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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/794,493
`
`02/19/2020
`
`TETSUYA YAMAMOTO
`
`731456.443C2
`
`7907
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic (PIPCA)
`701 5th Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`CHOWDHURY, HARUN UR R
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2473
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`12/01/2021
`
`ELECTRONIC
`
`Please find below and/or attached an Office communication concerning this application or proceeding.
`
`The time period for reply, if any, is set in the attached communication.
`
`Notice of the Office communication was sent electronically on above-indicated "Notification Date" to the
`following e-mail address(es):
`USPTOeAction @ SeedIP.com
`
`pairlinkdktg @seedip.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1.and 17-27 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s)
`is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`C} Claim(s)
`is/are allowed.
`Claim(s)
`1 and 17-27 is/are rejected.
`S)
`) © Claim(s)____is/are objected to.
`Cj) Claim(s
`are subjectto restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`S)
`* If any claims have been determined allowable, you maybeeligible to benefit from the Patent Prosecution Highway program at a
`participating intellectual property office for the corresponding application. For more information, please see
`http://www.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
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`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)0) The drawing(s) filedon__ is/are: a)(J accepted or b)() objected to by the Examiner.
`Applicant may not request that any objection to the drawing(s) be held in abeyance. See 37 CFR 1.85(a).
`Replacement drawing sheet(s) including the correction is required if the drawing(s) is objected to. See 37 CFR 1.121 (d).
`
`Priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119
`12)[M) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`c)Z None ofthe:
`b)() Some**
`a) All
`1.{¥] Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1.) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.1.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been receivedin this National Stage
`application from the International Bureau (PCT Rule 17.2(a)).
`* See the attached detailed Office action for a list of the certified copies not received.
`
`Attachment(s)
`
`1)
`
`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
`
`2) (J Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
`
`3) (J Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`4)
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20211126
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/794,493
`YAMAMOTOetal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`HARUN U CHOWDHURY
`2473
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEofthis communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`A SHORTENED STATUTORY PERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensions of time may be available underthe provisions of 37 CFR 1.136(a). In no event, however, may a reply betimely filed after SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing
`date of this communication.
`If NO period for reply is specified above, the maximum statutory period will apply and will expire SIX (6) MONTHSfrom the mailing date of this communication.
`-
`- Failure to reply within the set or extended period for reply will, by statute, cause the application to become ABANDONED (35 U.S.C. § 133}.
`Any reply received by the Office later than three months after the mailing date of this communication, evenif timely filed, may reduce any earned patent term
`adjustment. See 37 CFR 1.704(b).
`
`Status
`
`1) Responsive to communication(s) filed on 11/05/2021.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)L) This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3)02 An election was madeby the applicant in responseto a restriction requirement set forth during the interview
`on
`; the restriction requirement and election have been incorporated into this action.
`4\0) Since this application is in condition for allowance except for formal matters, prosecution as to the merits is
`closed in accordance with the practice under Exparte Quayle, 1935 C.D. 11, 453 O.G. 213.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
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`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
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`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined
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`under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Status of Claims
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1, 17-27 are pending wherein claims 1 and 22 are in independentform.
`
`Claims 1, 17, 20, 22, 23, 26 have been amended.
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`Claims 2-16 have been canceled.
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`Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
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`5.
`
`A requestfor continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set
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`forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), wasfiled in this application after final rejection. Since
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`this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the
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`fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous
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`Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's
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`submission filed on 11/05/2021 has been entered.
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`Response to Arguments
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`6.
`
`Applicant’s arguments with respect to claim(s) 1 and 22 have been considered
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`but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference
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`applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically
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`challenged in the argument.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
`
`Page 3
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`7.
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`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
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`obviousnessrejections setforth 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.
`
`8.
`
`Claims 1, 17-19, 22-25 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Yang et al (US 20160128029 A1, hereinafter referred to as Yang) in view of Yang
`
`et al (US 20160262182 A1, hereinafter referred to as Yang ‘182).
