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 .
Title of the Invention
The title of the invention is not descriptive. A new title is required that is clearly indicative of the invention to which the claims are directed.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 6 and 15-16 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (US 2008/0240719, “Kim”) in view of Hedin et al. (US 2018/0302210, “Hedin”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Kim unless otherwise mentioned.
Kim comprises the following features:
With respect to independent claim:
Regarding claim 1, a signal processing method comprising:
acquiring a control signal including a Time Division Duplex (TDD) signal ([0033] “The switch control frame unit 302 generates a control frame including synchronization information, time delay information, DL data transport time information, UL data transport time information, Transmit/receive Transition Gap (TTG) information, and Receive/transmit Transition Gap (RTG) information and transmits the control frame to the remote 350 during an idle time of DL data”);
adjusting time sequence of the TDD signal to target time sequence according to a preset adjustment parameter ([0043 and Fig. 4] “The core point of the current embodiment is to adjust times t_UL (time_UpLink), t_DL (time_DownLink), TTG, and RTG so that the BS receives UL data immediately after transmitting DL data and the MS also receives DL data immediately after transmitting UL data.”, and [0045] “If Equations 2 and 3 are satisfied, communication in the BS is achieved in the way where UL.sup.1 is received after DL.sup.2 is transmitted and UL.sup.2 is received after DL.sup.3 is transmitted as illustrated in FIG. 4.”. See [0014 and Eq. 1] “When efficiency of a TDD wireless system is defined as a ratio of the sum of a DL data duration time and a UL data duration time to a total time, the efficiency can be represented by Equation 1.”, for the claimed “preset adjustment parameter”. That is, the efficiency == adjustment parameter. Note that Kim’s Eq. 2 and 3 describe about timing adjustment instead of a target time sequence. This will be discussed in view of Hedin.); and
obtaining driving signal based on the TDD signal having the target time sequence ([0038] “the switch time signal generator 390 distinguishes the DL data and UL data, analyzes the control frame, and generates a switch control signal according to the information.” The cited switch control signal == the claimed driving signal.),
wherein the driving signal is directed for a Power Amplifier (PA) and a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) (See Fig. 3 for 390 “Switch Time Signal Generator” and 375 switching for HPA and LNA.).
It is noted that while disclosing adjusting timing for a TDD system, Kim does not specifically teach about a target time sequence. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Hedin as follows;
target time sequence ([Hedin, 0059] “the process device can set an adjusted start of the subsequent downlink burst 202 at a time between the predicted start and the identified start. The adjusted start of the subsequent downlink burst 202 can then be used to control the one or more components and/or for a subsequent prediction of a later downlink burst 202.”).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Kim by using the features of Hedin in order to effectively control timing by applying an offset such that “The method comprises (and the system and apparatus are configured for) grouping power samples of a downlink portion of the TDD signal into blocks corresponding to a respective time period, comparing power samples of the blocks to a power threshold, assigning the blocks as ON or OFF based on a number of power samples” [Hedin, Abstract].
With respect to dependent claims:
Regarding claim 2, the method of claim 1, wherein
the TDD signal comprises an uplink Time Division Duplex (ULTDD) signal and a downlink Time Division Duplex (DLTDD) signal ([0043] “a TDD-based frame in FIG. 4 is composed of a DL data frame and a UL data frame”),
the adjustment parameter comprises an uplink adjustment parameter and a downlink adjustment parameter ([0014] “When efficiency of a TDD wireless system is defined as a ratio of the sum of a DL data duration time and a UL data duration time to a total time, the efficiency can be represented by Equation 1.”), and
adjusting the time sequence of the TDD signal to the target time sequence according to the preset adjustment parameter comprises:
determining a time sequence of the ULTDD signal as a first uplink time sequence (See Fig. 2 for timing diagrams of BS and RS, MS.), and
determining a time sequence of the DLTDD signal as a first downlink time sequence (See Fig. 2 for timing diagrams of BS and RS, MS.);
adjusting on and off timings of the first uplink time sequence according to the uplink adjustment parameter to obtain a second uplink time sequence ([0043 and Fig. 4] “to adjust times t_UL (time_UpLink), t_DL (time_DownLink), TTG, and RTG so that the BS receives UL data immediately after transmitting DL data and the MS also receives DL data immediately after transmitting UL data… a TDD-based frame in FIG. 4 is composed of a DL data frame and a UL data frame, wherein the DL data frame and the UL data frame are distinguished from each other using a TTG and an RTG for switching of transmission and reception operations.” See Fig. 4 for MS’s timing diagram (bottom in Fig. 4.));
adjusting on and off timings of the first downlink time sequence according to the downlink adjustment parameter to obtain a second downlink time sequence; ([0043 and Fig. 4] “to adjust times t_UL (time_UpLink), t_DL (time_DownLink), TTG, and RTG so that the BS receives UL data immediately after transmitting DL data and the MS also receives DL data immediately after transmitting UL data.”) and
determining the second uplink time sequence and the second downlink time sequence as the target time sequence (See aforesaid [0043 and Fig. 4], and [0044] “In order to increase the TDD wireless system efficiency, time lengths of t_UT, t_DL, a TTG, and an RTG so that subsequent frame data can arrive during the waiting time. The MS adjusts time lengths of t_UL, TTG_ms, and RTG_ms, and the BS adjusts time lengths of t_DL, TTG_bs, and RTG_bs. Time conditions for satisfying the adjustment are represented by Equations 2 and 3.”).
