DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Double Patenting
2. A rejection based on double patenting of the “same invention” type finds its support in the language of 35 U.S.C. 101 which states that “whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process... may obtain a patent therefor...” (Emphasis added). Thus, the term “same invention,” in this context, means an invention drawn to identical subject matter. See Miller v. Eagle Mfg. Co., 151 U.S. 186 (1894); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Ockert, 245 F.2d 467, 114 USPQ 330 (CCPA 1957).
A statutory type (35 U.S.C. 101) double patenting rejection can be overcome by canceling or amending the claims that are directed to the same invention so they are no longer coextensive in scope. The filing of a terminal disclaimer cannot overcome a double patenting rejection based upon 35 U.S.C. 101.
3. Claims 1-11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 as claiming the same invention as that of Claims 1-12 of prior Patent No.: US 12,096,302 B2 to Basu Mallick et al. This is a statutory double patenting rejection. (NOTE: The underlined each claimed limitation in the instant application of 18/799,898 and prior Patent No.: US 12,096,302 B2 to Basu Mallick et al. are the invention drawn to identical subject matter below).
Patent No.: 12,096,302 B2
Instant Application: 18/799,898
Claim 1: A communication apparatus for performing a handoff to a target base station, the communication apparatus comprising:
a receiver, which, in operation, receives a handoff command message, for the handoff to the target base station, including a handoff execution condition; and
circuitry, which, in operation, determines, based on the received handoff execution condition included in the handoff command message, whether or not the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station,
wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to an indication to trigger execution of the handoff based on threshold values for signal strength or signal quality of a source radio cell and/or a target radio cell,
wherein the circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not the signal strength or signal quality of the source radio cell falls below one of the threshold values and/or the signal strength or signal quality of the target radio cell rises above another of the threshold values, and
wherein, upon the signal strength or signal quality having fallen below the one of the threshold values and/or having risen above the another of the threshold values, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 1: An integrated circuit for controlling a communication apparatus, the integrated circuit comprising:
receiving circuitry, which, in operation, receives a handoff command message, for a handoff to a target base station, including a handoff execution condition; and
control circuitry, which, in operation, determines, based on the received handoff execution condition included in the handoff command message, whether or not the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station,
wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to an indication to trigger execution of the handoff based on threshold values for signal strength or signal quality of a source radio cell and/or a target radio cell,
wherein the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not the signal strength or signal quality of the source radio cell falls below one of the threshold values and/or the signal strength or signal quality of the target radio cell rises above another of the threshold values, and
wherein, upon the signal strength or signal quality having fallen below the one of the threshold values and/or having risen above the another of the threshold values, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 2: Wherein the communication apparatus, prior to receiving the handoff command message, communicates with a source base station via the source radio cell; and the receiver, in operation, receives the handoff command message from the source base station via a downlink carrier of the source radio cell; and, after receiving the handoff command message, the communication apparatus detaches from the source radio cell whereby communication with the source base station is stopped.
Claim 2: Wherein the communication apparatus, prior to receiving the handoff command message, communicates with a source base station via the source radio cell; and the receiving circuitry, in operation, receives the handoff command message from the source base station via a downlink carrier of the source radio cell; and, after receiving the handoff command message, the communication apparatus detaches from the source radio cell whereby communication with the source base station is stopped.
Claim 3: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to a timer value, and the circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a timer with the timer value has expired, and wherein, upon expiration of the timer with the timer value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 3: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to a timer value, and the circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a timer with the timer value has expired, and wherein, upon expiration of the timer with the timer value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 4: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to at least one threshold value for the signal strength or signal quality of the source and/or target radio cell, and the circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not the signal strength or signal quality of the source radio cell falls below the at least one threshold value and/or the signal strength or signal quality of the target radio cell rises above the at least one threshold value, and wherein, upon the signal strength or signal quality having fallen below the at least one threshold value and/or having risen above the at least one threshold value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 4: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to at least one threshold value for the signal strength or signal quality of the source and/or target radio cell, and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not the signal strength or signal quality of the source radio cell falls below the at least one threshold value and/or the signal strength or signal quality of the target radio cell rises above the at least one threshold value, and wherein, upon the signal strength or signal quality having fallen below the at least one threshold value and/or having risen above the at least one threshold value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 5: Wherein the at least one threshold value for the signal strength corresponds to a threshold value for a reference signal received power (RSRP) to be measured by the communication apparatus based on reference signals (RSs) transmitted in the source and/or target radio cell, and the at least one threshold value for the signal quality corresponds to a threshold value for a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) to be measured by the communication apparatus based on the reference signals (RSs) transmitted in the source and/or target radio cell.
