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 .
Election/Restrictions
Applicant’s election without traverse of Group I, which includes claims 1 – 16, in the reply filed on 20th August 2026 is acknowledged.
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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 – 8 and 9 – 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Liu et al (US 2021/0289536 A1).
Claim 1. Liu shows a user equipment (UE) for wireless communications (figs. 1, 6, 8 and 15: terminal apparatus 1A/B), comprising: at least one processor (fig. 15: processing unit 14); memory coupled with the at least one processor ([0407]: CPU with memory); and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor ([0408]: the functions may be realized by causing the computer system to read and execute the program recorded in the recording medium) to cause the UE to: receive, in a first downlink bandwidth part, system information indicating a first set of resources allocated for transmission of random access messages in a first uplink bandwidth part (fig. 8; [0356]: the terminal apparatus 1 performs PUSCH transmission of the message 3 based on the RAR UL grant included in the RAR message received in S802; [0394]: the number of first resource blocks is a number of resource blocks indicating a UL BWP bandwidth that has the same BWP identifier as a DL BWP for which CORESET configuration information indicated by a type1-PDCCH common search space set is configured); transmit a random access message via the first set of resources in accordance with the system information (fig. 8; [0322]: the RAR uplink (UL) grant is used to schedule the PUSCH transmission (Msg3 PUSCH) wherein the terminal apparatus 1 performs the transmission of the message 3 based on the RAR UL grant; [0356]: the terminal apparatus 1 performs PUSCH transmission of the message 3 based on the RAR UL grant included in the RAR message received in S802 wherein in the PUSCH corresponding to the transmission of the message 3, a corresponding preamble is transmitted in the serving cell transmitted in the PRACH. Specifically, the PUSCH corresponding to the transmission of the message 3 is transmitted in the active UL BWP; [0394]: the type1-PDCCH common search space set is a search space set used for a random access procedure, and the CORESET is time and frequency resources for searching for downlink control information); receive a random access response indicating a second set of resources that are different from the first set of resources ([0368]: the terminal apparatus 1 that performs the random access procedure can perform uplink data transmission to the base station apparatus 3; [0397]: the control unit… applies to the physical resource blocks of the active UL BWP a second start position and the number of second resource blocks obtained by scaling the first start position and the number of first resource blocks with a coefficient K); and transmit a retransmission of the random access message via the second set of resources in accordance with the random access response (fig. 8, step 803b; [0366]: in a case that the DCI format 0_0 to which the CRC parity bit scrambled with TC-RNTI is added is detected, then the terminal apparatus 1 performs PUSCH retransmission of the transport block transmitted in S803).
Claim 2. Liu shows the UE of claim 1, wherein the instructions to receive the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: receive the random access response indicating the second set of resources and a time duration in which the second set of resources are available for retransmission of random access messages ([0355]: the RB numbering of the resource allocation is determined by the UL BWP to which the RAR UL grant (the resource block assignment included in the RAR UL grant) is applied for the DCI format 0_0 that schedules retransmission of the Msg3 PUSCH).
Claim 3. Liu shows the UE of claim 1, wherein the instructions to receive the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: receive the random access response indicating the second set of resources that are multiplexed with the first set of resources ([0276]: the SSB indexes are mapped in an ascending order of frequency resource indexes for a plurality of frequency multiplexed PRACH occasions) in a time domain (n/a), a frequency domain ([0358]: a frequency domain resource assignment field is included in the DCI format 0_0 that schedules the retransmission of the message 3), a space domain (n/a), or a combination thereof (n/a).
Claim 4. Liu shows the UE of claim 1, wherein the instructions to receive the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: receive the random access response indicating the second set of resources in the first uplink bandwidth part or in a second uplink bandwidth part that is different from the first uplink bandwidth part (fig. 7: DL BWPs #1 and #2; [0252] and [0257]: ra-searchspace is configured for each of DL BWP#0, DL BWP#1, and DL BWP#2… the random access procedure may have (i) transmission of a random access preamble (message 1, Msg1) in the PRACH, (ii) reception of random access response (RAR) message accompanying PDCCH/PDSCH (message 2, Msg2), and if applicable, (iii) transmission of a message 3 PUSCH (Msg3 PUSCH), and (iv) reception of the PDSCH for collision resolution).
