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 .
Introduction
The claims 1-20 are pending in this application. This is a non-final office action in response to Application Number 18/899,528 filed on 27 September 2024.
The instant application is a CON of PCT/CN2023/085454 filed on 31 March 2023 and claims foreign priority to Chinese application 202210346240.1 filed on 31 March 2022.
The applicant of record is Vivo Mobile Communication Co., LTD. in Dongguan, China and the inventor of record is Xuanbing Liu. Examiner notes that the application papers are signed by a U.S. registered practitioner.
Priority
Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
Drawings
The drawings filed on 27 September 2024 are accepted by the examiner.
Information Disclosure Statement
The information disclosure statement (IDS) submitted on 30 January 2026 was filed after the filing date of the instant application on 27 September 2024 and before a first office action on the merits. The submission is in compliance with the provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statement is being considered by the examiner.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 101
35 U.S.C. 101 reads as follows:
Whoever invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, manufacture, or composition of matter, or any new and useful improvement thereof, may obtain a patent therefor, subject to the conditions and requirements of this title.
Claims 19-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 101 because the claimed invention is directed to non-statutory subject matter. The claims do not fall within at least one of the four categories of patent eligible subject matter because the specification indicates that memory includes both transitory and non-transitory memory (see specification [0162]) storing instructions to send a first request used for initiating BSC link establishment.
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.
Claims 1, 4-5, and 10-20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Zhang (WO 2021/163971; corresponds to U.S. Patent Publication 2022/0386348; the quotations below are taken from the U.S. publication, however examiner notes that the US paragraphs correspond to paragraphs with the same numbers in the translated WO document with minor differences in terminology between the two documents).
Regarding claim 1, Zhang disclosed a method for initiating backscatter communication (BSC) link establishment (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0084]: “Another optional processing flow of a method for backscatter communication provided in an implementation of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3…”), wherein the method is applied to a BSC system, the BSC system comprises a first device, a network side device, and a BSC terminal (see Zhang [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; examiner notes that Zhang’s “first electronic device” is interpreted as being functionally equivalent to the claimed “BSC terminal”, Zhang’s “terminal device” is interpreted as being functionally equivalent to the claimed “first device”, and Zhang’s “network device” is interpreted as being functionally equivalent to the claimed “network side device”), and the method comprises:
sending, by the first device, a first request to the network side device, wherein the first request is used for initiating BSC link establishment (see Zhang [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”; examiner notes that since the scheduling request is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals, the scheduling request is used for initiating and establishing a backscatter link on which the reflected signals are sent by the first electronic device).
Regarding claim 4, Zhang disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, by the first device, configuration information sent by the network side device (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.” | Fig. 3, [0099]: “In the act S304, the terminal device receives third indication information sent by the network device.”; [0100]: “In some implementations, the third indication information is used to indicate at least one of a frequency, time, and a type of the downlink signal which are used by the network device to send the downlink signal.”; [0101]: “In some implementations, the third indication information may be carried in a dedicated DCI or a common DCI.” | Fig. 3, [0107]: “In the act S305, the terminal device receives fourth indication information sent by the network device.”; [0108]: “In some implementations, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to use a downlink signal which has been scheduled by the network device, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the network device schedules at least one of a frequency, time used by the downlink signal, and a type of the downlink signal. Optionally, the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of time, a frequency, and a type of the downlink signal to be scheduled”); and
establishing, by the first device, an radio resource control (RRC) connection or a BSC link with the network side device based on the configuration information (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.” | Fig. 3, [0107]: “In the act S305, the terminal device receives fourth indication information sent by the network device.”; [0108]: “In some implementations, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to use a downlink signal which has been scheduled by the network device, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the network device schedules at least one of a frequency, time used by the downlink signal, and a type of the downlink signal. Optionally, the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of time, a frequency, and a type of the downlink signal to be scheduled”; [0110]: “In an implementation of the present disclosure, a downlink signal is sent by a network device, and the first electronic device carries information collected by a first electronic device based on a reflected signal of the downlink signal; the terminal device can receive the reflected signal carrying the information collected by the first electronic device.”).
Regarding claim 5, Zhang disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, by the first device, BSC data sent by the BSC terminal and forwarding the BSC data to the network side device in a connected state; and/or,
receiving, by the first device, BSC data sent by the network side device and forwarding the BSC data to the BSC terminal in the connected state (see Zhang [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”).
