DETAILED ACTION
This Office Action is responsive to the Amendment/Request for Reconsideration-After Non-Final Rejection filed 07/09/2026.
Status of the claims:
Claims 1-20 were pending
Claims 1-20 remain pending. The detail office action to the pending claims s as shown below.
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Response to Amendment
Receipt is acknowledged of Applicant’s request for entry of the Amendment filed 07/09/2026. By this amendment, the Claim has been amended. Specifically, claims 1, 4, 9, and 10 have been amended to overcome the claims objections described (e.g. pages 2-3) in previous office Action. In light of the Amendment to the claims, withdrawal of the Objection has been made.
Response to the Claim Rejections under 35 USC § 103
The Applicant Arguments/Remarks Made in said Amendment/Request for Reconsideration-After Non-Final Rejection, with regard to the rejection of claims 1, 2, 13, 20 under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Guan (US2025/0260449) to in view of Song (US12101142) have been fully considered. The Applicant contends (see for example, REMARKS, pages 9-10) the claims rejection under 35 U.S.C. 103 for the following reasons: “Guan does not disclose a first model having an input dimension comprising n ports that is distinct from the number of ports m of the received reference signal. Rather, Guan teaches adapting compression parameters, including encoder or decoder dimensions, to correspond with the measured antenna-port configuration. Guan therefore tends to align the effective model dimension with the measured port count, rather than operating in a situation where m and n are different as expressly required by the Applicant's claim 1. Moreover, the NFOA does not identify any disclosure of mapping data belonging to m ports onto the input of a first model having a different input dimension of n ports, or any disclosure satisfying the express limitation that m and n are not equal. Accordingly, Guan fails to disclose or suggest these limitations of claim 1. All the applicants’ arguments/remarks have been thoroughly and carefully reviewed ; however the Examiner respectfully traverses the assertion that “Guan does not disclose a first model having an input dimension comprising n ports that is distinct from the number of ports m of the received reference signal, as expressly required by the Applicant's claim 1”. Contrary to the assertion, the cited art, taken either separately or in combination, fairly teach or suggest said limitation of claim 1, as described in pages 3-4 of the Non-Final Action. .For example, Guan teaches or fairly suggests mapping the data of the m ports to an input of a first model based on a correspondence between the m ports and n ports in an input dimension of the first model (e.g., paras [0091]-[0092], [0166], [0176]-[0177], [0179] of Gean describes mapping a value of the spatial-domain parameter (which comprises a number of antenna ports) and at least one compression parameter value (i.e. first model) of the set of compression parameter values based on the relationship or correspondence between the compression parameter value (i.e. first model) and the spatial-domain parameter (i.e. number of antenna ports); obtain an output of the first model (e.g. Guan, Paras [0180], [0186], [0187], [0234]); wherein both m and n are integers greater than or equal to 1 and m and n are not equal (e.g. Guan, Para [0180] and Tables 13-16 illustrates number of antenna ports N1, N2 that are integers, both greater than or equal to 1 and N1 and N2 having different Ratios (i.e. not equal)). Song, in the same technical field as Guan, teaches or fairly suggests a channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) which comprise a number of (or m) antenna ports (see for example, col. 7, lines 35-65). For at least the foregoing reasons, the cited art (Guan and Song) are adequate grounds for rejecting claims 1, 2, 13, 20 under 35 U.S.C. 103, and the Examiner has carefully reconsidered the Applicant’s request but maintains the rejection of said claims under 35 U.S.C. 103 over Guan and Song.
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 set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459 (1966), that are applied 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, 2, 13, 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over (“US2025/0260449 to Guan et al. (“Guan”) in view of US12101142 to Song (The remarks and/or references placed in the parentheses apply to the prior art)
RE claims 1 and 20, Guan discloses an apparatus (110) and a model application method (e.g. Guan, Fig. 5 and para [0025]), comprising a processor (710), configured to execute instructions (730) stored in a memory (720) to cause the apparatus to perform (e.g. paras [0006] of Guan) the following: determining first information based on a received reference signal (e.g. Guan, Paras [0115], [0217]: the terminal device determines CSI based on a measurement on a set of reference signal (RSs) from the network device), wherein the first information comprises data of m ports for the reference signal (e.g. Guan, paras [0165], [0166], [0169]-[0171]: wherein the information comprises antenna-port-domain information for the reference signal. For example, N1 number of antenna ports in a vertical antenna layout and/or N2 number of antenna ports in a horizontal antenna layout ); and mapping the data of the m ports to an input of a first model based on a correspondence between the m ports and n ports in an input dimension of the first model (e.g. Guan, paras [0091]-[0092], [0166], [0176]-[0177], [0179]: mapping a value of the spatial-domain parameter (which comprise the number of antenna ports) and at least one compression parameter value (i.e. first model) of the set of compression parameter values, based on relationship or correspondence between the compression parameter value (i.e. first model) and the spatial-domain parameter (i.e. number of antenna ports)), to obtain an output of the first model (e.g. Guan, Paras [0180], [0186], [0187], [0234]: the terminal device applies a compression method; compresses the CSI based on the compression parameter value (i.e. first model); and obtains a compression CSI feedback (i.e. an output)), wherein both m and n are integers greater than or equal to 1 and m and n are not equal (e.g. Guan, Para [0180] and Tables 13-16 illustrates number of antenna ports N1, N2 that are integers, both greater than or equal to 1 and N1 and N2 having different Ratios (i.e. not equal)).
