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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 02/28/2024 is considered by the examiner. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97.
Claim Objections
Claims 5 and 10 are objected to because of the following informalities:
Claim 5 recites the claim limitation “an F1-termermindated (F1-T) CU” in line 2. Applicant is advised to revise the claim limitation to show “an F1-terminated (F1-T) CU”; and
Claim 10 recites the claim limitation “a fourth indication regarding that the second parent IAB node is change to the MN” in line 6. Applicant is advised to revise the claim limitation to show “a fourth indication regarding that the second parent IAB node is to change to the MN”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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.
Claim(s) 1-4, 11-14, 26 and 31-33 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Liu et al. (US 2022/0263797; hereinafter Liu).
Regarding claim 1, Liu shows a communication method (Figures 13 and 20 shows a method performed in part at a primary donor node.), comprising:
transmitting, at a first device and to a second device which serves as a secondary node (SN) of a moving integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, configuration information associated with the moving IAB node (Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0140, 0217-0218; transmitting, at a primary donor node to a secondary donor node, a secondary addition request message including configuration information. In addition, source IAB donor node is used as a primary IAB donor node/primary donor node, and the target IAB donor node is used as a secondary IAB donor node/secondary donor node of the mobile IAB node.), and the configuration information comprises at least one of: a radio link control (RLC) channel of the moving IAB node (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0222-0225; the secondary addition request message includes at least member information of the first IAB node group may include at least information about the IAB-MT. The information about the IAB-MT includes bearer QoS information corresponding to a backhaul radio resource control link (BH RLC channel), set up by the IAB-MT, of a topology of the source IAB donor.), a RLC channel mapping rule of the moving IAB node, or a routing table of the moving IAB node.
Regarding claim 2, wherein the moving IAB node has a dual connection with the first device and the second device (Par. 0140; mobile IAB node has a dual connectivity operation with the primary donor node and the secondary donor node.), the first device is a first donor centralized unit (CU) and serves as a master node (MN), and the second device is a second donor CU (Par. 0152-0153; the IAB-MT is connected to both the primary donor CU and the secondary donor CU, where the primary donor CU is used as a primary station, and the secondary donor CU is used as a secondary station.).
Regarding claim 3, Liu shows transmitting, to the second device, a MN/SN switch request comprising the configuration information (Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0140, 0217-0218; transmitting, at a primary donor node to a secondary donor node, a secondary addition request message including configuration information.), and
wherein the MN/SN request further comprises at least one of:
an identity list of a set of terminal devices (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0222-0225; the secondary addition request message includes at least member information of the first IAB node group may include at least information about all child nodes (for example, UE) of the IAB-MT. The information about the UE includes context information of the UE, an identifier of the UE (for example, a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) or a CGI), quality of service (QoS) information of a service of the UE, and the like.),
the set of terminal devices connecting to the moving IAB node (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0222-0225; the secondary addition request message includes at least member information of the first IAB node group may include at least information about all child nodes (for example, UE) of the IAB-MT. The information about the UE includes context information of the UE, an identifier of the UE (for example, a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) or a CGI), quality of service (QoS) information of a service of the UE, and the like.),
a first indication regarding that the first device is to change to the SN (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0222-0225, 0230; the secondary addition request message includes at least member information of the first IAB node group may include at least information about the IAB-MT. The information about the IAB-MT includes bearer QoS information corresponding to a backhaul radio resource control link (BH RLC channel), set up by the IAB-MT, of a topology of the source IAB donor.),
a second indication regarding that the second device is to change to the MN, or
a radio resource control (RRC) container of the first device.
Regarding claim 4, Liu shows receiving, from the second device, a MN/SN switch response (Par. 0227; the secondary donor CU sends a secondary station addition response message to the primary donor node (primary donor CU).), wherein the MN/SN switch response comprises at least one of:
at least one established RLC channel of the moving IAB node,
a RLC channel mapping rule of the second device,
a routing table of the second device, or
an identity list of a set of terminal devices, the set of terminal devices connecting to the moving IAB node (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Par. 0227-0229; the secondary station addition response message may further include at least one of identifiers (for example, XnAP IDs) of the first IAB node and the child node of the first IAB node on an Xn interface or a tunnel identifier allocated by the secondary donor CU to a bearer of the child node of the first IAB node.).