Claim 5. Liu shows the UE of claim 1, wherein the instructions to receive the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: receive the random access response indicating the second set of resources and a random access signature that comprises one or more of a random access preamble identifier ([0312]: the information may be indicated as a random access preamble identifier (Random Access Preamble Identifier, RAPID)), a UE identifier (n/a), or a temporary identifier associated with a random access resource, wherein the retransmission of the random access message is transmitted based at least in part on a comparison of the random access signature from the random access response to a random access signature associated with the random access message ([0316]: the base station apparatus 3 calculates a deviation in transmission timing between the terminal apparatus 1 and the base station apparatus 3 from the received random access preamble and includes, in the RAR message, transmission timing adjustment information (Timing Advance (TA) command) for adjusting the deviation… the RAR message includes at least a random access response grant field mapped to the uplink grant, a Temporary Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI) field to which Temporary C-RNTI is mapped, and a Timing Advance (TA) command. The terminal apparatus 1 adjusts the timing of the PUSCH transmission based on the TA command).
Claim 6. Liu shows the UE of claim 1, wherein the instructions to receive the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: receive the random access response indicating a random access resource pool that comprises the second set of resources (fig. 10), wherein the retransmission of the random access message via the second set of resources is transmitted based at least in part on a selection of the second set of resources from the random access resource pool ([0148]: the BWP is defined as a group of continuous physical resources selected from continuous subsets in a common resource block; [0180] – [0181]: a random access resource selection (random access resource selection). Hereinafter, a random access resource (including time/frequency resources and/or a preamble index) selection procedure in the MAC layer of the terminal apparatus… the terminal apparatus 1 sets a value for a preamble index (which may be referred to as PREAMBLE_INDEX) of a random access preamble to be transmitted).
Claim 7. Liu shows the UE of claim 1, wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: receive a multicast or broadcast downlink control channel transmission indicating one or more resources allocated for reception of the random access response ([0186]: the terminal apparatus 1 performs a contention-based random access procedure in a case that any of the aforementioned conditions is met wherein in the contention-based random access procedure, the terminal apparatus 1 selects SS/PBCH blocks that have SS/PBCH block RSRP exceeding a configured threshold value and performs selection of a preamble group), wherein the multicast or broadcast downlink control channel transmission comprises group-common downlink control information ([0186]: the terminal apparatus 1 randomly selects ra-PreambleIndex from one or a plurality of random access preambles associated with the selected SS/PBCH blocks and the selected preamble group and sets selected ra-PreambleIndex to the preamble index); and monitor the one or more resources for the random access response in accordance with the multicast or broadcast downlink control channel transmission ([0203]: the MAC entity monitors the PDCCH of the SpCell identified by RA-RNTI for a random access response in a case that the random access response window is running), wherein the random access response is scrambled using a group identifier ([0204]: the PDCCH transmission has been scrambled with C-RNTI, and the MAC entity has transmitted a non-contention-based random access preamble for a beam failure recovery request, the MAC entity may regard the random access procedure as having successfully been completed).
Claim 8. Liu shows the UE of claim 1, wherein the instructions to transmit the retransmission of the random access message are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the UE to: transmit the retransmission of the random access message via the second set of resources in accordance with a power ramping scheme ([0209]: the MAC entity processes the received transmission timing adjustment information (Timing Advance Command) and indicates, for the lower layer, the amounts of preambleReceivedTargetPower and power ramping applied to the latest random access preamble transmission), a beam switching scheme (n/a), an antenna switching scheme (n/a), a bandwidth part switching scheme ([0149]: BWP switching for a certain serving cell is used to activate an inactive (deactivated) BWP and deactivate an active (activated) BWP), a carrier switching scheme (n/a), a random backoff scheme ([0216]: the MAC entity selects a random backoff time between 0 and PREAMBLE_BACKOFF), a frequency hopping scheme ([0323]: frequency hopping), a coverage enhancement scheme (n/a), or a combination thereof (see above).
