www.uspto.gov
`
`UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
`United States Patent and Trademark Office
`Address: COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450
`
`17/795,982
`
`07/28/2022
`
`Erik BENGTSSON
`
`SYP335583USO01
`
`7676
`
`TUC
`
`St
`
`soup
`
`TUCKER ELLIS LLP - Sony Group
`950 MAIN AVENUE
`SUITE 1100
`CLEVELAND,OH 44113-7213
`
`SAMPAT, RUSHIL PARIMAL
`
`2469
`
`PAPER NUMBER
`
`NOTIFICATION DATE
`
`DELIVERY MODE
`
`10/25/2024
`
`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):
`
`patents @ tuckerellis.com
`
`PTOL-90A (Rev. 04/07)
`
`

`

`
`
`Disposition of Claims*
`1-19 and 27 is/are pending in the application.
`)
`Claim(s)
`5a) Of the above claim(s) _ is/are withdrawn from consideration.
`CL] Claim(s)__is/are allowed.
`Claim(s) 1-4,6,13,17-19 and 27 is/are rejected.
`Claim(s) 5,7-12 and 14-16 is/are objected to.
`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.
`
`) ) ) )
`
`Application Papers
`10) The specification is objected to by the Examiner.
`11) The drawing(s) filed on 28 July 2022 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)( 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.{¥] 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 July 28, 2022.
`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 20241015
`
`Application No.
`Applicant(s)
`17/795,982
`BENGTSSON et al.
`
`Office Action Summary Art Unit|AIA (FITF)StatusExaminer
`RUSHIL P SAMPAT
`2469
`Yes
`
`
`
`-- The MAILING DATEof this communication appears on the cover sheet with the correspondence address --
`Period for Reply
`
`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 28 July 2022.
`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: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 2
`
`DETAILED ACTION
`
`1.
`
`2.
`
`3.
`
`Claim(s) 1-19 and 27 are presented for examination.
`
`Claim(s) 1-19 and 27 are amended.
`
`Claim(s) 20-26 and 28-30 are canceled.
`
`Notice of Pre-AlA or AIA Status
`
`4.
`
`The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined underthe first
`
`inventor to file provisions of the AIA.
`
`Priority
`
`5.
`
`As required by M.P.E.P.201.14(c), acknowledgement is made to applicant’s claim for
`
`priority based on application(s) SE2030049-7 submitted on February 13", 2020.
`
`6.
`
`Receipt is acknowledged of certified copies of papers required by 37 CFR 1.55.
`
`Information Disclosure Statement
`
`7.
`
`The information disclosure statement(s) (IDS) submitted on July 28", 2022 follow the
`
`provisions of 37 CFR 1.97. Accordingly, the information disclosure statementis being considered
`
`by the examiner.
`
`Specification
`
`8.
`
`The abstract of the disclosure does not commence on a separate sheet in accordance
`
`with 37 CFR 1.52(b)(4) and 1.72(b). A new abstract of the disclosure is required and must be
`
`presented on a separate sheet, apart from any othertext.
`
`9.
`
`The abstract of the disclosure is objected to because it contains a legal phraseology
`
`“comprises” in line 1. Correction is required. See MPEP § 608.01(b). The form and legal
`
`phraseology often used in patent claims, such as "means" and "said," should be avoided.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 3
`
`Claim Objections
`
`10.
`
`Claim(s) 1-16 and 27 are objected to becauseofthe following informalities:
`
`Claim 1 recites “the beamformed signalin line 9. For clarity and consistency,
`
`it
`
`is
`
`suggested to recite “the at least one beamformedsignal”.
`
`Claim 27 recites a similar limitation.
`
`Claim(s) 2-16 are also being objected for being dependent on an objected base claim as
`
`set forth above.
`
`Appropriate correction is required.
`
`11.—The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
`
`Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 112
`
`(b} CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly
`pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor
`regards as the invention.
`
`12.
`
`Claims 5, 9, 10 and 11 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AlA),
`
`second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the
`
`subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor, or for pre-AIA the applicant regards as the
`
`invention.
`
`Claim 5 recites “the respective beamformedsigna?in line 7. It is unclear if the limitation
`
`is referring to:
`
`i.
`
`ii.
`
`“atleast one beamformedsignalin claim 1; or
`
`a@beamformedsignal of “the multiple beamformed signals’in claim 5.
