CTNF 18/702,956 CTNF 93502 DETAILED ACTION Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status 07-03-aia AIA 15-10-aia The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA. Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103 07-20-aia AIA 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. 07-21-aia AIA Claim (s) 42-58 and 60-61 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sienkiewicz et al. (US 2020/0205070, “Sienkiewicz”) in view of Lee et al. (US 2005/0239465, “Lee”) . Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Sienkiewicz unless otherwise mentioned. Sienkiewicz comprises the following features: With respect to independent claims: Regarding claim 42 , a method performed by a network node configured to operate as a source network node of a reconfiguration procedure, the method comprising: receiving, from a candidate target network node of the reconfiguration procedure ([0046] “the source eNB starts handover negotiations with the target eNB, and provides information such as the average throughput used by the UE. It may further provide a prediction on at which point in time the UE is to be handed over (block 210). After the negotiations, the source eNB receives mobility control information from the target eNB , which it includes in the RRC connection reconfiguration message sent to the UE.” Note that a candidate target node will be discussed in view of Lee.), information predicted to characterize service that the candidate target network node would provide to a wireless communication device ([0043 and Fig. 4A] “If the target eNB is employing a power saving scheme (block 110:YES), it determines which capacity will be needed when the UE(s) enter the coverage area (block 120).”) if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure ([0042 and Fig. 4A] “The target eNB receives a notification that UEs are approaching the coverage area (block 100). Again, this indication may come from a neighboring network node, e.g., a neighboring eNB, or from a network node further down a chain of network nodes, for example.”); and making a decision based on the received information ([0046 and Fig. 4A] “When the UE is about to enter coverage of the target cell, the source eNB sends a handover command to the UE (RRC connection reconfiguration) (block 220).”). It is noted that while disclosing a handover procedure with a target node predicting capacity, Sienkiewicz does not specifically teach about a candidate node. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Lee as follows; a candidate target network node ([Lee, 0046 and Fig. 2] “The serving base station 22 selects one base station appropriate for the handover execution from the target base stations 23 and 24.”). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Sienkiewicz by using the features of Lee in order to provide uninterrupted transferring of services among eNBs such that “a method of receiving quality of service (QoS) information in a mobile station associated with a handover operation in a wireless communication system” [Lee, 0010]. Regarding claim 51 , it is a method claim performed by a candidate target node corresponding to the method claim 42 in a reciprocal way, and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 42. Regarding claim 60 , it is a network node claim corresponding to the method claim 42, except the limitations, “communication circuitry; and processing circuitry” (See Fig. 7 for 38 “Communication Interface Circuit(s)” and 32 “Processing Circuit(s)”, and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 42. Regarding claim 61 , it is a network node claim corresponding to the method claim 51, except the limitations, “communication circuitry; and processing circuitry” (See Fig. 7 for 38 “Communication Interface Circuit(s)” and 32 “Processing Circuit(s)”, and is therefore rejected for the similar reasons set forth in the rejection of claim 51. With respect to dependent claims: Regarding claims 43 and 52 , the method of claim 42 and the method of claim 51, respectively, wherein the reconfiguration procedure is a mobility procedure ([0045] “The target eNB prepares mobility control information for the incoming UE(s), and sends this to the source eNB for inclusion in the handover command (RRC connection reconfiguration) (block 160)”), a multi-connectivity procedure, a PSCell addition or change procedure, or a conditional reconfiguration procedure (These alternatives are not examined.). Regarding claims 44 and 53 , the method of claim 42 and the method of claim 51, respectively, wherein the information is predicted to characterize a performance of service that the candidate target network node would provide to a wireless communication device if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure (See aforesaid [0043] “capacity”), wherein the information is predicted to characterize the performance at an application layer ([0025] “This feature exploits the fact that Long Term Evolution (LTE) operation does not require any continuous system information or signals. This feature can also be used for applications such as machine type communication (MTC)/enhanced MTC (eMTC) or narrowband internet of things (NB-IoT), where the traffic is expected to be more bursty than a connected call.”), wherein the information is predicted to characterize the performance in terms of one or more of: throughput (See aforesaid [0043] “capacity”); delay; jitter; packet error rate; block error rate; or traffic pattern (These alternatives are not examined.). Regarding claims 45 and 54 , the method of claim 42 and the method of claim 51, respectively, wherein the