Claim 5: Wherein the at least one threshold value for the signal strength corresponds to a threshold value for a reference signal received power (RSRP) to be measured by the communication apparatus based on reference signals (RSs) transmitted in the source and/or target radio cell, and the at least one threshold value for the signal quality corresponds to a threshold value for a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) to be measured by the communication apparatus based on the reference signals (RSs) transmitted in the source and/or target radio cell.
Claim 6: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to an indication to trigger execution of the handoff based on out-of-sync events where a channel quality of the source radio cell falls below an out-of-sync threshold (Qout), and the circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a number of out-of-sync events exceeds a pre-configured number N, and wherein, in case the number of out-of-sync events exceeds the pre-configured number N, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 6: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to an indication to trigger execution of the handoff based on out-of-sync events where a channel quality of the source radio cell falls below an out-of-sync threshold (Qout), and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a number of out-of-sync events exceeds a pre-configured number N, and wherein, in case the number of out-of-sync events exceeds the pre-configured number N, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 7: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to a counter value for out-of-sync events where a channel quality of the source radio cell falls below an out-of-sync threshold (Qout), and the circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a number of out-of-sync events exceeds a received counter value, and wherein, in case the number of out-of-sync events exceeds the received counter value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 7: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to a counter value for out-of-sync events where a channel quality of the source radio cell falls below an out-of-sync threshold (Qout), and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a number of out-of-sync events exceeds a received counter value, and wherein, in case the number of out-of-sync events exceeds the received counter value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 8: Wherein the handoff command message corresponds to a RRCConnectionReconfiguration message.
Claim 8: Wherein the handoff command message corresponds to a RRCConnectionReconfiguration message.
Claim 9: Wherein a handoff complete message corresponds to a RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message.
Claim 9: Wherein a handoff complete message corresponds to a RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message.
Claim 10: Wherein: in case the circuitry determines, within a second pre-configured period of time, that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station including performing a contention-free random access channel (RACH) procedure based on a random access preamble included in the handoff command message; and in case the circuitry determines, after expiry of the second pre-configured period of time, that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station including performing a contention-based RACH procedure based on a random access preamble randomly selected by the communication apparatus.
Claim 10: Wherein: in case the control circuitry determines, within a second pre-configured period of time, that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station including performing a contention-free random access channel (RACH) procedure based on a random access preamble included in the handoff command message; and in case the control circuitry determines, after expiry of the second pre-configured period of time, that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station including performing a contention-based RACH procedure based on a random access preamble randomly selected by the communication apparatus.
Claim 11: Wherein the received handoff command message includes a RACH validity timer, and the circuitry, in operation, re-configures the second pre-configured period of time based on the RACH validity timer.
Claim 11: Wherein the received handoff command message includes a RACH validity timer, and the control circuitry, in operation, re-configures the second pre-configured period of time based on the RACH validity timer.