`
`Thereis insufficient antecedent basis for this limitation in the claim.
`
`Claims 9, 10 and 11 recite a similar limitation.
`
`Claim 12 is also rejected for being dependent on a rejected base claim as set forth above.
`
`For the purpose of examination, examinerwill interpret as best understood.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 4
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`Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 103
`
`13.
`
`The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis 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.
`
`14.
`
`‘The factual inquiries set forth in Graham v. John Deere Co., 383 U.S. 1, 148 USPQ 459
`
`(1966), that are applied for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35
`
`U.S.C. § 103 are summarized asfollows:
`
`1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
`
`2. Ascertaining the differences betweenthe prior art and the claims at issue.
`
`3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinentart.
`
`4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or
`
`nonobviousness.
`
`15.—This application currently namesjoint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims
`
`the examiner presumesthat the subject matter of the various claims was commonly ownedasof
`
`the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidenceto the contrary. Applicant
`
`is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor andeffectivefiling dates
`
`of each claim that was not commonly ownedasofthe effectivefiling date of the later invention in
`
`orderfor the examinerto 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.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 5
`
`16.
`
`Claim(s) 1-4, 6, 13 and 17-19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable
`
`over ZHANG (US 2021/0250732 A1; also see provisional 62/971,102: fig. 4, pgs. 16-18, 949-
`
`4157) in view of WANG etal. (US 2020/0044801 A1) hereinafter “Wang”.
`
`Regarding Claim 1,
`
`Zhang discloses a method for operating a network node in a wireless communication
`
`network [see fig. 4, pg. 6, J53 lines 1-4, a method “400” for determining a location of a
`
`mobile device “402” operatively coupled to a wireless network], the method [seefig. 4, pg.
`
`6, 753 lines 1-4, the method “400”] comprising:
`
`transmitting at least one beamformedsignal [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, 753 lines
`
`4-15, one or more of a plurality of transmission points “401” of the wireless network
`
`repeatedly transmit a respective location information messageto the mobile device “402"],
`
`wherein each one of the at least one beamformedsignalis indicative of a respective positioning
`
`information [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, J53 lines 4-15, each of the location information
`
`messages containsan indication of geographic location of said one or moreofthe plurality
`
`of transmission points].
`
`Although Zhang discloses respective positioning information, Zhang does not explicitly
`
`teach “the respective positioning information is indicative of a respective virtual reference
`
`point whichis offset from a position of a transmit point of the wireless communication
`
`network used for
`
`transmitting the at
`
`least one beamformed signal, wherein the
`
`beamformed signal
`
`is suitable for enabling a positioning measurement of a wireless
`
`communication device’.
`
`However Wang discloses transmitting at least one beamformed signal [see fig. 2: Step
`
`“202”, pg. 3, J30 lines 1-9, indicating to a terminal through signaling], wherein each one of
`
`the at least one beamformed signalis indicative of a respective positioning information [seefig.
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 6
`
`2: Step “202”, pg. 3, §30 lines 1-9, uplink reference signal information], wherein the
`
`respective positioning information is indicative of a respective virtual reference point which is
`
`offset from a position of a transmit point of the wireless communication network used for
`
`transmitting the at least one beamformedsignal [see fig. 2: Step “202”, pg. 3, {30 lines 1-9, the
`
`uplink reference signal information includes at least one of the following information: a
`
`transmission manner in which the terminal transmits an uplink reference signal, a
`
`transmission resource usedbythe terminal to transmit the uplink reference signal, a type
`
`of the uplink reference signal transmitted by the terminal, a cell ID used by the uplink
`
`reference signal, or a virtual cell ID used by the uplink reference signal], wherein the
`
`beamformed signal
`
`is
`
`suitable for enabling a positioning measurement of a wireless
`
`communication device [see pgs. 3-4, 738 lines 1-6, the uplink reference signal includes at
`
`least one of: a measurementreference signal, an uplink demodulation reference signal, an
`
`uplink phase compensation reference signal, or a reference signal for uplink beam
`
`scanning or uplink beam tracking or uplink beam selection].
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill
`
`in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of the claimed invention to provide “the respective positioning information is
`
`indicative of a respective virtual reference point whichis offset from a position of a transmit point
`
`of the wireless communication network used for transmitting the at least one beamformedsignal,
`
`wherein the beamformedsignal is suitable for enabling a positioning measurementof a wireless
`
`communication device” as taught by Wang in the system of Zhang for improving utilization rate of
`
`SRSresourcesand flexibility of resource scheduling [see Wang, pg. 1, 96 lines 19-23].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Regarding Claim 2,
`
`Zhang discloses the methodof claim 1.
