DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present U.S. non-provisional application is being examined under the first-inventor-to-file provisions of the AIA . The present U.S. non-provisional application, filed on July 10, 2024, is the U.S. national stage of an international PCT application, filed on January 11, 2022.
Response to Amendment
This Office action is responsive to the amendment and arguments on August 20, 2026. Claims 1, 2, 5, 7, 13-15, 18, 20, 21, 26 and 43 were amended. Claims 1, 2, 5, 7-9, 11-15, 18, 20-22, 24-26, 43 and 44 are pending for re-consideration in the present U.S. non-provisional application.
Response to Arguments
The arguments (pages 12-16) directed to the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 102 have been considered, but they are considered as moot in view of new grounds of rejection. Accordingly, new rejections under 35 U.S.C. 103 are entered.
The arguments (pages 16-17) directed to the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112 have been considered. The arguments are directed to the amendment, and considered as sufficient to overcome the rejections. Accordingly, the rejections under 35 U.S.C. 112 are withdrawn.
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.
Claims 1, 2, 5, 7-9, 11-15, 18, 20-22, 24-26, 43 and 44 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as unpatentable over Chou et al. (US 2025/0373309 A1) in view of Lee et al. (US 2022/0200666 A1).
1. A method for reporting information, performed by a terminal, comprising:
sending channel state information to a network device, wherein the channel state information indicates at least one of phase information of at least two access network devices or amplitude information of the at least two access network devices (Chou, Abstract, “A method of channel state information (CSI) report can include receiving a CSI report configuration at a user equipment (UE) from a base station. The CSI report configuration indicates CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resources configured for transmitting CSI-RSs from multiple transmission and reception points (TRPs). An CSI-RS measurement process can be performed at the UE based on the CSI-RSs transmitted from the multiple TRPs using the CSI-RS resources indicated by the CSI report configuration. A CSI report can be transmitted from the UE to the base station based on the CSI report configuration. The CSI report includes information of one or more phase differences or one or more amplitude differences among the CSI-RSs transmitted from the multiple TRPs.” emphasis added.);
wherein the phase information comprises a first-type phase coefficient and a second-type phase coefficient, and the first-type phase coefficient and the second-type phase coefficient are used to determine a phase of each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, “…When a claim covers several structures or compositions, either generically or as alternatives, the claim is deemed anticipated if any of the structures or compositions within the scope of the claim is known in the prior art…”); or wherein the phase information comprises phases of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0230], [0231], “…In one example III.1.1, the additional components include inter-RRH phase. In one example, the inter-RRH phase values correspond to N.sub.RRH−1 phase values (e.g., assuming one of the RRHs is a reference and has a fixed phase value=1). In another example, the inter-RRH phase values correspond to N.sub.RRH phase values. The inter-RRH phase values can be quantized/reported as scalars using a scalar codebook (e.g., QPSK, 2 bits per phase or 8PSK, 3 bits per phase) or as a vector using a vector codebook (e.g., a DFT codebook). Also, for a dual-polarized antenna at an RRH, the inter-RRH phase can be the same for two polarizations of the RRH. Alternatively, it can be independent for two polarizations for the RRH. At least one of the following example is used for the inter-RRH phase reporting […] III.1.1.3, the inter-RRH phase is reported in a WB plus SB manner, i.e., one WB phase value is reported for all SBs in the configured CSI reporting band, and one SB value is reported for each SB in the configured CSI reporting band. Due to WB plus SB reporting, the WB part can be included in the W.sub.1 component of the codebook and the SB part can be included in the W.sub.2 component of the codebook. Alternatively, both WB and SB parts can be included in a new component, for example W.sub.3 of the codebook.” emphasis added.); and
wherein the amplitude information comprises a first-type amplitude coefficient and a second-type amplitude coefficient, and the first-type amplitude coefficient and the second-type amplitude coefficient are used to determine an amplitude of each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.); or wherein the amplitude information comprises amplitudes of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0232], [0241], “…In one example III.1.2, the additional components include inter-RRH phase and inter-RRH amplitude, wherein the details about the inter-RRH phase are as explained in example III.1.1. Note that inter-RRH amplitude is needed due to unequal distance of the UE from RRHs. In one example, the inter-RRH amplitude values correspond to N.sub.RRH−1 amplitude values (e.g., assuming one of the RRHs is a reference and has a fixed amplitude value=1). In another example, the inter-RRH amplitude values correspond to N.sub.RRH amplitude values. The inter-RRH amplitude values can be quantized/reported as scalars using a scalar codebook (e.g., 2 bits per amplitude or 3 bits per amplitude) or as a vector using a vector codebook. Also, for a dual-polarized antenna at an RRH, the inter-RRH amplitude can be the same for two polarizations of the RRH. Alternatively, it can be independent for two polarizations for the RRH. At least one of the following example is used for the inter-RRH amplitude and phase reporting. […] In one example III.1.2.3, the inter-RRH amplitude is reported in a WB plus SB manner, i.e., one WB amplitude value is reported for all SBs in the configured CSI reporting band, and one SB value is reported for each SB in the configured CSI reporting band. Due to WB plus SB reporting, the WB part can be included in the W.sub.1 component of the codebook and the SB part can be included in the W.sub.2 component of the codebook. Alternatively, both WB and SB parts can be included in a new component, for example W.sub.3 of the codebook. At least one of the following example is used for the inter-RRH phase.” emphasis added.)
