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`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/434,243
`
`08/26/2021
`
`Lei Huang
`
`733456.650USPC
`
`4006
`
`Seed IP Law Group LLP/Panasonic (PIPCA)
`701 5th Avenue, Suite 5400
`Seattle, WA 98104
`
`MILORD, MARCEAU
`
`ART UNIT
`
`2641
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`02/08/2024
`
`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*
`1-15 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`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.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) 1-8 and 10-15 is/are rejected.
`Claim(s) 9 is/are objectedto.
`C) 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.
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`) ) ) )
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`Application Papers
`10)() The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11)M The drawing(s)filed on 8-26-2021 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)2) 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) All
`1.1.) 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)
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`Notice of References Cited (PTO-892)
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`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)
`
`4)
`
`(LJ Interview Summary (PTO-413)
`Paper No(s)/Mail Date
`(Qj Other:
`
`PTOL-326 (Rev. 11-13)
`
`Office Action Summary
`
`Part of Paper No./Mail Date 20240128
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`171434,243
`Huanget al.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`MARCEAU MILORD
`2641
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
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`A SHORTENED STATUTORYPERIOD FOR REPLYIS SET TO EXPIRE 3 MONTHS FROM THE MAILING
`DATE OF THIS COMMUNICATION.
`Extensionsof 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 8-26-2021.
`C} A declaration(s)/affidavit(s) under 37 CFR 1.130(b) was/werefiled on
`
`2a)() This action is FINAL. 2b)¥)This action is non-final.
`3) 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)(2) 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: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 2
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`DETAILED ACTION
`
`Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
`
`1.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined underthe
`
`first inventorto file provisions of the AJA.
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
`
`2.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which formsthebasis for all obviousness
`
`rejections set forth 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 andthe 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,
`
`Claims 1-2, 5-8, 10, 12-15 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over
`
`Changet al (US 20210135803 A1) in view of Niu et al (US 20220060905 A1).
`
`Regarding claim 1, Changet al discloses a terminal (UE 1901 includes a receiver and a
`
`transmitter; the UEs 1901 and 1902 maybe configured to connect, communicatively couple,
`
`with a radio access network 1910; paragraph 0118) comprising: a receiver, which in operation,
`
`receives (the UEs 1901 receive one or more discovery reference signal) one or more discovery
`
`reference signal(a reliable discovery reference signal (DRS), including a primary
`
`synchronization signal /secondary synchronization signal /physical broadcast channel
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 3
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`transmission; paragraph 0040, and abstract), transmitted by a base station (receive from a next
`
`generation Node B (gNB) in downlink control information or radio resource control signaling;
`
`the one or more processors are further configured to decode one or more LBTsreceived from a
`
`next generation node B; paragraph 0108-0109) within a channel occupancytimestarting at a
`
`possible starting position (the one or more processors are further configured to decodea starting
`
`OFDM symbol for a PUSCHtransmission; starting one, two, or three OFDM symbols that may
`
`be reserved for PDCCHtransmission, N (e.g. 4) contiguous OFDM symbolsare grouped to
`
`transmit one SS block; paragraph 0043, 0046) with half a slot boundary (receive one or more
`
`discovery reference signal transmitted by a base station (gNB) within a channel occupancy time ;
`
`note that 1600 of a next generation node B (gNB), operable for new radio unlicensed
`
`communication; the gNB can comprise one or more processors configured to encode a discovery
`
`reference signal in a single subframe 1610; the DRS can comprise a first synchronization signal
`
`block comprising a plurality of contiguous orthogonal frequency division multiplexed symbols in
`
`the single subframe; in addition, the length of w.sub.oc,interSF,0.sup.(p) and
`
`w.sub.oc,interSF, 1.sup.(p) can be equal to the assigned OFDM symbolsin thefirst half slot, and
`
`the assigned OFDM symbolsin the second half slot, respectively; paragraph 0035-0036, 0084;
`
`0089, 0119).
