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 .
Priority
Acknowledgment is made of applicant’s claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 (a)-(d). The certified copy has been filed in parent Application No. CN 202210435051.1, filed on 24th April 2022.
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Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 22nd October 2024 and 21st October 2025. The submission 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 § 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 1 – 9, 10 – 17, 18, 27 and 52 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Abedini et al (US 2022/0053433 A1) in view of Yi et al (US 2024/0381475 A1).
Claim 18 (similarly Claim 1). Abedini shows a repeater (figs. 11 – 15 and 21: repeater), comprising a memory (fig. 21: memory), a transceiver (figs. 13 and 21: TX/RX arrays and antenna) and a processor (figs. 13 and 21: baseband processor and processor), wherein the memory is used for storing a computer program, the transceiver is used for transmitting and receiving data under control of the processor ([0244] – [0245]), and the processor is used for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the following operations: obtaining a system message transmitted from a network device ([0113]: the scheduling entity may allocate one or more REs to carry DL control information including one or more DL control channels, such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), to one or more scheduled entities), wherein the system message comprises configuration information ([0115]: system information transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing (e.g. default downlink numerology), system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g. PDCCH CORESET0), a cell barred indicator, a cell reselection indicator, a raster offset, and a search space for SIB1); or obtaining a sidelink control information (SCI) message transmitted from a network device, wherein the SCI message comprises configuration information ([0118]: the data region of the slot may include a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) including sidelink data traffic transmitted by the initiating (transmitting) sidelink device within resources reserved over the sidelink carrier by the transmitting sidelink device via the SCI); or obtaining configuration information configured by operation administration and maintenance (OAM) (n/a), wherein the configuration information comprises identity information of a network device and/or frequency information ([0391]: the resource information may include a time division duplex pattern (TDD pattern), repeater device on-off information, frequency information of the network access node).Abedini does not expressly describe wherein the configuration information is used for indicating a device type of the network device and/or a type of a repeater that the network device accesses, and the device type of the network device comprises a network-control repeater-Support (ncr-Support) network device type and a non-ncr-Support network device type.Yi teaches features of: a configuration information being used for indicating a device type of a network device and/or a type of a repeater that the network device accesses ([0074] – [0075]: the air-interface indication information may be a new piece of information added in SIB1, such as called NCR-support, used to indicate whether a network device supports a type of a first node… the first message including a capability of the first node and/or information for indicating a type of the first node (e.g. whether it is a special UE, whether it is an NCR, whether it includes the second unit, etc.)), and the device type of the network device comprises a network-control repeater-Support (ncr-Support) network device type and a non-ncr-Support network device type ([0076]: the RRC setup complete message may include an indication of a first node (ncr), such as called ncr-NodeIndication, a network device selects an access and mobility management function (AMF) that supports a type of the first node based on the indication; [0103]: the capability information including a capability of the first node and/or information used to indicate a type of the first node; [0133]: the beamforming information, for example, includes beam information of the link between a TRP and a NCR and/or beam information of the link between a NCR and a UE, etc.).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 ncr-Support configuration as taught by Yi in the configuration information of Abedini to provide active, base station-managed signal amplification and beamforming to eliminate 5G coverage blind spots without requiring an expensive wired backhaul.
Claim 52. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program (Abedini, [0244] – [0245]), wherein the computer program is used for causing a computer to perform the method of claim 1 (see Claim 1).
Claim 2. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 1, wherein the system message indicates the device type of the network device and/or the type of the repeater that the network device accesses through a first bit field (Yi, [0074] – [0075]: the ncr indication implicitly involves bit field(s)).
Claim 3. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 2, wherein the system message is a master information block (MIB) message ([0115]: MIB), and a system information block type 1 (SIB-1) configuration parameter in a first bit field of the MIB message is used for indicating the device type of the network device and/or the type of a repeater that the network device accesses ([0115]: SIB1).
