DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
The filing of a terminal disclaimer by itself is not a complete reply to a nonstatutory double patenting (NSDP) rejection. A complete reply requires that the terminal disclaimer be accompanied by a reply requesting reconsideration of the prior Office action. Even where the NSDP rejection is provisional the reply must be complete. See MPEP § 804, subsection I.B.1. For a reply to a non-final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.111(a). For a reply to final Office action, see 37 CFR 1.113(c). A request for reconsideration while not provided for in 37 CFR 1.113(c) may be filed after final for consideration. See MPEP §§ 706.07(e) and 714.13.
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Claims 1, 3 – 6, 8, 10 – 13, 15, and 17 – 19 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claimed features of independent claims 1, 8 and 15 of Application No. 18/807,659 are broadened versions of independent claims 1, 8 and 15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 by eliminating some elements and their functions from the independent claims. The conflicting claims are in the same scope of inventive concept.
Claim 2 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 in view of Go et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0344527; hereinafter Go).
Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 does not disclose the claimed features as recited in claim 2.
Regarding claim 2, Go discloses wherein the triggering states of the M user devices are jointly coded and indicated by a single value of a data block (see para. 0246, 0270, a DCI 1 bit field for whether to stop transmission of the legacy periodic SRS…may be joint-coded with a bit field for triggering the enhanced aperiodic SRS (AP-SRS), configuring a downlink control information format).
It would have been obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684, and have the features, as taught by Go, in order to reduce the load on the network by aperiodically transmitting an SRS of multiple symbols and enhance the coverage and the capacity of the SRS by transmitting the SRS at least two or more times, as discussed by Go (para. 0027).
Claim 7 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 in view of Hoshino et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0022210; hereinafter Hoshino).
Claim 1 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 does not disclose the claimed features as recited in claim 7.
Regarding claim 7, Hoshino discloses wherein a bit width of each of the N data blocks is associated with i) at least one of higher layer parameters (see para. 0150, one set of SRS trigger states is configured by a higher layer parameter, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”), ii) a functionality of a data block, iii) a RNTI (Radio Network Temporary Identifier), or iv) an ID (identifier) of a user device.
It would have been obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684, and have the features, as taught by Hoshino, in order to efficiently transmit a sounding reference signal for the calculation of a first spatial domain transmission filter (transmission beam, precoder) using the first CSI-RS, as discussed by Hoshino (abstract).
Claim 9 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 8 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 in view of Go et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0344527; hereinafter Go).
Claim 8 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 does not disclose the claimed features as recited in claim 9.
Regarding claim 9, Go discloses wherein the triggering states of the M user devices are jointly coded and indicated by a single value of a data block (see para. 0246, 0270, a DCI 1 bit field for whether to stop transmission of the legacy periodic SRS…may be joint-coded with a bit field for triggering the enhanced aperiodic SRS (AP-SRS), configuring a downlink control information format).
It would have been obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684, and have the features, as taught by Go, in order to reduce the load on the network by aperiodically transmitting an SRS of multiple symbols and enhance the coverage and the capacity of the SRS by transmitting the SRS at least two or more times, as discussed by Go (para. 0027).
Claim 14 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 8 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 in view of Hoshino et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0022210; hereinafter Hoshino).
Claim 8 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 does not disclose the claimed features as recited in claim 14.
Regarding claim 14, Hoshino discloses wherein a bit width of each of the N data blocks is associated with i) at least one of higher layer parameters (see para. 0150, one set of SRS trigger states is configured by a higher layer parameter, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”), ii) a functionality of a data block, iii) a RNTI (Radio Network Temporary Identifier), or iv) an ID (identifier) of a user device.
It would have been obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684, and have the features, as taught by Hoshino, in order to efficiently transmit a sounding reference signal for the calculation of a first spatial domain transmission filter (transmission beam, precoder) using the first CSI-RS, as discussed by Hoshino (abstract).
Claim 16 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 in view of Go et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0344527; hereinafter Go).
Claim 15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 does not disclose the claimed features as recited in claim 16.
Regarding claim 16, Go discloses wherein the triggering states of the M user devices are jointly coded and indicated by a single value of a data block (see para. 0246, 0270, a DCI 1 bit field for whether to stop transmission of the legacy periodic SRS…may be joint-coded with a bit field for triggering the enhanced aperiodic SRS (AP-SRS), configuring a downlink control information format).
It would have been obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684, and have the features, as taught by Go, in order to reduce the load on the network by aperiodically transmitting an SRS of multiple symbols and enhance the coverage and the capacity of the SRS by transmitting the SRS at least two or more times, as discussed by Go (para. 0027).
Claim 20 is rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claim 15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 in view of Hoshino et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0022210; hereinafter Hoshino).
Claim 15 of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684 does not disclose the claimed features as recited in claim 20.
