Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
1. The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Double Patenting
The nonstatutory double patenting rejection is based on a judicially created doctrine grounded in public policy (a policy reflected in the statute) so as to prevent the unjustified or improper timewise extension of the “right to exclude” granted by a patent and to prevent possible harassment by multiple assignees. A nonstatutory double patenting rejection is appropriate where the conflicting claims are not identical, but at least one examined application claim is not patentably distinct from the reference claim(s) because the examined application claim is either anticipated by, or would have been obvious over, the reference claim(s). See, e.g., In re Berg, 140 F.3d 1428, 46 USPQ2d 1226 (Fed. Cir. 1998); In re Goodman, 11 F.3d 1046, 29 USPQ2d 2010 (Fed. Cir. 1993); In re Longi, 759 F.2d 887, 225 USPQ 645 (Fed. Cir. 1985); In re Van Ornum, 686 F.2d 937, 214 USPQ 761 (CCPA 1982); In re Vogel, 422 F.2d 438, 164 USPQ 619 (CCPA 1970); In re Thorington, 418 F.2d 528, 163 USPQ 644 (CCPA 1969).
A timely filed terminal disclaimer in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(c) or 1.321(d) may be used to overcome an actual or provisional rejection based on nonstatutory double patenting provided the reference application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with the examined application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement. See MPEP § 717.02 for applications subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA as explained in MPEP § 2159. See MPEP § 2146 et seq. for applications not subject to examination under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA . A terminal disclaimer must be signed in compliance with 37 CFR 1.321(b).
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2. Claims 1-16 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-9 of U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims of instant application are substantially similar to the corresponding claims of above cited US patent.
Regarding claim 1, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 teaches a wireless user device (see claim 1, preamble) comprising: at least one antenna (see claim 1, limitation 1); at least one processor (see claim 1, limitation 2); and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless user device (see claim 1, limitation 3) to: select a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) as a synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization (see claim 1, limitation 4);
derive a slot number for sidelink communication, based on (see claim 1, limitation 5):
the GNSS being the synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization (see claim 1, limitation 6); and
a modulo operation associated with two values, wherein a first value of the two values is derived based on at least one time parameter and a subcarrier spacing index for sidelink, and wherein a second value of the two values is derived based on the subcarrier spacing index for sidelink (see claim 1, limitations 7 & 8); and
transmit, based on the slot number, a sidelink synchronization signal from the wireless user device to a second wireless user device (see claim 1, limitation 9).
Regarding claim 2, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the
wireless user device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless user device to: derive, based on the at least one time parameter and based on the GNSS being the synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization, a direct frame number (DFN) of a frame, wherein the at least one time parameter is associated with the GNSS, and wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted via a time resource associated with the DFN (see claim 2).
Regarding claim 3, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the wireless user device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless user device to: identify a parameter indicating a starting point of a sidelink-synchronization signal block (SL-SSB) time window and transmit the sidelink synchronization signal by transmitting, based on the slot number and based on the parameter indicating the starting point of the SL-SSB time window, one or more SL-SSBs (see claim 4).
Regarding claim 4, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the wireless user device of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless user device to: receive, from a base station, one or more messages comprising the parameter indicating the starting point of the SL-SSB time window (see claim 5).
Regarding claim 5, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the wireless user device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless user device to: receive, from a base station, configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals and wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted further based on the configuration information (see claim 6).
Regarding claim 6, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the
wireless user device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless user device to: identify, based on not receiving from a base station configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals, preconfigured configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals, and wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted further based on the preconfigured configuration information (see claim 7).
Regarding claim 7, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the
wireless user device of claim 1, wherein the sidelink synchronization comprises a New Radio (NR) vehicle-to-everything (V2X) sidelink synchronization, wherein the subcarrier spacing index for sidelink comprises a subcarrier spacing index for NR V2X sidelink, wherein the slot number for sidelink communication comprises a slot number for NR V2X sidelink communication and wherein the sidelink synchronization signal comprises an NR V2X sidelink synchronization signal (see claim 8).
Regarding claim 8, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the wireless user device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the wireless user device to: establish a link between the wireless user device and a base station, and wherein the link between the wireless user device and the base station comprises at least one of a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Uu link or a New Radio (NR) Uu link (see claim 9).
Regarding claim 9, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 teaches a method performed by a wireless user device (see claim 1, preamble), the method comprising: selecting a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) as a synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization (see claim 1, limitation 4);
deriving a slot number for sidelink communication, based on (see claim 1, limitation 5): the GNSS being the synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization (see claim 1, limitation 6); and
a modulo operation associated with two values, wherein a first value of the two values is derived based on at least one time parameter and a subcarrier spacing index for sidelink, and wherein a second value of the two values is derived based on the subcarrier spacing index for sidelink (see claim 1, limitations 7 & 8); and transmitting, based on the slot number, a sidelink synchronization signal from the wireless user device to a second wireless user device (see claim 1, limitation 9).
Regarding claim 10, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the method of claim 9, further comprising: deriving, based on the at least one time parameter and based on the GNSS being the synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization, a direct frame number (DFN) of a frame, wherein the at least one time parameter is associated with the GNSS, and wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted via a time resource associated with the DFN (see claim 2).