Regarding claim 11, Liu shows a communication method (Figures 13 and 20 shows a method performed in part at a secondary donor node.), comprising:
receiving, at a second device which serves as a secondary node (SN) of a moving integrated access backhaul (IAB) node and from a first device, configuration information associated with the moving IAB node (Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0140, 0217-0218; receiving, at a secondary donor node from a primary donor node, a secondary addition request message including configuration information. In addition, source IAB donor node is used as a primary IAB donor node/primary donor node, and the target IAB donor node is used as a secondary IAB donor node/secondary donor node of the mobile IAB node.), and the configuration information comprises at least one of: a radio link control (RLC) channel of the moving IAB node (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0222-0225; the secondary addition request message includes at least member information of the first IAB node group may include at least information about the IAB-MT. The information about the IAB-MT includes bearer QoS information corresponding to a backhaul radio resource control link (BH RLC channel), set up by the IAB-MT, of a topology of the source IAB donor.), a RLC channel mapping rule of the moving IAB node, or a routing table of the moving IAB node.
Regarding claims 12, 13 and 14, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 2, 3 and 4, respectively.
Regarding claim 26, Liu shows a first device (Figure 28 shows a primary donor node performing in part the method of Figures 13 and 20.) comprising:
a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions thereon, the instructions, when executed by the processor (Figure 28; noted instructions stored in memory and executed by the processor to perform the disclosed method.), causing the first device to: transmit, to a second device which serves as a secondary node (SN) of a moving integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, configuration information associated with the moving IAB node (Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0140, 0217-0218; transmitting, at a primary donor node to a secondary donor node, a secondary addition request message including configuration information. In addition, source IAB donor node is used as a primary IAB donor node/primary donor node, and the target IAB donor node is used as a secondary IAB donor node/secondary donor node of the mobile IAB node.), and the configuration information comprises at least one of: a radio link control (RLC) channel of the moving IAB node (Examiner elects this claim limitation for prosecution. Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0222-0225; the secondary addition request message includes at least member information of the first IAB node group may include at least information about the IAB-MT. The information about the IAB-MT includes bearer QoS information corresponding to a backhaul radio resource control link (BH RLC channel), set up by the IAB-MT, of a topology of the source IAB donor.), a RLC channel mapping rule of the moving IAB node, or a routing table of the moving IAB node.
Regarding claims 31, 32 and 33, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 2, 3 and 4, respectively.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 5 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu in view of Baek et al. (US 2023/0065057; hereinafter Baek). Note: Subject matter relied upon in the rejections under Baek are fully-supported in Korean application 10-2021-0111267, filed 08/23/2021.
Regarding claim 5, Liu shows all of the elements as discussed above. Liu does not specifically show changing, at the first device, from an F1-terminated (F1-T) CU to a non F1-T CU.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Baek. Specifically, Baek shows changing, at the first device, from an F1-terminated (F1-T) CU to a non F1-T CU (Figure 14; Par. 0132-0137; noted switching from an IAB donor CU 1, which is an F1-terminated CU, to IAB donor CU a, which is an non-F1-terminated CU.).
In view of the above, having the system of Liu, then given the well-established teaching of Baek, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Liu as taught by Baek, in order to provide motivation for considering topology redundancy or partial migration between the IAB donor nodes in order to increase reliability of a path (Par. 00115 of Baek).
Claim(s) 6-10 and 15-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Liu in view of Hampel et al. (US 2020/0100124; hereinafter Hampel).
Regarding claim 6, Liu shows wherein the moving IAB node has a dual connection with a first parent IAB node which serves as a MN and a second parent IAB node, the second device is the second parent IAB node (Par. 0140, 0152-0153; mobile IAB node has a dual connectivity operation with the primary donor node and the secondary donor node. The IAB-MT is connected to both the primary donor CU and the secondary donor CU, where the primary donor CU is used as a primary station, and the secondary donor CU is used as a secondary station.).
Liu shows all of the elements except wherein the first device is a donor centralized unit (CU) of the first parent IAB node and the second parent IAB node.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Hampel. Specifically, Hampel shows wherein the first device is a donor centralized unit (CU) of the first parent IAB node and the second parent IAB node (Figures 3 and 5; Par. 0125, 0127, 0151; noted IAB donor node split into associated base station CU 310 and DU 315 entities, where DUs 315 associated with the IAB donor node may be partially controlled by the associated CU 310.).
In view of the above, having the system of Liu, then given the well-established teaching of Hampel, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Liu as taught by Hampel, in order to provide motivation to improve backhaul communication robustness (e.g., may reduce service interruption, signaling delay, etc. associated with a deteriorating wireless backhaul link, through use of additional wireless backhaul links) (Par. 0069 of Hampel).
