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 .
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) was submitted on 08/07/2024. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Preliminary Amendments
The present Office Action is based upon the original patent application filed as modified by the preliminary amendment filed on 08/07/20224.
Claim(s) 1-7 are now pending in the present application.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
Change “the first stet” in ¶[0107] to “the first stage”.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claim(s) 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 1, this claim recites in line 3 “the number of beam candidates”, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 2, this claim recites in line 3 “the number of beam candidates”, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 3, this claim recites in line 3 “the number of users”, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 3, this claim recites in line 2, “the beam width” and “the number of beam candidates”. It is unclear what “the beam width” and “the number of beam candidates” are referring to since there are multiple instances of them in claim 1.
Regarding claim 4, this claim recites in line 2 “the order”, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 5, this claim recites in line 3 “the number of beam candidates”, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 6, this claim recites in line 3 “the number of beam candidates”, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Regarding claim 7, this claim recites in line 2 “the order”, there is insufficient antecedent basis for the limitation in the claim.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 1-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, but would be allowable when 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, rejection is overcome.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Kim et al. ( US 2022/0394697 A1) discloses a method and device for a terminal to perform a beam management operation in a wireless communication system supporting sidelink
Kumagai ( US 2020/0275287 A1) discloses a base station device and a beam selecting method
Fujio et al. ( US 2017/0237477 A1) discloses a base station, a communication system, and a reference signal transmission method
Jung ( US 2013/ 0217404 A1) discloses a method of transmitting/receiving signals at a terminal in a communication system
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to MANG BOI THAWNG whose telephone number is (703)756-4751. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 7:30 am - 5:00 pm.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Ayaz Sheikh can be reached at (571)272-3795. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/MANG BOI THAWNG/Examiner, Art Unit 2476 /AYAZ R SHEIKH/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2476