DETAILED ACTION
The amendments and remarks filed 8/10/2026 were received.
PRIOR ART
The following references are prior art:
1. Appl. No.: 17/912,750 (“Go”) is prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) since it published as US 2023/0147639 A1, names another inventor (Seongwon GO), and was effectively filed Mar. 20, 2020 before Nov. 13, 2020 the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
CLAIM REJECTIONS — 35 U.S.C. 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
35 U.S.C. 102 Conditions for patentability; novelty.
(a) NOVELTY; PRIOR ART.—A person shall be entitled to a patent unless—
(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
CLAIMS 1-30
Claims 1-30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Go (US 2023/0147639 A1) for the reasons given below.
Claim 1
With respect to claim 1, Go disclosed:
An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and, based at least in part on information stored in the at least one memory ([0380] In reference to FIG. 14, a first wireless device 100 and a second wireless device 200 may transmit and receive a wireless signal through a variety of radio access technologies (e.g., LTE, NR). [0381] A first wireless device 100 may include one or more processors 102 and one or more memories 104 and may additionally include one or more transceivers 106 and/or one or more antennas 108. A processor 102 may control a memory 104 and/or a transceiver 106 and may be configured to implement description, functions, procedures, proposals, methods and/or operation flow charts disclosed in the present disclosure.),
the at least one processor is configured to: transmit, for a network node, antenna selection capability information based on a first number of transmission (Tx) chains at the UE and a second number of antenna ports at the UE ([0169] In addition, as described above, when a terminal is configured with an SRS resource and/or an SRS resource set configured for antenna switching through higher layer signaling, a corresponding terminal may be configured to perform SRS transmission based on UE capability related to antenna switching. In this case, UE capability related to antenna switching may be '1T2R', '2T4R', '1T4R', '1T4R/2T4R', 'lTlR', '2T2R', '4T4R', etc. Here, 'mTnR' may mean UE capability which supports m transmission and n reception. [0231] Step 1) AUE may report to a base station (BS) on panel-related capability information (e.g., the number of Tx/Rx panels, whether multiple panels can be transmitted simultaneously, a panel switching delay, etc.). [0232] in a case of a UE capable of simultaneous transmission for each panel, the report may be performed as in Embodiment 2 above. [0246] A terminal may report the following UE capability information to a base station before receiving a configuration for an SRS resource set or/and an SRS resource for antenna switching from a base station. A terminal may report to a base station as UE capability on i) (according to the number of Tx antennas ( or Tx chain) of a terminal and the number of Rx antennas (or Rx chain)) the number of Tx antennas that can be transmitted simultaneously, and ii) the number of Rx antennas ( or Rx chains), and iii) the number of Rx antennas that can (or will perform) sounding for DL CSI acquisition based on reciprocity. For example, if a terminal reports as "2T6R" as UE capability information to a base station, it can be interpreted that the terminal is capable of simultaneous transmission with respect to two Tx antennas (because it has two Tx chain) and that sounding can be performed with respect to six Rx antennas. As another example, if a terminal reports to a base station as "4T8R" as UE capability information, it can be interpreted that the terminal is capable of simultaneous transmission for four Tx antennas and sounding is possible for eight Rx antennas. [0247] Here, in a UE capability report such as "xTyR", y may not be accurately divided by x (i.e., if y is divided by x, a remainder occurs. e.g., 4T6R). This means that there may be overlapping Rx (Tx) antenna port(s) for each occasion (for each transmission of each SRS resource set or for each transmission of each SRS resource) in each SRS transmission occasion for antenna switching. For example, when 4T6R antenna switching is configured for two SRS resource sets, there may be overlapping SRS antenna ports between SRS resource set 1 and SRS resource set 2. Alternatively, when 4T6R antenna switching is configured for two SRS resource sets, SRS resource set 1 and SRS resource set 2 may be configured with different antenna ports, respectively. In this case, there may be overlapping SRS antenna ports between different SRS resources in SRS resource set 1, and/or overlapping SRS antenna ports between different SRS resources in SRS resource set 2 may exist. In the above case, the corresponding operation may be configured/switched/update/indicated by a base station. [0297] Referring to FIG. 8, a base station (BS) receives terminal capability information from a terminal (user equipment, UE) (S801). That is, a terminal transmits terminal capability information to a base station. [0298] Here, terminal capability information may mean terminal capability information related to antenna switching of a terminal. [0299] Terminal capability information may be reported to a base station through higher layer signaling (e.g., supportedSRS-TxPortSwitch). [0300] Here, as in Example 5 above, a terminal may transmit how many Tx antennas can simultaneously transmit an SRS (i.e., Tx antenna capable of simultaneous SRS transmission) number of), how many Rx antennas it has (the number of Rx antennas a terminal has), and how many Rx antennas can perform sounding for reciprocity-based DL CSI acquisition (i.e., the number of Rx antennas for performing sounding) to a base station as terminal capability information related to antenna switching of a terminal. This information may be reported to a base station in a form of "xTyR". [0301] In addition, a terminal may report to a base station about the number of panels related to the "xTyR" report as terminal capability information related to antenna switching of a terminal. In addition, the "xTyR" report may be individually performed for each panel. [0386] In the present disclosure, one or more antennas may be a plurality of physical antennas or a plurality of logical antennas ( e.g., an antenna port).),
