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 .
Responsive to amendments filed 07/16/2026.
Claims 1, 3-6, 8-9, 11-14, and 16 have been amended. Claims 1-16 remain pending.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 14 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 1-4, 6-12, and 14-16 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Roth et al. (US Patent Application Publication 2026/0082404; hereinafter Roth) in view of Li et al. (US Patent Application Publication 2024/0121804; hereinafter Li).
Regarding claim 1 Roth discloses a method performed by a first user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
identifying a priority of a sidelink (SL) positioning reference signal (PRS) indicated by a higher layer (paragraphs 0232-0251, 0271; wherein the first UE identifies priority for a SL-PRS according to configured (or preconfigured) information received from a base station, as also explained in paragraphs 0089-0103, 0369);
transmitting, to a second UE, sidelink control information (SCI) for scheduling the SL PRS, the SCI including first information indicating the priority of the SL PRS (paragraphs 0089-0103, 0369; SL control information comprising a priority field); and
transmitting, to the second UE, the SL PRS based on the SCI (figure 6, step 6020, the first UE encodes and transmits PRS to a second UE).
Roth does not explicitly disclose but Li, in a similar field of endeavor related to sidelink positioning, discloses transmitting, to a base station (BS), a message requesting a resource for the SL PRS, the message including information indicating the priority of the SL PRS (paragraphs 0334, 0339; wherein, as established in the known standards, in network controlled resource allocation known as scheme 1, the UE requests resources and the base station grants the resources for SL-PRS, the configuration of such SL-PRS includes the priority of the reference signal). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Roth with the teachings of Li, in order to increase efficiency in SL PRS (Li: paragraph 0349).
Regarding claim 2 Roth discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the priority of the SL PRS is one of 8 values (paragraph 0251; the number of priority levels using 1, 2, or 3 bits resulting in 2, 4, or 8 different priority values).
Regarding claim 3 Roth discloses the method of claim 1, wherein the SCI is for a dedicated SL PRS resource pool (paragraph 0270; with one or more shared resource pools and/or one or more dedicated resource pools for scheme 2 SL positioning), and wherein a size of the information indicating the priority of the SL PRS is 3 bits (paragraph 0251; the number of priority levels using 1, 2, or 3 bits resulting in 2, 4, or 8 different priority values).
Regarding claim 4 Roth discloses the method of claim 1. Although Roth discloses mode 1/scheme 1 resource allocation which requires the UE requesting resources from a network node (see figure 1C), Roth fails to explicitly disclose, but Li in the same field of endeavor related to sidelink positioning discloses wherein the message is a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) (paragraph 0337; the request being a MAC CE message). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Roth with the teachings of Li, in order to increase efficiency in SL PRS (Li: paragraph 0349).
Regarding claim 6 Roth discloses a method performed by a second user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
receiving, from a first UE, sidelink control information (SCI) for scheduling a sidelink (SL) positioning reference signal (PRS), the SCI including first information indicating a priority of the SL PRS (paragraphs 0089-0103, 0369; SL control information comprising a priority field); and
receiving, from the first UE, the SL PRS based on the SCI (figure 6, step 6020, the first UE encodes and transmits PRS to a second UE);
wherein the priority of the SL PRS is indicated by a higher layer of the first UE (paragraphs 0274-0277; the UE may receive a control information signal indicative of a subsequent reference signal for SL positioning).
Roth does not explicitly disclose but Li, in a similar field of endeavor related to sidelink positioning, discloses wherein a resource for the SL PRS is based on a message including the information indicating the priority of the SL PRS (paragraphs 0334, 0339; wherein, as established in the known standards, in network controlled resource allocation known as scheme 1, the UE requests resources and the base station grants the resources for SL-PRS, the configuration of such SL-PRS includes the priority of the reference signal). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Roth with the teachings of Li, in order to increase efficiency in SL PRS (Li: paragraph 0349).
Regarding claim 7 Roth discloses the method of claim 6, wherein the priority of the SL PRS is one of 8 values (paragraph 0251; the number of priority levels using 1, 2, or 3 bits resulting in 2, 4, or 8 different priority values).
