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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statements (IDS) submitted on 26th February 2024, 27th November 2024 and 27th May 2025 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
========== ========== ==========
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)(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 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78 and 79 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hu (US 2023/0232457 A1).
Claim 71 (similarly Claim 62). Hu shows a first user equipment (UE) communicating with a second UE via a sidelink channel (figs. 3A and 4A: first device and second device), the first UE comprising: one or more memories storing instructions (fig. 6: memory); and one or more processors configured to process the instructions to control the first UE (fig. 6: processor) to: determine a channel occupancy (CO) for a sidelink transmission ([0067]: a first device node acquires a first resource shared by a second device node, wherein the first resource is a part of resources within Channel Occupancy Time (COT) when the second device node accesses a first channel and initiates the COT; [0074]: when the device node A accesses a channel of a sidelink (such as PSSCH or PSCCH) and initiates COT, in addition to using resources within the COT for sidelink transmission to a relay device node B, the resources within the COT may also be shared to the device node B for back-haul transmission); and transmit, to the second UE, configuration information ([0073]: the device node A configures a part of resources of the COT, and after configuration, shares the part of the resources to the device node B for communication), wherein the configuration information comprises: a frequency resource used by the first UE ([0061]: the network device may provide a service for a cell, and the terminal device communicates with the network device through a transmission resource (e.g. a frequency domain resource, which is also referred to as a spectrum resource) used by the cell; [0074]: when the device node A accesses a channel of a sidelink (such as PSSCH or PSCCH) and initiates COT, in addition to using resources within the COT for sidelink transmission to a relay device node B, the resources within the COT may also be shared to the device node B for back-haul transmission), a flag indicating whether the CO is allowed to be shared ([0049]: COT sharing indication information in the CG-UCI includes 1 bit for indicating whether the base station may share or cannot share COT of the UE), first identity ([0145] – [0146]: a first resource, a second resource, or a third resource is carried through Radio Resource Control (RRC), Sidelink Control Information (SCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI), Downlink Control Information (DCI), or a reference sequence… indication information for first communication, indication information for second communication, or indication information for third communication, is carried through RRC, SCI, UCI, DCI, or a reference sequence), a cast type of the sidelink transmission of the first UE ([0080]: first communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast), information related to priority for the sidelink transmission ([0032]: the Type1 channel access mode is multi-slot channel sensing with random backoff based on an adjusted contention window size, wherein a corresponding Channel Access Priority Class (CAPC) p may be selected according to a priority of a service to be transmitted; [0078]: a mode of initiating channel occupancy time includes a Type1 channel access mode wherein the Type1 channel access mode is mainly used for a communication device to initiate channel occupancy), a cast type of the sidelink transmission of the second UE ([0172]: second communication, or third communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast), second identity ([0145] – [0146]: a first resource, a second resource, or a third resource is carried through Radio Resource Control (RRC), Sidelink Control Information (SCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI), Downlink Control Information (DCI), or a reference sequence… indication information for first communication, indication information for second communication, or indication information for third communication, is carried through RRC, SCI, UCI, DCI, or a reference sequence), and a remaining duration of the CO ([0102]: while it is ensured that the device node C can perform back-haul transmission to the device node B first, and the device node B has remaining COT to complete back-haul transmission to the device node A (COT-3)).
Claim 72 (similarly claim 63). Hu shows the first UE according to claim 71, wherein the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the first UE comprises sidelink unicast transmission ([0074]: the resources within the COT may also be shared to the device node B for back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast for sidelink; [0080]: first communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast), sidelink groupcast transmission (n/a), or sidelink broadcast transmission (see above), and the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the second UE comprises sidelink unicast transmission ([0109] – [0110]: a device node B acquires a first resource and a third resource shared by a device node A in a channel (e.g. PSSCH or PSCCH) of a sidelink, wherein the first resource is used for the device node B to perform first communication, and the third resource is used for the device node B to forward to a device node C, and for the device node C to perform third communication… second communication or third communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast), sidelink groupcast transmission (n/a), or sidelink broadcast transmission (see above).
