DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . This Office Action is in response to the submission filed 2024-02-10 (herein referred to as the Reply) where claim(s) 1, 5-12, 14-17, 24-26, 29, 34, 36, 65 are pending for consideration.
35 USC §112(b) – Claim Rejections
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) for not particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter of the invention.
Claim(s) 5 and 6-12
the SDT configuration
Due to the insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim, it is unclear as to how to construe the limitation – for example, it is unclear where this limitation originated and/or if the limitation was intended to refer to a previously cited element.
More particularly, it is unclear if whether the SDT is receiving to the received RRC message or is attempting to refer to something else completely different. The only thing “received” in claim 1 was the RRC message, but it’s unclear whether the RRC message should be interpreted to be “SDT configuration.”
Dependent claims do not cure the deficiencies of the base/intervening claims as discussed herein and are therefore rejected for at least the same reasons.
35 USC §103 - Claim Rejections
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 of this title, 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 set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied 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 non-obviousness.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797)
Claim(s) 1, 29
R12103678 teaches
receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message used for transiting the UE to an RRC inactive state; CG-SDT resource configuration is provided to UEs in RRC_Connected only within the RRCRelease message <Section: 2.2>
starting a small data transmission (SDT) time alignment timer (TAT) upon receiving the RRC message; TAT-SDT is started upon receiving the TAT-SDT configuration from gNB, i.e. RRC release message, and can be (re)started upon reception of TA command <Section: 2.2 >
determining whether timing alignment (TA) for the UE is validated through TA validation at least based on
the TAT and TAT-SDT is running <Section: 2.2>
at least one measurement of reference signal received power (RSRP) value compared to at least one RSRP associated threshold; and We introduce a TA validation mechanism for SDT based on RSRP change, i.e. RSRP-based threshold(s) are configured <Section 2.2>
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
transmitting uplink (UL) small data on pre-configured SDT resources in the RRC inactive state of the UE when the TA for the UE is validated through TA validation.
However in a similar endeavor, LIU_797 teaches
transmitting uplink (UL) small data on pre-configured SDT resources in the RRC inactive state of the UE when the TA for the UE is validated through TA validation. <para. 0036>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by LIU_797. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve UE power consumption and signaling overhead. <para. 0003>.
With regards to apparatus claim 29, R12103678 teaches the embodiments performed by a UE which is known in the art to have processor and executed code in a memory/storage device.
Claim(s) 5
R12103678 teaches
wherein the at least one measurement of RSRP value comprises:
a first RSRP value that is measured by the UE when the UE receives the SDT configuration; and a second RSRP value that is measured by the UE when the UE determines to perform SDT; As an example illustrated in Figure 2, the SSBs (SSB0 and SSB1) meeting the absolute RSRP requirement, when the TAC was received, can be measured to derive an average RSRP, and the SSBs (SSB2 and SSB3) meeting the absolute RSRP requirement, when TA validation is performed for current CG PUSCH transmission, can be measured to derive another average RSRP. The difference between these 2 averaged RSRP values compared to an RSRP change threshold defined for current CG PUSCH configuration can be used to determine whether TA is valid or not <FIG. 2; Section: 2.2.1>.
wherein the at least one RSRP associated threshold comprises an RSRP difference threshold; the TA for the UE is validated through TA validation when an RSRP difference between the first RSRP value and the second RSRP value is less than the RSRP difference threshold; and the TA for the UE is not valid when the RSRP difference is not less than the RSRP difference threshold. The difference between these 2 averaged RSRP values compared to an RSRP change threshold defined for current CG PUSCH configuration can be used to determine whether TA is valid or not <FIG. 2; Section: 2.2.1>.
Claim(s) 25
R12103678 teaches
wherein the at least one RSRP associated threshold comprises a synchronization signal block (SSB) level RSRP threshold; and the UE selects a subset of SSBs for small data transmission based on the SSB level RSRP threshold. UE selects/determines subset SSB based on RSRP threshold <FIG. 2; Section: 2>.
