DETAILED ACTION
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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 07/02/2024 and 01/16/2025 are considered. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
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.
Claim(s) 1-2, 4, 8-9, 11 and 15-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Li et al. (US 2025/0007673; hereinafter Li).
Regarding claim 1, Li shows a user equipment (UE) (Figures 2 and 5 shows a UE performing in part the method of Figure 6.), comprising:
a transceiver (Figure 2; Par. 0048; UE includes a transceiver.) configured to receive a set of reference signals (RSs) (Figure 5-6; Par. 0078; the UE 120 may be configured with different UE Rx beams for a first CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource set (CSI-RS-RscSet #0) for receiving reference signals from the base station 110, which has the repetition parameter set to ‘off.’ In contrast, the UE 120 may be configured with another set of different UE Rx beams for a second CSI-RS resource set (CSI-RS-RscSet #1).); and
a processor operably coupled to the transceiver (Figure 2; Par. 0048; UE includes a processor coupled to the transceiver.), the processor configured to:
measure a first quantity based on a quality of a RS in the set of RSs (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079; the UE 120 may receive a CSI report setting from the base station 110 and may transmit a CSI report in accordance with the CSI report setting. Based from the received CSI report setting, the UE determines a plurality of metrics. The plurality of metrics may include a plurality of L1-RSRPs, L1-SINRs, CQIs, RIs, or a combination thereof, among other examples.),
determine a second quantity based on a rate of change of the first quantity (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079; the UE 120 may receive a CSI report setting from the base station 110 and may transmit a CSI report in accordance with the CSI report setting. Based from the received CSI report setting, the UE determines a plurality of metrics. The plurality of metrics may include information identifying a rate of change of a plurality of metrics. In other words, the plurality of metrics may include whether a metric is increasing or decreasing or a rate of change of the metric over time for a plurality of reference signals or beams.), and
prepare a report including N≥1 entries (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0083, 0089; the UE 120 determines and transmits a CSI report, based at least in part on the CSI report setting and measurements of the reference signal resources.), wherein each entry in the N entries includes:
a RS indicator of the RS (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0089, 0091, 0097; the CSI report includes, for the plurality of resource sets. The plurality of resource sets includes at least one of an NZP-CSI-RS Resource Set or an SSB Resource Set.),
the first quantity (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0089; the CSI report includes, for the plurality of resource sets, measurement information associated with at least a L1 RSRP parameter.), and
the second quantity (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079; The plurality of metrics may include information identifying a rate of change of a plurality of metrics. In other words, the plurality of metrics may include whether a metric is increasing or decreasing or a rate of change of the metric over time for a plurality of reference signals or beams.),
wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the report (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0083, 0089; the UE 120 determines and transmits a CSI report, based at least in part on the CSI report setting and measurements of the reference signal resources.).
Regarding claim 2, Li shows wherein the first quantity is a reference signal received power (RSRP) (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0089; the CSI report includes, for the plurality of resource sets, measurement information associated with at least a L1 RSRP parameter.).
Regarding claim 4, Li shows wherein the set of RS includes: a synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block, or a channel state information (CSI)-RS (Par. 0079; the decreasing or increasing values and/or rates of change of a metric of an NZP-CSI-RS resource set or a CSI-SSB resource set is based at least in part on measurements of a plurality of different CSI-RS or SSB (e.g., CSI-SSB) resources associated with the NZP-CSI-RS resource set or the CSI-SSB resource set.).
Regarding claim 8, Li shows a base station (BS) (Figures 2 and 5 shows a base station performing in part the method of Figure 7.), comprising:
a processor (Figure 2; Par. 0049; the base station includes a transceiver.); and
a transceiver operably coupled to the processor (Figure 2; Par. 0049; the base station includes a processor coupled to the transceiver.), the transceiver configured to:
transmit a set of reference signals (RSs) (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079; the UE 120 may receive a CSI report setting from the base station 110 and may transmit a CSI report in accordance with the CSI report setting. Based from the received CSI report setting, the UE determines a plurality of metrics. The plurality of metrics may include a plurality of L1-RSRPs, L1-SINRs, CQIs, RIs, or a combination thereof, among other examples.), and
receive a report (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0083, 0089; the UE 120 determines and transmits a CSI report to the base station, based at least in part on the CSI report setting and measurements of the reference signal resources.), wherein the report includes N≥1 entries and each entry in the N entries (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0083, 0089; the UE 120 determines and transmits a CSI report, based at least in part on the CSI report setting and measurements of the reference signal resources.) includes:
a RS indicator of a RS in the set of RSs (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0089, 0091, 0097; the CSI report includes, for the plurality of resource sets. The plurality of resource sets includes at least one of an NZP-CSI-RS Resource Set or an SSB Resource Set.),
a first quantity that is based on a quality of the RS (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0089; the CSI report includes, for the plurality of resource sets, measurement information associated with at least a L1 RSRP parameter.), and
a second quantity that is based on a rate of change of the first quantity (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079; The plurality of metrics may include information identifying a rate of change of a plurality of metrics. In other words, the plurality of metrics may include whether a metric is increasing or decreasing or a rate of change of the metric over time for a plurality of reference signals or beams.).