Regarding claim 10, Zhang disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 1, wherein the first request comprises at least one of the following:
indication information for initiating the BSC link establishment; indication information for BSC uplink establishment or indication information for BSC downlink establishment (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”); indication information for BSC uplink data forwarding or indication information for BSC downlink data forwarding; BSC data; Mo-Data initiated by the first device; indication information of first device-assisted data transmission; or indication information of multimedia priority service priority access.
Regarding claim 11, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 1 above. Examiner notes that both claims 1 and 11 describe methods, however the method of claim 1 is performed by a first device and the method of claim 11 is performed by a network side device. Zhang disclosed, as recited in claim 11: A method for initiating backscatter communication (BSC) link establishment (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0084]: “Another optional processing flow of a method for backscatter communication provided in an implementation of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3…”), wherein the method is applied to a BSC system, the BSC system comprises a first device, a network side device, and a BSC terminal (see Zhang [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; examiner notes that Zhang’s “first electronic device” is interpreted as being functionally equivalent to the claimed “BSC terminal”, Zhang’s “terminal device” is interpreted as being functionally equivalent to the claimed “first device”, and Zhang’s “network device” is interpreted as being functionally equivalent to the claimed “network side device”), and the method comprises:
receiving, by the network side device, a first request sent by the first device, wherein the first request is used for initiating BSC link establishment (see Zhang [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”; examiner notes that since the scheduling request is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals, the scheduling request is used for initiating and establishing a backscatter link on which the reflected signals are sent by the first electronic device).
Regarding claim 12, Zhang disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 11, wherein the first request comprises at least one of the following: an radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment request message (see Zhang [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”); an RRC resume request message; or a first BSC message.
Regarding claim 13, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 4 above. Zhang disclosed, as recited in claim 13: The method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 11, wherein after the receiving, by the network side device, a first request sent by the first device, the method further comprises:
sending, by the network side device, configuration information to the first device (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.” | Fig. 3, [0099]: “In the act S304, the terminal device receives third indication information sent by the network device.”; [0100]: “In some implementations, the third indication information is used to indicate at least one of a frequency, time, and a type of the downlink signal which are used by the network device to send the downlink signal.”; [0101]: “In some implementations, the third indication information may be carried in a dedicated DCI or a common DCI.” | Fig. 3, [0107]: “In the act S305, the terminal device receives fourth indication information sent by the network device.”; [0108]: “In some implementations, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to use a downlink signal which has been scheduled by the network device, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the network device schedules at least one of a frequency, time used by the downlink signal, and a type of the downlink signal. Optionally, the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of time, a frequency, and a type of the downlink signal to be scheduled”),
wherein the configuration information is used in establishment of an radio resource control (RRC) connection or a BSC link between the first device and the network side device (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.” | Fig. 3, [0107]: “In the act S305, the terminal device receives fourth indication information sent by the network device.”; [0108]: “In some implementations, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to use a downlink signal which has been scheduled by the network device, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the network device schedules at least one of a frequency, time used by the downlink signal, and a type of the downlink signal. Optionally, the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of time, a frequency, and a type of the downlink signal to be scheduled”; [0110]: “In an implementation of the present disclosure, a downlink signal is sent by a network device, and the first electronic device carries information collected by a first electronic device based on a reflected signal of the downlink signal; the terminal device can receive the reflected signal carrying the information collected by the first electronic device.”).
Regarding claim 14, Zhang disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, by the network side device, BSC data of the BSC terminal forwarded by the first device; or, sending, by the network side device, BSC data to the first device or the BSC terminal (see Zhang [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”); or, receiving, by the network side device, BSC data sent by the first device or the BSC terminal.
Regarding claim 15, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 6 below, however examiner notes that the dependency chains are different. Zhang disclosed, as recited in claim 15: The method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 12, wherein the first BSC message comprises at least one of the following:
a BSC link establishment request, or an uplink information transmission message (see Zhang [0099]: “In the act S304, the terminal device receives third indication information sent by the network device.”; [0100]: “In some implementations, the third indication information is used to indicate at least one of a frequency, time, and a type of the downlink signal which are used by the network device to send the downlink signal.”).
Regarding claim 16, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 7 below, however examiner notes that the dependency chains are different. Zhang disclosed, as recited in claim 16: The method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 12, wherein after the receiving, by the network side device, a first request sent by the first device, the method further comprises:
sending, by the network side device, a first BSC response message to the first device, wherein the first BSC response message is used for responding to the first BSC message (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.” | Fig. 3, [0107]: “In the act S305, the terminal device receives fourth indication information sent by the network device.”; [0108]: “In some implementations, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to use a downlink signal which has been scheduled by the network device, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the network device schedules at least one of a frequency, time used by the downlink signal, and a type of the downlink signal. Optionally, the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of time, a frequency, and a type of the downlink signal to be scheduled”; [0110]: “In an implementation of the present disclosure, a downlink signal is sent by a network device, and the first electronic device carries information collected by a first electronic device based on a reflected signal of the downlink signal; the terminal device can receive the reflected signal carrying the information collected by the first electronic device.”).