Claim 73 (similarly claim 64). Hu shows the first UE according to claim 71, wherein the sidelink channel comprises a Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH) ([0073]: the first channel may include but is not limited to a Physical Sidelink Share Channel (PSSCH), a Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), a Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), and a Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH); [0100]: when a device node B acquires a first resource shared by a device node A in a channel (such as PSSCH or PSCCH) of a sidelink, the device node B may reserve a part of the first resource for its own use, and may also share a part of the first resource, that is, a second resource, to a device node C for second communication) or a Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH) (see above).
---------- ---------- ----------
Claim 74 (similarly Claim 65). Hu shows a second user equipment (UE) communicating with a first UE via a sidelink channel (figs. 3A and 4A: second device and first device), the first UE comprising: one or more memories storing instructions (fig. 6: memory); and one or more processors configured to process the instructions to control the second UE to: receive, from the first UE based on a determination of a channel occupancy (CO) for a sidelink transmission, configuration information ([0067]: a first device node acquires a first resource shared by a second device node, wherein the first resource is a part of resources within Channel Occupancy Time (COT) when the second device node accesses a first channel and initiates the COT; [0074]: when the device node A accesses a channel of a sidelink (such as PSSCH or PSCCH) and initiates COT, in addition to using resources within the COT for sidelink transmission to a relay device node B, the resources within the COT may also be shared to the device node B for back-haul transmission), wherein the configuration information comprises: a frequency resource used by the first UE ([0061]: the network device may provide a service for a cell, and the terminal device communicates with the network device through a transmission resource (e.g. a frequency domain resource, which is also referred to as a spectrum resource) used by the cell; [0074]: when the device node A accesses a channel of a sidelink (such as PSSCH or PSCCH) and initiates COT, in addition to using resources within the COT for sidelink transmission to a relay device node B, the resources within the COT may also be shared to the device node B for back-haul transmission), a flag indicating whether the CO is allowed to be shared ([0049]: COT sharing indication information in the CG-UCI includes 1 bit for indicating whether the base station may share or cannot share COT of the UE), first identity ([0049]: COT sharing indication information in the CG-UCI includes 1 bit for indicating whether the base station may share or cannot share COT of the UE), first identity ([0145] – [0146]: a first resource, a second resource, or a third resource is carried through Radio Resource Control (RRC), Sidelink Control Information (SCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI), Downlink Control Information (DCI), or a reference sequence… indication information for first communication, indication information for second communication, or indication information for third communication, is carried through RRC, SCI, UCI, DCI, or a reference sequence), a cast type of the sidelink transmission of the first UE ([0080]: first communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast), information related to priority for the sidelink transmission ([0032]: the Type1 channel access mode is multi-slot channel sensing with random backoff based on an adjusted contention window size, wherein a corresponding Channel Access Priority Class (CAPC) p may be selected according to a priority of a service to be transmitted; [0078]: a mode of initiating channel occupancy time includes a Type1 channel access mode wherein the Type1 channel access mode is mainly used for a communication device to initiate channel occupancy), a cast type of the sidelink transmission of the second UE ([0172]: second communication, or third communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast), second identity ([0145] – [0146]: a first resource, a second resource, or a third resource is carried through Radio Resource Control (RRC), Sidelink Control Information (SCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI), Downlink Control Information (DCI), or a reference sequence… indication information for first communication, indication information for second communication, or indication information for third communication, is carried through RRC, SCI, UCI, DCI, or a reference sequence), and a remaining duration of the CO ([0102]: while it is ensured that the device node C can perform back-haul transmission to the device node B first, and the device node B has remaining COT to complete back-haul transmission to the device node A (COT-3)), wherein the one or more processors are configured to process the instructions to control the second UE to transmit, based on the configuration information, the sidelink transmission ([0102]: while it is ensured that the device node C can perform back-haul transmission to the device node B first, and the device node B has remaining COT to complete back-haul transmission to the device node A (COT-3)).
Claim 75 (similarly claim 66). Hu shows the second UE according to claim 74, wherein the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the first UE comprises sidelink unicast transmission ([0074]: the resources within the COT may also be shared to the device node B for back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast for sidelink; [0080]: first communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast), sidelink groupcast transmission (n/a), or sidelink broadcast transmission (see above), and the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the second UE comprises sidelink unicast transmission ([0109] – [0110]: a device node B acquires a first resource and a third resource shared by a device node A in a channel (e.g. PSSCH or PSCCH) of a sidelink, wherein the first resource is used for the device node B to perform first communication, and the third resource is used for the device node B to forward to a device node C, and for the device node C to perform third communication… second communication or third communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast), sidelink groupcast transmission (n/a), or sidelink broadcast transmission (see above).