wherein each Tx chain of the first number of Tx chains represents a different multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) stream (See FIG 7b of Go reproduced below [0083] FIG. 2 illustrates a frame structure in a wireless communication system to which the present disclosure may be applied. [0087] Regarding a frame structure in an NR system… frame. One slot is configured with Nsymslot consecutive OFDM symbols [0125] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating multi panel terminals in a wireless communication system to which the present disclosure may be applied. [0090] FIG. 3 illustrates a resource grid in a wireless communication system to which the present disclosure may be applied. [0091] In reference to FIG. 3, it is illustratively described that a resource grid is configured with N RBμN sc RB subcarriers in a frequency domain and one subframe is configured with 14-2μ OFDM symbols, but it is not limited thereto. In an NR system, a transmitted signal is described by OFDM symbols of 2μN symb (μl and one or more resource grids configured with NRBμNs/8 subcarriers. Here, NRBμ:s;NRB max.μ_ The NRB max. μ represents a maximum transmission bandwidth, which may be different between an uplink and a downlink as well as between numerologies. In this case, one resource grid may be configured per μ and antenna port p. [0119] 'a panel' referred to in the present disclosure may be defined as a unit for a terminal to configure a transmission/reception beam. For example, 'a transmission panel' may generate a plurality of candidate transmission beams in one panel, but it may be defined as a unit which may use only one beam of them in transmission at a specific time. In other words, only one transmission beam (spatial relation information RS) may be used per Tx panel to transmit a specific uplink signal/channel. [0126] FIG. 7(a) illustrates implementation of RF (radio frequency) switch-based multi panel terminals and FIG. 7 (b) illustrates implementation of RF connection-based multi panel terminals. [0128] For implementation of a plurality of panels in a different way, a RF chain may be connected respectively so that each panel can be activated anytime as in FIG. 7(b)… it may be possible to simultaneously transmit a signal by activating a plurality of panels at the same time (STxMP: simultaneous transmission across multi-panel) according to a model and power amplifier configuration. [0130] if panel implementation and simultaneous transmission of a plurality of panels as in FIG. 7(b) are considered, a corresponding concept (an SRS resource set) itself may be matched to an SRS resource group. [0176] In Rel-15 NR MIMO, it is agreed to be supported SRS transmission for antenna switching for efficiently acquiring DL CSI for a UE in which the number of transmission antennas (Tx antennas) is less than the number of reception antennas (Rx antennas). AUE supporting antenna switching may report one of {"I T2R", "I T4R", "2T4R", "1T4R/2T4R", "T=R" } to a base station as capability information. Here, 'mTnR' may mean a terminal capability that supports m transmissions and n receptions. [0240] Meanwhile, in Rel-15 NR MIMO, for a UE in which the number of transmission antennas (Tx antenna) (or Tx chain) is less than the number of reception antennas (Rx antenna) (or Rx chain), it has been agreed to support SRS transmission for antenna switching The Examiner finds that Go disclosed wherein each Tx chain of the first number of Tx chains (e.g., the 4 Tx chains illustrated in FIG. 7B showing 2 Tx chains for Tx Panel#0 and 2 Tx chains for Tx Panel#1) represents a different multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) stream (i.e., each Tx chain represents different symbol streams in a resource grid (e.g., as in FIG. 3) for MIMO communication)).
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receive, from the network node and based on the antenna selection capability information, a sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration indicative of a set of SRS resources for the first number of Tx chains at the UE and the second number of antenna ports at the UE associated with respective connections to the first number of Tx chains for antenna selection ([0128] For implementation of a plurality of panels in a different way, a RF chain may be connected respectively so that each panel can be activated anytime as in FIG. 7(b)… it may be possible to simultaneously transmit a signal by activating a plurality of panels at the same time (STxMP: simultaneous transmission across multi-panel) according to a model and power amplifier configuration. [0130] if panel implementation and simultaneous transmission of a plurality of panels as in FIG. 7(b) are considered, a corresponding concept (an SRS resource set) itself may be matched to an SRS resource group. [0233] Step 2) AUE may receive SRS related configuration information from a BS. [0234] Here, for example, the SRS-related configuration information may include an SRS-Config IE. An SRS may be transmitted periodically or semi-statically or aperiodic. [0235] Step 3) a) When a UE receives an SRS trigger through a DL/UL grant (through a PDCCH) from a BS, or b) when an RRC/MAC CE configuration-based SRS transmission time arrives, the following may be operated. [0236] For example, in a case of a UE capable of simultaneous transmission per panel, the UE may perform the operation according to Embodiment 2 above. Alternatively, in a case of a UE incapable of simultaneous transmission per panel, the UE may perform the operation according to Embodiment 3 above. [0248] A base station may configure an SRS resource set/SRS resource for antenna switching with a subset of a terminal capability, based on a capability report of a terminal. For example, when a terminal reports as 4T6R as a capability report, a base station may configure the SRS resource set/SRS resource corresponding to 4T6R, but the base station may configure to the terminal the SRS resource set/SRS resource such as 2T6R, which is a subset of the configuration. In addition, a base station may configure/indicate for a terminal to transmit an SRS based on the corresponding configuration. The Examiner finds that FIG. 7 of Go illustrates the different Tx chains of multiple Tx panels, with different antenna ports and connections, where each Tx chain represents different streams of consecutive symbols in a resource grid for MIMO communication.).
