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) submitted on 02/24/2025 and 08/31/2026 was filed in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Specification
The disclosure is objected to because of the following informalities:
The use of the term Wi-Fi see para 29, Bluetooth see para 188, 200, 344, and ZigBee see para 344, which is a trade name or a mark used in commerce, has been noted in this application. The term should be accompanied by the generic terminology; furthermore the term should be capitalized wherever it appears or, where appropriate, include a proper symbol indicating use in commerce such as ™, SM , or ® following the term.
Although the use of trade names and marks used in commerce (i.e., trademarks, service marks, certification marks, and collective marks) are permissible in patent applications, the proprietary nature of the marks should be respected and every effort made to prevent their use in any manner which might adversely affect their validity as commercial marks.
Appropriate correction is required.
Claim Objections
Applicant is advised that should claim 14 be found allowable, claim 15 will be objected to under 37 CFR 1.75 as being a substantial duplicate thereof. When two claims in an application are duplicates or else are so close in content that they both cover the same thing, despite a slight difference in wording, it is proper after allowing one claim to object to the other as being a substantial duplicate of the allowed claim. See MPEP § 608.01(m).
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.
Claims 1-15 and 21-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Wang et al. (WO 2024002350 A1 and Wang hereinafter) in view of Si et al. (US 20230164735 A1 and Si hereinafter).
Regarding Claim 1, Wang suggests a method (As shown in Figure 9, the transmission of the side link positioning reference signal can be set to be completed in a cycle of SL DRX and/or SL eDRX…the method also includes) Page 18, comprising:
transmitting, to a second device, a first SL PRS based on the SL PRS configuration (As shown in Figure 9, the transmission of the side link positioning reference signal can be set to be completed in a cycle of SL DRX and/or SL eDRX.) Page 17-18
(the time between scheduling the transmission of a side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL-PRS1) and the transmission of another side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL PRS3);) Page 42; and
transmitting, to the second device, a third SL PRS based on the SL PRS configuration (As shown in Figure 9, the transmission of the side link positioning reference signal can be set to be completed in a cycle of SL DRX and/or SL eDRX.) Page 17-18
(the time between scheduling the transmission of a side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL-PRS1) and the transmission of another side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL PRS3);) Page 42,
wherein a time interval from a time related to the first SL PRS to a time related to the third SL PRS is an active time of the first device related to the SL DRX configuration (the activation time mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be at least one of the following:… the time between scheduling the transmission of a side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL-PRS1) and the transmission of another side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL PRS3);) Page 42.
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Wang, Figure 9
Wang doesn’t explicitly teach
obtaining, by a first device, a sidelink (SL) discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration;
obtaining a SL positioning reference signal (PRS) configuration;
However in a similar field of endeavor Si suggests
obtaining, by a first device, a sidelink (SL) discontinuous reception (DRX) configuration (Figure 2; Receive discontinuous reception DRX configuration information.) Para [0058];
obtaining a SL positioning reference signal (PRS) configuration (Figure 2; Obtain positioning configuration information, where the positioning configuration information includes at least one of positioning reference signal PRS configuration information or positioning state information PSI configuration information.) Para [0069];
Therefore, it would have been obvious for one having ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the method of Wang with the method suggested by Si. The motivation would be to save power consumption of the terminal, see Si at [0003].
Regarding Claim 14, Wang in view of Si, Wang-Si hereinafter, suggests all the limitations of claim 1 in device form rather than method form. Further Wang suggests a first device, comprising: at least one transceiver; at least one processor; and at least one memory connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, cause the first device to perform operations (As shown in Figure 13, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device 1300, which includes a processor 1301 and a memory 1302. The memory 1302 stores A program or instruction that can be run on the processor 1301. The terminal 1400 includes but is not limited to: a radio frequency unit 1401, a network module 1402, an audio output unit 1403, an input unit 1404, a sensor 1405, a display unit 1406, a user input unit 1407, an interface unit 1408, a memory 1409, a processor 1410… the radio frequency unit 1401 includes, but is not limited to, an antenna, amplifier, transceiver) Page 57-58. Therefore, the rejection of claim 1 applies equally as well to the limitations of claim 14.
Regarding Claim 15, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claim 1 in device form rather than method form. Further Wang suggests a processing device adapted to control a first device, the processing device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory connected to the at least one processor and storing instructions that, based on being executed by the at least one processor, cause the first device to perform operations (As shown in Figure 13, an embodiment of the present application also provides a communication device 1300, which includes a processor 1301 and a memory 1302. The memory 1302 stores A program or instruction that can be run on the processor 1301.) Page 57. Therefore, the rejection of claim 1 applies equally as well to the limitations of claim 15.