`
`However, Changet al does not specifically disclose the features of determining frame
`
`timing in response to receiving the one or more DRS.
`
`On the other hand, Niu et al, from the same field of endeavor, shows in figure 1, a
`
`radio frame 100 of a signal used to transmit the data can be configured to have a duration,
`
`T.sub.f, of 10 milliseconds, where each radio frame can be segmented or divided into ten
`
`subframes 110i that are each 1 ms long. Each subframe can be further subdivided into one or
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 4
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`multiple slots 120a, 120i, and 120x, each with a duration, T.sub.slot, of 1/u ms, where p=1 for 15
`
`kHz subcarrier spacing, u=2 for 30 kHz, u=4 for 60 kHz, u=8 for 120 kHz, and u=16 for 240
`
`kHz . The system can determine frame timing (paragraph 0023, 0046, 0059). Furthermore, the
`
`SIB can carry information related to the number of sub-channels and also the exact sequence on
`
`howthese sub-channels hops can be used. The UEs can determine the frame timing based on the
`
`candidate position index value of the detected SSB (paragraph 0038-0039, 0056). For instance, a
`
`20 ms dwell containing a discovery reference signal can be transmitted on band 54 regardless of
`
`the bandwidth available. The discovery reference signal and a system information block type 1
`
`(SIB1) can be transmitted on band 54 regardless of the bandwidth available (paragraph 0037,
`
`0056, 0114). It is noted above that Niu et al discloses the features of determining frame timing in
`
`response to receiving the one or more DRS. Therefore, it would have been obviousto one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was madeto
`
`apply the technique of Niu to the communication system of Chang in order to provide a method
`
`for transmitting a discovery reference signal, and for measuring a discovery reference signal for
`
`the communication system operating in an unlicensed band.
`
`Regarding claim 2, Changet al as modified discloses a terminal (UE 1901 includes
`
`a receiver and a transmitter; the UEs 1901 and 1902 may be configured to connect,
`
`communicatively couple, with a radio access network 1910; paragraph 0118), wherein more than
`
`one possible starting positions per half a slot are determined for a subcarrier spacing (each radio
`
`frame can be segmented or divided into ten subframes 110i that are each 1 ms long; each
`
`subframe can be further subdivided into two slots 120a and 120b, each with a duration,
`
`T.sub.slot, of 0.5 ms; the first slot (#0) 120a can include a legacy physical downlink control
`
`channel 160 and/or a physical downlink shared channel 166, and the secondslot (#1) 120b can
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
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`Page 5
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`include data transmitted using the PDSCH; in addition, the length of w.sub.oc,interSF,0.sup.(p)
`
`and w.sub.oc,interSF,1.sup.(p) can be equal to the assigned OFDM symbols inthefirst half slot,
`
`and the assigned OFDM symbolsin the secondhalf slot, respectively; paragraph 0035-0036,
`
`0084).
`
`Regarding claim 5, Changet al as modified discloses a terminal (UE 1901 includes
`
`a receiver and a transmitter; the UEs 1901 and 1902 maybe configured to connect,
`
`communicatively couple, with a radio access network 1910; paragraph 0118), wherein each of
`
`the one or more DRSincludesa first signaling for indicating a synchronization signal block
`
`index and a secondsignaling for indicating a timing offset (the frequency offset between
`
`adjacent frequency resource sets can be pre-defined; alternatively, the offset can be decided by
`
`the evolved Node B (eNB) itself, and the UE can be configured to perform a blind detection of
`
`the DRS based on a channelraster; paragraph 0049, 0086).
`
`Regarding claim 6, Changet al as modified discloses a terminal (UE 1901 includes
`
`a receiver and a transmitter; the UEs 1901 and 1902 maybe configured to connect,
`
`communicatively couple, with a radio access network 1910; paragraph 0118), wherein each of
`
`the one or more DRSincludesa signaling for indicating a candidate SSB position index(;
`
`paragraph 0105, 0175).