Claim 2
With respect to claim 2, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1 (see rejection above),
further comprising at least one transceiver coupled to the at least one processor ([0381] A first wireless device 100 may include one or more processors 102 and one or more memories 104 and may additionally include one or more transceivers 106 and/or one or more antennas 108. A processor 102 may control a memory 104 and/or a transceiver 106 and may be configured to implement description, functions, procedures, proposals, methods and/or operation flow charts disclosed in the present disclosure);
wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: provide, for the network node, an SRS transmission in accordance with the SRS configuration; select a set of antennas associated with the second number of antenna ports and a corresponding Tx chain from the first number of Tx chains based on the SRS configuration for the antenna selection; communicate, with the network node via the at least one transceiver, in accordance with the set of antennas and the corresponding Tx chain ([0128] For implementation of a plurality of panels in a different way, a RF chain may be connected respectively so that each panel can be activated anytime as in FIG. 7(b). [0129] For a terminal having a plurality of panels, a radio channel state may be different per panel, and in addition, a RF/antenna configuration may be different per panel, so a method in which a channel is estimated per panel is needed. In particular, a process in which one or a plurality of SRS resources are transmitted respectively per panel is needed to measure uplink quality or manage an uplink beam, or to measure downlink quality per panel or manage a downlink beam by utilizing channel reciprocity [0286] For example, in a case of a terminal capable of multi-panel simultaneous transmission such as MPUE-Assumption 2, a) a method of performing multi-panel simultaneous transmission and completing antenna switching may be performed (i.e., a method in which SRS is transmitted over a plurality of SRS resource sets in a manner in which an SRS is simultaneously transmitted on different SRS resources in different SRS resource sets (at each SRS transmission occasion), [0302] A base station transmits configuration information related to an SRS to a terminal (S802). That is, a terminal may receive configuration information related to an SRS from a base station. [0320] A terminal may transmit an SRS to a base station based on configuration information related to an SRS (S804). That is, a base station may receive an SRS from a terminal. [0321] That is, when one or more SRS resource sets configured with a usage for antenna switching are configured by configuration information related to an SRS, a terminal may transmit an SRS to a base station across all reception antenna ports while changing an SRS antenna port for each SRS transmission occasion. [0322] For example, in a case that the configuration information related to an SRS includes information on overlapping antenna ports at different SRS transmission occasions for each of the plurality of SRS resource sets, when an antenna port is changed for each SRS occasion when transmitting each SRS resource set, an SRS may be transmitted from an antenna port including at least the overlapping antenna ports in each SRS resource set transmission. In addition, when the configuration information related to an SRS includes information on antenna port groups that is rotated for each SRS transmission occasion for each of the plurality of SRS resource sets, an SRS may be transmitted to a base station while sequentially changing an antenna port group in each SRS resource set transmission. [0323] As another example, in a case that the configuration information related to an SRS includes information on overlapping antenna ports at different SRS transmission occasions for the one or more SRS resources, when an antenna port is changed for each SRS occasion when transmitting one or more SRS resources, an SRS may be transmitted from an antenna port including at least the overlapping antenna ports in each SRS occasion. In addition, when the configuration information related to an SRS includes information on antenna port groups is rotated for each SRS transmission occasion for the one or more SRS resources, an SRS may be transmitted to a base station while sequentially changing an antenna port group for each SRS transmission occasion.);
Claim 3
With respect to claim 3, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 2 (see rejection above),
wherein to select the set of antennas associated with the second number of antenna ports and the corresponding Tx chain from the first number of Tx chains, the at least one processor is configured to: receive, from the network node, a set of antenna selection parameters associated with the SRS transmission for the SRS antenna selection for the set of SRS resources, and select the set of antennas further based on the set of antenna selection parameters associated with the SRS antenna selection for the set of SRS resources ([0218] Example 2) When a consecutive symbol duration is two or more: a base station may configure/indicate to a UE a combination form for a symbol time duration (1, 2, 4) in addition to a symbol level start position candidate. For example, a base station may configure a UE (e.g., SRS resource 1 (from panel l)={(starting=3, duration=2), (starting= 5, duration=!)}, SRS resource 2 (from panel 1)={ (starting=3), duration=2), (starting=5, duration=!)}, SRS resource 3 (from panel 2)={(starting=3, duration=2), (starting= 5, duration=! }SRS resource 4 (from panel 2)={ (starting= 3,duration=2), (starting=5, duration=!)}) through an RRC configuration. In addition, a base station may configure/ indicate with a MAC CE or DCI (n bits) for which ordered pair (by down-select) among them (for the individual SRS resource) to transmit.);
or wherein to transmit the antenna selection capability information, the at least one processor is configured to: transmit, for the network node, assistance information associated with a set of UE-generated antenna selection parameters, and wherein to select the set of antennas associated with the second number of antenna ports and the corresponding Tx chain from the first number of Tx chains, the at least one processor is configured to: receive, from the network node, an indication of the set of antennas associated with the second number of antenna ports and the corresponding Tx chain from the first number of Tx chains ([0169] In addition, as described above, when a terminal is configured with an SRS resource and/or an SRS resource set configured for antenna switching through higher layer signaling, a corresponding terminal may be configured to perform SRS transmission based on UE capability related to antenna switching. In this case, UE capability related to antenna switching may be '1T2R', '2T4R', '1T4R', '1T4R/2T4R', 'lTlR', '2T2R', '4T4R', etc. Here, 'mTnR' may mean UE capability which supports m transmission and n reception. [0170] (Example Sl) For example, for a terminal which supports 1 T2R, up to 2 SRS resource sets may be configured as a different value for resourceType of a higher layer parameter, SRS-ResourceSet. In this case, each SRS resource set may have 2 SRS resources transmitted in different symbols and each SRS resource may configure a single SRS port in a given SRS resource set. In addition, an SRS port for a second SRS resource in an SRS resource set may be configured to be associated with a UE antenna port different from an SRS port for a first SRS resource in the same SRS resource set. [0201] In addition, in a case of a multi-panel UE, a capability for antenna switching may be reported to a base station for each panel (per-panel) the same or differently. For example, it is assumed that a panel switching capability of a 2-panel UE is "1Tp2Rp", and for each panel, "1T2R" is supported for a first panel and "1 T4R" is supported for a second panel. In this case, in a capability of an SRS resource setting for panel switching, a UE may be configured to report an integrated capability considering a hierarchy of panel switching and antenna switching such as {"1 Tp2Rp" with "1T2R" for panel 0 and "1T4R" for panel 1} to a base station. Through this, a base station may configure/indicate to a UE an SRS for panel switching and antenna switching corresponding to the corresponding capability. [0202] Additionally, whether SRS simultaneous transmission from an SRS resource set related to each panel described above in Embodiment 1 can be transmitted or a time required to switch a panel may also be included in the integrated capability and transmitted. For example, a UE may report to a base station as {"1Tp2Rp" with "1T2R" for panel 0 and "1T4R" for panel 1, whether an SRS resource set of each panel can be transmitted simultaneously (i.e., 0 (yes) or X (no)}, time required for panel switching}.).
