www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and TrademarkOffice
`Address; COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`16/615,805
`
`11/21/2019
`
`AYAKO HORIUCHI
`
`731456.558USPC
`
`2839
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic (PIPCA)
`701 5th Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`PEREZ, ANGELICA
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2649
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`05/05/2021
`
`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*
`15-27 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`5a) Of the above claim(s) ___ is/are withdrawn from consideration.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) 15-27 is/are rejected.
`(1 Claim(s)__is/are objectedto.
`C} Claim(s)
`are subjectto 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://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)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)1) 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)C All
`1.2 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 20210412
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`16/615,805
`HORIUCHI etal.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF) StatusExaminer
`Angelica M Perez
`2649
`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 01/28/2021.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`2a)¥) This action is FINAL.
`2b) (J 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: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`The presentapplication, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Response to Arguments
`
`1.
`
`Applicant's argumentsfiled 01/28/2021 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
`
`In the Remarks, the Applicant argues in substance:
`
`(A) “the Office has failed to point to anything in RI-1707382 that teaches a factor upon which ‘the
`
`max number of blind decoding candidates for a UE’... RI-1707382 fails to teach that a maximum number
`
`of monitored control channel candidates in a slot depends on the numerology of the DL control channel or
`
`a subcarrier spacing...”
`
`The Examiner disagrees with Applicant’s assertion that reads, “the Office has failed to point to
`
`anything in RI-1707382 that teaches a factor upon which ‘the max number of blind decoding candidates
`
`for a UE” as well as “RI-1707382 fails to teach that a maximum number of monitored control channel
`
`candidatesin a slot depends on the numerology of the DL control channel or a subcarrier spacing...”
`
`because, the RI-1707382 clearly discloses “Considerations on blind decoding for NR PDCCH”, where
`
`one of ordinary skilled in the art would realize in NR blind decoding supports flexible numerology due to
`
`the need to support a wide range of deployment scenarios that range from large cells with sub-1 GHz
`
`carrier frequency up to mm-wave deployments with very wide spectrum allocations. The flexible
`
`numerologies comprise subcarrier spacings ranging from 15 kHz up to 240 kHz being obtained by scaling
`
`the reference subcarrier spacing of 15 KHz by aninteger N to define different numerologies. Therefore,
`
`the maximum number of monitored CC candidatesin a slot is based on the configured different subcarrier
`
`spacings.
`
`(B) “RI-1707382 fails to teach that the “max number of blind decoding candidates for a UE”
`
`depends on the numerology of the DL control channel or a subcarrier spacing. Also, RI-1 707382 fails to
`
`teach that “the total number of blind decoding attempts within one slot” depends on the numerology of the
`
`DL control channel or a subcarrier spacing...”
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 3
`
`Please see responseto argument(A) from above.
`
`(C) “In summary, nothing has been found, or pointed to, in RI-1 707382 which teachesthat a
`
`maximum number of monitored control channel candidates in a slot depends on a subcarrier spacing,
`
`much less depends on a subcarrier spacing configuration...”
`
`Please see response to argument(A) from above
`
`(D) “Applicant respectfully submits that RI-1610058 fails to remedy the deficiencies of RI-1 707382
`
`identified above.
`
`Moreover, “keeping] the total number of blind decoding attempts within one slot roughly the
`
`same”as taught by RI-1707382is inconsistent with “allowing] different search space configurations for
`
`different numerologies” as taught by RI-1610058. Accordingly, Applicant respectfully submits that one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art would not have been motivated to combine the teachings in RI-1707382 and RI-
`
`1610058 in the manner set forth in the Office Action.”
`
`The RI-1610058 reference discloses “DL control channel’ on “New Radio Access Technology’
`
`(NR)” that similarly supports the flexible numerologies based on subcarrier spacing configuration. The RI-
`
`1707382 and RI-1610058 references are analogousart that deal with issues related to DLCCH that deals
`
`with scalable numerologies; therefore, the references are related and the combination is proper.
`
`(E) “RI-1707382 and RI-1610058fail to teach a terminal wherein ‘a maximum numberof the
`
`monitored control channel candidates in a slot depends on a subcarrier spacing configuration’, in
`
`combination with the other elements recited in claim 15. Accordingly, withdrawal of the rejection of claim
`
`15 is respectfully requested.”
`
`Please see responses to argument(A) and (D) from above.
