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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
`
`17/033,407
`
`09/25/2020
`
`LILEI WANG
`
`731456.449C4
`
`9859
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic (PIPCA)
`701 5th Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`REGO, DOMINIC E
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2648
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`04/28/2022
`
`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*
`1,3-4,7-9,11-12 and 15-22 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`(J Claim(s)__ is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1,3-4,7-9,11-12,15-17,19-20 and 22 is/are rejected.
`Claim(s) 18 and 21 is/are objected to.
`1) Claim(s
`are subject to restriction and/or election requirement
`)
`* 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:/Awww.uspto.gov/patents/init_events/pph/index.jsp or send an inquiry to PPHfeedback@uspto.gov.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10)2) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)M The drawing(s) filed on 09/25/2020 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)0) 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)( Some**
`a)C) All
`1.2 Certified copies of the priority documents have been received.
`2.1) Certified copies of the priority documents have beenreceived in Application No.
`3.1.) Copies of the certified copies of the priority documents have been received in 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 20220423
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/033,407
`WANG etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`DOMINIC E REGO
`2648
`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 04/20/2022.
`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: 17/033,407
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`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.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`2.
`
`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.
`
`3.
`
`The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness
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`under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized asfollows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
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`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
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`4. Considering objective evidence presentin the application indicating
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`obviousness or nonobviousness.
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`4.
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`This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the
`
`claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was
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`commonly ownedasof the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any
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`evidenceto the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to
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`point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly
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`ownedas ofthe effectivefiling date of the later invention in order for the examiner to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/033,407
`Art Unit: 2648
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`Page 3
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`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.
`
`5.
`
`Claims 1, 7, 9, 15, 17, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being
`
`unpatentable over Papasakellariou et al. (US 2015/0085717) in view of Zhang et al. (US
`
`2016/0205664).
`
`MHegarding claims 1 and 9, Papasakellariou teaches a wireless communication
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`method comprising: receiving a reference signal and a data signal, based ona
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`coverage enhancementlevel associated with a number of transmission repetitions
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`(Paragraph GO82...... DL signals include dala signals conveying information
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`content ...... and reference signals (HS) See abstract....Methods and apparatus are
`
`provided for a base station to transmit and for a UE to detect broadcastinformation
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`when the UE operates in a Coverage Enhancement (CE) mode. The base station
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`transmits repetitions of signaling conveying broadcastinformation. Also see Paragraphs
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`0123, 0133, and 0145}; and
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`processing the reference signal and the data signal received by the receiving
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`(Paragraph O082...... DL signals include data signals conveying information
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`confent....... and reference signais (FAS), ....... An eNB, such as eNB 102, can transmit
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`data information... The eNB, such as eNB 102, can transmit one or more of multiple
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`types Of RS....... A CRS can be transmitted over a DL system BandWidth (BW) and can
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`be used by UEs, such as UE 114 or UE 116, to demodulate data or control signals orto
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`perform measurements (processing)), but does not specifically teach wherein a
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`configuration of the reference signal including a Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS)
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/033,407
`Art Unit: 2648
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`Page 4
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`that is used in addition to a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS)in a specific
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`channel is indicated by a System Information Block (SIB).
`
`However, in related art, Zhang teaches wherein a configuration of the reference
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`signal including a Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) that is used in addition to a
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`Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS)(the reference signal configuration may
`
`include both CRS and DMRS; see paragraph 0113) in a specific channel is indicated
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`by a System Information Block (SIB) (base station 105-b may transmit (and UE 115-
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`c mayreceive) an eMBMS-scheduled burst conveying unicast information
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`assigned to UE 115-c...... The set of resources for the eMBMS-scheduled burst
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`may be determined by receiving a SIB indicating the eMBMS-scheduled
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`resources and receiving a MCCH based onthe SIB; see paragraph 0113).
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the
`
`invention was made to use (pre-AlA) or before the effective filing date of the claimed
`
`invention (AIA) to use Zhang’s teaching about wherein a configuration of the reference
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`signal including a Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) that is used in addition to a
`
`Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS)in a specific channel is indicated by a System
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`Information Block (SIB) with Papasakellariou’s invention in order to perform coherent
`
`demodulation of the downlink signal (See Zhang, paragraph 0094).
`
`Regarding claims 7 and 15, ihe combination of Papasakellariou and Zhang
`
`teach all the clairned clamenis in claims | and 9.
`
`in addition, Papasakellariou teaches
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`the method according to claim 1, wherein the dala signal is received iri a Physical
`
`Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH}) or a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)
`
`i(Paragragh 0082 and 07195).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/033,407
`Art Unit: 2648
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`Page 5
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`Regarding claims 17 and 20, Papasakellariou teaches the method according to
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`claim 1, wherein the specific charinetiis a Physical Downlink Contral Channel (PDOCH}
`
`(Paragraph 0082}.
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`6.
`
`Claims 3 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Papasakellariou et al. (US 2015/0085717) in view of Zhang et al. (US 2016/0205664),
`
`and further in view of Zhou et al. (US Patent #9,955,458).
`
`Regarding claims 3 anc 14, ihe combination of Papasakellariou and Zhang fall
`
`to teach the method according to claim 1, wherein the number of resource elernents for
`
`the received reference signal depends on a channel type.