information is predicted to characterize a duration of time for which the candidate target network node would provide service to a wireless communication device if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure ([0040] “a network node receives an indication on inbound UEs, with needed capacity at a predicted point in time , and determines the total capacity needed at the predicted point in time (existing traffic plus inbound traffic). … The network node determines the power saving operation mode needed at the predicted point in time , based on the needed capacity and the capacity provided by each of the power saving feature alternatives.”). Regarding claims 46 and 55 , the method of claim 42 and the method of claim 51, respectively, wherein the information is predicted to characterize: radio configuration that the candidate target network node would use to provide service to a wireless communication device if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure ([0040] “ The network node then configures the radio equipment (e.g., RRU circuitry) to achieve the determined power saving operation mode at the predicted point in time, taking into account the time needed to go from a first operational mode to a second operational mode, where the time may depend on the first and the second operational modes. The network node predicts the point in time at which the UEs will enter a neighboring cell, which neighboring cell, and the needed capacity for the UEs. The network node then sends an indication either directly to the neighboring cell, or to a centrally located network node containing a mobility detection unit. When the batch of UEs has left the cell, the network node determines the needed capacity for remaining UEs. The network node configures the radio equipment to achieve the determined power saving operation mode as soon as the batch of UEs have left the cell.”); and/or radio resources used by service that the candidate target network node would provide to a wireless communication device if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure (This alternative is not examined.). Regarding claims 47 and 56 , the method of claim 42 and the method of claim 51, respectively, wherein the information is predicted to characterize energy consumption attributable to service that the candidate target network node would provide to the wireless communication device if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure (See aforesaid [0040], Fig. 4 140, and [0044] “After having predicted the capacity that will be needed when the UEs enter the cell, the target eNB determines whether the capacity provided under the current power saving scheme will be enough, or whether the capacity will have to be modified.”), wherein the information is predicted to characterize the energy consumption in terms of energy consumed by the candidate target network node (See aforesaid [0040 and 0044] “target eNB”) and/or energy consumed by the wireless communication device (This alternative is not examined.). Regarding claims 48 and 57 , the method of claim 42 and the method of claim 51, respectively, wherein the information comprises: for each of one or more serving cells of the candidate target network node, information predicted to characterize service that the serving cell of the candidate target network node would provide to a wireless communication device if the serving cell of the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure ([0070] “a network node is configured to act as a source network node that is providing coverage in a coverage area or cell that may be along a part of a set path along which vehicles move (e.g., railway, highway). The network node is configured to perform a method for dynamic selection of power saving scheme. The method includes determining that a group of UEs is approaching the coverage of a neighbor cell and indicating to a neighbor cell that the group of UEs is incoming. The method may include indicating what capacity is needed to serve the UE s.”); for each of one or more candidate device configurations, information predicted to characterize service that the candidate target network node would provide to a wireless communication device configured with that candidate device configuration if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure; or for each of one or more service types, information predicted to characterize the service that the candidate target network node would provide to a wireless communication device if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure (These alternatives are not examined.). Regarding claim 49 , the method of claim 42 , further comprising transmitting, to the candidate target network node, a request for the information ([Lee, 0034] “the serving base station 12 transmits a handover pre-notification message (HO-pre-notification) to the target base stations 13 (step S108).”), and wherein the information is received in response to the request ([Lee, 0035] “Each of the target base stations 13 having received the handover pre-notification message (HO-pre-notification) decides whether it is capable of admitting a new mobile subscriber station 11. The decision is then transmitted to the serving base station 12 via a handover pre-notification response message (HO-pre-notification-response) (step S109). The handover pre-notification response message (HO-pre-notification-response) may include information indicating estimated service levels of the admitted service flows which can be provided to the current mobile subscriber station 11 from the target base stations 13.”), wherein the request