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 .
Status of the Claims
This FINAL action is in response to Applicant’s amendment of 7 April 2026. Claims 1-20 are pending and have been considered as follows.
Response to Arguments
Applicants’ amendments and/or arguments with respect to the rejection of claims 1-20 under 35 USC 103 as set forth in the office action of 09 January 2026 have been considered-
Regarding Applicant’s arguments associated with the amended limitation “receive information indicative that a cell corresponding to a ground- based network entity is an air to ground cell”, Applicant’s arguments have been considered and are moot because the new ground(s) of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument. See 35 USC 103 below.
Regarding Applicant’s arguments associated with the limitation “receive control signaling indicating a threshold timing offset triggering transmission of the timing advance report, wherein transmitting the timing advance report is based at least in part on determining that a transmission timing value satisfies the threshold timing offset”, Examiner has carefully considered Applicant’s arguments and respectfully disagrees. Examiner points to at least [Page 5, paragraphs 1-3] of Kunt which teaches “UE 110 may be configured to autonomously transmit its TA report to network node 125 periodically or non-periodically. As an example, UE 110 may be configured to transmit a TA report to network node 125 in response to a value of TA deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount.” This teaches that UE may be configured to transmit a time advance report in response to a value of timing advance deviating from a threshold by at least predefined amount. Examiner also point to [Page 11, paragraphs 3-4] which teaches “The processor 212 may monitor the TA/KI value and when the TA/KI value is outside a hysteresis range, or when the TA/KI value is greater than or lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the TA/KI value is deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount, the UE 110 may initiate the TA report”, which explicitly teaches that the UE monitors a TA/KI value and initiates the timing advance report when that value is outside range of threshold timing offset. Examiner also points out [Page 5, paragraphs 1-3] which also make it clear that the reporting can be “trigger-based” (i.e., event-triggered) and can be configured via signaling from the network, which directly corresponds to “receive control signaling indicating a threshold timing offset.”
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
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) 1 and 14 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (WO 2024/014823 A1), in view of Huang (EP 4 161 209 A1), and further in view of Moffatt (US 20220109495 A1).
Regarding claim 1, Kim teaches a user equipment (UE), comprising: one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: receive information indicative that a cell corresponding to a network entity is an air to ground cell ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. [Page 14, paragraph 6] The plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells may be based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. [Page 19, paragraph 10] Referring to FIG. 1C, NTN according to an embodiment may be referred to as a technology that provides data services to terminals on the ground by utilizing a satellite or UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) located at a high altitude); generate, based at least in part on the information, a timing advance report; and transmit the timing advance report in accordance with the format ([Page 14, paragraph 4] Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells. [Page 20 paragraph 7] According to one embodiment, the T_TA value can be used by the NTN cell to schedule the terminal. Therefore, the UE can report a Timing Advance Report MAC CE (TAR MAC CE) including the T_TA value to the NTN cell. [Page 21, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, the derived T_TA values may be included in one TAR MAC CE and reported to the serving NTN cell (1e-05). In order to indicate which NTN cell the timing advance value belongs to, the TAR MAC CE may need to additionally include identification (ID) or index information to indicate a specific NTN cell), but does not explicitly teach generate, based at least in part on the information, a timing advance report in accordance with a format that corresponds to air to ground communications;
Huang, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches generate, based at least in part on the information, a timing advance report in accordance with a format that corresponds to air to ground communications ([Page 55, line 38] The UE assistance information report may be a UE location report, a measurement report, and/or a TA report. [Page 57 lines 23-31] The first UE assistance information report and the second UE assistance information report may be differentiated based on a cell type. The cell may be a serving cell of the UE. For example, the first UE assistance information report may be triggered when a serving cell of the UE is of a first type. The second report may be when a serving cell of the UE is of a second type. The first type is different from the second type. The first type and/or the second type may be at least one of the types specified in the following - NW type of a cell, e.g., TN, NTN; - NTN type of a cell, e.g., LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, GSO, NGSO, HAPS).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kim and Huang. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications and Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply Huang’s dedicated format based on different cells, such as air-to-ground cells to Kim’s generating and transmitting timing advance report to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types.
