DETAILED ACTION
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
PRIOR ART
The following references are prior art:
1. US 2021/0250804 A1 (Chen) is prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) since it published on Aug. 12, 2021 before 04/22/2022 the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
CLAIM REJECTIONS — 35 U.S.C. 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:
35 U.S.C. 102 Conditions for patentability; novelty.
(a) NOVELTY; PRIOR ART.—A person shall be entitled to a patent unless—
(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention;
CLAIMS 1-12
Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Chenfor the reasons given below.
Claim 1
With respect to claim 1, Chen disclosed:
A method for performing operations for a User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: triggering a first medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) and a second MAC CE (([0439] FIG. 16 is a flow chart 1600 according to one exemplary embodiment from the perspective of a first WTRU. In step 1605, the first WTRU triggers a first BSR, wherein the first BSR indicates an amount of data expected to arrive. In step 1610, the first WTRU triggers a second BSR, wherein the second BSR indicates an amount of data already available. In step 1615, the first WTRU generates a MAC PDU, wherein the MAC PDU includes at most one first BSR MAC CE for the first BSR and at most one second BSR MAC CE for the second BSR. [0447] FIG. 17 is a flow chart 1700 according to one exemplary embodiment from the perspective of a first WTRU. In step 1705, the first WTRU triggers a first BSR, wherein the first BSR indicates an amount of data expected to arrive. In step 1710, the first WTRU triggers a second BSR, wherein the second BSR indicates an amount of data already available.)),
wherein each of the first MAC CE and the second MAC CE belongs to one of a plurality of priority groups having different priorities (([0244] The Buffer Status reporting (BSR) procedure is used to provide the serving gNB with information about UL data volume in the MAC entity. [0245] RRC configures the following parameters to control the BSR: [0246] periodicBSR-Timer; [0247] retxBSR-Timer; [0248] logicalChannelSR-DelayTimerApplied; [0249] logicalChannelSR-DelayTimer; [0250] logicalChannelSR-Mask; [0251] logicalChannelGroup. [0252] Each logical channel may be allocated to an LCG using the logicalChannelGroup. [0254] A BSR shall be triggered if any of the following events occur: [0255] UL data, for a logical channel which belongs to an LCG, becomes available to the MAC entity; and either [0256] this UL data belongs to a logical channel with higher priority than the priority of any logical channel containing available UL data which belong to any LCG; or [0257] none of the logical channels which belong to an LCG contains any available UL data. [0258] in which case the BSR is referred below to as 'Regular BSR'; [0409] In some cases, for example, if at most one BSR MAC CE can be included in a MAC PDU while a preemptive BSR and a normal BSR are both triggered (and not cancelled), which BSR MAC CE is included needs to be considered. To solve the issue, prioritization between a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR with respect to the order of inclusion in a MAC PDU needs to be specified ( e.g. logical channel prioritization). [0410] In one example, a normal BSR is prioritized over a pre-emptive BSR. If both a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR are pending or triggered (and not cancelled), an IABnode includes a BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR in a MAC PDU before including a BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR in the MAC PDU. [0441] In one embodiment, the MAC PDU may include the first BSR MAC CE and the second BSR MAC CE if UL resources for transmitting the MAC PDU are enough to accommodate the first BSR MAC CE and the second BSR MAC CE. The first WTRU could determine if UL resources for transmitting the MAC PDU are enough to accommodate the first BSR MAC CE for the first BSR and the second BSR MAC CE for the second BSR based on a rule which prioritizes the second BSR MAC CE over the first BSR MAC CE on the order of inclusion.);
receiving an uplink (UL) grant from a network; generating a MAC protocol data unit (PDU) including at least one of the first and second MAC CEs to be fit to a UL resource of the UL grant ([0411] After receiving a UL grant, an IAB-node may consider what ( e.g. which MAC CE, which BSR MAC CE) can be included in a MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant. The BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR may be included in the MAC PDU. The BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR may not be included in the MAC PDU. The size of the MAC PDU may be able to accommodate at least two BSR MAC CEs (and corresponding sub-headers). [0412] If a UL grant can accommodate one BSR MAC CE but cannot accommodate two BSR MAC CE, a BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR is included in the MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant. A BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR is not included in the MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant. [0444] In one embodiment, the MAC PDU generated by the first WTRU could be transmitted using an uplink (UL) grant scheduled by the second WTRU.);
and transmitting the MAC PDU using the UL grant to the network ([0444] In one embodiment, the MAC PDU generated by the first WTRU could be transmitted using an uplink (UL) grant scheduled by the second WTRU.),