indicates: one or more capabilities of the wireless communication device; results of one or more radio measurements of the wireless communication device; a trajectory of the wireless communication device; one or more cells for which the information is requested (These alternatives are not examined.); one or more service types for which the information is requested ([Lee, 0034] “The handover pre-notification message (HO-pre-notification) may include required information for maintaining the respective admitted service flows. Preferably, the required information for maintaining the respective admitted service flow includes a service flow identifier (SFID), a service class name, QoS parameters corresponding to each service flow, and specific values corresponding to the QoS parameters, respectively.”); and/or one or more candidate device configurations for which the information is requested (This alternative is not examined.). Regarding claim 50 , the method of claim 42, wherein the decision is: a decision about whether the candidate target network node is to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure (This alternative is not examined.); a decision about which of one or more candidate target network nodes is to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure ([Lee, 0046] “The serving base station 22 selects one base station appropriate for the handover execution from the target base stations 23 and 24.”); a decision about whether the wireless communication device is to perform the reconfiguration procedure; or a decision about how to configure one or more parameters governing mobility of, or traffic steering of, the wireless communication device (These alternatives are not examined.). Regarding claim 58 , the method of claim 51, further comprising predicting the information as characterizing service that the candidate target network node would provide to a wireless communication device if the candidate target network node were to be a target of the reconfiguration procedure (See aforesaid [0040]), and wherein the information transmitted is the predicted information ([0045] “The target eNB prepares mobility control information for the incoming UE(s), and sends this to the source eNB for inclusion in the handover command (RRC connection reconfiguration) (block 160). When preparing the mobility control information, the target eNB may take into account information related to the power saving mode.”, and see aforesaid [0044] for predicted information.) . 07-21-aia AIA Claim (s) 59 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Sienkiewicz et al. (US 2020/0205070, “Sienkiewicz”) in view of Lee et al. (US 2005/0239465, “Lee”) and further in view of Ali et al. (US 2025/0261052, “Ali”) . Examiner’s note: in what follows, references are drawn to Sienkiewicz unless otherwise mentioned. Regarding claim 59 , it is noted that while disclosing a handover procedure with a target node predicting capacity, Sienkiewicz does not specifically teach about a ML model. It, however, had been known in the art before the effective date of the instant application as shown by Ali as follows; the method of claim 58, further comprising: training a machine learning model to predict the information; and predicting the information using the machine learning model ([Ali, 0383] “the target network node may comprise at least one of the prediction, the model of the target network node transfer function, a level of confidence or reliability of the prediction or the model of the target network node transfer function or an indication that the prediction or the model of the target network node transfer function is only valid for some user equipment configuration or an indication that the prediction or the model of the target network node transfer function is only valid for a given period of time.”, and [Ali, 0386] “The training host may be configured to compute the model of the target network node transfer function based on user equipment capability received by the target training node and user equipment configuration generated by the target training node over time”). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time of instant application to modify Sienkiewicz by using the features of Ali in order to provide a predicted outcome by using a machine learning model such that “to compute a prediction of an outcome of the network procedure involving the source network node and the target network node” [Ali, 0005]. 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. 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, Derrick Ferris can be reached at 571-272-3123. Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from www.uspto.gov. For questions or assistance, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative or access to the automated information system, call 800-786-9199 (in USA or Canada) or 571-272-1000. /HARRY H KIM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 2 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 3 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 4 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 5 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 6 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 7 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 8 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 9 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 10 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 11 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 12 Art Unit: 2411 Application/Control Number: 18/702,956 Page 13 Art Unit: 2411
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