Regarding claim 6, the method of claim 2, wherein obtaining the driving signal based on the TDD signal having the target time sequence comprises: configuring the ULTDD signal according to the second uplink time sequence to obtain a first driving signal for the LNA; and configuring the DLTDD signal according to the second downlink time sequence to obtain a second driving signal for the PA (See Fig. 2 and Fig. 4. For instance, RS, MS perspective, DL1, DL2 and DL3 are based on LNA switching signals and UL1 and UL2 are corresponding to PA switching signals.).
Regarding claim 15, an electronic device, comprising: a memory, a processor, and a computer program which is stored on the memory and is executable by the processor, wherein, when executing the computer program, the processor implements the signal processing method of claim 1 ([0048] “the processor or the programmable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash, etc. that may store or receive software or computer code that when accessed and executed by the computer, processor or hardware implement the processing methods described herein”).
Regarding claim 16, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored therein, wherein the computer- executable instructions are configured to implement the signal processing method of claim 1 ([0048] “the present invention can be realized in hardware or as software or computer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD ROM, an RAM, a floppy disk, a hard disk, or a magneto-optical disk or downloaded over a network”).
Claim(s) 7 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim et al. (US 2008/0240719, “Kim”) in view of Hedin et al. (US 2018/0302210, “Hedin”) and further in view of Terry et al. (US 2003/0086379, “Terry”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Kim unless otherwise mentioned.
Regarding claims 7, it is noted that while disclosing adjusting timing for a TDD system, Kim does not specifically teach about DTX. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Terry as follows;
the method of claim 1, wherein the control signal further comprises a Discontinuous Transmission (DTX) signal, and after acquiring the control signal, the method further comprises: acquiring a fifth delay, and adjusting the TDD signal and the DTX signal according to the fifth delay to align the TDD signal and the DTX signal with an air interface ([Terry, 0016] “As will be described in detail hereinafter, with respect to partial DTX, the transmitted codes and timeslots and radio frames within the shortest TTI in the CCTrCH are determined from the received TFCI. Thereafter, the receiver is turned off for the unused codes and timeslots as indicated by the received TFCI for that TTI.” Because the radio frame and timeslot timing is determined by the TDD air-interface frame including delay, the DTX pattern must be synchronized. If the system adjusts the radio frame timing, the on/off schedule must be shifted accordingly so that the UE still turns on and off at the correct air-interface instants.).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Kim by using the features of Terry in order to effectively be synchronized with DTX and timslots such that “The present invention achieves power savings by turning off all or some of the baseband processing for codes and timeslots that have not been transmitted due to full or partial DTX.” [Terry, 0010].
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim(s) 3-5, 8-14 and 17-19 objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
The claims contain the following underlined features which, when combined with other features of the claim, prior art of record failed to anticipate or render obvious before the effective filing date of the instant application was filed:
3. The method of claim 2, wherein
the uplink adjustment parameter comprises a first delay and a second delay, and
adjusting the on and off timings of the first uplink time sequence according to the uplink adjustment parameter to obtain the second uplink time sequence comprises:
determining a first timing, and adjusting an on timing of the first uplink time sequence according to the first timing and the first delay to obtain a third uplink time sequence,
wherein the first timing is a timing corresponding to a falling edge of the DLTDD signal or a timing corresponding to a rising edge of the ULTDD signal;
determining a second timing, and adjusting an off timing of the first uplink time sequence according to the second timing and the second delay to obtain a fourth uplink time sequence,
wherein the second timing is a timing corresponding to a rising edge of the DLTDD signal or a timing corresponding to a falling edge of the ULTDD signal; and
obtaining the second uplink time sequence by an OR operation on the third uplink time sequence and the fourth uplink time sequence.
Liu et al. (US 2023/0353335) discloses a method for identifying a number of abnormal values between a downlink TDD switch signal and a standard switch signal. Liu is silent about adjusting timing based on a parameter of delays and a timing corresponding to a falling edge of a downlink TDD signal or a rising edge of an uplink TDD signal.
Claims 4-5 depend from claim 3 and thus are allowed for the same reason stated above for claim 3.
8. (Original) The method of claim 1, wherein
the control signal further comprise DTX signal, and
after obtaining the driving signal based on the TDD signal having the target time sequence,
the method further comprises:
combining the DTX signal with the driving signal according to a time sequence correspondence principle to obtain target driving signal.
Combing a DTX signal with a driving signal or switching signal for LNA, PA or front-end of a transceiver is a novel step. There is no teaching, suggestion, or motivation for combination in the prior art(s) of record in claim 8.
Claims 9-14 and 17-19 depend from claim 8 and thus are allowed for the same reason stated above for claim 8.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Harry H. Kim whose telephone number and email address are as follows; 571-272-5009, harry.kim2@uspto.gov.
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/HARRY H KIM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2411