Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The text of those sections of Title 35, U.S. Code not included in this action can be found in a prior Office action.
Claims 1 – 5, 6 – 9, 10 – 15 and 16 – 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kumar et al (US 2023/0007550 A1) in view of Kim et al (US 2022/0338089 A1).
Claim 6 (similarly Claim 1). Kumar shows a terminal (figs. 2 – 9: UE), comprising: a processor (fig. 9: processor); a transceiver, connected to the processor (fig. 9: transceiver+antenna); and a memory, configured to store instructions to be executable by the processor (fig. 9: memory + code); wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the instructions to perform an optimizing method for a conditional primary secondary cell PSCell addition ([0004] and [0054]: a user equipment (UE) may be configured with a configuration for conditional procedure for adding or changing a PSCell, which may be referred to as a conditional PSCell procedure) and the optimizing method comprises: sending first information, the first information being configured to optimize configuration information of the conditional PSCell addition ([0055]: a UE may report information related to a conditional procedure for adding a PSCell or changing PSCells wherein the reported information can be used by the network to enhance the conditional PSCell addition or change procedures).Kumar does not describe wherein the first information comprises at least one of: a time difference between a third moment and a fourth moment, wherein the third moment is a moment at which PSCell addition is performed, and the fourth moment is a moment at which a SecondaryCellGroup (SCG) failure occurs; location information of the terminal; or an addition trigger condition configured for a target PSCell.Kim teaches feature of: location information of the terminal, or an addition trigger condition configured for a target PSCell ([0214] – [0216]: the UE is provided with PSCell addition/change assistance information which includes set of candidate cells and conditions (e.g. RSRP) for PSCell addition/change… it may be possible the network prepares the candidate cells and provide the PSCell addition/change assistance information without the measurement report from the UE if the network is able to know the trajectory or location of the UE based on, e.g. location reporting… there may be a concern on signaling overhead due to earlier triggering threshold… the PSCell addition/change assistance information may be cell quality based conditions and the configuration which may be used in a target cell).It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the information feature(s) as taught by Kim in the first information of Kumar to facilitate a mobility execution condition for a conditional PSCell addition/change while waiting to receive further reconfiguration signaling form a network to resolve the failure on an SCG which is currently suspended.
Claim 7 (similarly claim 2). Kumar shows the terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first information comprises at least one of: a time difference between a first moment and a second moment, wherein the first moment is a moment at which the terminal receives a signaling of the conditional PSCell addition, and the second moment is a moment at which the terminal performs the conditional PSCell addition ([0233]: a duration between receiving the configuration for the conditional procedure and attempting the conditional procedure – configuration for conditional PSCell addition and attempt to perform conditional PSCell addition); an addition trigger condition applied to at least one candidate PSCell ([0056]: the information reported by the UE may be based on the triggering order for the serving cell procedures… the UE may report different information depending on whether the conditional PSCell procedure or the handover procedure is triggered first); a list and/or measurement result of the at least one candidate PSCell ([0108]: the report transmitted may include a list of PSCells that met one or more of the triggering conditions for the CPAC procedure, potentially along with a list of the one or more triggering conditions); a list and/or measurement result of at least one non-candidate PSCell ([0108]: the report transmitted may include an indication of whether a PSCell (e.g. a failed PSCell, a recovery PSCell, a reconnect PSCell) was a candidate PSCell for the CPAC procedure); (fig. 4 steps 435, 440-a and 445a and [0130]: the report transmitted at 445-b may include an indication of the duration between the CHO procedure triggering and radio link failure (or SCG failure) at the PSCell – the “CHO procedure” can include a CPAC procedure as shown in step 435); a first indication or a second indication, wherein the first indication is configured to indicate that the PSCell addition performed by the terminal is the conditional PSCell addition, and the second indication is configured to indicate that the PSCell addition performed by the terminal is traditional PSCell addition (n/a); or a measurement result of a neighbour cell ([0147]: the report transmitted at 545-d may include measurement information for the source PSCell, the target PSCell, one or more neighbor PSCells).
Claim 8 (similarly claim 3). Kumar shows the terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein the list and/or measurement result of the at least one candidate PSCell comprises at least one of: a list and/or measurement result of at least one candidate PSCell in response to the conditional PSCell addition failing ([0106]: the report transmitted at 345-a may include measurement information (e.g. radio resource management (RRM) measurement information) for the source PSCell, one or more candidate PSCells, the neighboring PSCell… (e.g. as part of neighboring cell measurements and irrespective of the PSCell measurement configured by the master node 305 or the secondary node), the report transmitted at 345-a may include an indication of whether the neighboring cells are candidate cells for the CPAC procedure… the UE 315 may prioritize the measurement information for the candidate PSCells over other measurement information for inclusion in the report – measurement reports are done for both candidate and non-candidate cells); and a list and/or measurement result of at least one candidate PSCell in response to the SCG failure occurring ([0131]: the report may be sent based on the CHO procedure failure, the SCG failure, or both, and may indicate the CHO procedure failure, the SCG failure, or both).
