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 § 102
The following is a quotation of the appropriate paragraphs of 35 U.S.C. 102 that form the basis for the rejections under this section made in this Office action:
A person shall be entitled to a patent unless –
(a)(1) the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
(a)(2) the claimed invention was described in a patent issued under section 151, or in an application for patent published or deemed published under section 122(b), in which the patent or application, as the case may be, names another inventor and was effectively filed before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
Claim(s) 1-10 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by GANGAKHEDKAR et al (20190239181).
Regarding claim 1, GANGAKHEDKAR et al discloses, a method comprising (abstract, fig. 9):
receiving, by a User Equipment (UE) from an anchor UE, UE capability information (fig. 9b, ¶ 0114, Anchor nodes broadcast the CP response periodically to indicate their availability as CP anchors for potential target nodes. This decision to proactively signal their availability for CP can be pre-configured by the network (e.g. based on the node's positioning capability) or decided by the anchor nodes' own estimation of their positioning accuracy);
establishing, by the UE, a positioning session with the anchor UE based on the UE capability information (fig. 9b, ¶ 0115, The target node obtains positioning information for the surrounding anchor nodes by means of the CP response messages and performs anchor selection by selecting a subset of the candidate anchor nodes); and
releasing, by the UE, the positioning session based on determining termination of the positioning session (¶ 0120, If the target node's position is localized to within an acceptable accuracy threshold before the anchor nodes finish broadcasting the position reference signal, it can broadcast the (optional) CP termination message to stop anchor transmission of the position reference signal and save sidelink resources).
Regarding claims 2, 7, GANGAKHEDKAR et al disclose in claim 1, further GANGAKHEDKAR et al, wherein the releasing the positioning session comprises transmitting, to the anchor UE, an abort message having an abortcause field set to a session termination (¶ 0120, If the target node's position is localized to within an acceptable accuracy threshold before the anchor nodes finish broadcasting the position reference signal, it can broadcast the (optional) CP termination message to stop anchor transmission of the position reference signal and save sidelink resources).
Regarding claims 3, 8, GANGAKHEDKAR et al disclose in claim 1, further GANGAKHEDKAR et al, further comprising determining whether it is necessary to maintain the established positioning session, wherein based on determining that it is not necessary to maintain the established positioning session, the positioning session is determined to be terminated (¶ 0120, If the target node's position is localized to within an acceptable accuracy threshold before the anchor nodes finish broadcasting the position reference signal, it can broadcast the (optional) CP termination message to stop anchor transmission of the position reference signal and save sidelink resources).
Regarding claims 4, 9, GANGAKHEDKAR et al disclose in claim 1, further GANGAKHEDKAR et al, further comprising broadcasting a notification message regarding a release of the positioning session (¶ 0120, If the target node's position is localized to within an acceptable accuracy threshold before the anchor nodes finish broadcasting the position reference signal, it can broadcast the (optional) CP termination message to stop anchor transmission of the position reference signal and save sidelink resources).
Regarding claims 5, 10, GANGAKHEDKAR et al disclose in claim 1, further GANGAKHEDKAR et al, further comprising transmitting, to a network, a notification message regarding the release of the positioning session based on the UE being connected with the network (¶ 0091, When the target node's position is localized to within an acceptable accuracy threshold, it optionally transmits the CP termination message (unicast) on the uplink. This message is relayed by the serving BS to a subset or all of the selected anchor nodes who in turn stop transmitting the position reference signal. The target node may also change its state to “anchor”),
Regarding claim 6, GANGAKHEDKAR et al disclose in claim 1, further GANGAKHEDKAR et al, a User Equipment (UE) comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one computer memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (¶ 0048, That software can be embodied in a non-transitory machine readable storage medium having stored thereon processor executable instructions for implementing some or all of the signaling procedures described herein.), cause the UE to perform operations comprising:
receiving UE capability information from an anchor UE (fig. 9b, ¶ 0114, Anchor nodes broadcast the CP response periodically to indicate their availability as CP anchors for potential target nodes. This decision to proactively signal their availability for CP can be pre-configured by the network (e.g. based on the node's positioning capability) or decided by the anchor nodes' own estimation of their positioning accuracy);
establishing a positioning session with the anchor UE based on the UE capability information (fig. 9b, ¶ 0115, The target node obtains positioning information for the surrounding anchor nodes by means of the CP response messages and performs anchor selection by selecting a subset of the candidate anchor nodes); and
releasing the positioning session based on determining termination of the positioning session (¶ 0120, If the target node's position is localized to within an acceptable accuracy threshold before the anchor nodes finish broadcasting the position reference signal, it can broadcast the (optional) CP termination message to stop anchor transmission of the position reference signal and save sidelink resources).
