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 .
Specification
The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because contains illegal claim term “comprises”. A corrected abstract of the disclosure is required and must be presented on a separate sheet, apart from any other text. See MPEP § 608.01(b).
Claim Objections
Claim 37 is objected to because of the following informalities: Claim 37 is missing in numbering. Appropriate correction is required.
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 obviousness-type 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); and 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 a nonstatutory double patenting ground provided the conflicting application or patent either is shown to be commonly owned with this application, or claims an invention made as a result of activities undertaken within the scope of a joint research agreement.
Effective January 1, 1994, a registered attorney or agent of record may sign a terminal disclaimer. A terminal disclaimer signed by the assignee must fully comply with 37 CFR 3.73(b).
Claims 21-36 and 38-40 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-10 and 12-20 of U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2. in view of Bai et al (US 20190260466 A1).
With regards to claim 21, U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 1, discloses a method performed by a wireless device, the method comprising:
receiving a signal comprising a phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS), the PT-RS being received on a subset of subcarriers allocated to the wireless device, computing, using a convolutional matrix, a de-inter-carrier interference (de-ICI) filter based on the PT-RS locations, PT-RS symbols, and a channel estimate; and applying the de-ICI filter to the received signal to generate a de-ICI filtered signal. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 1)
U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 1, discloses all of the subject matter discussed above, but does not mention the PT-RS being present at PT- RS locations and comprising PT-RS symbols.
However, Bai et al in the same endeavor techniques that may be applied, for example, for determining phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS) patterns/configurations discloses in [0102] FIG. 13B illustrates a reference example of a PT-RS pattern/configuration after increasing the PT-RS frequency domain density, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Compared to PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13A, the PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13B includes an additional PT-RS in the third and fifth OFDM symbols (starting from the left of FIG. 13B). The updated frequency domain density (of a symbol) may be determined by the number and/or location of RBs not colliding with high priority signals/other users. In such cases, the PT-RS tone locations can be different from symbol to symbol if the colliding RB locations are different. For example, the wireless device may select a PT-RS frequency domain density of a symbol (e.g., from symbol to symbol) based on an amount of the frequency resources that do not collide with the frequency resources allocated to the other signal or to the other wireless device in the symbol. The frequency domain density may be increased when a number of remaining RBs that have no collision is reduced (e.g., below a threshold).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine them and to modify U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 1, ‘method with Bai et al”s PT-RS technique to include locations and symbols. For this combination, the motivation would have been to the techniques presented herein can be used to determine PT-RS time-frequency patterns/configurations that enable wireless devices to obtain sufficient phase tracking references in the presence of multiple punctured PT-RSs (ss Bai et al, [0112]).
With regards to claim 22, The method of claim 21, wherein the convolutional matrix comprises a sub- sampled convolutional matrix of the received signal where generation is based on a subcarrier index set that specifies locations of symbols of the PT-RS (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 2)
With regards to claim 23, The method of claim 22, wherein computing the de-ICI filter comprises computing a least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter using the sub-sampled convolutional matrix. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 3)
With regards to claim 24, The method of claim 23, wherein the least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter is constrained. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 4)
With regards to claim 25, The method of claim 24, wherein least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter is constrained by any one or more of a unit norm, a unit modulus center tap, a unit modulus sum, and a perfect autocorrelation. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 5)
With regards to claim 26, The method of claim 21, further comprising updating a noise variance based on the de-ICI filtered signal and the PT-RS. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 6)
With regards to claim 27, The method of claim 21, wherein a length of the de-ICI filter is based on an amount of expected ICI. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 7)
With regards to claim 28, The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless device comprises more than one receive antennas. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 8)
With regards to claim 29, The method of claim 28, wherein all of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a local oscillator and a same de-ICI filter is used for each receive antenna. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 9)
With regards to claim 30, The method of claim 28, wherein a first subset of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a first local oscillator, a second subset of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a second local oscillator, and a first de-ICI filter is used for the first subset of receive antennas and a second de-ICI filter is used for the second subset of receive antennas. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 10)
With regards to claim 31, U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 12 discloses a wireless device comprising: a wireless communication interface; and processing circuitry in communication with the wireless communication interface such that the wireless device is operable to: receive a signal comprising a phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS), the PT-RS being received on a subset of subcarriers allocated to the wireless device, compute, using a convolutional matrix, a de-inter-carrier interference (de-ICI) filter based on the PT-RS locations, PT-RS symbols, and a channel estimate; and apply the de-ICI filter to the received signal to generate a de-ICI filtered signal (see claim 12 of U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2)
U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 12 discloses all of the subject matter discussed above, but does not mention the PT-RS being present at PT- RS locations and comprising PT-RS symbols.