`
`Regarding claim 7, Changet al as modified discloses a terminal (UE 1901 includes
`
`a receiver and a transmitter; the UEs 1901 and 1902 maybe configured to connect,
`
`communicatively couple, with a radio access network 1910; paragraph 0118), wherein each of
`
`the one or more DRSincludesa signaling for indicating a starting position index (scramble the
`
`delayed encoded data in the number of OFDM symbols using a scrambling sequencethatis
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 6
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`generated based on time information ofa first configured OFDM symbolindex ofthe starting
`
`OFDM symbol; paragraph 0175, 0179).
`
`Regarding claim 8, Changet al as modified discloses a terminal (UE 1901 includes
`
`a receiver and a transmitter; the UEs 1901 and 1902 maybe configured to connect,
`
`communicatively couple, with a radio access network 1910; paragraph 0118), wherein a time
`
`domain position (the duration of the resource grid in the time domain correspondsto oneslot in a
`
`radio frame ; the smallest time-frequency unit in a resource grid is denoted as a resource element;
`
`each resource grid comprises a numberof resource blocks, which describe the mapping of
`
`certain physical channels to resource elements; paragraph 0124) of the one or more DRSis
`
`selected from one or more additional candidate positions correspondingto the possible starting
`
`position (the one or more processors are configured to select one or more of the additional
`
`OFDM symbols for broadcasting a system information block; in addition, the one or more
`
`processors are further configured to encode multiple DRS within the single subframe using
`
`resource blocksin the frequency domain; paragraph 0099).
`
`Regarding claims 10, 12, Chang et al discloses a base station (Node B (gNB) in downlink
`
`control information or radio resource control signaling), comprising: circuitry (the baseband
`
`circuitry 2004 may include one or more basebandprocessors or control logic to process baseband
`
`signals received from a receive signal path of the RF circuitry 2006 and to generate baseband
`
`signals for a transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 2006; paragraph 0135), which in operation
`
`(a user equipmentconfigured to send uplink control information in a new radio unlicensed
`
`physical uplink control channel ; paragraph 0110), generates one or more discovery reference
`
`signal (the gNB can comprise one or more processors configured to encode a discovery reference
`
`signal in a single subframe 1610; the DRS can comprise a first synchronization signal block
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 7
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`comprising a plurality of contiguous orthogonal frequency division multiplexed symbols in the
`
`single subframe; paragraph 0089); and a transmitter, which in operation, transmits the one or
`
`more DRSto a terminal within a channel occupancy time (receive one or more discovery
`
`reference signal transmitted by a base station within a channel occupancy time; the gNB can
`
`send the DRSin the single subframe to a user equipment ; paragraph 0047) starting at a possible
`
`starting location (the gNB can be configuredto blindly detect the starting location of the PUSCH
`
`based on the DMRS; paragraph 0059-0060) that is not aligned with half a slot boundary
`
`(the starting OFDM symbol of the PUSCHtransmission 1730; the one or more processors are
`
`further configured to decode a starting OFDM symbol for a PUSCHtransmission; paragraph
`
`0108-0109).
`
`However, Changet al does not specifically disclose the features of starting location that
`
`is not aligned with half a slot boundary.