Kim as modified by Huang does not explicitly teach receive information indicative that a cell corresponding to a ground- based network entity is an air to ground cell. However, Moffatt teaches receive information indicative that a cell corresponding to a ground- based network entity is an air to ground cell (See at least abstract, [0006], [0009-0010], [0013-0015], [0037-0040] The ATG communications system includes at least one base station to be positioned on the ground and comprises a ground-based transceiver configured to provide data traffic and control information to an aircraft, a phased array antenna coupled to the ground-based transceiver, and a beamforming network coupled to the ground-based transceiver and configured to simultaneously generate at least one narrow antenna beam for the data traffic and at least one wide beam for the control information. Consequently, there are multiple ground-based transceivers 202, with each transceiver supporting one or more channels.). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kim, Huang, and Moffatt. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications, Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types, and Moffatt teaches ground-based air to ground communication. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply Huang and Kim’s dedicated format based on different cells generating and transmitting timing advance report with Moffatt’s ground-based air to ground communication to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types.
Regarding claim 14, Kim teaches a network entity, comprising: one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the network entity to: transmit information indicative that a cell corresponding to the network entity is an air to ground cell; ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. [Page 14, paragraph 6] The plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells may be based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. [Page 19, paragraph 10] Referring to FIG. 1C, NTN according to an embodiment may be referred to as a technology that provides data services to terminals on the ground by utilizing a satellite or UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) located at a high altitude); receive, from a user equipment (UE) and responsive to transmission of the information, a timing advance report; and communicate with the UE in accordance with the timing advance report. ([Page 14, paragraph 4] Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells. [Page 20 paragraph 7] According to one embodiment, the T_TA value can be used by the NTN cell to schedule the terminal. Therefore, the UE can report a Timing Advance Report MAC CE (TAR MAC CE) including the T_TA value to the NTN cell. [Page 21, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, the derived T_TA values may be included in one TAR MAC CE and reported to the serving NTN cell (1e-05). In order to indicate which NTN cell the timing advance value belongs to, the TAR MAC CE may need to additionally include identification (ID) or index information to indicate a specific NTN cell), but does not explicitly teach receive, from a user equipment (UE) and responsive to transmission of the information, a timing advance report in accordance with a format that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Huang, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches receive, from a user equipment (UE) and responsive to transmission of the information, a timing advance report in accordance with a format that corresponds to air to ground communications ([Page 55, line 38] The UE assistance information report may be a UE location report, a measurement report, and/or a TA report. [Page 57 lines 23-31] The first UE assistance information report and the second UE assistance information report may be differentiated based on a cell type. The cell may be a serving cell of the UE. For example, the first UE assistance information report may be triggered when a serving cell of the UE is of a first type. The second report may be when a serving cell of the UE is of a second type. The first type is different from the second type. The first type and/or the second type may be at least one of the types specified in the following - NW type of a cell, e.g., TN, NTN; - NTN type of a cell, e.g., LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, GSO, NGSO, HAPS).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kim and Huang. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications and Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply Huang’s dedicated format based on different cells, such as air-to-ground NTN cells to Kim’s generating and transmitting timing advance report to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types.
Kim as modified by Huang does not explicitly teach the network entity being a ground-based network entity. However, Moffatt teaches the network entity being a ground-based network entity (See at least abstract, [0006], [0009-0010], [0013-0015], [0037-0040] The ATG communications system includes at least one base station to be positioned on the ground and comprises a ground-based transceiver configured to provide data traffic and control information to an aircraft, a phased array antenna coupled to the ground-based transceiver, and a beamforming network coupled to the ground-based transceiver and configured to simultaneously generate at least one narrow antenna beam for the data traffic and at least one wide beam for the control information. Consequently, there are multiple ground-based transceivers 202, with each transceiver supporting one or more channels.). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kim, Huang and Moffatt. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications, Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types, and Moffatt teaches ground-based air to ground communication. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply Huang and Kim’s dedicated format based on different cells generating and transmitting timing advance report with Moffatt’s ground-based air to ground communication to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types.