4. Claims 1-11 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over Claims 1-11 of Patent No.: US 11,696,203 B2 to Basu Mallick et al. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the instant claims limitations are transparently found in the claims of the above mentioned patented claims. Applicant’s incorporate underlined limitations to the independent claims of patented application below so as broaden the patented application. Thus, both set of claims are obvious variant of each other. See table and claim mapping below:
Applicant’s merely broadens the independent claims of this instant application by adding some limitations to arrive at the limitations of the instant claims. Thus, both set of claims are obvious variant of each other. See table and claim mapping below:
Patent No.: 11,696,203 B2
Instant Application: 18/799,898
Claim 1: An integrated circuit for controlling a communication apparatus for performing a handoff to a target base station, the integrated circuit comprising:
receiving circuitry, which, in operation, receives a handoff command message, for the handoff to the target base station, including a handoff execution condition; and
control circuitry, which, in operation, determines, based on the received handoff execution condition included in the handoff command message, whether or not the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station,
wherein, in case the control circuitry determines that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station (a) by performing a random access channel (RACH) procedure with the target base station, and (b) by transmitting to the target base station a handoff complete message after synchronizing to the target base station for communication with the target base station via a target radio cell,
wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to an indication to trigger execution of the handoff based on threshold values for signal strength or signal quality of a source radio cell and/or the target radio cell,
wherein the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not the signal strength or signal quality of the source radio cell falls below one of the threshold values and/or the signal strength or signal quality of the target radio cell rises above another of the threshold values, and
wherein, upon the signal strength or signal quality having fallen below the one of the threshold values and/or having risen above the another of the threshold values, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 1: An integrated circuit for controlling a communication apparatus, the integrated circuit comprising:
receiving circuitry, which, in operation, receives a handoff command message, for a handoff to a target base station, including a handoff execution condition; and
control circuitry, which, in operation, determines, based on the received handoff execution condition included in the handoff command message, whether or not the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station,
wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to an indication to trigger execution of the handoff based on threshold values for signal strength or signal quality of a source radio cell and/or a target radio cell,
wherein the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not the signal strength or signal quality of the source radio cell falls below one of the threshold values and/or the signal strength or signal quality of the target radio cell rises above another of the threshold values, and
wherein, upon the signal strength or signal quality having fallen below the one of the threshold values and/or having risen above the another of the threshold values, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
The instant application discloses virtually all the limitations of the instant application with the exception of ‘wherein, in case the control circuitry determines that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station (a) by performing a random access channel (RACH) procedure with the target base station, and (b) by transmitting to the target base station a handoff complete message after synchronizing to the target base station for communication with the target base station via a target radio cell’. It would have been obvious to one of the ordinary skill in the art before the time the invention was filed to provide ‘wherein, in case the control circuitry determines that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station (a) by performing a random access channel (RACH) procedure with the target base station, and (b) by transmitting to the target base station a handoff complete message after synchronizing to the target base station for communication with the target base station via a target radio cell’ as disclosed by the patented application into the instant application so as to effectively and efficiently execute handover in wireless communication system.
Claim 2: Wherein the communication apparatus, prior to receiving the handoff command message, communicates with a source base station via the source radio cell; and the receiving circuitry, in operation, receives the handoff command message from the source base station via a downlink carrier of the source radio cell; and, after receiving the handoff command message, the communication apparatus detaches from the source radio cell whereby communication with the source base station is stopped.
Claim 2: Wherein the communication apparatus, prior to receiving the handoff command message, communicates with a source base station via the source radio cell; and the receiving circuitry, in operation, receives the handoff command message from the source base station via a downlink carrier of the source radio cell; and, after receiving the handoff command message, the communication apparatus detaches from the source radio cell whereby communication with the source base station is stopped.
Claim 3: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to a timer value, and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a timer with the timer value has expired, and wherein, upon expiration of the timer with the timer value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 3: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to a timer value, and the circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a timer with the timer value has expired, and wherein, upon expiration of the timer with the timer value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 4: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to at least one threshold value for the signal strength or signal quality of the source and/or target radio cell, and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not the signal strength or signal quality of the source radio cell falls below the at least one threshold value and/or the signal strength or signal quality of the target radio cell rises above the at least one threshold value, and wherein, upon the signal strength or signal quality having fallen below the at least one threshold value and/or having risen above the at least one threshold value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 4: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to at least one threshold value for the signal strength or signal quality of the source and/or target radio cell, and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not the signal strength or signal quality of the source radio cell falls below the at least one threshold value and/or the signal strength or signal quality of the target radio cell rises above the at least one threshold value, and wherein, upon the signal strength or signal quality having fallen below the at least one threshold value and/or having risen above the at least one threshold value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 5: Wherein the at least one threshold value for the signal strength corresponds to a threshold value for a reference signal received power (RSRP) to be measured by the communication apparatus based on reference signals (RSs) transmitted in the source and/or target radio cell, and the at least one threshold value for the signal quality corresponds to a threshold value for a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) to be measured by the communication apparatus based on the reference signals (RSs) transmitted in the source and/or target radio cell.
