11, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the network entity to:
configure the UE to identify the start time of the transmission mode based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 2 configured to cause the UE to: identify a start time for reception of the relay signal based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity), the start time of the transmission mode corresponding to a start time for reception of the relay signal from the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 2 identify a start time for reception of the relay signal); and
configure the UE to initiate, at the identified start time, a monitor procedure to monitor the time slot for reception of the relay signal from the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 monitor at least a portion of a time slot for reception of a relay signal ).
Regarding claim 12, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the network entity to:
output, for the UE, a physical downlink control channel based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 3 receive a physical downlink control channel transmission based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity), wherein the physical downlink control channel is output in a time instance identified in the configuration signal (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 monitor at least a portion of a time slot ); and
configure the UE to initiate a monitor procedure to monitor at least the portion of the time slot for reception of the relay signal from the network entity based at least in part on receipt of the physical downlink control channel (US 11991784 B2 claim 3 cause the UE to initiate at least the portion of the time slot being monitored for reception of the relay signal based at least in part on the received physical downlink control channel transmission).
Regarding claim 15, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, wherein a timing boundary associated with the output of the relay signal is equal to a timing boundary associated with acquisition of the broadcast signal (US 11991784 B2 claim 8 wherein a timing boundary associated with a reception of the relay signal is equal to a timing boundary associated with a reception of the broadcast signal).
Regarding claim 16, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the broadcast signal is obtained from at least one of a broadcast transmitter (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 receive, from a broadcast transmitter, a first broadcast signal), a second network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 receive the relay signal from the network entity ), or a combination thereof.
Regarding claim 17, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the relay signal comprises an in-band signal, or an out-of-band signal, or both (US 11991784 B2 claim 10 the relay signal is transmitted using millimeter wave frequencies and the broadcast signal is transmitted using sub-6 frequencies.)
Regarding claim 18, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the relay signal is output via millimeter wave frequencies and the broadcast signal is output via sub-6 frequencies. (US 11991784 B2 claim 10 wherein the relay signal is transmitted using millimeter wave frequencies and the broadcast signal is transmitted using sub-6 frequencies)
Regarding claim 25, the claims of US 11991784 B2 teach A method for wireless communications by a network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 the network entity), comprising:
output, for a user equipment (UE), a configuration signal that indicates a transmission mode of the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 a user equipment (UE) ... receive a configuration signal that indicates a transmission mode of the network entity ) and a start time of the transmission mode (US 11991784 B2 claim 2 identify a start time for reception of the relay signal based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity);
obtain a broadcast signal based at least in part on a broadcast reception capability at the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 select a network entity for reception and relay of a second broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter based at least in part on whether the first message, the second message, or both are decoded and based on a broadcast reception capability of the network entity), wherein the broadcast signal comprises, and a plurality of multi-resolution messages that include at least a first message having a first resolution and a second message having a second resolution different from the first resolution (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 a first broadcast signal comprising one or more multi-resolution messages, the one or more multi-resolution messages comprising at least a first message having a first resolution and a second message having a second resolution different from the first resolution); and
output, for the UE, a relay signal within at least a portion of a time slot based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity and the start time of the transmission mode (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 receive the relay signal from the network entity based at least in part on the portion of the time slot that is monitored), wherein the relay signal comprises a relay of the broadcast signal (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 the relay signal comprises a relay of the second broadcast signal).
the claims of US 11991784 B2 do not teach
the broadcast signal comprises one or more systematic information bits and one or more redundancy coding bits.
In a similar endeavor, Kim et al. teach
wherein the broadcast signal comprises one or more systematic information bits and one or more redundancy coding bits (Kim [0048]-[0050] the BS transmits broadcast information to the UE through the PBCH in a communication system ... The BS generates a total of 40 bits of an MIB bit sequence by adding Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) bits of 16 bits to the MIB of 24 bits).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the examined application to have modified the claims of US 11991784 B2 by incorporating Kim et al. broadcasting signal generation to arrive at the invention
The motivation of doing so would have detected transmission errors.