Regarding claim 7, modified Liu shows transmitting, to the second device, a redundant path addition response comprising the configuration information (Liu: Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0140, 0217-0218; transmitting, at a primary donor node to a secondary donor node, a secondary addition request message including configuration information. In addition, source IAB donor node is used as a primary IAB donor node/primary donor node, and the target IAB donor node is used as a secondary IAB donor node/secondary donor node of the mobile IAB node.), and
wherein the redundant path addition response further comprises:
a first identity of the moving IAB node (Liu: Figures 13 and 20; Par. 0222-0225; the secondary addition request message includes at least member information of the first IAB node group may include at least information about all child nodes (for example, UE) of the IAB-MT. The information about the UE includes context information of the UE, an identifier of the UE (for example, a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) or a CGI), quality of service (QoS) information of a service of the UE, and the like.).
Regarding claim 8, modified Liu shows in accordance with a determination that a MN/SN switch is to be performed, transmitting, to the moving IAB node, a UE context modification message to configure the RLC channel mapping rule (Examiner submits that the claimed subject matter of this claim refers to the unelected claim limitation (i.e. mapping rule) which was presented as an alternative embodiment in independent claim 1. Therefore, this claim is rejected based on the rejection set forth in claim 6.).
Regarding claim 9, modified Liu shows in accordance with a determination that a MN/SN switch is to be performed, transmitting, to the moving IAB node, a backhaul adaption protocol (BAP) mapping configuration to configure the routing table (Examiner submits that the claimed subject matter of this claim refers to the unelected claim limitation (i.e. routing table) which was presented as an alternative embodiment in independent claim 1. Therefore, this claim is rejected based on the rejection set forth in claim 6.).
Regarding claim 10, modified Liu shows transmitting, to the moving IAB node, a MN/SN switch message (Liu: Figures 20; Par. 0279; primary donor node sends seventh indication information to the first IAB node, where the seventh indication information is used to indicate the first IAB node to add the first donor node as a secondary donor node (or secondary station), wherein the MN/SN with message comprises: a third indication regarding that the first parent IAB node is to change to the SN (Liu: Figures 20; Par. 0279; primary donor node sends seventh indication information to the first IAB node, where the seventh indication information is used to indicate the first IAB node to add the first donor node as a secondary donor node (or secondary station).
Liu shows all of the elements except a fourth indication regarding that the second parent IAB node is change to the MN.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as also evidenced by Hampel. Specifically, Hampel shows a fourth indication regarding that the second parent IAB node is change to the MN (Figures 3 and 5; Par. 0160-0162; the network management function may transmit, via the first backhaul link, the identified backhaul link configuration for the MT 515-d to the MT 515-a (e.g., via parent node 510-a). In some cases, the backhaul link configuration may include information regarding second backhaul link establishment and operation (e.g., identification of a second parent node to connect to, route utilization information, link utilization information, resource allocation information, etc.).).
In view of the above, having the system of Liu, then given the well-established teaching of Hampel, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Liu as taught by Hampel, in order to provide motivation to improve backhaul communication robustness (e.g., may reduce service interruption, signaling delay, etc. associated with a deteriorating wireless backhaul link, through use of additional wireless backhaul links) (Par. 0069 of Hampel).
Regarding claims 15 and 16, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 6 and 7, respectively.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
US 20230232285 A1 - Embodiments herein relate to, for example, a method performed by a first radio network node (12) for handling communication in a wireless communications network. The first radio network node (12) transmits a message related to handover or cell reselection of a migrating node to a second radio network node (15), wherein the message comprises data associated with the migrating node and data related to one or more other nodes directly and indirectly served by the migrating node.
US 20230115364 A1 - A relay apparatus that relays communication between a base station apparatus and a communication apparatus that is connected to the base station apparatus executes, in a case where the relay apparatus performs a handover to another base station apparatus, control so as to withhold transmitting/receiving a signal for a handover of the communication apparatus between the communication apparatus and the base station apparatus while the relay apparatus is not successful in a handover.
US 20210377802 A1 - A wireless backhaul method, including: a wireless backhaul device generates a first F1AP message, maps the first F1AP message to a signaling-plane bearer of an LTE Uu interface, and sends the first F1AP message to a primary base station of the wireless backhaul device via the signaling-plane bearer of the LTE Uu interface. The primary base station obtains the first F1AP message via the signaling-plane bearer of the LTE Uu interface, encapsulates the first F1AP message into a first X2AP message, and sends the first X2AP message to a secondary base station of the wireless backhaul device. The secondary base station receives the first X2AP message and obtains the first F1AP message based on the first X2AP message.
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/REDENTOR PASIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413