Claim(s) 2-7, 11-12, and 15-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (WO 2024/014823 A1), in view of Huang (EP 4 161 209 A1); further in view of Moffatt (US 20220109495 A1), and further in view of (3GPP TS 38.321 version 17.5.0 Release 17).
Regarding claim 2, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teach the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), but do not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach generate a timing advance value indicated by a first subset of bits of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the first subset of bits corresponding to a respective quantity of symbols, wherein a second portion of bits of the plurality of bits are null bits.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches generate a timing advance value indicated by a first subset of bits of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the first subset of bits corresponding to a respective quantity of symbols, wherein a second portion of bits of the plurality of bits are null bits ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing). The length of the field is 14 bits
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s structure of the first subset of bits corresponding a respective quantity of symbols and the remaining bits are null bits. The motivation to do so would have been to ensure consistent signaling of timing advance values.
Regarding claim 3, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach wherein a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing that the UE is configured with during generation of the timing advance value.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches wherein a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing that the UE is configured with during generation of the timing advance value ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing). The length of the field is 14 bits.).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s subcarrier spacing that is configured during the generating of the TA value. The motivation to do so would have been to enhance timing accuracy and ensure that the timing advance value is consistent with the subcarrier spacing.
Regarding claim 4, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim and Huang do not explicitly teach wherein a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing with which the UE is configured via control signaling.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches wherein a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing). The length of the field is 14 bits.) with which the UE is configured via control signaling ([Page 75, 5.4.8 Timing Advance Reporting] The Timing Advance reporting procedure is used in a non-terrestrial network to provide the gNB with an estimate of the UE's Timing Advance value (i.e., TTA as defined in the UE's TA formula, see TS 38.211 [8] clause 4.3.1). RRC controls Timing Advance reporting by configuring the following parameters: - offsetThresholdTA; - timingAdvanceSR).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s timing advance structure based on subcarrier spacing and configured via control signaling. The motivation to do would have been to improve consistency and accuracy that the timing advance value is consistent with the subcarrier spacing.
Regarding claim 5, Kim teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim) but does not explicitly teach the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: set a first bit of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report to indicate the format corresponding to the timing advance report.
However, Huang teaches the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to: set a first bit of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report to indicate the format corresponding to the timing advance report ([Page 55, line 38] The UE assistance information report may be a UE location report, a measurement report, and/or a TA report. [Page 57 lines 23-31] The first UE assistance information report and the second UE assistance information report may be differentiated based on a cell type. The cell may be a serving cell of the UE. For example, the first UE assistance information report may be triggered when a serving cell of the UE is of a first type. The second report may be when a serving cell of the UE is of a second type. The first type is different from the second type. The first type and/or the second type may be at least one of the types specified in the following - NW type of a cell, e.g., TN, NTN; - NTN type of a cell, e.g., LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, GSO, NGSO, HAPS; Huang). It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with Huang’s timing advance report to indicate the format. The motivation to do so would have been to improve consistency and accuracy that the timing advance value is consistent.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach generate a timing advance value indicated by a subset of bits of the plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the subset of bits indicating a respective quantity of symbols; and set one or more remaining bits to zero.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches generate a timing advance value indicated by a subset of bits of the plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the subset of bits indicating a respective quantity of symbols; and set one or more remaining bits to zero. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing). The length of the field is 14 bits
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications and NTN cell indicator and reserved bits in the timing advance report to distinguish a particular report format with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s structure of the first subset of bits corresponding a respective quantity of symbols and the remaining bits are set to 0. The motivation to do so would have been to ensure consistent signaling of timing advance values.