However, Bai et al in the same endeavor techniques that may be applied, for example, for determining phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS) patterns/configurations discloses in [0102] FIG. 13B illustrates a reference example of a PT-RS pattern/configuration after increasing the PT-RS frequency domain density, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Compared to PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13A, the PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13B includes an additional PT-RS in the third and fifth OFDM symbols (starting from the left of FIG. 13B). The updated frequency domain density (of a symbol) may be determined by the number and/or location of RBs not colliding with high priority signals/other users. In such cases, the PT-RS tone locations can be different from symbol to symbol if the colliding RB locations are different. For example, the wireless device may select a PT-RS frequency domain density of a symbol (e.g., from symbol to symbol) based on an amount of the frequency resources that do not collide with the frequency resources allocated to the other signal or to the other wireless device in the symbol. The frequency domain density may be increased when a number of remaining RBs that have no collision is reduced (e.g., below a threshold).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine them and to modify U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 ‘method with Bai et al”s PT-RS technique to include locations and symbols. For this combination, the motivation would have been to the techniques presented herein can be used to determine PT-RS time-frequency patterns/configurations that enable wireless devices to obtain sufficient phase tracking references in the presence of multiple punctured PT-RSs (ss Bai et al, [0112]).
With regards to claim 32, The wireless device of claim 31, wherein the convolutional matrix comprises a sub-sampled convolutional matrix of the received signal where generation is based on a subcarrier index set that specifies locations of symbols of the PT-RS. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 13)
With regards to claim 33, The wireless device of claim 32, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to compute the de-ICI filter by computing a least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter using the sub-sampled convolutional matrix. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 14)
With regards to claim 34, The wireless device of claim 33, wherein the least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter is constrained. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 15)
With regards to claim 35, The wireless device of claim 34, wherein least-squares-type estimate of the de- ICI filter is constrained by any one or more of a unit norm, a unit modulus center tap, a unit modulus sum, and perfect autocorrelation. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 16)
With regards to claim 36, The wireless device of claim 31, the processing circuitry further operable to update a noise variance based on the de-ICI filtered signal and the PT-RS. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 17)
With regards to claim 38, The wireless device of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication interface comprises more than one receive antennas. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 18)
With regards to claim 39, The wireless device of claim 38, wherein all of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a local oscillator and a same de-ICI filter is used for each receive antenna. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 19)
With regards to claim 40, The wireless device of claim 38, wherein a first subset of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a first local oscillator, a second subset of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a second local oscillator, and a first de-ICI filter is used for the first subset of receive antennas and a second de-ICI filter is used for the second subset of receive antennas. (see U.S. Patent No 12,309005 B2 claim 20)
Claims 21-36 and 38-40 are rejected on the ground of nonstatutory double patenting as being unpatentable over claims 1-16 and 18-20 of U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2. in view of Bai et al (US 20190260466 A1).
With regards to claim 21, U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 1, discloses a method performed by a wireless device, the method comprising:
receiving a signal comprising a phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS), the PT-RS being received on a subset of subcarriers allocated to the wireless device, computing, using a convolutional matrix, a de-inter-carrier interference (de-ICI) filter based on the PT-RS locations, PT-RS symbols, and a channel estimate; and applying the de-ICI filter to the received signal to generate a de-ICI filtered signal. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 1)
U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 1, discloses all of the subject matter discussed above, but does not mention the PT-RS being present at PT- RS locations and comprising PT-RS symbols.