`
`(F) “While the language and scopeof independentclaim 27 are not identical to the language and
`
`scopeof claim 15, the allowability of claim 27 is apparent in view of the abovediscussion of claim 15 and
`
`the cited references...”
`
`The same response to arguments (A) and (D) from above apply to claim 27, since the claims
`
`recite similar limitations.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 4
`
`The Examiner has given a broad and reasonable interpretation to the claims in view of the
`
`specification and believes that the references read on the claims, as presently written; therefore, the
`
`rejection is maintained.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`2.
`
`In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and
`
`103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for
`
`the rejection will not be considered a new groundofrejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale
`
`supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
`
`3.
`
`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.
`
`4.
`
`Claims 15-27 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Considerations on
`
`Blind Decoding for NR PDCCH (hereinafter R1-1707382) in view of Initial Views on DL Control Channel
`
`Design (hereinafter, R1-1610058).
`
`Regarding claim 15, R1-1707382 discloses a terminal (page 1, section 2.1, “UE”) comprising:
`
`a receiver (page 1, section 2.1, UEs inherently comprise at least a receiver), which, in operation,
`
`receives a signal (page 1, section 2.1, where receivers are configured to receive signals); and
`
`circuitry (page 1, section 2.1, UEs inherently comprise circuitry), which, in operation, monitors a
`
`plurality of control channel candidates (page 1, section 2.1, “UE to monitor a certain number ofblind
`
`decoding candidates...For NR, similar concept san be considered for the design of search space”) in a
`
`plurality of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) search spacesets in the signal (page 1, section 1,
`
`“on blind decoding considerations for NR PDCCH”and section 2, “UE would perform multiple blind
`
`decodings within search space for potential DCI messages”),
`
`where a maximum number of the monitored control channel candidates in a slot (page 1, section
`
`2.1, “regard to the number of blind decoding, it can be defined on a per-slot basis or a per mini-slot
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 5
`
`basis...max number of blind decoding candidates for a UE is defined independently of the number of
`
`control resource sets and the number of search spaces[2]. This indicates that split of the numberof
`
`blind decodings amongdifferent CORESETs and search spaces should be supported for NR so as to
`
`keepthe total number of blind decoding attempts within one slot roughly the same”) depends on a
`
`subcarrier spacing configuration (page 1, introduction, “in NR scalable numerologies are to be defined
`
`(including different subcarrier spacing) Considering different subcarrier spacing instead of the number of
`
`symbols...”).
`
`R1-1707382 does notspecifically disclose the subcarrier spacing configuration.
`
`In related art concerning initial views on DL control channel design, R1-1610058 discloses the
`
`subcarrier spacing configuration (page 7, proposal 3, “...Allow different search space configurations for
`
`different numerologies’”).
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling date of the
`
`invention to use R1-1610058’s teachings about proposing using different search space configurations for
`
`different numerologies with blind decoding for NR PDCCH of R1-1707382 because one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art would have recognized that by having different search spacefor different numerologies (different
`
`subcarrier spacing for different waveform parameters), resources would beutilized more efficiently and
`
`dynamically, since the spacings would be based on the parameters required by each user.
`
`Regarding claim 16, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 discloseall the limitations of claim 15. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where the maximum number of the monitored control channel candidates in
`
`the slot decreases as the subcarrier spacing configuration becomes wider (page 1, section 1, for NR, if
`
`using OFDM, as shownin the introduction, if the subcarrier width gets wider, the symbol length gets
`
`shorter (this is based on inverse relationship between frequency domain and time domain). If we assume
`
`that we will pack the same number of symbols within a subframe, the shorter symbol length would create
`
`shorter subframe).
`
`Regarding claim 17, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 discloseall the limitations of claim 16. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where a relation between the maximum number of the monitored control
`
`channel candidates in the slot and the subcarrier spacing configuration is different from an inversely
`
`proportional relation (page 1, section 1, for NR, if using OFDM, as shownin the introduction, if the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 6
`
`subcarrier width gets wider, the symbol length gets shorter (this is based on inverserelationship between
`
`frequency domain and time domain). If we assume that wewill pack the same number of symbols within a
`
`subframe, the shorter symbol length would create shorter subframe).