Regarding claim 12, GANGAKHEDKAR et al disclose in claim 1, further, GANGAKHEDKAR et al, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a User Equipment (UE) to perform (¶ 0048, That software can be embodied in a non-transitory machine readable storage medium having stored thereon processor executable instructions for implementing some or all of the signaling procedures described herein.), operations comprising:
receiving UE capability information from an anchor UE (fig. 9b, ¶ 0114, Anchor nodes broadcast the CP response periodically to indicate their availability as CP anchors for potential target nodes. This decision to proactively signal their availability for CP can be pre-configured by the network (e.g. based on the node's positioning capability) or decided by the anchor nodes' own estimation of their positioning accuracy);
establishing a positioning session with the anchor UE based on the UE capability information (fig. 9b, ¶ 0115, The target node obtains positioning information for the surrounding anchor nodes by means of the CP response messages and performs anchor selection by selecting a subset of the candidate anchor nodes); and
releasing the positioning session based on determining termination of the positioning session (¶ 0120, If the target node's position is localized to within an acceptable accuracy threshold before the anchor nodes finish broadcasting the position reference signal, it can broadcast the (optional) CP termination message to stop anchor transmission of the position reference signal and save sidelink resources).
Claim(s) 1, 3-6, 8-10 and 12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated by Qualcomm (R2-2210363)[sited by applicant].
Regarding claim 1, Qualcomm discloses, a method comprising (fig. 7-8):
receiving, by a User Equipment (UE) from an anchor UE, UE capability information (page 8, section 2.3, fig. 7-8, device Discovery, SLPP Capability);
establishing, by the UE, a positioning session with the anchor UE based on the UE capability information (page 9, section 2.5, fig. 8, establish an SLPP session); and
releasing, by the UE, the positioning session based on determining termination of the positioning session (page 9, section 2.5, fig. 8, terminate SLPP session).
Regarding claims 3, 8, Qualcomm disclose in claim 1, further Qualcomm, further comprising determining whether it is necessary to maintain the established positioning session, wherein based on determining that it is not necessary to maintain the established positioning session, the positioning session is determined to be terminated (page 7-9, fig. 7-9).
Regarding claims 4, 9, Qualcomm disclose in claim 1, further Qualcomm, further comprising broadcasting a notification message regarding a release of the positioning session (page 7-9, fig. 7-9).
Regarding claims 5, 10, Qualcomm disclose in claim 1, further Qualcomm, further comprising transmitting, to a network, a notification message regarding the release of the positioning session based on the UE being connected with the network (page 7-9, fig. 7-8),
Regarding claim 6, Qualcomm disclose in claim 1, further Qualcomm, a User Equipment (UE) comprising:
at least one processor; and at least one computer memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (UE, included processor and memory), cause the UE to perform operations comprising:
receiving UE capability information from an anchor UE (page 8, section 2.3, fig. 7-8, device Discovery, SLPP Capability);
establishing a positioning session with the anchor UE based on the UE capability information (page 9, section 2.5, fig. 8, establish an SLPP session); and
releasing the positioning session based on determining termination of the positioning session (page 9, section 2.5, fig. 8, terminate SLPP session).
Regarding claim 12, Qualcomm disclose in claim 1, further, Qualcomm, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause a User Equipment (UE) to perform (UE, included processor and memory), operations comprising:
receiving UE capability information from an anchor UE (page 8, section 2.3, fig. 7-8, device Discovery, SLPP Capability);
establishing a positioning session with the anchor UE based on the UE capability information (page 9, section 2.5, fig. 8, establish an SLPP session); and
releasing the positioning session based on determining termination of the positioning session (page 9, section 2.5, fig. 8, terminate SLPP session).
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 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.
Claim(s) 2, 7 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Qualcomm (R2-2210363)[sited by applicant] in view of Intel (R2-2209607)[sited by applicant].
Regarding claims 2, 7, Qualcomm disclose in claim 1, further Qualcomm discloses, page 9, section 2.5, fig. 8, terminate SLPP session.
Qualcomm does not specifically disclose in detail.
In the same field of endeavor, Intel discloses in more detail, wherein the releasing the positioning session comprises transmitting, to the anchor UE, an abort message having an abortcause field set to a session termination (pages 15, 18 and 30, fig. 1 and 5, abort the procedure to consider). Therefore, before the effective filing date of the claim invention, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was made to modify the device of Qualcomm by specifically adding feature in order to enhance system performance to UE to broadcast groupcast capability is beneficial for the positioning session establishment and the wireless signal transmission and reception are efficiently performed in a wireless communication system as taught by Intel.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to KHAWAR IQBAL whose telephone number is (571)272-7909. The examiner can normally be reached M-F.
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, Jinsong Hu can be reached at 5712723965. 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.
/KHAWAR IQBAL/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2643
Prosecution Insights