However, Bai et al in the same endeavor techniques that may be applied, for example, for determining phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS) patterns/configurations discloses in [0102] FIG. 13B illustrates a reference example of a PT-RS pattern/configuration after increasing the PT-RS frequency domain density, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Compared to PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13A, the PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13B includes an additional PT-RS in the third and fifth OFDM symbols (starting from the left of FIG. 13B). The updated frequency domain density (of a symbol) may be determined by the number and/or location of RBs not colliding with high priority signals/other users. In such cases, the PT-RS tone locations can be different from symbol to symbol if the colliding RB locations are different. For example, the wireless device may select a PT-RS frequency domain density of a symbol (e.g., from symbol to symbol) based on an amount of the frequency resources that do not collide with the frequency resources allocated to the other signal or to the other wireless device in the symbol. The frequency domain density may be increased when a number of remaining RBs that have no collision is reduced (e.g., below a threshold).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine them and to modify U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 1, with Bai et al”s PT-RS technique to include locations and symbols. For this combination, the motivation would have been to the techniques presented herein can be used to determine PT-RS time-frequency patterns/configurations that enable wireless devices to obtain sufficient phase tracking references in the presence of multiple punctured PT-RSs (ss Bai et al, [0112]).
With regards to claim 22, The method of claim 21, wherein the convolutional matrix comprises a sub- sampled convolutional matrix of the received signal where generation is based on a subcarrier index set that specifies locations of symbols of the PT-RS (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 2)
With regards to claim 23, The method of claim 22, wherein computing the de-ICI filter comprises computing a least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter using the sub-sampled convolutional matrix. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 3)
With regards to claim 24, The method of claim 23, wherein the least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter is constrained. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 4)
With regards to claim 25, The method of claim 24, wherein least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter is constrained by any one or more of a unit norm, a unit modulus center tap, a unit modulus sum, and a perfect autocorrelation. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 5)
With regards to claim 26, The method of claim 21, further comprising updating a noise variance based on the de-ICI filtered signal and the PT-RS. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 6)
With regards to claim 27, The method of claim 21, wherein a length of the de-ICI filter is based on an amount of expected ICI. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 7)
With regards to claim 28, The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless device comprises more than one receive antennas. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 8)
With regards to claim 29, The method of claim 28, wherein all of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a local oscillator and a same de-ICI filter is used for each receive antenna. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 9)
With regards to claim 30, The method of claim 28, wherein a first subset of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a first local oscillator, a second subset of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a second local oscillator, and a first de-ICI filter is used for the first subset of receive antennas and a second de-ICI filter is used for the second subset of receive antennas. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 10)
With regards to claim 31, U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 11 discloses a wireless device comprising: a wireless communication interface; and processing circuitry in communication with the wireless communication interface such that the wireless device is operable to: receive a signal comprising a phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS), the PT-RS being received on a subset of subcarriers allocated to the wireless device, compute, using a convolutional matrix, a de-inter-carrier interference (de-ICI) filter based on the PT-RS locations, PT-RS symbols, and a channel estimate; and apply the de-ICI filter to the received signal to generate a de-ICI filtered signal (see claim 11 of U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2)
U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 1, discloses all of the subject matter discussed above, but does not mention the PT-RS being present at PT- RS locations and comprising PT-RS symbols.