Regarding claim 20, Hoshino discloses wherein a bit width of each of the N data blocks is associated with i) at least one of higher layer parameters (see para. 0150, one set of SRS trigger states is configured by a higher layer parameter, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”), ii) a functionality of a data block, iii) a RNTI (Radio Network Temporary Identifier), or iv) an ID (identifier) of a user device.
It would have been obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684, and have the features, as taught by Hoshino, in order to efficiently transmit a sounding reference signal for the calculation of a first spatial domain transmission filter (transmission beam, precoder) using the first CSI-RS, as discussed by Hoshino (abstract).
The mappings of the conflicting claims are shown in the table below.
Claims from Application No. 18/807,659
Claims from U.S. Patent No. 12,069,684
1. A wireless communication method, comprising: transmitting, by a network device, to one or more user devices, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate configuration information of the M user devices, and
wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) monitoring occasion indication, a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, spatial information, information of time domain resource allocation, information of QCL (Quasi-co-location) information, a SRS (Sounding Reference Signals) request, or a CSI (Channel State Information) request.
3. The wireless communication method of claim 1, each of the M user devices is configured with one data block.
4. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein a user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the triggering states of the user device or other user devices.
5. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device is determined by at least one of the following: a value of a data block, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
6. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein a value of a data block is determined by at least one of the following: a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
8. A wireless communication method, comprising: receiving, by a user device, from a network device, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate configuration information of the M user devices, and wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) monitoring occasion indication, a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, spatial information, information of time domain resource allocation, information of QCL (Quasi-co-location) information, a SRS (Sounding Reference Signals) request, or a CSI (Channel State Information) request.
10. The wireless communication method of claim 8, each of the M user devices is configured with one data block.
11. The wireless communication method of claim 8, wherein the user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the T triggering states of the user device or other user devices.
12. The wireless communication method of claim 8, wherein a triggering state of the user device indicated by the network device is determined by at least one of the following: a value of a data block, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
13. The wireless communication method of claim 8, wherein a value of a data block is determined by at least one of the following: a triggering state of the user device indicated by the network device, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
15. A communication apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to: transmit, to one or more user devices, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate configuration information of the M user devices, and wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) monitoring occasion indication, a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, spatial information, information of time domain resource allocation, information of QCL (Quasi-co-location) information, a SRS (Sounding Reference Signals) request, or a CSI (Channel State Information) request.
17. The communication apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the triggering states of the user device or other user devices.
18. The communication apparatus of claim 15, wherein a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device is determined by at least one of the following: a value of a data block, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
19. The communication apparatus of claim 15, wherein a value of a data block is determined by at least one of the following: a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
1. A wireless communication method, comprising: transmitting, by a network device, to one or more user devices, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate corresponding configuration information of the M user devices, and
wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, or a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, and wherein the control signaling is included in a first set of DCI (Downlink Control Information) formats or candidates with CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) scrambled by PS-RNTI (Power Saving Radio Network Temporary Identifier).
2. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein each of the M user devices is configured with one data block and wherein the configuration information further includes at least one of spatial information, information of time domain resource allocation, information of QCL (Quasi-co-location) information, a SRS (Sounding Reference Signals) request, or a CSI (Channel State Information) request.
3. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the triggering states of the user device or other user devices.
4. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein the triggering state of the user device indicated by the network device is determined further based on at least one of the following: a value of a data block, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
5. The wireless communication method of claim 1, wherein a value of the data block is determined further based on at least one of the following: a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
8. A wireless communication method, comprising: receiving, by a user device, from a network device, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate corresponding configuration information of the M user devices, and wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, or a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, and wherein the control signaling is included in a first set of DCI (Downlink Control Information) formats or candidates with CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) scrambled by PS-RNTI (Power Saving Radio Network Temporary Identifier).
9. The wireless communication method of claim 8, wherein each of the M user devices is configured with one data block and wherein the configuration information further includes at least one of spatial information, information of time domain resource allocation, information of QCL (Quasi-co-location) information, a SRS (Sounding Reference Signals) request, or a CSI (Channel State Information) request.
10. The wireless communication method of claim 8, wherein the user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the T triggering states of the user device or other user devices.
11. The wireless communication method of claim 8, wherein the triggering state of the user device indicated by the network device is determined further based on at least one of the following: a value of a data block, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
12. The wireless communication method of claim 8, wherein a value of the data block is determined further based on at least one of the following: a triggering state of the user device indicated by the network device, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
15. A communication apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to: transmit, to one or more user devices, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate corresponding configuration information of the M user devices, and wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, or a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, and wherein the control signaling is included in a first set of DCI (Downlink Control Information) formats or candidates with CRC (Cyclic Redundancy Check) scrambled by PS-RNTI (Power Saving Radio Network Temporary Identifier).