`
`On the other hand, Niu et al, from the same field of endeavor, shows in figure 1, a
`
`radio frame 100 of a signal used to transmit the data can be configured to have a duration,
`
`T.sub.f, of 10 milliseconds, where each radio frame can be segmented or divided into ten
`
`subframes 110i that are each 1 ms long. Each subframe can be further subdivided into one or
`
`multiple slots 120a, 120i, and 120x, each with a duration, T.sub.slot, of 1/u ms, where p=1 for 15
`
`kHz subcarrier spacing, u=2 for 30 kHz, u=4 for 60 kHz, u=8 for 120 kHz, and u=16 for 240
`
`kHz . The system can determine frame timing (paragraph 0023, 0046, 0059). Furthermore, the
`
`SIB can carry information related to the number of sub-channels and also the exact sequence on
`
`howthese sub-channels hops can be used. The UEs can determine the frame timing based on the
`
`candidate position index value of the detected SSB (paragraph 0038-0039, 0056). For instance, a
`
`20 ms dwell containing a discovery reference signal can be transmitted on band 54 regardless of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 8
`
`the bandwidth available. The discovery reference signal and a system information block type 1
`
`(SIB1) can be transmitted on band 54 regardless of the bandwidth available (paragraph 0037,
`
`0056, 0114). It is noted above that Niu et al discloses the features of. Therefore, it would have
`
`been obviousto one of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed
`
`invention was made to apply the technique of Niu to the communication system of Chang in
`
`order to provide a methodfor transmitting a discovery reference signal, and for measuring
`
`a discovery reference signal for the communication system operating in an unlicensed band.
`
`Regarding claims 13, 14, Chang et al discloses a communication method (figs. 16-17)
`
`comprising: obtaining, at a base station (the gNB can schedule a mini-slot for a small packet,
`
`while the gNB canalso schedule multiple aggregated slots for large packets; paragraph 0051), a
`
`channel occupancy timestarting (the gNB can be configuredto blindly detect the starting
`
`location of the PUSCH based on the DMRS; paragraph 0059-0060)at a possible starting position
`
`(receive one or more discovery reference signal transmitted by a base station within a channel
`
`occupancy time; the gNB can send the DRSin the single subframe to a user equipment;
`
`paragraph 0047) that is not aligned with half a slot boundary (the starting OFDM symbolof the
`
`PUSCHtransmission 1730; the one or more processors are further configured to decode a
`
`starting OFDM symbol for a PUSCHtransmission; paragraph 0084, 0108-0109); generating, at
`
`the base station, one or more discovery reference signal at a beginning of the COT (the gNB can
`
`comprise one or more processors configured to encode a discovery reference signal in a single
`
`subframe 1610; the DRS can comprise a first synchronization signal block comprising a plurality
`
`of contiguous orthogonal frequency division multiplexed symbols in the single subframe;
`
`paragraph 0089); and transmitting (the gNB can send the DRSin the single subframe to a user
`
`equipment), from the base station (gNB can comprise one or more processors configured to
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 9
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`encode a discovery reference signal in a single subframe 1610), the one or more DRStoa
`
`terminal (the DRS can comprise a plurality of additional OFDM symbols for an SS block in the
`
`single subframe; the one or more processors are further configured to decode one or more
`
`LBTsreceived from a next generation node B; paragraph 0108-0109, 0115).
`
`However, Changet al does not specifically disclose the features of determining,at the
`
`terminal, frame timing in response to receiving the one or more DRS.
`
`On the other hand, Niu et al, from the same field of endeavor, shows in figure 1, a
`
`radio frame 100 of a signal used to transmit the data can be configured to have a duration,
`
`T.sub.f, of 10 milliseconds, where each radio frame can be segmented or divided into ten
`
`subframes 110i that are each 1 ms long. Each subframe can be further subdivided into one or
`
`multiple slots 120a, 120i, and 120x, each with a duration, T.sub.slot, of 1/u ms, where p=1 for 15
`
`kHz subcarrier spacing, u=2 for 30 kHz, u=4 for 60 kHz, u=8 for 120 kHz, and u=16 for 240
`
`kHz . The system can determine frame timing (paragraph 0023, 0046, 0059). Furthermore, the
`
`SIB can carry information related to the number of sub-channels and also the exact sequence on
`
`howthese sub-channels hops can be used. The UEs can determine the frame timing based on the
`
`candidate position index value of the detected SSB (paragraph 0038-0039, 0056). For instance, a
`
`20 ms dwell containing a discovery reference signal can be transmitted on band 54 regardless of
`
`the bandwidth available. The discovery reference signal and a system information block type 1
`
`(SIB1) can be transmitted on band 54 regardless of the bandwidth available (paragraph 0037,
`
`0056, 0114). It is noted above that Niu et al discloses the features of determining frame timing in
`
`response to receiving the one or more DRS. Therefore, it would have been obviousto one of
`
`ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was madeto
`
`apply the technique of Niu to the communication system of Chang in order to provide a method
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 10
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`for transmitting a discovery reference signal, and for measuring a discovery reference signal for
`
`the communication system operating in an unlicensed band.