Claim 4. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 1, wherein the system message is a system information block type 1 (SIB-1) message transmitted on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) indicated by downlink control information (DCI) in a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) ([0123]: a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not transmitted through the PBCH such as system information blocks (SIBs), and paging messages… the PDSCH may carry a DCI (e.g. control-related information); [0124]: SI transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing, system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g. PDCCH CORESET0), and a search space for SIB1), wherein the first PDCCH is a PDCCH scrambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier (SI-RNTI) specific for identifying the repeater that the network device accesses ([0219]: an RU-specific DCI format (scrambled by RU-RNTI) may be defined to provide the required configurations; [0395]: the repeater device control information may be transported as payload of a downlink control information (DCI) format associated with a common radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that distinguishes the DCI format from other DCI formats associated with other RNTIs associated with wireless communication devices).
Claim 5. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the system message transmitted from the network device comprises: obtaining a first system message transmitted from the network device, wherein the first system message is used for indicating the device type of the network device ([0074]: the air-interface indication information may be a new piece of information added in SIB1, such as called NCR-support, used to indicate whether a network device supports a type of a first node); and obtaining a second system message transmitted from the network device for identifying the repeater that the network device accesses in case that the device type of the network device is the ncr-Support network device type ([0076]: the RRC setup complete message may include an indication of a first node, such as called ncr-NodeIndication, a network device selects an access and mobility management function (AMF) that supports a type of the first node based on the indication).
Claim 6. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 5, wherein the first system message is a master information block (MIB) message common to a ncr-Support network device and a non-ncr-Support network device ([0123]: a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not transmitted through the PBCH such as system information blocks (SIBs), and paging messages… the PDSCH may carry a DCI (e.g. control-related information); [0392]: the cell-specific information may be, for example, system information that may be transported in a system information block (SIB) including resources identified by at least one of: a master information block (MIB), or a remaining minimum system information (RMSI), wherein the RMSI is not the SIB… the cell-specific information may be transported as a payload of a downlink control information (DCI) format or a medium access control-control element (MAC-CE) wherein the DCI may be a group-common DCI and the DCI format may be associated with a synchronization signal block (SSB) or a beamforming configuration), the second system message is a system information block type 1 (SIB-1) message transmitted on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) downlink control information (DCI) in a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) (see above; [0124]: SI transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing, system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g. PDCCH CORESET0), and a search space for SIB1), and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH scrambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier (SI-RNTI) specific for identifying the repeater that the network device accesses ([0219]: an RU-specific DCI format (scrambled by RU-RNTI) may be defined to provide the required configurations; [0395]: the repeater device control information may be transported as payload of a downlink control information (DCI) format associated with a common radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that distinguishes the DCI format from other DCI formats associated with other RNTIs associated with wireless communication devices).
Claim 7. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 1, wherein the SCI message is carried by a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) ([0124]: SI transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing, system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g. PDCCH CORESET0), and a search space for SIB1), and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH scrambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier (SI-RNTI) specific for identifying the repeater that the network device accesses ([0219]: an RU-specific DCI format (scrambled by RU-RNTI) may be defined to provide the required configurations; [0395]: the repeater device control information may be transported as payload of a downlink control information (DCI) format associated with a common radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that distinguishes the DCI format from other DCI formats associated with other RNTIs associated with wireless communication devices).
Claim 8. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 7, wherein the SCI message indicates the device type of the network device and/or the type of the repeater that the network device accesses through a second bit field ([0074] – [0075]: the air-interface indication information may be a new piece of information added in SIB1, such as called NCR-support, used to indicate whether a network device supports a type of a first node… the first message including a capability of the first node and/or information for indicating a type of the first node (e.g. whether it is a special UE, whether it is an NCR, whether it includes the second unit, etc.)).