Regarding claim 26, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The method of claim 25, further comprising:
configuring the UE to identify the start time of the transmission mode based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 2 configured to cause the UE to: identify a start time for reception of the relay signal based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity), the start time of the transmission mode corresponding to a start time for reception of the relay signal from the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 2 identify a start time for reception of the relay signal); and
configuring the UE to initiate, at the identified start time, a monitor procedure to monitor the time slot for reception of the relay signal from the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 monitor at least a portion of a time slot for reception of a relay signal ).
Regarding claim 27, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The method of claim 25, further comprising:
outputting, for the UE, a physical downlink control channel based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity (US 11991784 B2 claim 3 receive a physical downlink control channel transmission based at least in part on the transmission mode of the network entity), wherein the physical downlink control channel is output in a time instance identified in the configuration signal (US 11991784 B2 claim 1 monitor at least a portion of a time slot ); and
configuring the UE to initiate a monitor procedure to monitor at least the portion of the time slot for reception of the relay signal from the network entity based at least in part on receipt of the physical downlink control channel (US 11991784 B2 claim 3 cause the UE to initiate at least the portion of the time slot being monitored for reception of the relay signal based at least in part on the received physical downlink control channel transmission).
Regarding claim 30, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The method of claim 25, wherein a timing boundary associated with the output of the relay signal is equal to a timing boundary associated with acquisition of the broadcast signal (US 11991784 B2 claim 8 wherein a timing boundary associated with a reception of the relay signal is equal to a timing boundary associated with a reception of the broadcast signal).
Claim 13, 19, 20, and 28 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1and 2 of U.S. Patent No. (US 11375364 B2) in view of Kim et al. (US 20180159671 A1), and in further view of the claims of U.S. Patent No. (US 11375364 B2).
Regarding claim 13, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, but does not teach
wherein the broadcast reception capability at the network entity is based at least in part on at least one of a circuitry included in the network entity, a broadcast reception quality at the network entity, a current load at the network entity, or a combination thereof.
However, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach
wherein the broadcast reception capability at the network entity is based at least in part on at least one of a circuitry included in the network entity, a broadcast reception quality at the network entity, a current load at the network entity, or a combination thereof (US 11375364 B2 claim 15 the broadcast reception capability at the base station is based at least in part on at least one of a circuitry included in the base station, a broadcast reception quality at the base station, a current load at the base station, or a combination thereof).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the examined application to have modified the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. by incorporating the claims of US 11375364 B2 to arrive at the invention.
The motivation of doing so would have provided optimal channel quality.
Regarding claim 19, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, but does not teach
wherein the broadcast signal is obtained from a broadcast transmitter, and wherein the broadcast transmitter comprises a new radio broadcast transmitter and the network entity comprises a new radio small cell.
However, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach
wherein the broadcast signal is obtained from a broadcast transmitter, and wherein the broadcast transmitter comprises a new radio broadcast transmitter and the network entity comprises a new radio small cell (US 11375364 B2 claim 16 wherein the broadcast transmitter comprises a new radio broadcast transmitter and the base station comprises a new radio small cell)
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the examined application to have modified the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. by incorporating the claims of US 11375364 B2 to arrive at the invention.
The motivation of doing so would have extended the coverage using new radio elements..
Regarding claim 20, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an antenna (US 11991784 B2 claim 3 one or more antennas) but does not tach
The apparatus configured to:
receive, from the UE, a second signal that queries the broadcast reception capability of the network entity, wherein the output configuration signal indicates the broadcast reception capability based at least in part on the second signal.
However, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach
receive, from the UE, a second signal that queries the broadcast reception capability of the network entity ((US 11375364 B2 claim 1 transmitting a first signal to query a broadcast reception capability of a base station), wherein the output configuration signal indicates the broadcast reception capability based at least in part on the second signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 1 receiving a second signal indicating the broadcast reception capability of the base station)..
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the examined application to have modified the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. by incorporating the claims of US 11375364 B2 to arrive at the invention.
The motivation of doing so would have discovered base station having relay capability.