`
`Regarding claim 15, Changet al as modified discloses a communication method(figs.
`
`16-17) comprising: selecting (select the one or more additional OFDM symbols for unicast
`
`broadcasting in the PDSCHtransmission; paragraph 0098), at the base station, a time domain
`
`position of the one or more DRS(the one or more processors are configured to select one or
`
`more of the additional OFDM symbols for broadcasting a system information block; in addition,
`
`the one or more processors are further configured to encode multiple DRS within the single
`
`subframe using resource blocksin the frequency domain; paragraph 0099) from one or more
`
`additional candidate (the one or more processors are configured to encode a primary
`
`synchronization signal, a secondary synchronization signal, or a physical broadcast channel in
`
`the extended SS block; paragraph 0096, 0097) positions corresponding to the possible starting
`
`position (the starting OFDM symbols, e.g. the first 1 or 2 symbols of the first subframe are
`
`typically reserved for PDCCH transmission; the starting OFDM symbols of the remaining
`
`subframes can be utilized for a SS block transmission, and a SIB, and or a paging transmission;
`
`paragraph 0097-0099, 0046, 0108).
`
`4.
`
`Claims3, 4, 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Changet al
`
`(US 20210135803 A1) in view of Niu et al (US 20220060905 A1) as applied to claims 1, 10
`
`above, and further in view of Moonet al (US 20220104258 A1),.
`
`Regarding claims 3, 4, 11, Chang and Niu disclose everything claimed as explained
`
`above except the features of the numberof possible starting positions per half a slot varies for
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 11
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`different SCSs , wherein the numberofpossible starting positions per half a slot for a smaller
`
`SCSis greater than that for a larger SCS.
`
`However, Moonet al discloses the features of the numberof possible starting positions
`
`(information of the bandwidth part may include information indicating a position of a starting
`
`PRB of the bandwidth part; paragraph 0068) per half a slot varies for different SCSs (the slot
`
`may comprise 14 consecutive OFDM symbols; the length of the slot may be variable differently
`
`from the length of the subframe, and may be inversely proportional to the subcarrier spacing; the
`
`frequency region of the carrier may be divided into (N+1) subbandsbased on the N guard band,
`
`and each of the subbands may be composedofone ora plurality of consecutive RBs ; note that
`
`the base station may schedule a data channel using a plurality of slots; the minislot may be used
`
`as a transmission unit, and the length of the minislot maybe set shorter than the length of the
`
`slot; a slot having a length shorter than the length of the conventional slot may be referred to as a
`
`“minislot” in the communication system; paragraph 0010, 0060, 0062), wherein the numberof
`
`possible starting positions (a starting RB ofa first subband among the (N+1) subbands may be a
`
`starting RB of the carrier, and an ending RB ofthe first subband may be an RB having an index
`
`one lowerthan an index ofa starting RB ofafirst guard band; paragraph 0011, 0021) per half a
`
`slot for a smaller SCSis greater than that for a larger SCS(a starting RB of an (N+1)-th subband
`
`among the (N+1) subbands may be an RB having an index one higher than an index of an ending
`
`RB of an N-th guard band, and an ending RB of the (N+1)-th subband may be an ending RB of
`
`the carrier; paragraph 0021). Furthermore, Moonet al discloses the features of the number of
`
`possible starting positions (information of the bandwidth part may further include information
`
`indicating a position of a starting PRB of the bandwidth part and information indicating the
`
`number of PRBs constituting the bandwidth part ; paragraph 0068) per half a slot (the slot may
`
`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 12
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`comprise 14 consecutive OFDM symbols; the length of the slot may be variable differently from
`
`the length of the subframe, and may be inversely proportional to the subcarrier spacing; the base
`
`station may schedule a data channel using a plurality of slots; the frequency region of the carrier
`
`may be divided into (N+1) subbands based on the N guard band, and each of the subbands may
`
`be composedofoneor a plurality of consecutive RBs ; the minislot may be used as a
`
`transmission unit, and the length of the minislot may beset shorter than the length of the slot; a
`
`slot having a length shorter than the length of the conventional slot may be referred to as a
`
`“minislot” in the communication system; paragraph 0060, 0062) for a smaller synchronization
`
`signal block subcarrier spacing (a subcarrier spacing may be 30 kHz, the length of one slot may
`
`be 0.5 ms, and the length of the DRS transmission window may be 5 ms; one DRStransmission
`
`window mayconsist of 5 slots, each slot may include two DRScandidate resources (or two
`
