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, see response to 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejections on page 14 lines 6-17, filed 9/1/2026, with respect to claims 6 and 14 have been fully considered and are persuasive. The 35 U.S.C. 112(b) rejections of claims 6 and 14 has been withdrawn.
Applicant’s arguments, see response to 35 U.S.C. 103 rejections on page 14 line 18 to page 20 line 2, filed 9/1/2026, with respect to the rejection(s) of claim(s) 1 and 9 under have been fully considered and are persuasive. Therefore, the rejection has been withdrawn. However, upon further consideration, a new ground(s) of rejection is made in view of U.S. Publication No. 20240056880 (Provisional Application No. 63370885) to He et al in view of U.S. Publication No. 20250392949 to Xu et al, and in further view of U.S. Publication No. 20180368023 to Hong et al.
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 and 9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over U.S. Publication No. 20240056880 (Provisional Application No. 63370885) to He et al in view of U.S. Publication No. 20250392949 to Xu et al, and in further view of U.S. Publication No. 20180368023 to Hong et al.
Referring to claim 1, He et al disclose in Figures 1-7 a BSR method, adapted for a UE (UE) of a network for informing a network device (BS) of the network a target BST used for a LCG (Sections 0021, 0085, 0087, and 0095: each LCG is associated with a BST), the method comprising:
Receiving (steps 506 and 606), by the UE, one or more preset configurations of one or more BSTs (multiple buffer size tables) from the network device, wherein the one or more BSTs are candidate BSTs to be selected (step 502) as the target BST to the LCG. Steps 506 and 606: BS transmits, to UE, a configuration indicating multiple buffer size tables each corresponding to a range of buffer sizes. The configuration specifies the buffer size tables or parameters for generating the buffer size tables and a corresponding LCID to indicate which buffer size table is used. Step 502: UE selects a buffer size table from the multiple buffer size tables transmitted by BS; UE then encodes, based on the selected buffer size table, a BSR for a buffer that stores data from an application.
In response to identifying the target BST used for the LCG, signalling (steps 510 and 602), by the UE, an advanced BST indication (BSR) to the network device, wherein the advanced BST indication is configured to record an … BST index (Section 0077: each buffer size table is associated with a buffer size table index) and at least one of following information: a target LCID (LCID), and a target eLCID (not in reference; claim requires “at least one” of the limitations). Steps 510 and 602: UE transmits, to BS, a BSR indicating a LCID that corresponds to a buffer size table; each new buffer size table is assigned a new unique LCID.
Wherein the network device queries (step 608) a target BS range from a plurality of BS ranges in the target BST according to the received advanced BST indication, and the network device grants (step 612) a UL resource for the LCG based on the target BS range, … BST index (Section 0077: each buffer size table is associated with a buffer size table index) … Step 608: Using the BSR from UE with the indicated buffer size table, BS generates the buffer size table that can be generated based on a range of buffer sizes, wherein the range of buffer sizes (claimed “target BS range”) is selected from a plurality of buffer size ranges that is associated with the buffer size table. Step 610: BS decodes, based on the buffer size table, the BSR for a buffer that stores data for an application at the UE. Step 612: BS transmits, for the UE and based on the BSR, an uplink grant for transmitting the data, which can include generating an uplink grant with an amount of resources sufficient for transmitting the contents of the buffer based on the buffer size indicated in the BSR. Refer to Sections 0020-0164.
He et al do not disclose … in response to identifying the target BST used for the LCG, signalling, by the UE, an advanced BST indication to the network device, wherein the advanced BST indication is
configured to record an advanced BST index and at least one of following information: a target LCID, and a target eLCID, wherein the network device queries a target BS range from a plurality of BS ranges in the target BST according to the received advanced BST indication, and the network device grants a UL resource for the LCG based on the target BS range, wherein the advanced BST index indicates the target BST from the candidate BSTs, and wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication …
Xu et al disclose in Figures 1-20 and Sections 0070, 0073, 0080-0088, 0120-0135, 0162, 0173, 0184-0186, and 0190-0191 wherein the network device transmits, to UE, a configuration of one or more BS tables (claimed “candidate BSTs”) for an LCG. UE selects a BS table from the one or more BS tables and identifies the selected BS table using a corresponding BS index (claimed “advanced BST index”) and reports the selected BS table using the corresponding BS index in a report (claimed “advanced BST indication”). Each of the one or more BS tables includes one-to-one mapping relation between multiple BS indexes and multiple buffer sizes (claimed “the advanced BST index indicates the target BST from the candidate BSTs, and wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication”). Sections 0177, 0180, 0182, 0184-0186, and 0191: Figure 8 discloses an example of UE reporting a selected BS table to the network device, wherein the report includes a LCID and a BS table index to identify the selected BS table (claimed “the advanced BST indication is
configured to record an advanced BST index and at least one of following information: a target LCID”).