Chou et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Lee et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as wherein the phase information comprises phases of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0230], [0231], Id.) or wherein the amplitude information comprises amplitudes of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0232], [0241], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Lee et al. are for reasons of enabling CSI reporting based on a codebook for distributed MIMO (Lee, para. [0004], “Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and apparatuses to enable channel state information (CSI) reporting based on a codebook for distributed MIMO transmission in a wireless communication system.”) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of enabling CSI reporting based on a codebook for distributed MIMO.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first-type phase coefficient indicates a phase coefficient corresponding to each of the at least two access network devices, and the second-type phase coefficient indicates a phase coefficient corresponding to each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.)
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an interval between phases corresponding to any two adjacent elements in the at least two access network devices is a target interval (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.)
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first-type amplitude coefficient indicates an amplitude coefficient corresponding to each of the at least two access network devices, and the second-type amplitude coefficient indicates an amplitude coefficient corresponding to each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.)
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a product of the first-type amplitude coefficient and the second-type amplitude coefficient is an amplitude corresponding to each element in the access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.); or
a sum of the first-type amplitude coefficient and the second-type amplitude coefficient is an amplitude corresponding to each element in the access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.)
9. The method according to claim 7, wherein: an interval between second-type amplitude coefficients corresponding to two adjacent elements in each of the at least two access network devices is a second interval (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.),
an interval between second-type amplitude coefficients corresponding to two adjacent elements of two adjacent two access network devices is the second interval (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.), or
the interval between second-type amplitude coefficients corresponding to two adjacent elements in each of the at least two access network devices is the second interval, and the interval between second-type amplitude coefficients corresponding to two adjacent elements of two adjacent two access network devices is the second interval (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.)
11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the amplitude information is at least one of a wideband amplitude coefficient or a narrowband amplitude coefficient (MPEP 2131, Id.)
12. The method according to claim 1, wherein an element in each access network device comprises one or more of: an antenna port (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.); a beam; a wideband; a subband; a frequency domain unit; or a time domain unit (Lee, paras. [0230], [0231], Id.)
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein an identifier corresponding to each access network device is indicated by at least one of a resource index, a resource subset index, a resource set index, a control resource set pool index, an antenna port index, a transmission reception point (TRP) index, a transmission point (TP) index, a remote radio header (RRH) index, or an antenna panel index (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.)
14. A method for receiving information, performed by a network device, comprising:
receiving channel state information sent by a terminal, wherein the channel state information indicates at least one of phase information of at least two access network devices or amplitude information of the at least two access network devices (Chou, Abstract, Id.);
wherein the phase information comprises a first-type phase coefficient and a second-type phase coefficient, and the first-type phase coefficient and the second-type phase coefficient are used to determine a phase of each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.); or wherein the phase information comprises phases of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0230], [0231], Id.); and
wherein the amplitude information comprises a first-type amplitude coefficient and a second-type amplitude coefficient, and the first-type amplitude coefficient and the second-type amplitude coefficient are used to determine an amplitude of each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.); or wherein the amplitude information comprises amplitudes of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0232], [0241], Id. cf. Claim 1).
Chou et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Lee et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as wherein the phase information comprises phases of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0230], [0231], Id.) or wherein the amplitude information comprises amplitudes of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0232], [0241], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Lee et al. are for reasons of enabling CSI reporting based on a codebook for distributed MIMO (Lee, para. [0004], Id.) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of enabling CSI reporting based on a codebook for distributed MIMO.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first-type phase coefficient indicates a phase coefficient corresponding to each of the at least two access network devices, and the second-type phase coefficient indicates a phase coefficient corresponding to each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id. cf. Claim 2).