Regarding claim 28, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. The method of claim 25, but does not teach
wherein the broadcast reception capability at the network entity is based at least in part on at least one of a circuitry included in the network entity, a broadcast reception quality at the network entity, a current load at the network entity, or a combination thereof.
However, the claims of US 11375364 B2 teach
wherein the broadcast reception capability at the network entity is based at least in part on at least one of a circuitry included in the network entity, a broadcast reception quality at the network entity, a current load at the network entity, or a combination thereof (US 11375364 B2 claim 15 the broadcast reception capability at the base station is based at least in part on at least one of a circuitry included in the base station, a broadcast reception quality at the base station, a current load at the base station, or a combination thereof).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the examined application to have modified the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. by incorporating the claims of US 11375364 B2 to arrive at the invention.
The motivation of doing so would have provided optimal channel quality.
Claims 14 and 29 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over the claims of U.S. Patent No. (US 11375364 B2) in view of Kim et al. (US 20180159671 A1), and in further view Khandani (US 20180309502 A1).
Regarding claim 14, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The apparatus of claim 10, but does not teach
to output the relay signal, the one or more processors are configured to cause the network entity to: output, for the UE, a beamformed transmission that comprises the relay signal.
In a similar endeavor, Khandani teaches
output, for the UE, a beamformed transmission that comprises the relay signal (Khandani [0097] a transmitter1 including RF beamforming filter 1502 and a transmitter 2 including RF beamforming filter 1504 operate to relay signals received via Receivers 1-4).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the examined application to have modified the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et by incorporating Khandani beamforming to arrive at the invention
The motivation of doing so would have reduced self interference.
Regarding claim 29, the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. teaches The method of claim 25, but does not teach
the outputting the relay signal comprising: outputting, for the UE, a beamformed transmission that comprises the relay signal.
In a similar endeavor, Khandani teaches
the outputting the relay signal comprising: outputting, for the UE, a beamformed transmission that comprises the relay signal (Khandani [0097] a transmitter1 including RF beamforming filter 1502 and a transmitter 2 including RF beamforming filter 1504 operate to relay signals received via Receivers 1-4).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the examined application to have modified the combination of the claims of US 11991784 B2 and Kim et al. by incorporating Khandani beamforming to arrive at the invention
The motivation of doing so would have reduced self interference.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4-5 and 24 are 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 following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter: .
Regarding claim 4, the claims of (US 11375364 B2) teach The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the network entity to:
determine that the network entity does not support reception of the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 6 receiving, from the base station, the second signal indicating that the base station is incapable of receiving the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter);;
However, the claims of (US 11375364 B2) do not teach
output, for a second network entity, a second signal that queries the broadcast reception capability at the second network entity; and
obtain, from the second network entity, a third signal that indicates the second network entity comprises the capability to receive the broadcast signal, wherein the output of the downlink signal is based at least in part on acquisition of the third signal.
Regarding claim 5, the claims of (US 11375364 B2) teach The apparatus of claim 1, but do not teach
wherein, to output the downlink signal, the one or more processors are configured to cause the network entity to:
broadcast the downlink signal that indicates the broadcast reception capability via a first frequency, wherein the broadcast signal is acquired from a broadcast transmitter via a second frequency.
Regarding claim 24, the claims of (US 11375364 B2) teach The method of claim 21, further comprising:
determining that the network entity does not support reception of the broadcast signal (US 11375364 B2 claim 6 receiving, from the base station, the second signal indicating that the base station is incapable of receiving the broadcast signal from the broadcast transmitter);;
However, the claims of (US 11375364 B2) do not teach
outputting, for a second network entity, a second signal that queries the broadcast reception capability at the second network entity; and
obtaining, from the second network entity, a third signal that indicates the second network entity comprises a capability to receive the broadcast signal, wherein the output of the downlink signal is based at least in part on acquisition of the third signal.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to SAID M ELNOUBI whose telephone number is (571)272-9732. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9:30AM to 6:00PM ET.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Kathy Wang-Hurst can be reached at 571-270-5371. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/SAID M ELNOUBI/ Examiner, Art Unit 2644
