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) submitted on 19th September 2024 is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
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Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
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 – 7, 15 – 21, 29 and 30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Zhang et al (US 2025/0055551 A1).
Claim 1. Zhang shows a method for wireless communications at a network device (figs. 2A, 2B, 3, 4 and 8: ED / UE), the method comprising: determining Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements and Doppler measurements of a plurality of pairs of sensing beams (figs. 8 – 10; [0014]: performing measurements of the BM-RS involves measuring the BM-RS and determining a reference signal received power (RSRP) or a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)… Doppler shift and Doppler spread; [0139]: the UE may select a new beam, beam pair, or link with a lowest Doppler shift or Doppler spread among those with RSRP or SINR above a certain threshold); transmitting, to a network entity, at least a portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements ([0137]: the UE may still initiate link switching towards the selected T-RS (e.g. newly selected narrow beam) via sending a report to the base station, which may include an indicator of one or more of the BM-RS, T-RS, and/or CSIA-RS associated with the selected new beam, beam pair, or link, as well as corresponding RSRP, SINR, RI, CQI, PMI, and/or LI); and receiving, from the network entity, an indication of a pair of sensing beams from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams based on at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements ([0140]: the base station may notify the UE that the BM-RS, T-RS, and CSIA-RS are one-to-one mapped or associated and the UE may derive the association based on the configured QCL relation among these reference signals (e.g. CSIA-RS #1 is QCLed to T-RS #1, and TRS #1 is QCLed to BM-RS #1); [0141]: the base station may send configuration signaling to update the association stored at the UE).
Claim 15. Zhang shows an apparatus for wireless communications (figs. 2A, 2B, 3, 4 and 8: ED / UE), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory (fig. 4: (within) machine learning module); and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory (fig. 4: processing module), the at least one processor configured to: determine Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements and Doppler measurements of a plurality of pairs of sensing beams (figs. 8 – 10; [0014]: performing measurements of the BM-RS involves measuring the BM-RS and determining a reference signal received power (RSRP) or a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)… Doppler shift and Doppler spread; [0139]: the UE may select a new beam, beam pair, or link with a lowest Doppler shift or Doppler spread among those with RSRP or SINR above a certain threshold);
output, for transmission to a network entity, at least a portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements ([0137]: the UE may still initiate link switching towards the selected T-RS (e.g. newly selected narrow beam) via sending a report to the base station, which may include an indicator of one or more of the BM-RS, T-RS, and/or CSIA-RS associated with the selected new beam, beam pair, or link, as well as corresponding RSRP, SINR, RI, CQI, PMI, and/or LI); and receive, from the network entity, an indication of a pair of sensing beams from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams based on at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements ([0140]: the base station may notify the UE that the BM-RS, T-RS, and CSIA-RS are one-to-one mapped or associated and the UE may derive the association based on the configured QCL relation among these reference signals (e.g. CSIA-RS #1 is QCLed to T-RS #1, and TRS #1 is QCLed to BM-RS #1); [0141]: the base station may send configuration signaling to update the association stored at the UE).
Claim 30 (similarly Claim 29). Zhang shows an apparatus for wireless communications (figs. 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5 and 8: T-TRP / NT-TRP / base station), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory (fig. 4: (within) machine learning module); and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory (fig. 4: processing module), the at least one processor configured to: receive, from a network device, Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements and Doppler measurements for a plurality of pairs of sensing beams (figs. 8 – 10; [0014]: performing measurements of the BM-RS involves measuring the BM-RS and determining a reference signal received power (RSRP) or a signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR)… Doppler shift and Doppler spread; [0139]: the UE may select a new beam, beam pair, or link with a lowest Doppler shift or Doppler spread among those with RSRP or SINR above a certain threshold); and determine, based on at least a portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements, a pair of sensing beams from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams for sensing a target ([0137]: the UE may still initiate link switching towards the selected T-RS (e.g. newly selected narrow beam) via sending a report to the base station, which may include an indicator of one or more of the BM-RS, T-RS, and/or CSIA-RS associated with the selected new beam, beam pair, or link, as well as corresponding RSRP, SINR, RI, CQI, PMI, and/or LI; [0140]: the base station may notify the UE that the BM-RS, T-RS, and CSIA-RS are one-to-one mapped or associated and the UE may derive the association based on the configured QCL relation among these reference signals (e.g. CSIA-RS #1 is QCLed to T-RS #1, and TRS #1 is QCLed to BM-RS #1); [0141]: the base station may send configuration signaling to update the association stored at the UE).
Claim 16 (similarly claim 2). Zhang shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is user equipment (UE) (figs. 2A, 2B, 3, 4 and 8: ED / UE) or a base station (figs. 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5 and 8: T-TRP / NT-TRP / base station).
