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 .
DETAILED ACTIONThis action is in response to the application filed on 03/21/2024.
Claims 1-30 are pending for examination.
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 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.
Claims 1, 4-6, 16, 19-21 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Jiao et al. (US 2024/0023043) in view of NPL-1 3GPP R1-2107845; Title: Initial access for NR from 52.6 to 71 GHz; Source: NTT DOCOMO, INC.; Date: August 16th -27th, 2021: Pages: 1-10
As of claim 1, Jiao discloses a method of wireless communication performed by a first sidelink user equipment (UE), the method comprising: transmitting, to a second sidelink UE, a first sidelink synchronization block (S-SSB) in a scheduled S-SSB slot (Jiao, [FIG. 3] &[0146][0150] shows and discloses the first terminal device (=first sidelink UE) determines a first communication resource in the unlicensed spectrum, where the first communication resource is used to transmit a sidelink synchronization signal block S-SSB (=a first S-SSB) to the second terminal device (=first sidelink UE)), para [0151] [0164] disclose the first communication resource include a time domain resource, wherein the first time domain resource be a resource in a unit of a slot (=corresponds to scheduled S-SSB slot));
performing a first listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure in an unlicensed frequency band (Jiao, para [0071][0141] [0230] disclose the first terminal device is the LBE mode or the FBE mode and the second terminal device determine, based on the received S-SSB, whether the SL-U (=SL-Unlicensed) performs channel access in the LBE mode or in the FBE mode, to use a communication resource in a same channel access manner which corresponds to performing a first listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure in an unlicensed frequency band); and
transmitting, to the second sidelink UE, a second S-SSB in a slot before a next scheduled S-SSB slot based on the first LBT procedure being unsuccessful
(Jiao, [FIG. 8] [0193] shows and discloses a new S-SSB sent by the first terminal to the second terminal device (=second sidelink UE) again after the moment T.sub.1 is the second S-SSB, the first terminal device searches for a communication resource whose time domain resource (= a slot) is within the first duration starting from the moment T.sub.1). para [0198] discloses the first duration be a time window, or be a time threshold set for the counter, the counter immediately starts timing each time the first terminal device sends the S-SSB and sends the S-SSB again (=second S-SSB) to the second terminal device before the counter reaches the time threshold. If no S-SSB is sent again by the first terminal device to the second terminal device after the time threshold is reached, the LBT is triggered).
Jiao does not explicitly disclose LBT procedure being unsuccessful, however NPL document NTT discloses a next scheduled S-SSB slot based on the first LBT procedure being unsuccessful (NPL-1: in section 2.1, proposal 1: support more than 64 candidate SSB positions considering LBT failure against SSB transmission, non-candidate SSB slots are positioned every few candidate SSB slots, section 2.1, proposal 2: DCI indicate more than 1 slot for scheduling (=next scheduled S-SSB slot), section 2.1, proposal 5: when the operation is under unlicensed band, when LBT is required any transmission can be cancelled due LBT failure).
Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of transmitting a second S-SSB in a slot before as taught by Jiao with scheduled S-SSB slot based on the first LBT procedure being unsuccessful as taught by NPL-1 in order to support transmission window to support more SSB positions considering LBT failure against SSB transmission.
As of claim 16, Jiao discloses a first sidelink user equipment (UE) comprising: a memory; a transceiver; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver (Jiao, [FIG.11] & [0113] [0251] shows and communication apparatus 1100 be a first terminal device (=first sidelink user equipment) includes a memory; a transceiver unit 1102; and a processing unit 1101 and the processor is coupled to the memory),
wherein the first sidelink UE is configured to: transmit, to a second sidelink UE, a first sidelink synchronization block (S-SSB) in a scheduled S-SSB slot (Jiao, [FIG. 3] &[0146][0150] shows and discloses the first terminal device (=first sidelink UE) determines a first communication resource in the unlicensed spectrum, where the first communication resource is used to transmit a sidelink synchronization signal block S-SSB (=a first S-SSB) to the second terminal device (=first sidelink UE)), para [0151] [0164] disclose the first communication resource include a time domain resource, wherein the first time domain resource be a resource in a unit of a slot (=corresponds to scheduled S-SSB slot));
perform a first listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure in an unlicensed frequency band (Jiao, para [0071][0141] [0230] disclose the first terminal device is the LBE mode or the FBE mode and the second terminal device determine, based on the received S-SSB, whether the SL-U (=SL-Unlicensed) performs channel access in the LBE mode or in the FBE mode, to use a communication resource in a same channel access manner which corresponds to performing a first listen-before-talk (LBT) procedure in an unlicensed frequency band); and
transmit, to the second sidelink UE, a second S-SSB in a slot before a next scheduled S- SSB slot based on the first LBT procedure being unsuccessful (Jiao, [FIG. 8] [0193] shows and discloses a new S-SSB sent by the first terminal to the second terminal device (=second sidelink UE) again after the moment T.sub.1 is the second S-SSB, the first terminal device searches for a communication resource whose time domain resource (= a slot) is within the first duration starting from the moment T.sub.1). para [0198] discloses the first duration be a time window, or be a time threshold set for the counter, the counter immediately starts timing each time the first terminal device sends the S-SSB and sends the S-SSB again (=second S-SSB) to the second terminal device before the counter reaches the time threshold. If no S-SSB is sent again by the first terminal device to the second terminal device after the time threshold is reached, the LBT is triggered).