Claim 4
With respect to claim 4, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the antenna selection capability information is indicative of at least one of per-component carrier (CC) information or per-CC combination information for the first number of Tx chains at the UE and the second number of antenna ports at the UE ([0101] In an NR system, up to 400 MHz may be supported per component carrier (CC). If a terminal operating in such a wideband CC always operates turning on a radio frequency (FR) chip for the whole CC, terminal battery consumption may increase. Alternatively, when several application cases operating in one wideband CC ( e.g., eMBB, URLLC, Mmtc, V2X, etc.) are considered, a different numerology (e.g., a subcarrier spacing, etc.) may be supported per frequency band in a corresponding CC. [0102] Alternatively, each terminal may have a different capability for the maximum bandwidth. By considering it, a base station may indicate a terminal to operate only in a partial bandwidth, not in a full bandwidth of a wideband CC, and a corresponding partial bandwidth is defined as a bandwidth part (BWP) for convenience. A BWP may be configured with consecutive RBs on a frequency axis and may correspond to one numerology (e.g., a subcarrier spacing, a CP length, a slot/a mini-slot duration). [0103] Meanwhile, a base station may configure a plurality of BWPs even in one CC configured to a terminal. For example, a BWP occupying a relatively small frequency domain may be configured in a PDCCH monitoring slot, and a PDSCH indicated by a PDCCH may be scheduled in a greater BWP… A base station may activate at least one DL/UL BWP of configured DL/UL BWP(s) at a specific time (by L1 signaling or MAC CE (Control Element) or RRC signaling, etc.). In addition, a base station may indicate switching to other configured DL/UL BWP (by L1 signaling or MAC CE or RRC signaling, etc.).).
Claim 5
With respect to claim 5, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1 (see rejection above),
wherein the antenna selection capability information is indicative of connection information, wherein the connection information includes at least one of: a sub-connection in which each Tx chain from the first number of Tx chains is configured to connect with disjoint antenna port sets from the second number of antenna ports; a partially joint connection in which a common set of antenna ports from the second number of antenna ports is connected to multiple Tx chains from the first number of Tx chains; or a full connection in which each Tx chain from the first number of Tx chains is configured to connect with any antenna port from the second number of antenna ports ([0125] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating multi panel terminals in a wireless communication system to which the present disclosure may be applied. [0169] In addition, as described above, when a terminal is configured with an SRS resource and/or an SRS resource set configured for antenna switching through higher layer signaling, a corresponding terminal may be configured to perform SRS transmission based on UE capability related to antenna switching. In this case, UE capability related to antenna switching may be '1T2R', '2T4R', '1T4R', '1T4R/2T4R', 'lTlR', '2T2R', '4T4R', etc. Here, 'mTnR' may mean UE capability which supports m transmission and n reception. [0170] (Example Sl) For example, for a terminal which supports 1 T2R, up to 2 SRS resource sets may be configured as a different value for resourceType of a higher layer parameter, SRS-ResourceSet. In this case, each SRS resource set may have 2 SRS resources transmitted in different symbols and each SRS resource may configure a single SRS port in a given SRS resource set. In addition, an SRS port for a second SRS resource in an SRS resource set may be configured to be associated with a UE antenna port different from an SRS port for a first SRS resource in the same SRS resource set. [0201] In addition, in a case of a multi-panel UE, a capability for antenna switching may be reported to a base station for each panel (per-panel) the same or differently. For example, it is assumed that a panel switching capability of a 2-panel UE is "1Tp2Rp", and for each panel, "1T2R" is supported for a first panel and "1 T4R" is supported for a second panel. In this case, in a capability of an SRS resource setting for panel switching, a UE may be configured to report an integrated capability considering a hierarchy of panel switching and antenna switching such as {"1 Tp2Rp" with "1T2R" for panel 0 and "1T4R" for panel 1} to a base station. Through this, a base station may configure/indicate to a UE an SRS for panel switching and antenna switching corresponding to the corresponding capability. [0202] Additionally, whether SRS simultaneous transmission from an SRS resource set related to each panel described above in Embodiment 1 can be transmitted or a time required to switch a panel may also be included in the integrated capability and transmitted. For example, a UE may report to a base station as {"1Tp2Rp" with "1T2R" for panel 0 and "1T4R" for panel 1, whether an SRS resource set of each panel can be transmitted simultaneously (i.e., 0 (yes) or X (no)}, time required for panel switching}. [0197] If the number ofTx panels and Rx panels that a UE can utilize exists (with a UE capability), and if the number ofTx panels is less than or equal to the number of Rx panels, in order to obtain DL CSI information for each panel, it is necessary to introduce a concept of 'panel switching' in which an SRS is transmitted for each panel. [0198] There may be also a UE capability for this panel switching such as "1Tp2Rp" (i.e., 1 Tx panel and 2 Rx panel), "2Tp4Rp" (i.e., 2 Tx panel and 4 Rx panel), "1Tp4Rp" (i.e., 1 Tx panel and 4 Rx panel), etc., and a UE may report corresponding capability to a base station. [0199] In addition, SRS resource set(s) for antenna switching may be configured for each panel. In this case, there may be a capability of a terminal as to whether a terminal can simultaneously transmit the corresponding SRS resource sets configured for each panel. [0201] In addition, in a case of a multi-panel UE, a capability for antenna switching may be reported to a base station for each panel (per-panel) the same or differently. [0205] Method 1-1) In a case of a UE that can use one or more panels for transmission such as MPUE-Assumption 2, a UE may be configured to (optionally) report information on a panel switching delay and to report that the UE can transmit simultaneously, such as {"1Tp2Rp" with "1T2R" for panel 0 and "1 T4R" for panel 1, whether an SRS resource set of each panel can be transmitted simultaneously: 0 (Yes), time required for panel switching: 0 ms ( optional reporting)}.).
