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 .
Claim Objections
Claims 1 and 10 objected to because of the following informalities: on line 1 of claims 1 and 10, insert a colon (:) after “comprising.” Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 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:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(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.
(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, 2, 10, 14, and 15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1)/102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Chen et al US 20130040640 (hereinafter Chen).
Regarding claim 1, Chen discloses a communication control apparatus (110, see fig. 1, [0022]) comprising
at least one processor (126, 121, see fig. 1, [0026]), the at least one processor carrying out:
a determination process of determining whether a target terminal apparatus has approached a cell which a base station (104-106, see fig. 1, [0022]) manages (513, see figs. 1 and 5, [0034]); and
a communication control process of increasing a frequency of cell searches which are conducted by the target terminal apparatus for connection to the cell, in a case where, in the determination process, it is determined that the target terminal apparatus has approached the cell (521, see fig. 5, [0034]).
Regarding claim 2 as applied to claim 1, Chen further discloses wherein the determination process includes a process of determining whether the target terminal apparatus has approached the cell, based on a result of comparing (i) positional information pertaining to the target terminal apparatus (see [0034]) or positional information pertaining to a mobile body to which the target terminal apparatus is mounted and (ii) positional information associated with the cell which the base station manages (see [0030], [0034]).
Regarding claim 10, Chen discloses a terminal apparatus (110, see fig. 1, [0022]) comprising at least one processor (126, 121, see fig. 1, [0026]), the at least one processor carrying out:
a determination process of determining whether the terminal apparatus has approached a cell which a base station (104-106, see fig. 1, [0022]) manages (513, see figs. 1 and 5, [0034]); and
a communication control process of increasing a frequency of cell searches for connection to the cell, in a case where, in the determination process, it is determined that the terminal apparatus has approached the cell (521, see fig. 5, [0034]).
Regarding claim 14, Chen discloses a communication control method (see fig. 5) carried out by a communication apparatus (110, 122, 126, see fig. 1, [0022]), comprising:
determining whether a target terminal apparatus (110, see fig. 1, [0022]) has approached a cell which a base station (104-106, see fig. 1, [0022]) manages (513, see figs. 1 and 5, [0034]); and
increasing a frequency of cell searches which are conducted by the target terminal apparatus for connection to the cell, in a case where it is determined that the target terminal apparatus has approached the cell (521, see fig. 5, [0034]).
Regarding claim 15, Chen discloses a non-transitory recording medium which stores therein a program (121, see fig. 1, [0026]) for causing a computer (126, 121, see fig. 1, [0026]) to carry out a process as a communication control apparatus (110, 122, 126, see fig. 1, [0022]) recited in claim 1 (see figs. 1 and 5, [0034]).
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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 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 3 and 5 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen et al US 20130040640 (hereinafter Chen) in view of Charbit GB 2496836 A.
Regarding claim 3 as applied to claim 1, Chen et al discloses the claimed invention except wherein the determination process includes a process of determining that the target terminal apparatus has approached the cell, based on a notification from a roadside apparatus that is provided in a vicinity of the cell which the base station manages. In the same field of endeavor, Charbit discloses determining that a target terminal apparatus has approached a cell, based on a notification from a roadside apparatus that is provided in a vicinity of the cell which a base station manages (see figs. 1, 3, and 6, page 17, lines 10-28, step 610; an ITS paging message received by the mobile terminal from a road side unit indicates it is has approached (vicinity) a range (cell) managed by an access point).
It would therefore have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Charbit with Chen with a reasonable expectation of success by receiving (by a mobile terminal) a paging message upon approaching a range of a base station/access point, for the benefit enabling the mobile terminal to communicate with the base station when it is within range of the base station.
Regarding claim 5 as applied to claim 3, the combination of Chen and Charbit disclose the claimed invention. Charbit further discloses wherein the notification includes a condition pertaining to a traveling direction of a mobile body, and in a case where the condition is satisfied, it is determined, in the determination process, that the target terminal apparatus has approached the cell (see figs. 1, 3, and 6, page 17, lines 10-28, step 610; an ITS paging message received by the mobile terminal from a road side unit indicates it is has approached (vicinity) a range (cell) managed by an access point).
