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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
`
`03/01/2021
`
`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*
`1-16 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`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.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) 1-16 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.
`
`) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)() The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s) filed on 02/19/2020 is/are: a)[¥) 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) Acknowledgment is made of a claim for foreign priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d)or (f).
`Certified copies:
`_—_c)¥) None ofthe:
`b)L) Some**
`a)X) All
`1.4) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.2) Certified copies of the priority documents have been received in Application No.
`3.2.) 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)
`
`Information Disclosure Statement(s) (PTO/SB/08a and/or PTO/SB/08b)
`2)
`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 20210223
`
`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 02/19/2020.
`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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`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.
`
`Priority
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`Acknowledgment is made of applicant's claim for foreign priority based on an
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`application filed in Japan (JP) on 07/28/2015. It is noted, however, that applicant
`
`has notfiled a certified copy of the 2015-148542 application as required by 37
`
`CFR 1.55.
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 102
`
`3.
`
`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 madein this Office action:
`
`A personshall be entitled to a patent unless —
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`(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, namesanother inventor and waseffectively filed
`before the effective filing date of the claimed invention.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 1, 6-9, 14-16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) as being anticipated
`
`by Yao et al (US 20180109286 A1, hereinafter referred to as Yao).
`
`Re claim 1, Yao teaches a terminal apparatus (User equipment, Fig. 5-6)
`
`comprising:
`
`(i) control circuitry (processor 22, Fig. 5), which, in operation, generates physical
`
`uplink shared channel (PUSCH) repetition signals by repeating a PUSCH
`
`(PUSCH signal repeatedly transmitted in X consecutive subframesinafirst
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
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`Page 3
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`frequency/PRB)(Fig. 1, Fig. 4-5, Par 0053-0055, Par 0057-0061, Par 0063-0065,
`
`Par 0068-0070, Par 0084-0085, Par 0095); and
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`(ii) a transmitter (Transceiver, 28, Fig. 5), which is coupled to the control circuitry
`
`and which, in operation, transmits the PUSCHrepetition signals in a plurality of
`
`subframes using a frequency hopping (PUSCH signal repeatedly transmitted in X
`
`consecutive subframes inafirst frequency/PRB)(Fig. 1, Fig. 4-5, Par 0053-0055,
`
`Par 0057-0061, Par 0063-0065, Par 0068-0070, Par 0072-0078, Par 0084-0085,
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`Par 0095, Par 0102);
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`(iii) wherein the frequency hopping is performed on the PUSCH repetition signals
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`every X number of consecutive subframes (PUSCH signal repeatedly transmitted
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`in X consecutive subframes inafirst frequency/PRB), wherein X is signaled by a
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`basestation (Fig. 1, Fig. 4-6, Par 0053-0055, Par 0057-0061, Par 0063-0065,
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`Par 0068-0070, Par 0072-0078, Par 0084-0085, Par 0095, Par 0102).
`
`Claim 9 recites a method performing the functions recited in claim 1 and
`
`thereby, is rejected for the reasons discussed above with respectto claim 1.
`
`Re claims 6, 14, Yao teaches that X subframes are equal to or less than Y
`
`subframes, wherein Y is a frequency hopping period signaled by the basestation
`
`(Par 0053-0055, Par 0059-0061, Par 0064, Par 0070, Par 0072-0073, Par 0095).
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`Re claims 7, 15, Yao teaches that Y frequency hopping period consists of
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`X consecutive subframes of the PUSCH repetition signals and zero or more
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`retuning time subframes (Par 0053-0055, Par 0059-0061, Par 0064).
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`Re claims 8, 16, Yao teaches that X equals Y (Par 0055, Par 0059).
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
`
`Page 4
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`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
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`5.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all
`
`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.
`
`6.
`
`Claims 2-4, 10-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Yao as applied to claims 1 and 9 above and further in view of Kim et al (US
`
`20180083752 A1, hereinafter referred to as Kim).
`
`Re claims 2, 10, Yao doesnotexplicitly disclose to puncture a last SC-
`
`FDMA(single-carrier frequency-division multiple access) symbol in a sounding
`
`reference signal (SRS) transmission candidate subframeoutof the plurality of
`
`subframes, wherein the SRS transmission candidate subframe is signaled by the
`
`base station.