wherein, based on the UL resource of the UL grant not accommodating both the first and second MAC CEs and based on the first and second MAC CEs belonging to a same priority group among the plurality of priority groups, one of the first and second MAC CEs is selected for the MAC PDU based on configurable priorities within the same priority group ([0244] The Buffer Status reporting (BSR) procedure is used to provide the serving gNB with information about UL data volume in the MAC entity. [0245] RRC configures the following parameters to control the BSR: [0246] periodicBSR-Timer; [0247] retxBSR-Timer; [0248] logicalChannelSR-DelayTimerApplied; [0249] logicalChannelSR-DelayTimer; [0250] logicalChannelSR-Mask; [0251] logicalChannelGroup. [0252] Each logical channel may be allocated to an LCG using the logicalChannelGroup. ([0279] report Long Truncated BSR of the LCG(s) with the logical channels having data available for transmission following a decreasing order of the highest priority logical channel (with or without data available for transmission) in each of these LCG(s), and in case of equal priority, in increasing order of LCGID. [0409] In some cases, for example, if at most one BSR MAC CE can be included in a MAC PDU while a preemptive BSR and a normal BSR are both triggered (and not cancelled), which BSR MAC CE is included needs to be considered. To solve the issue, prioritization between a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR with respect to the order of inclusion in a MAC PDU needs to be specified ( e.g. logical channel prioritization). [0447] In step 1715, the first WTRU determines if UL resources for transmitting a MAC PDU are enough to accommodate a first BSR MAC CE for the first BSR and a second BSR MAC CE for the second BSR based on a rule which prioritizes the second BSR MAC CE over the first BSR MAC CE on the order of inclusion. [0448] In one embodiment, the first WTRU could generate the MAC PDU that includes the second BSR MAC CE for the second BSR and does not include the first BSR MAC CE for the first BSR if UL resources for transmitting the MAC PDU are not sufficient to accommodate the first BSR MAC CE based on the rule. [0450] In one embodiment, the MAC PDU could be allowed to include at most one first BSR MAC CE for the first BSR and at most one second BSR MAC CE for the second BSR. [0413] A potential text proposal to modify the current NR MAC specification (3GPP TS 38.321) is provided below: Logical channels shall be prioritised in accordance with the following order (highest priority listed first): [0414] C-RNTI MAC CE or data from UL-CCCH; [0415] Configured Grant Confirmation MAC CE; [0416] MAC CE for BSR, with exception of BSR included for padding and pre-emptive BSR; [0417] MAC CE for pre-emptive BSR; [0418] Single Entry PHR MAC CE or Multiple Entry PHRMAC CE; [0419] data from any Logical Channel, except data from UL-CCCH; [0420] MAC CE for Recommended bit rate query; [0421] MAC CE for BSR included for padding.).
Claim 2
With respect to claim 2, Chen disclosed:
The method of claim 1 (see rejection above),
wherein the configurable priorities are provided by the network for two or more MAC CEs belonging to each of the plurality of priority groups ([0244] The Buffer Status reporting (BSR) procedure is used to provide the serving gNB with information about UL data volume in the MAC entity. [0245] RRC configures the following parameters to control the BSR: [0246] periodicBSR-Timer; [0247] retxBSR-Timer; [0248] logicalChannelSR-DelayTimerApplied; [0249] logicalChannelSR-DelayTimer; [0250] logicalChannelSR-Mask; [0251] logicalChannelGroup. [0252] Each logical channel may be allocated to an LCG using the logicalChannelGroup. [0409] In some cases, for example, if at most one BSR MAC CE can be included in a MAC PDU while a preemptive BSR and a normal BSR are both triggered (and not cancelled), which BSR MAC CE is included needs to be considered. To solve the issue, prioritization between a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR with respect to the order of inclusion in a MAC PDU needs to be specified ( e.g. logical channel prioritization). [0412] If a UL grant can accommodate one BSR MAC CE but cannot accommodate two BSR MAC CE, a BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR is included in the MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant. A BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR is not included in the MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant. [0413] A potential text proposal to modify the current NR MAC specification (3GPP TS 38.321) is provided below: Logical channels shall be prioritised in accordance with the following order (highest priority listed first): [0414] C-RNTI MAC CE or data from UL-CCCH; [0415] Configured Grant Confirmation MAC CE; [0416] MAC CE for BSR, with exception of BSR included for padding and pre-emptive BSR; [0417] MAC CE for pre-emptive BSR; [0418] Single Entry PHR MAC CE or Multiple Entry PHRMAC CE; [0419] data from any Logical Channel, except data from UL-CCCH; [0420] MAC CE for Recommended bit rate query; [0421] MAC CE for BSR included for padding. [0422] In another example, a pre-emptive BSR is prioritized over a normal BSR. If both a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR are pending or triggered ( and not cancelled), an IAB-node includes a BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR in a MAC PDU before including a BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR in the MAC PDU.).