Refer to Sections 0050-0268. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include … in response to identifying the target BST used for the LCG, signalling, by the UE, an advanced BST indication to the network device, wherein the advanced BST indication is configured to record an advanced BST index and at least one of following information: a target LCID, and a target eLCID, wherein the network device queries a target BS range from a plurality of BS ranges in the target BST according to the received advanced BST indication, and the network device grants a UL resource for the LCG based on the target BS range, wherein the advanced BST index indicates the target BST from the candidate BSTs, and wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication … One would have been motivated to do so so that BS can indicate a target BST using a BST index, thereby allowing BS to determine the BST to decode the BSR.
He et al and Xu et al do not disclose … wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication and the target BS range is identified by a BS index of the target BST.
Hong et al disclose in Figures 1-20 and Sections 0121-0124 and 0223 wherein UE transmits a BSR to BS. The BSR includes buffer size fields to index information that is set according to the buffer size information of each LCG, and the index information may be mapped according to buffer size ranges (claimed “the target BS range is identified by a BS index of the target BST”). Upon receiving the BSR from UE, BS checks corresponding index information and confirms a buffer size range indicated by the corresponding index information. Refer to Sections 0034-0264. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include … wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication and the target BS range is identified by a BS index of the target BST. One would have been motivated to do so so that UE can indicate a BS range using a BS index, thereby allowing BS to determine the BS range to decode the BSR.
Referring to claim 9, He et al disclose in Figures 1-7 a UE (Figure 3: UE 104; Sections 0056-0066), adapted for performing a BSR, comprising:
A transceiver (transceiver 302 with a transmitter 308 for transmitting signals and a receiver 306 for receiving signals), used for transmitting or receiving signals.
A memory (memory 316), used for storing a program code.
A processor (processor 312), coupled to the transceiver and the memory, and configured for executing the program code to implement a BSR method for informing a network device of the network a target BST used for a LCG (Sections 0021, 0085, 0087, and 0095: each LCG is associated with a BST), and the BSR method comprises (processor 312 executes program code stored in memory 316 to perform UE 104 functions):
Receiving (steps 506 and 606) one or more preset configurations of one or more BSTs (multiple buffer size tables) from the network device, wherein the one or more BSTs are candidate BSTs to be selected (step 502) as the target BST to the LCG. Steps 506 and 606: BS transmits, to UE, a configuration indicating multiple buffer size tables each corresponding to a range of buffer sizes. The configuration specifies the buffer size tables or parameters for generating the buffer size tables and a corresponding LCID to indicate which buffer size table is used. Step 502: UE selects a buffer size table from the multiple buffer size tables transmitted by BS; UE then encodes, based on the selected buffer size table, a BSR for a buffer that stores data from an application.
In response to identifying the target BST used for the LCG, signalling (steps 510 and 602) an advanced BST indication (BSR) to the network device, wherein the advanced BST indication is configured to record an … BST index (Section 0077: each buffer size table is associated with a buffer size table index) and at least one of following information: a target LCID (LCID), and a target eLCID (not in reference; claim requires “at least one” of the limitations). Steps 510 and 602: UE transmits, to BS, a BSR indicating a LCID that corresponds to a buffer size table; each new buffer size table is assigned a new unique LCID.
Wherein the network device queries (step 608) a target BS range from a plurality of BS ranges in the target BST according to the received advanced BST indication, and the network device grants (step 612) a UL resource for the LCG based on the target BS range, … BST index (Section 0077: each buffer size table is associated with a buffer size table index) … Step 608: Using the BSR from UE with the indicated buffer size table, BS generates the buffer size table that can be generated based on a range of buffer sizes, wherein the range of buffer sizes (claimed “target BS range”) is selected from a plurality of buffer size ranges that is associated with the buffer size table. Step 610: BS decodes, based on the buffer size table, the BSR for a buffer that stores data for an application at the UE. Step 612: BS transmits, for the UE and based on the BSR, an uplink grant for transmitting the data, which can include generating an uplink grant with an amount of resources sufficient for transmitting the contents of the buffer based on the buffer size indicated in the BSR. Refer to Sections 0020-0164.