Claim 6
With respect to claim 6, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 5 (see rejection above),
wherein each Tx chain in the first number of Tx chains is associated with a set of antenna port indices, wherein each index of the set of antenna port indices is indicative of a set of antenna ports to which an associated Tx chain is configured to connect; wherein to transmit the antenna selection capability information, the at least one processor is configured to transmit the set of antenna port indices ([0203] Here, for which SRS resource set is related to which panel, it may be configured/indicated for which panel the corresponding SRS resource set corresponds to in a higher layer configuration (e.g., in an SRS resource set configuration (SRS-ResourceSet) in an information element (IE) for an SRS configuration (i.e., SRS-config)) for configuring an SRS resource set from a base station. After a UE reports the number ofTx panels and Rx panels, when the UE reports DL CSI after receiving a CSI-RS, the UE may transmit a report including a panel index to a base station. Accordingly, a base station may recognize a situation for each panel, and based on this recognition, the panel configuration/indication may be generated by reflecting it in an SRS resource setting. [0264] Alternatively, (2) in a UE capability report/configuration, such as "xTyR" of Embodiment 5 (y is not accurately divided by x), for each SRS transmission occasion for antenna switching, a base station may configure "xTyR" (e.g., 4T8R, 2T8R, 4T6R, 2T6R, 3T4R, 2T4R, etc.) antenna switching to a terminal so as to have an overlapping Rx (Tx) antenna port for each occasion. [0265] Here, the number of overlapping SRS antenna ports and a port index for each of a plurality of SRS resource sets/SRS resources may be configured/indicated by a base station. In other words, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) at different SRS transmission occasions for each of the plurality of SRS resource sets may be configured by a base station. For example, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) may be configured for SRS occasions for SRS resource set 1 and for SRS resource set 2. Alternatively, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) may be configured by a base station at different SRS transmission occasions for the one or more SRS resources. For example, when two SRS resource sets are configured, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) for SRS resource 1 and SRS resource 2 in SRS resource set 1 and/or overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) for SRS resource 3 and SRS resource 4 in SRS resource set 2 may be configured. [0267] If 2 SRS resources are configured in the SRS resource set of the "4T6R" configuration, (by an overlapping port configuration configured by a base station) a terminal may perform sounding of port indexes 0, 1, 2, and 3 in one SRS resource and may perform sounding of port indexes 0, 2, 4, and 5 in another SRS resource.).
Claim 7
With respect to claim 7, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 5 (see rejection above),
wherein the connection information includes at least one reference to a connections data structure, wherein the connections data structure includes an association between sets of antenna port indices and each Tx chain in the first number of Tx chains; wherein to transmit the antenna selection capability information, the at least one processor is configured to transmit the at least one reference to the connections data structure (([0203] Here, for which SRS resource set is related to which panel, it may be configured/indicated for which panel the corresponding SRS resource set corresponds to in a higher layer configuration (e.g., in an SRS resource set configuration (SRS-ResourceSet) in an information element (IE) for an SRS configuration (i.e., SRS-config)) for configuring an SRS resource set from a base station. After a UE reports the number ofTx panels and Rx panels, when the UE reports DL CSI after receiving a CSI-RS, the UE may transmit a report including a panel index to a base station. Accordingly, a base station may recognize a situation for each panel, and based on this recognition, the panel configuration/indication may be generated by reflecting it in an SRS resource setting. [0264] (2) in a UE capability report/configuration, such as "xTyR" of Embodiment 5 (y is not accurately divided by x), for each SRS transmission occasion for antenna switching, a base station may configure "xTyR" (e.g., 4T8R, 2T8R, 4T6R, 2T6R, 3T4R, 2T4R, etc.) antenna switching to a terminal so as to have an overlapping Rx (Tx) antenna port for each occasion. [0265] Here, the number of overlapping SRS antenna ports and a port index for each of a plurality of SRS resource sets/SRS resources may be configured/indicated by a base station. In other words, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) at different SRS transmission occasions for each of the plurality of SRS resource sets may be configured by a base station. For example, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) may be configured for SRS occasions for SRS resource set 1 and for SRS resource set 2. Alternatively, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) may be configured by a base station at different SRS transmission occasions for the one or more SRS resources. For example, when two SRS resource sets are configured, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) for SRS resource 1 and SRS resource 2 in SRS resource set 1 and/or overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) for SRS resource 3 and SRS resource 4 in SRS resource set 2 may be configured. [0267] If 2 SRS resources are configured in the SRS resource set of the "4T6R" configuration, (by an overlapping port configuration configured by a base station) a terminal may perform sounding of port indexes 0, 1, 2, and 3 in one SRS resource and may perform sounding of port indexes 0, 2, 4, and 5 in another SRS resource.).
Claim 8
With respect to claim 8, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 5 (see rejection above),
wherein the connection information includes combination information, wherein the combination information includes a number of antenna ports for which subsets of Tx chain combinations from the first number of Tx chains are configured to connect; wherein to transmit the antenna selection capability information, the at least one processor is configured to transmit the combination information ([0273] ii) In a case ofreporting/configuration for multiple panels (or in a case of a multi-panel terminal) [0274] For an antenna switching configuration for multipanels of a terminal, a base station may configure/indicate to a terminal to perform SRS antenna switching with a subset of "xTyR" reported by the terminal by configuring one or more SRS resource sets. Here, criteria for configuring the one or more SRS resource sets are as follows. [0275] ii-1) When a base station configures one SRS resource set for multi-panels of a terminal [0276] It is assumed that the available SRS symbol resources are sufficient as in i-1 and a terminal is capable of simultaneous activation of multiple Rx (Tx) panels. [0277] Specifically, when a terminal reports capability information for SRS antenna switching for multi-panel to a base station, the terminal may report information indicating that SRS antenna switching can be completed within a single UL slot and "xTyR" for each panel (or integrated "xTyR" for a total of panels) to the base station as capability information. The corresponding base station may configure a single SRS resource set for antenna switching over multi-panel to the terminal. [0278] A configuration/transmission order in a single UL slot for antenna switching SRS resources corresponding to different panels may be defined/configured to a terminal in advance by a base station. Alternatively, a panel ID (P-ID) is configured in each SRS resource, or a P-ID is configured/linked in spatialRelationinfo ( or UL-TCI state), therefore, for SRS resources in an SRS resource set, a terminal may explicitly recognize an SRS resource from which panel.).