Claim 9. Kumar shows the terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein the list and/or measurement result of the at least one non-candidate PSCell comprises at least one of: a list and/or measurement result of at least one non-candidate PSCell in response to the conditional PSCell addition failing ([0106]: the report transmitted at 345-a may include measurement information (e.g. radio resource management (RRM) measurement information) for the source PSCell, one or more candidate PSCells, the neighboring PSCell… (e.g. as part of neighboring cell measurements and irrespective of the PSCell measurement configured by the master node 305 or the secondary node), the report transmitted at 345-a may include an indication of whether the neighboring cells are candidate cells for the CPAC procedure… the UE 315 may prioritize the measurement information for the candidate PSCells over other measurement information for inclusion in the report – measurement reports are done for both candidate and non-candidate cells); or a list and/or measurement result of at least one non-candidate PSCell in response to the SCG failure occurring ([0131]: the report may be sent based on the CHO procedure failure, the SCG failure, or both, and may indicate the CHO procedure failure, the SCG failure, or both).
Claim 11. Kumar shows the terminal as claimed in claim 7, wherein the measurement result of the neighbour cell comprises at least one of: a measurement result of a neighbour cell in response to the conditional PSCell addition failing ([0105]: even if the SCG cell operates on NR carrier frequencies, upon SCG failure detection, or upon PSCell change or addition failure, or upon conditional PSCell addition or change failure, the UE may report measurement information for EUTRA frequencies in addition to NR frequencies in the SCG failure message); a measurement result of a neighbour cell in response to the SCG failure occurring (see above); a last measurement result of a neighbour cell before the conditional PSCell addition fails (n/a); or a last measurement result of the neighbour cell before the SCG failure occurs (n/a).
Claim 12. Kumar shows the terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sending the first information comprises any one of: sending the first information, in response to the conditional PSCell addition failing ([0107]: the report transmitted may indicate the duration (e.g. the time elapsed) between receipt of the CPAC configure and the CPAC procedure failing); or sending the first information, in response to the SCG failure occurring ([0114]: the report may be sent based on the PCell radio link failure, the CPAC procedure failure, or both and may indicate the radio link failure, the CPAC procedure failure, or both… the report may be an RLF report and may include an SCG failure message or information from the SCG failure message).
Claim 13 (similarly claim 4). Kumar shows the terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first information is carried in at least one of: an uplink information response ([0102]: the UE may respond to the CPAC procedure triggering before the CHO procedure by referencing the configuration for the CHO procedure to determine whether the UE should keep or discard the CHO configuration when the CPAC is triggered); and a SCG failure information reporting ([0104]: the report may be an SCG failure message such as an SCGFailureInformation message, an SCGFailureInformationNR message, an SCGFailureInformationEUTRA message, or the like).
Claim 14 (similarly claim 5). Kumar shows the terminal as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first information comprises at least one of: a time difference between a first moment and a second moment, wherein the first moment is a moment at which the terminal receives a signaling of the conditional PSCell addition, and the second moment is a moment at which the terminal performs the conditional PSCell addition ([0233]: a duration between receiving the configuration for the conditional procedure and attempting the conditional procedure – configuration for conditional PSCell addition and attempt to perform conditional PSCell addition); an addition trigger condition applied to at least one candidate PSCell ([0056]: the information reported by the UE may be based on the triggering order for the serving cell procedures… the UE may report different information depending on whether the conditional PSCell procedure or the handover procedure is triggered first); a list and/or measurement result of the at least one candidate PSCell in response to the conditional PSCell addition success ([0108]: the report transmitted may include a list of PSCells that met one or more of the triggering conditions for the CPAC procedure, potentially along with a list of the one or more triggering conditions; fig. 4: step 540-d, PSCell change success and [0132]: the report may be a PCell successful handover report that includes information about the CPAC procedure, the successful PCell handover); a list and/or measurement result of at least one non-candidate PSCell in response to the conditional PSCell addition success (see above: applies to non-candidate PSCells); location information of the terminal in response to the conditional PSCell addition success (n/a); an addition trigger condition configured for a target PSCell ([0147]: the report transmitted at 545-b may include an identifier for the PSCell (e.g. the PSCell identity) for which the CPAC procedure was triggered); a first indication or a second indication, wherein the first indication is configured to indicate that PSCell addition performed by the terminal is the conditional PSCell addition, and the second indication is configured to indicate that the PSCell addition performed by the terminal is traditional PSCell addition (n/a); and a measurement result of a neighbour cell in response to the conditional PSCell addition success ([0147]: the report transmitted at 545-d may include measurement information for the source PSCell, the target PSCell, one or more neighbor PSCells).
