DETAILED ACTION
The instant application having application No 18/811,213 filed on 11/05/2024 is presented for examination by the examiner.
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory obviousness-type 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); and 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 a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement.
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory obviousness-type double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1, 3-4, 6-13, 15-17 and 19-20 of Patent Application No. 17214201 (hereafter Patent Application). Although the conflicting claims are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because both claims are based on uplink reference signal on the uplink reference signal resource included in the first mapping relationship by using a beam direction indicated by the first information corresponding to the uplink reference signal resource and vice versa.
For claim 1, Patent Application disclose a communication apparatus, comprising at least one processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to carry out a method including receiving first configuration information from a network device, wherein the first configuration information comprises at least one first mapping relationship between an uplink reference signal resource and first information, wherein the first information is number information or index information about a downlink reference signal of a location measurement unit, and wherein the location measurement unit is different from the network device; and sending, based on the first mapping relationship in the first configuration information, an uplink reference signal on the uplink reference signal resource included in the first mapping relationship by using a beam direction indicated by the first information corresponding to the uplink reference signal resource(See Claim 10).
For claim 2, Patent Application disclose the first configuration information further comprises a second mapping relationship between the uplink reference signal resource and the location measurement unit (See Claim 11).
For claim 3, Patent Application disclose the downlink reference signal is measured by a terminal device (See Claim 12).
For claim 4, Patent Application disclose identification information of the location measurement unit comprises at least one of the following a physical cell identifier (PCI); a cell global identifier (ECGI); a frequency; an indication indicating whether a supplementary uplink (SUL) band is supported; and a sequence number of the downlink reference signal (See Claim 13).
For claim 5, Patent Application disclose the uplink reference signal is a sounding reference signal (SRS), and wherein the uplink reference signal resource is an SRS resource (See Claim 15).
For claim 6, Patent Application disclose the first mapping relationship comprises a second mapping relationship between the uplink reference signal resource and the location measurement unit (See Claim 16).
For claim 7, Patent Application disclose the downlink reference signal of a location measurement unit is one of the following: a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB), a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS), or a positioning reference signal (PRS) (See Claim 15).
For claim 8, Patent Application disclose the communication apparatus a terminal device or a chip in the terminal device (See Claim 17).
For claim 9, Patent Application disclose an information processing method, comprising sending, positioning request information for a terminal to a network device; receiving, second configuration information, wherein the second configuration information comprises a second mapping relationship between an uplink reference signal resource and a location measurement unit, and the uplink reference signal resource is configured by the network device for the terminal, wherein the second configuration information further comprises a first mapping relationship between the uplink reference signal resource and first information, the first information is information about a downlink reference signal of the location measurement unit, and the location measurement unit is a location measurement unit other than a serving base station; determining, a target location measurement unit in candidate location measurement units based on the second configuration information; sending, measurement configuration information to the target location measurement unit, wherein the measurement configuration information carries the uplink reference signal resource; receiving, a receiving moment that is of an uplink reference signal and that is measured by the target location measurement unit on the uplink reference signal resource; and positioning, the terminal based on the receiving moment (See Claim 1& 3-4).
For claim 10, Patent Application disclose identification information of the candidate
location measurement unit comprises at least one of the following a physical cell identifier (PCI)a; a cell global identifier (ECGI); a frequency; and whether an uplink supplementary band SUL is supported (See Claim 13).
For claim 11, Patent Application disclose the first information is number information or index information of the downlink reference signal of the location measurement unit (See Claim 16).
For claim 12, Patent Application disclose the downlink reference signal of a location measurement unit is one of the following: a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB), a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS), or a positioning reference signal (PRS) (See Claim 15).
For claim 13, Patent Application disclose an information processing method, comprising receiving measurement configuration information sent by a first entity, wherein the measurement configuration information carries an uplink reference signal resource, wherein the measurement configuration information comprises a first mapping relationship between the uplink reference signal resource and first information, the first information is information about a downlink reference signal of a location measurement unit; receiving an uplink reference signal based on the uplink reference signal resource, and recording a receiving moment; and sending the receiving moment to the first entity (See Claim 17).
For claim 14, Patent Application disclose the information processing method is
performed by a location measurement unit, and the location measurement unit is integrated into a network device (See Claim 4).
For claim 15, Patent Application disclose the measurement configuration further
comprises a second mapping relationship between the uplink reference signal resource and the location measurement unit (See Claim 6).
For claim 16, Patent Application disclose a communication system, comprising: an apparatus for a positioning entity and an apparatus for a location measurement unit, wherein the apparatus for the positioning entity is configured to receive measurement configuration information sent by a positioning entity, wherein the measurement configuration information carries an uplink reference signal resource, wherein the measurement configuration information comprises a first mapping relationship between the uplink reference signal resource and first information, the first information is information about a downlink reference signal of the location measurement unit; receive an uplink reference signal based on the uplink reference signal resource, and recording a receiving moment; and send the receiving moment to the positioning entity; wherein the apparatus for the location measurement unit is configured to receive measurement configuration information sent by a positioning entity, wherein the measurement configuration information carries an uplink reference signal resource, wherein the measurement configuration information comprises a first mapping relationship between the uplink reference signal resource and first information, the first information is information about a downlink reference signal of the location measurement unit; receive an uplink reference signal based on the uplink reference signal resource, and recording a receiving moment; and send the receiving moment to the positioning entity(See Claim 19).
For claim 17, Patent Application disclose identification information of candidate location measurement unit comprises at least one of the following a physical cell identifier (PCI); a cell global identifier (ECGI); a frequency; and whether an uplink supplementary band SUL is supported (See Claim 7).
For claim 18, Patent Application disclose the downlink reference signal of a location measurement unit is one of the following: a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (PBCH)block (SSB), a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS), or a positioning reference signal (PRS) (See Claim 7 & 8).
For claim 19, Patent Application disclose wherein the measurement configuration further comprises a second mapping relationship between the uplink reference signal resource and the location measurement unit (See Claim 20).
For claim 20, Patent Application disclose the system further comprising an apparatus for a terminal device (See Claim 12).
Examiner Notice
Claim 1 would be allowable if (i) resolve double patenting rejection.
Claim 8 would be allowable if (i) resolve double patenting rejection.
Claim 13 would be allowable if (i) resolve double patenting rejection.
Claim 16 would be allowable if (i) resolve double patenting rejection.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure are:
HUANG et al. (US 20190387439, Dec. 19, 2019) teaches Method and Apparatus for Configuring Neighbor Cells, and Storage Medium.
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/IQBAL ZAIDI/
Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2464
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