`
`Re claim 1, Yang teaches a communication apparatus (UE 120, Fig. 15)
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`comprising:
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`(i) control circuitry (processor 122) (Fig. 15, Par 0123); and
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`(ii) a transmitter (RF unit 126), which is coupled to the control circuitry (Fig. 15,
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`Par 0123); wherein
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`(iii) in a first case in which the control circuitry performs a physical uplink shared
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`channel (PUSCH) mapping of PUSCH repetition signals in a plurality of
`
`subframes (PUSCH bundle period comprising a subframe (SF) set, Par 0085-
`
`0086), the control circuitry, punctures a part of the PUSCH repetition signals in a
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`resourcein a last single-carrier frequency-division multiple access (SC-FDMA)
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`symbol of a sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission candidate subframe of
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`the plurality of subframes (not transmitting PUSCH bundle signalin the last
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`symbol in an SRS subframe), wherein the resource is counted for the PUSCH
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`mapping of the PUSCHrepetition signals (SRS subframe overlaps with the
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
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`Page 4
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`PUSCH subframe set) (Par 0085-0086, Par 0089-0090, Par 0108-0112, Par
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`0116-0117, Par 0120), and
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`(iv) the transmitter transmits a remaining part of the PUSCH repetition signals
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`apart from the punctured part of the PUSCH repetition signals (PUSCH signalis
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`repeatedly transmitted in the PUSCH bundle period (SF set) exceptthe last
`
`symbol of the SRS subframe) (Par 0089-0090, Par 0108-0112, Par 0116-0117,
`
`Par 0120); and
`
`(v) in a second casein whichthe control circuitry performs a physical uplink
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`control channel (PUCCH) mapping of PUCCH repetition signals in a plurality of
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`subframes (PUCCH bundle period including a subframe (SF) set), the control
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`circuitry uses a PUCCH formatin a SRS transmission candidate subframe of the
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`plurality of subframes (PUCCH signal is repeatedly transmitted in the PUCCH
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`bundle period (SF set) except the last symbol of the SRS subframe) (Par 0085-
`
`0086, Par 0089-0090, Par 0108-0112, Par 0116-0117, Par 0120), and
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`(vi) the transmitter transmits the PUCCH repetition signals (Par 0085-0086, Par
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`0089-0090, Par 0108-0112, Par 0116-0117, Par 0120).
`
`Yang discloses to rate-match PUCCH signal by not transmitting PUCCH in
`
`the last symbol of the SRS subframe. However, Yang doesnotexplicitly disclose
`
`that rate matched PUCCH signal is a Shortened PUCCH format.
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`Yang ‘182 teachesthat rate matched PUCCH signal is a Shortened
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`PUCCH format(Par 0115).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`filing date of the invention to modify Yang byincluding the step that rate matched
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
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`Page 5
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`PUCCH signal is a Shortened PUCCH format, as taught by Yang ‘182 for the
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`purpose of providing an efficient coverage enhancement in a wireless
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`communication system, as taught by Yang ‘182 (Par 0012).
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`Claim 22 recites a method performing the functions recited in claim 1 and
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`thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed abovewith respectto claim 1.
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`Re claims 17, 23, Yang teaches that in the second case that in which the
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`control circuitry performs the PUCCH mapping, the control circuitry does not
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`puncture a last SC-FDMA symbol in the SRS transmission candidate subframe
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`(MTC UE maytransmit PUCCH signal in the last symbol of SRS subframe, Par
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`0112, Par 0114 ---“ To secure the number of PUSCH/PUCCH/PRACH symbols,
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`a PUSCH/PUCCH/PRACH signal may be mapped/transmitted even to/in the last
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`symbol’).
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`Re claims 18, 24, Yang teachesthat the SRS transmission candidate
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`subframe is signaled by a base station (cell specific SRS parameter, UE specific
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`SRS parameter) (Par 0055-0061, Par 0089, Par 0108-0110).