Jiao does not explicitly disclose LBT procedure being unsuccessful, however NPL document NTT discloses a next scheduled S-SSB slot based on the first LBT procedure being unsuccessful (NPL-1: in section 2.1, proposal 1: support more than 64 candidate SSB positions considering LBT failure against SSB transmission, non-candidate SSB slots are positioned every few candidate SSB slots, section 2.1, proposal 2: DCI indicate more than 1 slot for scheduling (=next scheduled S-SSB slot), section 2.1, proposal 5: when the operation is under unlicensed band, when LBT is required any transmission can be cancelled due LBT failure).
Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of transmitting a second S-SSB in a slot before as taught by Jiao with scheduled S-SSB slot based on the first LBT procedure being unsuccessful as taught by NPL in order to support transmission window to support more SSB positions considering LBT failure against SSB transmission.
As of claims 4 and 19, rejection of claims 1 and 16 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-1 teaches the first sidelink UE is further configured to: receive, from a base station (BS), an indicator indicating a first S-SSB interval (Jiao, para [0030][0032][0136][0186] discloses the first terminal device determines a sending period of the S-SSB, the first duration of the S-SSB which is configured by the network device, a network device, be a base station).
As of claims 5 and 20, rejection of claims 4 and 19 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-1 teaches the transmitting the second S-SSB in the slot before the next scheduled S-SSB slot comprises transmitting the second S-SSB after the first S-SSB interval (Jiao, [Fig.8] [0195] [0198] shows and discloses the first duration be a time window, or be a time threshold. If no S-SSB is sent again (=second S-SSB) by the first terminal device to the second terminal device after the time threshold is reached, the LBT is triggered, if the first terminal device fails to successfully send the S-SSB within the first duration, the first terminal device still finds an available time domain resource beyond the first duration (=after the first S-SSB interval) and sends the second S-SSB).
As of claims 6 and 21, rejection of claims 4 and 19 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-1 teaches the first S-SSB interval is a fraction of an S-SSB interval (see Jiao [FIG. 8] [Fig.9]).
Claims 2-3 and 17-18 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Jiao et al. (US 2024/0023043) in view of NPL-1 3GPP R1-2107845; Title: Initial access for NR from 52.6 to 71 GHz; Source: NTT DOCOMO, INC.; Date: August 16th -27th, 2021: Pages: 1-10 and further in view of NPL-2 IEEE; Title: A Tutorial on 5G NR V2X communications”; Source: GARCIA M.H.C et al., INC.; Date: February 3rd, 2021: Pages: 1-55.
As of claims 2 and 17, rejection of claims 1 and 16 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-1 does not explicitly disclose a request for the S-SSB however NPL-2 teaches the first sidelink UE is further configured to: receive, from the second sidelink UE, a request for the S-SSB (NPL-2, [Fig. 14], page 23; V.C.6 triggering of S-SSB transmission and (ii) SyncRef UE sends S-SSBs based on the timing and Triggering (=requesting) S-SSB transmissions by a UE which corresponds to first UE receives a request for the S-SSB form the second UE).
Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of modified Jiao-NPL-1 with the teaching of NPL-2 in order to allows expanding the synchronization coverage of the serving gNB (page 23, col:2 of NPL-2).
As of claims 3 and 18, rejection of claims 1 and 16 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-1 does not explicitly disclose receive a request from a base station however NPL-2 teaches the first sidelink UE is further configured to: receive, from a base station (BS), a request for the S-SSB to be transmitted to the second sidelink UE (NPL-2, [Fig.8][Fig. 14], V.C.6, page 23: (i) a UE is configured by the network to become a SyneRef UE, (ii) a UE be configured by the network to transmit or not transmit S-SSB which corresponds to fist sidelink UE receive a request from a base station (BS) to transmit the S-SSB to the second sidelink UE).
Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of modified Jiao-NPL-1 with the teaching of NPL-2 in order to allows expanding the synchronization coverage of the serving gNB (page 23, col:2 of NPL-2).
Claims 7 and 22 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Jiao et al. (US 2024/0023043) in view of NPL-1 3GPP R1-2107845; Title: Initial access for NR from 52.6 to 71 GHz; Source: NTT DOCOMO, INC.; Date: August 16th -27th, 2021: Pages: 1-10 and further in view of Freda et al. (US 20240276549) incorporate the disclosure (specification) of provisional app 63/257,381.