Regarding claim 6, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim),
the one or more remaining bits, the first bit, and the subset of bits, comprise a single octet and the timing advance report to indicate the format corresponding to the timing advance report ([Page 21, paragraph 4] In order to indicate which NTN cell the timing advance value belongs to, the TAR MAC CE may need to additionally include identification (ID) or index information to indicate a specific NTN cell. As previously explained, since Reserved bits exist in the conventional TAR MAC CE, the Reserved bits can be used to include information indicating an NTN cell. The modified TAR MAC CE is described in detail later in FIG. 1F in an octet structure. [Page 22, paragraph 6] According to one embodiment, the second TAR MAC CE 602 in FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including NTN cell indicator information; Kim)
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but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing that the UE is configured with during generation of the timing advance value.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing that the UE is configured with during generation of the timing advance value. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing). The length of the field is 14 bits
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report comprising a single octet that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s subcarrier spacing that is configured during the generating of the TA value. The motivation to do so would have been to enhance timing accuracy and ensure that the timing advance value is consistent with the subcarrier spacing.
Regarding claim 7, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), and a first bit of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report to indicate the format corresponding to the timing advance report ([Page 21, paragraph 4] In order to indicate which NTN cell the timing advance value belongs to, the TAR MAC CE may need to additionally include identification (ID) or index information to indicate a specific NTN cell. As previously explained, since Reserved bits exist in the conventional TAR MAC CE, the Reserved bits can be used to include information indicating an NTN cell. The modified TAR MAC CE is described in detail later in FIG. 1F. [Page 22, paragraph 6] According to one embodiment, the second TAR MAC CE 602 in FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including NTN cell indicator information; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach wherein: a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1). The length of the field is 14 bits.) with which the UE is configured via control signaling ([Page 75, 5.4.8 Timing Advance Reporting] The Timing Advance reporting procedure is used in a non-terrestrial network to provide the gNB with an estimate of the UE's Timing Advance value (i.e., TTA as defined in the UE's TA formula, see TS 38.211 [8] clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing). RRC controls Timing Advance reporting by configuring the following parameters: - offsetThresholdTA; - timingAdvanceSR).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications and NTN cell indicator with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s timing advance structure based on subcarrier spacing and configured via control signaling. The motivation to do would have been to improve consistency and accuracy that the timing advance value is consistent with the subcarrier spacing.
Regarding claim 11, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach generate a timing advance value indicated by a subset of bits of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the subset of bits indicating a respective quantity of symbols; and set one or more reserved bits to zero.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches generate a timing advance value indicated by a subset of bits of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the subset of bits indicating a respective quantity of symbols; and set one or more reserved bits to zero ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0;- Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing)
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).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s structure of the first subset of bits corresponding a respective quantity of symbols and setting one or more reserved bits to 0. The motivation to do so would have been to ensure consistent signaling of timing advance values.
Regarding claim 12, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), and the one or more reserved bits, and the subset of bits, comprise a single octet of the timing advance report ([Page 21, paragraph 4] In order to indicate which NTN cell the timing advance value belongs to, the TAR MAC CE may need to additionally include identification (ID) or index information to indicate a specific NTN cell. As previously explained, since Reserved bits exist in the conventional TAR MAC CE, the Reserved bits can be used to include information indicating an NTN cell. The modified TAR MAC CE is described in detail later in FIG. 1F in an octet structure. [Page 22, paragraph 6] According to one embodiment, the second TAR MAC CE 602 in FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including NTN cell indicator information; Kim).
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but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing that the UE is configured with during generation of the timing advance value.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing that the UE is configured with during generation of the timing advance value. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing).
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report comprising a single octet that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s subcarrier spacing that is configured during the generating of the TA value. The motivation to do so would have been to enhance timing accuracy and ensure that the timing advance value is consistent with the subcarrier spacing.
