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 .
Response to Amendment
This communication is considered fully responsive to the amendment filed on 09/03/2026.
Claims 1, 13, 16 and 20 have been amended.
Response to Arguments
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims filed on 09/03/2026 have been considered but are moot because the arguments are related solely to newly added limitations addressed in the instant Office Action with previously identified prior art, thus rendering the applicant’s arguments moot.
The applicant also presented other arguments drawn to the various dependent claims. However, said other arguments are all dependency based, depending from the arguments drawn to the independent claims’ limitations discussed above.
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) 1-10, 13 and 16-20 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lee et al. (US 2020/0214005, “Lee”) in view of Lee et al. (US 2021/0344558, “Lee558”) and Kim et al. (US 2022/0131679, “Kim”).
Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Lee unless otherwise mentioned. Lee558 is relied upon for the UE-associated, beam-associated TDD configurations and their time information. Kim is relied upon for overriding a previously configured transmission direction.
Lee, Lee588 and Kim comprise the following features:
With respect to independent claims:
Regarding claim 1, a User Equipment ("UE") for wireless communication, comprising:
a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor (See Fig. 1B.), the processor configured to cause the UE to:
receive information of a cell-specific Time-Division Duplex ("TDD") Uplink and Downlink ("UL/DL") configuration ([0094] “A cell (for example, an eIMTA-enabled cell) may provide or identify a first (for example, a cell-specific) TDD UL/DL subframe configuration, for example, in system information (for example, SIB-1) which the cell may broadcast.”), wherein the cell specific TDD UL/DL configuration is associated with a serving cell ([Lee558, 0134] “the gNB 102 configures a number of two or more cell-specific TDD DL/UL patterns, e.g., TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon, that applies to all UEs within the serving cell, wherein each TDD-UL-DL-ConfigCommon is associated with a SS/PBCH block (SSB) configured for the cell.”);
receive information of a plurality of UE-specific TDD UL/DL configurations associated with the UE ([Lee558, 0108] “At operation 710, the UE 116 receives DL/UL configuration information associated with the configured beam ID(s). If multiple beam IDs are configured, the DL/UL configuration information associated with each of the configured beam IDs can be different, and therefore, the UE 116 can be provided with multiple DL/UL configuration information for the case of UE 116 configured with multiple beam IDs.”),
wherein each of the plurality of UE-specific TDD UL/DL configurations is associated with particular spatial information and time information ([Lee558, 0121] “DL/UL symbol patterns associated with each of multiple configured beam IDs for several slots, such as flexible slots 1125, can be provided using TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated.” Note that the slot index identifies the slot to which he symbol direction configuration applies, while the TCI-state identifier associates that configuration with the configured beam. The mapping relies on these identified fields that are defined in the same paragraph.); and
perform communication activity based on the plurality of UE-specific TDD UL/DL configurations ([Lee558, 0115] “At operation 920, the UE 116 performs downlink and/or uplink operation according to the DL/UL slot/symbol configuration associated with the configured beam ID(s).”),
wherein the plurality of UE-specific TDD UL/DL configurations override the cell-specific TDD UL/DL configuration ([Kim, 0332] “the TDD status determined by the physical layer configuration information overrides a TDD status determined by previously received semi-static configuration information.”), the communication activity comprising:
transmission in a first set of symbols of a slot, where at least one symbol of the first set of symbols of the slot overlaps with a downlink symbol indicated by the cell-specific TDD UL/DL configuration (See Fig. 3, specifically subframe 3 for UL and DL overlaps.); or
reception in a second set of symbols of the slot, where at least one symbol of the second set of symbols of the slot overlaps with an uplink symbol indicated by the cell-specific TDD UL/DL configuration ([Kim, 0424] “the TDD status determined by the physical layer configuration information overrides a TDD status determined by previously received semi-static configuration information.”, and [Kim, 0425] “At 6030, the radio may perform transmission or reception in said at least a portion of the given slot according to the transmission direction of the dynamic assignment.” Note that for the reception alternative, the proposed combination applies a dynamic downlink assignment to the same slot portion previously assigned as uplink by the cell-specific reference configuration. Reception therefore occurs during the symbol times designated as uplink by that reference configuration.).
Lee discloses cell-specific and dedicated TDD configurations but does not expressly disclose each of the claimed plurality of UE-specific configurations being associated with particular spatial information and time information.
