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 statements (IDS) submitted on 10/28/24 and 7/30/24 are in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statements are being considered by the examiner.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
The USPTO Internet website contains terminal disclaimer forms which may be used. Please visit www.uspto.gov/patent/patents-forms. The actual filing date of the application in which the form is filed determines what form (e.g., PTO/SB/25, PTO/SB/26, PTO/AIA /25, or PTO/AIA /26) should be used. A web-based eTerminal Disclaimer may be filled out completely online using web-screens. An eTerminal Disclaimer that meets all requirements is auto-processed and approved immediately upon submission. For more information about eTerminal Disclaimers, refer to www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/applying-online/eterminal-disclaimer.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-19 and 29 of U.S. Patent No. 12,058,722. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because of the following correspondences.
Regarding claim 1, “a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising: a memory; and one or more processors, coupled to the memory, configured to: receive information indicating a grant of uplink resources for an uplink communication of the UE” corresponds to “a user equipment (UE) for wireless communication, comprising: a memory; and one or more processors, coupled to the memory, configured to: … receive scheduling information indicating an uplink grant, of the one or more uplink grants, of uplink resources to an uplink communication of the UE” in claim 1 of the above U.S. Patent.
Lastly, “transmit, to another UE and via a sidelink, a sidelink communication using the uplink resources” corresponds to “transmit, to another UE and via a sidelink, the sidelink communication using the uplink resources” in claim 1 of the above U.S. Patent.
Claim 1 of the instant application does not claim “receive configuration information, the configuration information indicating that the UE may use one or more uplink grants for a sidelink communication”. Therefore, claim 1 merely broadens the scope of claim 1 of the above U.S. Patent.
It has been held that the omission of an element and its function is an obvious expedient if the remaining elements perform the same function as before. See In re Karlson, 136 USPQ 184 (CCPA). Also note Ex parte Rainu, 168 USPQ 375 (Bd. App. 1969). The omission of a reference element whose function is not needed would be obvious to one skilled in the art.
Regarding claim 2, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 2 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 3, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 3 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 4, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 4 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 5, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 5 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 6, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 6 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 7, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 7 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 8, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 8 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 9, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 9 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 10, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 10 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 11, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 11 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 12, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 12 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 13, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 13 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 14, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 14 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 15, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 15 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 16, “a network entity for wireless communication, comprising: a memory; and one or more processors, coupled to the memory, configured to: transmit information indicating a grant of first uplink resources for an uplink communication of a user equipment (UE)” corresponds to “a network entity for wireless communication, comprising: a memory; and one or more processors, coupled to the memory, configured to: transmit scheduling information indicating an uplink grant, of the one or more uplink grants, of uplink resources for an uplink communication of the UE” in claim 16 of the above U.S. Patent.
Lastly, “transmit, based at least in part on determining that the UE used the first uplink resources for a sidelink communication, a second grant of second uplink resources” corresponds to “transmit, based at least in part on determining that the UE used the uplink grant for the sidelink communication, a second grant” in claim 16 of the above U.S. Patent.
Claim 16 of the instant application does not claim “transmit configuration information, the configuration information indicating that a user equipment (UE) may use one or more uplink grants for a sidelink communication” or “determine that the UE used the uplink grant for the sidelink communication”. Therefore, claim 16 merely broadens the scope of claim 16 of the above U.S. Patent.
It has been held that the omission of an element and its function is an obvious expedient if the remaining elements perform the same function as before. See In re Karlson, 136 USPQ 184 (CCPA). Also note Ex parte Rainu, 168 USPQ 375 (Bd. App. 1969). The omission of a reference element whose function is not needed would be obvious to one skilled in the art.
Regarding claim 17, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 17 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 18, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 18 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 19, this claim similarly corresponds to claim 19 of the above U.S. Patent.
Regarding claim 20, this corresponding “method” claim similarly corresponds to “method” claim 29 of the above U.S. Patent for the same reasons as described above for claim 1.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. References considered relevant to this application are listed in the attached “Notice of References Cited” (PTO-892).
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MICHAEL J. MOORE, JR., whose telephone number is (571)272-3168. The examiner can normally be reached M-F (9am-4pm).
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Hassan A. Phillips can be reached at (571)272-3940. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/MICHAEL J MOORE JR/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2467
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