`
`Page 7
`
`Zhang does not explicitly teach “transmitting a messageindicating that the respective
`
`positioning information of the at
`
`least one beamformed signal
`
`is indicative of the
`
`respective virtual reference point”.
`
`However Wang disclosestransmitting a message indicating that the respective positioning
`
`information of the at least one beamformedsignalis indicative of the respective virtual reference
`
`point [see fig. 2: Step “202”, pg. 3, J30 lines 1-9, the uplink reference signal information
`
`includes at least one of the following information: a transmission mannerin which the
`
`terminal transmits an uplink reference signal, ... or a virtual cell ID used by the uplink
`
`reference signal].
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill
`
`in the art before the
`
`effectivefiling date of the claimed invention to provide “transmitting a message indicating that the
`
`respective positioning information of the at least one beamformed signal
`
`is indicative of the
`
`respective virtual reference point’ as taught by Wang in the system of Zhang for the same
`
`motivation as set forth in claim 1.
`
`Regarding Claim 3,
`
`The combined system of Zhang and Wang discloses the method of claim 1.
`
`Zhang further discloses transmitting a positioning information mapping indicative of a
`
`mapping of the respective positioning information to the respective virtual reference point for each
`
`of the at least one beamformed signal [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, [53 lines 4-15, one or
`
`more of a plurality of transmission points “401” of the wireless network repeatedly
`
`transmit a respective location information message to the mobile device “402”].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Regarding Claim 4,
`
`Page 8
`
`The combined system of Zhang and Wang discloses the method of claim 1.
`
`Zhang further discloses transmitting a message indicating that the respective virtual
`
`reference points are dynamically changed with subsequent beamformed signal of a same transmit
`
`direction [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, 753 lines 4-15, each of the (transmitted) location
`
`information messages contains an indication of geographic location of said one or more
`
`of the plurality of transmission points].
`
`Regarding Claim 6,
`
`The combined system of Zhang and Wang discloses the method of claim 1.
`
`Zhang further discloses wherein the positioning information is indicative of a direction
`
`information for the device to determine its position based on the direction information [see fig. 4:
`
`Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, 953 lines 4-15, each of the location information messages contains
`
`an indication of geographic location of said one or more of the plurality of transmission
`
`points], wherein the direction information is indicative of a respective transmit direction of the
`
`beamformedsignal [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, 753 lines 4-15, the location information
`
`message includes identifiers of the transmission points and an indication of physical
`
`location of the transmission points].
`
`Regarding Claim 13,
`
`The combined system of Zhang and Wang discloses the method of claim 1.
`
`Zhang further discloses wherein a transmit power used for transmitting the beamformed
`
`signal is based on a distance between the transmit point and the virtual reference point [see pg.
`
`4, 937 lines 14-19,
`
`the physical layer detection information includes an indication of
`
`distance, direction, or both distance and direction of said three or more transmission
`
`points relative to the mobile device].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 9
`
`Regarding Claim 17,
`
`Zhang discloses a method for determining a position of a wireless communication device
`
`in a wireless communication network [see fig. 4, pg. 6, {53 lines 1-4, a method “400” for
`
`determining a location of a mobile device “402” operatively coupledto a wireless network],
`
`the method [seefig. 4, pg. 6, 53 lines 1-4, the method “400”] comprising:
`
`receiving at least one beamformedsignal [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, 753 lines 4-
`
`15, one or more of a plurality of transmission points “401” of the wireless network
`
`repeatedly transmit a respective location information messageto the mobile device “402”,
`
`wherein each one of the at least one beamformedsignalis indicative of a respective positioning
`
`information [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, J53 lines 4-15, each of the location information
`
`messages containsan indication of geographic location of said one or moreofthe plurality
`
`of transmission points],
`
`receiving an indication [see fig. 4: Step “420”, pg. 7, {56 lines 1-4, the mobile device
`
`“402” receives the plurality of messages], and
`
`determining the position of the wireless communication device based on the positioning
`
`information and the indication [see fig. 4: Step “430”, pg. 7, J56 lines 1-4, the mobile device
`
`“402” determinesits location basedat least in part on contentof the plurality of messages].
