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 statements submitted on 12/27/2024, 12/08/2025 and 01/23/2026 have been considered by the examiner and made of record in the application file.
Claim Interpretation
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(f):
(f) Element in Claim for a Combination. – An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The following is a quotation of pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
An element in a claim for a combination may be expressed as a means or step for performing a specified function without the recital of structure, material, or acts in support thereof, and such claim shall be construed to cover the corresponding structure, material, or acts described in the specification and equivalents thereof.
The claims in this application are given their broadest reasonable interpretation using the plain meaning of the claim language in light of the specification as it would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked.
As explained in MPEP § 2181, subsection I, claim limitations that meet the following three-prong test will be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph:
(A) the claim limitation uses the term “means” or “step” or a term used as a substitute for “means” that is a generic placeholder (also called a nonce term or a non-structural term having no specific structural meaning) for performing the claimed function;
(B) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is modified by functional language, typically, but not always linked by the transition word “for” (e.g., “means for”) or another linking word or phrase, such as “configured to” or “so that”; and
(C) the term “means” or “step” or the generic placeholder is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
Use of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim with functional language creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites sufficient structure, material, or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Absence of the word “means” (or “step”) in a claim creates a rebuttable presumption that the claim limitation is not to be treated in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph. The presumption that the claim limitation is not interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is rebutted when the claim limitation recites function without reciting sufficient structure, material or acts to entirely perform the recited function.
Claim limitations in this application that use the word “means” (or “step”) are being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action. Conversely, claim limitations in this application that do not use the word “means” (or “step”) are not being interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, except as otherwise indicated in an Office action.
More specifically, claim 19 recites:
A device comprising:
means for determining an inter-UE directional vector between a first user equipment (UE) and a second UE within a first coordinate frame of the first UE at a first time;
means for receiving a reference azimuth angle from the second UE, the reference azimuth angle indicative of a relationship between the inter-UE directional vector and a second coordinate frame of the second UE at substantially the first time;
means for determining, based at least in part on the reference azimuth angle and the inter-UE directional vector, a translation between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame;
means for obtaining an azimuth angle measurement at a second time subsequent to the first time; and
means for translating the azimuth angle measurement between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame to obtain a translated azimuth angle measurement.
Consider claim 20 recites:
The device of claim 19, wherein:
the means for obtaining an azimuth angle measurement comprise means for performing the azimuth angle measurement;
the means for translating the azimuth angle measurement between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame comprise means for translating the azimuth angle measurement from the first coordinate frame to the second coordinate frame; and
the device further comprises means for sending the translated azimuth angle measurement to the second UE.
Following the three-prong test, the limitations in claims 19 and 20 all invoke 112(f) since the claim limitations use the term “means”, the term “means” is modified by functional language “for”, and the “term” means is not modified by sufficient structure, material, or acts for performing the claimed function.
The broadest reasonable interpretation of a claim element (also commonly referred to as a claim limitation) is limited by the description in the specification when 35 U.S.C. 112(f) or pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, is invoked. In the present application, support can be found for the means in at least paragraph 110 of applicant’s US PGPUB 2026/0086220 A1, where applicant discloses “means for performing functionality…comprise one or more processors 1210, a digital signal processor (DSP) 1220, a wireless communication interface 1230 (which may include an RF sensing system 1235), one or more sensors 1240, a memory 1260, a GNSS receiver 1280, and/or other components of a UE.”
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 1-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) and 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Lenovo (WO 2024/069617 A1).
Consider claim 1 (and similarly applied to claims 10 and 19). Lenovo discloses
a method ([0189]: "determining the orientation of a local coordinate system
relative to a global coordinate system") of determining a common azimuth angle
between user equipments, UEs, the method comprising:
- determining, with a first UE ("target device 104a"), an inter-UE directional
vector between the first UE ("target device 104a") and a second UE ("reference
devices") within a first coordinate frame of the first UE ("target device 104a then
measures these same angles of arrival in the local coordinate system at 1315")
at a first time (the first time may be any time);
- receiving, at the first UE ("target device 104a"), a reference azimuth angle
from the second UE ([0192]: "target device 104a receives AoAs to the reference
devices in the GCS at 1310"), the reference azimuth angle indicative of a
relationship between the inter-UE directional vector and a second coordinate frame ("GCS") of the second UE at substantially the first time (the received AoAs and the measured AoA must correspond to the substantially the same position and orientation of the target device and reference devices. In other words, in case of moving devices these
AoAs must all correspond to a substantially same "first time", where "at substantially the first time" is read as the target device and the reference devices have substantially
not moved);
- determining, based at least in part on the reference azimuth angle and the
inter-UE directional vector, a translation between the first coordinate frame and
the second coordinate frame ([0193]: "target device uses these two sets of
angles to solve for the rotations a, B. and y that define the relationship between
its LCS and the GCS at 1320);
"once the target device knows the relationship between its LCS and the GCS, the target device may report all angles relative to the GCS"). In the wording of claim 1, this translates to:
- obtaining an azimuth angle measurement with the first UE at a second time
subsequent to the first time; and
- translating the azimuth angle measurement between the first coordinate frame
and the second coordinate frame to obtain a translated azimuth angle
measurement.
Lenovo further teaches first user equipment (UE) (as is recited in claim 10) comprising: at least one transceiver; at least one memory; and at least one processor communicatively coupled with the at least one transceiver and at least one memory (fig. 8, read as device 802 such as a UE that includes a transceiver, a memory, and a processor that are coupled directed or indirectly).