Lee558 supplies this teaching by providing the UE with different DL/UL configurations associated with its configured beam IDs and by defining the beam-associated slot configurations with slot indices symbol-direction information.
Therefore, it is obvious to PHOSITA before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Lee by incorporating Lee558’s beam associated DL/UL slot/symbol configurations in order to coordinate the UE’s transmission and reception with its respective configured beams such that “the configuration information comprises beam identifiers (IDs) and a slot and symbol configuration for respective ones of the one or more beam IDs” [Lee558, 0005].
Kim separately discloses actual overriding of previously received semi-static configuration information and operation according to a dynamic assignment that disagrees with the prior assignment. That mechanism is incorporated into the beam-associated configurations so that their dynamic indicated directions can supersede the applicable cell-specific reference direction for overridable resources.
Therefore, it is obvious to PHOSITA before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to modify Lee by incorporating Kim’s dynamic direction override mechanism in order to adapt the transmission direction of the configured resources without replacing the entire semi-static reference configuration such that “The physical layer configuration information may dynamically determine TDD status (e.g., transfer direction) for at least a portion of an indicated slot of the current frame” [Kim, 0025].
Regarding claim 13, it is a first base station claim corresponding to the UE claim 1 in a reciprocal way, and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 1.
Regarding claim 16, it is a method claim corresponding to the UE claim 1, and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 1.
Regarding claim 20, it is a method claim corresponding to the base station claim 13, and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 13.
With respect to dependent claims:
Regarding claim 2, the UE of claim 1, wherein the transmission in the first set of symbols of the slot is based on first spatial information associated with a first UE- specific TDD UL/DL configuration of the plurality of UE-specific TDD UL/DL configurations ([Rahman, 0120] “Upon successfully decoding the UL-related DCI with the UL-TCI, the UE performs UL transmission (such as data transmission on PUSCH) with the UL TX beam indicated by the UL-TCI (step 1305).”).
Regarding claim 3, the UE of claim 1, wherein the reception in the second set of symbols of the slot is based on second spatial information associated with a second UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration of the plurality of UE-specific TDD UL/DL configurations ([Rahman, 0106] “Upon successfully decoding the DL-related DCI with the DL-TCI, the UE selects an DL RX beam and performs DL reception (such as data reception via PDSCH) with the DL RX beam associated with the reference CSI-RS (step 1005).”).
Regarding claim 4, the UE of claim 1, wherein the particular spatial information comprises at least one of:
a downlink Transmit Configuration Indicator ("TCI") state ([Rahman, 0201] “a UE is configured with k>1 TCI states, where the set of k TCI states is according to at least one of the following alternatives.” See [Rahman, 0202-205] for instance.),
an uplink TCI state, a joint downlink/uplink TCI state, a Control Resource Set Pool Index value, a Sounding Reference Signal ("SRS") resource set, a SpatialRelationInfoPoolIndex value, a Quasi-Co-Location Type-D indication, or a combination thereof (These alternatives are not examined.).
Regarding claims 5 and 17, the UE of claim 1 and the method of claim 16, respectively, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
receive a reference UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration ([0094] “The cell may provide or identify a second TDD UL/DL subframe configuration to one or more WTRUs, for example, via dedicated signaling, for example, RRC signaling.”);
perform, based on the reference UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration, at least one activity selected from:
transmission of a semi-statically configured uplink channel ([Kim, 0135] “The downlink reference configuration is semi-statically configured, obtained by the UE from dedicated RRC signaling, specific to eIMTA-capable devices. UL subframes in this configuration is guaranteed to be UL: e.g., for HARQ feedback.”); or
reception of a semi-statically configured downlink channel (This alternative is not examined.).
Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Lee by using the features of Kim in order to effectively configure Semi-Static or Dynamic TDD configuration such that “a need for mechanisms of signaling to UEs the time division duplex (TDD) structure of slots or groups of slots in a radio frame” [Kim, 0004].