Regarding claim 15, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 14, wherein, to receive and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach wherein the timing advance report comprises a timing advance value indicated by a first subset of bits of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the first subset of bits corresponding to a respective quantity of symbols, wherein a second portion of bits of the plurality of bits are null bits.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches wherein the timing advance report comprises a timing advance value indicated by a first subset of bits of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the first subset of bits corresponding to a respective quantity of symbols, wherein a second portion of bits of the plurality of bits are null bits. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing). The length of the field is 14 bits
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of receiving and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s structure of the first subset of bits corresponding a respective quantity of symbols and the remaining bits are set to a fixed value of null bits. The motivation to do so would have been to ensure consistent signaling of timing advance values.
Regarding claim 16, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 14, wherein, to receive and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach wherein a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing with which the UE is configured.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches wherein a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing with which the UE is configured. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing). The length of the field is 14 bits.).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s subcarrier spacing that is configured during the generating of the TA value. The motivation to do so would have been to enhance timing accuracy and ensure that the timing advance value is consistent with the subcarrier spacing.
Regarding claim 17, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 14, wherein, to receive the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), wherein the timing advance report comprises a first bit of a plurality of bits that indicates the format corresponding to the timing advance report ([Page 21, paragraph 4] In order to indicate which NTN cell the timing advance value belongs to, the TAR MAC CE may need to additionally include identification (ID) or index information to indicate a specific NTN cell. As previously explained, since Reserved bits exist in the conventional TAR MAC CE, the Reserved bits can be used to include information indicating an NTN cell. The modified TAR MAC CE is described in detail later in FIG. 1F. [Page 22, paragraph 6] According to one embodiment, the second TAR MAC CE 602 in FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including NTN cell indicator information; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach a timing advance value indicated by a subset of bits of the plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the subset of bits indicating a respective quantity of symbols, and one or more reserved bits.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches a timing advance value indicated by a subset of bits of the plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the subset of bits indicating a respective quantity of symbols, and one or more reserved bits. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing).
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications and NTN cell indicator with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s structure of the first subset of bits corresponding a respective quantity of symbols and the one or more reserved bits. The motivation to do so would have been to ensure consistent signaling of timing advance values.
Regarding claim 18, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 14, wherein, generating the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), and the one or more reserved bits, and the subset of bits, comprise a single octet of the timing advance report ([Page 21, paragraph 4] In order to indicate which NTN cell the timing advance value belongs to, the TAR MAC CE may need to additionally include identification (ID) or index information to indicate a specific NTN cell. As previously explained, since Reserved bits exist in the conventional TAR MAC CE, the Reserved bits can be used to include information indicating an NTN cell. The modified TAR MAC CE is described in detail later in FIG. 1F in a single octet. [Page 22, paragraph 6] According to one embodiment, the second TAR MAC CE 602 in FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including NTN cell indicator information; Kim)
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but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing with which the UE is configured.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing with which the UE is configured. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing).
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report comprising a single octet that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s subcarrier spacing that is configured during the generating of the TA value. The motivation to do so would have been to enhance timing accuracy and ensure that the timing advance value is consistent with the subcarrier spacing.
Regarding claim 19, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 14, wherein, to receive and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach the timing advance report comprises a timing advance value indicated by a subset of bits of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the subset of bits indicating a respective quantity of symbols, and one or more reserved bits.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, teaches the timing advance report comprises a timing advance value indicated by a subset of bits of a plurality of bits of the timing advance report, each code point of the subset of bits indicating a respective quantity of symbols, and one or more reserved bits. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing)
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s structure of the first subset of bits corresponding a respective quantity of symbols and one or more reserved bits. The motivation to do so would have been to ensure consistent signaling of timing advance values.
Regarding claim 20, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt teaches the UE of claim 14, wherein, generating the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells; Kim), and the one or more reserved bits, and the subset of bits, comprise a single octet of the timing advance report ([Page 21, paragraph 4] In order to indicate which NTN cell the timing advance value belongs to, the TAR MAC CE may need to additionally include identification (ID) or index information to indicate a specific NTN cell. As previously explained, since Reserved bits exist in the conventional TAR MAC CE, the Reserved bits can be used to include information indicating an NTN cell. The modified TAR MAC CE is described in detail later in FIG. 1F. [Page 22, paragraph 6] According to one embodiment, the second TAR MAC CE 602 in FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including NTN cell indicator information; Kim), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing with which the UE is configured.
