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 §§ 706.02(l)(1) - 706.02(l)(3) 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).
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Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent No. 12,119,978 (hereinafter Pat-978). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Regarding claim 1 for instance, as shown in the following table, claim 1 of Pat-978 recites all the claimed limitations of the claim 1.
Pat-978 Language
Claims / App Language
1. A wireless user device comprising:
an antenna; a transceiver; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless user device to:
receive, among a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks, a first SS block, wherein the first SS block comprises a first synchronization signal and a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH), wherein the first PBCH indicates a value associated with a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and a first resource block (RB) grid, and wherein the value associated with the first subcarrier offset comprises a 4-bit value associated with a quantity of subcarriers corresponding to the first subcarrier offset;
determine, based on the value associated with the first subcarrier offset and a frequency location of the first SS block,
a frequency location of the first RB grid; and decode, based on the determined frequency location of the first RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel, wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH, wherein the second PBCH indicates a value associated with a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and a second RB grid, and wherein a frequency resource of the first SS block is different from a frequency resource of the second SS block.
1. A base station comprising: an antenna; a transceiver; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the base station to:
generate, among a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks, a first SS block, wherein the first SS block comprises a first synchronization signal and a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH), wherein the first PBCH indicates a value associated with a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and a first resource block (RB) grid, and wherein the value associated with the first subcarrier offset comprises a 4-bit value associated with a quantity of subcarriers corresponding to the first subcarrier offset;
transmit, to a wireless user device, the first SS block; and map, to one or more resources associated with a frequency location of the first RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel,
wherein a frequency location of the one or more resources is based on the frequency location of the first RB grid,
wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH, wherein the second PBCH indicates a value associated with a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and a second RB grid, and wherein a frequency location of the first SS block is different from a frequency location of the second SS block.
Note the various dependent claims are anticipated by/obvious in view of the conflicting patent.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent No. 11,777,780 (hereinafter Pat-780). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Regarding claim 1 for instance, as shown in the following table, claim 1 of Pat-780 recites all the claimed limitations of the claim 1.
Pat-780 Language
Claims / App Language
1. A wireless user device comprising: an antenna; a transceiver; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the wireless user device to:
receive, among a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks, a first SS block, wherein the first SS block comprises a first synchronization signal and a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH), and wherein the first PBCH indicates a value associated with a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and a first resource block (RB) grid; determine, based on the value associated with the first subcarrier offset and
a frequency location of the first SS block, a frequency location of the first RB grid; and decode, based on the determined frequency location of the first RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel,
wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH, wherein the second PBCH indicates a value associated with a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and a second RB grid, and
wherein a distance between the first SS block and a center frequency of a carrier is different from a distance between the second SS block and the center frequency of the carrier.
1. A base station comprising: an antenna; a transceiver; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the base station to:
generate, among a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks, a first SS block, wherein the first SS block comprises a first synchronization signal and a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH), wherein the first PBCH indicates a value associated with a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and a first resource block (RB) grid, and wherein the value associated with the first subcarrier offset comprises a 4-bit value associated with a quantity of subcarriers corresponding to the first subcarrier offset;
transmit, to a wireless user device, the first SS block; and map, to one or more resources associated with a frequency location of the first RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel,
wherein a frequency location of the one or more resources is based on the frequency location of the first RB grid,
wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH, wherein the second PBCH indicates a value associated with a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and a second RB grid, and
wherein a frequency location of the first SS block is different from a frequency location of the second SS block.
Note the various dependent claims are anticipated by/obvious in view of the conflicting patent.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent No. 11,438,209 (hereinafter Pat-209). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Regarding claim 1 for instance, as shown in the following table, claim 13 of Pat-209 recites all the claimed limitations of the claim 1.
Pat-209 Language
Claims / App Language
13. A computing device comprising: an antenna; a transceiver; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the computing device to:
determine frequency locations of a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks comprising a frequency location of a first SS block;
determine, based on the frequency location of the first SS block and a frequency location of a resource block (RB) grid, a value of a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and the RB grid;
generate the first SS block comprising a first synchronization signal and comprising a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH), wherein the first PBCH comprises the value of the first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and the RB grid;
transmit, to a wireless user device, the first SS block; and map, to one or more resources associated with the frequency location of the RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel,
wherein a frequency location of the one or more resources is based on the frequency location of the RB grid,
wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH, wherein the second PBCH indicates a value of a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and the RB grid, and
wherein a distance between the first SS block and a center frequency of a carrier is different from a distance between the second SS block and the center frequency of the carrier.
1. A base station comprising: an antenna; a transceiver; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the base station to:
generate, among a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks, a first SS block, wherein the first SS block comprises a first synchronization signal and a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH), wherein the first PBCH indicates a value associated with a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and a first resource block (RB) grid, and wherein the value associated with the first subcarrier offset comprises a 4-bit value associated with a quantity of subcarriers corresponding to the first subcarrier offset;
transmit, to a wireless user device, the first SS block; and map, to one or more resources associated with a frequency location of the first RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel,
wherein a frequency location of the one or more resources is based on the frequency location of the first RB grid,
wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH, wherein the second PBCH indicates a value associated with a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and a second RB grid, and
wherein a frequency location of the first SS block is different from a frequency location of the second SS block.