Claim 3
With respect to claim 3, Chen disclosed:
The method of claim 1 (see rejection above),
further comprising: configuring the configurable priorities for two or more MAC CEs belonging to each of the plurality of priority groups ([0245] RRC configures the following parameters to control the BSR: [0246] periodicBSR-Timer; [0247] retxBSR-Timer; [0248] logicalChannelSR-DelayTimerApplied; [0249] logicalChannelSR-DelayTimer; [0250] logicalChannelSR-Mask; [0251] logicalChannelGroup. [0252] Each logical channel may be allocated to an LCG using the logicalChannelGroup. The maximum number of LCGs is eight. [0253] The MAC entity determines the amount of UL data available for a logical channel according to the data volume calculation procedure in TSs 38.322 [3] and 38.323 [ 4]. [0254] A BSR shall be triggered if any of the following events occur: [0255] UL data, for a logical channel which belongs to an LCG, becomes available to the MAC entity; and either [0256] this UL data belongs to a logical channel with higher priority than the priority of any logical channel containing available UL data which belong to any LCG; or [0257] none of the logical channels which belong to an LCG contains any available UL data. [0258] in which case the BSR is referred below to as 'Regular BSR'. [0412] If a UL grant can accommodate one BSR MAC CE but cannot accommodate two BSR MAC CE, a BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR is included in the MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant. A BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR is not included in the MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant. [0413] A potential text proposal to modify the current NR MAC specification (3GPP TS 38.321) is provided below: Logical channels shall be prioritised in accordance with the following order (highest priority listed first): [0414] C-RNTI MAC CE or data from UL-CCCH; [0415] Configured Grant Confirmation MAC CE; [0416] MAC CE for BSR, with exception of BSR included for padding and pre-emptive BSR; [0417] MAC CE for pre-emptive BSR; [0418] Single Entry PHR MAC CE or Multiple Entry PHRMAC CE; [0419] data from any Logical Channel, except data from UL-CCCH; [0420] MAC CE for Recommended bit rate query; [0421] MAC CE for BSR included for padding. [0422] In another example, a pre-emptive BSR is prioritized over a normal BSR. If both a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR are pending or triggered ( and not cancelled), an IAB-node includes a BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR in a MAC PDU before including a BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR in the MAC PDU.).
Claim 4
With respect to claim 4, Chen disclosed:
The method of claim 1 (see rejection above),
wherein, based on the UL resource of the UL grant not accommodating both the first and second MAC CEs and based on the first and second MAC CEs belonging to different priority groups among the plurality of priority groups, one of the first and second MAC CEs is selected for the MAC PDU based on priorities of different priority groups ([0279] report Long Truncated BSR of the LCG(s) with the logical channels having data available for transmission following a decreasing order of the highest priority logical channel (with or without data available for transmission) in each of these LCG(s), and in case of equal priority, in increasing order of LCGID. [0409] In some cases, for example, if at most one BSR MAC CE can be included in a MAC PDU while a preemptive BSR and a normal BSR are both triggered (and not cancelled), which BSR MAC CE is included needs to be considered. To solve the issue, prioritization between a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR with respect to the order of inclusion in a MAC PDU needs to be specified ( e.g. logical channel prioritization). [0410] In one example, a normal BSR is prioritized over a pre-emptive BSR. If both a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR are pending or triggered (and not cancelled), an IABnode includes a BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR in a MAC PDU before including a BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR in the MAC PDU. [0412] If a UL grant can accommodate one BSR MAC CE but cannot accommodate two BSR MAC CE, a BSR MAC CE for a normal BSR is included in the MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant. A BSR MAC CE for a pre-emptive BSR is not included in the MAC PDU corresponding to the UL grant.).