However, Bai et al in the same endeavor techniques that may be applied, for example, for determining phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS) patterns/configurations discloses in [0102] FIG. 13B illustrates a reference example of a PT-RS pattern/configuration after increasing the PT-RS frequency domain density, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Compared to PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13A, the PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13B includes an additional PT-RS in the third and fifth OFDM symbols (starting from the left of FIG. 13B). The updated frequency domain density (of a symbol) may be determined by the number and/or location of RBs not colliding with high priority signals/other users. In such cases, the PT-RS tone locations can be different from symbol to symbol if the colliding RB locations are different. For example, the wireless device may select a PT-RS frequency domain density of a symbol (e.g., from symbol to symbol) based on an amount of the frequency resources that do not collide with the frequency resources allocated to the other signal or to the other wireless device in the symbol. The frequency domain density may be increased when a number of remaining RBs that have no collision is reduced (e.g., below a threshold).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine them and to modify U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 1, with Bai et al”s PT-RS technique to include locations and symbols. For this combination, the motivation would have been to the techniques presented herein can be used to determine PT-RS time-frequency patterns/configurations that enable wireless devices to obtain sufficient phase tracking references in the presence of multiple punctured PT-RSs (ss Bai et al, [0112])
With regards to claim 32, The wireless device of claim 31, wherein the convolutional matrix comprises a sub-sampled convolutional matrix of the received signal where generation is based on a subcarrier index set that specifies locations of symbols of the PT-RS. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 12)
With regards to claim 33, The wireless device of claim 32, wherein the processing circuitry is operable to compute the de-ICI filter by computing a least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter using the sub-sampled convolutional matrix. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 13)
With regards to claim 34, The wireless device of claim 33, wherein the least-squares-type estimate of the de-ICI filter is constrained. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 14)
With regards to claim 35, The wireless device of claim 34, wherein least-squares-type estimate of the de- ICI filter is constrained by any one or more of a unit norm, a unit modulus center tap, a unit modulus sum, and perfect autocorrelation. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 15)
With regards to claim 36, The wireless device of claim 31, the processing circuitry further operable to update a noise variance based on the de-ICI filtered signal and the PT-RS. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 16)
With regards to claim 38, The wireless device of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication interface comprises more than one receive antennas. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 18)
With regards to claim 39, The wireless device of claim 38, wherein all of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a local oscillator and a same de-ICI filter is used for each receive antenna. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 19)
With regards to claim 40, The wireless device of claim 38, wherein a first subset of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a first local oscillator, a second subset of the more than one receive antennas are associated with a second local oscillator, and a first de-ICI filter is used for the first subset of receive antennas and a second de-ICI filter is used for the second subset of receive antennas. (see U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 20)
U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 11 discloses all of the subject matter discussed above, but does not mention the PT-RS being present at PT- RS locations and comprising PT-RS symbols.
However, Bai et al in the same endeavor techniques that may be applied, for example, for determining phase tracking reference signal (PT-RS) patterns/configurations discloses in [0102] FIG. 13B illustrates a reference example of a PT-RS pattern/configuration after increasing the PT-RS frequency domain density, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. Compared to PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13A, the PT-RS pattern in FIG. 13B includes an additional PT-RS in the third and fifth OFDM symbols (starting from the left of FIG. 13B). The updated frequency domain density (of a symbol) may be determined by the number and/or location of RBs not colliding with high priority signals/other users. In such cases, the PT-RS tone locations can be different from symbol to symbol if the colliding RB locations are different. For example, the wireless device may select a PT-RS frequency domain density of a symbol (e.g., from symbol to symbol) based on an amount of the frequency resources that do not collide with the frequency resources allocated to the other signal or to the other wireless device in the symbol. The frequency domain density may be increased when a number of remaining RBs that have no collision is reduced (e.g., below a threshold).
Thus, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary in the art, before the effective filing date of the claimed invention, to combine them and to modify U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2 claim 11 with Bai et al”s PT-RS technique to include locations and symbols. For this combination, the motivation would have been to the techniques presented herein can be used to determine PT-RS time-frequency patterns/configurations that enable wireless devices to obtain sufficient phase tracking references in the presence of multiple punctured PT-RSs (ss Bai et al, [0112]).
With regards to claims 22-30, claims recite similar limitations as those in claims 12-20 of U.S. Patent No 11,855,814 B2, claims are therefore rejected)
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's disclosure. AHN et al (US 20190254069 A1) discloses a method and device for transmitting a tracking reference signal (TRS) in a wireless communication system. 8. Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to HELENE E TAYONG whose telephone number is
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/HELENE E TAYONG/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2631 September 25, 2026
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