Note the various dependent claims are anticipated by/obvious in view of the conflicting patent.
Claims 1-20 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims of U.S. Patent No. 10,999,118 (hereinafter Pat-118). Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other.
Regarding claim 1 for instance, as shown in the following table, claim 13 of Pat-118 recites all the claimed limitations of the claim 1.
Pat-118 Language
Claims / App Language
13. A method comprising:
determining, by a base station, frequency locations of a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks comprising a frequency location of a first SS block; determining, based on the frequency location of the first SS block and a frequency location of a resource block (RB) grid, a value of a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and the RB grid; generating the first SS block comprising a first synchronization signal and comprising a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH), wherein the first PBCH comprises the value of the first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and the RB grid;
transmitting, to a wireless user device, the first SS block; and mapping, to one or more resources associated with the frequency location of the RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel,
wherein a frequency location of the one or more resources is based on the frequency location of the RB grid,
wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH, wherein the second PBCH indicates a value of a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and the RB grid, and
wherein a distance between the first SS block and a center frequency of a carrier is different from a distance between the second SS block and the center frequency of the carrier.
1. A base station comprising: an antenna; a transceiver; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the base station to:
generate, among a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks, a first SS block, wherein the first SS block comprises a first synchronization signal and a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH), wherein the first PBCH indicates a value associated with a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and a first resource block (RB) grid, and wherein the value associated with the first subcarrier offset comprises a 4-bit value associated with a quantity of subcarriers corresponding to the first subcarrier offset;
transmit, to a wireless user device, the first SS block; and map, to one or more resources associated with a frequency location of the first RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel,
wherein a frequency location of the one or more resources is based on the frequency location of the first RB grid,
wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH, wherein the second PBCH indicates a value associated with a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and a second RB grid, and
wherein a frequency location of the first SS block is different from a frequency location of the second SS block.
Note the various dependent claims are anticipated by/obvious in view of the conflicting patent.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-20 are rejected but would be allowable if overcoming nonstatutorydouble patenting as indicated above rejection. The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Prior art of record taken either singly or in combination fails to anticipate or fairly suggest the limitations which the Applicants claim in claims 9-15 in a manner which would warrant a rejection under 35 U.S.C. § 102 or 35 U.S.C. § 103.
1. A base station comprising:
an antenna; a transceiver; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the base station to:
generate, among a plurality of synchronization signal (SS) blocks, a first SS block,
wherein the first SS block comprises a first synchronization signal and a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH),
wherein the first PBCH indicates a value associated with a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and a first resource block (RB) grid, and
wherein the value associated with the first subcarrier offset comprises a 4-bit value associated with a quantity of subcarriers corresponding to the first subcarrier offset;
transmit, to a wireless user device, the first SS block; and map, to one or more resources associated with a frequency location of the first RB grid, one or more of: a reference signal, a control channel, or a data channel,
wherein a frequency location of the one or more resources is based on the frequency location of the first RB grid,
wherein the plurality of SS blocks comprise the first SS block and a second SS block,
wherein the second SS block comprises a second synchronization signal and a second PBCH,
wherein the second PBCH indicates a value associated with a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and a second RB grid, and
wherein a frequency location of the first SS block is different from a frequency location of the second SS block.
Regarding claim 1, said claim is drawn to a base station side, multi-SS-block RB grid signaling scheme. The base station uses PBCH signaling in each of plural SS blocks to convey subcarrier-offset information that associates the SS block with an RB grid, enabling grid-based reference, control or data resource operation at distinct SS block frequency locations. The claim particularly requires a 4-bit first-offset value and separately recites first and second SS blocks associated with first and second RB grids.
Ko et al. (US 2018/0198659), the closest prior art, discloses a base station mapping and transmitting a synchronization signal block including a primary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary SS (SSS), and a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). Ko further discloses SS-burst and SS-burst-set configurations and PBCH mapping within a synchronization signal block. However, Ko does not teach or suggest, in combination: 1. Generating, among a plurality of SS blocks, a first SS block having a first PBCH that indicates a value associated with a first subcarrier offset between the first SS block and a first RB grid. The value comprises 4-bit value associated with a number of subcarriers, 2. Mapping a reference signal, control channel, or data channel to resources associated with the frequency location of that first RB grid, 3. Providing a second SS block having a second PBCH that indicates a second subcarrier offset between the second SS block and a second RB grid; and 4. Configuring the first and second SS blocks at different frequency locations while associating them with the respective first and second RB grids.
Yi et al. (US 2018/0249509) discloses signaling a center-frequency offset for narrowband operation, and synchronization and broadcast transmission for a narrowband UE.
Han et al. (US 2016/0315739) is directed to transmission and mapping of synchronization signal blocks including PSS, SSS and PBCH.
However, Yi and Han alone or in combination, do not teach or suggest a base station configured for the numbered invention above.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Harry H. Kim whose telephone number and email address are as follows; 571-272-5009, harry.kim2@uspto.gov.
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/HARRY H KIM/ Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2411
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