`
`Regarding claim 18, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 15. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where: a first subcarrier spacing is narrower than a second subcarrier spacing
`
`(mini-slot and slot/multiple slots), and a first maximum number of the monitored control channel
`
`candidatesin the slot with the first subcarrier spacing is greater than a second maximum number of the
`
`monitored control channel candidatesin the slot with the second subcarrier spacing (pages 1 and 2,
`
`sections 1 and 2, i.e., for min-slots, which correspondsto less than 7 will require shorter latency; thus, a
`
`greater maximum number of monitored control channel candidates. For slot or multi-slot with 7 or more
`
`symbols, NR should support longer scheduling corresponding to a lower number of monitored control
`
`channel candidates).
`
`Regarding claim 19, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 18. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where: a width of the first subcarrier spacing is one-quarter a width of the
`
`second subcarrier spacing, and the first maximum number of the monitored control channel candidatesin
`
`the slot with the first subcarrier spacing is less than four times the second maximum number of
`
`the monitored control channel candidatesin the slot with the second subcarrier spacing (pages 1 and 2,
`
`sections 1 and 2,
`
`if the sub-carrier spacings (SCS) are for example 15KHz, 30KHz, 60KHz and 120KHz,
`
`the number of detections can be scaled proportionally, i.e., x, x/2, x/4 an x/8).
`
`Regarding claim 20, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 15. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where a number of the control channel candidates in the PDCCH search space
`
`sets depends on a control channel element (CCE) aggregation level (page 1, section 2.1 and page 3,
`
`section 3, For NR, different control resources sets can include different sets of NR CCEs for DL control
`
`channel candidates or UE specific search spaces,...”).
`
`Regarding claim 21, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 15. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where the maximum number of the monitored control channel candidates in
`
`the slot is one of a plurality of numbers of the monitored control channel candidates corresponding to a
`
`plurality of control channel element (CCE) aggregation levels (page 1, section 2.1 and page 3, section
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 7
`
`2.3, “To enable dynamic configuration/reconfiguration of UE specific search space, MAC CE based
`
`approach maybe defined...” and section 3, For NR, different control resources sets can include different
`
`sets of NR CCEsfor DL control channel candidates or UE specific search spaces.,...”).
`
`Regarding claim 22, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 21. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where the numbersof the monitored control channel candidates are indicated
`
`to the terminal by upper layer signaling (page 1, section 2.1 and page 3, section 3,”...configure proper UE
`
`specific search space via RRC signaling’).
`
`Regarding claim 23, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 15. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where the maximum number of the monitored control channel candidates in
`
`the slot decreases as a processing time for a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) scheduled by
`
`PDCCHin the PDCCH search spacesets decreases (page 1, section 1, for NR, if using OFDM, as shown
`
`in the introduction, if the subcarrier width gets wider, the symbol length gets shorter (this is based on
`
`inverse relationship between frequency domain and time domain). If we assume that wewill pack the
`
`same number of symbols within a subframe, the shorter symbol length would create shorter subframe).
`
`Regarding claim 24, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 15. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where the maximum number of the monitored control channel candidates in
`
`the slot depends on a capability of the terminal (page 3, section 2.3, “gNB may determine appropriate
`
`aggregation levels according to specific application/service or UE channel condition, and configure
`
`proper UE specific search...”.).
`
`Regarding claim 25, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 15. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where the maximum number of the monitored control channel candidates in
`
`the slot is one of a plurality of maximum numbersof the monitored control channel candidatesin the slot
`
`determined for a plurality of subcarrier spacing configurations (page 1, section 2.1, “regard to the number
`
`of blind decoding, it can be defined on a per-slot basis or a per mini-slot basis... max number ofblind
`
`decoding candidates for a UE is defined independently of the number of control resource sets and the
`
`numberof search spaces...” and page 1, introduction, “in NR scalable numerologiesare to be defined
`
`(including different subcarrier spacing) Considering different subcarrier spacing instead of the number of
`
`symbols...”).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 8
`
`Regarding claim 26, R1-1707382 and R1-1610058 disclose all the limitations of claim 15. R1-
`
`1707382 further discloses where a maximum number of the monitored control channel candidatesin a set
`
`of consecutive symbolsin the slot is defined (page 1, section 2.1, “regard to the number ofblind
`
`decoding, it can be defined on a per-slot basis or a per mini-slot basis... max number of blind decoding
`
`candidates for a UE is defined independently of the number of control resource sets and the number of
`
`search spaces...”, where the number of decodings per CORESET depends on the number of symbols,
`
`consecutive symbols).