Regarding Claim 2 and Claim 21, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claims 1 and 14, respectively, as discussed above. Further Wang suggests wherein the time related to the first SL PRS is a time at which the first SL PRS is transmitted, and the time related to the third SL PRS is a time at which the third SL PRS is transmitted (the time between scheduling the transmission of a side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL-PRS1) and the transmission of another side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL PRS3);) Page 42.
Regarding Claim 3 and Claim 22, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claims 1 and 14, respectively, as discussed above. Further Wang suggests wherein the time related to the first SL PRS is a time at which control information related to the first SL PRS is transmitted, and the time related to the third SL PRS is a time at which control information related to the third SL PRS is transmitted (Figure 3 is an example diagram of the SL DRX scenario provided by related technologies… the UE monitors Sidelink Control Information (SCI) within a DRX cycle... SCI needs to be monitored after receiving a MAC indicating a new transmission of SL.) Page 6
(The side link control information SCI, for example, can be some specific SCI, such as the SCI used for scheduling, reporting, or feedback. Optionally, it can also be the SCI used for scheduling the side link positioning reference signal, Optionally, it can also be SCI used to indicate positioning. Optionally, it can also be SCI scrambled with a positioning-specific wireless network temporary identifier (Radio Network Temporary Identifier, RNTI).) Page 20.
Regarding Claim 4 and Claim 23, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claims 1 and 14, respectively, as discussed above. Further Wang suggests reselecting a resource for transmitting the third SL PRS (after the first timer is started or restarted, and before the first timer expires, that is, within the target activation time, the first communication device may monitor the third information (i.e. the recited reselecting a resource). Side link positioning reference signal measurement reporting information or feedback information; or Hybrid automatic retransmission information, wherein the hybrid automatic retransmission information indicates that the side link positioning process or the transmission of the side link positioning reference signal has been completed, such as knowledge SL positioning information has been received; Third indication information, the third indication information is used to respond to the second information, or to indicate that the side link positioning process or the side link positioning reference signal has been measured, for example, it can indicate that SL-PRS3 has completed transmission) Page 19.
Regarding Claim 5 and Claim 24, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claims 4 and 23, respectively, as discussed above. Further Wang suggests wherein the reselected resource is located in a time domain after a resource for transmitting the third SL PRS (The first communication device and the second communication device interact with the SL DRX and/or SL eDRX update configuration and/or auxiliary data of the side link positioning reference signal, wherein the side link positioning reference signal The auxiliary data may include SL PRS index (index), SL PRS identifier (Identifier, ID), SL PRS, SL PRS sequence (sequence), SL RPS sequence index, SL PRS time domain, SL PRS frequency domain resources, and SL PRS) Page 11.
Regarding Claim 6 and Claim 25, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claims 4 and 23, respectively, as discussed above. Further Wang suggests transmitting, to the second device, information for extending a SL DRX active time based on reselecting the resource for transmitting the third SL PRS (The first communication device and the second communication device interact with the SL DRX and/or SL eDRX (i.e. Extended Discontinuous Reception which extends the activation time) update configuration and/or auxiliary data of the side link positioning reference signal, wherein the side link positioning reference signal The auxiliary data may include SL PRS index (index), SL PRS identifier (Identifier, ID), SL PRS, SL PRS sequence (sequence), SL RPS sequence index, SL PRS time domain, SL PRS frequency domain resources, and SL PRS) Page 11.
Regarding Claim 7, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claim 1 as discussed above. Further Wang suggests wherein a time interval from a time at which the second device receives the first SL PRS to a time of a resource reserved for the third SL PRS is an active time of the second device related to the SL DRX configuration (the activation time mentioned in the embodiments of this application may be at least one of the following:… the time between scheduling the transmission of a side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL-PRS1) and the transmission of another side-link positioning reference signal (such as SL PRS3);) Page 42.
Regarding Claim 8, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claim 1 as discussed above. Further Wang suggests receiving, from the second device, a second SL PRS based on the SL PRS configuration (see Figure 9 above; i.e. UE1 receives SL-PRS 2 from UE2).