Claim 15. Kumar shows the terminal as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sending the first information comprises any one of: sending the first information, in response to the conditional PSCell addition success ([0116]: the report may be sent based on the success(es) determined and may indicate the success(es)); or sending the first information, in response to the conditional PSCell addition success and a reporting trigger condition being satisfied ([0116]: one or more triggers may be defined (e.g. by the network) for measurement logging for a successful CPAC procedure or non-conditional PSCell additional or change procedure).
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Claim 16. Kumar shows a network device (figs. 2 – 7 and 11: Master Node / Secondary Node), comprising: a processor (fig. 9: processor); a transceiver, connected to the processor (fig. 9: transceiver+antenna); and a memory, configured to store instructions to be executable by the processor (fig. 9: memory + code); wherein the processor is configured to load and execute the instructions to perform an optimizing method for a conditional primary secondary cell PSCell addition and the optimizing method comprises: receiving first information ([0055]: a UE may report information related to a conditional procedure for adding a PSCell or changing PSCells); and optimizing configuration information of the conditional PSCell addition according to the first information ([0055]: the reported information can be used by the network to enhance the conditional PSCell addition or change procedures).Kumar does not describe wherein the first information comprises at least one of: a time difference between a third moment and a fourth moment, wherein the third moment is a moment at which PSCell addition is performed, and the fourth moment is a moment at which a SecondaryCellGroup (SCG) failure occurs; location information of the terminal; or an addition trigger condition configured for a target PSCell.Kim teaches feature of: location information of the terminal, or an addition trigger condition configured for a target PSCell ([0214] – [0216]: the UE is provided with PSCell addition/change assistance information which includes set of candidate cells and conditions (e.g. RSRP) for PSCell addition/change… it may be possible the network prepares the candidate cells and provide the PSCell addition/change assistance information without the measurement report from the UE if the network is able to know the trajectory or location of the UE based on, e.g. location reporting… there may be a concern on signaling overhead due to earlier triggering threshold… the PSCell addition/change assistance information may be cell quality based conditions and the configuration which may be used in a target cell).It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the information feature(s) as taught by Kim in the first information of Kumar to facilitate a mobility execution condition for a conditional PSCell addition/change while waiting to receive further reconfiguration signaling form a network to resolve the failure on an SCG which is currently suspended.
Claim 17. Kumar shows the network device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first information comprises at least one of: a time difference between a first moment and a second moment, wherein the first moment is a moment at which a terminal receives a signaling of the conditional PSCell addition, and the second moment is a moment at which the terminal performs the conditional PSCell addition ([0233]: a duration between receiving the configuration for the conditional procedure and attempting the conditional procedure – configuration for conditional PSCell addition and attempt to perform conditional PSCell addition); an addition trigger condition applied to at least one candidate PSCell ([0056]: the information reported by the UE may be based on the triggering order for the serving cell procedures… the UE may report different information depending on whether the conditional PSCell procedure or the handover procedure is triggered first); a list and/or measurement result of the at least one candidate PSCell ([0108]: the report transmitted may include a list of PSCells that met one or more of the triggering conditions for the CPAC procedure, potentially along with a list of the one or more triggering conditions); a list and/or measurement result of at least one non-candidate PSCell ([0108]: the report transmitted may include an indication of whether a PSCell (e.g. a failed PSCell, a recovery PSCell, a reconnect PSCell) was a candidate PSCell for the CPAC procedure); a first indication or a second indication, wherein the first indication is configured to indicate that the PSCell addition performed by the terminal is the conditional PSCell addition, and the second indication is configured to indicate that the PSCell addition performed by the terminal is traditional PSCell addition (n/a); or a measurement result of a neighbour cell ([0147]: the report transmitted at 545-d may include measurement information for the source PSCell, the target PSCell, one or more neighbor PSCells).