Regarding claims 9 and 11, these claims are rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 2 and 4, respectively.
Regarding claim 15, Li shows a method of operating a user equipment (UE) (Figures 2 and 5 shows a UE performing in part the method of Figure 6.), the method comprising:
receiving a set of reference signals (RSs) (Figure 5-6; Par. 0078; the UE 120 may be configured with different UE Rx beams for a first CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) resource set (CSI-RS-RscSet #0) for receiving reference signals from the base station 110, which has the repetition parameter set to ‘off.’ In contrast, the UE 120 may be configured with another set of different UE Rx beams for a second CSI-RS resource set (CSI-RS-RscSet #1).);
measuring a first quantity based on a quality of a RS in the set of RSs (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079; the UE 120 may receive a CSI report setting from the base station 110 and may transmit a CSI report in accordance with the CSI report setting. Based from the received CSI report setting, the UE determines a plurality of metrics. The plurality of metrics may include a plurality of L1-RSRPs, L1-SINRs, CQIs, RIs, or a combination thereof, among other examples.);
determining a second quantity based on a rate of change of the first quantity (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079; the UE 120 may receive a CSI report setting from the base station 110 and may transmit a CSI report in accordance with the CSI report setting. Based from the received CSI report setting, the UE determines a plurality of metrics. The plurality of metrics may include information identifying a rate of change of a plurality of metrics. In other words, the plurality of metrics may include whether a metric is increasing or decreasing or a rate of change of the metric over time for a plurality of reference signals or beams.);
preparing a report including N≥1 entries (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0083, 0089; the UE 120 determines and transmits a CSI report, based at least in part on the CSI report setting and measurements of the reference signal resources.), wherein each entry in the N entries includes:
a RS indicator of the RS (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0089, 0091, 0097; the CSI report includes, for the plurality of resource sets. The plurality of resource sets includes at least one of an NZP-CSI-RS Resource Set or an SSB Resource Set.),
the first quantity (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0089; the CSI report includes, for the plurality of resource sets, measurement information associated with at least a L1 RSRP parameter.), and
the second quantity (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079; The plurality of metrics may include information identifying a rate of change of a plurality of metrics. In other words, the plurality of metrics may include whether a metric is increasing or decreasing or a rate of change of the metric over time for a plurality of reference signals or beams.); and
transmitting the report (Figures 5-6; Par. 0076-0079, 0083, 0089; the UE 120 determines and transmits a CSI report, based at least in part on the CSI report setting and measurements of the reference signal resources.).
Regarding claims 16, this claim is rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claims 2 and 4.
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.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claim(s) 3, 10 and 17 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of Bruhn et al. (US 2024/0196272; hereinafter Bruhn).
Regarding claim 3, Li shows wherein: when the first quantity is increasing, the RS is preferred, and when the first quantity is decreasing, the RS is not preferred (Par. 0077; the base station 110 may transmit RRC signaling configuring a rate threshold. In this case, when the UE 120 determines that a metric is increasing or decreasing at a rate that satisfies the rate threshold, the UE 120 may report the metric and/or the satisfaction of the threshold to the base station 110.).
Li shows all of the elements including wherein: the second quantity is indicative of the first quantity increasing or decreasing, as discussed above. Li does not specifically show wherein: the second quantity is a flag that is indicative of the first quantity increasing or decreasing.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Bruhn. Specifically, Bruhn shows wherein: the second quantity is a flag that is indicative of the first quantity increasing or decreasing (Par. 0294, 0302; the type of traffic measurements and/or predictions that the first network node may request or configure the UE to provide can include at least an indication of a predicted increase or decrease, e.g., a flag or a delta change, in the traffic with respect to one or more time intervals, current traffic, or previously reported measurement or prediction.).
In view of the above, having the system of Li, then given the well-established teaching of Bruhn, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Li as taught by Bruhn, in order to provide motivation to facilitate improved management of UEs and network resources by providing a first network node with a richer insight into data traffic of UEs served by a second network node as well as predicted migration of such data traffic into the first network node's coverage area (Par. 0076 of Bruhn).