Regarding Claim 9, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claim 8 as discussed above. Further Wang suggests wherein a time interval between a time at which the second device transmits the second SL PRS and a time of a resource reserved for the third SL PRS is an inactive time of the second device related to the SL DRX configuration (sl-drx-RetransmissionTimer: This Timer is a Per HARQ process parameter, indicating the minimum time interval to wait (i.e. the recited inactive time) for retransmission (i.e. transmission of third PRS). The Timer is started on the first symbol after the positive acknowledgment (ACK) or negative acknowledgment (Negative Acknowledgment, NACK) is sent. During the running of the Timer, the corresponding MAC does not listen to the SCI. When the Timer times out, drx-RetransmissionTimerDL corresponding to the HARQ process is started.) Page 6.
Regarding Claim 10, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claim 8 as discussed above. Further Wang suggests wherein the second SL PRS is received in a time interval between the first SL PRS and the third SL PRS (see Figure 9 above; i.e. UE1 receives SL-PRS 2 from UE2 between the transmissions of PRS 1 AND PRS 3).
Regarding Claim 11, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claim 1 as discussed above. Further Wang suggests receiving, from the second device, a retransmission request for the first SL PRS based on a failure of resource selection or resource reselection for a second SL PRS of the second device (see Figure 9 above; The third information includes at least one of the following: Side link positioning reference signal measurement reporting information or feedback information; Hybrid automatic retransmission information, wherein the hybrid automatic retransmission information indicates that the side link positioning process or the transmission of the side link positioning reference signal has been completed; Third indication information, the third indication information is used to respond to the second information, or to indicate that the side link positioning process or the side link positioning reference signal has been measured; or Side link control information SCI.).
Regarding Claim 12, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claim 1 as discussed above. Further suggests wherein a first SL DRX configuration configured in a resource pool for a SL PRS and a second SL DRX configuration configured in a resource pool for control information related to the SL PRS are configured independently (The first communication device determines configurations of multiple SL DRX and/or SL eDRX, and the configurations of the multiple SL DRX and/or SL eDRX are configured by the first communication device for different peer devices.) Page 25.
Regarding Claim 13, Wang-Si suggests all the limitations of claim 12 as discussed above. Further Wang suggests wherein an active time of the first SL DRX configuration and an active time of the second SL DRX configuration are configured to be spaced apart by an interval that is equal to or less than a threshold value (the first communication device determining the transmission resource of the side-link positioning reference signal based on the first information and the configuration information of the side-link positioning reference signal. For example, at time n, the remaining activation time is less than the first threshold, and the side link positioning reference signal may not be sent in the current cycle. For another example, if at time n, the selectable activation time is less than the second threshold, the side link positioning reference signal may not be sent in the current cycle.) Page 13.
Pertinent Prior Art
The prior art made of record is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
Manolakos (US 20210050978 A1) “INTERACTION OF DISCONTINUOUS RECEPTION (DRX) WITH POSITIONING REFERENCE SIGNAL (PRS) RESOURCES” (February 18, 2021) is directed to a user equipment (UE) operating in discontinuous reception (DRX) mode.
Cha (US 20220095265 A1) “METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING OR RECEIVING POSITIONING INFORMATION, AND DEVICE THEREFOR” (March 24, 2022) is directed to a method for reporting positioning information by a terminal in a wireless communication system for improving positioning accuracy.
Dai (KR 20230165216 A) “Sidelink Positioning Standard Signal Resource Configuration” (December 5, 2023) suggests a position estimation entity determines a sidelink positioning reference signal (SL-PRS) resource configuration associated with the positioning measurement procedure. The position estimation entity transmits (e.g., to the first and/or second UE) an indication of the SL-PRS resource configuration. The UE(s) obtains the SL-PRS resource configuration and performs the positioning measurement procedure according to the SL-PRS resource configuration.
Ryu (US 20220046745 A1) “MANAGING DISCONTINUOUS RECEPTION IN SIDELINK RELAY” (February 10, 2022) is directed to a discontinuous reception (DRX) mode having first inactive and active time periods allowing a user equipment (UE) to communicate sidelink control signals to another UE. The UE may receive a message from another UE indicating an upcoming second active time period and second active time period duration for transmitting the sidelink control signals. The UE may transmit the sidelink control signals to another UE during the second active time period duration after receiving the message from another UE.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Iyonda L. Lewis whose telephone number is (571)272-4440. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:00pm.
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/IYONDA L LEWIS/Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2647
Iyonda.Lewis@USPTO.gov
/Alison Slater/Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2647
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