Regarding claim 17, Zhang disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises: supplying, by the network side device, power to the BSC terminal (see Zhang [0038]: “As described above, backscatter communication is suitable for low-cost sensors. Although the use of backscatter communication can greatly reduce the energy needed for communication, the sensor still needs energy to be driven in the process of collecting signals. If the energy for collecting signals by these sensors can also be obtained from the environment, the process of collecting signals and transmitting signals by sensors will only depend on environmental electromagnetic waves, that is, the sensors are passive, which will greatly expand the applicable scenarios of backscatter communication.”; [0040]: “In order to solve the above problems, a device receiving backscattering signals can be used to actively emit electromagnetic waves with specific frequencies. Wherein, the specific frequency is a frequency supported by the antenna of the device supporting backscatter communication, and the purpose of information transmission based on backscatter communication is achieved by receiving the reflected signal of the signal.”).
Regarding claim 18, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 10 above. Zhang disclosed, as recited in claim 18: The method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 11, wherein the first request comprises at least one of the following: indication information for initiating the BSC link establishment; indication information for BSC uplink establishment or indication information for BSC downlink establishment (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”); indication information for BSC uplink data forwarding or indication information for BSC downlink data forwarding; BSC data; Mo-Data initiated by the first device; indication information of first device-assisted data transmission; or indication information of multimedia priority service priority access.
Regarding claim 19, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 1 above. Examiner notes that claim 1 describes a method performed by a first device whereas claim 19 describes a first device performing a method. Zhang disclosed, as recited in claim 19: A first device, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores programs or instructions executable on the processor (see Zhang Fig. 8 processor #701, memory #702, and application program #7022), and the programs or instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the first device to perform:
sending a first request to the network side device, wherein the first request is used for initiating backscatter communication (BSC) link establishment (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0084]: “Another optional processing flow of a method for backscatter communication provided in an implementation of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3…”; [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”; examiner notes that since the scheduling request is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals, the scheduling request is used for initiating and establishing a backscatter link on which the reflected signals are sent by the first electronic device).
Regarding claim 20, the claim contains the limitations, substantially as claimed, as described in claim 11 above. Examiner notes that claim 11 describes a method performed by network side device whereas claim 20 describes a network side device performing a method. Zhang disclosed, as recited in claim 20: A network side device, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory stores programs or instructions executable on the processor (see Zhang Fig. 8 processor #701, memory #702, and application program #7022), and when the programs or instructions are executed by the processor, the method for initiating backscatter communication (BSC) link establishment according to claim 11 is implemented (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0084]: “Another optional processing flow of a method for backscatter communication provided in an implementation of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3…”; [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”; examiner notes that since the scheduling request is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals, the scheduling request is used for initiating and establishing a backscatter link on which the reflected signals are sent by the first electronic device).
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.
Claims 2-3 and 6-9 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang as applied to claim 1 above, and further in view of Elkotby et al. (U.S. Patent Publication 2024/0215067).
Regarding claim 2, Zhang disclosed the invention, substantially as claimed, as described in the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 1 above, but did not explicitly disclose “wherein in a case that the first device is in an idle state, the first request is an radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment request message; in a case that the first device is in an inactive state, the first request is an RRC resume request message; or in a case that the first device is in a connected state, the first request is a first BSC message”.
Zhang disclosed scheduling the request via RRC signaling and that the downlink signal is used for backscatter (see Zhang [0086]) and it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention that different RRC signals are sent depending on the state.