Claim(s) 34, 65
R12103678 teaches
configuring an RSRP associated threshold and pre-configured small data transmission (SDT) resources for uplink SDT; CG configuration for CG-SDT and RSRP-based threshold(s) provided to UE <Section:2 >
transmitting one or more radio resource control (RRC) messages that carries an SDT configuration including at least one reference signal received power (RSRP) associated threshold for SDT, CG configuration for CG-SDT and RSRP-based threshold(s) provided to UE <Section:2 >
wherein the RSRP associated threshold comprises an RSRP difference threshold and a synchronization signal block (SSB) level RSRP threshold; and As an example illustrated in Figure 2, the SSBs (SSB0 and SSB1) meeting the absolute RSRP requirement, when the TAC was received, can be measured to derive an average RSRP, and the SSBs (SSB2 and SSB3) meeting the absolute RSRP requirement, when TA validation is performed for current CG PUSCH transmission, can be measured to derive another average RSRP. The difference between these 2 averaged RSRP values compared to an RSRP change threshold defined for current CG PUSCH configuration can be used to determine whether TA is valid or not <FIG. 2; Section: 2.2.1>.
While it would be well known in the art that that configuration of uplink resources would subsequently be followed by the UE using said resources to perform UL transmission (and the network node consequently receiving said Ult transmission,
R12103678 teaches does not explicitly teach: receiving the uplink SDT.
However in a similar endeavor, LIU_797 teaches
receiving the uplink SDT. <para. 0036>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by LIU_797. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve UE power consumption and signaling overhead. <para. 0003>.
With regards to apparatus claim 65, R12103678 teaches the embodiments performed by a RAN network node which is known in the art to have processor and executed code in a memory/storage device.
Claim(s) 36
R12103678 teaches
transmitting a time alignment command used for maintaining validation of the pre-configured SDT resources wherein the UE starts or restarts a small data transmission (SDT) time alignment timer (TAT) upon receiving the time alignment command; TAT-SDT is started upon receiving the TAT-SDT configuration from gNB, i.e. RRCrelease message, and can be (re)started upon reception of TA command. < Section: 2.2 >
the UE determines whether timing alignment (TA) for the UE is validated through TA validation at least based on
the TAT and TAT-SDT is running <Section: 2.2>
at least one measurement of reference signal received power (RSRP) value compared to at least one RSRP associated threshold; and We introduce a TA validation mechanism for SDT based on RSRP change, i.e. RSRP-based threshold(s) are configured <Section 2.2>
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
the base station receives uplink (UL) small data on pre-configured SDT resources in the RRC inactive state of the UE when the TA for the UE is validated through TA validation.
However in a similar endeavor, LIU_797 teaches
the base station receives uplink (UL) small data on pre-configured SDT resources in the RRC inactive state of the UE when the TA for the UE is validated through TA validation. <para. 0036>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by LIU_797. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve UE power consumption and signaling overhead. <para. 0003>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797), and further view of TSENG_703 (US20240244703)
Claim(s) 6
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
wherein the RSRP difference threshold that is UE-specific.
However in a similar endeavor, TSENG_703 teaches
wherein the RSRP difference threshold that is UE-specific. UE may receive a UE-specific DL-RSRP threshold. In one embodiment, the DL-RSRP threshold is compared against a difference of DL RS strengths. <para. 0150-0154, 0156>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678 and LIU_797 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by TSENG_703. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to provide improved SDT procedures, especially for jointly considering SUL and NUL carriers.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797), and further view of JIANG_816 (US20240064816)
Claim(s) 8
As discussed in the base claim(s), R12103678 teaches an RSRP threshold that is particularly a RSRP difference threshold.