Claim 9. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 1, further comprising: detecting a ncr-Support network device based on the configuration information ([0074] – [0075]: the air-interface indication information may be a new piece of information added in SIB1, such as called NCR-support, used to indicate whether a network device supports a type of a first node… the first message including a capability of the first node and/or information for indicating a type of the first node (e.g. whether it is a special UE, whether it is an NCR, whether it includes the second unit, etc.)); and in case that multiple ncr-Support network devices are detected, accessing a ncr-Support network device satisfying a predetermined condition among the multiple ncr-Support network devices ([0076]: the RRC setup complete message may include an indication of a first node (ncr), such as called ncr-NodeIndication, a network device selects an access and mobility management function (AMF) that supports a type of the first node based on the indication; [0103]: the capability information including a capability of the first node and/or information used to indicate a type of the first node; [0133]: the beamforming information, for example, includes beam information of the link between a TRP and a NCR and/or beam information of the link between a NCR and a UE, etc.); or in case that no ncr-Support network device is detected, obtaining configuration information on another frequency other than the frequency where the configuration information is located ([0112]: the first node, as a special UE, performs access and radio resource control (RRC) connection management according to traditional UE behaviors, while the second unit does not act as a part of collocation, but as an entity inside the UE, and is used to amplify and forward a radio frequency signal).
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Claim 10. Abedini shows a method for identifying a network-control repeater-Support (ncr-Support) network device (figs. 11, 12, 14, 15 and 25: network access node), comprising: transmitting a system message to a repeater ([0113]: the scheduling entity may allocate one or more REs to carry DL control information including one or more DL control channels, such as a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), to one or more scheduled entities – going through a repeater), wherein the system message comprises configuration information ([0115]: system information transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing (e.g. default downlink numerology), system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g. PDCCH CORESET0), a cell barred indicator, a cell reselection indicator, a raster offset, and a search space for SIB1); or transmitting a sidelink control information (SCI) message to a repeater, wherein the SCI message comprises configuration information ([0118]: the data region of the slot may include a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH) including sidelink data traffic transmitted by the initiating (transmitting) sidelink device within resources reserved over the sidelink carrier by the transmitting sidelink device via the SCI).Abedini does not expressly describe wherein the configuration information is used for indicating a device type of the network device and/or a type of a repeater that the network device accesses, and the device type of the network device comprises a ncr-Support network device type and a non-ncr-Support network device type.Yi teaches features of: a configuration information being used for indicating a device type of a network device and/or a type of a repeater that the network device accesses ([0074] – [0075]: the air-interface indication information may be a new piece of information added in SIB1, such as called NCR-support, used to indicate whether a network device supports a type of a first node… the first message including a capability of the first node and/or information for indicating a type of the first node (e.g. whether it is a special UE, whether it is an NCR, whether it includes the second unit, etc.)), and the device type of the network device comprises a network-control repeater-Support (ncr-Support) network device type and a non-ncr-Support network device type ([0076]: the RRC setup complete message may include an indication of a first node (ncr), such as called ncr-NodeIndication, a network device selects an access and mobility management function (AMF) that supports a type of the first node based on the indication; [0103]: the capability information including a capability of the first node and/or information used to indicate a type of the first node; [0133]: the beamforming information, for example, includes beam information of the link between a TRP and a NCR and/or beam information of the link between a NCR and a UE, etc.).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 ncr-Support configuration as taught by Yi in the configuration information of Abedini to provide active, base station-managed signal amplification and beamforming to eliminate 5G coverage blind spots without requiring an expensive wired backhaul.
Claim 27. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows a network device (Abedini, figs. 11, 12, 14, 15 and 25: network access node), comprising a memory (Abedini, fig. 25: memory), a transceiver (Abedini, fig. 25: antenna) and a processor (Abedini, fig. 25: processor), wherein the memory is used for storing a computer program, the transceiver is used for transmitting and receiving data under control of the processor (Abedini, [0244] – [0245]), and the processor is used for reading the computer program in the memory and performing the method of claim 10 (see Claim 10).
Claim 11. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 10, wherein the system message indicates the device type of the network device and/or the type of the repeater that the network device accesses through a first bit field (Yi, [0074] – [0075]: the ncr indication implicitly involves bit field(s)).
Claim 12. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 11, wherein the system message is a master information block (MIB) message ([0115]: MIB), and a system information block type 1 (SIB-1) configuration parameter in a first bit field of the MIB message is used for indicating the device type of the network device and/or the type of a repeater that the network device accesses ([0115]: SIB1).