However in a related art, Elkotby disclosed a passive transceiver may be in an idle or inactive state (see Elkotby [0135]) and that the WTRU may use the passive transceiver with backscattering-based UL to perform random access (RA) and data transmission procedures (see Elkotby [0136]). The RA procedures may be initiated based on RRC_IDLE, RRC connection reestablishment, transition from RRC_INACTIVE, etc. (see Elkotby [0093]). “…the WTRU may perform bi-static backscattering of any of the MSG1 and MSGA messages, with e.g., a support of any of other WTRUs and facilitators.” (see Elkotby [0139]). Interrogator selection methods may allow a backscattering WTRU to perform connection establishment, e.g., in an idle state (see Elkotby [0226]) and Fig. 13 illustrates a method for requesting RRC establishment using bi-static backscattering (see Elkotby Fig. 13, [0256]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Zhang and Elkotby to further clarify how BSC links are established. Including Elkotby’s teachings would reduce power consumption (see Elkotby [0091]), ensure near zero power consumption when the WTRU is not actively performing transmission or reception of data (see Elkotby [0135]), improve network resource utilization efficiency and decrease latency (see Elkotby [0140]).
Regarding claim 3, Zhang disclosed the invention, substantially as claimed, as described in the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 1 above, before the sending, by the first device, a first request to the network side device (see Zhang [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”; examiner notes that since the scheduling request is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals, the scheduling request is used for initiating and establishing a backscatter link on which the reflected signals are sent by the first electronic device), further comprising:
receiving, by the first device, a second request sent by the BSC terminal, wherein the second request is used for the BSC terminal to request to initiate the BSC link establishment (see Elkotby combination below).
Zhang disclosed scheduling the request via RRC signaling and that the downlink signal is used for backscatter (see Zhang [0086]) and it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention that the BSC terminal may initiate establishment of a BSC connection (e.g., UL request for receiving DL backscattered signals).
However in a related art, Elkotby disclosed a passive transceiver may be in an idle or inactive state (see Elkotby [0135]) and that the WTRU may use the passive transceiver with backscattering-based UL to perform random access (RA) and data transmission procedures (see Elkotby [0136]). The RA procedures may be initiated based on RRC_IDLE, RRC connection reestablishment, transition from RRC_INACTIVE, etc. (see Elkotby [0093]). “…the WTRU may perform bi-static backscattering of any of the MSG1 and MSGA messages, with e.g., a support of any of other WTRUs and facilitators.” (see Elkotby [0139]). Interrogator selection methods may allow a backscattering WTRU to perform connection establishment, e.g., in an idle state (see Elkotby [0226]) and Fig. 13 illustrates a method for requesting RRC establishment using bi-static backscattering (see Elkotby Fig. 13, [0256]). Additionally, “a WTRU may use backscattering for UL transmissions to perform any of UL synchronization, connection setup, and data transmissions” (see Elkotby [0150]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Zhang and Elkotby to further clarify how BSC links are established. Including Elkotby’s teachings would reduce power consumption (see Elkotby [0091]), ensure near zero power consumption when the WTRU is not actively performing transmission or reception of data (see Elkotby [0135]), improve network resource utilization efficiency and decrease latency (see Elkotby [0140]).
Regarding claim 6, Zhang-Elkotby disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 2, wherein the first BSC message comprises at least one of the following: a BSC link establishment request, or an uplink information transmission message (see Zhang [0099]: “In the act S304, the terminal device receives third indication information sent by the network device.”; [0100]: “In some implementations, the third indication information is used to indicate at least one of a frequency, time, and a type of the downlink signal which are used by the network device to send the downlink signal.”).
Regarding claim 7, Zhang-Elkotby disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:
receiving, by the first device, a first BSC response message sent by the network side device, wherein the first BSC response message is used for responding to the first BSC message (see Zhang Fig. 3, [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.” | Fig. 3, [0107]: “In the act S305, the terminal device receives fourth indication information sent by the network device.”; [0108]: “In some implementations, the fourth indication information is used to indicate the terminal device to use a downlink signal which has been scheduled by the network device, and the fourth indication information is used to indicate that the network device schedules at least one of a frequency, time used by the downlink signal, and a type of the downlink signal. Optionally, the fourth indication information is used to indicate at least one of time, a frequency, and a type of the downlink signal to be scheduled”; [0110]: “In an implementation of the present disclosure, a downlink signal is sent by a network device, and the first electronic device carries information collected by a first electronic device based on a reflected signal of the downlink signal; the terminal device can receive the reflected signal carrying the information collected by the first electronic device.”).
Regarding claim 8, Zhang-Elkotby disclosed the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 7, wherein the method further comprises:
in a case that the first device sends the first BSC message or receives the first BSC response message, sending, by the first device, BSC data to the network side device (see Zhang [0085]: “In the act S301, a terminal device sends a scheduling request to a network device, wherein the scheduling request is used to request the network device to schedule a downlink signal, and the downlink signal is used for a first electronic device to reflect a signal.”; [0086]: “In some implementations, the terminal device sends the scheduling request to the network device in a case that the terminal device has a demand on collecting information collected by the first electronic device; wherein the scheduling request may be sent by an RRC signaling. The downlink signal is used for the first electronic device to reflect signals.”).