Claim 5: Wherein the at least one threshold value for the signal strength corresponds to a threshold value for a reference signal received power (RSRP) to be measured by the communication apparatus based on reference signals (RSs) transmitted in the source and/or target radio cell, and the at least one threshold value for the signal quality corresponds to a threshold value for a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) to be measured by the communication apparatus based on the reference signals (RSs) transmitted in the source and/or target radio cell.
Claim 6: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to an indication to trigger execution of the handoff based on out-of-sync events where a channel quality of the source radio cell falls below an out-of-sync threshold (Qout), and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a number of out-of-sync events exceeds a pre-configured number N, and wherein, in case the number of out-of-sync events exceeds the pre-configured number N, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 6: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to an indication to trigger execution of the handoff based on out-of-sync events where a channel quality of the source radio cell falls below an out-of-sync threshold (Qout), and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a number of out-of-sync events exceeds a pre-configured number N, and wherein, in case the number of out-of-sync events exceeds the pre-configured number N, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 7: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to a counter value for out-of-sync events where a channel quality of the source radio cell falls below an out-of-sync threshold (Qout), and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a number of out-of-sync events exceeds a received counter value, and wherein, in case the number of out-of-sync events exceeds the received counter value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 7: Wherein the handoff execution condition, included in the received handoff command message, corresponds to a counter value for out-of-sync events where a channel quality of the source radio cell falls below an out-of-sync threshold (Qout), and the control circuitry, in operation, determines whether or not a number of out-of-sync events exceeds a received counter value, and wherein, in case the number of out-of-sync events exceeds the received counter value, the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station.
Claim 8: Wherein the handoff command message corresponds to a RRCConnectionReconfiguration message.
Claim 8: Wherein the handoff command message corresponds to a RRCConnectionReconfiguration message.
Claim 9: Wherein the handoff complete message corresponds to a RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message.
Claim 9: Wherein a handoff complete message corresponds to a RRCConnectionReconfigurationComplete message.
Claim 10: Wherein: in case the control circuitry determines, within a second pre-configured period of time, that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station including (a) performing a contention-free RACH procedure based on a random access preamble included in the handoff command message; and in case the control circuitry determines, after expiry of the second pre-configured period of time, that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station including (a) performing a contention-based RACH procedure based on a random access preamble randomly selected by the communication apparatus.
Claim 10: Wherein: in case the control circuitry determines, within a second pre-configured period of time, that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station including performing a contention-free random access channel (RACH) procedure based on a random access preamble included in the handoff command message; and in case the control circuitry determines, after expiry of the second pre-configured period of time, that the communication apparatus is to trigger execution of the handoff to the target base station, the communication apparatus executes the handoff to the target base station including performing a contention-based RACH procedure based on a random access preamble randomly selected by the communication apparatus.
Claim 11: Wherein the received handoff command message includes a RACH validity timer, and the control circuitry, in operation, re-configures the second pre-configured period of time based on the RACH validity timer.
Claim 11: Wherein the received handoff command message includes a RACH validity timer, and the control circuitry, in operation, re-configures the second pre-configured period of time based on the RACH validity timer.
Conclusion
5. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to GBEMILEKE J ONAMUTI whose telephone number is (571)270-5619. The examiner can normally be reached 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
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/GBEMILEKE J ONAMUTI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2463
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