Claim 9
With respect to claim 9, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1 (see rejection above),
wherein the SRS configuration is associated with an uplink (UL) beam management procedure and is indicative of an SRS resource of the set of SRS resources based on a condition for the UL beam management procedure ([0130] when usage is beam management for the same usage and time domain behavior in Rel-15, a plurality of SRS resource sets may be configured. [0161] Hereinafter, an SRS for beam management is described. [0162] An SRS may be used for beam management. Specifically, UL BM may be performed by beamformed UL SRS transmission. Whether UL BM of an SRS resource set is applied is configured by (a higher layer parameter) 'usage'.).
Claim 10
With respect to claim 10, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SRS configuration is associated with SRS antenna selection for the set of SRS resources, wherein the antenna selection is based on the SRS antenna selection ([0249] In addition, when a terminal reports a capability for antenna switching, the terminal may report to a base station whether the corresponding "xTyR" report is i) a possible configuration in one panel or ii) a possible configuration across multiple panels. That is, a terminal may report how many panels are associated with an antenna switching operation of an SRS. [0251] In this way, a base station receiving a separate report for each panel can recognize an antenna switching capability for each panel. Therefore, a base station can i) perform an SRS resource set/SRS resource configuration for an integrated "xTyR" of an entire panel, or ii) perform a separate SRS resource set/SRS resource configuration for "xTyR" for each panel. [0252] Embodiment 6: Based on a terminal capability report of Embodiment 5 for antenna switching, a method in which a base station configures an SRS resource set and/or SRS resource for antenna switching for a terminal having an Rx antenna number greater than 4 Rx is proposed as follows.).
Claim 11
With respect to claim 11, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SRS configuration is associated with SRS antenna selection for the set of SRS resources and is indicative of an association between sets of antenna port indices and each Tx chain in the first number of Tx chains ([0205] In a case of a UE that can use one or more panels for transmission such as MPUE-Assumption 2, a UE may be configured to (optionally) report information on a panel switching delay and to report that the UE can transmit simultaneously, such as {"1Tp2Rp" with "1T2R" for panel 0 and "1 T4R" for panel 1, whether an SRS resource set of each panel can be transmitted simultaneously: 0 (Yes), time required for panel switching: 0 ms ( optional reporting)} [0264] (2) in a UE capability report/configuration, such as "xTyR" of Embodiment 5 (y is not accurately divided by x), for each SRS transmission occasion for antenna switching, a base station may configure "xTyR" (e.g., 4T8R, 2T8R, 4T6R, 2T6R, 3T4R, 2T4R, etc.) antenna switching to a terminal so as to have an overlapping Rx (Tx) antenna port for each occasion. [0265] Here, the number of overlapping SRS antenna ports and a port index for each of a plurality of SRS resource sets/SRS resources may be configured/indicated by a base station. In other words, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) at different SRS transmission occasions for each of the plurality of SRS resource sets may be configured by a base station. For example, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) may be configured for SRS occasions for SRS resource set 1 and for SRS resource set 2. Alternatively, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) may be configured by a base station at different SRS transmission occasions for the one or more SRS resources. For example, when two SRS resource sets are configured, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) for SRS resource 1 and SRS resource 2 in SRS resource set 1 and/or overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) for SRS resource 3 and SRS resource 4 in SRS resource set 2 may be configured. [0267] If 2 SRS resources are configured in the SRS resource set of the "4T6R" configuration, (by an overlapping port configuration configured by a base station) a terminal may perform sounding of port indexes 0, 1, 2, and 3 in one SRS resource and may perform sounding of port indexes 0, 2, 4, and 5 in another SRS resource.}).
Claim 12
With respect to claim 12, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SRS configuration is associated with SRS antenna selection for the set of SRS resources, wherein each SRS resource of the set of SRS resources is associated with a respective number of ports, wherein the antenna selection is based on (i) a port of the respective number of ports having a maximum number of antenna port connections or (ii) the respective number of ports being associated with a cyclical sweep of the maximum number of antenna port connections (([0169] In addition, as described above, when a terminal is configured with an SRS resource and/or an SRS resource set configured for antenna switching through higher layer signaling, a corresponding terminal may be configured to perform SRS transmission based on UE capability related to antenna switching. In this case, UE capability related to antenna switching may be '1T2R', '2T4R', '1T4R', '1T4R/2T4R', 'lTlR', '2T2R', '4T4R', etc. Here, 'mTnR' may mean UE capability which supports m transmission and n reception. [0231] Step 1) AUE may report to a base station (BS) on panel-related capability information (e.g., the number of Tx/Rx panels, whether multiple panels can be transmitted simultaneously, a panel switching delay, etc.). [0232] in a case of a UE capable of simultaneous transmission for each panel, the report may be performed as in Embodiment 2 above. [0246] A terminal may report the following UE capability information to a base station before receiving a configuration for an SRS resource set or/and an SRS resource for antenna switching from a base station. A terminal may report to a base station as UE capability on i) (according to the number of Tx antennas ( or Tx chain) of a terminal and the number of Rx antennas (or Rx chain)) the number of Tx antennas that can be transmitted simultaneously, and ii) the number of Rx antennas ( or Rx chains), and iii) the number of Rx antennas that can (or will perform) sounding for DL CSI acquisition based on reciprocity. For example, if a terminal reports as "2T6R" as UE capability information to a base station, it can be interpreted that the terminal is capable of simultaneous transmission with respect to two Tx antennas (because it has two Tx chain) and that sounding can be performed with respect to six Rx antennas. As another example, if a terminal reports to a base station as "4T8R" as UE capability information, it can be interpreted that the terminal is capable of simultaneous transmission for four Tx antennas and sounding is possible for eight Rx antennas. [0247] Here, in a UE capability report such as "xTyR", y may not be accurately divided by x (i.e., if y is divided by x, a remainder occurs. e.g., 4T6R). This means that there may be overlapping Rx (Tx) antenna port(s) for each occasion (for each transmission of each SRS resource set or for each transmission of each SRS resource) in each SRS transmission occasion for antenna switching. For example, when 4T6R antenna switching is configured for two SRS resource sets, there