18. The method according to claim 14, wherein an interval between phases corresponding to any two adjacent elements in the at least two access network devices is a target interval (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id. cf. Claim 5).
20. The method according to claim 14, wherein the first-type amplitude coefficient indicates an amplitude coefficient corresponding to each of the at least two access network devices, and the second-type amplitude coefficient indicates an amplitude coefficient corresponding to each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id. cf. Claim 7).
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein a product of the first-type amplitude coefficient and the second-type amplitude coefficient is an amplitude corresponding to each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.); or
a sum of the first-type amplitude coefficient and the second-type amplitude coefficient is an amplitude corresponding to each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id. cf. Claim 8).
22. The method according to claim 20, wherein: an interval between second-type amplitude coefficients corresponding to two adjacent elements in each of the at least two access network devices is a second interval (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.),
an interval between second-type amplitude coefficients corresponding to two adjacent elements of two adjacent two access network devices is the second interval (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.), or
the interval between second-type amplitude coefficients corresponding to two adjacent elements in each of the at least two access network devices is the second interval, and the interval between second-type amplitude coefficients corresponding to two adjacent elements of two adjacent two access network devices is the second interval (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id. cf. Claim 9).
24. The method according to claim 20, wherein the amplitude information is at least one of a wideband amplitude coefficient or a narrowband amplitude coefficient (MPEP 2131, Id. cf. Claim 11).
25. The method according to claim 14, wherein an element in each access network device comprises one or more of: an antenna port (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id.); a beam; a wideband; a subband; a frequency domain unit; or a time domain unit (Lee, paras. [0230], [0231], Id. cf. Claim 12).
26. The method according to claim 14, wherein an identifier corresponding to each access network device is indicated by at least one of a resource index, a resource subset index, a resource set index, a control resource set pool index, an antenna port index, a transmission reception point (TRP) index, a transmission point (TP) index, a remote radio header (RRH) index, or an antenna panel index (Chou, Abstract, para. [0015], Id. cf. Claim 13).
43. A terminal, comprising: a processor; and a transceiver coupled to the processor; wherein the processor is (Chou, FIG. 21) configured to:
send channel state information to a network device, wherein the channel state information indicates at least one of phase information of at least two access network devices or amplitude information of the at least two access network devices (Chou, Abstract, Id.);
wherein the phase information comprises a first-type phase coefficient and a second-type phase coefficient, and the first-type phase coefficient and the second-type phase coefficient are used to determine a phase of each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.); or wherein the phase information comprises phases of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0230], [0231], Id.); and
wherein the amplitude information comprises a first-type amplitude coefficient and a second-type amplitude coefficient, and the first-type amplitude coefficient and the second-type amplitude coefficient are used to determine an amplitude of each element in each access network device (MPEP 2131, Id.); or wherein the amplitude information comprises amplitudes of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0232], [0241], Id. cf. Claim 1).
Chou et al. may not seem to describe the identical claimed invention, however in the same field of endeavor, Lee et al. provides prior art disclosure for the claimed invention, such as wherein the phase information comprises phases of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0230], [0231], Id.) or wherein the amplitude information comprises amplitudes of different elements in the at least two access network devices (Lee, paras. [0232], [0241], Id.) The prior art disclosure and suggestions of Lee et al. are for reasons of enabling CSI reporting based on a codebook for distributed MIMO (Lee, para. [0004], Id.) In view of the prior art of record, the claimed invention 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, for reasons of enabling CSI reporting based on a codebook for distributed MIMO.
44. A network device, comprising: a processor; and a transceiver coupled to the processor; wherein the processor (Chou, FIG. 21, Id.) is configured to perform the method for receiving the information according to claim 14.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record (PTO-1449, PTO-892) and not relied upon is considered pertinent to the subject matter of the present U.S. non-provisional application.
Yuan et al. (US 2023/0246759 A1) provides prior art disclosure considered as relevant to the subject matter of the claimed invention (Yuan, Abstract, “This application relates to the field of communications technologies, and discloses a method and apparatus for processing channel state information, and a terminal. The method includes: transmitting, based on uplink channel, a multi transmission-reception point channel state information MTRP CSI report to multiple transmission-reception points TRPs, where the MTRP CSI report includes multiple CSI parameters.”)
Applicant's amendment necessitated the new ground(s) of rejection presented in this Office action. Accordingly, THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. 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 Timothy J. Weidner whose telephone number is (571) 270-1825. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ayaz R. Sheikh can be reached on (571) 272-3795. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/TIMOTHY J WEIDNER/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2476
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