`
`Although Zhang discloses receiving an indication, Zhang does not explicitly teach the
`
`indication “indicating that
`
`the respective positioning information is indicative of a
`
`respective virtual reference point which is offset from a position of a transmit point of the
`
`wireless communication network used for transmitting the at least one beamformed
`
`signal’.
`
`However Wang discloses receiving at least one beamformed signal [see fig. 2: Step
`
`“202”, pg. 3, J30 lines 1-9, indicating to a terminal through signaling], wherein each one of
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 10
`
`the at least one beamformed signalis indicative of a respective positioning information [seefig.
`
`2: Step “202”, pg. 3, 730 lines 1-9, uplink reference signal information],
`
`receiving an indication indicating that the respective positioning information is indicative
`
`of a respective virtual reference point which is offset from a position of a transmit point of the
`
`wireless communication network used for transmitting the at least one beamformedsignal [see
`
`fig. 2: Step “202”, pg. 3, 730 lines 1-9, the uplink reference signal information includes at
`
`least one of the following information: a transmission manner in which the terminal
`
`transmits an uplink reference signal, a transmission resource used by the terminal to
`
`transmit the uplink reference signal, a type of the uplink reference signal transmitted by
`
`the terminal, a cell ID used by the uplink reference signal, or a virtual cell ID used by the
`
`uplink reference signal], and
`
`determining the position of the wireless communication device based on the positioning
`
`information and the indication [see pgs. 3-4, 738 lines 1-6, the uplink reference signal includes
`
`at least one of: a measurementreference signal, an uplink demodulation reference signal,
`
`an uplink phase compensation reference signal, or a reference signal for uplink beam
`
`scanning or uplink beam tracking or uplink beam selection].
`
`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill
`
`in the art before the
`
`effective filing date of
`
`the claimed invention to provide “the indication “indicating that
`
`the
`
`respective positioning information is indicative of a respective virtual reference point which is
`
`offset from a position of a transmit point of the wireless communication network used for
`
`transmitting the at least one beamformed signal” as taught by Wang in the system of Zhang for
`
`improving utilization rate of SRS resources and flexibility of resource scheduling [see Wang,pg.
`
`1, 76 lines 19-23].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Regarding Claim 18,
`
`Page 11
`
`The combined system of Zhang and Wang discloses the method of claim 17.
`
`Zhang further discloses receiving a message indicating that the respective positioning
`
`information of the at least one beamformedsignalis indicative of the respective virtual reference
`
`point [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, 953 lines 4-15, one or more of a plurality of
`
`transmission points “401” of the wireless network repeatedly transmit a respective
`
`location information message to the mobile device “402”], determining the position of the
`
`wireless communication device based on the indication that the at least one beamformedsignal
`
`is indicative of the respective virtual reference point [see fig. 4: Step “430”, pg. 7, 956 lines 1-
`
`4, the mobile device “402” determinesits location basedatleast in part on content of the
`
`plurality of messages].
`
`Regarding Claim 19,
`
`The combined system of Zhang and Wang discloses the method of claim 17.
`
`Zhang further discloses receiving a positioning information mapping indicative of a
`
`mapping of the respective positioning information to the respective virtual reference point for each
`
`of the at least one beamformedsignal [see fig. 4: Step “410”, pgs. 6-7, 753 lines 4-15, each of
`
`the (received) location information messages contains an indication of geographic
`
`location of said one or more ofthe plurality of transmission points], determining the position
`
`of the wireless communication device based on the positioning information mapping [see fig. 4:
`
`Step “430”, pg. 7, {56 lines 1-4, the mobile device “402” determinesits location based at
`
`least in part on contentof the plurality of messages].
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 12
`
`17.
`
`Claim 27 is rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being unpatentable over Zhang and
`
`provisional ‘102 in view of SOSNIN etal. (US 2022/0113365 A1) hereinafter “SOSNIN”.
`
`Regarding Claim 27,
`
`Zhang discloses a network node in a wireless communication network [see fig. 6, pg. 8,
`
`969 lines 1-7, an electronic device “700”], the network node[see fig. 6, pg. 8, 769 lines 1-7,
`
`the electronic device “700”] comprising:
`
`a transmitter configured to transmit at least one beamformed signal [see fig. 4: Step
`
`“410” & fig. 6, pgs. 6-7, [53 lines 4-15; pg. 8, 969 lines 1-7, a transceiver “760”of a plurality
`
`of transmission points “401” of the wireless network repeatedly transmitting a respective
`
`location information message to the mobile device “402”], and control circuitry [see fig. 6,
`
`pg. 8 §69 lines 1-7, a processor “710”, such as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) or
`
`specialized processors such as a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)].