(3GPP TS 38.321), in the same field of wireless communications, a symbol duration corresponding to the timing advance value is based at least in part on a subcarrier spacing with which the UE is configured. ([Page 217, 6.1.3.56] The Timing Advance Report MAC CE is identified by MAC subheader with LCID as specified in Table 6.2.1-2. It has a fixed size and consists of two octets defined as follows (Figure 6.1.3.56-1): - R: Reserved bit, set to 0; - Timing Advance: In FR1, the Timing Advance field indicates the least integer number of slots, using subcarrier spacing of 15 kHz, greater than or equal to the Timing Advance value (see TS 38.211 [8], clause 4.3.1 defines each slot consists a number of OFDM symbols and symbol duration is determined based on the configured subcarrier spacing).
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It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report comprising a single octet that corresponds to air to ground communications with (3GPP TS 38.321)’s subcarrier spacing that is configured during the generating of the TA value. The motivation to do so would have been to enhance timing accuracy and ensure that the timing advance value is consistent with the subcarrier spacing.
Claim(s) 8-10, and 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Kim (WO 2024/014823 A1) in view of Huang (EP 4 161 209 A1), further in view of Moffatt (US 20220109495 A1) and further in view of Kunt (WO 2021/230815 A1).
Regarding claim 8, Kim teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells), and generate a timing advance value indicated by two octet of bits in the timing advance report ([Page 22, paragraph 5]) Referring to FIG. 1F (indicated by two octets), the first TAR MAC CE 601 of FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including a plurality of timing advance values. The terminal according to one embodiment may derive or obtain timing advance values of the serving NTN cell and adjacent NTN cells.
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), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Huang, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches the format of a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications ([Page 55, line 38] The UE assistance information report may be a UE location report, a measurement report, and/or a TA report. [Page 57 lines 23-31] The first UE assistance information report and the second UE assistance information report may be differentiated based on a cell type. The cell may be a serving cell of the UE. For example, the first UE assistance information report may be triggered when a serving cell of the UE is of a first type. The second report may be when a serving cell of the UE is of a second type. The first type is different from the second type. The first type and/or the second type may be at least one of the types specified in the following - NW type of a cell, e.g., TN, NTN; - NTN type of a cell, e.g., LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, GSO, NGSO, HAPS).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kim, Huang, and Moffatt. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications and generating timing advance value indicated by two octets of bits and Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply Huang’s dedicated format based on different cells, such as air-to-ground NTN cells to Kim’s generating and transmitting timing advance report to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach each code point of the two octets of the timing advance report corresponding to a respective sampling time unit of a plurality of candidate sampling time units.
Kunt, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches each code point of the two octets of the timing advance report corresponding to a respective sampling time unit of a plurality of candidate sampling time units ([Page 9, Paragraph 2-3] In some implementations of the present disclosure, the TA report reported by UE may comprise a TA value, which may be an actual TA value computed or measured by processor 212 or an index KI of a quantized TA value. The quantization step A may be defined in second, for example A = 0.lus. Alternatively, or additionally, the quantization step A may be defined with respect to sampling time Ts as A =k*Ts or the chip time Tc as A =k*Tc, where k is an integer number).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with Kunt’s representation of timing values using quantized code points corresponding to sampling time units. The motivation to do so would have been to improve timing accuracy, support multiple candidate sampling time units, and enable more precise timing alignment in air to ground communications.
Regarding claim 9, Kim teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells), and generate a timing advance value indicated by two octet of bits in the timing advance report ([Page 22, paragraph 5]) Referring to FIG. 1F (indicated by two octets), the first TAR MAC CE 601 of FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including a plurality of timing advance values. The terminal according to one embodiment may derive or obtain timing advance values of the serving NTN cell and adjacent NTN cells.