He et al do not disclose … in response to identifying the target BST used for the LCG, signalling, by the UE, an advanced BST indication to the network device, wherein the advanced BST indication is
configured to record an advanced BST index and at least one of following information: a target LCID, and a target eLCID, wherein the network device queries a target BS range from a plurality of BS ranges in the target BST according to the received advanced BST indication, and the network device grants a UL resource for the LCG based on the target BS range, wherein the advanced BST index indicates the target BST from the candidate BSTs, and wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication …
Xu et al disclose in Figures 1-20 and Sections 0070, 0073, 0080-0088, 0120-0135, 0162, 0173, 0184-0186, and 0190-0191 wherein the network device transmits, to UE, a configuration of one or more BS tables (claimed “candidate BSTs”) for an LCG. UE selects a BS table from the one or more BS tables and identifies the selected BS table using a corresponding BS index (claimed “advanced BST index”) and reports the selected BS table using the corresponding BS index in a report (claimed “advanced BST indication”). Each of the one or more BS tables includes one-to-one mapping relation between multiple BS indexes and multiple buffer sizes (claimed “the advanced BST index indicates the target BST from the candidate BSTs, and wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication”). Sections 0177, 0180, 0182, 0184-0186, and 0191: Figure 8 discloses an example of UE reporting a selected BS table to the network device, wherein the report includes a LCID and a BS table index to identify the selected BS table (claimed “the advanced BST indication is
configured to record an advanced BST index and at least one of following information: a target LCID”).
Refer to Sections 0050-0268. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include … in response to identifying the target BST used for the LCG, signalling, by the UE, an advanced BST indication to the network device, wherein the advanced BST indication is configured to record an advanced BST index and at least one of following information: a target LCID, and a target eLCID, wherein the network device queries a target BS range from a plurality of BS ranges in the target BST according to the received advanced BST indication, and the network device grants a UL resource for the LCG based on the target BS range, wherein the advanced BST index indicates the target BST from the candidate BSTs, and wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication … One would have been motivated to do so so that BS can indicate a target BST using a BST index, thereby allowing BS to determine the BST to decode the BSR.
He et al and Xu et al do not disclose … wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication and the target BS range is identified by a BS index of the target BST.
Hong et al disclose in Figures 1-20 and Sections 0121-0124 and 0223 wherein UE transmits a BSR to BS. The BSR includes buffer size fields to index information that is set according to the buffer size information of each LCG, and the index information may be mapped according to buffer size ranges (claimed “the target BS range is identified by a BS index of the target BST”). Upon receiving the BSR from UE, BS checks corresponding index information and confirms a buffer size range indicated by the corresponding index information. Refer to Sections 0034-0264. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to include … wherein the target BST is identified by the advanced BST index of the received advanced BST indication and the target BS range is identified by a BS index of the target BST. One would have been motivated to do so so that UE can indicate a BS range using a BS index, thereby allowing BS to determine the BS range to decode the BSR.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 2-8 and 10-16 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
U.S. Publication No. 20200187046 to Bergquist et al disclose in Figures 1-14 and Sections 0103-0115 wherein a network node configures a terminal device with an order in which the buffer sizes for the LCGs should be reported, each with a priority value with LCG IDs allocated to LCGs based on their priority values; then, the network node receives a BSR from the terminal device; then, the network node determines, based on the plurality of indications and the length, whether the BSR comprises buffer size fields for all of the LCGs with data available to transmit; and then the network node schedules the terminal device with resources based on the values in the buffer size fields. Refer to Sections 0002-0013 and 0037-0131.
U.S. Publication No. 20240357419 to Sha et al disclose in Figures 1-10 and Sections 0042-0043, 0072, 0151, 0152, 0154, and 0174 wherein a buffer size report related parameter includes the buffer size values corresponding to a buffer size level table; a node, before determining a target buffer size report related parameter, receives a minimum TBS value, a maximum TBS value, and a granularity that are broadcast by a cell where the node is located. Refer to Sections 0025-0188.
U.S. Publication No. 20130016615 to Shi et al disclose in Figure 1 and Sections 0044-0048 wherein a UE in reporting a BSR chooses to inquire on a preset first table or second table for the buffer size index according to an amount of data to be transmitted over all LCHs in a LCG, and then UE sends the inquired buffer size index to a base station in the BSR. Refer to Sections 0038-0110.
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 CHRISTINE Y NG whose telephone number is (571)272-3124. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 12pm-9pm.
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, Ricky Ngo can be reached at 5712723139. 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.
/Christine Ng/
Examiner, AU 2464
September 8, 2026
Prosecution Insights