Consider claim 2 and as applied to claim 1. Lenovo discloses wherein obtaining the azimuth angle measurement with the first UE comprises performing the azimuth angle measurement with the first UE; translating the azimuth angle measurement between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame comprises translating the azimuth angle measurement from the first coordinate frame to the second coordinate frame; and wherein the method further comprises sending the translated azimuth angle measurement from the first UE to the second UE (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 3 and as applied to claim 2. Lenovo discloses wherein the azimuth angle measurement is performed with the first UE as part of a positioning or sensing operation (paragraph 195).
Consider claim 4 and as applied to claim 1. Lenovo discloses wherein: obtaining the azimuth angle measurement with the first UE comprises receiving the azimuth angle measurement at the first UE from the second UE; translating the azimuth angle measurement between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame comprises translating the azimuth angle measurement from the second coordinate frame to the first coordinate frame; and wherein the method further comprises performing a positioning or sensing operation at the first UE using the translated azimuth angle measurement (paragraphs 192-194).
Consider claim 5 and as applied to claim 1. Lenovo discloses determining, at the first UE, a second reference azimuth angle indicative of a relationship between the inter-UE directional vector and the first coordinate frame of the first UE at the first time; and sending the second reference azimuth angle from the first UE to the second UE (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 6 and as applied to claim 5. Lenovo discloses wherein the second reference azimuth angle comprises an angle between a fixed axis relative to a body of the first UE and the inter-UE directional vector (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 7 and as applied to claim 1. Lenovo discloses wherein determining the inter-UE directional vector between the first UE and the second UE is based on: an angle of departure (AOD) measurement of an RF signal sent from the first UE to the second UE, an angle of arrival measurement (AOA) of an RF signal sent from the second UE to the first UE, a camera or lidar image of the second UE captured by the first UE, a sound measurement of the second UE captured by the first UE, or any combination thereof (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 8 and as applied to claim 1. Lenovo discloses wherein the UE comprises a mobile phone or vehicle (paragraphs 45, 121, 189).
Consider claim 9 and as applied to claim 1. Lenovo discloses wherein receiving the reference azimuth angle comprises receiving the reference azimuth angle via: Sidelink Positioning Protocol (SLPP), Radio Resource Control (RRC), PC5-RRC, application layer signaling, or any combination thereof (paragraphs 128, 188, 194).
Consider claim 11 and as applied to claim 10. Lenovo discloses wherein: to obtain the azimuth angle measurement with the first UE, the at least one processor is further configured to perform the azimuth angle measurement; to translate the azimuth angle measurement between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame, the at least one processor is further configured to translate the azimuth angle measurement from the first coordinate frame to the second coordinate frame; and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to send the translated azimuth angle measurement from the first UE to the second UE (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 12 and as applied to claim 10. Lenovo discloses wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform the azimuth angle measurement as part of a positioning or sensing operation (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 13 and as applied to claim 10. Lenovo discloses wherein: to obtain the azimuth angle measurement with the first UE, the at least one processor is further configured to receive the azimuth angle measurement at the first UE from the second UE; to translate the azimuth angle measurement between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame, the at least one processor is further configured to translate the azimuth angle measurement from the second coordinate frame to the first coordinate frame; and wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform a positioning or sensing operation at the first UE using the translated azimuth angle measurement (paragraphs 192-194).
Consider claim 14 and as applied to claim 10. Lenovo discloses wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: determine a second reference azimuth angle indicative of a relationship between the inter-UE directional vector and the first coordinate frame of the first UE at the first time; and send the second reference azimuth angle, via the at least one transceiver, from to the second UE (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 15 and as applied to claim 14. Lenovo discloses wherein the second reference azimuth angle comprises an angle between a fixed axis relative to a body of the first UE and the inter-UE directional vector (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 16 and as applied to claim 10. Lenovo discloses wherein, the at least one processor is configured to determine the inter-UE directional vector between the first UE and the second UE based on: an angle of departure (AOD) measurement of an RF signal sent from the first UE to the second UE, an angle of arrival measurement (AOA) of an RF signal sent from the second UE to the first UE, a camera or lidar image of the second UE captured by the first UE, a sound measurement of the second UE captured by the first UE, or any combination thereof (paragraph 193).
Consider claim 17 and as applied to claim 10. Lenovo discloses wherein the first UE comprises a mobile phone or vehicle (paragraphs 45, 121, 189).
Consider claim 18 and as applied to claim 10. Lenovo discloses wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the reference azimuth angle from the second UE via: Sidelink Position Protocol (SLPP), Radio Resource Control (RRC), Radio Resource Control (RRC), application layer signaling, or any combination thereof (paragraphs 128, 188, 194).
Consider claim 20 and as applied to claim 19. Lenovo discloses wherein: the means for obtaining an azimuth angle measurement comprise means for performing the azimuth angle measurement; the means for translating the azimuth angle measurement between the first coordinate frame and the second coordinate frame comprise means for translating the azimuth angle measurement from the first coordinate frame to the second coordinate frame; and the device further comprises means for sending the translated azimuth angle measurement to the second UE (paragraph 193).
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to CHRISTOPHER M BRANDT whose telephone number is (571)270-1098. The examiner can normally be reached Mon - Fri 8:00-5:00.
Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-based collaboration tool. To schedule an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anthony Addy can be reached at 571-272-7795. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
Information regarding the status of published or unpublished applications may be obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available to registered users. To file and manage patent submissions in Patent Center, visit: https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC) at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA) or 571-272-1000.
/CHRISTOPHER M BRANDT/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2645 June 25, 2026
Prosecution Insights