16. The communication apparatus of claim 15, wherein the user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the triggering states of the user device or other user devices.
17. The communication apparatus of claim 15, wherein the triggering state of the user device indicated by the communication apparatus is determined further based on at least one of the following: a value of a data block, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
18. The communication apparatus of claim 15, wherein a value of the data block is determined further based on at least one of the following: a triggering state of a user device indicated by the communication apparatus, the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claims 1, 4 – 8, 11 – 15, and 17 – 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hoshino et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0022210; hereinafter Hoshino).
Regarding claim 1, Hoshino discloses a wireless communication method, comprising: transmitting, by a network device, to one or more user devices, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate configuration information of the M user devices (see Fig. 1, Fig. 5, base station apparatus 3 communicates to terminal apparatus 1A and 1B, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, para. 0144 – 0145, 0148, 0156, 0161, a base station transmits a DCI with multiple data values that are associated to multiple triggering states for apparatus 1A and 1B… for example: DCI with SRS request field value of 01 indicates trigger state # 0, DCI with SRS request field value of 10 indicates trigger state # 1, DCI with SRS request field value of 11 indicates trigger state # 2), and wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) monitoring occasion indication, a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, spatial information, information of time domain resource allocation, information of QCL (Quasi-co-location) information, a SRS (Sounding Reference Signals) request (see Fig. 7, Fig. 8, para. 0148, 0155, 0161, SRS request), or a CSI (Channel State Information) request.
Regarding claim 4, Hoshino discloses wherein a user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the triggering states of the user device (see Fig. 7, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”) or other user devices.
Regarding claim 5, Hoshino discloses wherein a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device is determined by at least one of the following: a value of a data block (see Fig. 7, para. 0156, for example: a value of 01 is associated to a triggering state #0, a value of 10 is associated to a triggering state #1, a value of 11 is associated to a triggering state #2), the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
Regarding claim 6, Hoshino discloses wherein a value of a data block is determined by at least one of the following: a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device (see Fig. 7, para. 0156, for example: a value of 01 is associated to a triggering state #0, a value of 10 is associated to a triggering state #1, a value of 11 is associated to a triggering state #2), the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
Regarding claim 7, Hoshino discloses wherein a bit width of each of the N data blocks is associated with i) at least one of higher layer parameters (see para. 0150, one set of SRS trigger states is configured by a higher layer parameter, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”), ii) a functionality of a data block, iii) a RNTI (Radio Network Temporary Identifier), or iv) an ID (identifier) of a user device.
Regarding claim 8, Hoshino discloses a wireless communication method, comprising: receiving, by a user device, from a network device, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate configuration information of the M user devices (see Fig. 1, Fig. 5, base station apparatus 3 communicates to terminal apparatus 1A and 1B, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, para. 0144 – 0145, 0148, 0156, 0161, a base station transmits a DCI with multiple data values that are associated to multiple triggering states for apparatus 1A and 1B… for example: DCI with SRS request field value of 01 indicates trigger state # 0, DCI with SRS request field value of 10 indicates trigger state # 1, DCI with SRS request field value of 11 indicates trigger state # 2), and wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) monitoring occasion indication, a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, spatial information, information of time domain resource allocation, information of QCL (Quasi-co-location) information, a SRS (Sounding Reference Signals) request (see Fig. 7, Fig. 8, para. 0148, 0155, 0161, SRS request), or a CSI (Channel State Information) request.
Regarding claim 11, Hoshino discloses wherein the user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the T triggering states of the user device (see Fig. 7, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”) or other user devices.
Regarding claim 12, Hoshino discloses wherein a triggering state of the user device indicated by the network device is determined by at least one of the following: a value of a data block (see Fig. 7, para. 0156, for example: a value of 01 is associated to a triggering state #0, a value of 10 is associated to a triggering state #1, a value of 11 is associated to a triggering state #2), the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
Regarding claim 13, Hoshino discloses wherein a value of a data block is determined by at least one of the following: a triggering state of the user device indicated by the network device (see Fig. 7, para. 0156, for example: a value of 01 is associated to a triggering state #0, a value of 10 is associated to a triggering state #1, a value of 11 is associated to a triggering state #2), the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
Regarding claim 14, Hoshino discloses wherein a bit width of each of the N data blocks is associated with i) at least one of higher layer parameters (see para. 0150, one set of SRS trigger states is configured by a higher layer parameter, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”), ii) a functionality of a data block, iii) a RNTI (Radio Network Temporary Identifier), iv) an ID (identifier) of a user device.