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
wherein the UE performs random access small data transmission (RA-SDT) when the RSRP difference is not less than the RSRP
However in a similar endeavor, JIANG_816 teaches
wherein the UE performs random access small data transmission (RA-SDT) when the RSRP difference is not less than the RSRP data transmission procedure include performing RA-SDT when RSRP threshold is not satisfied (including that being RSRP is greater than RSRP threshold) <para. 0068>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678 and LIU_797 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by JIANG_816. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to solve the problems of a large number of interaction steps and too large access delay when using 4-STEP for random access to RA in NTN in the related art. <para. 0053-0055>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797), in view of JIANG_816 (US20240064816), and further view of LASELVA_169 (US20240188169)
Claim(s) 9
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
wherein the UE performs the RA-SDT when the RSRP difference is not less than the RSRP difference threshold while the TAT is running.
However in a similar endeavor, LASELVA_169 teaches
wherein the UE performs the RA-SDT when the RSRP difference is not less than the RSRP difference threshold while the TAT is running. RA-SDT is performed if CG resource becomes invalid due to TAT expiry but RSRP is still above the threshold for SDT, <para. 0090>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678, LIU_797 and JIANG_816 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by LASELVA_169. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to provide improved methods for configured grant transmissions and corresponding devices. <para. 0003>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797), in view of JIANG_816 (US20240064816), and further view of YOU_699 (US20240080699)
Claim(s) 10
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
wherein the UE determines one or more conditions of SDT failure.
However in a similar endeavor, YOU_699 teaches
wherein the UE determines one or more conditions of SDT failure. Terminal device determining the SDT failure when an SDT failure condition is satisfied.the SDT failure condition may include at least one of: expiry of a first timer that is started when an SDT process starts and/or is triggered; Random Access (RA) failure; Configured Grant (CG) resource being unavailable; Radio Link Control (RLC) failure; Radio Link Failure (RLF); cell reselection; or Radio Resource Control Reject (RRCReject) or Radio Resource Control Setup (RRCSetup) message being received. <FIG(s). 4; para. 0006, 0026, 0076-0081; Abstract>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678, LIU_797 and JIANG_816 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by YOU_699. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to provide an SDT failure reporting method, a terminal device, and a network device, capable of improving related solutions for SDT failure, and improving the reliability of data transmission. <para. 0005>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797), in view of JIANG_816 (US20240064816), in view of YOU_699 (US20240080699), and further view of CHIN_800 (US20220377800)
Claim(s) 11
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
wherein the UE transmits an initiating uplink message for random access small data transmission (RA-SDT), and
the initiating uplink message carries at least a portion of uplink small data of the RA-SDT and comprises common control channel (CCCH) information.
However in a similar endeavor, CHIN_800 teaches
the initiating uplink message carries at least a portion of uplink small data of the RA-SDT and comprises common control channel (CCCH) information. CCCH data is included in the UL message in a case that the SDT procedure corresponds to an RA-SDT procedure. <FIG(s). 2; para. 0005-0013, 0245-0246>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678, LIU_797, JIANG_816 and YOU_699 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by CHIN_800. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to provide improvements as demand for radio access continues to increase, especially in SDT implementations <para. 0003, Summary>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797), in view of JIANG_816 (US20240064816), in view of YOU_699 (US20240080699), and further view of TSENG_703 (US20240244703)
Claim(s) 12
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
wherein upon expiration of the SDT TAT, the UE releases CG resources for CG-SDT.
However in a similar endeavor, TSENG_703 teaches
wherein upon expiration of the SDT TAT, the UE releases CG resources for CG-SDT. <para. 0208>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678, LIU_797, JIANG_816 and YOU_699 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by TSENG_703. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to provide improved SDT procedures, especially for jointly considering SUL and NUL carriers.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797), and further view of CHIN_860 (US20220210860)
Claim(s) 14
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
wherein the transmitting uplink small data on the pre-configured SDT resources is an initial configured grant small data transmission (CG-SDT);
the UE starts a timer to time a waiting window after the initial CG-SDT and monitors, during the waiting window, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for a response that responds the initial CG-SDT.
