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 Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 17 June 2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive. On pp. 10-12, Applicant cited para. 9, 46 and 62-62 of Roy, and summarizes on p. 12 last para. to p. 12 first para. that the above cited para. of Roy “only discusses the differentiated configuration of SMTC for cells, but does not disclose a differentiated configuration of measurement gap for neighboring cells” (sole argument).
The Examiner respectfully disagrees.
The additional amended (appended) limitations merely recite:
“the measurement configuration information further indicates measurement gap configurations for different neighbor cells to be measured [,] and the measurement gap configurations for the different neighbor cells to be measured are different.”
Based on paragraph 7 in Roy, it recites:
“measurement configuration further indicates a first measurement gap configuration corresponding to a second neighbor cell and a second measurement gap configuration corresponding to the third neighbor cell..”
In Examiner’s view, this equates to the distinct (different) measurement gap configuration for each of the different neighbor cells [to be measured] as described in the appended limitations.
Hence, Applicant’s sole argument on pp. 12-13 that Roy prior art “does not further indicates measurement gap configurations for different neighbor cells to be measured, [wherein] the measurement gap configurations for the different neighbor cells to be measured are different” and “..let also ‘the measurement gap configuration for the different neighbor cells to be measured are different‘” does not substantiate.
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 1-2 and 4-10 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Roy (US 2022/0225132).
Regarding claim 1, Roy describes a method for receiving measurement configuration information, performed by a user equipment (fig. 1, remote UE 101), comprising:
receiving measurement configuration information from a network device, wherein the measurement configuration information comprises more than one Synchronization Signal Block (SSB)-based measurement timing configuration (SMTC) corresponding to a same measurement object, and SMTCs of different neighbor cells to be measured corresponding to the same measurement object are different (fig. 1 & fig. 7 S710 & para. 105-106, UE receives from serving cell which originate from base station (network device) a measurement configuration comprising first SMTC for the serving cell, second SNTC for the first neighbor cell, third SMTC for the second neighbor cell & fourth SMTC for the third neighbor cell, regarding measurement timings of SSB alignment for the [same] UE & over a same frequency (same measurement object), para. 46. See also para. 5), and the measurement configuration information further indicates measurement gap configurations for different neighbor cells to be measured and the measurement gap configurations for the different neighbor cells to be measured are different (para. 7, measurement configuration further indicates a first & second (different) measurement gap configurations corresponding to second & third neighbor cells respectively [for/to be measured]),
measuring a neighbor cell to be measured corresponding to the measurement object according to the measurement configuration information (fig. 7 S720, UE performs measurements to the serving & neighboring cells based on the received measurement configuration comprising SMTC configurations for respective cells, see also para. 5).
Regarding claim 2, Roy describes:
sending measurement assistance information to the network device, wherein the measurement assistance information comprises a transmission delay difference between a satellite corresponding to a serving cell and a satellite corresponding to the neighbor cell to be measured (fig. 7 S730 & para. 65, reporting the measurements (assistance information) to the serving cell which passes to the base station (network device) comprising offset which indicates the propagation delay difference between the serving cell and neighbor cells in the NTN. See also fig. 3 & para. 44).
Regarding claim 4, Roy describes:
wherein the SMTC of the neighbor cell to be measured corresponding to the same measurement object in the measurement configuration information is determined by the network device according to the corresponding transmission delay difference (para. 46, the SMTCs are aligned with timings of SSB reference signals based on information of the propagation delays of each [satellite] cells, where the US is configured with SMTCs [by the network]).
Regarding claim 5, Roy describes:
receiving, from the network device, indication information indicating the user equipment (UE) to report the measurement assistance information (fig. 7 & para. 107, the gap configurations sent from the serving cell, which originate from base station (network device), are indication information for UE to send measurements (assistance information) in step S720).
Regarding claim 6, Roy describes:
wherein receiving, from the network device, indication information indicating the user equipment to report the measurement assistance information comprises: receiving a radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a medium access control (MAC) signaling, wherein the indication information indicates the user equipment to report the measurement assistance information (para. 11, updated measurement configuration received by UE was sent using MAC CE or RRC signaling, prompting UE to send measurements (assistance information) in step S720).
Regarding claim 7, Roy describes:
wherein offset values in the SMTCs of the different neighbor cells to be measured corresponding to the same measurement object in the measurement configuration information are different (para. 8, UE receives [configuration] information in determining (measuring) individual SMTC offsets for corresponding serving/neighbor [satellite] cells in respect to communication with the [same] UE & over a same frequency (same measurement object), para. 46).
Regarding claim 8, Roy describes:
wherein period values in the SMTCs of the different neighbor cells to be measured corresponding to the same measurement object in the measurement configuration information are same or different (para. 8, UE receives [configuration] information in determining (measuring) SMTC offset which indicates a starting position of an SMTC windows within a [same] periodicity [value], in respect to communication with the [same] UE & over a same frequency (same measurement object), para. 46). See also para. 41-42, SMTC for a periodicity, duration & time offset).
Regarding claim 9, Roy describes:
wherein duration values in the SMTCs of the different neighbor cells to be measured corresponding to the same measurement object in the measurement configuration information are same or different (para. 8, UE receives [configuration] information in determining (measuring) SMTC offset which indicates a starting position of SMTC windows within a [same] periodicity (duration) [value], in respect to communication with the [same] UE & over a same frequency (same measurement object), para. 46).
. See also para. 41-42, SMTC for a periodicity, duration & time offset).
Regarding claim 10, Roy describes:
the measurement gap configuration comprises: a gap offset value (para. 8, UE receives measurement gap configuration information in determining (measuring) the measurement gap offset of each satellite with its corresponding cell in relation to the serving cell, cells in respect to communication with the [same] UE & over a same frequency (same measurement object), para. 46).
Claim 11 is a method claim for a network device comprising the mirror/reciprocal sending steps to that of method 1 with receiving steps for a user equipment (UE). Since claim 1 already describes that the UE receives the method steps with the specifics from a network device, it is rejected under the same rationale.
Claims 12-18 and 20 comprise limitations recite in claims 2, 4-10 respectively. Hence, they are rejected under the same rationale.
Claim 21 is a user equipment apparatus reciting the same limitations as that of method for user equipment claim 1. Hence, it is rejected under the same rationale.
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 nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) 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 mailing date of this final action.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to WARNER WONG whose telephone number is (571)272-8197. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7am - 3:30pm.
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, Ian Moore can be reached at 571-272-3085. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
WARNER WONG
Primary Examiner
Art Unit 2469
/WARNER WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2469
Prosecution Insights