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. EP 22169833, filed on 25th April 2022.
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Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 22nd October 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, 2, 3, 11, 12 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Wang et al (US 2024/0063863 A1).
Claim 1. Wang shows a communication apparatus (fig. 2: base station 120), comprising: circuitry (fig. 2: processor(s) 258), which, in operation: obtains an indication of a periodicity of a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle ([0084]: the base station directs the UE 111 and/or the UE 112 to transition into an (enabled) DRX mode and indicates a respective DRX cycle (e.g. DRX active periods, DRX inactive periods) to the UE 111 and/or the UE 112), and determines, based on the periodicity and a rule, at least a transmission opportunity for a transmission of the DRX cycle ([0085]: the base station detects that a number of transmissions in the network falls below a first threshold value, identifies that the devices connected to the base station currently operate in a DRX mode, detects that a number of connected UEs falls below a second threshold, and/or determines, from historical records, that the wireless network statistically operates in a low-utilization mode during a current time-period; [0086]: the base station selects the APD-PS configuration based on PRACH transmission opportunities and/or SSB transmissions), and a transceiver (fig. 2: RF front end 254), which, in operation: transmits or receives, using the at least a transmission opportunity, the transmission of the DRX cycle ([0087]: the base station transmits APD-control information using the APD-control channel that directs the APD to transition to the APD-PS sleep-state and/or the enabled APD-PS mode; [0108]: the base station transmits or receives wireless signals using a surface of the APD and based on the APD-PS configuration… the base station transmits SSB blocks, transmits a downlink communication based on a DRX cycle of the UE 111, and/or receives a PRACH transmission from the UE 112).
Claim 11. Wang shows a method for a communication apparatus (abstract; fig. 2: base station 120), the method including the steps of: obtaining an indication of a periodicity of a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle ([0084]: the base station directs the UE 111 and/or the UE 112 to transition into an (enabled) DRX mode and indicates a respective DRX cycle (e.g. DRX active periods, DRX inactive periods) to the UE 111 and/or the UE 112); determining, based on the periodicity and a rule, at least a transmission opportunity for a transmission of the DRX cycle ([0085]: the base station detects that a number of transmissions in the network falls below a first threshold value, identifies that the devices connected to the base station currently operate in a DRX mode, detects that a number of connected UEs falls below a second threshold, and/or determines, from historical records, that the wireless network statistically operates in a low-utilization mode during a current time-period; [0086]: the base station selects the APD-PS configuration based on PRACH transmission opportunities and/or SSB transmissions), and transmitting or receiving, using the at least a transmission opportunity, the transmission of the DRX cycle ([0087]: the base station transmits APD-control information using the APD-control channel that directs the APD to transition to the APD-PS sleep-state and/or the enabled APD-PS mode; [0108]: the base station transmits or receives wireless signals using a surface of the APD and based on the APD-PS configuration… the base station transmits SSB blocks, transmits a downlink communication based on a DRX cycle of the UE 111, and/or receives a PRACH transmission from the UE 112).
Claim 12. Wang shows a scheduling device (fig. 2: base station 120; [0106]: the base station selects an APD-PS configuration for the APD that specifies a framework, operating schedule, and/or operating sequence for operating in the enabled APD-mode), comprising: circuitry, which, in operation, obtains an indication of a periodicity of a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle ([0084]: the base station directs the UE 111 and/or the UE 112 to transition into an (enabled) DRX mode and indicates a respective DRX cycle (e.g. DRX active periods, DRX inactive periods) to the UE 111 and/or the UE 112), determines, based on the periodicity and a rule, at least a transmission opportunity for a transmission of the DRX cycle ([0085]: the base station detects that a number of transmissions in the network falls below a first threshold value, identifies that the devices connected to the base station currently operate in a DRX mode, detects that a number of connected UEs falls below a second threshold, and/or determines, from historical records, that the wireless network statistically operates in a low-utilization mode during a current time-period; [0086]: the base station selects the APD-PS configuration based on PRACH transmission opportunities and/or SSB transmissions), and a transceiver, which, in operation: transmits or receives, using the at least a transmission opportunity, the transmission of the DRX cycle ([0087]: the base station transmits APD-control information using the APD-control channel that directs the APD to transition to the APD-PS sleep-state and/or the enabled APD-PS mode; [0108]: the base station transmits or receives wireless signals using a surface of the APD and based on the APD-PS configuration… the base station transmits SSB blocks, transmits a downlink communication based on a DRX cycle of the UE 111, and/or receives a PRACH transmission from the UE 112).
