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 .
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
4. The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
5. This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
6. Claim(s) 1-20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over KANG (US 20200274606 A1) in view of RYU (US 20150358129 A1).
For claim 1. KANG discloses (figures 7, 15, [0142], [0169], [0370], [0674]) A method performed by a first communication apparatus, comprising: receiving, from a second communication apparatus, time-related information (figure 7, [0077], [0118], [0142], [0191]-[0196] variation of number of transmission beams, [0393]-[0400], [0416], the reference signal (RS) timing and period setting T_s of RS (or CSI-RS) for transmission beams of the base station in sweep cycle) for beam failure detection and an adjustment amount ([0516], [0517], [0169], [0370], the threshold number N of Beam Failure Instances is signaled to the UE via RRC from the base station; or [0154]-[0156] configured CSI-RS resource set including a periodicity value (adjustment amount)); and performing beam failure detection in the beam failure detection interval (beam failure detection during the threshold number N of T_s intervals), wherein a length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the time-related information and the adjustment amount ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the threshold number N).
KANG does not mention for adjusting a length of a beam failure detection interval.
RYU discloses in Abstract and [0051]-[0055], the mmW base station 704 sends configuration information 722 to the eNB 702. The configuration information 722 may include information indicating a beam sweep period, a periodicity for the beam sweep, and/or a timing offset 766 from the synchronization/timing reference 768 of the eNB 702. The UE 712 may receive the configuration information in system information 736 received from the eNB 702. The anchor node 710 may increase/decrease a number of broadcast periods within each timing cycle 768 for the mmW base station 704, if the UE 712 is in a harsh wireless channel environment, the anchor node 710 may increase the periodicity of the beam sweep 720 so that best beam directions can be determined more frequently for the UE 712 and the mmW base station 704.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques taught by RYU into the art of KANG as to adjust the beam detection interval based on the sweep cycle and the adjustable number of periods (periodicity) within each timing cycle for performing beam detection, for improving beam detection and data communication.
For claim 2. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 1, KANG discloses wherein the time-related information comprises a period of at least one beam detection signal, and the period of the at least one beam detection signal comprises a period of a beam detection signal that has a shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal; and the length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the adjustment amount and the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period).
For claim 3. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 2, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period).
For claim 4. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 2, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times a maximum value between a preset value and the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 5. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 1, KANG discloses wherein the time-related information comprises a value associated with a subcarrier spacing; and the length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the adjustment amount and the value associated with the subcarrier spacing ([0053], [0073]-[0077], [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 6. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 5, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times the value associated with the subcarrier spacing ([0053], [0073]-[0077], [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 7. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 2, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times a maximum value between is a preset value and a value associated with a subcarrier spacing ([0073]-[0077], [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 8. KANG discloses (figures 7, 15, [0142], [0169], [0370], [0674]) A method performed by a second communication apparatus, comprising: determining time-related information (figure 7, [0077], [0118], [0142], [0191]-[0196] variation of number of transmission beams, [0393]-[0400], [0416], the reference signal (RS) timing and period setting T_s of RS (or CSI-RS) for transmission beams of the base station in sweep cycle) for beam failure detection and an adjustment amount ([0516], [0517], [0169], [0370], the threshold number N of Beam Failure Instances is signaled to the UE via RRC from the base station; or [0154]-[0156] configured CSI-RS resource set including a periodicity value (adjustment amount)); and sending the time-related information and the adjustment amount to a first communication apparatus, wherein a length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the time-related information and the adjustment amount ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the threshold number N).
KANG does not mention for adjusting a length of a beam failure detection interval.
RYU discloses in Abstract and [0051]-[0055], the mmW base station 704 sends configuration information 722 to the eNB 702. The configuration information 722 may include information indicating a beam sweep period, a periodicity for the beam sweep, and/or a timing offset 766 from the synchronization/timing reference 768 of the eNB 702. The UE 712 may receive the configuration information in system information 736 received from the eNB 702. The anchor node 710 may increase/decrease a number of broadcast periods within each timing cycle 768 for the mmW base station 704, if the UE 712 is in a harsh wireless channel environment, the anchor node 710 may increase the periodicity of the beam sweep 720 so that best beam directions can be determined more frequently for the UE 712 and the mmW base station 704.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques taught by RYU into the art of KANG as to adjust the beam detection interval based on the sweep cycle and the adjustable number of periods (periodicity) within each timing cycle for performing beam detection, for improving beam detection and data communication.