Claim 17 (similarly claim 3). Zhang shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein the network entity is one of a base station (figs. 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5 and 8: T-TRP / NT-TRP / base station), a network server (n/a), a user equipment (UE) (figs. 2A, 2B, 3, 4 and 8: ED / UE), or a sensing server (n/a).
Claim 18 (similarly claim 4). Zhang shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: sense a target based on the pair of sensing beams ([0139]: the UE may select a new beam, beam pair, or link with a lowest Doppler shift or Doppler spread among those with RSRP or SINR above a certain threshold).
Claim 19 (similarly claim 5). Zhang shows the apparatus of claim 18, wherein the target is one of a person (n/a), a vehicle (fig. 2A: vehicles 110i / 110e), or an object (figs. 2A: objects 110f / 110g).
Claim 22 (similarly claim 8). Zhang shows the apparatus of claim 15 wherein, to output for transmission at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements for the plurality of pairs of sensing beams, the at least one processor is configured to output for transmission a measurement report comprising RSRP measurements and Doppler measurements for at least the pair of sensing beams based on the pair of sensing beams having a largest Doppler value from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams ([0139]: the UE may select a new link with highest predicted data rate calculated from measured CSI (including RI and CQI) among those with RSRP or SINR above a certain threshold and Doppler shift or Doppler spread below a certain threshold).
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Claims 1 – 7, 15 – 21, 29 and 30 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Hu et al (US 2025/0035736 A1).
Claim 1. Hu shows a method for wireless communications at a network device (fig. 3: UE), the method comprising: determining Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements and Doppler measurements of a plurality of pairs of sensing beams ([0065]: the UE may send a beam and target information report based on measurements associated with the received SSRS wherein the report may include signal values (e.g. reference signals received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and a signal interference and noise ratio (SINR)) exceeding a threshold and target identification information if multiple targets are detected… the beam identification of the Tx beam or Rx beam may be a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state configured per beam wherein a detected target may be identified by a pair of Tx beam and Rx beam via their TCI states; [0071]: the UE may more accurately measure each target or target group for metrics such as time domain channel impulse response (i.e. multipath propagation delay vs the received signal power) for each Tx and Rx beam pair, the range-doppler-angular (R-D-A) map, which may be up to four-dimension image data consisting of range, Doppler, azimuth, and elevation – “each beam pair” signifies there are multiple beam pairs); transmitting, to a network entity, at least a portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements (pg. 5 table 2; [0065]: the beam and target information report may include, for example, one or more of the RSRP, RSRQ, or SINR values associated with the SSRS, which exceed a threshold value and target identification information if multiple targets are detected… the beam and target report may include target specific sensing measurements that identify a target or a target group (e.g. doppler/velocity, delay/range, angle)); and receiving, from the network entity, an indication of a pair of sensing beams from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams based on at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements ([0065]: the beam identification of the Tx beam or Rx beam may be a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state configured per beam wherein a detected target may be identified by a pair of Tx beam and Rx beam via their TCI states; [0071]: the UE may more accurately measure each target or target group for metrics such as time domain channel impulse response (i.e. multipath propagation delay vs the received signal power) for each Tx and Rx beam pair, the range-doppler-angular (R-D-A) map, which may be up to four-dimension image data consisting of range, Doppler, azimuth, and elevation).
Claim 15. Hu shows an apparatus for wireless communications (figs. 3 and 10: UE / Electronic Device), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory (fig. 10: memory); and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory (fig. 10: processor), the at least one processor configured to: determine Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements and Doppler measurements of a plurality of pairs of sensing beams ([0065]: the UE may send a beam and target information report based on measurements associated with the received SSRS wherein the report may include signal values (e.g. reference signals received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and a signal interference and noise ratio (SINR)) exceeding a threshold and target identification information if multiple targets are detected… the beam identification of the Tx beam or Rx beam may be a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state configured per beam wherein a detected target may be identified by a pair of Tx beam and Rx beam via their TCI states; [0071]: the UE may more accurately measure each target or target group for metrics such as time domain channel impulse response (i.e. multipath propagation delay vs the received signal power) for each Tx and Rx beam pair, the range-doppler-angular (R-D-A) map, which may be up to four-dimension image data consisting of range, Doppler, azimuth, and elevation – “each beam pair” signifies there are multiple beam pairs);
output, for transmission to a network entity, at least a portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements (pg. 5 table 2; [0065]: the beam and target information report may include, for example, one or more of the RSRP, RSRQ, or SINR values associated with the SSRS, which exceed a threshold value and target identification information if multiple targets are detected… the beam and target report may include target specific sensing measurements that identify a target or a target group (e.g. doppler/velocity, delay/range, angle)); and receive, from the network entity, an indication of a pair of sensing beams from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams based on at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements ([0065]: the beam identification of the Tx beam or Rx beam may be a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state configured per beam wherein a detected target may be identified by a pair of Tx beam and Rx beam via their TCI states; [0071]: the UE may more accurately measure each target or target group for metrics such as time domain channel impulse response (i.e. multipath propagation delay vs the received signal power) for each Tx and Rx beam pair, the range-doppler-angular (R-D-A) map, which may be up to four-dimension image data consisting of range, Doppler, azimuth, and elevation).