Regarding claim 15, Hoshino discloses a communication apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the processor (see para. 0231 - 0233, an apparatus with a CPU and memory) is configured to: transmit, to one or more user devices, a control signaling including N data blocks that indicate T triggering states of M user devices, and wherein N, T, and M are natural numbers and the triggering states indicate configuration information of the M user devices (see Fig. 1, Fig. 5, base station apparatus 3 communicates to terminal apparatus 1A and 1B, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, para. 0144 – 0145, 0148, 0156, 0161, a base station transmits a DCI with multiple data values that are associated to multiple triggering states for apparatus 1A and 1B… for example: DCI with SRS request field value of 01 indicates trigger state # 0, DCI with SRS request field value of 10 indicates trigger state # 1, DCI with SRS request field value of 11 indicates trigger state # 2), and wherein the triggering states include at least one of a wake-up indication, a go-to-sleep indication, a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) monitoring occasion indication, a BWP (Bandwidth Part) indicator, spatial information, information of time domain resource allocation, information of QCL (Quasi-co-location) information, a SRS (Sounding Reference Signals) request (see Fig. 7, Fig. 8, para. 0148, 0155, 0161, SRS request), or a CSI (Channel State Information) request.
Regarding claim 17, Hoshino discloses wherein the user device is configured with at least one of a position in a DCI payload or information of the number of the triggering states of the user device (see Fig. 7, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”) or other user devices.
Regarding claim 18, Hoshino discloses wherein a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device is determined by at least one of the following: a value of a data block (see Fig. 7, para. 0156, for example: a value of 01 is associated to a triggering state #0, a value of 10 is associated to a triggering state #1, a value of 11 is associated to a triggering state #2), the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
Regarding claim 19, Hoshino discloses wherein a value of a data block is determined by at least one of the following: a triggering state of a user device indicated by the network device (see Fig. 7, para. 0156, for example: a value of 01 is associated to a triggering state #0, a value of 10 is associated to a triggering state #1, a value of 11 is associated to a triggering state #2), the number of triggering states of each user device, a mapping order or index of the M user devices, the number of triggering states of previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the previous user devices, a mapping order or index of the user device, or the number of triggering states of the user device.
Regarding claim 20, Hoshino discloses wherein a bit width of each of the N data blocks is associated with i) at least one of higher layer parameters (see para. 0150, one set of SRS trigger states is configured by a higher layer parameter, para. 0156 – 0157, The trigger state #0 is associated with “01”, the trigger state #1 is associated with “10”, and the trigger state #2 is associated with “11”), ii) a functionality of a data block, iii) a RNTI (Radio Network Temporary Identifier), or iv) an ID (identifier) of a user device.
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 following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 2, 3, 9, 10 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Hoshino et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0022210; hereafter Hoshino) in view of Go et al. (Pub. No.: US 2021/0344527; hereinafter Go).
Hoshino does not disclose the claimed features as recited in claims 2, 3, 9, 10 and 16.
Regarding claim 2, Go discloses wherein the triggering states of the M user devices are jointly coded and indicated by a single value of a data block (see para. 0246, 0270, a DCI 1 bit field for whether to stop transmission of the legacy periodic SRS…may be joint-coded with a bit field for triggering the enhanced aperiodic SRS (AP-SRS), configuring a downlink control information format).
Regarding claim 3, Go discloses each of the M user devices is configured with one data block (see para. 0246, 0270, a DCI 1 bit field for whether to stop transmission of the legacy periodic SRS…may be joint-coded with a bit field for triggering the enhanced aperiodic SRS (AP-SRS), configuring a downlink control information format).
Regarding claim 9, Go discloses wherein the triggering states of the M user devices are jointly coded and indicated by a single value of a data block (see para. 0246, 0270, a DCI 1 bit field for whether to stop transmission of the legacy periodic SRS…may be joint-coded with a bit field for triggering the enhanced aperiodic SRS (AP-SRS), configuring a downlink control information format).
Regarding claim 10, Go discloses each of the M user devices is configured with one data block (see para. 0246, 0270, a DCI 1 bit field for whether to stop transmission of the legacy periodic SRS…may be joint-coded with a bit field for triggering the enhanced aperiodic SRS (AP-SRS), configuring a downlink control information format).
Regarding claim 16, Go discloses wherein the triggering states of the M user devices are jointly coded and indicated by a single value of a data block (see para. 0246, 0270, a DCI 1 bit field for whether to stop transmission of the legacy periodic SRS…may be joint-coded with a bit field for triggering the enhanced aperiodic SRS (AP-SRS), configuring a downlink control information format).
It would have been obvious to one ordinary skilled in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to modify the invention of Hoshino, and have the features, as taught by Go, in order to reduce the load on the network by aperiodically transmitting an SRS of multiple symbols and enhance the coverage and the capacity of the SRS by transmitting the SRS at least two or more times, as discussed by Go (para. 0027).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Anh Ngoc M Nguyen whose telephone number is (571) 270-5139. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday to Friday, from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm.
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/ANH NGOC M NGUYEN/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2473
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