Claim 76 (similarly claim 67). Hu shows the second UE according to claim 74, wherein the one or more processors are configured to process the instructions to control the second UE to transmit the sidelink transmission that follows the sidelink transmission by the first UE after a transmission gap ([0040] – [0042]: a gap between a starting position of an uplink transmission opportunity in COT).
Claim 77 (similarly claim 68). Hu shows the second UE according to claim 75, wherein the one or more processors are configured to process the instructions to control the second UE to: for the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the first UE indicating the sidelink unicast transmission ([0074] when the device node A accesses a channel of a sidelink (such as PSSCH or PSCCH) and initiates COT, in addition to using resources within the COT for sidelink transmission to a relay device node B, the resources within the COT may also be shared to the device node B for back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast for sidelink; [0086]: the first device node receives indication information for the first communication and a channel access mode for the first communication), transmit the sidelink unicast transmission based on the first identity ([0086]: the first device node performs the first communication according to the first resource, the indication information for the first communication, and the channel access mode for the first communication), for the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the first UE indicating the sidelink groupcast transmission, transmit the sidelink groupcast transmission based on the first identity (n/a), or for the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the first UE indicating the sidelink broadcast transmission, transmit the sidelink broadcast transmission based on the first identity (see above).
Claim 78 (similarly claim 69). Hu shows the second UE according to claim 75, wherein the one or more processors are configured to process the instructions to control the second UE to: for the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the second UE indicating the sidelink unicast transmission ([0098]: the indication information for the second communication and the access mode for the second communication are configured by the first device node; [0110]: second communication or third communication includes at least one of back-haul transmission, forward transmission, broadcast, unicast, or multicast; [0114]: a channel access mode for second communication, or a channel access mode for third communication, is carried through RRC, SCI, UCI, DCI, or a reference sequence), transmit the sidelink unicast transmission based on the second identity ([0123]: the third device node receives indication information for the second communication and a channel access mode for the second communication, sent by the second device node), for the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the second UE indicating the sidelink groupcast transmission, transmit the sidelink groupcast transmission based on the second identity (n/a), or for the cast type of the sidelink transmission of the second UE indicating the sidelink broadcast transmission, transmit the sidelink broadcast transmission based on the second identity (see above).
Claim 79 (similarly claim 70). Hu shows the second UE according to claim 74, wherein the sidelink channel comprises a Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH) ([0073]: the first channel may include but is not limited to a Physical Sidelink Share Channel (PSSCH), a Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH), a Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), and a Physical Sidelink Feedback Channel (PSFCH); [0100]: when a device node B acquires a first resource shared by a device node A in a channel (such as PSSCH or PSCCH) of a sidelink, the device node B may reserve a part of the first resource for its own use, and may also share a part of the first resource, that is, a second resource, to a device node C for second communication) or a Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH) (see above).
========== ========== ==========
Conclusion
The prior art made of record is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
1. Peng et al, US 2024/0114554 A1: a method for determining a resource in a shared band, comprising performing, by a first terminal, sidelink (SL) sensing; and determining, based on the SL sensing, a resource or candidate resource N indicated or reserved by a second terminal; wherein the first terminal has to-be-sent data, and the method further comprises at least one of performing, by the first terminal, clear channel assessment (CCA) or listen before talk (LBT) sensing on a first resource; selecting, by the first terminal, a resource in a resource unit in which the resource or candidate resource N is located; selecting, by the first terminal, a resource within a first channel occupancy time (COT) range of the first terminal; selecting, by the first terminal, a resource within a second COT range of the second terminal; selecting, by the first terminal, a resource within a union of a first COT of the first terminal and a second COT of the second terminal; or selecting, by the first terminal, a resource within a larger one of a first COT of the first terminal and a second COT of the second terminal.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Xavier Szewai Wong whose telephone number is 571.270.1780. The examiner can normally be reached on 11:30 am - 8:30 pm Mon to Fri.
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, 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.
Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see http://pair-direct.uspto.gov. Should you have questions on access to the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/XAVIER S WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415 4th March 2026