Regarding claims 10 and 17, this claim is rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claim 3.
Claim(s) 5, 12 and 18 rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of Li et al. (US 2026/0025180; hereinafter Li 180).
Regarding claim 5, Li shows all of the elements except wherein the first quantity is a predicted measurement at a time T, and the report includes the time T.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Li 180. Specifically, Li 180 shows wherein the first quantity is a predicted measurement at a time T, and the report includes the time T (Figures 11-12 and 18; Par. 0163-0166, 0175; receiving from the WD 22 a beam information report including at least one prediction of a beam from the set A of beams for at least one future time instance of a first set of at least one future time instance in accordance with the CSI report configuration.).
In view of the above, having the system of Li, then given the well-established teaching of Li 180, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Li as taught by Li 180, in order to provide motivation to improve the data rate, latency, and/or power consumption (Par. 0150 of Li 180).
Regarding claims 12 and 18, this claim is rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claim 5.
Claim(s) 6-7, 13-14 and 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Li in view of Zhou et al. (US 2024/0365241; hereinafter Zhou).
Regarding claim 6, Li shows all of the elements except wherein: the transceiver is further configured to: receive a list of offsets, and receive downlink control information (DCI) indicating an offset from the list of offsets, the processor is further configured to determine a power based on the offset, and the transceiver is further configured to transmit a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order-triggered physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble with the power.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Zhou. Specifically, Zhou shows wherein: the transceiver is further configured to: receive a list of offsets (Figures 13A-13B; Par. 0190-0191; The one or more RACH parameters provided in the configuration message 1310 may indicate one or more Physical RACH (PRACH) occasions available for transmission of the Msg 1 1311. The one or more RACH parameters may indicate a reference power for a preamble transmission (e.g., a received target power and/or an initial power of the preamble transmission). There may be one or more power offsets indicated by the one or more RACH parameters.), and
receive downlink control information (DCI) indicating an offset from the list of offsets (Figures 13A-13B; Par. 0190-0191, 0441; the DCI comprises a DCI field with a number of bits, a codepoint of the DCI field indicating the power offset value of a plurality of power offsets. The messages comprise configuration parameters indicating the number. In an example, the messages comprise configuration parameters indicating the plurality of power offsets. In an example, the plurality of power offsets are preconfigured values.),
the processor is further configured to determine a power based on the offset, and the transceiver is further configured to transmit a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order-triggered physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble with the power (Figures 13A-13B; Par. 0190-0194; The one or more RACH parameters provided in the configuration message 1310 may indicate one or more Physical RACH (PRACH) occasions available for transmission of the Msg 1 1311. The one or more RACH parameters may indicate a reference power for a preamble transmission (e.g., a received target power and/or an initial power of the preamble transmission). There may be one or more power offsets indicated by the one or more RACH parameters. For example, the one or more RACH parameters may indicate: a power ramping step; a power offset between SSB and CSI-RS; a power offset between transmissions of the Msg 1 1311 and the Msg 3 1313; and/or a power offset value between preamble groups.).
In view of the above, having the system of Li, then given the well-established teaching of Zhou, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Li as taught by Zhou, in order to provide motivation to improve power consumption of the wireless device and/or uplink data transmission robustness when a base station dynamically adjusts downlink transmission power (Par. 0358 of Zhou).
Regarding claim 7, Li shows all of the elements except wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, and in response to reception of the PDCCH order, transmit N>1 physical random access channel (PRACH) preambles.
However, the above-mentioned claim limitations are well-established in the art as evidenced by Zhou. Specifically, Zhou shows wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, and in response to reception of the PDCCH order, transmit N>1 physical random access channel (PRACH) preambles (Figures 13A-13B; Par. 0201; a base station may indicate or as sign to the UE the preamble to be used for the Msg 1 1321. The UE may receive, from the base station via PDCCH and/or RRC, an indication of a preamble (e.g., ra-PreambleIndex).).
In view of the above, having the system of Li, then given the well-established teaching of Zhou, it would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the system of Li as taught by Zhou, in order to provide motivation to improve power consumption of the wireless device and/or uplink data transmission robustness when a base station dynamically adjusts downlink transmission power (Par. 0358 of Zhou).
Regarding claims 13 and 19, this claim is rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claim 6.
Regarding claims 14 and 20, this claim is rejected based on the same reasoning as presented in the rejection of claim 7.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
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/REDENTOR PASIA/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2413
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