`SS/PBCHblock candidate resources), and 10 DRS candidates may be arranged within one DRS
`
`transmission window; the DRStransmission window may appear periodically in the time
`
`domain; a synchronization signal/physical broadcast channel block reception and measurement
`
`operation, the synchronization signal may include a primary synchronization signa , a secondary
`
`synchronization signal ;paragraph 0065, 0128) is greater than that for a larger SSB SCS(the
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`activation time pointofthe first guard band,that is, the time point t2 may bethe starting time
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`point of the slot (n+1); in addition, D; may be the duration from the time pointt; to the time
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`point t2, and D2 may be the duration from the time pointtz to the ending time point of the COT,
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`that is, the entire duration of the slot (n+1); the time point tz may be defined, configured, or
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`indicated as a starting time point of the (C+1)-th slot amongthe slot(s) constituting the COT or
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`transmission burst ; paragraph 0133-0134, 0139). Therefore, it would have been obvious to one
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`of ordinary skill in the art before the effective filing date of the claimed invention was made to
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`

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`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
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`Page 13
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`apply the technique of Moonto the modified system of Niu and Chang in order to provide a
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`method for configuring an LBT subband in a communication system operating in an unlicensed
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`band.
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`Allowable Subject Matter
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`5.
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`Claim 9 is objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base claim, but would be
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`allowable if rewritten in independentform includingall of the limitations of the base claim and
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`any intervening claims.
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`Conclusion
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`6.
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`Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the
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`examiner should be directed to MARCEAU MILORDwhosetelephone numberis (571)272-
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`7853. The examiner can normally be reached 10-6.
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`Examinerinterviews are available via telephone, in-person, and video conferencing using
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`encouraged to use the USPTO Automated Interview Request (AIR) at
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`http://www.uspto.gov/interviewpractice.
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`If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s
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`supervisor, CHARLES APPIAHcanbe reached on 571-2727904. The fax phone numberfor the
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`organization wherethis application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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`obtained from Patent Center. Unpublished application information in Patent Center is available
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`https://patentcenter.uspto.gov. Visit https://www.uspto.gov/patents/apply/patent-center for more
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`information about Patent Center and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/docx for information about
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`Application/Control Number: 17/434,243
`Art Unit: 2641
`
`Page 14
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`filing in DOCX format. For additional questions, contact the Electronic Business Center (EBC)
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`at 866-217-9197 (toll-free). If you would like assistance from a USPTO CustomerService
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`Representative, call 800-786-9199 (IN USA OR CANADA)or 571-272-1000.
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`MARCEAU MILORD
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`Examiner
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`Art Unit 2641
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`/MARCEAU MILORD/
`Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2641
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`