`
`Zhang does not explicitly teach “determine, for each one of the at
`
`least one
`
`beamformed signal, a respective virtual reference point, wherein the respective virtual
`
`reference point is offset from a position of a transmit point of the wireless communication
`
`network used for transmitting the at least one beamformedsignal, and determine,for each
`
`oneof the at least one beamformedsignal, a respective positioning information, wherein
`
`the respective positioning information is indicative of the respective virtual reference
`
`point, wherein the beamformedsignal is suitable for enabling a positioning measurement
`
`of a wireless communication device’.
`
`However SOSNIN discloses a transmitter configured to transmit at least one beamformed
`
`signal [see fig. 1: Step “115”, pg. 11, 9177 lines 10-20, encoding the messagethat includes
`
`the configuration information for transmission to the UE], and control circuitry configured to
`
`determine [see fig. 1: Step “125”, pg. 11, 177 lines 10-20, determining], for each one of the
`
`at least one beamformedsignal [see fig. 1: Step “125”, pg. 11, 9177 lines 10-20, based on the
`
`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 13
`
`multi-path channel component measurement], a respective virtual reference point [see fig. 1:
`
`Step “125”, pg. 11, 9177 lines 10-20, a position of a virtual reference source], wherein the
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`respective virtual reference point is offset from a position of a transmit point of the wireless
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`communication network used for transmitting the at least one beamformed signal [see pg. 11,
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`9185 lines 1-4, the configuration informationis to cause the UE to determine a phaseoffset
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`for each path of a multi-path channel], and
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`determine [see fig. 1: Step “130”, pg. 11, {177 lines 10-20, determining], for each one
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`of the at least one beamformedsignal [see fig. 1: Step “130”, pg. 11, 9177 lines 10-20, based
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`on the position of the virtual reference source], a respective positioning information [see fig.
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`1: Step “130”, pg. 11, 177 lines 10-20, a position of the UE], wherein the respective
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`positioning information is indicative of the respective virtual reference point [see pg. 12, 7189
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`lines 1-4, the position of the virtual reference source is determined based on measurement
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`for the reflected signal], wherein the beamformed signal is suitable for enabling a positioning
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`measurement of a wireless communication device [see pg. 12, 7188 lines 1-6, the multi-path
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`channel component measurement includes a measurementfor a signal received directly
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`by the UE from a basestation, and a measurementfor a signal received by the UE from the
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`basestation after being reflected from an object].
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`Therefore, it would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill
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`in the art before the
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`effectivefiling date of the claimed invention to provide “determine, for each one of the at least one
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`beamformedsignal, a respective virtual reference point, wherein the respective virtual reference
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`point is offset from a position of a transmit point of the wireless communication network used for
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`transmitting the at least one beamformed signal, and determine, for each one of the at least one
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`beamformed signal, a respective positioning information, wherein the respective positioning
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`information is indicative of the respective virtual reference point, wherein the beamformedsignal
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`is suitable for enabling a positioning measurementof a wireless communication device” as taught
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`

`

`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
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`Page 14
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`by SOSNIN in the system of Zhang for Improving performancein scenarios with limited number
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`of positioning reference nodes or bad geometry [see SOSNIN, pg. 2, 735 lines 1-3].
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`Allowable Subject Matter
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`18.
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`Claims 5, 7-12 and 14-16 is/are objected to as being dependent upon a rejected base
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`claim, but would be allowable if rewritten in independent form including all the limitations of the
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`base claim and any intervening claims.
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`Conclusion
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`19.
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`The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant's
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`disclosure.
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`o United States Patent Application Publication: Shreevastavet al. (US 2022/0408398
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`A1); see fig. 4,
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`pgs. 5-6,
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`9115-9140.
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`20.
`
`Anyinquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner
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`should be directed to RUSHIL P SAMPAT whose telephone number is (469) 295-9141. The
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`lan Moore can be reached on (571) 272-3085. The fax phone number for the
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`Application/Control Number: 17/795,982
`Art Unit: 2469
`
`Page 15
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`/RUSHIL P. SAMPAT/
`Primary Examiner- TC 2400, Art Unit 2469
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