Claim 5
With respect to claim 5, Chen disclosed:
The method of claim 1 (see rejection above),
wherein the plurality of priority groups are divided into a high priority group, a middle priority group and a low priority group, and wherein each of the plurality of priority groups includes two or more MAC CEs ([0252] Each logical channel may be allocated to an LCG using the logicalChannelGroup. [0311] LCG ID: The Logical Channel Group ID field identifies the group of logical channel(s) whose buffer status is being reported. [0254] A BSR shall be triggered if any of the following events occur: [0255] UL data, for a logical channel which belongs to an LCG, becomes available to the MAC entity; and either [0256] this UL data belongs to a logical channel with higher priority than the priority of any logical channel containing available UL data which belong to any LCG. [0383] Buffer Size: The Buffer Size field identifies the total amount of data available according to the data volume calculation procedure in TSs 38.322 [3] and 38.323 [ 4] across all logical channels of a logical channel group after the MAC PDU has been built (i.e. after the logical channel prioritization procedure, which may result the value of the Buffer Size field to zero). [0409] In some cases, for example, if at most one BSR MAC CE can be included in a MAC PDU while a preemptive BSR and a normal BSR are both triggered (and not cancelled), which BSR MAC CE is included needs to be considered. To solve the issue, prioritization between a pre-emptive BSR and a normal BSR with respect to the order of inclusion in a MAC PDU needs to be specified ( e.g. logical channel prioritization). [0413] A potential text proposal to modify the current NR MAC specification (3GPP TS 38.321) is provided below: Logical channels shall be prioritised in accordance with the following order (highest priority listed first): [0414] C-RNTI MAC CE or data from UL-CCCH; [0415] Configured Grant Confirmation MAC CE; [0416] MAC CE for BSR, with exception of BSR included for padding and pre-emptive BSR; [0417] MAC CE for pre-emptive BSR; [0418] Single Entry PHR MAC CE or Multiple Entry PHR MAC CE; [0419] data from any Logical Channel, except data from UL-CCCH; [0420] MAC CE for Recommended bit rate query; [0421] MAC CE for BSR included for padding.).
Claim 6
Claim 6 recites limitations similar to claim 1 except that it additionally recites “A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising: at least one transceiver; at least one processor; and at least one computer memory operably connectable to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, when executed, cause the at least one processor to perform operations” similar to the method of claim 1. Chen [461] disclosed these additional limitations. Claim 6 is rejected for this reason along with the reasons given for claim 1.
Claim 7
Claim 7 recites limitations similar to claim 2 and is rejected by similar reasoning.
Claim 8
Claim 8 recites limitations similar to claim 3 and is rejected by similar reasoning.
Claim 9
Claim 9 recites limitations similar to claim 4 and is rejected by similar reasoning.
Claim 10
Claim 10 recites limitations similar to claim 5 and is rejected by similar reasoning.
Claim 11
Claim 11 recites limitations similar to claim 6 and is rejected by similar reasoning.
Claim 12
Claim 12 recites limitations similar to claim 6 and is rejected by similar reasoning.
PERTINENT PRIOR ART
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure:
1. US 2018/0317123 A1 (Chen2) is prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) since it published on Aug. 12, 2021 before 04/22/2022 the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Chen2 disclosed [0131] The sidelink Buffer Status reporting procedure is used to provide the serving eNB with information about the amount of sidelink data available for transmission in the SL buffers associated with the MAC entity. RRC controls BSR reporting for the sidelink by configuring the two timers periodic-BSR-TimerSL and retx-BSR-TimerSL. Each sidelink logical channel belongs to a ProSe Destination. Each sidelink logical channel is allocated to an LCG depending on the priority of the sidelink logical channel and the mapping between LCG ID and priority which is provided by upper layers in logicalChGroupinfoLis.
1. Application No. 17/782428 is prior art under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) since it published as US 2023/0008664 A1 (Matsumura) and was effectively filed published on Dec. 4, 2019 before 04/22/2022 the effective filing date of the claimed invention. Matsumura disclosed [Abstract] a receiving section that receives information indicating first priority of first uplink transmission and receives information indicating second priority of second uplink transmission, and a control section that controls, in a case where the first uplink transmission and the second uplink transmission overlap each other in time, the first uplink transmission and the second uplink transmission, based on at least one of a combination of the first priority and the second priority and a cell group of the first uplink transmission or the second uplink transmission. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to appropriately control UL transmission even in a case where priority is configured for UL transmission.
CONCLUSION
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Christopher Davis whose telephone number is 703-756-1832. The examiner can normally be reached Mon-Fri from 11AM to 7PM ET. If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ayaz Sheikh, can be reached at telephone number 571-272-3795. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/CHRISTOPHER R DAVIS/
Examiner, Art Unit 2476
Prosecution Insights