Regarding claim 11, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the method of claim 9, further comprising: identifying a parameter indicating a starting point of a sidelink-synchronization signal block (SL-SSB) time window, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted further based on the parameter indicating the starting point of the SL-SSB time window, one or more SL-SSBs (see claim 4).
Regarding claim 12, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the
method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, from a base station, one or more messages comprising the parameter indicating the starting point of the SL-SSB time window (see claim 5).
Regarding claim 13, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the
method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving, from a base station, configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted further based on the configuration information (see claim 6).
Regarding claim 14, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the method of claim 9, further comprising: identifying, based on not receiving from a base station configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals, preconfigured configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted further based on the preconfigured configuration information (see claim 7).
Regarding claim 15, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the
method of claim 9, wherein the sidelink synchronization comprises a New Radio (NR) vehicle-to-everything (V2X) sidelink synchronization, wherein the subcarrier spacing index for sidelink comprises a subcarrier spacing index for NR V2X sidelink, wherein the slot number for sidelink communication comprises a slot number for NR V2X sidelink communication, and wherein the sidelink synchronization signal comprises an NR V2X sidelink synchronization signal (see claim 8).
Regarding claim 16, U.S. Patent No: 12,192,930 B2 further teaches the method of claim 9, further comprising: establishing a link between the wireless user device and a base station, wherein the link between the wireless user device and the base station comprises at least one of a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Uu link or a New Radio (NR) Uu link (see claim 9).
3. Claims 9-16 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-9 of U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2. Although the claims at issue are not identical, they are not patentably distinct from each other because the claims of instant application are substantially similar to the corresponding claims of above cited US patent.
Regarding claim 9, U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2 teaches a method performed by a wireless user device (see claim 1, preamble), the method comprising: selecting a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) as a synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization (see claim 1, limitation 1);
deriving a slot number for sidelink communication, based on (see claim 1, limitation 2): the GNSS being the synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization (see claim 1, limitation 3); and a modulo operation associated with two values, wherein a first value of the two values is derived based on at least one time parameter and a subcarrier spacing index for sidelink and wherein a second value of the two values is derived based on the subcarrier spacing index for sidelink (see claim 1, limitations 4 to 6); and transmitting, based on the slot number, a sidelink synchronization signal from the wireless user device to a second wireless user device (see claim 1, limitation 7).
Regarding claim 10, U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2 further teaches the method of claim 9, further comprising: deriving, based on the at least one time parameter and based on the GNSS being the synchronization reference source associated with a sidelink synchronization, a direct frame number (DFN) of a frame, wherein the at least one time parameter is associated with the GNSS, and wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted via a time resource associated with the DFN (see claim 2).
Regarding claim 11, U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2 further teaches the
method of claim 9, further comprising: identifying a parameter indicating a starting point of a sidelink-synchronization signal block (SL-SSB) time window, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted further based on the parameter indicating the starting point of the SL-SSB time window, one or more SL-SSBs (see claim 4).
Regarding claim 12, U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2 further teaches the method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, from a base station, one or more messages comprising the parameter indicating the starting point of the SL-SSB time window (see claim 5).
Regarding claim 13, U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2 further teaches the
method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving, from a base station, configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted further based on the configuration information (see claim 6).
Regarding claim 14, U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2 further teaches the
method of claim 9, further comprising: identifying, based on not receiving from a base station configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals, preconfigured configuration information for transmitting one or more sidelink synchronization signals, wherein the sidelink synchronization signal is transmitted further based on the preconfigured configuration information (see claim 7).
Regarding claim 15, U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2 further teaches the
method of claim 9, wherein the sidelink synchronization comprises a New Radio (NR) vehicle-to-everything (V2X) sidelink synchronization, wherein the subcarrier spacing index for sidelink comprises a subcarrier spacing index for NR V2X sidelink, wherein the slot number for sidelink communication comprises a slot number for NR V2X sidelink communication, and wherein the sidelink synchronization signal comprises an NR V2X sidelink synchronization signal (see claim 8).
Regarding claim 16, U.S. Patent No: 11,937,194 B2 further teaches the method of claim 9, further comprising: establishing a link between the wireless user device and a base station, wherein the link between the wireless user device and the base station comprises at least one of a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Uu link or a New Radio (NR) Uu link (see claim 9).
Conclusion
4. The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure.
LI et al. (US Pub. No: 2018/0139714 A1) discloses mechanisms relating to providing a synchronous communication method, so as to avoid resource allocation misalignment and a communication failure that are caused by asynchronization in wireless communication system.
LIU et al. (US Pub. No: 2021/0153146 A1) discloses mechanisms relating to a synchronization signal transmission method and a terminal in wireless communication system.
ZHANG et al. (US Pub. No: 2021/0168574 A1) disclose methods and systems for beamforming and grouping for new radio (NR) vehicle to anything (V2X).
Yoon (US Pat. No: 10,986,681 B2) discloses mechanisms relating to providing a scrambling, a frequency hopping, and a group hopping for a D2D communication in a wireless communication system.
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/SRINIVASA R REDDIVALAM/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2477
7/17/2026
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