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Claim 9. Liu shows a network entity for wireless communications (figs. 1, 6, 8 and 16: base station), comprising: at least one processor (fig. 16: processing unit 34); memory coupled with the at least one processor ([0407]: CPU with memory); and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the at least one processor ([0408]: the functions may be realized by causing the computer system to read and execute the program recorded in the recording medium) to cause the network entity to: transmit, in a first downlink bandwidth part, system information indicating a first set of resources allocated for reception of random access messages in a first uplink bandwidth part (fig. 8; [0356]: the terminal apparatus 1 performs PUSCH transmission of the message 3 based on the RAR UL grant included in the RAR message received in S802; [0394]: the number of first resource blocks is a number of resource blocks indicating a UL BWP bandwidth that has the same BWP identifier as a DL BWP for which CORESET configuration information indicated by a type1-PDCCH common search space set is configured); monitor the first set of resources for a random access message in accordance with the system information (fig. 8; [0322]: the RAR uplink (UL) grant is used to schedule the PUSCH transmission (Msg3 PUSCH) wherein the terminal apparatus 1 performs the transmission of the message 3 based on the RAR UL grant; [0356]: the terminal apparatus 1 performs PUSCH transmission of the message 3 based on the RAR UL grant included in the RAR message received in S802 wherein in the PUSCH corresponding to the transmission of the message 3, a corresponding preamble is transmitted in the serving cell transmitted in the PRACH. Specifically, the PUSCH corresponding to the transmission of the message 3 is transmitted in the active UL BWP; [0394]: the type1-PDCCH common search space set is a search space set used for a random access procedure, and the CORESET is time and frequency resources for searching for downlink control information); transmit a random access response based at least in part on monitoring the first set of resources, the random access response indicating a second set of resources that are different from the first set of resources (fig. 8; [0322]: the RAR uplink (UL) grant is used to schedule the PUSCH transmission (Msg3 PUSCH) wherein the terminal apparatus 1 performs the transmission of the message 3 based on the RAR UL grant; [0356]: the terminal apparatus 1 performs PUSCH transmission of the message 3 based on the RAR UL grant included in the RAR message received in S802 wherein in the PUSCH corresponding to the transmission of the message 3, a corresponding preamble is transmitted in the serving cell transmitted in the PRACH. Specifically, the PUSCH corresponding to the transmission of the message 3 is transmitted in the active UL BWP; [0394]: the type1-PDCCH common search space set is a search space set used for a random access procedure, and the CORESET is time and frequency resources for searching for downlink control information); and monitor the second set of resources for a retransmission of the random access message in accordance with the random access response resources (fig. 8, step 803b; [0366]: in a case that the DCI format 0_0 to which the CRC parity bit scrambled with TC-RNTI is added is detected, then the terminal apparatus 1 performs PUSCH retransmission of the transport block transmitted in S803; [0368]: the terminal apparatus 1 that performs the random access procedure can perform uplink data transmission to the base station apparatus 3; [0397]: the control unit… applies to the physical resource blocks of the active UL BWP a second start position and the number of second resource blocks obtained by scaling the first start position and the number of first resource blocks with a coefficient K).
Claim 10. Liu shows the network entity of claim 9, wherein the instructions to transmit the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the network entity to: transmit the random access response indicating the second set of resources and a time duration in which the second set of resources are available for retransmission of random access messages ([0355]: the RB numbering of the resource allocation is determined by the UL BWP to which the RAR UL grant (the resource block assignment included in the RAR UL grant) is applied for the DCI format 0_0 that schedules retransmission of the Msg3 PUSCH).
Claim 11. Liu shows the network entity of claim 9, wherein the instructions to transmit the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the network entity to: transmit the random access response indicating the second set of resources that are multiplexed with the first set of resources ([0276]: the SSB indexes are mapped in an ascending order of frequency resource indexes for a plurality of frequency multiplexed PRACH occasions) in a time domain (n/a), a frequency domain ([0358]: a frequency domain resource assignment field is included in the DCI format 0_0 that schedules the retransmission of the message 3), a space domain (n/a), or a combination thereof (n/a).
Claim 12. Liu shows the network entity of claim 9, wherein the instructions to transmit the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the network entity to: transmit the random access response indicating the second set of resources in the first uplink bandwidth part or in a second uplink bandwidth part that is different from the first uplink bandwidth part (fig. 7: DL BWPs #1 and #2; [0252] and [0257]: ra-searchspace is configured for each of DL BWP#0, DL BWP#1, and DL BWP#2… the random access procedure may have (i) transmission of a random access preamble (message 1, Msg1) in the PRACH, (ii) reception of random access response (RAR) message accompanying PDCCH/PDSCH (message 2, Msg2), and if applicable, (iii) transmission of a message 3 PUSCH (Msg3 PUSCH), and (iv) reception of the PDSCH for collision resolution).
Claim 13. Liu shows the network entity of claim 9, wherein the instructions to transmit the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the network entity to: transmit the random access response indicating the second set of resources and a random access signature that comprises one or more of a random access preamble identifier ([0312]: the information may be indicated as a random access preamble identifier (Random Access Preamble Identifier, RAPID)), a user equipment (UE) identifier (n/a), or a temporary identifier associated with a random access resource ([0316]: the base station apparatus 3 calculates a deviation in transmission timing between the terminal apparatus 1 and the base station apparatus 3 from the received random access preamble and includes, in the RAR message, transmission timing adjustment information (Timing Advance (TA) command) for adjusting the deviation… the RAR message includes at least a random access response grant field mapped to the uplink grant, a Temporary Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI) field to which Temporary C-RNTI is mapped, and a Timing Advance (TA) command. The terminal apparatus 1 adjusts the timing of the PUSCH transmission based on the TA command).