Claim 30 (similarly Claim 29). Hu shows an apparatus for wireless communications (figs. 3 and 10: gNB / Electronic Device), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory; and at least one processor coupled to the at least one memory, the at least one processor configured to: receive, from a network device, Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) measurements and Doppler measurements for a plurality of pairs of sensing beams ([0065]: the UE may send a beam and target information report (to the gNB) based on measurements associated with the received SSRS wherein the report may include signal values (e.g. reference signals received power (RSRP), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), and a signal interference and noise ratio (SINR)) exceeding a threshold and target identification information if multiple targets are detected… the beam identification of the Tx beam or Rx beam may be a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state configured per beam wherein a detected target may be identified by a pair of Tx beam and Rx beam via their TCI states; [0071]: the UE may more accurately measure each target or target group for metrics such as time domain channel impulse response (i.e. multipath propagation delay vs the received signal power) for each Tx and Rx beam pair, the range-doppler-angular (R-D-A) map, which may be up to four-dimension image data consisting of range, Doppler, azimuth, and elevation – “each beam pair” signifies there are multiple beam pairs); and determine, based on at least a portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements, a pair of sensing beams from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams for sensing a target (pg. 5 table 2; [0065]: the beam identification of the Tx beam or Rx beam may be a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state configured per beam wherein a detected target may be identified by a pair of Tx beam and Rx beam via their TCI states; [0071]: the UE may more accurately measure each target or target group for metrics such as time domain channel impulse response (i.e. multipath propagation delay vs the received signal power) for each Tx and Rx beam pair, the range-doppler-angular (R-D-A) map, which may be up to four-dimension image data consisting of range, Doppler, azimuth, and elevation).
Claim 16 (similarly claim 2). Hu shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is user equipment (UE) (fig. 3: UE) or a base station (fig. 3: gNB).
Claim 17 (similarly claim 3). Hu shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein the network entity is one of a base station (figs. 1, 3 and 10: gNB / BS), a network server (fig. 10: server), a user equipment (UE) (figs. 1, 3 and 10: UE), or a sensing server (n/a).
Claim 18 (similarly claim 4). Hu shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: sense a target based on the pair of sensing beams ([0065]: a detected target may be identified by a pair of Tx beam and Rx beam via their TCI states).
Claim 19 (similarly claim 5). Hu shows the apparatus of claim 18, wherein the target is one of a person (n/a), a vehicle (fig. 1: vehicle 104), or an object (n/a).
Claim 20 (similarly claim 6). Hu shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein, to output for transmission at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements for the plurality of pairs of sensing beams, the at least one processor is configured to output for transmission a measurement report bundling at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements ([0071]: the UE may more accurately measure each target or target group for metrics such as time domain channel impulse response (i.e. multipath propagation delay vs the received signal power) for each Tx and Rx beam pair, the range-doppler-angular (R-D-A) map, which may be up to four-dimension image data consisting of range, Doppler, azimuth, and elevation wherein by detecting the area of higher energy on the R-D-A map, it may be possible to determine a location where there is a target or target group).
Claim 21 (similarly claim 7). Hu shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein, to output for transmission at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements for the plurality of pairs of sensing beams, the at least one processor is configured to output for transmission a measurement report comprising a resource index for at least the pair of sensing beams from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams (pg. 5 table 2; [0065]: the beam identification of the Tx beam or Rx beam may be a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state configured per beam wherein a detected target may be identified by a pair of Tx beam and Rx beam via their TCI states; [0071]: the UE may more accurately measure each target or target group for metrics such as time domain channel impulse response (i.e. multipath propagation delay vs the received signal power) for each Tx and Rx beam pair, the range-doppler-angular (R-D-A) map, which may be up to four-dimension image data consisting of range, Doppler, azimuth, and elevation).
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Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 9, 10, 23 and 24 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang et al in view of Liu et al (US 2021/0352588 A1).