Claim 13. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 10, wherein the system message is a system information block type 1 (SIB-1) message transmitted on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) indicated by downlink control information (DCI) in a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) ([0123]: a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not transmitted through the PBCH such as system information blocks (SIBs), and paging messages… the PDSCH may carry a DCI (e.g. control-related information); [0124]: SI transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing, system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g. PDCCH CORESET0), and a search space for SIB1), and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH scrambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier (SI-RNTI) specific for identifying the repeater that the network device accesses ([0219]: an RU-specific DCI format (scrambled by RU-RNTI) may be defined to provide the required configurations; [0395]: the repeater device control information may be transported as payload of a downlink control information (DCI) format associated with a common radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that distinguishes the DCI format from other DCI formats associated with other RNTIs associated with wireless communication devices).
Claim 14. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the system message to the repeater comprises: transmitting a first system message to the repeater (fig. 2: repeater 20), wherein the first system message is used for indicating a device type of a network device ([0074] – [0075]: the air-interface indication information may be a new piece of information added in SIB1, such as called NCR-support, used to indicate whether a network device supports a type of a first node… the first message including a capability of the first node and/or information for indicating a type of the first node (e.g. whether it is a special UE, whether it is an NCR, whether it includes the second unit, etc.)); and in case that the device type of the network device is the ncr-Support network device type, transmitting a second system message for identifying the repeater that the network device accesses to the repeater ([0076]: the RRC setup complete message may include an indication of a first node (ncr), such as called ncr-NodeIndication, a network device selects an access and mobility management function (AMF) that supports a type of the first node based on the indication; [0103]: the capability information including a capability of the first node and/or information used to indicate a type of the first node; [0133]: the beamforming information, for example, includes beam information of the link between a TRP and a NCR and/or beam information of the link between a NCR and a UE, etc.).
Claim 15. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 14, wherein the first system message is a master information block (MIB) message common to a ncr-Support network device and a non-ncr-Support network device ([0115]: MIB), the second system message is a system information block type 1 (SIB-1) message transmitted on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) downlink control information (DCI) in a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) ([0123]: a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not transmitted through the PBCH such as system information blocks (SIBs), and paging messages… the PDSCH may carry a DCI (e.g. control-related information); [0124]: SI transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing, system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g. PDCCH CORESET0), and a search space for SIB1), and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH sc rambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier (SI-RNTI) specific for identifying the repeater that the network device accesses ([0219]: an RU-specific DCI format (scrambled by RU-RNTI) may be defined to provide the required configurations; [0395]: the repeater device control information may be transported as payload of a downlink control information (DCI) format associated with a common radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that distinguishes the DCI format from other DCI formats associated with other RNTIs associated with wireless communication devices).
Claim 16. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 10, wherein the SCI message is carried by a first physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) ([0124]: SI transmitted in the MIB may include, but are not limited to, a subcarrier spacing, system frame number, a configuration of a PDCCH control resource set (CORESET) (e.g. PDCCH CORESET0), and a search space for SIB1), and the first PDCCH is a PDCCH scrambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier (SI-RNTI) specific for identifying the repeater that the network device accesses ([0219]: an RU-specific DCI format (scrambled by RU-RNTI) may be defined to provide the required configurations; [0395]: the repeater device control information may be transported as payload of a downlink control information (DCI) format associated with a common radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) that distinguishes the DCI format from other DCI formats associated with other RNTIs associated with wireless communication devices).
Claim 17. Abedini, modified by Yi, shows the method of claim 16, wherein the SCI message indicates the device type of the network device and/or the type of the repeater that the network device accesses through a second bit field ([0074] – [0075]: the air-interface indication information may be a new piece of information added in SIB1, such as called NCR-support, used to indicate whether a network device supports a type of a first node… the first message including a capability of the first node and/or information for indicating a type of the first node (e.g. whether it is a special UE, whether it is an NCR, whether it includes the second unit, etc.)).
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Conclusion
The prior art made of record is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure.
JIA et al, US 2024/0373338 A1: a cell state determining apparatus, applicable to a Network-Controlled repeater (NCR), which includes a receiver configured to receive relevant information of cell selection or reselection, and processor circuitry configured to consider a cell as a candidate for cell selection for Network-Controlled repeater according to the relevant information of cell selection or reselection, and/or, ignore the relevant information of cell selection or reselection.
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 1st October 2026
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