However in a similar endeavor, CHIN_860 teaches
the UE starts a timer to time a waiting window after the initial CG-SDT and monitors, during the waiting window, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for a response that responds the initial CG-SDT. UE may (re)start a first timer (e.g., cg-SDT timer) or a specific window (e.g., cg-SDT window) upon transmitting the UL resource and monitor on a specific search space/CORESET/PDCCH for possible transmission(s) of specific response(s). <para. 0285-0287>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678 and LIU_797 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by CHIN_860. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to increase the efficiency network resources in small data enrivronments <para. 0189>.
Claim(s) is/are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over R12103678 (NPL - R1-2103678 [2021-04-12]) in view of LIU_797 (US20240098797), in view of CHIN_860 (US20220210860), in view of HE_523 (US20230022523), and further view of CHIN_800 (US20220377800)
Claim(s) 15
R12103678 does not explicitly teach
wherein, upon expiration of the waiting window, the UE transmits an initiating uplink message for random access small data transmission (RA-SDT), and
the initiating uplink message carries at least a portion of uplink small data of the RA-SDT and comprises common control channel (CCCH) information.
However in a similar endeavor, HE_523 teaches
wherein, upon expiration of the waiting window, the UE transmits an initiating uplink message for random access small data transmission (RA-SDT), and Upon expiration of time, UE procedures with RA-SDT transmission. <para. 0083, 0093, 0101>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678, LIU_797 and CHIN_860 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by HE_523. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to improve resource efficiency when using SDT resources <FIG(s). 6; para. 0089>.
However in a similar endeavor, CHIN_800 teaches
the initiating uplink message carries at least a portion of uplink small data of the RA-SDT and comprises common control channel (CCCH) information. CCCH data is included in the UL message in a case that the SDT procedure corresponds to an RA-SDT procedure. <FIG(s). 2; para. 0005-0013, 0245-0246>.
Before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in art to have modified the system/techniques disclosed by R12103678, LIU_797, CHIN_860 and HE_523 with the embodiment(s) disclosed by CHIN_800. One of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to make this modification in order to provide improvements as demand for radio access continues to increase, especially in SDT implementations <para. 0003, Summary>.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) is/are indicated as having allowable subject matter and objected to.
Claim(s) 16, 17, 24, 26
The claim(s) is/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.
Claim(s) is/are indicated as having allowable subject matter over the prior art but rejected to herein.
Claim(s) 7
The claim(s) include allowable subject matter with respect to the prior art and would be allowable if:
(i) Rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
(ii) Amended to overcome other non-prior art rejections and/or objections presented herein (e.g., 35 USC 112 and 101 rejections), including rejections/objections directed to base and intervening claims.
(iii) In cases where claim limitations were unclear/indefinite and the Examiner indicated what he/she thought what the limitations attempted to convey, any clarifying amendments would need to be commensurate with the Examiner’s interpretation.
In addition to the explicit reasons given herein, allowability is also determined in view of the combination of references required for obviousness, the inter-relationship between other claimed limitations, and the claimed invention as a whole. Accordingly, amendments that do not incorporate the allowable claims into the base/intervening claims in its entirely, are not allowable. This includes amendments that incorporate the allowable claims into the base/intervening claims in part or in a non-narrowing manner (i.e., changing the scope of the subject matter).
Relevant Cited References
TSENG - US63186759 Provisional filed 05-10-21.
Chin - US63184031 Provisional filed 05-04-21.
Chin - US63131441 Provisional filed 2020-12-29.
US20230224997
US20240188018
US20240365309
US20230397198
Examiner’s Notes
The independent claims appear to be broad and easily anticipated in view of the prior art. This is exemplified in that even if there was a deficiency in R12103678, many of the citations identified in Relevant Cited References could easily take its place. Examiner recommends amendments to the independent claims and focus on more dependent claim features that further narrow the scope.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to ANDRE TACDIRAN whose telephone number is 571-272-1717. The examiner can normally be reached on M-TH, 10-5PM EST. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jeffrey Rutkowski can be reached on 571-270-1215. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/ANDRE TACDIRAN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415