`
`Kim teachesto puncture a last SC-FDMA(single-carrier frequency-
`
`division multiple access) symbol in a sounding reference signal (SRS)
`
`transmission candidate subframe out of the plurality of subframes (transmitting
`
`SRSin the last SC-FDMA symbol when the PUSCH transmission sub-bandis
`
`identical to the SRS transmission sub-band), wherein the SRS transmission
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`candidate subframeis signaled by the basestation (receiving SRS configuration
`
`from the eNB) (Fig. 9, Fig. 13-14, Par 0168-0169, Par 0173, Par 0178, Par 0211-
`
`0212, Par 0282-0286, Par 0296-0303).
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
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`Page 5
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`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`filing date of the invention to modify Yao by including the step to puncture a last
`
`SC-FDMA(single-carrier frequency-division multiple access) symbol in a
`
`sounding reference signal (SRS) transmission candidate subframe out of the
`
`plurality of subframes, wherein the SRS transmission candidate subframe is
`
`signaled by the basestation, as taught by Kim for the purpose ofefficiently
`
`transmitting SRS and uplink data in an MTC environment, as taught by Kim (Par
`
`0004-0007).
`
`Re claims 3, 11, Yao does notexplicitly disclose that an SRS
`
`is transmitted in the last SC-FDMA symbolof the SRS transmission candidate
`
`subframe.
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`Kim teachesthat an SRSis transmitted in the last SC-FDMA symbol of
`
`the SRS transmission candidate subframe (Fig. 9, Par 0169).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`filing date of the invention to modify Yao by including the step that an SRSis
`
`transmitted in the last SC-FDMA symbol of the SRS transmission candidate
`
`subframe, as taught by Kim for the purposeofefficiently transmitting SRS and
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`uplink data in an MTC environment, as taught by Kim (Par 0004-0007).
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`Re claims 4, 12, Yao does not explicitly disclose that the
`
`SRStransmission candidate subframe is in accordance with an SRS
`
`transmission period (Tsrc) signaled by the base station.
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`Kim teaches that the SRS transmission candidate subframe is in
`
`accordance with an SRStransmission period (Tsrc) signaled by the base station
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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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`(receiving SRS transmission parameter including SRS periodicity, Tsrs from
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`eNB)(Fig. 9-10, Fig. 13-14, Par 0173, Par 0178, Par 0200, Par 0202-0203, Par
`
`0211-0212).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`filing date of the invention to modify Yao by including the step that the SRS
`
`transmission candidate subframe is in accordance with an SRStransmission
`
`period (TSFC)signaled by the base station, as taught by Kim for the purpose of
`
`efficiently transmitting SRS and uplink data in an MTC environment, as taught by
`
`Kim (Par 0004-0007).
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`7.
`
`Claims 5, 13 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Yao
`
`as applied to claims 1 and 9 above andfurther in view of Xiong et al (US 20160226639
`
`A1, hereinafter referred to as Xiong).
`
`Re claims 5, 13, Yao does notexplicitly disclose to generate physical
`
`uplink control channel (PUCCH) repetition signals by repeating a PUCCH; and
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`transmit the PUCCH repetition signals in a plurality of subframes using a
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`shortened PUCCH format.
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`Xiong teaches to generate physical uplink control channel (PUCCH)
`
`repetition signals by repeating a PUCCH; and transmit the PUCCH repetition
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`signals in a plurality of subframes using a shortened PUCCH format(Fig. 4, Par
`
`0038-40, Par 0042-0044, Par 0049-0053, Par 0055-0056).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the
`
`filing date of the invention to modify Yao by including the step to generate
`
`physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) repetition signals by repeating a
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
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`Page 7
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`PUCCH; and transmit the PUCCH repetition signals in a plurality of subframes
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`using a shortened PUCCH format, as taught by Xiong for the purpose of
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`providing UE specific repetition level to reduce waste of radio resource and UE
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`power consumption, as taught by Xiong (Par 0027).
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`Conclusion
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from
`
`the examiner should be directed to HARUN UR R CHOWDHURYwhose
`
`telephone number is (571)270-3895. The examiner can normally be reached on
`
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`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
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`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-basedcollaboration tool. To schedule
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`an interview, applicant is encouraged to use the USPTO AutomatedInterview
`
`Request (AIR) at http:/Awww.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
`
`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the
`
`examiner's supervisor, Kwang B Yao can be reached on 5712723182. The fax
`
`phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is
`
`assigned is 571-273-8300.
`
`Information regarding the status of an application may be obtained from
`
`the Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system. Status information
`
`for published applications may be obtained from either Private PAIR or Public
`
`PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through
`
`Private PAIR only. For more information about the PAIR system, see
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 16/794,493
`Art Unit: 2473
`
`Page 8
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`/HARUN CHOWDHURY/
`Examiner, Art Unit 2473
`
`