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 .
This Office Action is in response to the Applicant Arguments/REMARKS correspondence filed 05/26/2026.
Claims 1-2, 5-13 & 15-23 are pending and rejected.
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.
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 1-2, 5-13 & 15-23 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Aiba et al (US20160205704A1) in view of Babaei et al (US20190356427A1) in further view of 3GPP TS 38.213 (2021-04).
Regarding claim 1 (and method claim 12), Aiba teaches a User Equipment ("UE") apparatus comprising:
at least one memory ([0456], memory); and
at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory ([0459], processor) and configured to cause the UE to:
receive a downlink control information ("DCI") scheduling uplink resources for a hybrid automatic repeat request ("HARQ") retransmission at a first time-instance ([0313]-[0316], [0338]-[0344], [0431]-[0434], UE receives a DCI format indicating a semi-persistent activation and the DCI is treated as a configured UL grant where the DCI specifies the subframe in which PUSCH transmission occurs; UE specifies the subframe in which the retransmission on the PUSCH is performed—linked to configured UL grant; UL HARQ processing number corresponding to the retransmission on the PUSCH – HARQ retransmission);
trigger a HARQ retransmission for a HARQ process corresponding to the determined HPID ([0312], [0316], [0338]-[0344], discloses that a UE receives a DCI format (UL grant) specifying a subframe for PUSCH transmission, determines a retransmission subframe for the PUSCH, and performs the retransmission corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, thereby triggering a HARQ retransmission for the HARQ process corresponding to the determined HPID).
But Aida fails to teach wherein the DCI comprises a first field indicating a configured grant ("CG") configuration index;
determine a HARQ process identifier ("HPID") based on the CG configuration index signaled within the DCI.
However, Babaei teaches wherein the DCI comprises a first field indicating a configured grant ("CG") configuration index ([0203]-[0208], [0210]-0213], A UE receives DCI corresponding to SPS-RNTI, the DCI comprises a first SPS configuration index, the configuration index identifies one configuration among multiple configured periodic/SPS configurations—configurations identified by index, index carried in DCI, DCI selects configuration);
determine a HARQ process identifier ("HPID") based on the CG configuration index signaled within the DCI ([0275], [0309]-[0311], A DCI including a configuration index, that selects one configuration among multiple configured periodic/SPS configurations; determination of HARQ process identifier (HPID), determination logic based on configuration-dependent parameters, HPID determination is configuration-specific, multiple configurations influence HARQ ID assignment).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
However, Babaei does not fully teach but 3GPP teaches wherein the first field comprises a HARQ process number field (Section 10.2, Tables 10.2-1, and 10.2-2 expressly identify the HARQ process number field as a special DCI validation field for UL grant Type 2 scheduling activation/release; teaches that when the UE is provided more than one UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configuration, a value of the HARQ process number field in a DCI format indicates an activation for a corresponding UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configuration with the same value as ConfiguredConfigIndex; this maps directly to using/interpreting the HARQ process number field as the CG configuration index), and wherein the DCI comprises an indication to interpret the HARQ process number field as containing the CG configuration index (Section 10.2, Tables 10.2-1, and 10.2-2 expressly identify the HARQ process number field as a special DCI validation field for UL grant Type 2 scheduling activation/release; teaches that when the UE is provided more than one UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configuration, a value of the HARQ process number field in a DCI format indicates an activation for a corresponding UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configuration with the same value as ConfiguredConfigIndex; this maps directly to using/interpreting the HARQ process number field as the CG configuration index).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
Regarding claim 2, Aida fails to teach but Babaei teaches the UE wherein, to determine the HPID based on the CG configuration index signaled within the DCI, the at least one processor is configured to determine a HARQ process number associated with a last CG transmission transmitted before the first time-instance with a same value as the CG configuration index, the last CG transmission occasion belonging to a CG configuration corresponding to the CG configuration index ([0203]-[0208], [0210]-0213], ([0275], [0309]-[0311], A UE receives DCI corresponding to SPS-RNTI, the DCI comprises a first SPS configuration index, the configuration index identifies one configuration among multiple configured periodic/SPS configurations—configurations identified by index, index carried in DCI, DCI selects configuration; A DCI including a configuration index, that selects one configuration among multiple configured periodic/SPS configurations; determination of HARQ process identifier (HPID), determination logic based on configuration-dependent parameters, HPID determination is configuration-specific, multiple configurations influence HARQ ID assignment).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
Regarding claim 5 (and method claim 18), Aida fails to teach but Babaei teaches the UE wherein the indication to interpret the HARQ process number field as containing the CG configuration index comprises a radio network temporary identifier ("RNTI") of the UE ([0208]-[0213], DCI corresponding to UL SPS RNTI use of SPS-RNTI to interpret DCI differently).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
Regarding claim 6 (and method claim 19), Aida fails to teach but Babaei teaches the UE wherein the first field comprises a dedicated field ([0210]-[0213], DCI includes a first SPS configuration index field).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
Regarding claim 7 (and method claim 20), Aida fails to teach but Babaei teaches the UE wherein the UE is configured with a plurality of CG configurations, wherein the DCI further indicates a particular number of prior CG occasions across the plurality of CG configurations for which a retransmission is requested ([0210]-[0213], multiple SPS configurations, HARQ offset logic and configuration-based HARQ tracking).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
Regarding claim 8 (and method claim 21), Aida teaches the UE wherein the HARQ retransmission uses the uplink resources in the first time-instance scheduled by the DCI ([0313]-[0316], DCI schedules PUSCH retransmission performed in indicated subframe).