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but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Huang, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches the format of a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications ([Page 55, line 38] The UE assistance information report may be a UE location report, a measurement report, and/or a TA report. [Page 57 lines 23-31] The first UE assistance information report and the second UE assistance information report may be differentiated based on a cell type. The cell may be a serving cell of the UE. For example, the first UE assistance information report may be triggered when a serving cell of the UE is of a first type. The second report may be when a serving cell of the UE is of a second type. The first type is different from the second type. The first type and/or the second type may be at least one of the types specified in the following - NW type of a cell, e.g., TN, NTN; - NTN type of a cell, e.g., LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, GSO, NGSO, HAPS).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kim, Huang, and Moffatt. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications and generating timing advance value indicated by two octets of bits and Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply Huang’s dedicated format based on different cells, such as air-to-ground NTN cells to Kim’s generating and transmitting timing advance report to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach wherein a reserved logical channel identity code point comprises an indication that the format corresponds to a granularity of sampling time units.
Kunt, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches wherein a reserved logical channel identity code point comprises an indication that the format corresponds to a granularity of sampling time units ([Page 12, paragraphs 7-8] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a new MAC CE may be introduced (e.g. TA Report MAC CE), and may use a currently unused (reserved) logical channel identifier (LCID) value. FIG. 5 illustrates an example TA Report MAC CE in accordance with an implementation of the present disclosure. The TA information (e.g. the "TA report" in FIG. 5) may consist of 8 bits.).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications with Kunt’s timing advance report element that uses a reserved logical channel identity (LCID) value to indicate the report format and convey specific timing advance information. The motivation to do so would have been to improve timing accuracy, support multiple candidate sampling time units, and support different timing advance granularities.
Regarding claim 10, Kim teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells), and generate a timing advance value indicated by two octet of bits in the timing advance report ([Page 22, paragraph 5]) Referring to FIG. 1F (indicated by two octets), the first TAR MAC CE 601 of FIG. 1F may be a TAR MAC CE including a plurality of timing advance values. The terminal according to one embodiment may derive or obtain timing advance values of the serving NTN cell and adjacent NTN cells.
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), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Huang, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches the format of a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications ([Page 55, line 38] The UE assistance information report may be a UE location report, a measurement report, and/or a TA report. [Page 57 lines 23-31] The first UE assistance information report and the second UE assistance information report may be differentiated based on a cell type. The cell may be a serving cell of the UE. For example, the first UE assistance information report may be triggered when a serving cell of the UE is of a first type. The second report may be when a serving cell of the UE is of a second type. The first type is different from the second type. The first type and/or the second type may be at least one of the types specified in the following - NW type of a cell, e.g., TN, NTN; - NTN type of a cell, e.g., LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, GSO, NGSO, HAPS).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kim, Huang, and Moffatt. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications and generating timing advance value indicated by two octet of bits and Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply Huang’s dedicated format based on different cells, such as air-to-ground NTN cells to Kim’s generating and transmitting timing advance report to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach receive an indication that the cell supports the format corresponding to the air to ground cell.
Kunt, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches receive an indication that the cell supports the format corresponding to the air to ground cell. ([Page 14, paragraphs 5-7]) In some implementations, network node 125 may trigger the TA report by sending the UE MAC CE or RRC message. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, a new MAC CE may be introduced (e.g. TA Report Request MAC CE), and may use a currently unused (reserved) LCID value. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the TA report request may be transmitted via or with a new RRC message, such as RRCTimingAdvanceReportRequest)
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report with a format that corresponds to air to ground communications with Kunt’s trigger or request by sending the UE MAC CE or RRC message, with an indication that a particular timing advance format can be supported or requested by the cell. The motivation to do so would have been to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types, and improve interoperability between the UE and network.
Regarding claim 13, Kim teaches the UE of claim 1, wherein, to generate and transmit the timing advance report ([Page 14, paragraph 4] According to one embodiment, a method performed by a terminal in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) includes receiving information about a plurality of NTN cells from a satellite, and based on the information about the plurality of NTN cells. Identifying a plurality of TA (timing advance) values of NTN cells and transmitting, to the satellite, a TAR MAC CE (timing advance report MAC control element) including the plurality of TA values of the plurality of NTN cells), but does not explicitly teach the format a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications.
