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 .
Specification
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 2, 5, 6, 9-13, 15, 17, 18, 23, and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Cui et al. (“Cui”) [PGPUB 2019/0342801] (cited in IDS, filed 10/25/2024).
Regarding claim 1, the Cui reference discloses a method for reporting a terminal capability, performed by a terminal, comprising: reporting terminal capability information to a base station [ie. UE (“terminal”) indicates whether the UE’s capability of supporting multiple per-UE MG (Measurement Gap) patterns in parallel; Cui; paragraph 0044, 0071, and 0074],
wherein the terminal capability information is configured to indicate a maximum number of measurement gaps supported by the terminal [“the UE signals ‘N’ to indicate that it can support ‘N’ number of per-UE MG patterns in parallel, where N is positive integer” and “when the UE only supports per-UE MG but it can support up to 2 per-UE MG patterns in parallel, then the UE would send this capability indication of supporting up to 2 per-UE MG patterns in parallel to the serving cell via, e.g. RRC signaling”; ie the “N” and the “2” read upon the broad terminology of “maximum number” of MGs; Cui; para 0044 and 0074-0076].
Regarding claim 2, the Cui reference further discloses the terminal capability information is configured to indicate one of: a maximum number of measurement gaps supported by the terminal at a same frequency range; or a maximum number of measurement gaps supported by the terminal in each of a first frequency range and a second frequency range [Cui; para 0074 and 0076-0078].
Regarding claim 5, the Cui reference further discloses receiving pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to measurement objects sent by the base station; and measuring a corresponding measurement object based on a measurement gap indicated by the measurement gap configuration information [The “pieces of measurement gap configuration information” is broad terminology for configuration information. The Instant Specification does not further describe the “pieces”; ie. can communicate configuration information; Cui; para 0044, 0065, and 0070-0071].
Regarding claim 6, the Cui reference further discloses receiving the pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects sent by the base station comprises: receiving one of the pieces of corresponding measurement gap configuration information configured by the base station for each of the measurement objects; measuring the corresponding measurement object based on the measurement gap indicated by the measurement gap configuration information comprises: measuring the corresponding measurement object based on the measurement gap indicated by each of the pieces of measurement gap configuration information [“Based on the indication 190A, the base station (e.g., 111) can communicate configuration information 192A (e.g., RRC or DCI signaling) which can configure the multiple measurement gaps as well as SSB-based measurement timing configuration (SMTC) in connection with transmission of multiple SSBs within the measurement gaps”; Cui; para 0044, 0052, and 0065-0067].
Regarding claim 9, the Cui reference further discloses at least one of: different measurement objects corresponding to a same RAT; measurement objects corresponding to different RATs; measurement objects based on synchronization signal blocks or channel state information reference signals; or measurement objects based on positioning reference signals [ie. SSB; Cui; para 0065-0067].
Regarding claim 10, the Cui reference discloses a method for reporting a terminal capability, performed by a base station, comprising: receiving terminal capability information reported by a terminal, wherein the terminal capability information is configured to indicate a maximum number of measurement gaps supported by the terminal [“the UE signals ‘N’ to indicate that it can support ‘N’ number of per-UE MG patterns in parallel, where N is positive integer” and “when the UE only supports per-UE MG but it can support up to 2 per-UE MG patterns in parallel, then the UE would send this capability indication of supporting up to 2 per-UE MG patterns in parallel to the serving cell via, e.g. RRC signaling”; ie the “N” and the “2” read upon the broad terminology of “maximum number” of MGs; Cui; para 0044 and 0074-0076].
Regarding claim 11, the Cui reference further discloses the terminal capability information is configured to indicate one of: a maximum number of measurement gaps supported by the terminal at a same frequency range; or a maximum number of measurement gaps supported by the terminal in each of a first frequency range and a second frequency range [Cui; para 0074 and 0076-0078].
Regarding claim 12, the Cui reference further discloses reporting the terminal capability information to the base station comprises: configuring pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to measurement objects for the terminal based on the terminal capability information and measurement configuration information at least configured to indicate the measurement objects; and sending the pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects to the terminal [The “pieces of measurement gap configuration information” is broad terminology for configuration information. The Instant Specification does not further describe the “pieces”; ie. can communicate configuration information; Cui; para 0044, 0065, and 0070-0071].