`
`Regarding claim 27, R1-1707382 discloses a reception method (page 1, section 2.1 and page 3,
`
`section 2.3, where in the method the “UE” receives the configuration from the gNB) comprising: receiving
`
`a signal (page 1, section 2.1, where receivers are configured to receive signals); and
`
`monitoring a plurality of control channel candidates (page 1, section 2.1, “UE to monitor a certain
`
`numberof blind decoding candidates...For NR, similar concept san be considered for the design of
`
`search space’) in a plurality of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) search spacesets in the
`
`signal (page 1, section 1, “on blind decoding considerations for NR PDCCH”and section 2, “UE would
`
`perform multiple blind decodings within search space for potential DCI messages’),
`
`where a maximum number of the monitored control channel candidates in a slot (page 1, section
`
`2.1, “regard to the number of blind decoding, it can be defined on a per-slot basis or a per mini-slot
`
`basis...max number of blind decoding candidates for a UE is defined independently of the number of
`
`control resource sets and the number of search spaces[2]. This indicates that split of the number of blind
`
`decodings among different CORESETs and search spaces should be supported for NR so as to keep the
`
`total numberof blind decoding attempts within one slot roughly the same”) depends on a subcarrier
`
`spacing configuration (page 1, introduction, “in NR scalable numerologies are to be defined (including
`
`different subcarrier spacing) Considering different subcarrier spacing instead of the number of
`
`symbols...”).
`
`R1-1707382 does not specifically disclose the subcarrier spacing configuration.
`
`R1-1610058 discloses the subcarrier spacing configuration (page 7, proposal 3, “Allow different
`
`search space configurations for different numerologies’”).
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 9
`
`It would have been obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art before the effectivefiling date of the
`
`invention to use R1-1610058’s teachings about proposing using different search space configurations for
`
`different numerologies with blind decoding for NR PDCCH of R1-1707382 because one of ordinary skill in
`
`the art would have recognized that by having different search spacefor different numerologies (different
`
`subcarrier spacing for different waveform parameters), resources would be utilized moreefficiently and
`
`dynamically, since the spacings would be based on the parameters required by each user.
`
`Conclusion
`
`5.
`
`THIS ACTION IS MADE FINAL. Applicant is reminded of the extension oftime policy as setforth
`
`in 37 CFR 1.136(a).
`
`A shortened statutory period for reply to this final action is set to expire THREE MONTHS from
`
`the mailing date of this action.
`
`In the eventa first reply is filed within TWO MONTHS of the mailing date
`
`of this final action and the advisory action is not mailed until after the end of the THREE-MONTH
`
`shortened statutory period, then the shortened statutory period will expire on the date the advisory action
`
`is mailed, and any extension fee pursuant to 37 CFR 1.136(a) will be calculated from the mailing date of
`
`the advisory action.
`
`In no event, however, will the statutory period for reply expire later than SIX
`
`MONTHS from the mailing date of this final action.
`
`6.
`
`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should
`
`be directed to Angelica Perez whose telephone number is 571-272-7885. The examiner can normally be
`
`reached on Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
`
`Examiner interviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using a
`
`USPTO supplied web-basedcollaboration 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,
`
`Yuwen (Kevin) Pan can be reached at (571) 272-7855. The fax phone numbersfor the organization
`
`wherethis application or proceeding is assigned are 571-273-8300 for regular communications and for
`
`After Final communications.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 16/615,805
`Art Unit: 2649
`
`Page 10
`
`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 the PAIR or Public PAIR. Status information for unpublished applications is available through the
`
`Private PAIR only. For more information about the pair system, see http://pair- direct.uspto.gov. Should
`
`you have questions on accessto the Private PAIR system, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC)
`
`at 866-217-9197 (toll- free). Information regarding Patent Application Information Retrieval (PAIR) system
`
`can be found at 866-217-9197 (toll-free).
`
`Any inquiry of a general nature or relating to the status of this application or proceeding should be
`
`directed to the TC 2600's customer service number is 703-306-0377.
`
`/Angelica M. Perez/
`Patent Examiner AU 2649
`04/28/2021
`/YUWEN PAN/
`Supervisory Patent Examiner, Art Unit 2649
`
`