Huang, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches the format of a timing advance report that corresponds to air to ground communications ([Page 55, line 38] The UE assistance information report may be a UE location report, a measurement report, and/or a TA report. [Page 57 lines 23-31] The first UE assistance information report and the second UE assistance information report may be differentiated based on a cell type. The cell may be a serving cell of the UE. For example, the first UE assistance information report may be triggered when a serving cell of the UE is of a first type. The second report may be when a serving cell of the UE is of a second type. The first type is different from the second type. The first type and/or the second type may be at least one of the types specified in the following - NW type of a cell, e.g., TN, NTN; - NTN type of a cell, e.g., LEO, MEO, HEO, GEO, GSO, NGSO, HAPS).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Kim, Huang, and Moffatt. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications and Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have been motivated to apply Huang’s dedicated format based on different cells, such as air-to-ground NTN cells to Kim’s generating and transmitting timing advance report to improve signaling efficiency and timing accuracy across different cell types.
Further, Kim, Huang, and Moffatt do not explicitly teach receive control signaling indicating a threshold timing offset triggering transmission of the timing advance report, wherein transmitting the timing advance report is based at least in part on determining that a transmission timing value satisfies the threshold timing offset.
Kunt, in the same field of wireless communications, teaches receive control signaling ([Page 5, paragraphs 1-3], [Page 14, Paragraph 5-7] In some implementations, network node 125 may trigger the TA report by sending the UE MAC CE or RRC message. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the TA report request may be transmitted via or with a new RRC message, such as RRCTimingAdvanceReportRequest.) indicating a threshold timing offset triggering transmission of the timing advance report, wherein transmitting the timing advance report is based at least in part on determining that a transmission timing value satisfies the threshold timing offset ([Page 5, paragraphs 1-3], [Page 9, paragraph 2-3], [Page 11, paragraphs 3-4] UE 110 may be configured to autonomously transmit its TA report to network node 125 periodically or non-periodically. As an example, UE 110 may be configured to transmit a TA report to network node 125 in response to a value of TA deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount. In some implementations of the present disclosure, the TA report reported by UE may comprise a TA value, which may be an actual TA value computed or measured by processor 212 or an index KI of a quantized TA value. Alternatively, or additionally, the quantization step A may be defined with respect to sampling time Ts as A =k*Ts or the chip time Tc as A =k*Tc, where k is an integer number. The processor 212 may monitor the TA/KI value and when the TA/KI value is outside a hysteresis range, or when the TA/KI value is greater than or lower than a predetermined threshold, or when the TA/KI value is deviating from a threshold by at least a predefined amount, the UE 110 may initiate the TA report. Alternatively, TA reporting by UE 110 may be trigger-based or request-based (e.g., based on a trigger signal or a request from network node 125) or in accordance with a UE protocol).
It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings with the teachings of Kunt. Kim teaches generating and transmitting a timing advance report for air-to-ground or non-terrestrial network communications and Huang teaches that UE assistance reports, including timing advance reports, are differentiated based on the type of serving cell, including terrestrial and non-terrestrial network cell types. Kunt teaches that the UE determines a timing advance value or a quantized index of the timing advance value prior to reporting and that transmission of the timing advance report is performed to the triggering condition. The motivation to do so would have been to improve timing accuracy, support multiple candidate sampling time units, and enable more precise timing alignment in air to ground communications. It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art to be motivated to combine Kim, Huang, and Moffatt’s teachings of generating and transmitting a time advance report with a format that corresponds to air to ground communications with Kunt’s threshold timing offset triggering transmission to reduce signaling overhead and ensure signaling efficiency.
Conclusion
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.
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/LABIBAH ILMA ALI/ Examiner, Art Unit 3667
/SAHAR MOTAZEDI/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3667
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