Regarding claim 8 Roth discloses the method of claim 6, wherein the SCI is for a dedicated SL PRS resource pool (paragraph 0270; with one or more shared resource pools and/or one or more dedicated resource pools for scheme 2 SL positioning), and wherein a size of the information indicating the priority of the SL PRS is 3 bits (paragraph 0251; the number of priority levels using 1, 2, or 3 bits resulting in 2, 4, or 8 different priority values).
Regarding claim 9 Roth discloses a first user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system (fig. 13), the first UE comprising:
at least one transceiver (RF circuitry 1306 and antenna 1310); and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver (circuitry 1304) and
at least one memory, communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, storing instructions executable by the at least one processor individually or in any combination to cause the first UE to:
identify a priority of a sidelink (SL) positioning reference signal (PRS) indicated by a higher layer (paragraphs 0232-0251, 0271; wherein the first UE identifies priority for a SL-PRS according to configured (or preconfigured) information received from a base station, as also explained in paragraphs 0089-0103, 0369);
transmit, to a second UE, sidelink control information (SCI) for scheduling the SL PRS, the SCI including information indicating the priority of the SL PRS (paragraphs 0089-0103, 0369; SL control information comprising a priority field), and
transmit, to the second UE, the SL PRS based on the SCI (figure 6, step 6020, the first UE encodes and transmits PRS to a second UE).
Roth does not explicitly disclose but Li, in a similar field of endeavor related to sidelink positioning, discloses transmit, to a base station (BS), a message requesting a resource for the SL PRS, the message including information indicating the priority of the SL PRS (paragraphs 0334, 0339; wherein, as established in the known standards, in network controlled resource allocation known as scheme 1, the UE requests resources and the base station grants the resources for SL-PRS, the configuration of such SL-PRS includes the priority of the reference signal). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Roth with the teachings of Li, in order to increase efficiency in SL PRS (Li: paragraph 0349).
Regarding claim 10 Roth discloses the first UE of claim 9, wherein the priority of the SL PRS is one of 8 values (paragraph 0251; the number of priority levels using 1, 2, or 3 bits resulting in 2, 4, or 8 different priority values).
Regarding claim 11 Roth discloses the first UE of claim 9, wherein the SCI is for a dedicated SL PRS resource pool (paragraph 0270; with one or more shared resource pools and/or one or more dedicated resource pools for scheme 2 SL positioning), and wherein a size of the information indicating the priority of the SL PRS is 3 bits (paragraph 0251; the number of priority levels using 1, 2, or 3 bits resulting in 2, 4, or 8 different priority values).
Regarding claim 12 Roth discloses the first UE of claim 9. Although Roth discloses mode 1/scheme 1 resource allocation which requires the UE requesting resources from a network node (see figure 1C), Roth fails to explicitly disclose but Li, in the same field of endeavor related to sidelink positioning, discloses wherein the message is a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) (paragraph 0337; the request being a MAC CE message). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Roth with the teachings of Li, in order to increase efficiency in SL PRS (Li: paragraph 0349).
Regarding claim 14 Roth discloses a second user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system (fig. 13), the second UE comprising:
at least one transceiver (RF circuitry 1306 and antenna 1310); and
at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver (circuitry 1304); and
at least one memory, communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, storing instructions executable by the at least one processor individually or in any combination to cause the second UE to:
receive, from a first UE, sidelink control information (SCI) for scheduling a sidelink (SL) positioning reference signal (PRS), the SCI including information indicating a priority of the SL PRS (paragraphs 0089-0103, 0369; SL control information comprising a priority field);
receive, from the first UE, the SL PRS based on the SCI (figure 6, step 6020, the first UE encodes and transmits PRS to a second UE);
wherein the priority of the SL PRS is indicated by a higher layer of the first UE (paragraphs 0274-0277; the UE may receive a control information signal indicative of a subsequent reference signal for SL positioning).