may be overlapping SRS antenna ports between SRS resource set 1 and SRS resource set 2. Alternatively, when 4T6R antenna switching is configured for two SRS resource sets, SRS resource set 1 and SRS resource set 2 may be configured with different antenna ports, respectively. In this case, there may be overlapping SRS antenna ports between different SRS resources in SRS resource set 1, and/or overlapping SRS antenna ports between different SRS resources in SRS resource set 2 may exist. In the above case, the corresponding operation may be configured/switched/update/indicated by a base station. [0248] A base station may configure an SRS resource set/SRS resource for antenna switching with a subset of a terminal capability, based on a capability report of a terminal. For example, when a terminal reports as 4T6R as a capability report, a base station may configure the SRS resource set/SRS resource corresponding to 4T6R, but the base station may configure to the terminal the SRS resource set/SRS resource such as 2T6R, which is a subset of the configuration. In addition, a base station may configure/indicate for a terminal to transmit an SRS based on the corresponding configuration. [0297] Referring to FIG. 8, a base station (BS) receives terminal capability information from a terminal (user equipment, UE) (S801). That is, a terminal transmits terminal capability information to a base station. [0298] Here, terminal capability information may mean terminal capability information related to antenna switching of a terminal. [0264] Alternatively, (2) in a UE capability report/configuration, such as "xTyR" of Embodiment 5 (y is not accurately divided by x), for each SRS transmission occasion for antenna switching, a base station may configure "xTyR" (e.g., 4T8R, 2T8R, 4T6R, 2T6R, 3T4R, 2T4R, etc.) antenna switching to a terminal so as to have an overlapping Rx (Tx) antenna port for each occasion. [0265] Here, the number of overlapping SRS antenna ports and a port index for each of a plurality of SRS resource sets/SRS resources may be configured/indicated by a base station. In other words, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) at different SRS transmission occasions for each of the plurality of SRS resource sets may be configured by a base station. For example, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) may be configured for SRS occasions for SRS resource set 1 and for SRS resource set 2. Alternatively, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) may be configured by a base station at different SRS transmission occasions for the one or more SRS resources. For example, when two SRS resource sets are configured, overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) for SRS resource 1 and SRS resource 2 in SRS resource set 1 and/or overlapping antenna port information (the number of antenna ports and a port index) for SRS resource 3 and SRS resource 4 in SRS resource set 2 may be configured.).
Claim 13
With respect to claim 13, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SRS configuration is associated with SRS antenna selection for the set of SRS resources, wherein the antenna selection is based on a periodic mapping in a time domain, wherein the periodic mapping is an SRS resource port-to-antenna mapping, wherein (i) the SRS configuration is indicative of the periodic mapping or (ii) a number of ports of an SRS resource of the set of SRS resources being associated with a cyclical sweep of a maximum number of antenna port connections for the SRS resource ([0172] when SRS transmission is configured as periodic or semi-persistent, 0 SRS resource set configured or I SRS resource set configured with 4 SRS resources based on resource Type of a higher layer parameter SRS-ResourceSet may be configured to be transmitted in different symbols. Here, each SRS resource may configure a single SRS port in a given SRS resource set. In addition, an SRS port for each SRS resource may be configured to be associated with a different UE antenna port. [0262] Specifically, in order to prevent transmission from being configured/indicated in the same UL slot, a plurality of SRS resource sets configured as described above may be configured to have different period values and offset values (i.e., periodicityAndOffset) (in case of a periodic/semipersistent SRS resource set) or may be configured to have different slot offsets (i.e., slotOffset) (in case of an aperiodic SRS resource set). [0263] More specifically, CD time difference (e.g., n slots (n is a natural number)) in time domain between different UL slots in which a plurality of SRS resource sets are transmitted due to the different periodicityAndOffset/slotOffset may be limited. That is, transmission of a plurality of SRS resource sets inn slots may be limited to be completed. Here, an interval (e.g., n slots) in a time domain may be predetermined/predefined or may be configured by a base station. Due to time domain corruption of radio channels, it may be difficult to obtain accurate DL CSI for all Rx antenna ports due to channel corruption between SRS resource sets for antenna switching, and therefore a limitation may be configured/defined on a time distance between SRS resource sets with the above restrictions. [0281] In this case, a configuration/instruction of a base station for SRS antenna switching and an operation of a terminal may be the same as i-2. That is, when a terminal reports capability information for SRS antenna switching for multi-panel, the terminal may report information indicating that SRS antenna switching cannot be completed within a single UL slot and "xTyR" for each panel (or integrated "xTyR" for a total of panels) to a base station as capability information. The corresponding base station may configure a plurality of SRS resource sets for antenna switching over multi-panel to the terminal. Like i-2, in order that a plurality of SRS resource sets for multi-panel are not configured/indicated for transmission in the same UL slot ( e.g., in a case of periodic/semi-persistent SRS resource set), each SRS resource set may be configured to have a different period and offset value (i.e., periodicityAndOffset), or to have a different slot offset (i.e., slotOffset) ( e.g., in a case of an aperiodic SRS resource set). In addition, since the same problem may occur as ini-2, the above-described methods U), (l), and W may be equivalently used in ii-2. [0321] That is, when one or more SRS resource sets configured with a usage for antenna switching are configured by configuration information related to an SRS, a terminal may transmit an SRS to a base station across all reception antenna ports while changing an SRS antenna port for each SRS transmission occasion. [0322] For example, in a case that the configuration information related to an SRS includes information on overlapping antenna ports at different SRS transmission occasions for each of the plurality of SRS resource sets, when an antenna port is changed for each SRS occasion when transmitting each SRS resource set, an SRS may be transmitted from an antenna port including at least the overlapping antenna ports in each SRS resource set transmission. In addition, when the configuration information related to an SRS includes information on antenna port groups that is rotated for each SRS transmission occasion for each of the plurality of SRS resource sets, an SRS may be transmitted to a base station while sequentially changing an antenna port group in each SRS resource set transmission.).