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Claim 16. Wang shows the communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transceiver, in operation, receives control signaling, and the circuitry, in operation, obtains, from the control signaling, an indication indicating a plurality of transmission times (fig. 5 and [0071]: the APD-PS configuration may alternately or additionally define APD-PS state transitions that occur ahead of, or prior to, expected transmissions, such as a time-duration that allows the APD to apply surface configuration(s) to the RIS and have the RIS settle to a stable state by the start of expected transmission time(s)), and determines, based on the periodicity of the DRX cycle, an adapted plurality of transmission times corresponding to a plurality of respective transmission opportunities for transmissions of the DRX cycle ([0070]: the base station corresponds to the donor base station that schedules the JAB link transmission opportunities, or a node base station served by the donor base station, where the donor base station and/or the node base station transmit/receive JAB link communications during the JAB link transmission opportunities; [0071]: the base station can select an APD-PS configuration that aligns APD-PS cycles to UE-DRX cycles, an APD-PS configuration that only directs the APD to monitor for a wakeup signal by indicating a wakeup-monitoring period (and no surface configuration), and/or an APD-PS configuration with a single APD-PS state-transition pair (e.g. one transition to an APD-PS awake-state, one transition to an APD-PS sleep-state) that applies an APD-surface-configuration sequence (e.g. multiple surface-configurations in succession) during the APD-PS awake-state), wherein: the adapted plurality of transmission times is different from the plurality of transmission times (fig. 5 and [0080]: a short APD-PS cycle corresponds to an APD-PS cycle that includes a single APD-PS state-transition pair (e.g. a APD-PS cycle that defines one APD-PS sleep-state and one APD-PS awake-state), and a long APD-PS cycle corresponds to an APD-PS cycle that includes multiple short APD-PS cycles), and the adapted plurality of transmission times are separated from each other by integer-multiples of a basic time unit, the integer-multiples of the basic time unit corresponding to the periodicity ( [0089]: the base station communicates, with the APD-PS sleep signal, a time-duration (e.g. wakeup-monitoring period) that directs the APD to periodically monitor for a wakeup signal).
Claim 2. Wang shows the communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the basic time unit is predetermined and/or the basic time is a basic time unit of a resource grid employed by the communication apparatus ([0087]: the base station transmits a simple APD-PS sleep signal, such as symbol signaling (e.g. a transmission over a particular time interval associated with transmitting a symbol in a wireless network), such as an OFDM symbol in a particular a resource block and/or at a particular symbol within the resource block, and the APD monitors for a presence of the signal in the resource block), or the circuitry, in operation, obtains, from the control signaling, an indication of the basic time unit (see above).
Claim 3. Wang shows the communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein two consecutive transmission times of the plurality of transmission times are separated by a same time distance that is a non-integer multiple of the basic time unit, and/or the circuitry ([0041]: a base station, by way of a BS APD manager, can use the position information in computing angular or distance information, such as between the base station and APD and/or between the APD and a UE of interest), in operation, obtains, from the control signaling, as the indication indicating the periodicity, said same time distance ([0049]: the APD manager communicates a linear adjustment along the X-axis, where the linear adjustment includes any combination of a direction, a velocity, and/or a distance of the adjustment).
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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.
Claim 17 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang et al in view of Cherian et al (US 2019/0296885 A1).
Claim 17. Wang shows the communication apparatus according to claim 1; Wang does not expressly describe wherein a transmission time of the at least a transmission opportunity is determined by the rule including at least one of rounding, ceiling, or floor.Cherian teaches feature of a transmission time of a transmission opportunity which is determined by a rule of floor ([0051]: the full-duplex communicating component can optionally include one or more components for providing functions described herein, such as an interference floor component for reporting an interference floor to one or more STAs, where the interference floor can correspond to the interference floor caused in receiver when receiving signals transmitted by transmitter, an energy difference determining component for determining an energy difference caused by a transmission from a STA to adjust an energy difference threshold for performing CCA, a CCA component for performing a CCA to detect a transmission opportunity (which may be based on the adjusted energy difference threshold), and/or a measurement soliciting component for soliciting one or more STAs to transmit measurement signals and/or one or more STAs to measure measurement signals transmitted by one or more other STAs for reporting the measurements back to the AP).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 floor (or rounding or ceiling) rule feature as taught by Cherian in the transmission opportunity of Wang to prevent TXOP over-allocation and by trimming the excess overhead time that would not accommodate a full additional packet and drastically reduce the TXOP loss factor.
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Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 4 – 9 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. Park et al, US 2022/0330283 A1: a method of operating a first apparatus in a wireless communication system wherein the method comprises obtaining an SL DRX configuration including information related to an SL DRX HARQ RTT timer; receiving SCI for scheduling a PSSCH from a second apparatus through a PSCCH based on an active time of the SL DRX configuration; receiving a MAC PDU through the PSSCH from the second apparatus; and starting the SL DRX HARQ RTT timer, based on that a PSFCH resource is configured in an SL grant related to the SCI and that a HARQ feedback related to the MAC PDU is disabled.
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 2nd October 2026
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