Roth does not explicitly disclose but Li, in a similar field of endeavor related to sidelink positioning, discloses wherein a resource for the SL PRS is based on a message including the information indicating the priority of the SL PRS (paragraphs 0334, 0339; wherein, as established in the known standards, in network controlled resource allocation known as scheme 1, the UE requests resources and the base station grants the resources for SL-PRS, the configuration of such SL-PRS includes the priority of the reference signal). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Roth with the teachings of Li, in order to increase efficiency in SL PRS (Li: paragraph 0349).
Regarding claim 15 Roth discloses the second UE of claim 14, wherein the priority of the SL PRS is one of 8 values (paragraph 0251; the number of priority levels using 1, 2, or 3 bits resulting in 2, 4, or 8 different priority values).
Regarding claim 16 Roth discloses the second UE of claim 14, wherein the SCI is for a dedicated SL PRS resource pool (paragraph 0270; with one or more shared resource pools and/or one or more dedicated resource pools for scheme 2 SL positioning), and wherein a size of the information indicating the priority of the SL PRS is 3 bits (paragraph 0251; the number of priority levels using 1, 2, or 3 bits resulting in 2, 4, or 8 different priority values).
Claim(s) 5, and 13 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Roth in view of Li and further in view of Li et al. (US Patent Application Publication 2026/0025837; hereinafter Li837).
Regarding claim 5 Roth discloses the method of claim 1. Although Roth discloses mode 1/scheme 1 resource allocation which requires the UE requesting resources from a network node (see figure 1C), Roth fails to explicitly disclose but Li837, in the same field of endeavor related to sidelink positioning, discloses wherein the message is a radio resource control (RRC) (paragraphs 0135, 0167-0168; requesting SL-PRS resources from a network node, and using RRC for such a request). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Roth with the teachings of Li, in order to improve robustness and UE coverage (Li837: paragraphs 0034-0035).
Regarding claim 13 Roth discloses the first UE of claim 9. Although Roth discloses mode 1/scheme 1 resource allocation which requires the UE requesting resources from a network node (see figure 1C), Roth fails to explicitly disclose but Li837, in the same field of endeavor related to sidelink positioning, discloses wherein the message is a radio resource control (RRC) (paragraphs 0135, 0167-0168; requesting SL-PRS resources from a network node, and using RRC for such a request). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the teachings of Roth with the teachings of Li837, in order to improve robustness and UE coverage (Li837: paragraphs 0034-0035).
Citation of Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US PGPUB 2026/000629 to Löhr et al. – which discloses managing sidelink communications between a first wireless communication device and a second communication device. The second wireless communication device receives coordination information for sidelink positioning among a plurality of wireless communication devices from the first wireless communication device.
US PGPUB 2028/0151008 to Manolakos et al. – that discloses aperiodic SL-PRS resource conflict management. Aperiodic SL-PRS transmissions are SL-PRS transmissions that are made on-demand, or upon request, of some entity (e.g., the transmitting UE, a recipient UE, a network entity, etc.). The transmitting UE may reserve one or more SL-PRS occasions (or transmission opportunities or instances) in which to transmit one or more repetitions of the requested SL-PRS.
US PGPUB 2025/0192956 to Zhang – which discloses a first terminal device receives first information sent by a network device, wherein the first information is used for indicating a resource used for SL PRS transmission. The first terminal device may be a terminal device for transmitting an SL PRS.
EP 4593501 to Ko et al. – that discloses acquiring configuration information related to a sidelink (SL) positioning reference signal (PRS) for SL-based positioning; transmitting first sidelink control information (SCI) for scheduling a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) and second SCI to a second device through a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH); and transmitting the second SCI, SL data, and a first SL PRS to the second device on the basis of a resource related to the PSSCH. For example, the priority value of the transmission of the first SL PRS may be the same as that of the transmission of the SL data.
Conclusion
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Aixa A Guadalupe-Cruz whose telephone number is (571)270-7523. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Thursday 6AM - 4:00PM.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Faruk Hamza can be reached at 571-272-7969. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/FARUK HAMZA/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2466
/Aixa Guadalupe-Cruz/
Examiner
Art Unit 2466
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