Claim 14
With respect to claim 14, Go disclosed:
The apparatus of claim 1 (see rejection above),
wherein to transmit the antenna selection capability information, the at least one processor is configured to: transmit, for the network node, an antenna switching gap associated with SRS transmissions, wherein the antenna switching gap is per-UE, per-Tx chain, or per-connection ([0176] A UE supporting antenna switching may report one of {"I T2R", "I T4R", "2T4R", "1T4R/2T4R", "T=R" } to a base station as capability information. Here, 'mTnR' may mean a terminal capability that supports m transmissions and n receptions. A base station may configure an SRS resource set and/or resource for antenna switching corresponding to a capability of a UE, and indicate a UE to transmit an SRS. In addition, a base station should consider an antenna switching time of a UE, when configuring a time domain location of a resource in an SRS resource set for antenna switching, and should configure to have (to secure) a symbol gap (as a guard period) according to numerology between resources (See Table 7 and its description above). [0222] AUE (MPUE-Assumption 1) that cannot simultaneously activate multiple panels and can only activate one panel at one timing and a UE (MPUE-Assumption 3) that can simultaneously activate multiple panels but can use only one panel for transmission are considered. In this case, if SRS resource sets for antenna switching are associated with different panels of a UE, a base station sets/configures a 'guard period (or gap period) for panel switching' between each configured/indicated SRS resource set in consideration of a time required for a UE to switch a panel (e.g., panel switching delay), it is possible to ensure that there is no ambiguity in a UE operation. [0223] This 'guard period for panel switching' may be configured/indicated in an SRS resource setting (for panel switching) configured by a base station ( described in Embodiment 1 ). In addition, an SRS resource setting may be configured by combining SRS resource sets (for antenna switching) configured for each panel in consideration of the corresponding 'guard period for panel switching'. That is, for each panel, a hierarchical structure in which 'an SRS resource set for antenna switching' exists and 'an SRS resource setting for panel switching' that can group (combination) the sets (considering 'guard period for panel switching') exists may be configured (e.g., in Embodiment 1 {"1Tp2Rp" with "1T2R" for panel 0 and "1T4R" for panel 1 ), simultaneous transmission of an SRS resource set of each panel is possible: X (No), time required for panel switching: 2 ms (mandatory report)}). [0226] A time required for switching each panel of a UE (e.g., panel switching delay) may exist as a UE capability (e.g., a guard period for panel switching). AUE reports this capability to a base station and may not expect SRS resource sets from each panel to be configured/indicated at a time interval smaller than the corresponding delay.).
Claim 15
Claim 15 recites “an apparatus for wireless communication at a network node, comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory and, based at least in part on information stored in the at least one memory” (see Go [0382]-[0383]) where “the at least one processor is configured to” perform operations similar to those of claim 1, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 16
Claim 16 recites limitations similar to claim 2, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 17
Claim 17 recites limitations similar to claim 3, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 18
Claim 18 recites limitations similar to claim 4, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 19
Claim 19 recites limitations similar to claim 5, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 20
Claim 20 recites limitations similar to claim 6, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 21
Claim 21 recites limitations similar to claim 7, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 22
Claim 22 recites limitations similar to claim 8, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 23
Claim 23 recites limitations similar to claim 9, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 24
Claim 24 recites limitations similar to claim 10, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 25
Claim 25 recites limitations similar to claim 11, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 26
Claim 26 recites limitations similar to claim 12, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 27
Claim 27 recites limitations similar to claim 13, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 28
Claim 28 recites limitations similar to claim 28, except from the perspective of a base station/network, and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 29
Claim 29 recites limitations similar to claim 1 and is rejected by the same reasoning.
Claim 30
Claim 30 recites limitations similar to claim 15 and is rejected by the same reasoning.
RESPONSE TO ARGUMENTS
Applicant’s arguments filed 8/10/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
On page 12, Applicant referred to Richardson v. Suzuki Motor Co., 868 F.2d 1226, argued that the rejection of the claims “do not provide any rationale as to how Go allegedly maps to the claim features.” First, the Examiner notes that Applicant has failed to identify how the specifics of that court case apply to the present application. Second, the Examiner disagrees because the rejection maps specific potions of the Go reference to specific limitations of claims. Third, the Examiner refers Applicant to 37 CFR § 1.111(b) which requires that “the reply by the applicant or patent owner must be reduced to a writing which distinctly and specifically points out the supposed errors in the examiner's action and must reply to every ground of objection and rejection in the prior Office action.” If Applicant has some specific concern or dispute against the mapping of the claim language to the portions of the reference cited as disclosing those limitations then they would specifically point out the supposed error.
On page 12, Applicant argued “In Go, a UE may be configured for SRS transmissions based on a configuration associated with the UE's capability for antenna switching (see id), but Go does not disclose, or suggest, antenna selection capability information based on a first number of transmission (Tx) chains at the UE .... wherein each Tx chain of the first number of Tx chains represents a different multiple-input and multiple-output (MJMO) stream, as in the above claim 1 recitation” (emphasis original). The Examiner disagrees as explained in the rejection above. In short, Go disclosed wherein each Tx chain of the first number of Tx chains (e.g., the 4 Tx chains illustrated in FIG. 7B showing 2 Tx chains for Tx Panel#0 and 2 Tx chains for Tx Panel#1) represents a different multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) stream (i.e., each Tx chain represents different symbol streams in a resource grid (e.g., as in FIG. 3) for MIMO communication)
On page 12-13 Applicant argued: “Go does not disclose an SRS configuration that indicates resources for Tx chains, which represent different MIMO streams, and antenna ports associated with connections thereto. It appears to Applicant that Go is silent regarding such a feature.” The Examiner disagrees. FIG. 7 of Go illustrates the different Tx chains of multiple Tx panels, with different antenna ports and connections, where each Tx chain represents different streams of consecutive symbols in a resource grid for MIMO communication.
CONCLUSION
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new grounds 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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Christopher Davis whose telephone number is 703-756-1832. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri from 11AM to 7PM ET. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ayaz Sheikh, can be reached at telephone number 571-272-3795. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/C.R.D./
Examiner, Art Unit 2476
/AYAZ R SHEIKH/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2476
Prosecution Insights