As of claim 7 and 22, rejection of claims 1 and 16 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-1 teaches transmit, to the second sidelink UE, the second S-SSB in the slot before the next scheduled S-SSB slot based on the second LBT procedure being successful (Jiao, [FIG. 8] [0193] shows and discloses a new S-SSB sent by the first terminal to the second terminal device (=second sidelink UE) again after the moment T.sub.1 is the second S-SSB, the first terminal device searches for a communication resource whose time domain resource (= a slot) is within the first duration starting from the moment T.sub.1). para [0198] discloses the first duration be a time window, or be a time threshold set for the counter, the counter immediately starts timing each time the first terminal device sends the S-SSB and sends the S-SSB again (=second S-SSB) to the second terminal device before the counter reaches the time threshold. If no S-SSB is sent again by the first terminal device to the second terminal device after the time threshold is reached, the LBT is triggered (=second LBT).
modified Jiao-NPL-1 does not explicitly disclose but Freda teaches the first sidelink UE is further configured to: receive, from a base station (BS), a configuration associated with a second LBT, wherein the configuration associated with the second LBT comprises a lower category than the first LBT; (Freda [0129] [0130] [0167] and provisional para [0086] discloses the LBT type includes LBT category (e.g., LBT CAT1, LBT CAT2, LBT CAT3 or LBT CAT4); [0147] new LBT parameters are specific to SL, and which determine channel access behavior).
perform a second LBT procedure in the unlicensed frequency band based on the configuration associated with the second LBT; [0341] number of failed LBTs prior to the successful first transmission which implies successful second LBT procedure); and
transmit, to the second sidelink UE, the second S-SSB in the slot before the next scheduled S-SSB slot based on the second LBT procedure being successful (Freda para [0354] upon successful LBT on a multi-LBT occasion SL resource, the WTRU perform initial transmission).
Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of modified Jiao-NPL-1 with the teaching of Freda in order to enhance accessing the channel in shared spectrum (e.g., LBT) as taught by Freda.
Claims 9-11,15, 21, 24-27 and 30 are rejected under AIA 35 U.S.C 103 as being unpatentable over Jiao et al. (US 2024/0023043) in view of NPL-2; IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials Journal; Title: A Tutorial on 5G NR V2X communications”; Source: GARCIA M.H.C et al., INC.; Date: February 3r, 2021: Pages: 1-55.
As of claim 9, Jiao discloses a method of wireless communication performed by a first sidelink user equipment (UE) (FIG.12, second terminal 1200) the method comprising: transmitting, to a wireless communications device (= Fig. 11,first terminal in Fig.11) , a request for a sidelink synchronization block (S-SSB) based on completion of a timer associated with an S-SSB interval (Jiao, para [0198] disclose the first duration be a time window (S-SSB interval), or be a time threshold set for the counter (=timer), If no S-SSB is sent again by the first terminal device 1100 (=wireless communications device) to the second terminal device1200 (=first sidelink UE) after the time threshold is reached (=completion of a timer associated with an S-SSB interval), the LBT is triggered, therefore if the first terminal device (=wireless communications device) fails to successfully send the S-SSB within the first duration, the first terminal device still finds an available time domain resource (=a slot) beyond the first duration sends the S-SSB); and
receiving, from the wireless communications device in an unlicensed frequency band, the S-SSB in a slot before a next scheduled S-SSB slot based on the request (Jiao, [FIG. 8] [0193] shows and discloses a new S-SSB is received by the second terminal 1200 (= first SL UE) from the first terminal device (=communication device) again after the moment T.sub.1 is the second S-SSB, the first terminal device searches for a communication resource whose time domain resource (= a slot) is within the first duration starting from the moment T.sub.1). para [0198] discloses the first duration be a time window, or be a time threshold set for the counter, the counter immediately starts timing each time the first terminal device sends the S-SSB and sends the S-SSB again (=second S-SSB) to the second terminal device before the counter reaches the time threshold. If no S-SSB is sent again by the first terminal device to the second terminal device after the time threshold is reached, the LBT is triggered).
Jiao does not explicitly discloses transmitting a request for a sidelink synchronization block (S-SSB) and next schedule slot however NPL-2 teaches transmitting, to a wireless communications device, a request for a sidelink synchronization block (S-SSB) (NPL-2, [Fig. 14], page 23; V.C.6 triggering of S-SSB transmission and (ii) SyncRef UE sends S-SSBs based on the timing and Triggering (=requesting) S-SSB transmissions by a UE which corresponds to first UE transmit a request for the S-SSB and NPL-2, [Fig.8], page 16 discloses indication of slots be contained in the resource pool & multiple S-SSBs be sent within one S-SSB period (see NPL-2 , Fig. 8, page 16, clo-2), which can be receiving the S-SSB in a slot before a next scheduled S-SSB slot).
Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of modified Jiao with NPL-2 in order to support large number of S-SSBs (page16, col:2 of NPL-2).
As of claim 24, Jiao discloses a first sidelink user equipment (UE) comprising: a memory; a transceiver; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver (Jiao, [FIG.12] shows communication apparatus 1200 be a second terminal device (=first sidelink user equipment) includes a memory 1202; a transceiver 1203; and a processor1201 and the processor is coupled to the memory),
wherein the first sidelink UE is configured to: transmit, to a wireless communications device, a request for a sidelink synchronization block (S-SSB) based on completion of a timer associated with an S-SSB interval Jiao, para [0198] disclose the first duration be a time window (S-SSB interval), or be a time threshold set for the counter (=timer), If no S-SSB is sent again by the first terminal device 1100 (=wireless communications device) to the second terminal device1200 (=first sidelink UE) after the time threshold is reached (=completion of a timer associated with an S-SSB interval), the LBT is triggered, therefore if the first terminal device (=wireless communications device) fails to successfully send the S-SSB within the first duration, the first terminal device still finds an available time domain resource (=a slot) beyond the first duration sends the S-SSB); and
receive, from the wireless communications device in an unlicensed frequency band, the S-SSB in a slot before a next scheduled S-SSB slot based on the request (Jiao, [FIG. 8][0193] shows and discloses a new S-SSB is received by the first sidelink terminal 1200 again after the moment T.sub.1 is the second S-SSB, the first terminal device searches for a communication resource whose time domain resource (= a slot) is within the first duration starting from the moment T.sub.1). para [0198] discloses the first duration be a time window, or be a time threshold set for the counter, the counter immediately starts timing each time the first terminal device (=communication device) sends the S-SSB and sends the S-SSB again (=second S-SSB) to the second terminal device (first SL UE) before the counter reaches the time threshold. If no S-SSB is sent again by the first terminal device to the second terminal device after the time threshold is reached, the LBT is triggered).
Jiao does not explicitly discloses transmit a request for a sidelink synchronization block (S-SSB) and next schedule slot however NPL-2 teaches transmit to a wireless communications device, a request for a sidelink synchronization block (S-SSB) (NPL-2, [Fig. 14], page 23; V.C.6 triggering of S-SSB transmission and (ii) SyncRef UE sends S-SSBs based on the timing and Triggering (=requesting) S-SSB transmissions by a UE which corresponds to first UE transmit a request for the S-SSB and NPL-2, [Fig.8], page 16 discloses indication of slots be contained in the resource pool & multiple S-SSBs be sent within one S-SSB period (see NPL-2 , Fig. 8, page 16, clo-2), which can be receiving the S-SSB in a slot before a next scheduled S-SSB slot).
Therefore it would have been obvious for a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of modified Jiao with NPL-2 in order to support large number of S-SSBs (page16, col:2 of NPL-2).
As of claims 10 and 25, rejection of claims 9 and 24 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-2 discloses the first sidelink UE is further configured to: receive, from the wireless communications device, an indicator indicating a first S-SSB interval (Jiao, para [0031]-[0033] another terminal device (=first sidelink UE) notified by the first terminal device (=communication device), related indication information such as a sending period or a sending time window).
As of claims 11 and 26, rejection of claims 10 and 25 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-2 discloses the receiving the S-SSB in the slot before the next scheduled S-SSB slot comprises receiving the S-SSB after the first S-SSB interval (Jiao, [Fig.8] [0195] [0198] shows and discloses the first duration be a time window, or be a time threshold. If no S-SSB is sent again (=second S-SSB) by the first terminal device (=communication device) to the device after the time threshold is reached, the LBT is triggered, if the first terminal device fails to successfully send the S-SSB within the first duration, the first terminal device still finds an available time domain resource beyond the first duration (=after the first S-SSB interval) and sends the second S-SSB to the second terminal device which is first SL UE).
As of claims 21 and 27, rejection of claims 10 and 25 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-2 discloses the first S-SSB interval is a fraction of an S-SSB interval (see Jiao [FIG.8] [Fig.9]).
As of claims 15 and 30, rejection of claims 9 and 24 cited above incorporated herein, in addition modified Jiao-NPL-2 discloses the wireless communication device comprises a user equipment (UE) or a base station (BS) (see Jiao [Fig. 11] communication apparatus 1100 be a first terminal device).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 8, 13-14, 23, 28-29 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, since the combined teachings of the prior art references do not teach or reasonably suggest the limitation “a record indicating a success rate associated with performing one or more LBT procedures….: with the claimed invention as a whole.
Conclusion
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/FAHMIDA S CHOWDHURY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2471