Regarding claim 9 (and method claim 22), Aida teaches the UE wherein, when the DCI is received, the HARQ process corresponding to the determined HPID is triggered for autonomous retransmission during a next CG occasion, wherein the uplink resources scheduled by the DCI comprise a dynamic grant ([0316], [0431]-[0434], DCI format 0 = UL grant, retransmission timing).
Regarding claim 10 (and method claim 23), Aida fails to teach but Babaei teaches the UE wherein the DCI further comprises a field indicating a particular CG occasion for which retransmission is requested, the particular CG occasion indicated from among a plurality of past CG occasions ([0351]-[0367], Offset-based HARQ ID, identifying specific prior transmission occasion via configuration parameters)).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
Regarding claim 11, Aida fails to teach but Babaei teaches the UE wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to transmit, to a base station, an indication that the UE is capable of determining a respective HPID from a respective CG configuration index (([0210]-[0213], Fig 21, [0351]-[0355], Fig 35, [0364]-[0367], Fig 36 discloses receiving a DCI containing configuration index corresponding to an UL SPS RNTI; determining a first HARQ process identifier based on at least an offset value depended on configuration parameters; HARQ process identifiers are determined based on parameters associated with SPS configurations – second HARQ process identifier is determined based on the first SPS configuration and related offset).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
Regarding claim 13 (and method claim 16), Aida teaches a base station for wireless communication, comprising:
at least one memory ([0456], memory); and
at least one processor coupled with the at least one memory ([0459], processor, coupled) and configured to cause the base station to:
transmit, to the UE, a downlink control information ("DCI") scheduling uplink resources for a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request ("HARQ") retransmission at a first time-instance (([0313]-[0316], [0338]-[0344], [0431]-[0434], UE receives a DCI format indicating a semi-persistent activation and the DCI is treated as a configured UL grant where the DCI specifies the subframe in which PUSCH transmission occurs; UE specifies the subframe in which the retransmission on the PUSCH is performed—linked to configured UL grant; UL HARQ processing number corresponding to the retransmission on the PUSCH – HARQ retransmission),
monitor for a HARQ retransmission from the UE device for the particular HARQ process (([0312], [0316], [0338]-[0344], discloses that a UE receives a DCI format (UL grant) specifying a subframe for PUSCH transmission, determines a retransmission subframe for the PUSCH, and performs the retransmission corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, thereby triggering a HARQ retransmission for the HARQ process corresponding to the determined HPID).
But Aida fails to teach determine a configured grant ("CG") configuration index corresponding to a particular hybrid automatic repeat request ("HARQ") process of the user equipment (“UE”).
However Babaei teaches wherein the DCI comprises a first field indicating a configured grant ("CG") configuration index ([0203]-[0208], [0210]-0213], A UE receives DCI corresponding to SPS-RNTI, the DCI comprises a first SPS configuration index, the configuration index identifies one configuration among multiple configured periodic/SPS configurations—configurations identified by index, index carried in DCI, DCI selects configuration);
determine a configured grant ("CG") configuration index corresponding to a particular hybrid automatic repeat request ("HARQ") process of the user equipment (“UE”) ([0275], [0309]-[0311], A DCI including a configuration index, that selects one configuration among multiple configured periodic/SPS configurations; determination of HARQ process identifier (HPID), determination logic based on configuration-dependent parameters, HPID determination is configuration-specific, multiple configurations influence HARQ ID assignment).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
However, Babaei does not fully teach but 3GPP teaches wherein the first field comprises a HARQ process number field (Section 10.2, Tables 10.2-1, and 10.2-2 expressly identify the HARQ process number field as a special DCI validation field for UL grant Type 2 scheduling activation/release; teaches that when the UE is provided more than one UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configuration, a value of the HARQ process number field in a DCI format indicates an activation for a corresponding UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configuration with the same value as ConfiguredConfigIndex; this maps directly to using/interpreting the HARQ process number field as the CG configuration index), and wherein the DCI comprises an indication to interpret the HARQ process number field as containing the CG configuration index (Section 10.2, Tables 10.2-1, and 10.2-2 expressly identify the HARQ process number field as a special DCI validation field for UL grant Type 2 scheduling activation/release; teaches that when the UE is provided more than one UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configuration, a value of the HARQ process number field in a DCI format indicates an activation for a corresponding UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configuration with the same value as ConfiguredConfigIndex; this maps directly to using/interpreting the HARQ process number field as the CG configuration index).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
Regarding claim 15 (and method claim 17), Aida fails to teach but Babaei teaches the base station wherein the processor is further configured to cause the base station to receive, from the UE device, an indication that the UE is capable of determining a respective HARQ process identifier from a respective CG configuration index ([0210]-[0213], [0351]-[0367], DCI includes SPS configuration index; HARQ process ID determination).
Aida teaches receiving a DCI scheduling UL PUSCH transmissions and performing retransmissions corresponding to a specific UL HARQ process number, while Babaei teaches that a DCI may include a configured grant (SPS) configuration index and that a HARQ process identifier is determined based on configuration-dependent parameters associated with that index. Furthermore, 3GPP teaches that when a UE is configured with multiple UL grant Type 2 PUSCH configured-grant configurations, the HARQ process number field in the DCI may indicate the corresponding configuration by having the same value as the ConfiguredGrantConfigIndex. It would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the configuration-index-based HARQ process determination of Babaei into the UL retransmission framework of Aida in order to allow a DCI-identified configured grant to directly determine the corresponding HARQ process for retransmission, thereby improving scheduling flexibility, reducing signaling overhead, and ensuring consistent mapping between configured grants and HARQ processes.
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.
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/MICHAEL WILLIAM ABBATINE JR./Examiner, Art Unit 2419
/Nishant Divecha/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2419
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