Claim 23 (similarly claim 9). Zhang shows the apparatus of claim 15; Zhang does not expressly describe wherein, to output for transmission at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements for the plurality of pairs of sensing beams, the at least one processor is configured to output for transmission a measurement report comprising RSRP measurements and Doppler measurements for at least the pair of sensing beams based on the pair of sensing beams having an RSRP value that exceeds an RSRP threshold and a Doppler value that exceeds a Doppler threshold.Liu teaches feature of outputting for transmission a measurement report comprising RSRP measurements and Doppler measurements for at least a pair of sensing beams based on the pair of sensing beams having an RSRP value that exceeds an RSRP threshold and a Doppler value that exceeds a Doppler threshold ([0084]: the UE may deactivate the received power saving configuration based on a UE additional estimation… the UE may determine whether the quality of serving cell falls below a threshold (or exceeds a threshold in case of doppler shift), or whether the quality of serving cell falls below the previous activation threshold wherein the serving cell can be PCell, or SCell wherein the threshold can be one of RSRP, RSRQ, SINR or Doppler shift threshold).It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the feature as taught by Liu in the outputting process of Zhang to facilitate different power saving configurations.
Claim 24 (similarly claim 10). Zhang shows the apparatus of claim 15, wherein, to output for transmission at least the portion of the RSRP measurements and the Doppler measurements for the plurality of pairs of sensing beams, the at least one processor is configured to output for transmission a measurement report comprising RSRP and Doppler measurements for at least the pair of sensing beams based on the pair of sensing beams having a largest Doppler value from the plurality of pairs of sensing beams ([0139]: the UE may select a new link with highest predicted data rate calculated from measured CSI (including RI and CQI) among those with RSRP or SINR above a certain threshold and Doppler shift or Doppler spread below a certain threshold).Zhang does not expressly describe the output report also includes: an RSRP value that exceeds an RSRP threshold, and a Doppler value that exceeds a Doppler threshold.Liu teaches a measurement report that includes an RSRP value that exceeds an RSRP threshold and a Doppler value that exceeds a Doppler threshold ([0084]: the UE may deactivate the received power saving configuration based on a UE additional estimation… the UE may determine whether the quality of serving cell falls below a threshold (or exceeds a threshold in case of doppler shift), or whether the quality of serving cell falls below the previous activation threshold wherein the serving cell can be PCell, or SCell wherein the threshold can be one of RSRP, RSRQ, SINR or Doppler shift threshold).It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the feature as taught by Liu in the measurement report of Zhang to facilitate different power saving configurations.
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Claims 14 and 28 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang et al in view of Yu et al (US 2024/0195561 A1).
Claim 28 (similarly claim 14). Zhang shows the apparatus of claim 15; Zhang does not expressly describe wherein a respective phase of a beginning of each respective sensing occasion from a plurality of sensing occasions is set to be equal to each other.Yu teaches a respective phase of a beginning of each respective sensing occasion from a plurality of sensing occasions is set to be equal to each other ([0036]: NR sidelink will support multiple types of periodic traffic in one resource pool and multiple types of periodic traffic may have the same ratio or different ratios, or, multiple types of periodic traffic may have different types of transmissions, e.g. a data traffic transmission, or a sidelink position reference signalling transmission… if a network only configures one Y value, multiple sensing occasions for multiple types of periodic traffic will have the same sensing window size).It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to implement the sensing occasion configuration feature as taught by Yu and apply it into the sensing phase of Zhang to avoid significant power usage ([0030]).
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 11 – 13 and 25 - 27 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
1. Liu et al, US 2024/0244512 A1: a resource determining method, comprising determining, by a terminal, a target sensing occasion for a first procedure; and determining, by the terminal, a target resource based on the target sensing occasion; wherein the target sensing occasion comprises a first sensing occasion, wherein the first sensing occasion is a sensing occasion corresponding to the first procedure.
2. Rittenbach, US 4,499,467 A: a Doppler radar set comprising a pulse generator providing a pulse repetition frequency for operation of said radar at a frequency which is a high multiple of the highest expected Doppler shift frequency, means for receiving a video pulse signal at said pulse repetition frequency modulated by the Doppler frequency including a pair of quadrature receiving channels each including a mixer, the input to one mixer being phase shifted by 90˚ with respect to the other, a pulse repetition frequency bandpass filter coupled to each mixer in each channel, a Doppler phase shifter connected to each bandpass filter of each said channel, said Doppler phase shifters being adapted to shift the relative phases of the signals of said channels by 90˚, and circuitry connected to the outputs of said Doppler phase shifters to determine and indicate the direction of moving target motion along the beam of said radar, and wherein said Doppler phase shifters are operated at said frequency higher than the frequency of the highest Doppler frequency of said radar set.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Xavier Szewai Wong whose telephone number is 571.270.1780. The examiner can normally be reached on 11:30 am - 8:30 pm Mon to Fri.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Jeffrey Rutkowski can be reached on 571.270.1215. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/XAVIER S WONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2415 12th July 2026
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