`
`However, in related art, Zhou teach the method according to claim 1, wherein the
`
`number of resource elernents for ihe received reference signal depends on a channel
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`tyoe (different resource elements can have different functions. In particular, a
`
`certain numberof the resource elements (e.g., 8 resource elements) may be
`
`reserved for reference signals used for channel estimation. In addition, a certain
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`number of the resource elements (e.g., the resource elementsin the first one to
`
`four OFDM symbols) maybe reservedfor control signals in the PCFICH, PDCCH,
`
`and PHICH channels (type of channels); See Gai 1, fines 53-87). Therefore, it would
`
`have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made
`
`to use (pre-AlA) or before the effectivefiling date of the claimed invention (AIA) to use
`
`Zhou’s teaching about wherein the number of resource elements for the received
`
`reierence signal depends on a charine! type with Papasakellariou’s and Zhang invention
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`in order to control the interference created by the device in the networked environment.
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/033,407
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Page 6
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`7.
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`Claims 4, 12, 19, and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over Papasakellariou et al. (US 2015/0085717) in view of Zhang et al. (US
`
`2016/0205664), and further in view of Gao et al. (US 2012/0281555).
`
`Regarding claims 4 and 72, the combination of PFanasakellaniou and Zhang fail
`
`to teach the method according to claim 1, wherein a reference signal densily of a
`
`Physical Downlink Gontrol Charine! (PDCCH) is higher than a reference signal density
`
`ofa Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH).
`
`However, in related art, Gao teaches the method according to claim 1, wherein a
`
`relerence signal density of a Physical Downlink Gonirol Charmel (PDCCH} is higher
`
`than a reference signal density of a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)
`
`(Paragraphs 0077 and 0083, ... PDSCH will be smaller than that on the PDCCH, since
`
`the AS densiy per subframe tor CHS2 and CRS3 is 84°12 is about 4.796. That means
`
`PUSCH aiso will be smalier than that on the PDCCH since PUSCH is Physical Uplink
`
`shared Channel and POSCH is Physical Gownlink Shared Channel}. Therefore, it
`
`would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was
`
`made to use (pre-AlA) or before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to
`
`use Gao’s teaching about wherein a reference sigrial densily of a Physical Downlink
`
`Cortral Channel (PDCCH} is higher than a reference signal density of a Physical
`
`Downlink Shared Ghannel (PDSCH} with Papasakellariou’s and Zhang's invention for
`
`good channel estimation (See Gao, Paragraph [0083)).
`
`Regarding claims 19 and 22, the combination of Panasakellariou arid Zhang fail
`
`to teach the method according to claim 1, wherein when an increasing of a density of
`
`the reference signal is requested, the DMRS or the CHS is reused.
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/033,407
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Page 7
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`However, in related an, Gao leaches the methad according to claim 7, wherein
`
`when an increasing of a density of the reference signal is requested, the DMAS or the
`
`CRS is reused (Paragrach 0083}. Therefore, it would have been obvious to one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was made to use (pre-AlA) or before
`
`the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to use Gao’s teaching about
`
`wherein a reference signal density of a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PBCGH} is
`
`higher than a reference signal density of a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)
`
`with Papasakellariou’s and Zhang’s invention for good channel estimation (See Gao,
`
`Paragraph [0083]).
`
`g.
`
`Claims 8 and 16 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Papasakellariou et al. (US 2015/0085717) in view of Zhang et al. (US 2016/0205664),
`
`and further in view of Chen (US Patent #10,785,758).
`
`Regarding claims 8 and 16, ihe combinalian of Papasakellariou and 4hang fail
`
`to teach the method accarding to claim 1, wherein resource elements used for the
`
`received reference signal is configured by Hadio Resource Gontrol (RAC), is
`
`predefined, or is recommended by a user equipment through a Channel Quality
`
`indicator (CGH.
`
`However, in related arl, Chen teaches the method according to claim 1, wherein
`
`resource slemenis used for the received reference signal is configured by Raco
`
`Flesource Control (RAC) (Claims 1 and 2), is predefined, or is recommenced by a user
`
`equipment through a Channel Quality Indicator (CO’ (Col 3, lines 49-62). Therefore, it
`
`would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, at the time the invention was
`
`made to use (pre-AlA) or before the effective filing date of the claimed invention (AIA) to
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/033,407
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Page 8
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`use Chen’s teaching about wherein resource elements used far the received reference
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`signal is configured by Racio Resource Contral (RRC), is predefined, oris
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`recornmended by a user equipment through a Channel Quality Indicator (G2 with
`
`Papasakellariou’s and Zhang’s invention in order to perform data scheduling (Col 1,
`
`lines 45-50).
`
`Allowable Subject Matter
`
`9.
`
`Claims 18 and 21 are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base
`
`claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all of the
`
`limitations of the base claim and any intervening claims.
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`Regarding claims 18 and 21, the prior art of record fails to teach the method
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`according to claim 1, wherein when the coverage enhancement level being 2 or more,
`
`the CRS is added without changing a density of DMIRS.
`
`Conclusion
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`10.
`
`‘The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to
`
`applicant's disclosure. Seo et al. (US 2015/0003407), Zhang (US 2014/0016597),
`
`Nimbalker et al. (US 2013/0252606), and Koivisto et al. (US Patent #8,289,91 7).
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
`
`examiner should be directed to DOMINIC E REGO whosetelephone number is
`
`(571)272-8132. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday, 8:00am-
`
`4:30pm.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video
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`conferencing using a USPTO supplied web-basedcollaboration tool. To schedule an
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/033,407
`Art Unit: 2648
`
`Page 9
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`
`/DOMINIC E REGO/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2648
`Tel 571-272-8132
`
`