Claims 6-7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Chen et al US 20130040640 (hereinafter Chen) in view of Damji et al US 20130258876 (hereinafter Damji).
Regarding claim 6 as applied to claim 1, Chen discloses the claimed invention except wherein, in the communication control process, a timing at which the frequency of the cell searches is increased is changed in accordance with a speed of movement of the target terminal apparatus or a mobile body to which the target terminal apparatus is mounted. In a similar field of endeavor, Damji discloses in a communication control process, a timing at which a frequency of the cell searches is increased is changed in accordance with a speed of movement of the target terminal apparatus or a mobile body to which the target terminal apparatus is mounted (see fig. 5, [0070]).
It would therefore have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Damji with Chen by adjusting the cell search period by reducing the cell search period when the velocity of the mobile terminal increases, as taught by Damji, for the benefit of efficiently performing cell searches.
Regarding claim 7 as applied to claim 1, Chen discloses the claimed invention except wherein, in the communication control process, a timing at which the frequency of the cell searches is increased is made earlier, as a speed of movement of the target terminal apparatus or a mobile body to which the target terminal apparatus is mounted becomes higher. In a similar field of endeavor, Damji discloses in a communication control process, a timing at which the frequency of cell searches is increased is made earlier, as a speed of movement of the target terminal apparatus or a mobile body to which the target terminal apparatus is mounted becomes higher (see fig. 5, [0070]).
It would therefore have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Damji with Chen by adjusting the cell search period by reducing the cell search period when the velocity of the mobile terminal increases, as taught by Damji, for the benefit of efficiently performing cell searches.
Regarding claim 8 as applied to claim 1, Chen discloses the claimed invention except wherein, in the communication control process, the frequency of the cell searches is changed in accordance with a speed of movement of the target terminal apparatus or a mobile body to which the target terminal apparatus is mounted. In the same field of endeavor, Damji discloses in a communication control process, the frequency of cell searches is changed in accordance with a speed of movement of the target terminal apparatus or a mobile body to which the target terminal apparatus is mounted (see fig. 5, [0070]).
It would therefore have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teaching of Damji with Chen by adjusting the cell search period by reducing the cell search period when the velocity of the mobile terminal increases, as taught by Damji, for the benefit of efficiently performing cell searches.
Regarding claim 9 as applied to claim 8, the combination of Chen and Damji disclose the claimed invention. Damji further discloses wherein, in the communication control process, the frequency of the cell searches is increased, as the speed of the movement of the target terminal apparatus or the mobile body to which the target terminal apparatus is mounted becomes higher (see fig. 5, [0070]).
Allowable Subject Matter
Claim 4 is 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.
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Gao et al US 20200128467 discloses performing cell searching based on a determined movement speed of a wireless device.
Gheorghiu et al US 20170048772 discloses adaptively changing a periodicity of measuring signal characteristics for a UE in a relatively high-speed environment based on one or more signal characteristics being outside of a threshold. Periodicity of measuring signal characteristics may be made directly by changing an interval at which measurements are taken.
Edara US 8,532,652 discloses when neighbor macro cells are detected by a user device, a closed subscriber group CSG selection subsystem may set a new search interval for a home CSG cell that is faster than the previous search frequency. If GPS coordinates and context sensor data indicate that the user device is very close to the home CSG cell 260, the search frequency may be further increased.
Deshpande US 20110136530 discloses systems and method for dynamically adjusting the amount of time searching for a cell.
Khan et al US 8,195,122 discloses a method and apparatus for adjusting the frequency of testing for a wireless communication signal.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to OLUMIDE T AJIBADE AKONAI whose telephone number is (571)272-6496. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 8AM-4PM.
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/OLUMIDE AJIBADE AKONAI/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3648
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