Claim 14. Liu shows the network entity of claim 9, wherein the instructions to transmit the random access response are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the network entity to: transmit the random access response indicating a random access resource pool that comprises the second set of resources (fig. 10; [0148]: the BWP is defined as a group of continuous physical resources selected from continuous subsets in a common resource block; [0180] – [0181]: a random access resource selection (random access resource selection). Hereinafter, a random access resource (including time/frequency resources and/or a preamble index) selection procedure in the MAC layer of the terminal apparatus… the terminal apparatus 1 sets a value for a preamble index (which may be referred to as PREAMBLE_INDEX) of a random access preamble to be transmitted).
Claim 15. Liu shows the network entity of claim 9, wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the network entity to: transmit a multicast or broadcast downlink control channel transmission indicating one or more resources allocated for transmission of the random access response ([0186]: the terminal apparatus 1 performs a contention-based random access procedure in a case that any of the aforementioned conditions is met wherein in the contention-based random access procedure, the terminal apparatus 1 selects SS/PBCH blocks that have SS/PBCH block RSRP exceeding a configured threshold value and performs selection of a preamble group), wherein the multicast or broadcast downlink control channel transmission comprises group-common downlink control information ([0186]: the terminal apparatus 1 randomly selects ra-PreambleIndex from one or a plurality of random access preambles associated with the selected SS/PBCH blocks and the selected preamble group and sets selected ra-PreambleIndex to the preamble index); and transmit the random access response via the one or more resources in accordance with the multicast or broadcast downlink control channel transmission ([0203]: the MAC entity monitors the PDCCH of the SpCell identified by RA-RNTI for a random access response in a case that the random access response window is running), wherein the random access response is scrambled using a group identifier ([0204]: the PDCCH transmission has been scrambled with C-RNTI, and the MAC entity has transmitted a non-contention-based random access preamble for a beam failure recovery request, the MAC entity may regard the random access procedure as having successfully been completed).
Claim 16. Liu shows the network entity of claim 9, wherein the instructions are further executable by the at least one processor to cause the network entity to: receive the retransmission of the random access message via the second set of resources in accordance with a power ramping scheme ([0209]: the MAC entity processes the received transmission timing adjustment information (Timing Advance Command) and indicates, for the lower layer, the amounts of preambleReceivedTargetPower and power ramping applied to the latest random access preamble transmission), a beam switching scheme (n/a), an antenna switching scheme (n/a), a bandwidth part switching scheme ([0149]: BWP switching for a certain serving cell is used to activate an inactive (deactivated) BWP and deactivate an active (activated) BWP), a carrier switching scheme (n/a), a random backoff scheme ([0216]: the MAC entity selects a random backoff time between 0 and PREAMBLE_BACKOFF), a frequency hopping scheme ([0323]: frequency hopping), a coverage enhancement scheme (n/a), or a combination thereof (see above).
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
1. Wang et al, US 2023/0209542 A1: a method of initial access for a UE which includes steps of receiving a MIB for configuring a first CORESET of a first DL BWP; receiving a first RRC configuration in the first DL BWP carrying a configuration for a first initial UL BWP, and a second RRC configuration in the first DL BWP carrying a configuration for a second DL BWP, a second CORESET, a first search space associated with the second CORESET, and a second initial UL BWP; transmitting a PRACH preamble in the second initial UL BWP; and receiving DCI in the first search space and a PDSCH carrying a random access response scheduled by the DCI in the second DL BWP, wherein the second DL BWP includes the second CORESET, the first DL BWP is associated with the first initial UL BWP, and the second DL BWP is associated with the second initial UL BWP.
2. Dahlman et al, US 2020/0367288 A1: a wireless device, configured to operate in a wireless communication system, and configured for receiving a random access response, RAR, message (RA Msg2) from a network node, the wireless device comprising a communication interface configured for communication with the network node; and processing circuitry configured to cause the wireless device to transmit a selected random access preamble (RA Msg1) to the network node, the selected preamble being linked to specific downlink (DL) resources to be used for communicating the RAR message (RA Msg2) from the network node to the wireless device; and to receive the RAR message (RA Msg2) from the network node on the specific DL resources.
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/XAVIER S WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415 19th September 2026
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