Claim 18. Kumar shows the network device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the list and/or measurement result of the at least one candidate PSCell comprises at least one of: a list and/or measurement result of at least one candidate PSCell in response to the conditional PSCell addition failing ([0106]: the report transmitted at 345-a may include measurement information (e.g. radio resource management (RRM) measurement information) for the source PSCell, one or more candidate PSCells, the neighboring PSCell… (e.g. as part of neighboring cell measurements and irrespective of the PSCell measurement configured by the master node 305 or the secondary node), the report transmitted at 345-a may include an indication of whether the neighboring cells are candidate cells for the CPAC procedure… the UE 315 may prioritize the measurement information for the candidate PSCells over other measurement information for inclusion in the report – measurement reports are done for both candidate and non-candidate cells); or a list and/or measurement result of at least one candidate PSCell in response to the SCG failure occurring ([0131]: the report may be sent based on the CHO procedure failure, the SCG failure, or both, and may indicate the CHO procedure failure, the SCG failure, or both).
Claim 19. Kumar shows the network device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first information is carried in at least one of: an uplink information response ([0102]: the UE may respond to the CPAC procedure triggering before the CHO procedure by referencing the configuration for the CHO procedure to determine whether the UE should keep or discard the CHO configuration when the CPAC is triggered); or a SCG failure information reporting ([0104]: the report may be an SCG failure message such as an SCGFailureInformation message, an SCGFailureInformationNR message, an SCGFailureInformationEUTRA message, or the like).
Claim 20. Kumar shows the network device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first information comprises at least one of: a time difference between a first moment and a second moment, wherein the first moment is a moment at which a terminal receives a signaling of the conditional PSCell addition, and the second moment is a moment at which the terminal performs the conditional PSCell addition ([0233]: a duration between receiving the configuration for the conditional procedure and attempting the conditional procedure – configuration for conditional PSCell addition and attempt to perform conditional PSCell addition); an addition trigger condition applied to at least one candidate PSCell ([0056]: the information reported by the UE may be based on the triggering order for the serving cell procedures… the UE may report different information depending on whether the conditional PSCell procedure or the handover procedure is triggered first); a list and/or measurement result of the at least one candidate PSCell in response to the conditional PSCell addition success ([0108]: the report transmitted may include a list of PSCells that met one or more of the triggering conditions for the CPAC procedure, potentially along with a list of the one or more triggering conditions; fig. 4: step 540-d, PSCell change success and [0132]: the report may be a PCell successful handover report that includes information about the CPAC procedure, the successful PCell handover); a list and/or measurement result of at least one non-candidate PSCell in response to the conditional PSCell addition success (see above: applies to non-candidate PSCells); location information of the terminal in response to the conditional PSCell addition success (n/a); an addition trigger condition configured for a target PSCell ([0147]: the report transmitted at 545-b may include an identifier for the PSCell (e.g. the PSCell identity) for which the CPAC procedure was triggered); a first indication or a second indication, wherein the first indication is configured to indicate that PSCell addition performed by the terminal is the conditional PSCell addition, and the second indication is configured to indicate that the PSCell addition performed by the terminal is traditional PSCell addition (n/a); or a measurement result of a neighbour cell in response to the conditional PSCell addition success ([0147]: the report transmitted at 545-d may include measurement information for the source PSCell, the target PSCell, one or more neighbor PSCells).
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Claim 10 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kumar et al in view of Kim et al, applied to claim 7, and in further view of Li et al (US 2023/0016688 A1).
Claim 10. Kumar, modified by Kim, shows the terminal as claimed in claim 7; Kumar, modified by Kim, does not expressly describe wherein the location information of the terminal comprises at least one of: location information of the terminal in response to the conditional PSCell addition failing; last location information of the terminal recorded before the conditional PSCell addition fails; location information of the terminal in response to the SCG failure occurring; and last location information of the terminal recorded before the SCG failure occurs.Li teaches feature of location information of a terminal in response to an SCG failure occurring ([0109]: the SCG failure report may further include second indication information, and the second indication information indicates information for triggering PSCell addition/change… the SCG failure report may further include third indication information, a failure cause, location information, or measurement information).It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the SCG failure location as taught by Li as one of the information of the terminal in Kumar, modified by Kim, to perform reliable adjustment to reduce occurrence of radio link failures.
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Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 1, 6 and 16 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 – see Kim et al.
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
1. Cui et al, US 2023/0180075 A1: a user equipment method includes starting performing a handover (HO) with a target Primary Secondary Cell (PSCell) in response to receiving an HO command instructing the HO with the target PSCell, wherein the HO with the target PSCell comprises target PSCell addition/change, and performing the target PSCell addition/change in response to receiving a trigger message from a target Primary Cell (PCell) or sending a trigger message to the target PCell, wherein the trigger message is a message transmitted between the UE and the target PCell during the HO with the target PSCell. Applicant’s amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, this action is made Final. See MPEP § 706.07(a). Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
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/XAVIER S WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415 23rd July 2026
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