Regarding claim 6, the UE of claim 5, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
receive dynamic scheduling information for a channel ([Kim, 0232] “The detailed usage of the slot may be determined by scheduling information. The parameters K0, K1, K2, K3 (or any subset thereof) may be indicated by downlink control information (DCI), e.g., by user-specific DCI”);
determine a UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration associated with a spatial information of a dynamically scheduled channel ([Lee558, 0136] “Once the UE receives and decodes such indication in a DCI format 20, the UE applies, from the group of indicated patterns, a UL/DL TDD pattern which is associated with the operating beam ID.”); and
perform, based on the UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration, transmission, or reception of the dynamically scheduled channel ([Lee558, 0123] “For example, for the above case, the UE 116, or the gNB 102, receives/transmits data according to the provided DL/UL slot/symbol pattern(s) associated with the configured beam ID(s).”).
Regarding claim 7, the UE of claim 5, wherein transmission of the semi- statically configured uplink channel and reception of the semi-statically configured downlink channel are performed based on the cell-specific TDD UL/DL configuration (See aforesaid [0094] “the first TDD configuration”) and the reference UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration (See aforesaid [0094] “the second TDD configuration”).
Regarding claim 8, the UE of claim 7, wherein the reference UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration overrides only symbols configured as 'flexible' by the cell- specific TDD UL/DL configuration ([0094] “At least the UL subframes of the first UL/DL subframe configuration that are DL subframes in the second UL/DL subframe configuration may be considered flexible subframes. The third configuration may or may be used to determine (for example, dynamically) the direction and/or type (for example, unidirectional or special subframe) of the flexible subframes.”).
Regarding claims 9 and 18, the UE of claim 1 and the method of claim 16, respectively, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
receive information associating a subset of downlink ("DL") reference signals with each of the plurality of UE-specific TDD UL/DL configurations ([Lee558, 0108] “At operation 710, the UE 116 receives DL/UL configuration information associated with the configured beam ID(s). If multiple beam IDs are configured, the DL/UL configuration information associated with each of the configured beam IDs can be different, and therefore, the UE 116 can be provided with multiple DL/UL configuration information for the case of UE 116 configured with multiple beam IDs.”);
receive a spatial information for a scheduled channel, wherein the spatial information comprises an indication of a DL reference signal ([Lee558, 0135] “he UE 116 can be dynamically triggered, or the gNB 102 can dynamically trigger UE 116, e.g., in an aperiodic or semi-persistent manner, via lower-layer control signaling (L1 or L2, i.e., DCI or MAC CE) to be configured with DL/UL directions associated with the configured beam ID(s).”); and
identify a symbol type for symbols allocated for the scheduled channel based on a particular UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration associated with the indicated DL reference signal ([Lee558, 0115] “the UE 116 receives DL/UL DL/UL slot/symbol configuration associated with the configured beam ID(s). If multiple beam IDs are configured, the DL/UL slot/symbol configuration associated with each of the configured beam IDs can be different, and therefore, UE 116 can be provided with multiple DL/UL slot/symbol configuration for the case when UE 116 is configured with multiple beam IDs.”).
Regarding claims 10 and 19, the UE of claim 1 and the method of claim 16, respectively, wherein the processor is further configured to cause the UE to:
receive information associating a subset of sounding reference signals ("SRS") with each of the plurality of UE-specific TDD UL/DL configurations ([Lee558, 0102] “three different signaling mechanisms for dynamic TDD to provide information for UE on whether the resources are used for uplink or downlink transmission are: 1) dynamic signaling for the scheduled UE; 2) semi-static signaling using RRC; and 3) dynamic slot-format indication. Combinations of these three mechanisms are also supported. All of the signaling mechanisms for dynamic TDD can support “cell-specific” or “UE-specific” DL/UL resource allocation so far”);
receive a spatial information for a scheduled channel, wherein the spatial information comprises an indication of an SRS resource ([Lee558, 0097] “a gNB 102 can transmit a reference signal (RS), such as a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) or a CSI-RS or an SRS with a number of repetitions using a same spatial transmission filter in multiple occasions,”); and
identify a symbol type for symbols allocated for the scheduled channel based on a particular UE-specific TDD UL/DL configuration associated with the indicated SRS resource ([Lee558, 0102] “for the flexible slots (if configured), DL/UL symbol patterns can be differently assigned for each of the UEs in a UE-specific manner.”).
Allowable Subject Matter
Regarding claim 14-15 and 21-22, said claims were objected with allowable subject matter in the previous office action dated 06/03/2026 with reasons for allowance given then, and said claims remain objected now.
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 extension fee 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 date of this final action.
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