For claim 9. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 8, KANG discloses wherein the time-related information comprises a period of at least one beam detection signal, and the period of the at least one beam detection signal comprises a period of a beam detection signal that has a shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal; and the length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the adjustment amount and the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period).
For claim 10. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 9, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period).
For claim 11. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 9, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times a maximum value between a preset value and the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 12. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 8, KANG discloses wherein the time-related information comprises a value associated with a subcarrier spacing; and the length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the adjustment amount and the value associated with the subcarrier spacing ([0073]-[0077], [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 13. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 12, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times the value associated with the subcarrier spacing ([0073]-[0077], [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 14. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the method according to claim 9, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times a maximum value between a preset value and a value associated with a subcarrier spacing ([0073]-[0077], [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 15. KANG discloses (figures 7, 15, [0142], [0169], [0370], [0674]) A first communication apparatus, comprising: a transceiver; and at least one processor configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations including comprising: receiving, from a second communication apparatus, time-related information (figure 7, [0077], [0118], [0142], [0191]-[0196] variation of number of transmission beams, [0393]-[0400], [0416], the reference signal (RS) timing and period setting T_s of RS (or CSI-RS) for transmission beams of the base station in sweep cycle) for beam failure detection and an adjustment amount ([0516], [0517], [0169], [0370], the threshold number N of Beam Failure Instances is signaled to the UE via RRC from the base station; or [0154]-[0156] configured CSI-RS resource set including a periodicity value (adjustment amount)); and performing beam failure detection in the beam failure detection interval (beam failure detection during the threshold number N of T_s intervals), wherein a length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the time-related information and the adjustment amount ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the threshold number N).
KANG does not mention for adjusting a length of a beam failure detection interval.
RYU discloses in Abstract and [0051]-[0055], the mmW base station 704 sends configuration information 722 to the eNB 702. The configuration information 722 may include information indicating a beam sweep period, a periodicity for the beam sweep, and/or a timing offset 766 from the synchronization/timing reference 768 of the eNB 702. The UE 712 may receive the configuration information in system information 736 received from the eNB 702. The anchor node 710 may increase/decrease a number of broadcast periods within each timing cycle 768 for the mmW base station 704, if the UE 712 is in a harsh wireless channel environment, the anchor node 710 may increase the periodicity of the beam sweep 720 so that best beam directions can be determined more frequently for the UE 712 and the mmW base station 704.
Therefore, it would have been obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to incorporate the selection techniques taught by RYU into the art of KANG as to adjust the beam detection interval based on the sweep cycle and the adjustable number of periods (periodicity) within each timing cycle for performing beam detection, for improving beam detection and data communication.
For claim 16. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the first communication apparatus according to claim 15, KANG discloses wherein the time-related information comprises a period of at least one beam detection signal, and the period of the at least one beam detection signal comprises a period of a beam detection signal that has a shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal; and the length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the adjustment amount and the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period).
For claim 17. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the first communication apparatus according to claim 16, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period).
For claim 18. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the first communication apparatus according to claim 16, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times a maximum value between a preset value and the period of the beam detection signal that has the shortest period of the at least one beam detection signal ([0142], [0195]-[0196], [0516]-[0517], T_s and the periodicity, figure 16 [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 19. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the first communication apparatus according to claim 15, KANG discloses wherein the time-related information comprises a value associated with a subcarrier spacing; and the length of the beam failure detection interval is determined based on the adjustment amount and the value associated with the subcarrier spacing ([0073]-[0077], [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
For claim 20. KANG in combination with RYU substantially teaches the first communication apparatus according to claim 16, KANG discloses wherein the length of the beam failure detection interval is calculated as the adjustment amount times a maximum value between a preset value and a value associated with a subcarrier spacing ([0073]-[0077], [0636]-[0646] beam detection signal SSB configuration with fewer beams within a period that has the shortest period as compared to CSI-RS configuration with more beams and longer period).
Conclusion
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Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
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Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to Rui Meng Hu whose telephone number is 571-270-1105, email is ruimeng.hu@uspto.gov. The examiner can normally be reached on Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., EST.
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/Rui Meng Hu/
R.H./rh
September 28, 2026
/JINSONG HU/ Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2643
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