Regarding claim 13, the Cui reference further discloses configuring the pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects for the terminal based on the terminal capability information and the measurement configuration information at least configured to indicate the measurement objects comprises: configuring one of the pieces of corresponding measurement gap configuration information for each of the measurement objects, wherein the maximum number of measurement gaps is greater than or equal to a total number of the measurement objects indicated by the measurement configuration information [ie. the serving cell (“base station”) configures information for each measurement gap that is equal to the number of measurement objects; Cui; para 0071-0075 and 0077].
Regarding claim 15, the Cui reference further discloses sending the pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects to the terminal comprises: sending the pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects to the terminal through a second signaling [Cui; fig 1A (192A); para 0044].
Regarding claim 17, the Cui reference further discloses the second signaling is a measurement configuration information unit signaling [Cui; fig 1A (192A); para 0044].
Regarding claim 18, the Cui reference further discloses the measurement objects comprise at least one of: different measurement objects corresponding to a same RAT; measurement objects corresponding to different RATs; measurement objects based on synchronization signal blocks or channel state information reference signals; and/or QL measurement objects based on positioning reference signals [ie. SSB; Cui; para 0065-0067].
Regarding claim 18, the Cui reference further discloses the measurement objects comprise at least one of: different measurement objects corresponding to a same RAT; measurement objects corresponding to different RATs; measurement objects based on synchronization signal blocks or channel state information reference signals; and/or QL measurement objects based on positioning reference signals [ie. SSB; Cui; para 0065-0067].
Regarding claim 23, the apparatus of claim 23 performs the similar steps as the method of claim 1. The Cui reference teaches the method of claim 1, as referenced above. The additional limitations of a “processor” and “memory” are rejected with the citation of paragraph 0083. Therefore, claim 23 is rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above in the rejection of claim 1, by the teachings of Cui.
Regarding claim 24, the apparatus of claim 24 performs the similar steps as the method of claim 10. The Cui reference teaches the method of claim 10, as referenced above. The additional limitations of a “processor” and “memory” are rejected with the citation of paragraph 0083. Therefore, claim 24 is rejected using the same art and rationale set forth above in the rejection of claim 10, by the teachings of Cui.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
Claim 3 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cui in view of Yiu et al. (“Yiu”) [PGPUB 2022/0046454].
Regarding claim 3, the Cui reference further discloses reporting the terminal capability information to the base station comprises: reporting the terminal capability information to the base station through a first signaling, for reporting a terminal mobility measurement parameter [Cui; para 0029, 0067, and 0074-0076] but does not specifically disclose wherein the first signaling is at least one of: a measurement and mobility parameter information unit signaling; or a measurement and mobility parameter information unit of multi-radio access technology (RAT) dual connectivity signaling.
However, in the same field of endeavor, the Yiu reference discloses wherein the first signaling is at least one of: a measurement and mobility parameter information unit signaling; or a measurement and mobility parameter information unit of multi-radio access technology (RAT) dual connectivity signaling [Yiu; para 0020-0022, 0062-0063, and 0101]. The Cui and Yiu references are analogous art, since they have similar problem solving area in being able to manage for the UE to comply with measurement gaps. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine the teaching of the measurement and mobility parameter information, taught by Yiu, into the system, taught by Cui. The motivation for doing so would have been to provide utilize radio resources by two distinct schedulers in two different nodes [Yiu; para 0020 and 0027].
Claim 7, 8, 14, and 16 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Cui in view of Moon et al. (“Moon”) [PGPUB 2024/0187912].
Regarding claim 7, the Cui reference further discloses receiving the pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects sent by the base station comprises: receiving one of the pieces of corresponding measurement gap configuration information configured by the base station for each of first measurement objects, and one piece of shared measurement gap configuration information configured for all second measurement objects; measuring the corresponding measurement object based on the measurement gap indicated by the measurement gap configuration information comprises: measuring each of corresponding first measurement objects based on a measurement gap indicated by the measurement gap configuration information corresponding to each of the first measurement objects; and measuring each of second measurement object based on a measurement gap indicated by the measurement gap configuration information shared by all second measurement objects [Cui; figure 2; para 0044 and 0065]. The Cui reference does not specifically disclose a priority level of the first measurement objects is higher than a priority level of the second measurement objects.