Regarding claim 9, Zhang disclosed the invention, substantially as claimed, as described in the method for initiating BSC link establishment according to claim 1 above:
wherein the first device is a radio frequency source (see Zhang [0038]: “As described above, backscatter communication is suitable for low-cost sensors. Although the use of backscatter communication can greatly reduce the energy needed for communication, the sensor still needs energy to be driven in the process of collecting signals. If the energy for collecting signals by these sensors can also be obtained from the environment, the process of collecting signals and transmitting signals by sensors will only depend on environmental electromagnetic waves, that is, the sensors are passive, which will greatly expand the applicable scenarios of backscatter communication.”; [0040]: “In order to solve the above problems, a device receiving backscattering signals can be used to actively emit electromagnetic waves with specific frequencies. Wherein, the specific frequency is a frequency supported by the antenna of the device supporting backscatter communication, and the purpose of information transmission based on backscatter communication is achieved by receiving the reflected signal of the signal.”); and
the first device starts to supply power to the BSC terminal in any one of the following cases: in a case that the first device is in a connected state; in a case that the first device sends a first BSC message or receives a first BSC response message; or before the first device sends the first request to the network side device (see Elkotby combination below).
Zhang did not explicitly disclose “the first device starts to supply power to the BSC terminal in any one of the following cases: in a case that the first device is in a connected state; in a case that the first device sends a first BSC message or receives a first BSC response message; or before the first device sends the first request to the network side device”.
In light of Zhang’s use of passive sensors in backscatter communications (see Zhang [0038]) and a device actively emitting electromagnetic waves (see Zhang [0040]), it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention that Zhang’s backscattering system would also teach supplying power to the BSC terminal when in a connected state, sending a first BSC message, receiving a first BSC response message, or before sending the establishment request to the network side device.
However in a related art, Elkotby disclosed a Backscattering WTRU, Non-Backscattering WTRU, and a base station in a bi-static backscattering system (see Elkotby Fig. 8, [0230]). “There may be RF circuitry that may be capable of enabling passive signal transmissions in the absence of active power supply. The passive transmitter (which may be referred to herein as backscattering WTRU) may process a received RF waveform (which may be referred to herein as interrogation signal), and modulate a reflected (e.g., backscattered) signal towards a receiving network element. For example the interrogation signal may be a signal received from (e.g., generated by) an interrogating network element… For example, the interrogation signal may be processed (e.g., treated) by, for example, a backscattering WTRU as a power source to generate and transmit a signal. For example, the interrogation signal may be processed (e.g., treated) as an RF carrier to be modulated and backscattered into the wireless channel where the carrier frequency of the backscattered signal may be the same (e.g., or slightly shifted) as the interrogation signal...The backscattering (e.g., architecture) may be referred to herein as bi-static backscattering in a case wherein the interrogating network element is different from the receiving network element of the backscattered signal” (see Elkotby [0090]).
Furthermore, the passive transceiver may be in an idle or inactive state (see Elkotby [0135]) and that the WTRU may use the passive transceiver with backscattering-based UL to perform random access (RA) and data transmission procedures (see Elkotby [0136]). The RA procedures may be initiated based on RRC_IDLE, RRC connection reestablishment, transition from RRC_INACTIVE, etc. (see Elkotby [0093]). “…the WTRU may perform bi-static backscattering of any of the MSG1 and MSGA messages, with e.g., a support of any of other WTRUs and facilitators.” (see Elkotby [0139]). Interrogator selection methods may allow a backscattering WTRU to perform connection establishment, e.g., in an idle state (see Elkotby [0226]) and Fig. 13 illustrates a method for requesting RRC establishment using bi-static backscattering (see Elkotby Fig. 13, [0256]). Additionally, “a WTRU may use backscattering for UL transmissions to perform any of UL synchronization, connection setup, and data transmissions” (see Elkotby [0150]).
It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to combine the teachings of Zhang and Elkotby to further clarify how BSC links are established. Including Elkotby’s teachings would reduce power consumption (see Elkotby [0091]), ensure near zero power consumption when the WTRU is not actively performing transmission or reception of data (see Elkotby [0135]), improve network resource utilization efficiency and decrease latency (see Elkotby [0140]).
Conclusion
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/ANGELA WIDHALM DE RODRIGUEZ/Examiner, Art Unit 2443
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