DETAILED ACTION
1. The following Office Action is based on the amendment filed on 29 April 2026, having claims 1-2, 4-5, 7-8, 10-21, and 24-25.
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
2. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Arguments
3. Applicant's arguments filed have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. For claims 1 and 13, applicant has argued that by Tsai et al. (US 2021/0337625 A1) does not teach the LCP mapping restriction comprises an allowed configured grant list for the small data transmission (allowedCG-List for SDT). The examiner respectfully disagrees. Tsai discloses [0134] the LCP mapping restriction comprises an allowedCG-list for UL data, [0135] wherein the UL data may be SDT, the UE determines to apply the CG configuration for the UL-SDT data transmission. The rejection is maintained, and this action is made Final.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
4. 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:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(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, 4-5, 12-13, 15-17, and 24-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Tsai et al. (US 2021/0337625 A1).
For claim 1, Tsai discloses a configuration information sending method, performed by a base station (Fig 2A, base station 204), comprising:
sending a Radio Resource Control (RRC) release message to a terminal ([0201] UE receives RRC release message from base station), wherein the RRC release message carries configuration information ([0201] the RRC release message comprises CG configuration information) suitable for the terminal to perform Small Data Transmission (SDT) in an inactive state ([0203] while in an RRC inactive state, UE performs SDT transmission using CG configuration information);
wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of: Logical Channel (LC) configuration information, the LC configuration information comprises Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) mapping, and the LCP mapping restriction comprises an allowed configured grant list for the small data transmission (allowedCG-List for SDT) ([0134] the LCP mapping restriction comprises an allowedCG-list for UL data, [0135] wherein the UL data may be SDT, the UE determines to apply the CG configuration for the UL-SDT data transmission).
For claim 4, Tsai discloses the LCP mapping restriction further comprises an allowed configured grant list (allowedCG-List) ([0134] the LCP mapping restriction comprises an allowedCG-list for UL data).
For claim 5, Tsai discloses the LCP mapping restriction further comprises at least one of: an allowed Sub-Carrier Spacing list (allowedSCS-List); a maximum Physical Uplink Shared Channel duration (maxPUSCH- Duration); configured grant typel allowed (configuredGrantTypel Allowed) [0137]; allowed serving cells (allowedServingCells) [0137]; or an allowed physical layer priority index (allowedPHY-Prioritylndex).
For claim 12, Tsai discloses when the RRC release message is used to indicate the terminal to enter the inactive state, the RRC release message carries the configuration information ([0203] while in an RRC inactive state, UE performs SDT transmission using CG configuration information).
For claim 13, Tsai discloses a configuration information obtaining method, performed by a terminal (Fig 2A, UE 202), comprising:
receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) release message sent by a base station ([0201] UE receives RRC release message from base station); and
obtaining configuration information ([0201] the RRC release message comprises CG configuration information) for performing small data transmission (SDT) in an inactive state from the RRC release message ([0203] while in an RRC inactive state, UE performs SDT transmission using CG configuration information),
wherein the configuration information comprises at least one of: Logical Channel (LC) configuration information, the LC configuration information comprises Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) mapping, and the LCP mapping restriction comprises an allowed configured grant list for the small data transmission (allowedCG-List for SDT) ([0134] the LCP mapping restriction comprises an allowedCG-list for UL data, [0135] lines 5-7, wherein the UL data may be SDT, the UE determines to apply the CG configuration for the UL-SDT data transmission).
For claim 15, Tsai discloses using the configuration information when performing the SDT in the inactive state ([0203] while in an RRC inactive state, UE performs SDT transmission using CG configuration information).
For claim 16, Tsai discloses releasing the configuration information when entering a connected state or an idle state ([0044] UE transitions from RRC connected state to RRC idle state after performing the RRC release procedure).
For claim 17, Tsai discloses when the configuration information comprises the LC configuration information, the terminal stores LC configuration information received in a connected state [0159].
For claim 24, Tsai discloses a communication apparatus (Fig 4, wireless node 400), comprising: a processor (Fig 4, processor 426); and a memory (Fig 4, memory 428) for storing computer programs; wherein the computer programs are executed by the processor is configured to perform the configuration information sending method of claim 1 (Fig 2A, UE 202 performs the method steps of claim 1).
For claim 25, Tsai discloses a communication apparatus (Fig 4, wireless node 400), comprising: a processor (Fig 4, processor 426); and a memory (Fig 4, memory 428) for storing computer programs; wherein the processor is configured to:
receive a Radio Resource Control (RRC) release message sent by a base station ([0201] UE receives RRC release message from base station); and
obtain configuration information ([0201] the RRC release message comprises CG configuration information) for performing small data transmission (SDT) in an inactive state from the RRC release message ([0203] while in an RRC inactive state, UE performs SDT transmission using CG configuration information).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
5. 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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
Claims 2, 7-8, and 14 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Tsai et al. (US 2021/0337625 A1) in view of ZTE et al., The Issues on User Plane Common Aspects for SDT, August 16, 2021 (reference disclosed by applicant).
For claims 2 and 14, Tsai discloses the configuration information further comprises at least one of: Buffer Status Report (BSR) configuration information; or Power Headroom Report (PHR) configuration information.
ZTE, from the same or similar field of endeavor, teaches the BSR configuration information (page 1, section 2, periodicBSRTimer is one of the parameters of the BSR configuration information for the SDT procedure on the UE side). Thus, it would have been obvious to one skilled in the art to use BSR periodic timer in the BSR configuration information to perform SDT in the communication network of Tsai at the time of the invention.
For claim 7, ZTE discloses the BSR configuration information comprises at least one of: a periodic buffer status report timer (periodicBSR-Timer); or a retransmission buffer status report timer (retxBSR-Timer) (page 1, section 2, periodicBSRTimer is one of the parameters of the BSR configuration information for the SDT procedure on the UE side).
For claim 8, ZTE discloses when it is determined that the SDT of the terminal supports a scheduling request, the BSR configuration information further comprises: a logical channel scheduling request delay timer (logicalChannelSR-DelayTimer) (page 1, section 2, the logicalchannelDR-DelayTimer is applied for SR transmission for the SDT procedure).
Allowable Subject Matter
6. Claims 10-11 and 18-21 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
7. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. See PTO-892 form.
8. THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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.
9. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Elisabeth B Magloire whose telephone number is (571)272-5601. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8 AM-5 PM ET.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Sujoy K Kundu can be reached at 571-272-8586. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/ELISABETH BENOIT MAGLOIRE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2471
Prosecution Insights