However, in the same field of endeavor, the Moon reference discloses wherein a priority level of the first measurement objects is higher than a priority level of the second measurement objects [ie. second measurement object (“priority level of the first measurement objects”) has higher priority the first measurement object (“first measurement object”); Moon; para 0006, 0039, 0046-0047, and 0054]. The Cui and Moon references are analogous art, since they have similar problem solving area in being able to measure radio characteristics of measurement objects. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine the teaching of the priority levels of MOs, taught by Moon, into the system, taught by Cui. The motivation for doing so would have been to allow the requesting network node to make an informed decision on whether to wait for the higher priority measurement report or not [Moon; para 0039].
Regarding claim 8, the Cui reference further discloses receiving the pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects sent by the base station comprises: receiving pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects sent by the base station through a second signaling [ie. return signal from UE; Cui; fig 1A; para 0044 and 0068]. The Cui reference does not specifically disclose determining the first measurement objects with a priority level higher than the second measurement objects based on first measurement object configuration information comprised in the second signaling.
However, in the same field of endeavor, the Moon reference discloses determining the first measurement objects with a priority level higher than the second measurement objects based on first measurement object configuration information comprised in the second signaling [ie. second measurement object (“priority level of the first measurement objects”) has higher priority the first measurement object (“first measurement object”); Moon; para 0006, 0039, 0046-0047, and 0054]. The Cui and Moon references are analogous art, since they have similar problem solving area in being able to measure radio characteristics of measurement objects. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine the teaching of the priority levels of MOs, taught by Moon, into the system, taught by Cui. The motivation for doing so would have been to allow the requesting network node to make an informed decision on whether to wait for the higher priority measurement report or not [Moon; para 0039].
Regarding claim 14, the Cui reference further discloses configuring the pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to the measurement objects for the terminal based on the terminal capability information and the measurement configuration information at least configured to indicate the measurement objects comprises: determining first measurement objects and second measurement objects in the measurement objects indicated by the measurement configuration information, wherein the maximum number of measurement gaps is less than the total number of the measurement objects indicated by the measurement configuration information, and configuring one of pieces of measurement gap configuration information corresponding to each of the first measurement objects, and configuring one of pieces of measurement gap configuration information shared by all second measurement objects [ie. UE is only capable for one out of two frequency ranges; Cui; para 0071-0077]. The Cui reference does not specifically disclose a priority level of the first measurement objects is higher than a priority level of the second measurement objects.
However, in the same field of endeavor, the Moon reference discloses a priority level of the first measurement objects is higher than a priority level of the second measurement objects [ie. second measurement object (“priority level of the first measurement objects”) has higher priority the first measurement object (“first measurement object”); Moon; para 0006, 0039, 0046-0047, and 0054]. The Cui and Moon references are analogous art, since they have similar problem solving area in being able to measure radio characteristics of measurement objects. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine the teaching of the priority levels of MOs, taught by Moon, into the system, taught by Cui. The motivation for doing so would have been to allow the requesting network node to make an informed decision on whether to wait for the higher priority measurement report or not [Moon; para 0039].
Regarding claim 16, the Cui reference further discloses the second signaling comprises first measurement object configuration information [Cui; fig 1A (192A); para 0044] but does not specifically disclose the first measurement objects are measurement objects with a priority level higher than the second measurement objects.
However, in the same field of endeavor, the Moon reference discloses first measurement objects are measurement objects with a priority level higher than the second measurement objects [ie. second measurement object (“priority level of the first measurement objects”) has higher priority the first measurement object (“first measurement object”); Moon; para 0006, 0039, 0046-0047, and 0054]. The Cui and Moon references are analogous art, since they have similar problem solving area in being able to measure radio characteristics of measurement objects. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art, before the effective filling date of the claimed invention, to combine the teaching of the priority levels of MOs, taught by Moon, into the system, taught by Cui. The motivation for doing so would have been to allow the requesting network node to make an informed decision on whether to wait for the higher priority measurement report or not [Moon; para 0039].
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Yerramalli et al. [PGPUB 2023/0362699] describes higher and lower layer signaling based on measurement gap.
Manolakos et al. [USPAT 12,349,103] describes measuring positioning and measurement gap of for wireless positioning.
Wang et al. [PGPUB 2022/0046450] describes measures measurement gaps for two different frequency ranges.
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/JASON D CARDONE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2458