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`Re claims 19, 25, Yang teaches that an SRSis transmitted in the last SC-
`
`FDMA symbol of the SRS transmission candidate subframe (Par 0061, Par 0065,
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`Par 0108-0110).
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`9.
`
`Claims 20, 26 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Yang and Yang ‘182 as applied to claims 1 and 22 above andfurther in view of Ohet al
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`(US 20180213484 A1, hereinafter referred to as Oh) and Kazmi et al (US 20140092877
`
`A1, hereinafter referred to as Kazmi).
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
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`Page 6
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`Re claim 20, Yang doesnotexplicitly disclose that phase continuity of the
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`PUSCH repetition signals is maintained in symbols of the PUSCH
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`repetition signals other than the last SC-FDMA symbol in the SRS candidate
`
`subframe.
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`Oh teachesthat phase continuity of the PUSCH repetition signals is
`
`maintained in symbols of the PUSCH repetition signals (phase continuity of the
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`PUSCH repetition signals is maintained by applying same power for repeated
`
`PUSCH transmission) (Fig. 8-9, Par 0076-0078, Par 0168-0177).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`filing date of the invention to modify Yang by including the step that phase
`
`continuity of the PUSCH repetition signals is maintained in symbols of the
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`PUSCH repetition signals, as taught by Oh for the purpose of controlling “uplink
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`power to feedback a channel state and enhance coverage in a wireless
`
`communication system’, as taught by Oh (Par 0002).
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`Kazmi teaches that phase discontinuity (RPD) between PUSCH and SRS
`
`occurs when PUSCH and SRSare transmitted with different power levels (Fig. 7,
`
`Par 0123-0124).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`filing date of the invention to modify Yang byincluding the step that phase
`
`discontinuity (RPD) between PUSCH and SRS occurs when PUSCH and SRS
`
`are transmitted with different power levels, as taught by Kazmi for the purpose of
`
`improving “performance of a transmission from a user equipment to a radio base
`
`station’, as taught by Kazmi (Par 0010).
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
`
`Page 7
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`Yang teaches that PUSCH signals along with SRSsignal in the last
`
`symbol are transmitted in the SRS candidate subframe (Par 0085-0086, Par
`
`0089-0090, Par 0108-0112, Par 0116-0117). Oh teaches to maintain phase
`
`continuity of the PUSCH signals by applying same transmission power and
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`Kazmi teaches to have phase discontinuity between PUSCH and SRS when
`
`PUSCH and SRSaretransmitted with different power levels. Therefore, Yang in
`
`view of Oh, and Kazmi discloses that phase continuity of the PUSCH repetition
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`signals is maintained in symbols of the PUSCH repetition signals other than the
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`last SC-FDMA symbol in the SRS transmission candidates subframe.
`
`10.
`
`Claims 21, 27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Yang and Yang ‘182 as applied to claims 1 and 22 above and further in view of
`
`Papasakellariou (US 20160269939 A1, hereinafter referred to as Papasakellariou).
`
`Re claim 21, Yang doesnotexplicitly disclose that symbol level combining
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`of the PUSCH repetition signals is possible.
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`Papasakellariou teaches that symbol level combining of the PUSCH
`
`repetition signals is possible (Symbol level combining prior to demodulation) (Par
`
`0081, Par 0084, Par 0087, Par 0117, Par 0144-0145, Par 0149, Par 0153-0154).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`filing date of the invention to modify Yang by including the step that symbol level
`
`combining of the PUSCH repetition signals is possible, as taught by
`
`Papasakellariou for the purpose of “determining resources for repetitions of
`
`channels transmissions to low cost user equipments (UEs)”, as taught by
`
`Papasakellariou (Par 0002).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
`
`Page 8
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`Conclusion
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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
`
`Page 9
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`Customer Service Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or
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`
`/HARUN CHOWDHURY/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2473
`
`