While Guan discloses wherein the information comprises antenna-port-domain information for the reference signal, as noted above, and while it is well within the level of a person of ordinary skill in the art to recognize that antenna-port information comprise information of antenna ports, the subject matter of claims 1 and 20 differ from Guan in that Guan does not expressly recite the received reference signal include m ports information. However, Song teaches or fairly suggests, in the same technical field, said claim term. See for example, col. 7, lines 35-65, which describe that the channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) comprising a number of antenna ports. Hence, it would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the feature/element disclosed by Guan with the knowledge generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art given the broadest reasonable interpretation in light of the specification or with Song’s teachings so that a spatial compression matrix based on the supplied information is applied (see for example, col. 7, lines 35-65 of Song). Therefore, one of ordinary skill in the art, such as an individual working in a field related to wireless communications and techniques for hybrid beamforming configuration could have combined the features/elements as claimed by known methods, and that in combination, each feature/method merely performs the same function as it does separately, with each feature/method retaining its advantageous function, yielding predictable result/s. It is for at least the aforementioned reasons that the Examiner has reached a conclusion of obviousness with respect to claims 1 and 20.
RE claim 2, Guan discloses the apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal is a downlink reference signal (e.g. Guan, paras [0087], [0088], [0115]: is a downlink reference signal), the output of the first model is for determining second information (e.g. Guan, paras [0186], [0189], [0190], [0193]: is for determining second information at the network device), and the apparatus further comprises: sending the second information to a network device (e.g. Guan, Fig. 3, paras [0088], [0201], [0230]: transmits the compression method (i.e. output of the model) including information related to the number of antenna panels).
RE claim 13, Guan discloses an apparatus (120), comprising a processor (710), configured to execute instructions (730) stored in a memory (720) to cause the apparatus to perform (e.g. para [0007] of Guan) the following: receiving second information from a terminal device (e.g. Guan, Step 340 of Fig. 1 and paras [0201], [0246]: the network device receives compressed CSI from the terminal device); determining third information based on a second model and the second information (e.g. Guan, paras [0195], [0247]: upon receiving the compression CSI form the terminal, the network device determines a
compression method applied for the compressed CSI based on the compressed CSI configuration form the terminal, wherein the compression method may be an AI/ML based model); and processing the third information based on a correspondence between m ports for a downlink reference signal and x ports in an output dimension of the second model (e.g. Guan, paras [0193], [0195], the network device may update the antenna-port domain configuration based on the reported compression method and the spatial-domain (i.e. antenna ports) information) , to determine first information, wherein the first information comprises data of the m ports (e.g. Guan, para [0256], [0257]: the network device may determine the compression method by determining a set of compression parameter values based on mapping between the spatial-domain parameter (which comprise the number of antenna ports) and at least one compression parameter value in the set of compression parameter values, or a mapping among at least two compression parameter values in the set of compression parameter values), both m and x are integers greater than or equal to 13, and m and x are not equal (e.g. Guan, Para [0180] and Tables 13-16 illustrates number of antenna ports N1, N2 that are integers, both greater than or equal to 1 and N1 and N2 having different Ratios (i.e. not equal)). While Guan discloses wherein the information comprises antenna-port-domain information for the reference signal, as noted above, and while it is well within the level of a person of ordinary skill in the art to recognize that antenna-port information comprise information of antenna ports, the subject matter of claim 1 differs from Guan in that Guan does not expressly recite the received reference signal include m ports information. However, Song teaches or fairly suggests, in the same technical field, said claim term. See for example, col. 7, lines 35-65, which describe that the channel state information reference signals (CSI-RSs) comprising a number of antenna ports. Hence, it would have been obvious at the time the invention was made to one of ordinary skill in the art to modify the feature/element disclosed by Guan with the knowledge generally available to one of ordinary skill in the art given the broadest reasonable interpretation in light of the specification or with Song’s teachings so that a spatial compression matrix based on the supplied information is applied (see for example, col. 7, lines 35-65 of Song). Therefore one of ordinary skill in the art, such as an individual working in a field related to wireless communications and techniques for hybrid beamforming configuration could have combined the features/elements as claimed by known methods, and that in combination, each feature/method merely performs the same function as it does separately, with each feature/method retaining its advantageous function, yielding predictable result/s. It is for at least the aforementioned reasons that the Examiner has reached a conclusion of obviousness with respect to claim 13. the Applicant respectfully submits that pending claims 129-149 are at least adequately supported by disclosure of the present application”. Accordingly, the Priority noncompliance raised in the previous office Action has been maintained and restated below.
Objected but Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 3-12, 14-19 are objected to as being dependent upon rejected base claims, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the limitations of their respective base claims and any intervening claims.
Conclusion
THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension of time policy as set forth in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from the mailing date of this action. In the event a first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date of this final action, and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action is mailed, and any nonprovisional extension fee (37 CFR 1.17(a)) pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of the advisory action. In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure are (See the attached Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)). These prior arts are considered pertinent because they relate generally to the field of communication technologies, and in particular, to model application methods and an apparatus’ utilizing Artificial intelligence (AI) or Machine learning capabilities.
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to BERHANU TADESE whose telephone number is (571)272-2478. The examiner can normally be reached Monday - Friday (9 - 5 PM EST).
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, Chieh M. Fan can be reached on 571.272.3042. 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.
/BERHANU TADESE/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2632
Prosecution Insights